Chapter 2: The Reincarnated Princess Makes a House Call
After the meeting with my father and Duke Grantz, I found myself walking through the corridors of the royal palace with Euphie by my side. In the end, everyone had decided it would be best for her to stay with me for a while.
There was a spare room in the villa that served as my residence, and so Euphie would stay with me there.
As for the villa I called my home, it was officially known as a detached palace, but my father had originally built it to isolate me. That being said, it was designed to be a palace, and there were plenty of rooms for people to live in. It would be used as a regular secondary palace after I was gone, in all likelihood.
But that also meant it wasn’t difficult to prepare a room for one guest, and it was decided that Euphie’s necessities and belongings would be brought after we had a chance to officially visit Duke Magenta.
Though we were walking side by side, Euphie said nothing as we made our way down the corridor. She remained one step behind me, leaving me feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
“Hey, Euphie. You’ll be staying with me at my villa starting today, but is there anything you want to know?”
“No, not really. If there are any rules, I’m happy to follow them…”
“There are no rules, really. Only my personal maid and I live here. We’re free to do whatever we want, more or less.”
“Ah…”
Hmm. That was a somewhat indifferent response. Was she nervous? Or maybe she had always been a woman of few words?
Seeing as she had been my brother’s fiancée, I had of course noticed her from a distance, and we had exchanged brief greetings on a few occasions, but this was my first time properly speaking to her. Plus, what with how unreceptive she was acting, I wasn’t quite sure what to say next.
I knew I shouldn’t be acting so cheerful after her traumatic end to her engagement. But I couldn’t afford to leave her, either. Which meant we would have to do this the hard way!
“All right! Let’s go to the detached palace! At times like this, you need a change of pace!”
“Huh?”
Though she seemed taken aback, I quickly embraced her in a hug, swept her up into my arms, and took off as fast as I could run.
“H-huh?! Lady Anis?! Why are you carrying me?! P-please put me down!”
“It’s fine! Come on! You know what they say, right? Good deeds should be done quickly!”
“I—I can walk by myself! A-and besides, what if people…?!”
Don’t worry about that! I ignored her protests, dashing through the corridors of the royal palace.
She tried to resist at first but quickly grabbed ahold of my clothes while I was running.
“H-how can you run through the corridors carrying someone in your arms…?! This truly is most unheard of!”
“Ha-ha-ha! You should have told me earlier!”
We sped past knights and maidservants in the employ of the royal palace, but they merely smiled back at me and pretended not to have seen us. It was always like this!
Euphie was blushing slightly, curling up in my arms as though to shield her face. That made her easier to carry, so I said nothing.
I sped onward as though to shake off the stares falling on me. Finally, we arrived at my villa on the outskirts of the palace grounds, and I set Euphie down once we reached the entrance.
The second she was free, she hurried to distance herself from me.
“This is my home, Euphie.”
“…I’m aware of that.” She nodded, letting out a sigh.
I watched her reaction as I reached for the door, only for it to swing open before I could even touch the handle. The person on the other side was a woman in a maidservant’s uniform. Her reddish-brown hair was tied up in a bun, her blue eyes concealing all emotion.
“I’m back! Ilia?”
“Welcome home, Princess,” Ilia said softly after giving me a small bow.
Ilia had been my exclusive maid for many years now, and the lack of warmth was business as usual for her.
“Your Highness. May I ask you a question?” she asked.
“What is it, Ilia?”
“Why is Prince Algard’s fiancée, Lady Euphyllia, with you?”
“Because she’s staying with us for the foreseeable future!”
“I see. I must admit I don’t quite follow, but shall I prepare a room for her?” Ilia murmured, relaxing her shoulders.
Euphie observed our conversation as if it were some strange spectacle. I wanted to tell her that this was just how Ilia always was.
“Hmm. It’s late, so how about you stay in my room tonight? Euphie?”
“…Huh? L-Lady Anis?!”
“No, no! I don’t mean in an improper way!”
“But it is still improper…!”
“Ilia! Could you make us some tea?” I called out.
“Very well,” Ilia responded, showing us to the next room.
Euphie looked like she still wanted to say something, but she followed my lead and entered. We made our way straight to the sitting room, which was set aside to welcome guests, and sat down to wait for the pot of tea.
“Please take a seat, Lady Euphyllia,” Ilia prompted.
“…Thank you.”
Euphie sat herself down on one of the sofas, a magnificent piece of furniture characteristic of the royal palace. I took a seat across from her while Ilia began to prepare the tea.
As she set about her preparations, Euphie watched in interest. My guest probably wasn’t familiar with these Thermal Pots that we used here.
My Thermal Pot was a magical device designed to be placed atop a specially crafted base and served to keep water at a suitable temperature for tea, so it could be prepared instantly.
“…Is this hot water? But there’s no fire. How does that pedestal work?”
“It’s a magical device that uses a fire stone to keep the water warm. It’s set to maintain a constant temperature, so there’s hot water ready whenever you feel like a cup of tea or whatnot.”
With this, there was no need to boil fresh water each and every time. Using this system, the detached palace was designed so hot water could be accessed through taps and faucets, just like in my past life.
“It’s a bit of a hassle to set the temperature, though,” I explained. “But once you’ve got it calibrated, you can use it over and over so long as you have a fire stone. It’s good for more than just tea, too. We use them to warm up baths, for example.”
