The lady of Marquis Schönhausen ── Clara was an extremely assertive woman. Ensnaring Alberto’s friend, Emil, she used him to get in touch with Alberto. Since there was never such an assertive woman like her before, he was overwhelmed and permitted her to come to the palace.
I want to see the royal palace’s garden , to waste the Prince’s time with that kind of mundane reason, what a bold woman she was. As Alberto turned eighteen, he had to prepare for his wedding with Christina next year, not to mention the government affairs and military arrangement for revisable rank, having to do all kinds of preparation, he was comparatively busy.
If it was not for the request of Emil who seemed to be in the middle of an unrequited love, Alberto would have never received it.
She would talk about her ordinary life as a commoner before she was adopted as a daughter of the Marquis house. Things like how to make delicious cookie, handmade coaster, how to knit laces, vegetable recipes and the morning market, she would tell a story about the world that Alberto and Emil didn’t know and amuse them.
Since he had never seen the common life before, her story served as a good reference. At the same time, he remembered that Emil had an interest in her novelty, partly because of her good appearance, and it was quick to understand that he was infatuated with her.
However, as far as Alberto was concerned, she was no more than that kind of woman. Perhaps the reason for his subdued gaze was because he could feel her jealousy towards Christina from all over her.[1]
“This hair ornament, is actually handmade”
“Hee, it’s amazing”
While strolling around the lake side, she pointed at her hair ornament. A combination of lace, wool, and gem put on a silver base, it was a wing-shaped hair ornament. Setting aside whether she could make it, Alberto was more surprised at the fact that the hair ornament was able to be made by hand.
Clara, wearing a light blue dress, laughed bashfully.
“Ehe. But, every hair ornament that Christina-sama wear is first-class goods only, I think it is so amazing. Because all of them are expensive goods that I can never reach, I feel kind of envious”
“…… is that so……”
Alberto intentionally smiled gently. Click, something rang in his heart.
She might be envying Christina. Learning of the things she could never have, the pure noble lady that attracted the public eye. It seemed she had yet to have the consciousness of having become one of those noble ladies too.
After hearing her, Emil immediately said he would buy her a new hair ornament.
“After all, did Christina-sama beg[2] to Your Highness Alberto? Since all of them are expensive things only, it seems hard……”
To those words, click, something rang in Alberto’s heart again.
[T/N : You’re not the only one, Alberto (╬ಠ益ಠ) ]
Although she lowered her eyebrows worriedly, in fact, she was asking under the assumption that Christina was a haughty woman. In order to conceal his irritation, he deepened his smile.
“I wonder. Sometimes she begs, but it was all a cute one. Moreover, the things she chooses are not expensive things only, you know. She would choose the beautiful ones that she likes.”
“Hee. It is unexpected. I thought she would only choose the most expensive things in the store. Commoners are not good, aren’t we? We ended up thinking that if it is expensive then it means it has a good taste.”
“…………”
Alberto remembered that he felt bored from this conversation and raised his head. Then, his gaze was immediately drawn to the outdoor corridor of the west tower. The silver hair was softly dancing in the wind.
“Christina……?”
Although he called her, since there was quite a distance between them, she seemed to not hear it. She then went towards the rose garden. When he thought of running after her, she elegantly turned around to him.
On her beautiful face, although a smile was floated, her cheeks were stiffened.
Her gentle eyebrows raised tensely, and those violet eyes that had only ever looked up to him with love, were now glaring at him with hatred.
“────”
He felt blood drained from his whole body.
Christina is glaring at me. It was only for an instant. However, it managed to give him a severe damage.
Did I do something wrong? thinking so, he suddenly remembered the girl next to him. He didn’t think of her as someone of the same age at all, since her way of thinking was quite immature. He also didn’t see her as someone of the opposite sex at all, but in this situation it could not be seen as something other than two people strolling alone together.
I’ve made Christina misunderstand.
Clara held her mouth then looked up at him.
“Oh no…… Christina-sama surely misunderstood. What should I do, she was glaring at me with such a scary face……”
── What are you talking about. She didn’t see anyone but me, did she……?
Without waiting Alberto to speak up his thoughts, she started running.
“I……will clear up the misunderstanding……!”
“Wai……”
With a speed that seemed to be pointless to stop, she dashed to the rose garden. Christina cannot run that fast. Is that the difference in the livelihood? while thinking such trivial thing, Emil returned.
“Huh? Where is Clara-chan?”
“…… She went to the rose garden.”
With a somewhat bitter feeling, Alberto scowled at his friend.
.
.
Chasing after Christina by following Clara’s figure, Alberto arrived at the rose garden when suddenly Clara screamed.
His mother and sister were dumbfoundedly watching Clara. He guessed that perhaps they were surprised by the unusual loud voice and were unable to react. However, he wasn’t able to imagine what kind of situation happened to Clara.
Tea was splashed onto her light blue dress. In front of Clara, holding the empty tea cup was his beautiful fiancée (Christina)[3].
Emil frowned.
“Christina-sama……?”
Alberto sensed the meaning of that doubtful voice.
She saw him walking alone together with Clara and was jealous. Her glaring at him with face that he never saw before, might also be because of it.
Thanks to the maid who took the clamoring Clara away, the place quieted down.
However, she is not the kind of girl that would splash the tea because of some jealousy ──while thinking so, Emil raised a skeptic voice again.
“What has happened……?”
Christina answered that it seemed to be only anemia, but Emil persistently asked her about the situation.
“Is that so…… However, why were you holding the tea cup?”
She smiled beautifully. For Alberto who had been with her for a long time, he was immediately able to sense that it was an artificial smile.
“Since the cup almost fell, I caught it. Please be at ease. No matter what happens, I am not a person without any pride that would harass a woman.”
Certainly, Christina is not the kind of woman who will unsightly go mad with jealousy.Nevertheless, Emil still gave off the feeling of disbelief.
Can it be, impossible, but ── Alberto who was wavering in his assessment of the situation, again found some anger on her cold face.
Alberto opened his eyes wide.
After all, have I made her misunderstand? he flustered, then a pair of cold ── as if there was no love for him, freezing eyes glared at him.
In Alberto’s head, he had lost his composure. He was glared at by her not just once, but twice. Moreover that gaze was so sharp it felt as if she was going to abandon him.
He remembered the fear that he might have been hated by his precious fiancée.
Alberto who never even dreamed that this day would come, grinded his teeth.
Contrary to the anxiety and impatience in his heart, he pretended to be tough and put on a smile on his face.
Perhaps, due to the jealousy she ended up splashing the tea to Clara.
“Yet, my fiancée-dono seems to be rather angry”
The words he uttered in confusion, even for himself were the worst.
