The Elder Sister’s True Intentions
Rezamiliana’s Side
“Huh!? You can’t get engaged anymore? Why? It’s not like the man refused the engagement, right?”
Rezamiliana nodded to Elizalina’s shocked question.
“Yeah. We haven’t even talked about anything like that yet, to begin with.”
“Then why can’t you get engaged?”
After a short pause, Rezamiliana spoke, her voice heavy.
“Father told me that a member of the royal family isn’t permitted to become engaged to anyone other than royalty or a ducal house. He isn’t royalty or from a ducal family, so at an upcoming inter-royal social gathering with other countries, my fiancé will be chosen for me.”
“An inter-royal social gathering? Father’s the one gathering people, right? There’s no way he’ll care about personality. He’s definitely going to bring in some awful guy who’s nothing but pedigree!”
“…That concern isn’t necessary. Under Father’s direction, I’ve been told that character will be taken into consideration to some extent.”
“Words like that from Father, who denies emotions and only looks at rank, aren’t reliable at all. You know that too, Rezamiliana-oneesama, don’t you?”
“…”
When Rezamiliana fell silent, Elizalina spoke with clear exasperation.
“Ah, seriously. To think the Rezamiliana-oneesama finally found someone she wanted to get engaged to, and it turns out he’s someone you can give up on just because Father opposed it a little.”
“!”
Someone I could give up on just because Father opposed it a little? Is that all Rodwell is to me?
Remembering the time she’d spent with Lux, anger welled up in Rezamiliana, and she spoke again, unusually emotional.
“That’s not true! To me, he isn’t someone that insignificant!”
“But you’re still going to give up and get engaged to someone Father picked, right? If it were me, no matter what Father said, I’d never give up on the man I fell in love with.”
“I’m not like you or Felisiana. I’m Rezamiliana, the first princess of this country. I was born to devote myself to this nation more than anyone else. I can’t allow myself to be emotional about something like tha—”
“The fact that pointless logic is winning out over your feelings just shows that your feelings for that man are only at that level. Alright, this conversation’s over. The food’s going to get cold, so let’s eat already.”
With that, Elizalina completely switched gears and started eating, cheerfully saying, “Mmm, it’s so good!”
Rezamiliana couldn’t exactly not eat either, so she quietly continued her meal. When Elizalina finished first, she stood up and placed her hand on the door.
Then she turned back and spoke.
“I said a lot of things, and whatever answer you come to is up to you, but if the first princess, Rezamiliana-oneesama, is feeling down, that’d be a real problem. So cheer up soon, okay?”
Leaving those words behind, Elizalina opened the door and left the room.
Up until now, Rezamiliana had obeyed the law for the sake of the country and handled negotiations with other nations for the sake of the country.
Of course, it wasn’t only for the nation, but also for the people and her younger sisters. Even so, everything she’d done had fundamentally been for the country.
…But.
“This feeling… Rodwell, what am I supposed to do…?”
Elizalina’s Side
“It’s rare to see Rezamiliana-oneesama get that emotional. She really does love that man.”
Elizalina muttered this as she left the dining hall and walked down the corridor.
She’d called her sister’s feelings shallow, but having been together for so many years, she understood her sister’s true intentions, how deeply Rezamiliana cared for that man.
That was exactly why she’d said those provocative things, hoping her sister wouldn’t give up on the person she loved.
“Well, I guess that kind of provocation is about all I can do for her. The rest is up to Rezamiliana-oneesama. Still…”
Elizalina stopped, looked toward the corridor leading to the throne room, and murmured with vacant eyes.
“After Felisiana and me, now even Rezamiliana-oneesama… maybe I should take him out before Lux gets engaged to me and becomes king.”
But she immediately brought light back to her eyes.
“Just kidding! No matter what, doing something to Father would be bad! Ahaha.”
Saying that in a bright voice, Elizalina started walking down the corridor again.
Even so, she quietly considered what she’d do if her father were to interfere with Lux becoming king, or if he were to try to harm Lux.