28. I Caught a Cold… (2)
—26 days remaining.
When I woke up the next morning, my fever had dropped slightly. According to the doctor, I should be able to achieve a full recovery if I were to rest for another two days. It seemed that starting from next week, I’d be able to take care of myself and go to the academy once again.
Honesty, I believed I could attend my classes despite the slight fever. However, there was also the issue that my parents were overprotective.
Even so, the fact that it was a mere cold relieved me. As I thought, illness wouldn’t be the cause of my death. Most probably, I’d die from an accident or as a result of someone’s malicious action.
In other words—who’d be the cause?
“What kind of business do you have, Your Highness Sazanjill?”
“None in particular… Moreover, what’s wrong with coming to visit my fiancée?”
With a respectful expression befitting of the ‘Golden Prince’, the first prince of the Kingdom of Lapisenta visited my mansion.
Just then, I noticed that the wound on his chin had healed.
“…When I fell down the stairs—”
“A, about that…”
That was right, I had an important matter to discuss with His Highness.
Therefore, I bowed my head with self-satisfaction—
“—Thank you for helping me, even though it resulted in you suffering an injury.”
“Nyuah!?”
‘Nyuah’…?
What kind of prince made such a noise?
When I inadvertently stared at him with a frosty gaze, His Highness immediately averted his gaze.
“From where did you hear about that?”
“…A god’s prophecy?”
I answered while laughing. At that moment, His Highness’ lapis lazuli eyes turned towards me.
“I recall Lelouche made a brilliant landing at that time. That must’ve been god’s will!”
“Oh, my. My landing was so brilliant, I didn’t wake up for an entire day?”
“Ah, that’s right! I was impressed by your three-and-a-half-turn twist, I fainted myself!”
…Your Highness, you’re being a little too unreasonable with your delusion right there.
I was a little worried. For the future king to be so bad at lying…
Within the next 26 days, I should be able to tutor His Highness, as well…
I hid my face as I giggled.
“What should I do, I can’t think of anything else to say…”
“Above all, I’m glad that Lelouche looks well.”
Seeing me as such, His Highness sat down in relief.
Ah, he has a very gentle face.
It had been a long time ever since I last saw His Highness’ face…
…Indeed, a while had passed since I was last able to take a good look at His Highness’ face.
I wondered why… the reason might had been because we were alone.
By the way, she wasn’t here that day.
“…Ms. Lumiere isn’t with you today?”
“A, about that, I invited her to go with me, but she adamantly refused.”
“Oh, my. What did you do to her?”
I put my hand on my cheek and tilted my head.
Oh my, they’re so close they can go meet each other during on our consecutive days off…
However, before I could say anything, His Highness spoke.
“I heard that while you’ve been away, she’s been studying more. You see, we’re having out regular test at the beginning of next week, right? To repay me, she wants to show me a fascinating score.”
“Wait, isn’t she just dilly-dallying?”
“…I don’t even know why you started that spartan education for her.”
It isn’t spartan at all. I’m just making her focus on the basics of the princess education for 100 days.
Well, I didn’t know what Lumiere thought about it, but I’ll listen to His Highness about why she was free.
“…I have no intention of making my vow to anyone else but Lelouche.”
Although Lumiere and god told me the otherwise.
As I thought, it was scary.
They might had misunderstood me as a witch or a monster, but I was still an ordinary woman. As such, the reality that my fiancé had been robbed of me by another woman was still saddening. I didn’t have the faintest clue about what love was, but I always believed that I’d be with him for the rest of my life.
Thus, having to give that up… it was still regrettable, wasn’t it?
If that was the way it was, then running away should be fine?
After all, I only had 26 days left. God may had looked down upon my pathetic way of life, but I’d still never change my way.
Nevertheless, His Highness interjected.
“I’m sorry for causing you to misunderstand about Lumiere. She’s just a friend. We’re on a good term with each other. Nevertheless, I’m willing to set a boundary with her. If you like, from now on, I’ll only choose those of the same sex as my friends.”
His Highness said something unexpected and asked me what I wanted him to do.
He had a very serious expression. It was as if he was carrying out public affairs.
To decide between the two choices… He said that he’d carry out the decision I made.
I didn’t understand what he said at all…
…No, I wanted to pretend that I didn’t.
“…Did you get along with Ms. Lumiere to help her?”
“Yes. It looks like she’s being shamelessly harassed. Thus, I decided to become her shield. I wanted to explain it to you, but I couldn’t get the chance…”
“That’s… forgive me.”
His Highness told me what I already knew. Indeed, I knew. His Highness was a serious person. At the same time, he wasn’t good at telling lies. He was also truly straightforward, his actions made one think he lacked self-esteem.
Even if I wanted to misunderstand, it was difficult.
What did Lumiere say about that?
I still had a lot to teach her… because she’d take my place.
“Rumor is that I was bullying her?”
“There’s no way that’s true. I was wondering if by letting you meet with Lumiere, said rumors would disperse.”
“I could be lying about it?”
“You wouldn’t have to lie, because you didn’t do it in the first place.”
