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Chapter 21 Escape
I could only assume that this sudden bad weather was due to Mana.
I wondered if something had happened to Mana in her room…or perhaps she was nearby?
As I scurried around, looking for her figure, the Queen called out.
“Saint, I know you are there. So come out.”
The Queen’s prideful voice echoed through the corridor, then after that, a shadow approached from behind us.
“What are you doing here?”
It was Mana, the Saint, who came when the Queen called out to her.
Why was she here?
Then, Mana looked at me, who was stunned by the situation.
“When we met earlier, Ed seemed angry…I was curious if something was wrong or that you were mad at me, so I went after you.”
Now that she mentioned it, I didn’t see Mana returning to her after talking to her.
Maybe because I was so furious, I didn't notice any sign that she was following me.
“...Ed, are you getting married…?”
She asked me with tears in his eyes while squeezing her own hands.
The sound of the heavy rain made it difficult to hear Mana's voice, but I heard the question.
I knew it was none of her business, but my heart swayed.
I was wondering if I should pretend I didn't hear it when the queen answered before I did.
“This is an interesting situation.”
“!”
“Mother!?”
Mana and I were both taken aback at the same time.
I was perplexed about what was going on, but out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Christa smiling brightly.
“Edward.”
“Yes!?”
I stood upright as I realized that I was being shot through by the Queen's stern gaze.
Why was she suddenly in scolding mode?
“When I offered to find you a fiancee you refused saying, “I only want to have one wife, and I want to choose for myself.” Then, I told you to bring one to me as soon as possible, didn't I? But, not only you didn’t bring one, you didn’t even have a potential fiancee! It's fine that you are doing this and that with your attendant, but there is no sign of a woman at all!”
“I have no excuses…”
At my age, there was no way I could bring a marriage partner immediately! Well, It was understandable, given that in this country, you get an arranged marriage when you're in your teens.
I then shrunk back at the Queen’s pressure on me, but I know that she had given me a lot of concessions just by waiting for me, so I couldn’t say anything back.
“To this day, I will now recognize Countess Christa Bernette as Edward's fiancée.”
I couldn’t say anything about it, but if I get married, I really wanted to be one and with the person I choose to be married to…
I have regrets from my previous life, so this is non-negotiable.
But as long as I am royalty, I couldn’t be selfish.
If my existence has a negative impact on the royal family, I may be disowned and asked to leave the castle…
“...Is what I would like to say, but I entrust you to the Saint.”
“Yes…?”
I was taking a lot of things seriously, but then she said something that didn't make sense and I stopped thinking.
What did you mean by that?
No way, did I just become a criminal?
When I looked at the Queen, she turned to me with a wonderful smile that shone with her beauty.
If she wasn't my mother, I would be pouting right now.
“You are now officially a caretaker of the saints. In exchange for her cooperation, I said she can do whatever she wants with you.”
“Err…I'm even more confused. How did that happen?”
I’m not a human sacrifice, but even if you said that she can do whatever she wants, that was just…
“We discussed and agreed on something this morning. The saint will not accept anyone as a companion, but she will officially accept a caretaker to support her life in this world - if it is you, Edward…As long as the saint needs you, I will not disown you, and I will not allow anyone to remove your name from the Royal Family.”
She quietly said the second half so that only I could hear it.
Apparently, she knew what I was thinking.
“Still you don’t own him, but we must listen to the Saint’s opinion. Saint, I want this girl to be wedded to Edward. May you accept her as his fiancee?”
“........”
Mana bit her lip at the Queen's question.
The rain was still falling heavily.
“Saint-sama, It is an honor to meet you.”
Mana's body trembled in response to Christa's voice.
“My name is Christa Bernette. I hope you will allow me to stand next to Edward-sama.” (TL: You go girl!)
Christa then turned her body towards Mana and bowed beautifully, while waiting for her reply.
Wait a minute…why are you ignoring me and continuing the conversation!
I rushed to get between Mana and Krista.
“Wait a minute, I don't want a fiancée! Christa, what's wrong with Christa all of a sudden!?”
When I grabbed Christa's arm to stop her from lowering her head, she smiled at me and leaned closer to me as if to talk in private, and then she meowed in a small voice.
…Ha…?
I frowned as hard as I could and looked at Krista, but then she just sneaked another “Nyaa” and giggled.
Don’t laugh…! Wait, “Nyaa”? A cat?
Could it be the cookies…?
Wait a minute, don’t tell me that you liked cookies so much that you want me to be your fiancee?
“Edward, silence! You have no say in this matter, so back off!”
“Calling by his name…Touching each other….so close…Being so intimate…fueeeeeeee—”
I shrivel up after being scolded by an angry Queen while Mana mumbles something and turns over.
Ethan and Karina were not interested in us anymore, or maybe they were just having a nice little chat.
Karina has always been a bit of an “Ethan, Ethan,” and Ethan seems to be getting on with the beautiful woman who adores him regardless of his title as a prince, and he already had his hands around her waist.
Yuno was refraining with his usual cool-beauty poker face and, of course, showed no sign of joining in.
Christa just smiles when our eyes meet, and her mouth was moving as if saying, “Nyaa” whenever there was an opportunity.
What’s with this chaotic space…?
“...It’s…”
Mana said something.
At the same time, the rain started to fall harder again.
Because of that, Everyone's eyes were on Mana.
“...It’s all right…”
She said in a very small as if sobbing but I heard.
Was that the answer to the request earlier, that I could make Christa my fiancée?
“That’s why…for the meantime…do that disturb…me…”
I frowned when I saw Mana crying.
“...Why are you crying…?”
Don't make a decision about my marriage while you're looking so depressed!
You turned it down when you are offered a partner, didn’t you?
I have nothing to do with Mana now, do I?
Then don't act like you don't know how you feel about me in my past life and how you feel about me now!
It's really irritating.
But, I don’t really want to see Mana crying…
“Mana-sama, please don't cry. It’s going to rain…”
He took out a handkerchief and handed it to Mana.
Since Mana's arrival, I had been holding it without fail.
“I'm sorry. I'll make it right…”
As she held the handkerchief, that I handed to her, near her eyes. The rain slowly began to trickle down.
Is she controlling her emotions?
It would be a good idea if she could learn to suppress them.
But for now, the problem at hand comes first.
“Mana-sama. I choo–”
“Does Saint-sama adore Edward-sama as well?”
“!”
It was Christa who asked me and Mana, who were facing each other.
Mana froze when the bombshell statement was suddenly thrown into her.
For some reason, I became anxious as well.
But Christa didn't seem to notice that and continued to ask more questions.
“I know you are refusing to become Edwards-sama’s partner, aren't you? Is there a reason for that?”
“W-Well…That’s…”
“Perhaps because you are the messenger of the Goddess that you can't be his partner?”
Mana was flustered, but Christa was pressing closer and closer.
What's the matter, Christa, what turned you on?
Christa grabbed Mana's hand, looked her straight in the eye, and told her emphatically.
“I understand, I will not be in the way with the Saint. I would be honored if I could support Edward-sama with you!”
The rain had almost stopped, but the wind was still blowing, making the trees rattle.
“I don't know….I don't know yet….”
“You don’t have to worry about anything. I will support you too, Saint-sama.”
“.........Ngh—”
Mana choked on her words and tears began to well up in her eyes.
“Good girl…you’re such a good girl…!”
Mana then ran towards her room while leaving such mysterious words behind.
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Man…both Mana and Christa are so adorable… thanks for the chapter! :D
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome and IKR!? Though I still hate Mana because of what she did to the MC.
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