After the party ended with no incidents, I began interviewing the servants of the young Ladies that belonged to Lady Sophia’s faction. As a result, it ca to light that Lady Alicia and Lady Ferris had also been bombarded with marriage proposals.
It seed that what Alicia and Pala had been discussing earlier was this matter as well. Apparently, they disliked causing trouble for Lady Sophia and were trying to sohow deal with it on their own. Having collected information about their situation, I promptly arrived at Master Grave’s office.
“Hmm. I understand that there are unwanted marriage proposals flooding the three young Ladies. However, what do you want to do about it?”
“Lady Sophia wishes to beco their backer.”
This incident was a case of young Ladies being pressured by higher-ranked nobles, who were thinking, ‘Certainly, they wouldn’t refuse my proposal.’ At the sa ti, it was an issue that could get resolved just by Master Grave reigning them in by saying, ‘Are you trying to ss with my daughter’s friends?’ Roughly speaking, that is.
“Back them up? Don’t their families have anyone supporting them already?”
“Here is the information I have gathered about this issue.”
While there were noble families that they were close to, those families weren’t able to help them out with this matter. In addition to their relationship not being close enough for them to beco their patrons, they were currently being pressured by these ‘friends’ of theirs. This was how strong Lady Sophia’s influence was.
“I see. However, the Rosenberg Marquis household cannot beco soone’s patron so easily. Are those three Ladies befitting of the patronage of the Rosenberg Marquis household?”
Since this was Master Grave, he probably already knew not only their personalities, but also their social status and the financial situation of their territories. So this question was most likely a test for . “Of course,” I said to et his expectations and handed over the materials I had prepared.
“Let’s start with the financial situation of each of their territories. They definitely cannot be considered wealthy, but they aren’t involved in any shady business.”
“…I see, you did well in your research. I didn’t think that you’d provide with such detailed numbers.”
“Thank you.”
The docunts that I had just presented him with were all the information that I had researched beforehand. The things I researched in order to select the territories for potato cultivation beca useful in unexpected ways.
“As for their character, the young Ladies didn’t want to involve Lady Sophia in this matter and were keeping quiet about their dilemma, so there is no questioning their nature.”
“I see, I see. Sophia certainly seems to consider them irreplaceable friends, doesn’t she?”
Master Grave nodded, with a look on his face as if this had verified his thoughts.
“However, this matter won’t be settled simply by supporting them. I believe that, eventually, it will beco necessary to take care of their marriage proposals. Are they worth going to such lengths for them?”
“They have benefitted from Lady Sophia already.”
For example, the potato cultivation was one such a benefit. Eventually, the potatoes would probably spread to territories that didn't belong to mbers of Lady Sophia’s faction, but they would still be retaining the advantage of being the first ones to cultivate them. The sa went for the preparation of the black tea, as well as other techniques that Lady Sophia might pass on to them in the future.
In the case that these Ladies were taken in by another faction, their position might get taken advantage of. It would be a different story if Lady Sophia were to cast them away, but… that was unlikely.
I convinced him that, even when taking the responsibilities of a patron into consideration, they were worth it. Sure enough, Master Grave nodded, looking satisfied.
“All right. If you want to do this, then I shall do so, Cyril.”
And so, the matter with the young Ladies’ marriage proposals was quickly settled. In fact, it was settled too quickly, feeling very anticlimactic. It felt as if Master Grave had been waiting for my suggestion… wait, wasn't I actually overthinking this? With our conversation finished, I left the office and was caught by Young Master Ernest, who was waiting for at the door. He brought along to the dining hall, where we faced each other.
“Is there sothing you need to discuss with ? If it’s about studying abroad, I already refused, didn’t–…”
“It is about studying abroad, but not about making you go. The Imperial Princess Charlotte said that she couldn’t wait any longer and that she’s coming to study here right now.”
Huh?! I was on the verge of crying out hysterically, but I thankfully swallowed it down. Although she had plans to study here starting next year originally, there was no way that she could have moved the date forward so easily.
“…You’re joking, right?”
“I wish it was a joke, too, but… they are apparently arriving in a few days. Not just Imperial Princess Charlotte, but also Imperial Prince Harold.”
“They are really… how should I put it–proactive people, aren’t they?”
Normally, royal families decide their schedules even several months in advance. To think that they had suddenly changed this schedule of theirs and would be arriving in a few days, they really worked way too fast.
“While they are quite proactive, it also shows just how astonishing the Imperial Princess finds the magical technique you invented.”
I agreed, but also frowned at the sa ti, as it beca a troubleso thing. I didn’t regret granting Lady Sophia’s wish and saving Her Highness Folcenia. However, publicizing a technique that made the Imperial Princess move her schedule forward to co study here imdiately was a mistake.
If the royal family could have at least put so information control into action… no, that wouldn't have been possible, would it? Since they asked the Flafield Empire about any thods to save the princess, the technique would have co to light eventually after she was cured.
Moreover, there was no point in crying over spilt milk. The important thing was what I would do from now on.
“…I understand the situation.You have told about this because you want to devise so counterasures while I still can, haven’t you?”
“You’re free to interpret it any way you like. However, before that, there is one more thing I want to tell you. Although Sophia already knows about this too–”
“Understood,” I said, and bowed in response to the words he followed up with, his tone solemn.
***
Let’s go slightly back in ti, a little bit before Cyril had been told my Ernest.
“Sophia, I need to speak with you.”
“You need to speak with , big brother?”
Ernest called out to his younger sister, who was walking down the hallway, and she stopped her in her tracks. She seed a little guarded. ‘Big brother, please play with !’ When she was small, Sophia used to act sweetly like that towards him. When exactly had things beco like this? Ernest lanted.
