11: I Won’t Cry!
…This bag of sweets, it doesn’t suit him in the slightest.
Did he buy it for me?
“Now that you’ve seen it… I just can’t let you go? I don’t care even if you’re Red’s fiancée.”
His voice was as sharp as a knife.
I, frozen and unable to move, was hugged from behind by Bruno.
“…Why don’t I hide you somewhere?”
Upon hearing that, I tensed even further.
Bruno laughed at me.
“Haha, a kidnapping, is it? If I were to kill Red, I’d officially become a criminal. But if it’s for the sake of attaining Lumiere, should I just resort to crime?”
—That’s why you’re terrifying!!
I truly wanted to cry. I wanted to scream for help.
But then—I noticed it.
As he embraced me, Bruno’s hands were trembling.
Hence…
“Nadenade.”
“Lumiere…?”
“Nadenade.”
I caressed his hand as if to reassure him.
Because I knew.
Prince Redmond and Bruno always had difficult conversations with each other.
Even when that plague was unfolding in the slums last year, despite attending my birthday party, the two didn’t even extend a greeting to me. Instead, they spent the entire time trying to come up with a solution. Due to my dissatisfaction, many negative ideas sprang into my mind…
…Who would’ve thought that they despised each other from the bottom of their hearts?
Or, at least, Prince Redmond, who called “Bruno” more often than his own fiancée, couldn’t possibly dislike Bruno.
As I went on stroking him, the voice that reached my ear was faltering.
“Aah, just why…”
His hot breath flowed over my shoulders.
“I always did my best, so why do I have to be the second?”
…Is he crying?
As he buried his face in my shoulder, I didn’t know what kind of expression he was making, but he sounded as if he were full of regret.
“If I get serious, I’m smarter than him, so why can’t I be better than him? The crown prince always has to be number one, leaving me as nothing more than a spare hand…”
—Is that really the truth?
As his fiancée, I believed that I was closer to Prince Redmond than with Bruno, someone I only had minimum contact with until now.
From my perspective… Prince Redmond was truly a hard worker.
Meanwhile, I only knew how talented Bruno was from rumors and exam rankings… But at the very least, I knew that Prince Redmond wouldn’t want such favoritism.
—But that isn’t always the case, is it?
Even if it wasn’t what Prince Redmond himself wanted—
—it might be because his surroundings wished for it to be so.
For the sake of a solid government, the crown prince had to be number one.
Striving to fulfill those expectations all the time must be exhausting—
—to the extent that Bruno began to entertain dangerous ideas just to escape reality.
Perhaps, he was similar to me, someone pretending to be a Burikko just to have her engagement annulled.
When I thought about it… maybe I was the one who wished for a pat on the back—
—for someone to appreciate what I did.
Then, I consoled him for a while.
Before long, the weight disappeared from my shoulder. The voice that came from overhead sounded incredibly tender.
“…That.”
“Koten?”
I abruptly looked up.
“Why do you insist on pretending to be a fool…?”
Bruno, frowning to the max, stared incredulously at me.
—T, this is…!?
Could it be, Bruno’s yandere had been cured!?
I didn’t know what happened, but if Bruno managed to regain his senses, he might complain to Prince Redmond about my peculiarity, causing the latter to discard me! Or, maybe, he’d agree that Prince Redmond was a complete yandere!
When I stared at him, full of expectations with eyes that said, ‘Kirakira’…
For some reason, Bruno blushed and averted his gaze.
“Ah, no… That’s right. That’s the kind of curse you’re under…”
—B-but, earlier, you weren’t mistaken!?
Should I just admit the truth here?
Should I hold myself responsible and apologize for my misdeeds? Should I bow my head at the risk of being scorned and abused?
Thus, I made my mind and opened my mouth—
“—Really, you’re such a troublesome cousin. Rather than studying, we should be trying to find a cure to your problem… Please be patient. I’ll cure you as soon as possible.”
If you say that so gently, wouldn’t it be difficult for me to confess the truth—!?
Moreover, Bruno immediately turned on his heels and walked to a bookshelf, but not before smiling wryly at me.
“With that level of foolishness, I can’t even spoil you properly.”
“Hawawa?”
Afterwards, I couldn’t say anything anymore.
We looked through some spell tomes until Prince Redmond barged in, declaring. “I’m finished with all my work, too!”
…At the very least, I learned Bruno was just under too much pressure.
However, Prince Redmond was probably oblivious to it all. After all, when the three of us were hunting for books, he kept calling for Bruno. I wondered what’d happen if he discovered that the exam ranking were being manipulated?
But since I could only say, “Kyururun”, it wasn’t like I could clue him in.
Though, even more surprising than that…
“Oh, right, Lumiere… Did you see Bruno’s notebook as well?”
“Hawawan?”
Uhm—does that mean…? Prince Redmond was aware of the notebook…?
“Awaawa—” As I buzzed, Bruno laughed.
“Yes, Red is aware of that notebook. Sometimes, he even gives me pointers. Your fiancé is something else, isn’t he?”
…Apparently, I was worrying over nothing.
As Bruno suggested, “Shouldn’t you just reconsider your engagement?” Prince Redmond said, “Well, it’s a good pastime—as long as no one else finds out.” And only smiled wryly.
Anyway, despite looking for a way to lift my curse, except for that conversation, the two ignored me afterward. As it was, time passed…
…In the end, when we were about to part;
“I’m sorry, my Lumiere. If I could, I would refuse leaving your side even for a moment. But from now, I’ll be returning to the royal capital to investigate the royal archives.. Bruno, won’t you accompany me?”
“Of course, Your Highness. My only regret is that I won’t be able to behold Lumiere for at least three days. Do come and visit me in my dreams. I’ll be waiting.”
…The two of them rushed to board the carriage, but not before both decided to hug me.
The future king and prime minister swiftly jumped into action. The future of the kingdom looked very promising—
—If only the subject of their investigation wasn’t “How to Cure a Burikko”, or something like that…
—I feel like it’s getting harder and harder to apologize…
After seeing their carriage off, I stared at the evening sky before sighing and turning on my heels.
What a depressing day it was. Nevertheless, I was still grateful that I wouldn’t have to meet the two leading yanderes for three days…
Dragging my steps, I looked for Silver.
I felt so tired today. Hopefully, by the time I reached the dormitory, I could receive a massage as I reported about Bruno. I said that as if I had any results to report…
“Alright, where should I—”
—Usually, he’d be the one looking for me.
I decided to go to the cafeteria and drink tea as I waited… But then, I saw a familiar figure in the shadow of the courtyard.
Thankfully, I spoke so fast, my voice didn’t reach him—
—After all, my attendant was currently pinning a certain pink-haired female student against the wall.
Not only was she between his arms, he also stuck his knee between her legs…
Then, Silver casually lifted the chin of the female student—Irene Von Yattermen—as his face inched closer…
“Kya…”
I forcibly held back my scream and ran away.
…Did my chest throb because I wasn’t used to running?
For some reason, tears threatened to fall from my eyes.
***T/N: SHEEESH AUTHOR MAKING IT OBVIOUS WHOSE SHIP IS THE BEST SHIP AND IT’S SILVER.
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