Please deny it, but contrary to that thought, she averted her eyes. Without showing any reaction to Alberto’s words, she greeted his mother and sister. She who passed by his side in order to go home, did not give even a glance to Alberto.
She is angry. ── For real.
Although he understood it, Alberto didn’t know at all what should he do to deal with her anger.
If I go to meet her and she rejects me, I won’t be able to recover anymore. What if in the worst case, I visit the Duke’s mansion, and in front of my face, she says that she hates me──?
Christina who had adored him and innocently said I love you since they were young.
The angel that he had always loved.
Her cold gaze turned at him but was not noticed by his mother and sister.
Alberto whose head was in disorder to the point of shivering, pathetically, postponed the settlement of the problem.
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Alberto wrote a letter to Clara.
Intending to ask the situation of that day, it was a letter filled with apology by offering to send her anything that she wanted. She said, since she had just moved to the Marquis mansion recently, she only had few decoration, so he thought that it was just right.
Whether she might skip over the letter, the reply from Clara did not contain any information about the incident of that day. Instead, I want to go to the town together or I want to go to the royal palace again, this time I want to hear what kind of study do you do, it was written with those kinds of demands.
While thinking that this was a roundabout demand for apology, he asked Emil along to go together to the town and bought her some slightly expensive cakes and sweets, as well as a modest hair ornament that she wanted. He purposely bought her a modest one because Emil who came along kept on taking the initiative to buy her high-quality items.
While she was being grateful, she also looked at Emil with an expression as if saying he was not that bad.
Since Emil’s love seemed to almost be fulfilled, Alberto thought it was good.
.
However, he had not met his own fiancée for a month.
When he thought that he might be hated, he ended up being frightened and hesitated.
On the day of the evening party that they both planned to attend, he did his best to feign calmness and went to pick her up.
The woman who he hadn’t met for awhile, was terribly beautiful, and even her bad mood face was still lovely. Inside the carriage, he followed his feeling and pulled her waist to him, he tried to hold a conversation with her and asked her about his present.
The flowers he sent to inquire her about her feelings, in the flower language held the meanings of [Eternal Love], [Unchanging Vow], [I see no one but you], all kinds of flowers with those meanings were gathered, but she completely didn’t notice at all. [T/N : Alberto, I think you should first find out whether Christina knows flower language or not 
]
Even when she was asked what kind of flowers they were, since she was unable to answer, it seemed she ignored the flowers themselves. Since he was a little dejected, his true feeling leaked out.
“I knew it, I shouldn’t have sent flower……”
During the time they were not in contact, Alberto kept on worrying endlessly.
He was afraid to meet Christina. But he wanted to convey his feelings to her, and kept on thinking what should he send. After thinking too much, it became incomprehensible, in the end, he took the choice of the mediocre flower.
As expected, I cannot attract her with flower.
Even though I want to convey my feelings of how I think of you, how much I love you, I don’t know what I should do.
Even the hair ornament I sent as her fifteenth birthday present, has never been worn by her even once up to this day. As expected, was that such a bad taste thing?
If so, let’s try giving her a different hair ornament. The one that can convey this feeling──
Alberto dearly looked at Christina who pressed her lips tightly.
“Next time, I will send you a different one, Christina. Just like what you love, a more expensive one.”
Although choosing things for the current woman is hard, but next time, I will present her the best item that suits Christina──
When he said that, a sharp gaze was turned to him.
“── Did you think that as long as it was expensive I would be pleased?”
Alberto let out a chuckle and smiled.
That’s right── Christina doesn’t wish for expensive things. She is a girl who will only choose beautiful item that suits her.
It really is difficult. Even though I would give anything to you, my loved one.
“You are such a bad girl…… To trouble me like this”
Even if she was in a bad mood, to go together with her to the evening party was enough for him.
Pui, even her gesture of turning her face away was so adorable, her nape that was visible from the gap of her hair, was smoothly white.
Alberto who was excited after finally exchanging words with her after a long time, was unable to suppress his impulse to touch her, and ended up giving her a lot of kisses on her skin in front of their attendants.
As expected, she gave an adorable reaction just like always, and he felt slightly relieved.
.
.
But, even the feeling of relief was only for an instant, as her mood dropped.
At the party, Clara didn’t read the mood and didn’t try to end her conversation with Alberto. Although he sensed other participants were waiting for the timing around them, Emil kept on bringing up a new subject and it turned into a difficult situation of an endless talk.
Moreover, as if waiting for that timing, when the music in the hall entered the interlude, she began talking about dancing.
“I, since I originally was a girl without any social status, I have never dance in front of other people. Marquis-sama has arranged me a dance teacher, but I still don’t have the confidence……”
Turning her sparkling eyes as if saying she wanted to be invited for a dance, Alberto looked towards his friend beside him.
──YOU invite her.
Although he tried to say it through his eyes, Emil realized that Clara was gazing at Alberto, and whispered to his ear.
“Just dance with her. Since it’s her first time dancing, it is surely better if it’s with someone like you who is used to it”
──And you’re okay with that?
Leaving the woman you like to other man, doesn’t it anger you? he thought. In fact, just by seeing Christina in other man’s arm, Alberto’s heart had been burnt by flames of jealousy. Every time, he would hand her over to another man with a heartbroken feeling.
With a nice man’s smile, Emil poked Alberto’s side.
“Look, just invite her. Isn’t she expecting it?”
After he said it, certainly she was filled with expectation and was staring at Alberto with puppy dog eyes.
I don’t want to do it, although he thought like that, he also thought but since she is expecting it this much, isn’t it bad to refuse it?
The other person was a young girl who had just gone up from the commoner that he had to protect, to the high society, and didn’t know anything about it.
“………………then, how about dancing a piece with me?”
After hesitating a lot, Alberto invited her.
Clara, despite saying she had never danced in front of people, was dancing so happily. He was perplexed when she requested him a second song, but thinking well, it was just practice, so he went along with her.
When she asked for the third song, I have a fiancée though? ── he was baffled and started looking for Christina. Then, he shuddered. She, who should have been talking with her friends, was nowhere to be seen within the hall.
Since Clara who was begging for the third song was so troublesome, he pretended to be tired and she finally gave up. As he said he was tired, since she is the one who wants to dance, she’ll surely dance with other man ── was what he thought, but for some reason, she said let’s rest and followed him.
Because she seemed to be worried about his physical condition, he couldn’t be blunt and decided to leave her to some acquaintance, as he thought so, Alberto approached Christina’s friends.
They were Cindy and Elena. The girls noticed him and did a curtsy. Usually, even if he had a business with the other party, he would start with a small talk first, but cutting through it, Alberto who wanted to find Christina even a second earlier, stated nothing but his business.
“Excuse me. Where is Christina?”
While covering her mouth with folding fan, Cindy turned her gaze towards the terrace.
