“What? Marriage with that guy?”
“Yes.”
Sis. Of course not, right?
Just a little while ago, we were talking about how terrible Percival is.
Someone like him...
“Well, maybe.”
My sister hesitated. Knowing her usual personality, that response stung even more.
“Sis... Do you... want to marry him?”
I don’t even want to beat around the bush! I almost said, “That arrogant, incompetent guy who has nothing to show for himself except his title, and even that, he can’t use properly,” but I stopped myself.
My sister laughed, showing the roof of her mouth.
“To be honest, I don’t want to marry anyone. Just thinking about wearing flour-dough-like clothes at the church and hearing, ‘Now, Natalie is a bride who will submit to one man,’ gives me chills.”
“...”
“But I have to get married eventually. Just like how people who don’t want to die can’t avoid death. If I refuse this marriage, the only option left for me is the convent.”
I know. That’s what most noble ladies who can’t marry end up doing in this era, and that’s the path Natalie walked in the original story.
Even if my sister doesn’t want to marry...
Life in a convent would take away her parties, dresses, and all the social connections she built.
Marriage is, for her, the lesser evil.
My sister lifted one side of her mouth. It was a forced smile.
“I’m glad you’re doing well with Prince Tristan. Thanks to that, my marriage talks with the prince have come up too. I’ll get to indulge in the royal family’s wealth without any guilt.”
“...”
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freёwebnovel.com.
“It’s fine. I’ve had my fair share of fun living as the Count’s daughter. I think this is a pretty good ending.”
She laughed. But the moment she called it an ‘ending,’ she didn’t look happy at all.
“Dori, don’t follow us on the vacation. I don’t want to see you looking miserable while watching my choices.”
“Sis...”
“We’re done here, right? Go on now. On your way out, imagine the lavish wedding I’ll have. I’ll throw a party even more splendid than you can imagine.”
I wanted to talk to her more.
She had always said only the best man was good enough for her. Could it be that, deep down, that meant ‘I won’t choose any man at all’? Because, in reality, no one is perfect, and she isn’t naive enough to believe there’s such a thing as a ‘perfect person.’
But what would telling her that even do?
Percival, out of all her options, might be the best match. At least financially.
Although his personality is a type that I’d avoid in a story like this, my sister is no pushover. She wouldn’t let herself be dragged around by him.
‘...But I wonder if that personality will work with royalty.’
I don’t know.
I have enough on my plate.
Tristan is a problem, and just worrying about the Maria and Arthur couple is enough to make my head feel like it’s going to explode.
Honestly, I’m sure my sister will live her life just fine without me.
But despite all that, just the fact that my sister can’t laugh as easily as she usually does... that alone makes me unable to stop kicking Percival out of my mind.
***
I wanted to be a part of the family vacation.
Though my combat skills are only about 5% of my sister’s, isn’t it true that the North Wind and the Sun work best together?
...Though, I’m more of an electric fly swatter than the Sun, but still.
But from the other side of my thoughts, reason whispered.
My sister doesn’t want to see me looking miserable. It wouldn’t help at all, and I’d just be a nuisance.
‘Sis...’
I was about to write a letter to Tristan, trying to forget the helplessness I was feeling, when an idea suddenly struck me.
‘Why don’t I just travel with Tristan?’
It’s uncomfortable to be completely away from my sister, but I also don’t want to make her uncomfortable by sticking around.
So, I could just stay nearby!
‘Why don’t I ask Tristan if we can stay near Percival’s vacation spot?’
The problem, though, is that it might seem like I’m suggesting we stay together alone.
‘But suddenly inserting Tristan into our family vacation would also seem strange. And I doubt Tristan will even come with Percival...’
Just when I thought I might have found a solution, another worry popped up, and I was back to struggling with my thoughts.
Then, unexpectedly, Tristan arrived at our house and solved my dilemma with an unexpected sentence.
Like cutting through the Gordian knot.
“I’m sorry, Dori. I came to tell you that spending the vacation with you will be difficult.”
“Why? Did something urgent come up in August?”
“I’m going on a business trip to deal with the monster problem at Blue Atrium. I’ll be going with Arthur Albion, so you don’t need to worry.”
I briefly looked around. My mother had gone out, probably giving us some time alone, and the back door was slightly open, so it seemed like my sister was listening in, but I didn’t mind. The maids were fine.
Now, I could just say it openly.
“Don’t worry? Wasn’t it tough for you during the hunting competition when Duke Arthur wasn’t there?”
“...You’re hitting a sore spot.”
“Back then, there was only one monster, but at Blue Atrium, who knows how many there could be. Are soldiers accompanying you? Or will there be support from Frosthill?”
“The soldiers will come along to some extent. There won’t be any rear support, though.”
“Ha... Well, I won’t ask anymore.”
I bit my lower lip.
This is definitely a test from the king.
A way to see if the third prince has the ability to manage Blue Atrium.
‘The king probably told him not to overdo it.’
He doesn’t trust his children’s abilities, but at the same time, he worries about their well-being.
Not an evil man, but that makes him even more difficult as a parent.
...And some children raised by such parents will even go so far as to hurt themselves just to break free of the shell of their parents.
I looked up. Beyond the shirt’s collar, the scar from the monster would still be clearly visible on his vein.
After a brief silence, Tristan spoke.
“To be honest, my father said he could leave it to the Duke, and I could stay here... but... I want to go.”
“...”
Tristan.
I always believed that you and I would marry.
But that would have been possible only when you were someone who loved the pleasures of the royal court and cared only about your own comfort.
‘I didn’t expect the original plot to be threatened like this.’
Tristan, you now have the face of a young man eager to break free, to grow.
“Your Highness, I’ll ask you honestly. If I try to stop you, will you stay?”
“I never thought you’d try to stop me. You don’t interfere with my actions.”
“Then should I try to stop you?”
Tristan paused for a moment, took a sip of his tea, and then slowly spoke.
“...No. I really hope you don’t.”
“...”
Why do you look so troubled when you say that? As if I’m holding onto your pants leg in my mind.
After taking another sip from his teacup, his expression returned to its usual slightly annoying smile.
“When I told you I couldn’t go on the vacation with you, you looked terribly disappointed. If you’re going to miss me, just say it.”
“No, it’s not like that.”
“Cold.”
“When will you be back?”
“At least two weeks. It should be wrapped up by the end of the vacation.”
“So, it might take longer. ...I understand.”
I’m a little anxious, scared.
The protagonist doesn’t die. But you’re not the protagonist.
“Your Highness...”
But I couldn’t bring myself to say the words, “Don’t overdo it.”
Those were words his parents must have said a hundred times. They were the words that had shackled Tristan’s feet for over 20 years.
The only thing I could say to him was this.
“Your Highness. If you happen to be fighting, please don’t show anyone my portrait and say, ‘This is my fiancée!’”
“...Huh? I don’t carry around your portrait.”
“It’s just an example. Especially, please don’t show anyone the letters I’ll send you later.”
“Ah, I understand.”
“Don’t say things like, ‘Once this battle is over, we’ll all go home.’”
I was trying to finish with one sentence, but my mind kept pulling up lines like “Top 10 Quotes from Minor Characters Right Before They Die in Movies.”
Tristan’s expression had become intrigued.
“That’s interesting. And what other things are dangerous to say?”
“Things like, ‘After this fight, I’m going to propose to her.’”
“...”
At that moment, Tristan started thinking about something.