CH 80

I was indeed the one who visited his house. So it would be wrong to say such a thing. But I can’t help but say it: Rutger is just trouble…!

“Sorry to have bothered you, Lord Rutger,” I said.

“Ye-Yeah…!” Rutger said. “So, what can I do for you?”

Hey……. I have no use for you… why do you think I have business with you just because I visited Manor Kreff? Rather, I have visited Duke Kreff so many times so far but have I ever once visited for you? If you think about it a little, you’ll realize that you can’t be of any use to me.

However, as expected, I can’t say that to his face. There is also the fact that the other party is a duke’s son. There is also his father right in front of me now. But above all, that is behavior far from the likes of a high-ranking noble’s daughter. So I can’t do that. Even though I’m a man at heart, I must not forget to behave accordingly as the only daughter of Margrave Carruthers.

“No, I just had a ‘political talk’’ with Duke Dietrich today,” I said. “We’ve already concluded that conversation, so I will leave you now. Thank you for taking the time to see me today, Your Grace Dietrich.”

Anyway, I don’t think Dietrich will easily let his mouth slip any information even if I persist any longer. The story of Ludwig’s engagement and marriage is political. For me, it’s a personal and urgent thing, but if you just talk about the content, it should be nothing more than mere politics.

“Well, Princess Flora, why don’t you try talking to Rutger for a bit instead of saying that?” Dietrich said.

“Kuh…” I went.

It’s hard to say that I will refuse him when Dietrich, the Duke of Kreff, says that. If there is some reason, I can refuse, but I couldn’t think of a good enough reason to refuse the Duke’s request right now.

“Then what are we doing here?” Rutger said. “Come to my room, it’ll be fine there.”

I can no longer ignore Rutger, who is trying to lead me off while saying that with a derisive snort.

“Then, just a little while so that it won’t get too late… Duke Dietrich, thank you very much for today,” I said. “Now, if you will excuse me.”

I said my goodbyes to Dietrich and followed Rutger. Now that it’s come to this, let’s ask Rutger about Ludwig and Helene. To begin with, Rutger had been with Ludwig for a long time, so I wanted to hear about that. However, if I asked Rutger, it seemed that Ludwig would hear about it, too, so I was at a loss as to what to do.

If I had to deal with Rutger in any way, it would be better for me to hear what I want to hear and spend that time meaningfully.

“Here we are. Come on in,” Rutger said.

“Pardon me…” I said.

I entered a room that Rutger said was his private room, but there was nothing special about it. It is a room with a calm atmosphere with high-class furnishings. I can’t imagine this is Rutger’s room, with how much of a troublesome braggart he is.

However, it is not necessarily because Rutger has good taste just because a professional is in charge of this kind of interior decoration. I’m the kind of person who likes to decide on my room’s layout, but if I’m too lazy, I often leave it up to my family servants.

However, it is necessary to consider the possibility that Rutger’s taste is really this good. There are many scenarios where such sense is tested for royalty and nobility. That’s why it’s normal for them to be exposed to genuine luxury goods from an early age and have a gifted education.

“It’s a lovely room, isn’t it?” I said.

“Yeah…” Rutger said. “Well, sit down.”

I was offered a chair, so I did. Surprisingly, I thought he’d be rude, but I didn’t think he was a person who could be hospitable to me because of his usual personality, but he is paying attention properly.

When I praise the room, the reaction is too weak to judge which direction his reaction leans. Did he choose it all himself or did he leave it up to others…? That will make a difference in whether or not you should give a compliment to others. You wouldn’t want to receive compliments for a room you didn’t decorate, to begin with.

He usually has a more easy-to-understand personality, but today he’s a little difficult to read…? What is this? Is it because he’s not behaving like he’s mocking me for being a country girl and ignorant?

“…”

“…………”

It’s been a while since I’ve been silent. I wonder what I should do…? Normally he would talk to me without permission, but today he is silent. I thought so and waited for a while when someone knocked on the door and a maid of House Kreff came. Apparently, she was brewing tea for me.

“Please,” the maid said as she served me and Rutger both.

“Thank you,” I said.

I was surprised after Rutger asked me to taste it.

“My! This tea… it’s really delicious,” I said.