“And thanks to this, I don’t have to dip my hands in cold water when I wash the dishes,” Ilia added.
“I see…” Euphie nodded in admiration.
I swelled with pride. My Thermal Pot was another successful result of my magicology research as I attempted to re-create my memories of conveniences from my past life.
My father enjoyed using some of the magical tools I had invented during the course of my research, too. The Thermal Pot was one of his favorites, and he used one to boil water and brew tea for himself whenever he was working late or didn’t want to trouble one of the maids.
“Here you go, Lady Euphyllia.”
“Thank you.”
Euphie sipped at the cup of tea Ilia had hastily prepared for her and let out a sigh of relief. Once my cup was ready, I took a drink, too. Delightful.
“This Thermal Pot does appear very convenient,” she remarked. “I can imagine quite a few other uses for it, too.”
“Indeed,” I responded. “We’re using them all throughout the detached palace here.”
“It certainly is convenient,” Ilia added. “A little too convenient, or so I think at times.”
“Oh? How so?” Euphie tilted her head to one side in puzzlement.
“I’m sure I don’t have to explain that tools like this are unavailable outside the palace. If you get too used to the comforts we have here, you may miss them dearly once you go somewhere else.”
“You’re my personal maid, Ilia, so you don’t have to worry about anything like that.”
“Yes, I can’t hope to be reassigned to another job. I’m trapped here.”
Ilia pretended to cry, yet her expression remained uncannily vacant. If she was going to playact, she could at least make it a little more convincing…
“I’m glad to have had you taking care of me all these years, you know, Ilia?”
“That’s quite a thing to say, given you’re the one who ensured I could never escape.”
“Ha-ha-ha! What a terrible thing to do, right?!”
“Yes, indeed. I’m still amazed that such a devilish person walks among the rest of us humans.”
“I am human, Ilia. Do you need your eyes examined?”
This kind of back-and-forth always happened with Ilia. And she was the one who benefitted most from my magical devices.
It was thanks to our long years together that we could engage in this friendly banter. She had always been one of my favorite women, and I felt comfortable talking to her since I was a child and she a maid working at the royal palace. Perhaps that was why my father had asked her to be my chaperone.
We had been through a lot since then, and now we could exchange all manner of light conversation, peppered with a little irreverence here and there. Her attitude was exactly what I wanted, too. I wasn’t fond of stiff formalities, and I knew she really was a nice person at heart. That being said, it was only natural that others considered us strange.
Such as Euphie, who was watching us in shock. It was little wonder. Even if Ilia was my personal maid, it must have seemed quite out of the ordinary for her to speak so frankly with someone of such a vastly different social status.
“So, Princess. What is Prince Algard’s fiancée doing here?”
“Well, Allie basically broke of their engagement in public, so I kidnapped her for her own protection.”
“…I still don’t follow. What were you doing there? Why would Prince Algard break off his engagement in public? If that’s meant to be a joke, I fail to see the humor.” Ilia’s expression was quizzical as she came out with more questions.
Her reaction wasn’t at all an unreasonable one, though. Euphie was the daughter of Duke Magenta, the kingdom’s anticipated future queen, and so the expectations people had for her were immense. And in spite of all that, her fiancé had called everything off. It must have given my father quite the headache.
“I’m afraid it’s the truth. Reality often unfolds in ways beyond our wildest imagination, don’t you think?”
“I see. Of course, your imagination is especially wild, so I wonder if anyone would be convinced of that?”
“How rude!”
Disrespectful though that comment was, this was how Ilia and I normally interacted. Our conversations were practically banter. Meanwhile, Euphie seemed to shrink the friendlier Ilia and I were with each other.
Realizing that she seemed uncomfortable, Ilia cleared her throat. “And? So why did you bring Lady Euphyllia here, exactly?”
“I hatched a plan to hire her as my assistant! That way, we can offset any damage to her reputation from the engagement fiasco!”
“…Are you being serious?” Ilia stared at me with eyes as expressionless as those of a dead fish.
I nodded back at her.
With that, Ilia turned her gaze to the forlorn girl sitting with us. It was as though she were staring at a cow about to be shipped off to the hinterlands.
Euphie seemed quite bewildered by that stare.
Ilia released a sigh and turned back to me with visible sympathy and disdain. “You’ve finally lost your mind. I’m very sorry, Your Highness. I always knew you had a penchant for unknowingly bringing misfortune down on those around you, but I never suspected you would purposefully try to drive others to ruin.”
“Huh…? But it’s the other way around!”
“Ah, so you do mean well. But the road to hell is paved with good intentions, you know? Lady Euphyllia, please allow me to express my deepest condolences…” With that, Ilia bowed her head, truly remorseful.
Euphie could only glance back and forth between Ilia and me in consternation.
“Ilia?” I said, my lips twitching. “You really are terrible, you know that?”
“Ah… Are you sure, Your Highness? I know for a fact that I will never be able to escape this place, so I know more than anyone what this will mean for Lady Euphyllia. I speak only from experience.”
Her attitude, her tone of voice, the way her shoulders wilted—it was as though I was a child who wouldn’t listen.
Ilia cleared her throat before continuing. “Have you finally gone mad, Your Highness? No, you’ve been this way since the beginning. I feel very sorry for you.”
