NOVEL NEXT Chapter 45 - News (5)
Translator: Elisia
Editor/Proofreader: TempWane
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“Elsie, wait a moment.”
As Amelia walked down the hallway, she confirmed no one was around before grabbing my arm and halting me. After glancing around, she pulled me into one of the guest rooms along the corridor without hesitation.
Although she was only twelve, Amelia, as the eldest daughter of the Grand Ducal House of Grattanmount, already knew a great deal. Particularly when it came to etiquette, she was deeply involved. This was all evident that the Grand Duke entrusted her with much responsibility.
To someone like me, who couldn’t provide much help to the Delkis family, Amelia seemed incredibly competent. I had watched her work tirelessly to earn such evaluations.
I, too, worked hard to learn swordsmanship in order to do my best as her guard. Yet, for some reason, every teacher who tried to instruct me ended up quitting with a look of despair. After the most recent teacher left, it seemed that finding a new one had become an impossible task.
Could it be that I was just strong but utterly talentless in swordsmanship? Honestly, I’d been feeling increasingly disheartened about it lately. One of my teachers had even been a Swordmaster, but perhaps they had concluded that I had no talent since I couldn’t wield aura or display sword energy at all.
It stung, though Amelia always reassured me as a friend that I was fulfilling my role as a guard.
“Today, you were the first to encounter Prince Evan, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Did Prince Evan mention anything about your future placement?”
“My future placement?”
He hadn’t said anything like that.
Still, I wondered if he had said something indirectly, so I carefully replayed our conversation in my mind. However, there hadn’t been any discussion about my living arrangements.
Why would Prince Evan even talk about my future? He had more capable guards than me, and if he intended to recruit new knights, taking a man from the Delkis family would make far more sense.
When I shook my head, Amelia asked again with a serious expression.
“Then, did he bring up any political matters? Something he couldn’t say in front of me… Ah, of course, you wouldn’t have to tell me if it’s something that could harm the Delkis family—”
“No, nothing like that.”
All Prince Evan had done was show off by riding a wolf recklessly in front of me, falling flat on his back, and boasting about his scars. He hadn’t even mentioned that his younger brother was following him. I only learned about that when I stood behind the Grand Duke of Grattanmount, who had come out with Amelia to greet the prince.
“…I see.”
Amelia, who had placed her hand on my shoulder, stepped back slightly, looking a bit dazed.
Then,
“So what on earth is really going on?”
She murmured to herself, clutching her head.
Indeed, what could it be?
For a moment, I seriously considered joining her in holding my head in confusion.
*
After the Grand Duke of Grattanmount’s welcome ceremony concluded, it was decided to let the guests rest properly today, as they had traveled a long way without much break. The banquet would take place tomorrow.
Amelia and I finally returned to her room to rest, but—
Knock, knock.
Just as we sat down in her room, there was a knock on the door.
“…Come in,” Amelia said, her voice tinged with fatigue, as if she already knew what was coming.
The door opened cautiously, revealing an elderly butler with an apologetic expression.
It was the same butler who had interrupted earlier during our conversation with the prince to deliver news.
Barely an hour had passed since then, yet the butler looked as if he had aged several years. Were there even more gray hairs on his head now?
“Lady Amelia,” the butler began with utmost courtesy.
“Yes, go ahead.”
It was clear that Amelia found it bothersome to respond, but it wasn’t the butler’s fault for coming to her. Thus, she maintained her polite demeanor and granted him permission to speak.
“…His Highness, the Second Prince, wishes to see Lady Elsie.”
A small crack appeared in Amelia’s polite smile.
“Prince Allen?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Did he mention why?”
“…I apologize, my lady. He did not explain his reasons. Shall I inquire for you?”
“No need. Would it be rude if I accompanied her?”
At Amelia’s question, the butler paused in thought before answering.
“His Highness has been informed of the relationship between Lady Amelia and Lady Elsie, yet he gave no specific instructions either way.”
“In other words, he doesn’t care how we proceed.”
Amelia responded with a slightly sharp tone.
“I will accompany her.”
“…Understood. I will lead the way.”
The butler answered, his expression weary.