I thought that since it was Rutger, the brand was irrelevant and the tea would taste irrelevant, but it seems that was not the case. Or is this also not the case that Rutger chose it just because other people are taking care of him?

Speaking of tea in this world, most of them are like green tea or Chinese tea. I don’t know if black tea hasn’t been invented yet, or if it’s not distributed around here for trade reasons.

It wasn’t until the 1600s that tea was actually imported to Europe on the earth I knew. The Netherlands, which was in charge of trade in the East at the time, came into contact with the Japanese tea ceremony and was influenced by it, bringing tea to Europe. Since then, Japanese tea and Chinese tea have been brought to Europe as trade goods in the East trade.

Before long, after the Anglo-Dutch War, the center of trade with China and other countries in the East took over from Britain, and Britain discovered the Assamese variety in India. Before long, efficient black tea cultivation was carried out in India, and the main product gradually shifted from Chinese tea to Indian black tea.

In this world, for some reason, East Asian crops such as rice and soybeans, which should not yet exist, already exist. However, it seems to be limited to a very small area, and it is completely unknown throughout the Kingdom of Ploiss. Maybe this tea is from the same source.

“It seems that even a Country Girl can understand the taste of tea,” Rutger said. “I like this one, too.”

“I see,” I said. “Is it your favorite, Lord Rutger?”

If this guy doesn’t say things like this thing or that thing, he’ll probably be a little more popular with girls, so why would he keep saying such unnecessary things? It doesn’t matter if Rutger is popular or not, but as someone to who he keeps saying all these things, it’s stressful.

I’m tired of dealing with him. I’m annoyed because he says unnecessary things every time… it would probably be fine to just ignore it, but to put it bluntly, I think I’ve drunk a lot more different types of tea than you guys, so it’s really frustrating.

“So… what do you want to ask me?” Rutger asked.

Oh? I think we’re finally getting to the point. I’ve been patient with him so far, so lets at least ask what I want to hear.

“Lord Rutger, do you know Helene of the Bayen Duchy?” I asked.

Rutger’s eyebrows twitched at my words. His face becomes more and more displeased. “Ah, I know her name very well!” he said. “Among us, it was rumored that Prince Ludwig would marry her without a doubt! So what about her!?”

There’s no need to yell, is there…? Why did mentioning Helene’s name make Rutger suddenly so upset? Is it because Ludwig came up? ……Maybe Rutger thinks Ludwig is……!

I don’t know what to do~. Rather, in this case, could Rutger be referring to Helene? When he told me that she was considered Prince Ludwig’s first choice for a marriage partner, he suddenly became displeased, because after all Rutger also liked Helene… if you think about it that way, it does make sense.

Ludwig is secretly connected to Helene, and the two promise to marry in the future. Rutger also likes Helene, so as a vassal he has to support Ludwig, but he doesn’t want to lose Helene. It’s natural when you think about it. Then, after all, there is a high possibility that Ludwig and Helene are still interacting behind the scenes.

In order for Ludwig and Helene to get married, I have been made into a dummy fiancée as a human shield to protect them from ill-intent blowing their way. If that’s the case, it makes sense that they’ve kept everything about Helene a secret from me until now.

“Are Prince Ludwig and Lady Helene still close to each other?” I asked.

“Aah!?” Rutger balked. “I don’t know anything about that! However, as far as I know, I only know that she became Ludwig’s first marriage candidate after Ludwig visited Duke Bayen. I’ve never heard of them meeting then, and I’ve never actually seen them together.”

I see, I see…… Ludwig’s keeping it a secret even from Rutger? But if that’s the case, then it’s strange why Rutger likes Helene but feels uneasy about Ludwig. Did Rutger know that Ludwig and Helene are secretly getting together behind the scenes? Is that why he’s not pleased about any of this?

“Well then…” I said.

After this, even with Rutger still in a bad mood, I tried various methods to somehow extract information. Rutger has already answered, but the content is not clear. After all, I decided to go home today after only time passed without getting any confirmation about the relationship between Ludwig and Helene.

When Rutger returned home, he noticed that a carriage was parked in front of his house, a strange sight, so he took a peek. He sees the crest on the vehicle and runs to the front door.