“It’s your own remarks you should feel sorry about!” I protested. “Why do you think so little of me?!”
Despite my complaints, Ilia turned away in disinterest. Truly, she had tremendous nerve. But then again, that was why I liked her so much.
The next moment, Ilia turned her gaze devilishly toward Euphie. “Lady Euphyllia, please don’t be too hasty.”
“E-excuse me?”
“Don’t let this devil seduce you with her sweet words. Do you understand what I’m saying? Once you take her hand, it will all be over. She’ll drag your soul down into the abyss, and there will be no coming back.”
“Wh-what…?”
“Ilia, your perception of me seems a bit low. Can we discuss this later?” I fixed her with a cold glare, but Ilia expressed nothing but heartfelt disappointment. I just couldn’t decipher her.
“…Is she really so dangerous?” Euphie asked, glancing furtively—and doubtfully—my way.
No, my reputation was in freefall!
Ilia let out a deep sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose. “In the end, yes. But there are quite a few complications.”
“So you don’t recommend I stay?”
“Well. If it’s what you truly want, Lady Euphyllia, and so long as you understand the risks, I have nothing more to say. On the other hand, can I assume that she didn’t explain everything to you?” Ilia said, motioning toward me.
I averted my gaze. I—I didn’t mean to leave anything out, you know?
“…No, it’s just, well… I was thinking about how to say it all properly. I mean, I can show her everything in person here in the palace. That’s the easiest way to explain, right?”
“Oh, you do give me a headache with your rash, thoughtless actions.”
“But I did give it some thought!”
“Yes, yes, of course you did. In any event—Lady Euphyllia? Do you understand how the princess can addle the senses? She’s like a powerful drug.”
“…Yes. I can’t deny it.”
So I was addictive, was I? Well, I wasn’t about to deny that. After all, I realized that well enough myself, so I could understand Ilia’s apprehensions.
“Lady Euphyllia. First and foremost, I can assure you that the princess’s offer is in good faith. Her intentions may not be purely altruistic, but she is acting out of consideration for you.”
“Yes, I realize that…”
“But that is beside the point. The question is whether you understand just how potent a drug she is.”
“…What do you mean exactly?” Euphie frowned.
She didn’t seem to fully comprehend what Ilia meant—yet her reaction served as proof that Ilia’s fears had been well-founded.
“The princess’s study of magicology and her inventions, too, are wonderful things. Even considering only her Thermal Pot here, I’m a sure a great many potential uses spring to mind, yes?”
“Yes, it does seem like a wonderful invention.”
“Indeed. If it came into general use, it could greatly improve people’s lives. But that’s where the problem lies.”
“…Hmm?” Euphie was lost now.
Well, Ilia did have a point there. As wonderful as my magical tools were in and of themselves, there was no denying how addictive they could be.
Watching Euphie’s reaction, Ilia breathed a gentle sigh and closed her eyes. “Once you’ve used it, you’ll never be able to forget that comfort. You won’t be able to go back to how things were before. In other words, it’s a one-way street.”
“That’s going a little too far, don’t you think?” I protested.
“It’s like asking if you can take fire back from a civilization after teaching them how to use it,” Ilia responded, completely ignoring me.
Euphie fell deep into thought, cupping her chin in her hand. Finally, seemingly having made up her mind, she glanced back up. “…Ah, I see. Hence a ‘one-way street.’ Experiencing these tools is a kind of point of no return to life as you knew it before.”
“Yes, precisely. Magical tools are too convenient. The world that the princess envisions is difficult for us to comprehend, and once you arrive there, it’s even more difficult to leave. By that time, you’ll know for yourself just how wonderful it is.”
I could understand what Ilia was trying to say. My inventions, the products of my magicology research, were based on ideas and concepts that didn’t exist in this world. But civilization had developed in a different way here due to the existence of that magic. It was also the reason the authority of the noble and royal houses would never decline.
But at the same time, the existence of magic meant that other technologies hadn’t developed as far as in my past life. That was why my inventions attracted so much attention—and why many considered them heretical. Just as how they had insisted no one could use magic to fly.
There were things that were common sense in the context of this civilization. Here, the knowledge I possessed was alien. I brought concepts and ideas that no one here had ever before seen. That was why I had argued that my magicology had the potential to overshadow any negative rumors about Euphie’s broken engagement.
“So I don’t recommend going down this path lightly,” Ilia concluded.
Meanwhile, Euphie still seemed unsure.
The mood was getting dark, so I clapped my hands together. “Well, we can think about all that later. You’re tired, aren’t you, Euphie? Let’s get some rest!”
I rose to my feet and picked Euphie up once more.
My guest must have been deep in thought, as her reaction was delayed by a split second. She began to resist only after falling into my arms.
“L-Lady Anis! This again…?!”
“Good night, Ilia! See you tomorrow!”
“Yes, good night, Princess. You too, Lady Euphyllia.”
I ran through the corridors of the detached palace while Euphie was still flailing indignantly in my arms.
At first anyway. Realizing that her efforts were futile, she soon fell quiet. I adjusted her position and flashed her a smile.
“Don’t worry, really. I won’t do anything.”
“…”
“You really don’t trust me, do you…?”
If I had asked Ilia, we probably could have had an extra room prepared right away. She was so frustratingly capable. But I didn’t want to leave Euphie by herself right now. She had caught my interest.