“She is on the terrace……”
“Well then……”
It’s just right. Just before he tried to ask whether it was alright for him to leave Clara to Cindy and Elena, the two turned a sharp gaze at Clara who was standing beside Alberto.
“……How do you do? My name is Cindy Luckner.”
Clara smiled sweetly.
“Good evening. My name is Clara.”
Prick, he felt like he heard a sound. Since Clara did not say her family name, it was obviously clear that the mood of the pure noble lady like Cindy has dropped.
“………… You, although you seemed to be treated considerably well by His Highness, do you even understand your own position?”
Clara tilted her head with a face saying she did not understand. Alberto sensed that if she was to be left here, she would surely be told off, and although with dark feelings, he smiled refreshingly.
“Cindy-sama. Please overlook what happened tonight”
“Well……”
Cindy opened her eyes wide, and although she looked dissatisfied, it was not possible for him to leave that questionable child inside the briar of high society before his own eyes.
“Clara-sama must be tired from dancing as well, shall we go to the terrace?”
“Ah, yes”
Since it couldn’t be helped, they went to the terrace together to look for Christina, and illuminated by the moonlight, she who was shining like a Goddess was quickly found. At the same time, he also noticed an unfamiliar man standing by her side. Just for a moment, Alberto sent a murderous gaze at that man.
That man, while spitting out intimate words to her who was the Prince’s fiancée , touched her hair.
──I’ll kill you
The man who noticed Alberto, returned him a smile without any hostility, and immediately backed away.
When he looked at her with irritation, she looked back at him with a nonchalant face. Without knowing the meaning of having her hair touched by a man, that innocent reaction, he hated it.
“What are you doing……Christina?”
As he asked with a low voice, she knitted her beautiful eyebrows.
“Since I was tired after dancing, I was taking a rest here. How about you, Your Highness? To be together with such adorable lady, I really envy you.”
The moment he heard the unfamiliar sarcasm from her petal-like lips, kin, there was buzzing in his ears. ──I am still with Clara──.
It was the worst choice of person.
I’m sorry, it’s not like that. Interrupting Alberto who tried to say it, Clara opened her mouth.
“Christina-sama. Who were you talking to just now? It seems you are very close with each other”
Alberto’s heart froze.
How could she say that kind of remarks in public.
Seeing Clara’s expression, there was no malice at all, instead, it was a face of a child holding pure curiosity.
A kid ── She’s a kid. An immature little girl who lacked knowledge.
But──No matter how much of an ignorant little girl going to the high society she was, to spit out words as if wanting to bring down Alberto’s fiancée (Christina)[4] was──
I should give her a follow up, he was flustered. However, before Alberto managed to make any move, Christina who was trained as a lady from a Duke house, turned a graceful gaze towards that impolite kid.
“……We were unable to greet each other the other day, weren’t we? My name is Christina Zariel”
It was a generous response, impossible for a haughty noble, which indicated that she would forgive everything.
Without waiting for the word of the high-ranking noble Christina, Clara opened her mouth first. In the end, she said a remark that would cause others to misunderstood. If it was another noble, it would not be strange for her to be slapped.
Moreover, although Clara replied to the greeting, she again didn’t say her family name. Has she already forgetten her own family name? was what he thought as he doubted her.
To Clara who didn’t even say her own family name, Christina collectedly asked whether she enjoyed the ball and smiled.
“Ah, yes…… Errr, I was invited by His Highness for a dance. He was very good at it, and because it quickly ended, I asked for another one. He seemed to be tired, so he invited me to the terrace.”
──Although Alberto was the one that invited her, well, she might misunderstand it. When she said exactly what happened, it seemed to give birth into another unnecessary misunderstanding.
Nevertheless, the dance with Clara was so the inexperienced her could get used to dance in front of other people, it was just that kind of consideration and by no means because he wanted to dance with her.
He wanted to insist on this, but in front of the person in question, how could it be said.
Without thinking, he averted his eyes from Christina.
She then began to talk to Clara with a gentle voice.
“Is that so. I am glad you enjoy it. When he is talking with you, His Highness seems to loosen up. Thank you very much”
Clara repeatedly blinked.
“Errr…… Why is Christina-sama saying thanks……?
── Isn’t it clear because she is my fiancée?!
Looking down on Clara’s expression with unbelievable feelings, Alberto clicked his tongue in his mind. That gaze held hostility.
When he thought about it, Clara had always chose the manner of speaking that would lower Christina’s reputation. Although he considered it to be because of her ignorance, it seemed this ‘slyness’ was her trained technique.
His fiancée whose beauty was like a Goddess, was surely disgusted at Alberto for bringing along this kind of girl. The words she said as she left, left him stunned.
“Because I’m feeling unwell, please excuse myself for leaving first. Your Highness, please feel free to escort whoever you like”
Alberto couldn’t do anything but to see off her cold back.
.
.
This is bad, he thought. With the way things are going, she might get fed up with me.
It is not the time to be concerned about Clara.
However, as a gentleman, even if it was annoying, he handled it properly until he left Clara to Emil.
Although he didn’t really want to recommend her to his important friend, it seemed to be pointless to say anything to Emil who was deeply infatuated with Clara. You two can just do what you like, he thought.
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The next day, carrying the bouquet filled with his feelings from when he was young, Alberto headed towards her mansion. She who received the bouquet, as expected seemed to be still in a bad mood.
He was guided to the terrace, and while explaining last night’s circumstances, it ended up become the talk of the unknown man that comforted her. Still, he felt his blood boiling towards last night’s man. Even while knowing she is the Prince’s fiancée, to dare touching her hair──
He was not pleased with her blushing reaction, and with his single-minded desire to secure her, Alberto asked to be guided towards the library of their memory.
Since the maid would report the content of their conversation to Duke Zariel, she was driven away.
She who entered the aisle between the bookshelves ahead and started reading a book, was no different from when she was young, and her eyes returned to the ones that trusted Alberto.
When she called out to him in a gentle voice, he felt relieved, his feelings changed to the ones he had when they were young and he talked to her calmly.
Christina who had told him a lot of stories about constellation. Christina who did a fortune-telling, found out that her fate with Alberto was not that good, and ended up crying.
Nee, Christina. You cannot rely on a fortune-telling. Because, I have always looked at no one but you, you know──
Alberto’s gaze fell upon Christina’s beautiful lips.
Recently I have been enduring it. But now there are only the both of us here. I wonder if it’s okay to kiss her for the first time in a while?
His figure was reflected on those beautiful amethyst eyes. Her cloudy eyes, even now was flickering as if desiring him.
──Christina. Nee, I beg you. Please don’t look at another man──
Although Alberto’s mouth was warning her about last night’s man, inside his head, I love, love Christina and I can’t help it anymore, he had returned into an ordinary young boy.
