9.1 The Ice Lady’s Advice
“Thank you for agreeing to my selfish request, despite of how sudden it was, Ms. Sharina Clydea, Mr. Riol Glen…”
In the center of the terrace, where the door was now closed, Rosalind Ariarose gracefully thanked them. The elegance of her bow was beyond measurement—from the top of the head to the tip of her finger, nothing was off by even the slightest millimeter—
—suffice to say, perfection.
“Ah, I should be thanking you, too. You’ve helped me dry my dress.”
“The same goes for me. Thank you for allowing me to be in your presence.”
Sharina and Riol bowed their heads.
After Rosalind had invited them to a talk, she helped dry Sharina’s soaked dress with Warm Air magic, saying ‘you’ll catch a cold if it’s left as it is.’
It was an advanced magic that combined both Fire and Wind magic, however, in the hands of Rosalind, it seemed like quite an easy task.
“What is it that you want to discuss…?”
Two people joined Rosalind at the table. Albeit her dress was dry, her back still felt chilly—
—no, her entire body felt like it would freeze underneath the piercing ice-like gaze directed straight at her.
“I’ll be straight with you—are you ready to take up the responsibilities of a princess?”
“Huh?”
Her body froze. In fact, her body was about to be sent flying from the impact of Rosalind’s sudden proclamation.
“takeuptheresponsibilitiesofaprincess—?”
No. Wait. Perchance, she had just misunderstood. Rosalind probably, hopefully, meant something else other than what she had just literally said…—
—otherwise, ‘takeuptheresponsibilitiesofaprincess’ was probably an incantation for a Light spell. Yes, no doubt about it. A Light spell that would conjure seven colored lights to create a rainbow in the sky…
“To fall in love with the prince of the kingdom, there’s no way you don’t know what it means, or what it entails.”
…aaah, I get it, it’s the name of some kind of magical creature~~~
She was running away from reality.
“I’ve researched quite a lot into you—about your friendship with His Highness. I don’t want to be too quick to judge, however, I won’t say that I don’t understand the meaning of your advances towards my fiancé.”
…I also won’t say I was trying to get close to him, either! No, I really want to say the opposite right now!
However, she kept missing her chance. After all, albeit composedly, this person kept talking like running water.
“You seem unconvinced. I understand what you want to say. I, and us, the ‘Rose Garden’, aren’t officially his fiancé, yet, only candidates. No matter how much you want to get close with His Highness, we don’t have any right to stop you. After all, every year, freshman who dream like that never cease to appear.”
The Prince’s most eligible fiancé candidate, Rosalind Ariarose, furrowed her eyebrows. Even when she was merely sitting on a chair, her figure looked beautiful and perfect. If Sharina was to describe it, it was like when someone managed to slide a thread in the needle on the first go. Even her fingers were aligned gracefully.
“Certainly, a candidate is a candidate. However, things aren’t like what they seem—“
Sharina kept coming up with explanations in her mind, however, she never managed to utter even a single sentence—
—because again, it’s Rosalind’s turn to speak.
She hadn’t been able to explain a single thing because she kept getting interrupted.
“—you see, all of us candidates are qualified to be the princess.”
The wind blew right at that moment, and Rosalind’s platinum blonde hair swayed.
“Not everyone is qualified to be a princess. To be a candidate means to have passed a certain process and be qualified to be a princess. Hence, we are hereby called the ‘candidates’.”
The fact that Rosalind could talk literally without interruption worried her.
—Is her breathing okay?
“Therefore, a candidate is actually in line with being his actual fiancé. Making advances on him is the same as challenging us, the Rose Garden—do you understand that? There might be many of us, but in the end, only one will be chosen as the princess. That’s why, until then, everyone is free to try until the choice is made—is what they think, anyway.”
‘Do you understand?’—Sharina was asked that. In her mind, that question had already turned into some kind of declaration. Do you understand.
“Ever since childhood, we’ve received strict princess education: etiquette, dance, general magic, Princess’ manners, political knowledge to support the King, the kingdom’s history, foreign cultures, languages—for the crowning of His Highness, Leonardo.”
Sharina gave up on explaining and could only squeeze out some “Uh-huh”, “No—“, “You see—“. Yet, she still managed to be swept away by the endless waterfall pouring from her opponent’s mouth.
…
…the moon sure is beautiful.
Sharina was watching the night sky behind Rosalind.
“Do you possess the same knowledge? The same set of skills? Are you ready to dedicate yourself to this princess’ education? Or, are you one of those people who think falling in love with him—of all people—require no foundation whatsoever—!?”
Sharina’s eyes were taking in the wonderful starry skies—her gaze wandered as she looked for a constellation.
