Chapter 46

Chapter 8. Summer Comes

As I walked down the Imperial Palace corridor, my steps suddenly stopped.

Beyond the hallway window, the cries of summer bugs could be heard. A distant building shook in the haze.

“Whoa. It’s hot…”

I muttered while fanning my hands involuntarily. To hell with the noble’s dignity. I’m going to die from the heat.

“I don’t even think about training on a day like this.”

“That’s right. If you do it wrong, you’ll faint from heatstroke.”

Agoth, who was following me, responded to my words. Agoth’s face was also flushed red from the heat.

“Haa. I don’t have a schedule today, so why is Commander Dalton calling…”

When I was grumbling about Dalton.

“Oh my gosh, Princess.”

A soft voice came from behind.

Ho, and when I looked back, it was the empress and many servants.

Next to her empress was Yulika Brande. When our eyes met, Yulika avoided my gaze with a face that expressed Ugh.

“How have you been, Your Ladyship?”

“Thank you, I’m fine. Are you here to teach?”

“No, I’ve come to see the Red Knights today.”

“The Red Knights? Ah, they say the young duke Peresca is the deputy commander.”

The empress said with a bright smile.

With only a friendly tone and this casual conversation, there seemed to be no way of knowing that this woman and I were standing on a pole and aiming swords at each other.

“Young Lady Brande, long time no see.”

Rather, Yulika, who had a disgusted look, was more comfortable to deal with.

I greeted Yulika with a smile. Yulika received my greeting with a light bow.

‘Hmm. It wouldn’t be a good idea to talk about what happened last time now.’

On the day I had met Yulika at the bookstore, she had promised to take a closer look at the pattern engraved on the body of the monsters.

‘I’d like to ask her a question, but…’

We’re not close friends, and since the last party, the air has gotten even sharper, so we can’t even talk.

I’m in trouble.

“Princess, have you received a proposal from the crown prince?”

I was immersed in various thoughts about Yulika and suddenly came to my senses when the empress asked a random question.

“Pardon?”

“I think everyone knows your relationship by now, but why is it still so quiet?”

The empress smiled and hurried my answer. Instead of answering, I looked at Yulika.

Yulika was biting her lip bloody, dropping her gaze. I could see her lips trembling.

“Not yet…”

“Why?”

“… What do you mean?”

“Why is the crown prince hesitating to propose to the princess? Isn’t it strange?”

The empress’s thin smile looked like a mask.

What is this woman trying to find out from me? It was not easy to read her thoughts because she was a woman whose emotions were not revealed on her face.

‘You’re so mean to talk about this with Yulika standing next to you.’

Yulika got mad that I sympathized with her, but look. How could I not sympathize?

“I don’t know. I don’t even want to know.”

“You don’t want to know?”

“I don’t need to be nervous. He can do it when he feels like it or doesn’t have to. The same goes for me, too. If I like it, I will accept it, otherwise, I will reject it.”

“Reject it?”

The empress’s eyebrows went up. As if my answer was breathtaking.

“You are going to reject a marriage from the imperial family? Princess, you are mistaken. This is politics, not love games.”

“I guess so. But I’m in a love game.”

I smiled deliberately at the empress.

“And if Your Ladyship thinks this is politics, wouldn’t it be fair to ask my father that question instead of me?”

“… I thought you were a smart person, but you are still too young.”

“That’s right. I’m still young.”

Oh, she’s angry.

I thought as I watched the empress’s eye narrowed.

She was usually an empress whose expression would not collapse at all, but unexpectedly, she was choked by these words.

‘It is best to avoid it.’

There was nothing good about touching her for nothing.

I bowed slightly to the empress.

“I have something to do, so I’ll excuse myself.”

I quickly passed by the empress. Agoth, who was following me, bowed and hurriedly followed after me.

Behind my back, I could hear the faintly angry voice of the empress.

“I envy the spirit of young people. Enjoy that love game to the fullest.”

I stopped walking but didn’t look back.

“You shouldn’t have any regrets about first love that won’t come true.”

It was not until I heard it that I looked back at the empress. The empress was looking at me with a smile on her face.

“Ah, fortunately, ‘my first love that won’t come true’ has already passed.”

Yulika’s eyes widened.

The empress also frowned.

Heh, think about those words to your heart’s content, you fools.

I walked out of the hall, leaving them to think about whatever they were imagining.

***

As I was sitting in Dalton’s room, drinking cold tea, the door suddenly swung open, and Caesar came in.

He was out of breath, sweating, his face burning red…

He approached me with a thud and asked me like a threat.

“Who is it?”

“What are you talking about out of the blue?”

“Helena’s first love.”

“Heeeh?”

No, how did he already know what I was talking about with the empress just a few minutes ago?!

“Not me? Is it not me?”

“What kind of self-consciousness is that?”

“Is this your first time? You said I was the first! Did you deceive me? Were you kidding me? Did you make fun of me?”

“Hey, stop making weird assumptions!”

Even if I just stood still, I might die from the heat, but now my face grew even hotter because of Caesar’s choice of words.

You bastard, are you doing this on purpose?

“Tell me out loud! Who’s your first love?”

Caesar was desperate.

What is this? How can this child be so desperate?

“Brother Leonard.”

“Who the hell— What?”

“My first love. My brother, Leonard.”

“No— Why?”

Caesar asked back with trembling lips as if the unexpected answer broke him.