Being looked at with moist eyes, he finally lost his self-control. Her soft, and sweet lips, as well as her spoiled voice leaking out from her mouth, were all unbearable.
As his tongue slipped into her mouth, her consciousness turned towards that place. He took the opportunity of her inattention and touched all over her body. For Alberto, his kiss with Christina was an immoral act indeed.
Breaking the order of the Duke Zariel, he slipped through the eyes of the maids and butlers, and touched her. Moreover, he indecently assaulted her and turned her appearance into one that matched his lust. Her seductive expression, voice, and body reaction, everything was so sweet it made him lose himself.
He inadvertently followed his impulse and pushed her down on the floor, only coming back to his sense after hearing her frightened voice.
He saw her disordered appearance once more and let out a sigh. I want to embrace her just like this, and when he embraced her, that annoying butler──Hans appeared.
.
.
“Aah, so you were here, Ojou-sama, Your Highness Alberto”
Knowing the two from an early age, the butler that was in his prime of life looked at Christina.
Damn, although the dress has been fixed, her hair still hasn’t been tidied up! he realized, but was not able to concealed it.
Hans seemed to have conclude something from seeing Christina’s disordered dress.
With a fake smile, he turned a cold gaze.
“……Your Highness Alberto. If you do too much ‘mischief’, I will report it to master, okay?”
Alberto’s cheeks stiffened in a startle, and then he started averting his eyes.
He was ordered by Duke Zariel not to touch her until their wedding.
He had been in touch with Duke Zariel as the parent and the unkind butler, even after he reached eighteen, he was still unable to act strongly in front of them.
“I understand……”
“If you understand, from now on please be careful not to force the maid to withdraw again”
“…………”
But by now, shouldn’t you at least allow kissing? he thought. Not allowing that one-sided pause, the butler repeated his question.
“Your Highness Alberto. From now on you will be careful not to force the maid to withdraw again, right?”
Alberto was defeated.
“……yea, I’ll be careful……”
“And, recently, it seems Your Highness Alberto is falling in love with a lady other than Ojou-sama?”
Alberto frowned.
“What’s with that story”
Hearing the matter explained by that nonchalant face, a shock resembling an electric current ran from Alberto’s head to his whole body.
It was a rumor of himself seemingly falling in love with that Clara.
If that kind of story was to be heard by the Duke Zariel, he would surely cancel the engagement joyfully.
Even though as the retainer of the King he should not be able to do against the King’s decree, Duke Zariel was a capable official. With his art of coaxing cultivated for many years, to dissolve his daughter’s engagement was an easy task. Even if he didn’t want to, Alberto clearly understood Duke’s Zariel capability as someone who was involved in the state affairs.
Taking a sidelong glance at the flustered Alberto, Hans had actually finished reporting it.
And then, he began to advise Christina about the cancellation. She, who should have been exchanging a passionate kiss with him until just now, for some reason agreed with the cancellation.
── Wait. I absolutely, will never cancel the engagement though. How many years do you think I’ve been waiting for this? Eight years, you know? There’s only one year left until our wedding. No matter what happen we’ll get married.
Covering his innermost thoughts, he referred to the kiss and she adorably blushed.
But she unnecessarily said something like, “But……For men, even if they do not like the woman, they’ll be able to kiss her, right……?” and doubted Alberto.
Alberto’s accumulated resentment finally exploded. In front of her, his fiancée, he had wanted to look cool, but rather than being doubted by her, much less for her feelings to drift away, it was better to bear with his shame and reveal everything.
And then he shouted.
“Listen, the only one I will marry is you! If I were to marry any woman other than you, I will rather kill you then kill myself……! “
I’m serious. I’ll never give Christina to anyone. If she would choose a future where she won’t marry me, I would rather kill her then kill myself. Selfish──? The country──? As if I care about that.
She slightly pulled herself back. But it was fine. My patience was at its limit.
In the end, he just knew about the whole story of the tea party last night.
He thought he would not be able to solve the problem unless he understood exactly about the tea party that distorted all of the gears.
That was why, he had his mother put in a good word for him and win over Anna who firmly shut her mouth, and when he finally heard the situation of that day with great difficulty, he was furious.
All of the commotions was caused by Clara of her own accord.
There was nothing that had to do with Christina.
Nevertheless, Clara arrogantly demanded presents from Alberto and hurt Christina’s feelings, he didn’t know whether it was intentional or not, but she was trying to snatch away Alberto’s beloved Goddess (Christina)[5] from him.
She said that even though it would be fine if he asked her, but he was afraid and was unable to ask Christina herself. She asked with whom did he confirm it, and Alberto who was not able to bear his anxiety anymore asked the question.
“……Anna…… She said, to not contact her for a month, you will surely be dumped. Nee, Christina. You……will not dump me, right……?
“…………”
His lovely angel, after growing up became like a fairy, and finally shone like a Goddess.
Christina whom Alberto had always yearned, whom he was deeply in love with, did not answer him immediately.
── It is truly a despair……
The world was dyed in darkness. Hans gripped his neck, but his brain refuse to understand what he said.
── I’ll die
But before I die, for now who shall I kill first, as Alberto started thinking such things, his ears heard Christina’s sweet, gentle laughter. [T/N : Unknowingly, Christina managed to prevent a massacre?]
Christina’s laughter sure is wonderful no matter in what situation it is── he raised his eyes, she, with a slightly shy and embarrassed expression, smiled and tilted her head.
“It seems Al is also the same as me”
She, for the first time in a while, called him with his nickname. His chest gradually became warm.
“Kuu……”
When he called her back, her smile deepened.
“I was, scared of hearing your relationship with Clara-sama, and gave up as I pleased. Both of us, were thinking too much and doing such fruitless effort. We are so alike, how strange it is”
Forgiving everything, it was a smile of a celestial maiden. He escaped from the butler’s hand and instinctively hugged her.
“Hya……!”
“Kuu,I beg you…… When you turn sixteen, please say that you will marry me……!”
I can never think of anyone but you──
Falling in love at the first sight. The more they talk, the more he became aware of her innocent smile, her noble’s pride and big heart that thought of the people, she never indulged herself in her status and continued to learn diligently, he was attracted to that figure of her.
Meeting her over and over, he fell in love.
I want to quickly make you mine──with only that desire in his mind, he did his best to put up a front and look cool.
My outer appearance, my frantic learning of enormous amount of knowledge, and even my handling of the excessive government affairs, the reason I do everything is──so I can become a husband you can be proud of.
That’s why, please──please become my wife.
She who was embraced within passionate feelings, softly, smiled delightfully like she did when she was young and nodded.
“Yes, with pleasure”
Tears appeared on the corner of Alberto’s eyes.
── God
Alberto too, like what he did when he was young, he just innocently rejoiced, and cheerfully smiled.