While I was thinking, I arrived at my room. I set Euphie down and moved to open the door. My bedroom was luxurious, as to be expected for royalty, with a bed more than large enough for two people to sleep in comfortably.
The table was piled high with books and other papers, while a set of huge clothes-filled closets and miscellaneous magical tools like Thermal Pots stood out, too.
Those magical devices were all re-creations of everyday items I remembered from my past life. For example, there was one called a Hair Dryer. I usually let Ilia take care of maintaining my appearance, but when she wasn’t available, I had to see to it myself.
Euphie was staring around at those magical tools, her curiosity piqued.
“Now, Euphie. Let’s get changed! I’ll help you get undressed!”
“No, uh, I can’t let you do that, Lady Anis…!”
“Come on, it’s fine.”
I knew how difficult it was to take off a dress by yourself. That was why I didn’t like wearing them myself, although a member of the royal family just had to grin and bear it sometimes.
On other occasions, I usually wore custom-made clothes that combined features from the uniforms of knights and maids. The end result was almost like the military uniforms I remembered from my past life.
Regardless, that was why I had to help Euphie get changed. She resisted at first but reluctantly let me get to work.
I had to take care so as not to wrinkle her dress. The fabric looked expensive and was wonderful to the touch, as befitting a member of the House of Magenta.
“Ah, here. This is one of my nightgowns, but you can use it. It might be a little small on you, though.”
I was a little on the short side, and Euphie was slightly taller than I was. She had a breathtakingly beautiful figure, with modest breasts that were actually perfectly proportioned to her slender frame. Was she the personification of the golden ratio, perhaps?
As for me? Ilia often teased me for being so short. Not that I cared, though…
“All right. I’ll get changed, too; why don’t you get into bed?”
“…All right.”
Now that she was dressed for sleep, Euphie made herself comfortable. Maybe she was tired of resisting my suggestions.
I quickly changed into a nightgown, too, a different color than the one I had lent Euphie, and turned off the lights.
The room was plunged into darkness all at once, and I poured some magical energy into a device I had installed near the bed. Shortly afterward, a faint light illuminated the room.
Once the light was working, I turned to Euphie, who was lying in bed and squinting at me warily.
Flashing her a smile, I crept under the covers and beckoned her over.
“Come on, make yourself at home, Euphie!”
“…Excuse me.”
Euphie was lying down on the mattress at a distance. The dim light was enough to illuminate both of our faces.
I studied her features once again. Her face was truly beautiful, the kind I could never grow tired of. Only then did I notice that she seemed uncomfortable under my gaze.
“Sorry, sorry. Bet it’s hard to sleep with me staring at you like that.”
“…What…?”
“Hmm?”
“…What are…you?” Euphie asked in a small voice.
It was an abstract question, and I wasn’t entirely sure how to answer. Her expression was tinged with anxiety and consternation.
I forced a smile. “I’m me. An eccentric princess and the kingdom’s troublemaker. A crazy, outlandish, unsolvable mystery.”
“…There is much I could say, but I shan’t.”
“Is it really that strange? I mean, I’ve been shamelessly kind to you, don’t you think?”
Perhaps I had been on the mark there, as Euphie fell silent. Nonetheless, she didn’t lower her gaze, as though she were trying to peer through me. I felt like letting out an instinctive chuckle.
“I guess there’s a lot of reasons why I’m doing this. I like you as a person, but I’m also pretty shrewd. I could string together all sorts of explanations, but none of them seem important to me right now.”
“…They don’t?” Euphie whispered back uncertainly.
I nodded, before averting my gaze and staring at the ceiling.
“I think people are driven by emotion, mainly. We laugh, we get sad, we get angry. That’s why I can’t just leave you.”
“Because you don’t strike me as the kind of person who knows how to do any of those!” I declared, turning back to her.
I startled when I saw how shocked she was. Only then, seeing her reaction, could I bring myself to relax.
“I’ve been watching you from afar, more than you know.”
“…You have?”
“Yes. You’re always so perfect. Smiling like a role model to everyone—and completely expressionless when emotion isn’t called for. You’re the perfect young noblewoman! Maybe that’s why…when I found you there…I couldn’t just ignore what was going on…”
“…I’m confused. Do you mean when you crashed into the party venue?”
“I mean, you weren’t picture-perfect then. Or now. You’ve been crying and getting angry. You may be able to suppress your emotions, but I’m sure it’s difficult for you.”
Euphie was perfect. As our next queen, as the daughter of a duke, she was flawless. Her refined mannerisms, her quality education, her abundant talent. She was, by every measure, everything she ought to be.
But what if that perfection was wounded? What if it lost its meaning? What would she think of herself, then? What would she have left? Her talent, her spirit, the depth of the effort that she poured into everything would still be there. But if she was to lose sight of the goal she had worked so hard to achieve, what would she do next?
“So what I’m saying is that you need to do your best to feel those emotions for yourself. Do what you want. Because when I see you, it looks to me like you aren’t able to do that. So I couldn’t just ignore you.”
“…That’s your reason?”
“There’s more to it, sure. I acted partly on instinct, partly by design. But most of all, I wanted to help you work out what you really, really want. That’s the most important reason.”
I reached under the covers and touched Euphie’s hand. She pulled back slightly at first but then relaxed.