“Hey! That’s a carriage from House Carruthers parked there! Is that Country Girl here?” Rutger asked.

“Hah… Lady Flora is here right now…” a servant said.

Rutger rushed off after hearing that much. The way he walks with heavy footsteps is not suitable for the son of a duke, but he doesn’t mind that. And he only realized after running halfway in.

“Hey, which room is the County Girl in?”

Manor Kreff has a considerable size. They could be in the reception room, his father’s office, or a guest room. At the very least, if I knew what she was here to do, Rutger could think of a room that would suit it, but he hasn’t heard of any plans for Flora to visit them today.

“Master Dietrich asked us to guide her into the living room…” the servant replied.

“I see. The living room?” Rutger said.

He doesn’t know why his father let her into the living room. But that doesn’t matter. Once he knows where they are, all he has to do is head there. Once again, Rutger rushed to the living room with his footsteps thudding as he went.

After talking with his Father, Rutger took Flora to his room. His heart throbbed when she complimented him on the design. Rutger also coordinates the interior by himself to better fit his tastes. Rutger, already flying high from the praise for his interior design sense, seemed to soar past the heavens when she praised his choice in tea as well.

But he cools down in an instant. As her long blonde hair fluttered and her pale blue eyes stared into him, she involuntarily enraged him with the words that came out of her pretty lips.

“Lord Rutger, do you know Helene of the Bayen Duchy?”

Hearing those words made the blood rush to Rutger’s head. Of course, he knows her name. He can’t remember her face. She was the first marriage candidate for Ludwig. The fact that the woman’s name comes out of Flora’s mouth means that she is asking him about Prince Ludwig.

Even the dullard Rutger could understand that Flora wouldn’t ask about Helene if she wasn’t worried about Ludwig.

It was nothing to get excited over. After all, Flora came here for Prince Ludwig. She didn’t come to see Rutger. Rutger’s mood suddenly deteriorated to the worst level as he was confronted with this.

Even so, Rutger continued to answer questions, thinking to himself that it would be good to exchange even a few words with Flora despite her asking about Ludwig and Helene.

After being asked about Ludwig and Helene for a while, Rutger couldn’t stop being irritated, but when Flora said she was going home, Rutger decided to go to the entrance to see her off. If this guest hadn’t been Flora, Rutger would have already told them to go home alone. Still, going to the front door to see her off means Flora is special.

“Well then, Lord Rutger, thank you very much for today,” Flora said. “Good day to you,” she said as she was about to enter the carriage.

“Oh… ah!” Rutger said, suddenly remembering something. “That’s right. Speaking of all this, about Prince Ludwig…”

“Huh?” Flora asked, turning around.

But, she lost her balance and slipped…

“Look out!” Helmut and Rutger cried, thrusting their hands out at the same time.

Even though it’s a low platform, you can get seriously injured if you fall. The two were desperately reaching out towards the platform to catch the falling Flora.

(Helmut! You bastard! Move! I’ll be the one to help Flora!) Rutger wordlessly said with his eyes.

(No, I will not move,) Helmut replied with his eyes, as well. (It’s my duty to help Miss Flora!)

The two of them ran to Flora falling from the platform. However…….

“… Oh? What are you two doing, Lord Rutger and Helmut?”

Flora, who stopped on one leg and picked herself up after completely losing her balance, as if by magic, did not fall off the platform. And then, the two who were running towards Flora and stretching out their hands forced themselves to change direction so as not to crash into the platform and make Flora fall over again.

As a result, Helmut and Rutger stopped perfectly in each other’s embrace.

“Fufu, so the two of you became friends before I knew it,” Flora said.

The two, who couldn’t even say “No we’re not!” in front of the softly smiling Flora, were glaring at each other while smiling vaguely.

After that, Flora went home without any further discussion. While seeing off the carriage going home, Rutger mutters:

“Oh… I missed my chance after all. Well, it’s fine,” Rutger said. “It’s not worth much, anyway. Prince Ludwig did say that he only met Lady Helene once a long time ago and that he said she was was ‘terrifying’.”

Rutger’s words disappeared into the sunset sky without being heard by anyone else.

T/N: We will return to the lesbians next chapter.