The lady of Marquis Schönhausen ── Clara was an extremely assertive woman. Ensnaring Alberto’s friend, Emil, she used him to get in touch with Alberto. Since there was never such an assertive woman like her before, he was overwhelmed and permitted her to come to the palace.
I want to see the royal palace’s garden , to waste the Prince’s time with that kind of mundane reason, what a bold woman she was. As Alberto turned eighteen, he had to prepare for his wedding with Christina next year, not to mention the government affairs and military arrangement for revisable rank, having to do all kinds of preparation, he was comparatively busy.
If it was not for the request of Emil who seemed to be in the middle of an unrequited love, Alberto would have never received it.
She would talk about her ordinary life as a commoner before she was adopted as a daughter of the Marquis house. Things like how to make delicious cookie, handmade coaster, how to knit laces, vegetable recipes and the morning market, she would tell a story about the world that Alberto and Emil didn’t know and amuse them.
Since he had never seen the common life before, her story served as a good reference. At the same time, he remembered that Emil had an interest in her novelty, partly because of her good appearance, and it was quick to understand that he was infatuated with her.
However, as far as Alberto was concerned, she was no more than that kind of woman. Perhaps the reason for his subdued gaze was because he could feel her jealousy towards Christina from all over her.[1]
“This hair ornament, is actually handmade”
“Hee, it’s amazing”
While strolling around the lake side, she pointed at her hair ornament. A combination of lace, wool, and gem put on a silver base, it was a wing-shaped hair ornament. Setting aside whether she could make it, Alberto was more surprised at the fact that the hair ornament was able to be made by hand.
Clara, wearing a light blue dress, laughed bashfully.
“Ehe. But, every hair ornament that Christina-sama wear is first-class goods only, I think it is so amazing. Because all of them are expensive goods that I can never reach, I feel kind of envious”
“…… is that so……”
Alberto intentionally smiled gently. Click, something rang in his heart.
She might be envying Christina. Learning of the things she could never have, the pure noble lady that attracted the public eye. It seemed she had yet to have the consciousness of having become one of those noble ladies too.
After hearing her, Emil immediately said he would buy her a new hair ornament.
“After all, did Christina-sama beg[2] to Your Highness Alberto? Since all of them are expensive things only, it seems hard……”
To those words, click, something rang in Alberto’s heart again.
[T/N : You’re not the only one, Alberto (╬ಠ益ಠ) ]
Although she lowered her eyebrows worriedly, in fact, she was asking under the assumption that Christina was a haughty woman. In order to conceal his irritation, he deepened his smile.
“I wonder. Sometimes she begs, but it was all a cute one. Moreover, the things she chooses are not expensive things only, you know. She would choose the beautiful ones that she likes.”
“Hee. It is unexpected. I thought she would only choose the most expensive things in the store. Commoners are not good, aren’t we? We ended up thinking that if it is expensive then it means it has a good taste.”
“…………”
Alberto remembered that he felt bored from this conversation and raised his head. Then, his gaze was immediately drawn to the outdoor corridor of the west tower. The silver hair was softly dancing in the wind.
“Christina……?”
Although he called her, since there was quite a distance between them, she seemed to not hear it. She then went towards the rose garden. When he thought of running after her, she elegantly turned around to him.
On her beautiful face, although a smile was floated, her cheeks were stiffened.
Her gentle eyebrows raised tensely, and those violet eyes that had only ever looked up to him with love, were now glaring at him with hatred.
“────”
He felt blood drained from his whole body.
Christina is glaring at me. It was only for an instant. However, it managed to give him a severe damage.
Did I do something wrong? thinking so, he suddenly remembered the girl next to him. He didn’t think of her as someone of the same age at all, since her way of thinking was quite immature. He also didn’t see her as someone of the opposite sex at all, but in this situation it could not be seen as something other than two people strolling alone together.
I’ve made Christina misunderstand.
Clara held her mouth then looked up at him.
“Oh no…… Christina-sama surely misunderstood. What should I do, she was glaring at me with such a scary face……”
── What are you talking about. She didn’t see anyone but me, did she……?
Without waiting Alberto to speak up his thoughts, she started running.
“I……will clear up the misunderstanding……!”
“Wai……”
With a speed that seemed to be pointless to stop, she dashed to the rose garden. Christina cannot run that fast. Is that the difference in the livelihood? while thinking such trivial thing, Emil returned.
“Huh? Where is Clara-chan?”
“…… She went to the rose garden.”
With a somewhat bitter feeling, Alberto scowled at his friend.
.
.
Chasing after Christina by following Clara’s figure, Alberto arrived at the rose garden when suddenly Clara screamed.
His mother and sister were dumbfoundedly watching Clara. He guessed that perhaps they were surprised by the unusual loud voice and were unable to react. However, he wasn’t able to imagine what kind of situation happened to Clara.
Tea was splashed onto her light blue dress. In front of Clara, holding the empty tea cup was his beautiful fiancée (Christina)[3].
Emil frowned.
“Christina-sama……?”
Alberto sensed the meaning of that doubtful voice.
She saw him walking alone together with Clara and was jealous. Her glaring at him with face that he never saw before, might also be because of it.
Thanks to the maid who took the clamoring Clara away, the place quieted down.
However, she is not the kind of girl that would splash the tea because of some jealousy ──while thinking so, Emil raised a skeptic voice again.
“What has happened……?”
Christina answered that it seemed to be only anemia, but Emil persistently asked her about the situation.
“Is that so…… However, why were you holding the tea cup?”
She smiled beautifully. For Alberto who had been with her for a long time, he was immediately able to sense that it was an artificial smile.
“Since the cup almost fell, I caught it. Please be at ease. No matter what happens, I am not a person without any pride that would harass a woman.”
Certainly, Christina is not the kind of woman who will unsightly go mad with jealousy.Nevertheless, Emil still gave off the feeling of disbelief.
Can it be, impossible, but ── Alberto who was wavering in his assessment of the situation, again found some anger on her cold face.
Alberto opened his eyes wide.
After all, have I made her misunderstand? he flustered, then a pair of cold ── as if there was no love for him, freezing eyes glared at him.
In Alberto’s head, he had lost his composure. He was glared at by her not just once, but twice. Moreover that gaze was so sharp it felt as if she was going to abandon him.
He remembered the fear that he might have been hated by his precious fiancée.
Alberto who never even dreamed that this day would come, grinded his teeth.
Contrary to the anxiety and impatience in his heart, he pretended to be tough and put on a smile on his face.
Perhaps, due to the jealousy she ended up splashing the tea to Clara.
“Yet, my fiancée-dono seems to be rather angry”
The words he uttered in confusion, even for himself were the worst.