And so I pulled her to me in a warm embrace, let her bury her face in my chest, and patted her on the back.
“You did your best. So now it’s time to get some rest.”
“…”
With her face pressed against me, I couldn’t read her expression. But I did notice she was weakly holding on to my clothes.
She didn’t try to push me away. I closed my eyes with my arms still around her.
The trembling in her body gradually faded, and she drifted off to sleep. Only when I was sure she was slumbering did I allow myself to doze off, too.
The day after Euphie arrived at the detached palace, I was preparing to visit Duke Magenta.
Euphie had returned home ahead of me. After all, she had to change her clothes and get ready to move in with me properly, so she had arranged to be picked up in the morning while there were still few people out and about.
“Your Highness, please pay attention to your attire. You wouldn’t want to offend the duke.”
“Yes, yes. I know.”
Ilia gave me a deep bow, then led me to my closet. I could only give an exaggerated sigh as she advised me on formal dress.
“I’ve been entrusted with Duke Magenta’s beloved daughter, and there’s the whole issue with Allie, too, so I’m willing to at least try to play along with expectations.”
“Ah…! I can hardly believe that our wild, uncontrollable Princess Anisphia is being so docile for once…! I could die tomorrow fulfilled…!” Ilia exclaimed like an actress in an opera.
“You are so melodramatic.”
With that, she quickly returned to her usual stoic, expressionless demeanor. “That being said, perhaps you should take a bath first?”
What was with those dramatic shifts in personality…?
“We’ll choose a dress for you after you’ve bathed, and see to your makeup, too. Ah, and then—”
“You do come alive whenever you get to dress me up, don’t you, Ilia?”
To be clear, I wasn’t a fan of all this fancy dress. I only ever put myself through this when there was a social gathering that simply couldn’t be avoided. Maybe I hated the extravagant clothing because of the association with those formal events?
Ilia nodded across at me, her expression still unreadable. “Let’s use some flowers. People adore flowers. You used to, too.”
“…Yes, yes, I know. Let’s just get this over with.”
I didn’t have enough energy to argue with her, so I nodded back with a forced smile. And before I knew it, I was transformed into the image of a lovable young lady.
I would have resisted in the past, but now I knew there was no point, so I let Ilia do what she had to.
When I glanced at myself in the mirror, my face was so heavily painted that I hardly even recognized myself. Ilia’s enthusiasm was incredible, truly—similar, perhaps, to my passion for magic. Looking at it that way, I found I could endure the hardship of having to make myself look pretty.
All of a sudden, I laid eyes on Ilia in the mirror. She might have been approaching her thirties, but her skin still had a youthful luster. She didn’t seem at all old. In fact, she had hardly changed from my earliest memories of her.
On the contrary, her beauty seemed to have become only more refined with time. She was both a blessing to the eyes and one of those rare individuals I could easily get along with. I was truly fortunate to have her as my personal maid.
“You’re beautiful, Ilia,” I said.
“You tease. It’s only because you gave me an invention to maintain my looks.”
“I mean it. I’ve thought so since I was a child. That’s why I worked so hard to create it.”
“Ah, that brings back memories. I remember when you started bolting through the castle one day all of a sudden.”
“Oh… Do you mean when you caught me and held me from behind?”
“Yes. That’s when it all started. You started building your magical devices after that and managed to injure yourself more times than I can count. You would come back covered in cuts and bruises.” Ilia’s voice was fond as she tied my hair back.
She was referring to my past blunders—shared memories between the two of us.
At the time, I had just rediscovered my memories of my past life, and I had been so excited to know that the power of magic really did exist in this world. But then, of course, I had to face the fact that I couldn’t use that magic myself. And then I had set about building my magical devices. Ilia had always been there for me. What would have become of me without her? I couldn’t help but wonder. I quickly realized, however, that I was dwelling on those thoughts perhaps too much and pouted my lips.
“It’s true that there were many failures, but there can be no success without making mistakes.”
“In that case, my failure was that I didn’t leave you.” In the mirror, Ilia’s mouth was unusually relaxed, almost a smile.
My eyes opened wide. It was a rare sight, this maid showing any sign of emotion.
“…And what kind of success did that bring you, Ilia?”
“This moment now.”
I was so embarrassed that I had to murmur, “…You’re exaggerating again.”
That wasn’t something to say so proudly. Nonetheless, Ilia began to giggle, even letting out a laugh.
I puffed my cheeks in frustration. “You have strange tastes, Ilia.”
“Are you one to speak?” she asked, her smile widening.
She had been with me for more than a decade, but her appearance hadn’t changed at all from how I remembered it. Even after all these years, she was still the same Ilia. I couldn’t exactly say it aloud, but I was grateful to have her with me.
I thought of her like an elder sister, though she would likely be overwhelmed if I told her that.
Of course, she wasn’t really my sister. Maybe more of a partner or a friend?
While I was musing about our relationship, Ilia had stopped tying my hair and begun to curl it around her finger playfully. She would often play with my unruly hair like this.
“…What is it?”
“Oh, I just thought how nice it is to be here. So marriage isn’t the only path to happiness that a woman can choose.”
“Ah… Right, about that…” I was at a temporary loss for words.