He didn’t answer my question.
Enough already…
I felt foolish to the point of laughing.
“I’m a clumsy person.”
“I can’t deny that.”
Why did you bow so seriously?
How could you believe in me so much?
“I’m sorry for making you feel so unpleasant.”
He bowed deeply. Then, he raised his face, “The reason everything happened in the first place…” He was trying to get something out of his pants’ pocket.
“…Enough.”
“What?”
“I’m saying that it’s fine.”
I couldn’t stand his apology which was too sincere.
I rejected him many times. I was a weak woman who had escaped from reality numerous times.
I was the one unsuitable to respond to his feelings.
“Hey, Your Highness Sazanjill.”
Ah, I should had only spoken to him at the end.
I could barely smile, much else laugh. It wasn’t a way to talk before meeting Lumiere.
What was more, if I were to say something like that—I’d be disqualified as a lady.
“I have someone else I like.”
I’m sorry, Your Highness Sazanjill.
To respond to your sincerity—I thought that’d be the worst decision of all.
“So please annul your engagement with me.”
***T/N: I wonder if it’ll trigger a change, now that she annuls it early…
Please also consider donating to my ko-fi! It’ll greatly support me in action, no matter the amount!
https://ko-fi.com/antoinettevanessa
Honestly I agree with you, he’s stupid not scum.
What he did is barely anything bad compared to most other princes in similar stories.
Like he ghosted her yes but I don’t think it’s ever mentioned that she looked for him either. That part goes two ways.
Also wanting a private meeting makes sense since he wanted to talk about personal things. He asked her for it multiple days and being denied each time until that last one he became more forceful. This is a problem of communication which again is two ways.
You can’t blame only the prince when Lelouch herself also didn’t really try. I don’t blame Lelouch considering the situation but I also wouldn’t brand the prince as scum just from this.
I do agree that he was an idiot and did not deserve her, but I dont rlly see the hate here.
He was shown to be someone who valued his frds and protected them, albeit we only saw this on hand with Lumiere. He was shown to be someone stupid who didnt know how status or relationships worked, shown by him literally living. He was oblivious about girls and didnt even understand why Lelouche was angry at Lumiere and just assumed that she was being rude. He was straightfoward and honest altho quite stubborn as well. At least I like this type of character more than anyone we ve seen so far, besides best girl. So idk why the scum label.
Also, abt arguments against him, he ignored her because I guess he wanted to surprise her like we r seeing here, but it took much much longer than needed. And when he finished it was when she met god. After that Lelouche constantly tried to avoid him, when he realized why she was angry and stopped showing up w Lumiere she still avoided him. And while I do agree him not doing anything abt her bad rumor getting spread was questionable, honestly idk if he even knew. He said he was looking into who his frds were, but failed to notice Lumiere getting bullied until he noticed her missing shoes. And while he rlly wanted to talk to her, he still gave her space because he thought she was stressed out like before, but wished that she had talked to him abt it.
And while Lelouche feeling guilty was unreasonable, imo she felt this way because somewhere in her mind she thought that it was something like this, especially after her doubts against Zafield and god grew. But she still wanted to avoid this talk until when she was physically unable to run away
Uhhh you just listed all the reasons he’s a scum and hated and then say you didn’t see why he’s hated??
Well maybe putting his behaviour in modern terms would help?
He ghosted her for the entire break where they’re supposed to be free . Kept being super close in public and private with someone he has no rhyme or reason to know or be friends with. Heard rumours against her but didn’t speak up. Tried to aggressively force her to accept his demand of a private meeting for no stated reason.
The worst part is he never got a 2nd opinion. He didn’t ask anyone but that girl involved about how the situation looks or what he should do
That stupid prince didn’t even explain himself believably. I am so upset that she forgave/believed him. And the way he had behaved toward Lelouche before by ignoring her for months and then starting after she just woke up from that fall down the stairs, was so extremely aggressive and combative and not at all the way a person behaves around someone they supposedly like, especially when injured.
Plus there is the unbelievably intimate way he interacted with Lumiere in public and he bought her a dress supposedly, (admittedly not sure if we can trust Zafield on that one; he could have faked the whole boutique visit). Actions speak louder than words. I would not have believed him.
Regardless, he’s an idiot who definitely doesn’t deserve her. Good on her for ultimately asking for an annulment. Girl should have done it sooner.
100% agree. I don’t like to see Lelouche blaming herself when Sazanjill didn’t see her for months whilst trying to fix that doll. That is not ‘trying to tell her’.
Agreed with both of the above here. Lelouche did nothing wrong, she had no reason to feel guilty. The prince ignored her for months thinking everything would be fine, ignored that she was having bad rumors spread about her (shouldn’t he be his fiancee’s shield instead of just a random lady?), couldn’t figure out his own brother was being a creep (Lelouche did it in how many days??), and uses as an excuse he doesn’t know how women treat each other??? I’m sorry, in what way is this inept man qualified to rule a kingdom?
And yes, I really think the doll is his stand-in for Lelouche, he treats her just like one (an inert toy)…
Ugh… dis made me sad ?