Please deny it, but contrary to that thought, she averted her eyes. Without showing any reaction to Alberto’s words, she greeted his mother and sister. She who passed by his side in order to go home, did not give even a glance to Alberto.
She is angry. ── For real.
Although he understood it, Alberto didn’t know at all what should he do to deal with her anger.
If I go to meet her and she rejects me, I won’t be able to recover anymore. What if in the worst case, I visit the Duke’s mansion, and in front of my face, she says that she hates me──?
Christina who had adored him and innocently said I love you since they were young.
The angel that he had always loved.
Her cold gaze turned at him but was not noticed by his mother and sister.
Alberto whose head was in disorder to the point of shivering, pathetically, postponed the settlement of the problem.
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Alberto wrote a letter to Clara.
Intending to ask the situation of that day, it was a letter filled with apology by offering to send her anything that she wanted. She said, since she had just moved to the Marquis mansion recently, she only had few decoration, so he thought that it was just right.
Whether she might skip over the letter, the reply from Clara did not contain any information about the incident of that day. Instead, I want to go to the town together or I want to go to the royal palace again, this time I want to hear what kind of study do you do, it was written with those kinds of demands.
While thinking that this was a roundabout demand for apology, he asked Emil along to go together to the town and bought her some slightly expensive cakes and sweets, as well as a modest hair ornament that she wanted. He purposely bought her a modest one because Emil who came along kept on taking the initiative to buy her high-quality items.
While she was being grateful, she also looked at Emil with an expression as if saying he was not that bad.
Since Emil’s love seemed to almost be fulfilled, Alberto thought it was good.
.
However, he had not met his own fiancée for a month.
When he thought that he might be hated, he ended up being frightened and hesitated.
On the day of the evening party that they both planned to attend, he did his best to feign calmness and went to pick her up.
The woman who he hadn’t met for awhile, was terribly beautiful, and even her bad mood face was still lovely. Inside the carriage, he followed his feeling and pulled her waist to him, he tried to hold a conversation with her and asked her about his present.
The flowers he sent to inquire her about her feelings, in the flower language held the meanings of [Eternal Love], [Unchanging Vow], [I see no one but you], all kinds of flowers with those meanings were gathered, but she completely didn’t notice at all. [T/N : Alberto, I think you should first find out whether Christina knows flower language or not ]
Even when she was asked what kind of flowers they were, since she was unable to answer, it seemed she ignored the flowers themselves. Since he was a little dejected, his true feeling leaked out.
“I knew it, I shouldn’t have sent flower……”
During the time they were not in contact, Alberto kept on worrying endlessly.
He was afraid to meet Christina. But he wanted to convey his feelings to her, and kept on thinking what should he send. After thinking too much, it became incomprehensible, in the end, he took the choice of the mediocre flower.
As expected, I cannot attract her with flower.
Even though I want to convey my feelings of how I think of you, how much I love you, I don’t know what I should do.
Even the hair ornament I sent as her fifteenth birthday present, has never been worn by her even once up to this day. As expected, was that such a bad taste thing?
If so, let’s try giving her a different hair ornament. The one that can convey this feeling──
Alberto dearly looked at Christina who pressed her lips tightly.
“Next time, I will send you a different one, Christina. Just like what you love, a more expensive one.”
Although choosing things for the current woman is hard, but next time, I will present her the best item that suits Christina──
When he said that, a sharp gaze was turned to him.
“── Did you think that as long as it was expensive I would be pleased?”
Alberto let out a chuckle and smiled.
That’s right── Christina doesn’t wish for expensive things. She is a girl who will only choose beautiful item that suits her.
It really is difficult. Even though I would give anything to you, my loved one.
“You are such a bad girl…… To trouble me like this”
Even if she was in a bad mood, to go together with her to the evening party was enough for him.
Pui, even her gesture of turning her face away was so adorable, her nape that was visible from the gap of her hair, was smoothly white.
Alberto who was excited after finally exchanging words with her after a long time, was unable to suppress his impulse to touch her, and ended up giving her a lot of kisses on her skin in front of their attendants.
As expected, she gave an adorable reaction just like always, and he felt slightly relieved.
.
.
But, even the feeling of relief was only for an instant, as her mood dropped.
At the party, Clara didn’t read the mood and didn’t try to end her conversation with Alberto. Although he sensed other participants were waiting for the timing around them, Emil kept on bringing up a new subject and it turned into a difficult situation of an endless talk.
Moreover, as if waiting for that timing, when the music in the hall entered the interlude, she began talking about dancing.
“I, since I originally was a girl without any social status, I have never dance in front of other people. Marquis-sama has arranged me a dance teacher, but I still don’t have the confidence……”
Turning her sparkling eyes as if saying she wanted to be invited for a dance, Alberto looked towards his friend beside him.
──YOU invite her.
Although he tried to say it through his eyes, Emil realized that Clara was gazing at Alberto, and whispered to his ear.
“Just dance with her. Since it’s her first time dancing, it is surely better if it’s with someone like you who is used to it”
──And you’re okay with that?
Leaving the woman you like to other man, doesn’t it anger you? he thought. In fact, just by seeing Christina in other man’s arm, Alberto’s heart had been burnt by flames of jealousy. Every time, he would hand her over to another man with a heartbroken feeling.
With a nice man’s smile, Emil poked Alberto’s side.
“Look, just invite her. Isn’t she expecting it?”
After he said it, certainly she was filled with expectation and was staring at Alberto with puppy dog eyes.
I don’t want to do it, although he thought like that, he also thought but since she is expecting it this much, isn’t it bad to refuse it?
The other person was a young girl who had just gone up from the commoner that he had to protect, to the high society, and didn’t know anything about it.
“………………then, how about dancing a piece with me?”
After hesitating a lot, Alberto invited her.
Clara, despite saying she had never danced in front of people, was dancing so happily. He was perplexed when she requested him a second song, but thinking well, it was just practice, so he went along with her.
When she asked for the third song, I have a fiancée though? ── he was baffled and started looking for Christina. Then, he shuddered. She, who should have been talking with her friends, was nowhere to be seen within the hall.
Since Clara who was begging for the third song was so troublesome, he pretended to be tired and she finally gave up. As he said he was tired, since she is the one who wants to dance, she’ll surely dance with other man ── was what he thought, but for some reason, she said let’s rest and followed him.
Because she seemed to be worried about his physical condition, he couldn’t be blunt and decided to leave her to some acquaintance, as he thought so, Alberto approached Christina’s friends.
They were Cindy and Elena. The girls noticed him and did a curtsy. Usually, even if he had a business with the other party, he would start with a small talk first, but cutting through it, Alberto who wanted to find Christina even a second earlier, stated nothing but his business.
“Excuse me. Where is Christina?”
While covering her mouth with folding fan, Cindy turned her gaze towards the terrace.