Ilia continued to stoke my head, letting my hair fall from her fingers. “Don’t fret. My family name carries little weight, and I was also a pawn in a political marriage. It’s no exaggeration to say that I am now, in a sense, married to you, Your Highness. Thanks to you, I have a good life,” she said proudly, as though fully satisfied.
I, on the other hand, found my expression turning sour as I recalled her family.
Ilia was the daughter of a viscount. Her parents were particularly power hungry and had sought a marriage for her that could increase their social standing. Sending her to work as an attendant at the royal palace had been part of those plans.
No doubt they had hoped she might catch the eye of an heir to a house of means—if possible, an influential member of the nobility.
And those shallow intentions had led her here. That was when I first met her. Her parents had been frustrated that she had yet to find a partner, so when I heard they were trying to force her into an unwanted engagement, I went to great lengths to keep her with me.
And so, after many twists and turns, we arrived at where we were now. I had taken advantage of the situation to involve her in my magicology research, though I couldn’t say whether that had been for the best.
At first, Ilia’s family had welcomed my offer to take her into my employ. But after I relinquished my claim to the throne, they withdrew their good graces. I wasn’t particularly fond of them, so as far as I was concerned, that wasn’t a great loss.
Looking back on it all made me feel rather awkward. Ilia said she didn’t mind, as she had always had a somewhat frigid relationship with her family. That was why she had stopped using her family name. She said she had practically been disowned, so I tried my best not to bring up the subject.
To me, she was simply Ilia. It didn’t matter who her family was. I brought her here because I liked her for who she was. If that brought her happiness, all the better.
“Life is going to get even more exciting, Ilia. You’ll stay with me, won’t you?”
“As you wish, Your Highness. Although I won’t hesitate to throttle you if need be.”
I broke into laughter at her response. She was the reason I was here today. I couldn’t thank her enough.
“Heh-heh, a perfect princess disguise… Thank you, Ilia!”
“What are you saying? You are a princess,” she said, making a joke to hide her embarrassment.
We engaged in some more light conversation as I completed my preparations, before boarding a carriage to take us to Duke Magenta’s residence in true princess style. Ilia sat across from me as my escort. It was difficult to relax; I missed my usual knight-inspired clothes.
The dukes of the House of Magenta belonged to an ancient lineage. They had a long history of a direct relationship to the royal family, although diluted by the ages. The dukes of Magenta were among the most venerated members of the nobility and had served the kings of Palettia as loyal vassals for generations. I had heard that Duke Grantz was a childhood friend of my father’s, and the two had spent much time together during their youth.
Through this connection, I had even gone to play at the Magenta estate several times as a child. This had all been before Allie and I had become estranged.
Ever since our social positions had become more firmly established, we had grown somewhat distant from the Magentas. To be honest, I was a little reluctant to return there. I might have been dressed like royalty, but I wanted to tear all the finery off of me. Yet that wasn’t an option where we were headed.
I steeled my nerves, trying to convince myself that this was my first official visit. That was when the gates to the Magenta estate came into view.
“Here we go, Ilia.”
“Indeed, Your Highness.”
As I stepped down from the carriage with Ilia attending to me, a line of maids led by an old butler bowed their heads in unison, each with perfect elegance and refinement.
“Welcome, Princess Anisphia.”
“Thank you. I’m impressed. The Magentas are certainly worthy of their reputation.”
“Your presence is a great honor, Your Highness. The duke is waiting for you inside. This way, please.”
I was visiting as a princess today, so I reminded myself to behave appropriately. I could already feel my smile freezing somewhat, but as my visit was partly supposed to serve as an apology from the royal family, I would have to put up with it. I was a princess today—a princess.
With the greetings out of the way, the butler led me into the duke’s mansion. As we passed through door after door, I was taken by the building’s grandeur. It was certainly worthy of a family with such a long and distinguished history.
We were led into a drawing room, where we found Euphie, Duke Grantz, and a peaceful-looking woman waiting for us. The woman was Duchess Nerschell Magenta, the wife of Duke Grantz and Euphie’s mother. Her silver-colored hair was done up in a large bun—undone, it would probably spill all the way down her back.
Duchess Nerschell exuded the sort of beauty that comes with age. Her eyes were pale green, reflecting a strong core. The strength of her gaze was one of her most renowned characteristics.
Euphie took after her father, yet I had to recognize that she had the inner strength of both parents. Incidentally, Euphie was supposed to have a younger brother. Did he resemble his mother, perhaps?
It had been a long time since I had last seen Duchess Nerschell, so I found myself staring at her. At that moment, our eyes met. I would have to greet her so as not to be rude.
“Good morning, Miss Euphyllia, Duke Grantz. It’s been a long time, Duchess Nerschell. It’s a great pleasure to see you again,” I said with a bow.
“Not at all,” Duke Grantz said, stepping forward to welcome me in turn. “It’s an honor to have you visit us, Princess Anisphia.”
I glanced up, shaking my head. “I’m the one asking for Miss Euphyllia to join me. If anything, I should be offering my thanks. Above all, I want to apologize for my brother. This is an official apology on behalf of the royal family, but on a personal level, I also want to express my own regrets.” I bowed my head again to give my condolences.
“Please raise your head, Princess Anisphia,” the duke said.
“You were looking out for our dear Euphie,” the duchess added. “After all you’ve done for her, we couldn’t possibly expect you to apologize.”