“Can you please not get too close to His Highness? This is an advice[1] for you.” Rosalind stood up. “This concludes our conversation. I shall excuse myself.”
Until a while ago, Sharina sympathized with this beautiful girl, who had to shoulder the fate of being that prince’s fiancé.
However, as of the current… she was unsure of what to think about people that didn’t even bother to listen to others.
…Be it that prince or her; their skill of not listening to others are on par with each other—
—doesn’t this make them a surprisingly good pair?
“…However… if you dare to say that you truly love His Highness… if you can, without the slightest hesitation, say that you’re ready to become the Queen—then, there’s room for argument.”
Rosalind halted for a moment, then finally turned away—
—didn’t she retract her words too fast—!?
Shouldn’t this princess education include something about being responsible of what you say—!?
“If it’s me, I would, without any doubt. I’m different than those who fall in love with His Highness without concern to other aspects.”
When she opened the terrace’s door, Rosalind’s line of sight swept over Riol.
“I… from the first time I met His Highness in the royal palace… I admired him.”
—her final piece before taking her leave is too long—!! Can’t she just skip the rest—!?
I would like you to be more concise about it! Please, make up your mind, already!
As expected, she still wasn’t given a chance to say anything.
Even though Rosalind was currently in the tough position—leaning towards the door, her story remained uninterrupted. In such a posture, it was a miracle Rosalind’s spine stayed alright—
—hey, it’s alright even if you decide to return and continue this another day, you know?
No one will blame you.
“Even though the princess education is harsh—for the sake of the prince—for the sake of this kingdom—I don’t mind it!”
No, your timing for saying this is completely off.
Can’t you just excuse yourself with one word?
“His Highness is probably attracted to both your innocence and your unexpected behavior that is unbefitting of your title whatsoever. But for me, you’re just being ignorant, rude, and careless. Please think about what it means to be an aristocrat once again, and properly, this time.”
For real, can’t you just conclude this with ‘this ends our topic’ or something—!?
However, until the bitter end, Rosalind didn’t let Sharina utter a single retort.
The door that had been open for a while was finally closed. The terrace was quiet.
“…what kind of research has she done on me to arrive to that kind of conclusion…?”
Sharina whispered when Rosalind had completely disappeared behind the door.
“’His Highness is attracted to your innocent, carefree attitude—while his actual fiancé is truly in love with him’—is it? Huh. Where have I heard this exact plot, before?”
From Rosalind’s view, who had been decided to be his fiancé candidate since an early age and endured a severe princess education—the presence of a certain bubbly girl who had recently entered the frame threatened her—
—Rosalind was probably worried her beloved fiancé, whom she should be marrying after graduating, would be stolen by a certain airhead.
To put it simply, there was no way she would have a good impression about Sharina.
“Even if she said ‘research’, it was probably executed by Ariarose Family’s henchmen, anyway. Most likely, they didn’t have a good impression about you to begin with. This whole conclusion was the result of their biases towards you. In no way is it a decent result.”
Even though she managed to repel Prince Narcissist a while ago, this time, a ‘tragic’ heroine appeared and declared her an enemy! There was nothing more troublesome than this…
—and she suspects I’m in love with… That?
Goosebumps erupted on her entire skin.
“But now, we have a good card on our hand.”
“Huh?”
Riol’s tired countenance slightly brightened. Sharina titled her head.
“Now, you can avoid the prince due to ‘being told off’ by Duchess Ariarose. Considering your own status, can you disobey her?”
“Aah!!”
It wasn’t an advice, but an order from the Duke’s daughter, who wasn’t only a mere duchess, but also the Prince’s most eligible candidate! There was no way she could disobey Rosalind!
She could already imagine being approached by Leonarcissist and excusing herself while saying—“—forgive me, Your Highness, but Rosalind—“ then, she could escape with no problems!!
They had indeed acquired the strongest trump card!
[1] The kanji for advice can also mean warning.
***T/N : Jesus Christ, I thought Rosalind went to retract her words because she was also fed-up with Prince Narcisshit and want to toss said toxic waste to Sharina, but no, this dame is legit blind. THIS DAME IS LEGIT IN LOVE WITH “THAT”–OMG, WHAT DID YOU EVEN SEE FROM HIM, HIS EGO–??
–YEAH, THAT’S PROBABLY IT. HIS EGO ALONE CAN TOPPLE THE ENTIRE KINGDOM.
E/N: ^called it~^
T/N: shaddap.
The whole convo feels like when I’m trynna tell my mom something lol. When you think she’s done talking, nope she ain’t.