“She is on the terrace……”
“Well then……”
It’s just right. Just before he tried to ask whether it was alright for him to leave Clara to Cindy and Elena, the two turned a sharp gaze at Clara who was standing beside Alberto.
“……How do you do? My name is Cindy Luckner.”
Clara smiled sweetly.
“Good evening. My name is Clara.”
Prick, he felt like he heard a sound. Since Clara did not say her family name, it was obviously clear that the mood of the pure noble lady like Cindy has dropped.
“………… You, although you seemed to be treated considerably well by His Highness, do you even understand your own position?”
Clara tilted her head with a face saying she did not understand. Alberto sensed that if she was to be left here, she would surely be told off, and although with dark feelings, he smiled refreshingly.
“Cindy-sama. Please overlook what happened tonight”
“Well……”
Cindy opened her eyes wide, and although she looked dissatisfied, it was not possible for him to leave that questionable child inside the briar of high society before his own eyes.
“Clara-sama must be tired from dancing as well, shall we go to the terrace?”
“Ah, yes”
Since it couldn’t be helped, they went to the terrace together to look for Christina, and illuminated by the moonlight, she who was shining like a Goddess was quickly found. At the same time, he also noticed an unfamiliar man standing by her side. Just for a moment, Alberto sent a murderous gaze at that man.
That man, while spitting out intimate words to her who was the Prince’s fiancée , touched her hair.
──I’ll kill you
The man who noticed Alberto, returned him a smile without any hostility, and immediately backed away.
When he looked at her with irritation, she looked back at him with a nonchalant face. Without knowing the meaning of having her hair touched by a man, that innocent reaction, he hated it.
“What are you doing……Christina?”
As he asked with a low voice, she knitted her beautiful eyebrows.
“Since I was tired after dancing, I was taking a rest here. How about you, Your Highness? To be together with such adorable lady, I really envy you.”
The moment he heard the unfamiliar sarcasm from her petal-like lips, kin, there was buzzing in his ears. ──I am still with Clara──.
It was the worst choice of person.
I’m sorry, it’s not like that. Interrupting Alberto who tried to say it, Clara opened her mouth.
“Christina-sama. Who were you talking to just now? It seems you are very close with each other”
Alberto’s heart froze.
How could she say that kind of remarks in public.
Seeing Clara’s expression, there was no malice at all, instead, it was a face of a child holding pure curiosity.
A kid ── She’s a kid. An immature little girl who lacked knowledge.
But──No matter how much of an ignorant little girl going to the high society she was, to spit out words as if wanting to bring down Alberto’s fiancée (Christina)[4] was──
I should give her a follow up, he was flustered. However, before Alberto managed to make any move, Christina who was trained as a lady from a Duke house, turned a graceful gaze towards that impolite kid.
“……We were unable to greet each other the other day, weren’t we? My name is Christina Zariel”
It was a generous response, impossible for a haughty noble, which indicated that she would forgive everything.
Without waiting for the word of the high-ranking noble Christina, Clara opened her mouth first. In the end, she said a remark that would cause others to misunderstood. If it was another noble, it would not be strange for her to be slapped.
Moreover, although Clara replied to the greeting, she again didn’t say her family name. Has she already forgetten her own family name? was what he thought as he doubted her.
To Clara who didn’t even say her own family name, Christina collectedly asked whether she enjoyed the ball and smiled.
“Ah, yes…… Errr, I was invited by His Highness for a dance. He was very good at it, and because it quickly ended, I asked for another one. He seemed to be tired, so he invited me to the terrace.”
──Although Alberto was the one that invited her, well, she might misunderstand it. When she said exactly what happened, it seemed to give birth into another unnecessary misunderstanding.
Nevertheless, the dance with Clara was so the inexperienced her could get used to dance in front of other people, it was just that kind of consideration and by no means because he wanted to dance with her.
He wanted to insist on this, but in front of the person in question, how could it be said.
Without thinking, he averted his eyes from Christina.
She then began to talk to Clara with a gentle voice.
“Is that so. I am glad you enjoy it. When he is talking with you, His Highness seems to loosen up. Thank you very much”
Clara repeatedly blinked.
“Errr…… Why is Christina-sama saying thanks……?
── Isn’t it clear because she is my fiancée?!
Looking down on Clara’s expression with unbelievable feelings, Alberto clicked his tongue in his mind. That gaze held hostility.
When he thought about it, Clara had always chose the manner of speaking that would lower Christina’s reputation. Although he considered it to be because of her ignorance, it seemed this ‘slyness’ was her trained technique.
His fiancée whose beauty was like a Goddess, was surely disgusted at Alberto for bringing along this kind of girl. The words she said as she left, left him stunned.
“Because I’m feeling unwell, please excuse myself for leaving first. Your Highness, please feel free to escort whoever you like”
Alberto couldn’t do anything but to see off her cold back.
.
.
This is bad, he thought. With the way things are going, she might get fed up with me.
It is not the time to be concerned about Clara.
However, as a gentleman, even if it was annoying, he handled it properly until he left Clara to Emil.
Although he didn’t really want to recommend her to his important friend, it seemed to be pointless to say anything to Emil who was deeply infatuated with Clara. You two can just do what you like, he thought.
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The next day, carrying the bouquet filled with his feelings from when he was young, Alberto headed towards her mansion. She who received the bouquet, as expected seemed to be still in a bad mood.
He was guided to the terrace, and while explaining last night’s circumstances, it ended up become the talk of the unknown man that comforted her. Still, he felt his blood boiling towards last night’s man. Even while knowing she is the Prince’s fiancée, to dare touching her hair──
He was not pleased with her blushing reaction, and with his single-minded desire to secure her, Alberto asked to be guided towards the library of their memory.
Since the maid would report the content of their conversation to Duke Zariel, she was driven away.
She who entered the aisle between the bookshelves ahead and started reading a book, was no different from when she was young, and her eyes returned to the ones that trusted Alberto.
When she called out to him in a gentle voice, he felt relieved, his feelings changed to the ones he had when they were young and he talked to her calmly.
Christina who had told him a lot of stories about constellation. Christina who did a fortune-telling, found out that her fate with Alberto was not that good, and ended up crying.
Nee, Christina. You cannot rely on a fortune-telling. Because, I have always looked at no one but you, you know──
Alberto’s gaze fell upon Christina’s beautiful lips.
Recently I have been enduring it. But now there are only the both of us here. I wonder if it’s okay to kiss her for the first time in a while?
His figure was reflected on those beautiful amethyst eyes. Her cloudy eyes, even now was flickering as if desiring him.
──Christina. Nee, I beg you. Please don’t look at another man──
Although Alberto’s mouth was warning her about last night’s man, inside his head, I love, love Christina and I can’t help it anymore, he had returned into an ordinary young boy.