…No, I wasn’t able to protect Sophia when she needed it the most. The one who protected my little sister wasn’t nor my father, but Cyril, a re butler apprentice. Since I tried to take Cyril away, it’s just natural that she would be guarded with . Moreover, what I am about to say now is also…
Muttering to himself, Ernest let out a small sigh. However, he noticed that Sophia was looking at him with suspicion, so he hastily shook his head, as if to say ‘Nevermind.’
“I want to talk to you about the Imperial Princess and the Imperial Prince of the Flafield Empire.”
“I won’t send Cyril away, you know?”
Like a child whose treasure soone was trying to snatch away, she turned to the side protectively, revealing her wariness. However, her expression could in no way be considered as that of a child.
Does his little sister understand what these feelings of hers are? Ernest wondered. Concerned about her, he hoped that she didn’t understand, so she wouldn’t have to be saddened over this impossible desire.
“…Big brother?”
“Ah, this conversation isn’t about making Cyril go study abroad. I was contacted by the Imperial Princess Charlotte and–”
“Was there a ssage saying that she was coming to study here imdiately?”
“…Who told you about this?”
At that point in ti, only a few people knew of this information, so Ernest could have sworn that it wouldn’t have reached Sophia’s ears yet. He was puzzled as to how she knew about it nonetheless.
“…There is no way I could have known about it. However, I know Cyril. Whatever Cyril does always draws the attention of others.”
“So you recognized that Cyril’s technique was amazing enough to make the Imperial Princess practically fly over here?”
“If it wasn’t, he couldn’t have saved Her Highness Folcenia.”
“…I see.”
In so respects, Ernest made light of his technique, thinking that it was just so spell a re butler from the Ephenear Kingdom, a country that was underdeveloped when it ca to magic, ca up with. He chased away the fact that it was a technique that even the Flafield Empire, the country with advanced magic, couldn’t co up with, to a corner of his mind.
Sophia probably wasn’t aware of this. However, she had co to this conclusion due to her confidence in Cyril. While on one hand, he believed that they were linked by a strong bond, on the other hand, he felt uneasy, as there was clear dependence. Thinking of the upcoming events, he felt a deep sorrow for his little sister, but there was no reversing the situation at that point.
“If you understand, then that makes things easier. It seems that Imperial Princess Charlotte and Imperial Prince Harold are going to arrive in a few days. In addition, the Imperial Princess requested Cyril as her guide.The Imperial Prince requested you.”
“They requested Cyril and I to be their guides?”
Sophia only tilted her head to the side, not showing any big reaction. But that was only at the surface. The depths of her athyst-like eyes brimd with displeasure.
That was understandable. It was clear that the intentions behind the two of them coming to study abroad were political. To put it bluntly, Imperial Prince Harold was after Sophia and Imperial Princess Charlotte was after Cyril; nothing more, nothing less. The first was aiming for a political marriage, the later wanted to et an outstanding person. If Sophia was aware of her own feelings, then this must have been an unacceptable situation to her. However–
“Those were the orders given by His Majesty the King after he received these requests from the Imperial Prince. Father knows about it, as well. You understand… what it ans, right?”
In no way was this a re request. No, actually, it was nothing more but a request for them to be guides. However, it was extrely likely that Sophia would receive a marriage proposal from the Prince, and it was very likely that the Princess would attempt to recruit Cyril.
That was the basis of their requests. Even if the two were to say that they weren’t aware of this once things progressed, it would be entirely too late. If they were to decline at that point, they would probably turn the gods themselves into their enemies.
There was no way that Sophia would do sothing that foolish, and neither His Highness the King nor their Father thought that Sophia was a fool who was unable to discern this, either.
Therefore, she could only escape that future at that very mont. Even if she were to throw everything away and elope, at least she wouldn’t lose the most important person to her.
Unable to imagine any other future for her than this, Ernest felt irritated with himself. He treasured his little sister from the bottom of his heart. Therefore, as her elder brother, he always wanted to protect her. However, the only person Sophia relied on wholeheartedly was Cyril. Ernest beca painfully aware of that in a short amount of ti.
To be honest, he was resentful. He shouldn’t get his adorable little sister stolen away by a butler. But there was nothing he could do about it if that was what Sophia wanted and what made her happy. It was his duty as her elder brother to grant her this wish, even if it brought bitter tears to his eyes.
Therefore–if Sophia were to reject these orders, she should just elope with Cyril. If she were together with that witty young boy, she would be able to keep on living anywhere. The Rosenberg Marquis household wouldn’t decline even without Sophia. Ernest had planned on instigating her by declaring, ‘The Rosenberg Marquis household has no need for a fool such as you! Therefore–'
“I’ve received the Imperial Prince’s request to be his guide.”
Ernest was unable to understand what the words that spilled from his younger sister’s mouth ant. He turned the words over in his mind several tis before he finally understood that Sophia accepted becoming the Imperial Prince’s guide.
“…Why?”
“Why? It’s His Majesty’s order and my father knows about it as well, doesn’t he? If that’s the case, then there’s no way for to refuse this request.”
However, accepting the request is the sa as centing your own future, Ernest thought, and then ca upon the possibility that Sophia didn’t understand her own feelings.
No matter how outstandingly talented she is, in the end she’s still just an innocent child, isn’t she…?
Whenever she would beco aware of her own feelings, she would co to realize that at that point, it was an impossible love.
‘I pity her,’ Ernest thought as it occurred to him that this mont would co.
We reached the last part of ‘For the young Lady' chapters, ‘Lady Sophia's wish' chapters are coming next!
Very curious to see how all of this pans out! Also excited to finally et the Princess Charlotte and Prince Harold!
If you'd like to support this translation, you can buy a Ko-fi! Any help appreciated!
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