I looked up and sat down as they ushered me to a seat. Ilia stood behind me, while the duke, the duchess, and their daughter sat immediately across.
“I haven’t seen you in so long, Duchess Nerschell. I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”
“Yes, the same goes for you, too, Princess Anisphia. How long has it been since you last visited us?” The duchess covered her mouth with her hand, letting out a cheerful chuckle.
Her eyes were so compassionate that I found myself swaying restlessly. I was too used to people being cruel and hard-hearted, not this level of kindness.
“I remember coming here as a child… But I had to maintain a certain distance after Miss Euphyllia’s engagement to my brother was decided.”
“Yes. I’d hoped it wasn’t true, but it seems the arrangement with Prince Algard hasn’t turned out. If anything, it would be more constructive to dismiss this outcome as inevitable now that everything has come to light.” Duchess Nerschell was still wearing a smile, but I could feel the force of the pressure behind her words.
Duke Grantz’s countenance was intimidating by its unreadability, but the duchess’s smile was an aggressive one. Seeing these two, I could understand why some people said Miss Euphyllia was stern at times. It most certainly ran in her blood.
At that moment, my gaze met Duchess Nerschell’s. She flashed me an amiable smile, but I felt a thrill of tension from it.
“My husband and Euphie have already told me about your proposal,” the duchess said, as though to change the topic. “If that is what Euphie wants, I will be happy to let her join you.”
I breathed a small sigh of relief and forced myself to sit up straight to clear my mind. This was going to be an important discussion, so I had to keep it together.
“I’m honored to hear that you’ve agreed to it. As a member of the royal family who knows what it’s like to lose the respect of those around her, I would like to help redeem Miss Euphyllia’s honor after this unfortunate event. I will assume full responsibility for your daughter and take good care of her. This I swear on the name of the royal house,” I declared, staring straight at the three Magentas.
At this, Euphie seemed to have a strange cast to her eyes, while Duchess Nerschell’s shoulders were trembling unusually.
Duke Grantz, likewise aware of their reactions, shrugged. “You’re acting rather proper today, Princess Anisphia. I almost found myself laughing there when you swore that oath on the name of your family.”
“D-Duke Grantz?!”
It had seemed totally out of character to me as well, but did he have to say that aloud?! I was trying my best here to act like a proper princess! Even Ilia let out a sigh behind my back!
No, I wasn’t doing anything wrong. Huh? Out of the ordinary? Well, maybe for me, I was…
“Ugh, Duke Grantz… I’m trying to treat the situation with the dignity it deserves!”
“Do forgive us. I never dreamed to see you conduct yourself so respectably,” the duke responded with another shrug and a faint grin.
Something about his reply struck me as vaguely mischievous. Ugh, to think that the duke would tease me so…
“Your sincerity is clear. Please take good care of Euphie for us.”
“Yes! I’ll love her dearly!” I answered with a cheerful smile, bowing my head once more.
Yes! If Euphie decided to join me, I would be able to push on with my research! Hee-hee-hee!
After all, I needed the cooperation of a capable magic user to make my inventions. I might have possessed such magic myself, but I was incapable of properly using it. That had been a major impediment thus far, hence why I had set about creating my magical devices. And now Euphie, a prodigious talent, would become my research assistant! The future of my work was bright!
I had let my excitement carry me away a little when I suddenly remembered. What would Euphie do about her studies at the Aristocratic Academy? After all that commotion the other day, I doubted she could just go back.
“By the way, Duke Grantz… How will Euphie be treated from now on? Such as at the Aristocratic Academy…?”
“We’ve yet to discuss how to deal with all this or her future position for that matter… But I think it is best for her not to return for the time being.”
“Right. I thought so, too.”
“I will have to discuss the details with His Majesty, but I’ll let you know once it’s all decided.”
“I’ll be waiting. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
“Very well… In that case, please be at ease, Princess Anisphia.”
“…That’s rather mean, Duke Grantz. I’m trying to help here, you know?”
He did seem to be trying to be considerate to me, but did he think me incapable of behaving myself like a modest princess? Well, maybe that was beyond me. But if he wanted me to take it easy, I most certainly would!
I adjusted my posture to get comfortable, when Euphie and Duchess Nerschell suddenly started giggling. Hmph! Everyone knew I was a no-good princess anyway!
“Thank you for looking after our Euphie, Princess Anisphia,” Duchess Nerschell said.
“Of course! Actually, I’ll be asking a lot from her, so thank you!”
“Oh dear. Well then, I had better help pack her things. Euphie? Let’s go.”
“Yes, Mother. Excuse me, Lady Anis.”
Euphie and Duchess Nerschell curtsied before leaving the parlor to prepare for the move.
As I watched them go, Duke Grantz called out to me: “Thank you again, Princess Anisphia.”
“There’s no need for that, Duke Grantz. I’m grateful to have Euphie assisting me.”
The duke wavered slightly at this response, although his gaze remained piercing, enough to send a chill down my spine. It was like he was trying to see deep inside me.
“…I didn’t think you had a good impression of me,” the duke said.
“Huh? Why wouldn’t I?”
I tilted my head to one side at this unexpected declaration. Had he really thought that? But why?