I folded my fingers tightly and explained kindly.

“Why not? Nice, smart, hard-working, handsome, good family. Is there any reason I can’t like him?”

I loved Leonard so much when we were children. Even now, I still thought my brother was the best in the world.

“If he weren’t my biological brother, I would have done something about it.”

“What would you have done?”

“Well, many things.”

“Do that to me! To me!”

“Honestly, compared to Caesar, isn’t my brother much better? Mm?”

Caesar grabbed me by the shoulder with a flustered face, shook me, and cried in pleading.

“Helena and Leonard are family. You can never be lovers…!”

[T/N: Caesar was speaking in formal form]

Mm, he must be very flustered, seeing that he’s using all the honorifics. By the way, I think I’m going to get motion sickness, so you’d best stop shaking me.

Then the savior appeared.

“Whoaa, was Helena’s first love me?”

Leonard entered the room with a natural, innocent smile. As expected of my older brother. You know the timing.

“Ah, Brother.”

I got up and ran to Leonard. Then I hugged him.

“Caesar. I’m going to confess now, but we aren’t real siblings.”

“Ha! What a lame joke…!”

Caesar raised one corner of his mouth and smiled sarcastically.

But when he saw Leonard hugging my waist, his expression cooled.

“Your Highness, I’m sorry to deceive you. In fact, I had already promised to take responsibility for Helena when I was a child.

Leonard said naturally.

Well, that’s not a lie. He indeed promised to take responsibility for me until I became an old lady.

Caesar began to sweat at Leonard’s words.

Even if he couldn’t trust my words, he was worried about Leonard’s words.

Actually, I was a little surprised too. The angelic Leonard would play along with my mischievous jokes.

“H-H-How… How could you do this to me…!”

Wah, this is a big problem.

I definitely like Caesar.

But why is it so much fun to watch Caesar struggling?

Then the door opened, and Dalton, the owner of this room, finally appeared.

Dalton, who had entered the room, stopped at the sight of this strange situation.

“Uh… What is this situation? It’s like a scene from a crazy novel that shouldn’t be interrupted.”

Dalton scratched his neck, appraising the fiery atmosphere.

Your eyes are quite accurate, Sir Dalton. Thinking like that, I finally burst out laughing.

***

Dalton, Leonard, and I were seated around the room.

Caesar, who did not need to be involved in today’s conversation, also took a place. And the seat next to me, above all. It’s hot, so stay away from me.

“What can I do for you today?”

I asked Dalton first.

“Oh, it’s not a big deal. Actually, I’m going to a training camp.”

“A training camp?”

I frowned and tilted my head. What does that have to do with me?

“Well. The imperial family owns a villa near the seashore. The knights take turns training there. We are the next batch.”

“I see. Therefore?”

“It’s a coastal city, and the beach is just around the corner. There is also a fairly large tourist town just a short distance away. The scenery is also very beautiful.”

“Aha, I see. So what?”

“There is no other vacation spot like this in the world, Instructor.”

Dalton continued to brag about the campsite. I don’t know the point, and the conversation just goes round and round.

Eventually, I gave up talking to Dalton and turned to Leonard.

“It’s such a nice place, so what?”

“The commander is asking you to come with him, Helena.”

“Heeeh?”

No, why would I?!

“Don’t you want to go on a summer vacation, Instructor? Then let’s go together.”

“But this is not going to be a vacation, is it?”

“Ayyy, do you think I’m going to ask you to teach? You just need to rest, play, and have fun.”

“No, I’m stuck in the house, and I’m not coming out.”

“You should enjoy your short life. Did you hide anything in the house?”

“But it’s going to be annoying…”

I’ve seen the beach many times in my past life. It’s not like I miss it, so why should I go see it again?

‘No, but—’

I shut my mouth and fell into thought.

I had decided to be more careful with the hearts of those around me. In that case, I have to avoid laziness in moderation and be more active.

‘I’d better go. Well, but— I mean, I can just go and play, but I’m sure they’ll ask me to watch the trainees train…’

Hmmm, I pondered for a long time with a deep wrinkle between my forehead. It felt like a fierce battle between determination and desire within me.

“Is this something you have to think about so seriously?”

Dalton asked me with an expression of concern. Leonard, sitting next to him, let out a bitter smile.

“But I think she’s improved a lot, seeing that she’s thinking about it, sir.”

“I guess that’s true. It’s something I couldn’t have imagined before.”

“Huh? Was it that bad?”

Even Caesar nodded, and Dalton was genuinely surprised.

No, don’t be so surprised. How embarrassing.

“Fine. Let’s go together.”

In the end, I made a decision.

Then Leonard and Caesar were startled by my answer and jumped up from the sofa.

“What?! Are you serious?!”

They even asked the same question at the same time in harmony. Seriously, you guys…

“Helena, you’re not forcing it, are you? You don’t have to go if you don’t like it.”

“Did Hamilton threaten you again? If so, you better speak up. I’m going to beat him half to death.”

Caesar and Leonard scrambled to persuade me. It wasn’t even funny.

Dalton, who watched the situation with interest, said with a grin.

“What kind of life have you been living to this point, instructor?”

“Don’t ask. I don’t know either.”

I covered my face with both hands and muttered.

My resolution had more obstacles to overcome than defeating a dragon and protecting the world. It was a summer day when I felt slightly sad at the thought.