Everyone else annoyed at the girl for being delusional and going on, the Mc for not stopping her, or Riol for thinking it’ll be that easy. I’m just over here wanting to give the poor girl a glass of water
can this bitch like not talk? like go damn she acting like she mute TALK for fuck sakes whats so hard about saying “excuse me but im not in love with the highness” like wtf smh fuck this stupid ass female mc like 99% of them act this fucking way
I mean in this kind of environment it would probably be considered a social no go to interrupt somebody above your status.
I think that’s going to backfire on you Riol.
unfortunately that trump card isnt as strong as they think. if she ever claims “—forgive me, Your Highness, but Rosalind—” then “That” will think Rosalind is bullying her and prob dissolve the duke family or have Rosalind exiled or sent to a church to be a nun. i have no doubts the prince would be dumb enough to do so.
I hate the mc sometimes, if you’re waiting until the other party finished talking to speak, then you’ll never be able to say anything. Just shout, like “PLEASE WAIT!!!”, OR “HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!!”… Although her inner monologue seems funny, it’s really not to me, it just makes me feel frustrated. I bet she’s gonna start getting bullied by the other girls now…i wish everyone would one day see what kind of a tyrant and bully the prince is, hope he would lose his right for the throne.
I hope you would finish this story and see if it fulfil your expectation ^_^
Since Rosalind is a much higher rank than Sharina she probably can’t be rude to her in case Rosalind does something to her family as punishment. The best Sharina can do is nod her head politely and wait for an opening to retort or else avoid her completely, similarly with the prince. If anything the fact that she doesn’t just blurt things out without considering rank means she’s responsible.
You know, I hate this common trope that has always been enphatized in those Japanese novels, the thing about absolute respect to those abose you among European nobles is absolute bullshit all the time for exception of the lord towards whom your family has pledged Allegiance to and the royal family. The various noble families of lower rank are obligated to swear an oath of fealty towards the lord paramount of the region and can only be bossed around by said lord, when you meet a noble of higher rank from another region you only need to be respectful and do whatever he asks, but if it’s something remotely important you and him NEED permission from your and his, if he have one, superior.
Idk. This is an aristocracy thingy. Rosalind is a Duke’s daughter. She was merely a Count’s daughter. Their statuses did not match and literally she had to lower her head and wait for her, the MC is even can be a lady-in-waiting for a duke’s daughter. If you read other novels, you’ll see when the MC is a Duke’s daughter and got told off my the ‘otome heroine’s who was of much lower status, others would mock the ‘heroine.’
I find your comment to be a bad paradox. -_-
I would just start making out with bf or something. Girl just want a date, no time for that bullshit. ?
This is a year late so… yeah. Do want to add my two cents. You’re not wrong (the only way to get a word in with people like that is to shout at them), but that’s precisely why I can imagine she didn’t bother. For one, they’re at a party. Ignoring the nobles ranks stuff (which sadly works however the setting says it does despite how it may have in historical context), just think about her reputation. They’re still right outside the party and She was believed to have been taken by the prince mutually already. Yelling at the prince’s top fiance, would be seen as challenging her (or an antagonizing her) and would be more deferential than letting the idiot go on (that has nothing to do with rank and just rumors and reputation). For two) it’s REALLY bothersome trying to get a word in with those types. It’s not like you interrupt them once and they actually pause long enough for you to say your piece or stop talking over you, you have to continually shout of them like a banshee to get a sentence out. I grew up with someone like that. They aren’t a bad person, but when they get like that, I just leave the room because it isn’t worth the effort. I can’t imagine after everything she went through the Mc wanted to spend half an hour shouting like she’s on a game show trying to beat the other contestants.
hahahahaha more dramz incoming!!
No, I think Rosalind did not even see his ego she most likely fell in love at first sight a.k.a. I love you because of your face that is why anything you do looks cool to me. As the saying goes beautiful people always gets away with their crimes.
And Sharina was very funny with her retorts going wild until she just gave up listening all together. Though I think it is a bad idea to say “But Lady Rosalind warned me” to that fool.
I expected it, yep, Rosalind is a fangirl who can only see through pink colored glasses
Here’s the “Ruin of the ‘Akuyaku’” route unlocked… I wouldn’t be surprised if by chance That hears that she was “told off” and the Ariarose house gets destroyed because That wouldn’t tolerate “harassment”…
Um…going off my knowledge of “Reincarnated as the Villainess in an Otoge” plots, wouldn’t using that excuse paint Rosalind as the villainess thus progressing Sharina even further on his route? :/
Wait so she made a speech and walked out on them?
Well, I can see them tell no to the prince because of what Rosalind said not going well.
Thanks for the chapter
I wonder if she does love the prince and is stupid, or cunning and trying to push THAT onto the MC…
… I feel sick in the stomach..
I know right?! What is this crazy world and how do the protagonists get their happy end?