Duke Grantz was, in a way, my father’s right-hand man. He wielded a great deal of political power, but more importantly, he was my father’s friend, his confidant, and an important ally. I had no reason to think negatively of him. I tilted my head to the other side in bewilderment.
At that moment, the duke burst into laughter. All I could do was stare back at him wide-eyed.
“You haven’t changed at all, Princess Anisphia.”
“Oh…? Is that so?”
“Indeed. Since you announced you had no intention of marrying, you’ve been meeting nothing but success in your accomplishments. His Majesty hasn’t known what to do with you for a long time now. I’ve seen that firsthand.” The duke’s voice was filled with nostalgia as he lay bare emotions that he normally kept hidden.
I, on the other hand, was simply confused. Why would he reveal this side of himself to me of all people, instead of his own daughter?
“Are you certain you didn’t have such a great impression of me?”
“Ah. I wonder,” Duke Grantz demurred with a bold grin.
In the end, I had no idea what he was thinking. I frowned back at him, not fully satisfied by his response.
“You’re fine as you are, Princess Anisphia. Please take good care of Euphie.”
“Ah…”
No, I wasn’t at all satisfied, but at least he didn’t seem to think too poorly of me now. I decided not to press any further.
“In that case, I’ll leave you to it. Please excuse me. I have some business I must attend to.”
“Oh, of course. Thank you for taking the time to see me.”
Right. The duke was a busy man and didn’t have a lot of free time. He was probably needed elsewhere, especially given the situation with Allie. The duke gave me a formal bow, leaving me alone with Ilia.
I relaxed my shoulders and let out a sigh, when Ilia turned her attention to me.
“You’re making too many mistakes, Your Highness. You should at least wait until we’ve returned to the palace before you let down your guard.”
“Right, right. You’re always finding fault, Ilia.”
“I’m honored you think so.”
I hadn’t meant that as a compliment… But I did feel a little more comfortable after this exchange. A butler in the employ of the House of Magenta brought us a pot of tea as we waited.
Ilia busied herself asking the butler about tea, then about Euphie. Given that she was the only attendant at my palace, she would be responsible for taking care of Euphie, so she no doubt had many things she wanted to confirm. I could look after myself, but Euphie might require more attention.
I had nothing to do, so I simply listened into the pair’s conversation as I waited.
“Thank you for your patience, Lady Anis,” Euphie called out when she returned.
“Yes. I don’t have many belongings to begin with…,” she said with a soft smile, though her brow was furrowed in a frown.
Was something bothering her, perhaps?
I found myself turning toward Duchess Nerschell, who let out a troubled chuckle.
Huh? What was going on?
“Did something happen?”
“…I had a small quarrel with my little brother.”
“Oh? About what?”
Euphie’s brother hadn’t joined us, so I had no idea why the two of them might be arguing.
Euphie, seeing that I didn’t understand, flashed me a forced smile. “I’m sorry, Lady Anis. It’s a family matter…”
She often seemed to be wearing this expression lately, as though she was having difficulty knowing what to do with her face. What had happened while she was packing? I glanced toward Duchess Nerschell, but she merely cleared her throat and returned my gaze.
“My son doesn’t like being apart from his elder sister. He wasn’t very happy about her going to join you at the palace, so he put up a bit of a fight…”
“Ah… I see…”
I was in a completely different position from Allie, but it made sense that Euphie’s brother would be worried about her safety there.
But she would be much safer with me than she would be staying here, from what I could see. She wouldn’t be staying at the royal palace, either, but rather at my villa. She would have little cause to come into contact with strangers.
That was no doubt why Duke Grantz had given his approval. But maybe it was a little much to ask Euphie’s younger brother to understand. Yes, it was a difficult situation…
“He’s still rather immature, which is why I didn’t ask him to join us. I’m sorry to worry you, Princess Anisphia.”
“Not at all. This is the royal family’s responsibility, too. We caused this problem in the first place.”
I couldn’t say I didn’t understand how Euphie’s brother must have felt. My family was the underlying cause of this mess, after all.
Perhaps having read my thoughts, Duchess Nerschell shook her head. Her expression tightened as she addressed me in a slightly aggrieved voice. “This is a good opportunity for my son, too, so he can learn to spend time apart from his sister. I’m sorry if this seems somewhat feckless, but I’m truly grateful to you for taking her in.”
“It’s fine! Please raise your head, Duchess Nerschell! Don’t worry, please! This benefits me, too, really!”
The duchess was bowing so deeply that I nearly panicked. I was just acting according to my own whims, so all this pomp wasn’t necessary.
“Don’t worry. Euphie and I will achieve great things, and she’ll be able to reenter high society again before you know it! That way, we’ll be able to restore her honor. I’m sure her brother will appreciate that, too.”
“Oh, my daughter is truly fortunate to have you, Princess Anisphia…”
“Mother…,” Euphie murmured, softening.
With that, the atmosphere in the room relaxed. Duchess Nerschell flashed her daughter a smile before grasping her hands in her own.
“Euphie. No matter how far away you are, I wish you happiness. Your father and I share responsibility for this state of affairs, as we raised you thinking only to prepare you to be our future queen. Please don’t worry about us. Just look after yourself.” Her gentle voice was filled with strong affection.
Ilia and I watched on as Euphie gave her mother a short nod.
And so we set off in our carriage back to the detached palace, Euphyllia staring outside the window until her family home disappeared out of sight.