*
In the novel, Prince Allen was described as a bundle of insecurities.
If Prince Evan were an arrogant man who lived in his own bubble of self-importance, then Prince Allen was the envious imitator of such an Evan.
Of course, Allen wasn’t as brazenly rude as Evan. However, the type of “rudeness” each exhibited was slightly different. Prince Evan—or rather, Crown Prince Evan—embodied arrogance born of having everything and believing he naturally deserved it all. In the original “story” as described in the novel, the dynamic between Crown Prince Evan and the heroine followed the classic trope of “You’re the first woman who’s ever treated me like this.”
A heroine who viewed the Crown Prince, adored by all women, as no more significant than a stone. And the Crown Prince, gradually falling for her despite himself.
Exactly.
It was the same type of story you’d often see in dramas featuring a resilient, working-class heroine and the heir of a wealthy conglomerate.
In contrast, Allen’s rudeness stemmed from his inferiority complex. Jealousy and feelings of inadequacy brewed from seeing his older brother—once deemed lesser—suddenly surpass him in every way. It was a bit absurd that Allen, who was the future king, even harbored such emotions, but the two brothers’ relationship was fraught with this tension.
The irony was that, by Evan’s own admission, his skills still lagged behind Allen’s in some areas.
Yet, the Allen who greeted us from one of the guest rooms appeared on edge, as if every nerve in his body were frayed.
In the novel, it was explicitly stated that Allen used to have a more relaxed personality. If he was already this tense, it seemed like there might be serious trouble brewing.
Looking at Allen in person, he did give off a “mini Evan” vibe, as if comparisons between the two brothers were inevitable. Still, apart from height, he didn’t seem to lack much yet. What was there to be jealous of already?
“”I am Amelia Grattenmount, eldest daughter of the Grand Duke of Grattanmount. It is an honor to meet Prince Allen, the Second Prince of the glorious Alwen Kingdom, blessed by the gods.”
“…Allen, the Second Prince. I’m pleased to meet the renowned daughter of the Grand Duke of Grattanmount.”
It seemed that even Prince Allen had no intention of denying the relationship between Amelia and me.
Well, the connection between the Grand Ducal House of Grattanmount and the Barony of Delkis was well-known, even to the public. In fact, in the novel, this relationship was often mentioned when explaining the bond between my brother Harvey and Amelia.
“Could I perhaps speak with Lady Delkis alone? I’d like Lady Grattanmount to step aside for a moment.”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible,” Amelia replied firmly. “Lady Elsie is my bodyguard. It would be problematic if she were privy to something that I, her master, am not.”
“Even a bodyguard has a private life, don’t you think?” Allen countered.
“If that so-called private matter involves someone of significantly higher status, I don’t believe it can be called private at all,” Amelia responded, her tone unwavering.
At Amelia’s stern reply, Prince Allen’s brows furrowed deeply.
“And, Prince Allen, I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but the Delkis family motto is ‘Nature does not lie.’ Lady Elsie is an exceptional member of the Delkis family. I trust she has nothing to hide from me.”
…Well, technically, I wouldn’t lie, but not saying anything was also still an option.
Of course, having Amelia next to me felt much more reassuring, so I stayed quiet.
“Is that so?” Allen pressed. “Even if it involves a secret conversation with the prince of this country?”
“…”
Instead of awkwardly lying, I chose to remain silent.
“Hah.”
Allen let out a dry chuckle, looking at us with disbelief before sighing heavily.
No matter how I looked at it, the only ones causing trouble here were the two princes. They knew exactly how inconvenient their visit was. Whether Prince Evan ignored it intentionally or simply didn’t care was unclear, but Allen, who still had the veneer of civility, couldn’t be oblivious to the nuisance they were causing.
Especially when their counterpart was the daughter of a Grand Ducal House, someone not to be treated carelessly.
“In that case… it can’t be helped.”
Oh. Was he about to let us go?
If he had a secret to share that couldn’t be spoken aloud in front of others, letting us leave would’ve been the logical solution.
“I heard that the wolf my brother received was raised by Lady Delkis. Is that true?”
Unfortunately, Allen chose to bring up the matter outright instead.