Being looked at with moist eyes, he finally lost his self-control. Her soft, and sweet lips, as well as her spoiled voice leaking out from her mouth, were all unbearable.
As his tongue slipped into her mouth, her consciousness turned towards that place. He took the opportunity of her inattention and touched all over her body. For Alberto, his kiss with Christina was an immoral act indeed.
Breaking the order of the Duke Zariel, he slipped through the eyes of the maids and butlers, and touched her. Moreover, he indecently assaulted her and turned her appearance into one that matched his lust. Her seductive expression, voice, and body reaction, everything was so sweet it made him lose himself.
He inadvertently followed his impulse and pushed her down on the floor, only coming back to his sense after hearing her frightened voice.
He saw her disordered appearance once more and let out a sigh. I want to embrace her just like this, and when he embraced her, that annoying butler──Hans appeared.
.
.
“Aah, so you were here, Ojou-sama, Your Highness Alberto”
Knowing the two from an early age, the butler that was in his prime of life looked at Christina.
Damn, although the dress has been fixed, her hair still hasn’t been tidied up! he realized, but was not able to concealed it.
Hans seemed to have conclude something from seeing Christina’s disordered dress.
With a fake smile, he turned a cold gaze.
“……Your Highness Alberto. If you do too much ‘mischief’, I will report it to master, okay?”
Alberto’s cheeks stiffened in a startle, and then he started averting his eyes.
He was ordered by Duke Zariel not to touch her until their wedding.
He had been in touch with Duke Zariel as the parent and the unkind butler, even after he reached eighteen, he was still unable to act strongly in front of them.
“I understand……”
“If you understand, from now on please be careful not to force the maid to withdraw again”
“…………”
But by now, shouldn’t you at least allow kissing? he thought. Not allowing that one-sided pause, the butler repeated his question.
“Your Highness Alberto. From now on you will be careful not to force the maid to withdraw again, right?”
Alberto was defeated.
“……yea, I’ll be careful……”
“And, recently, it seems Your Highness Alberto is falling in love with a lady other than Ojou-sama?”
Alberto frowned.
“What’s with that story”
Hearing the matter explained by that nonchalant face, a shock resembling an electric current ran from Alberto’s head to his whole body.
It was a rumor of himself seemingly falling in love with that Clara.
If that kind of story was to be heard by the Duke Zariel, he would surely cancel the engagement joyfully.
Even though as the retainer of the King he should not be able to do against the King’s decree, Duke Zariel was a capable official. With his art of coaxing cultivated for many years, to dissolve his daughter’s engagement was an easy task. Even if he didn’t want to, Alberto clearly understood Duke’s Zariel capability as someone who was involved in the state affairs.
Taking a sidelong glance at the flustered Alberto, Hans had actually finished reporting it.
And then, he began to advise Christina about the cancellation. She, who should have been exchanging a passionate kiss with him until just now, for some reason agreed with the cancellation.
── Wait. I absolutely, will never cancel the engagement though. How many years do you think I’ve been waiting for this? Eight years, you know? There’s only one year left until our wedding. No matter what happen we’ll get married.
Covering his innermost thoughts, he referred to the kiss and she adorably blushed.
But she unnecessarily said something like, “But……For men, even if they do not like the woman, they’ll be able to kiss her, right……?” and doubted Alberto.
Alberto’s accumulated resentment finally exploded. In front of her, his fiancée, he had wanted to look cool, but rather than being doubted by her, much less for her feelings to drift away, it was better to bear with his shame and reveal everything.
And then he shouted.
“Listen, the only one I will marry is you! If I were to marry any woman other than you, I will rather kill you then kill myself……! “
I’m serious. I’ll never give Christina to anyone. If she would choose a future where she won’t marry me, I would rather kill her then kill myself. Selfish──? The country──? As if I care about that.
She slightly pulled herself back. But it was fine. My patience was at its limit.
In the end, he just knew about the whole story of the tea party last night.
He thought he would not be able to solve the problem unless he understood exactly about the tea party that distorted all of the gears.
That was why, he had his mother put in a good word for him and win over Anna who firmly shut her mouth, and when he finally heard the situation of that day with great difficulty, he was furious.
All of the commotions was caused by Clara of her own accord.
There was nothing that had to do with Christina.
Nevertheless, Clara arrogantly demanded presents from Alberto and hurt Christina’s feelings, he didn’t know whether it was intentional or not, but she was trying to snatch away Alberto’s beloved Goddess (Christina)[5] from him.
She said that even though it would be fine if he asked her, but he was afraid and was unable to ask Christina herself. She asked with whom did he confirm it, and Alberto who was not able to bear his anxiety anymore asked the question.
“……Anna…… She said, to not contact her for a month, you will surely be dumped. Nee, Christina. You……will not dump me, right……?
“…………”
His lovely angel, after growing up became like a fairy, and finally shone like a Goddess.
Christina whom Alberto had always yearned, whom he was deeply in love with, did not answer him immediately.
── It is truly a despair……
The world was dyed in darkness. Hans gripped his neck, but his brain refuse to understand what he said.
── I’ll die
But before I die, for now who shall I kill first, as Alberto started thinking such things, his ears heard Christina’s sweet, gentle laughter. [T/N : Unknowingly, Christina managed to prevent a massacre?]
Christina’s laughter sure is wonderful no matter in what situation it is── he raised his eyes, she, with a slightly shy and embarrassed expression, smiled and tilted her head.
“It seems Al is also the same as me”
She, for the first time in a while, called him with his nickname. His chest gradually became warm.
“Kuu……”
When he called her back, her smile deepened.
“I was, scared of hearing your relationship with Clara-sama, and gave up as I pleased. Both of us, were thinking too much and doing such fruitless effort. We are so alike, how strange it is”
Forgiving everything, it was a smile of a celestial maiden. He escaped from the butler’s hand and instinctively hugged her.
“Hya……!”
“Kuu,I beg you…… When you turn sixteen, please say that you will marry me……!”
I can never think of anyone but you──
Falling in love at the first sight. The more they talk, the more he became aware of her innocent smile, her noble’s pride and big heart that thought of the people, she never indulged herself in her status and continued to learn diligently, he was attracted to that figure of her.
Meeting her over and over, he fell in love.
I want to quickly make you mine──with only that desire in his mind, he did his best to put up a front and look cool.
My outer appearance, my frantic learning of enormous amount of knowledge, and even my handling of the excessive government affairs, the reason I do everything is──so I can become a husband you can be proud of.
That’s why, please──please become my wife.
She who was embraced within passionate feelings, softly, smiled delightfully like she did when she was young and nodded.
“Yes, with pleasure”
Tears appeared on the corner of Alberto’s eyes.
── God
Alberto too, like what he did when he was young, he just innocently rejoiced, and cheerfully smiled.
