“Lumiere, why were you speaking with another man? Why would you need to, when you have me?”

…How did my fiancé turn out like this?

The first prince, Redmond von Nerneige, was my fiancé. He was tall and slender, and proficient in both academic and martial arts. Appearance-wise, he was a simple, yet sturdy man, sporting exquisite eyebrows.

As he was a splendid young man deserving of all manner of compliment, everyone acknowledged him as the future king.

…As of the present, he was embracing me by my waist while speaking such things in front of the school gate. We were so close that our faces almost touched.

It started a month ago.

Until that point, our relationship was business-like, one where we maintained an appropriate distance between us.

While it felt as if we were somewhat awkward in the presence of each other, the relationship itself was amicable, and we supported each other like business partners.

“Your Highness, I think you’re a bit too close…”

“Please, don’t make me so lonely? If possible, I’d like to delve even further into you—both mentally, and physically.”

…He’s already making me sick this early in the morning!

Nevertheless, he was the crown prince. Whether it was in public or behind closed doors, I couldn’t verbally abuse him. Moreover, there was also the fact that I was engaged with him preventing me from outright refusing him.

“I… no way, in front of everyone else? How embarrassing…”

In the end, all I could do was feign a smile and voice harmless complaints.

Besides, it wasn’t like I had done anything to draw his attention! All I did was thank my butler for assisting me in alighting from the carriage!

Thus, in front of everyone, Prince Redmond pulled me towards him while his gaze was still trained on my butler.

“How long will you continue to stare at my fiancée with such a distasteful look? Haven’t you finished your duty? Then scram. I don’t want anyone else to look at her.”

No sooner had Prince Redmond said that when he peered towards my face. We were so close, the tips of our noses were about to touch. Then, his golden eyes narrowed.

“You only need to remain within my sight. Don’t you like it as well? Lumiere, you belong only to me.”

Eeh…? But then, neither of us will be able to complete our official duties?

Still, I had to remind myself that he was the crown prince and this place was the school gate, a place where many students would soon arrive.

Thus, I had no choice but to muster a friendly laugh.

“Hohoho…”

***

“How did this happen—!?”

“Ahaha—! But he said it the other day, saying, ‘I’ve found my true love.’”

At night, when I could finally retire to my room, I vented to my butler, Silver.

I was in a dormitory for high-ranking aristocrats. Under the pretenses of providing the children of aristocrats an equal high-level education, the academy’s true purpose was to prevent aristocrats instigating fights with one another.

Leaving aside why I—the eldest daughter of the Duke of Lamneria—had an attendant of the opposite sex, that prince was the root cause of my stress for the entire day.

“What kind of reason is that?! Aren’t we engaged for the simple and lofty reason of developing the country? As fellow students, aren’t we supposed to study hard and regularly exchange reports, while also serving as partners for the occasional party!? Yet, he’s been ambushing me since morning…!”

In contrast to me, someone blowing her top, Silver was smiling while straightening my uniform.

“At the end of the day, it’s also the kind of relationship where an heir is expected from the both of you. As such, a deeper relation is—”

“—An heir…”

…That’s, something I tend to try and not pay any mind to.

However, it was still my main responsibility as the crown prince’s fiancée.

Of course, I’d attained the general knowledge regarding it from books. After all, I was no longer at an age where I’d believe in childish tales—such as a bird that delivered happiness to people in the form of a baby…

Well, until a year ago, that is.

Regardless, that still wasn’t for another five years, after graduating, my completing my princess education, and getting married. Also, it wasn’t like we were getting off track either.

As the eldest daughter of a splendid ducal family who had turned sixteen this year, I—Lumiere von Lamneria—brushed back my prided violet hair… and shouted, after remembering my current dilemma—

“—But that repulsive behavior is just a no-go!!”

I got goosebumps from just remembering it.

How did he come to utter such silly remarks?

Until a while ago, he was that stern prince who only ever spoke about politics…

“I don’t understand him in the slightest! I’m not allowed to make eye contact with anyone other than him, let alone start a conversation! At this rate, what’ll happen to my human rights?! Am I to become his doll!? Does he know I also have feelings!?”

After unleashing my feelings, I got up from the bed and pulled Silver by his tie.

“Therefore, Silver, choose.”

“Where did this come from?”

“Starting from tomorrow, I’m going to do my best to make His Highness loathe me.”

Even with his tie being pulled, Silver was unfazed.

“If I were to be exonerated from the duke’s house for my crime, there’s a risk that you’s be held accountable as well. As such, you have the right to choose whether you’ll stay with me until the end or cease being my attendant from this very moment.”

Yet, at my remarks, his well-defined eyebrows, which stood above his blue eyes, rose.

“…Milady, do you want His Highness Redmond to hate you?”

“That’s correct. If he falls out of love with me and decides to have a White Marriage, that’s fine too. Even more so if he decides to annul our engagement. At the very least, that’d be better than spending the rest of my life with a creep. At that time, I’ll just abandon my identity and join a covenant.”

A white marriage was nothing more than a false, loveless, marriage.

To be honest, I don’t think any women would want that—

—But still, at the sight of THAT, I was so creeped out, I yearned for it.

…Just remembering the prince’s most recent behavior made me squirm.

“Generally speaking, I think it’d be difficult to annul the engagement without the risk of tarnishing your reputation… But, if you were to have a white marriage, would you be able to endure being surrounded by his other mistresses?”

“Of course. I’d even reward them for putting up with His Highness.”

“…Just how much do you loathe him?”

As expected of Silver, he was shocked to the point he no longer referred to him formally.

—Even so, I was serious.

Steeling myself, I appealed to him.

“Empathy and love are two different things. It is especially because we’ve known each other since we were young that I know some things are just unacceptable.”

At that, Silver’s voice sank.

“Do you simply hate yandere that much?”

“Yan ...dere?”

“It’s slang. Someone who has excessive love towards another, becoming borderline obsessive, is called ‘yandere.’”

“Is, is it some kind of a disease, or a curse, perhaps?” 

To that question, he gave a short reply.

“It’s an orientation.”

“…What?”

But, isn’t that kind of related to—…

I involuntarily averted my gaze, before returning to the main subject.

“Anyway! I can’t keep up with you! What’s ‘yandere’ supposed to mean?! Let’s change the subject!”

“So? Do you have any specific ideas?”

“Well, of course! I’ve come up with a special plan!”

Once I explained what it was, he’d probably give me his same usual careless reply, going “Hmm…” while continuing his work.

Thus, I urged him to make a decision.

“Like I said, you don’t need to join me—”

“—I’ve decided to join you.”

Silver stopped what he was doing and kneeled before me.

“Milady, you’re everything to me. I couldn’t possibly forfeit the miraculous gift that the Goddess bestowed upon me, could I?”

“…A-are you a yandere too? Please don’t?”

“Haha, be rest assured. Even if a woman were to fall for me, I have no intention of reciprocating her love.”

With an eloquent gesture that I couldn’t help but be mesmerized by, he planted a kiss on my fingertips—

“—By the name of the Ginza’s number one.”

---

***T/N: Ooo, Silver throwing that isekai transmigrator hints right away. Guys, Anti-Yandere Squadron, ASSEMBLE!

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