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Chapter 44: Matchmaking with a neighbouring crown prince, part 4

Translator: Denryuu; Editor: Ryunakama

After spending the night with Leinora, I sent her off and found Lyla weeping by the shore.

「I lost track of time while enjoying myself… and when I tried to look for you, you were nowhere to be seen… I waited for so long…」

Having been enticed by the seaside, Lyla appeared to have spent the entire night frolicking around without knowing my whereabouts.

「Hm. I was at the villa. Let’s go back there.」

「Is that all… !?」

I guess I had been asking for it. After all, I had also gotten distracted and pushed Lyla to one side as a result.

Lyla followed me into the villa.

「I’m going to sleep!」, Lyla declared, plopping herself onto the bed.

She drifted off right away. I activated her ring, reverting her to her feline form.

「Hm, it’s about time…」

Looking at the sun’s position, I knew that the two royals’ date was about to commence. If what I had overheard was correct, then I had to make some preparations as well.

◆Fabian◆

The crown prince of the Heavenly Kingdom of Reubens sighed a little. Almeria had been sulking since yesterday. As was the case then, she made no effort to hold an actual conversation and simply replied with pleasantries such as ‘Mhm’ and ‘Hahaha’.

The two of them had taken a relaxing stroll in the late morning, but not a single word had been spoken between them. As a result, the atmosphere was unspeakably tense.

「Shall we take a break?」

「Mhm.」

They arrived at a café with a sea view that Fabian had recommended. A waiter he knew brought two glasses of pineapple juice to the table.

「If you want to get pineapple juice any better, you’d have to squeeze it yourself!」

「Hmm.」

Her monotonous speech made her apathy plain for all to see. This cold attitude of hers would soon change, however. Since the matchmaking had been held against her will, it was obvious from her behaviour that she had no intention to entertain the prince.

A completely apathetic girl who took no notice of him whatsoever. Wouldn’t it be refreshing to turn that coldness against her?

He had all the women he could ever possibly ask for, but this one was different. A girl who despised the thought of having anything to do with him, but who as the princess had to appear in order to maintain her kingdom’s image.

To even think of having his way with such a girl stimulated his deepest, darkest desires.

「…hm?」

「Nothing. I just fell in love with you at first sight.」

「Hm, is that so?」

She looked at him as if he was trash. However, that was exactly what the prince wanted — if only she could look at him like that while she obeyed his every order.

His heart rate increased simply at the thought of it.

Almeria stuck a straw into the glass and took a sip. The dirty things those thin lips of hers could be made to do, he thought. This was the first girl he had ever wanted that he couldn’t get.

「How is it? Isn’t it great?」

「Ehh… well, kind of.」

Fabian also stuck a straw into his glass and drank a little. The juice was a little sweet and a little sour. Without thinking, he let slip a little sigh of joy.

「Kii!」

All of a sudden, a strange cry could be heard.

「A monster –?」

He could not feel the aura of any monsters nearby. Looking around, however, he saw numerous little black figures waddling away.

「…?」

While listening to the sound of waves crashing against the shore, the two royals sipped their drinks in silence.

Almeria’s hand stopped moving suddenly.

As expected, the light in her eyes began to dim. Fabian chuckled to himself. Not only immediately effective, but long lasting as well — so the claims were true, after all.

「…Princess Almeria.」

「Yes?」

This time, her reaction was completely different. It was as if her lover had appeared before her. Having received the cold treatment all this time, Fabian’s heart trembled.

「I love you, Almeria.」

「Eh!? To say that all of a sudden…」

Ah, what a pleasant sight. So pleasantly… shy.

「I’d like to marry you and make you my empress.」

「Fabian-sama…」, whispered Almeria, blushing from ear to ear. 「Okay.」

「There’ll be a lunch reception for both of our families soon. Shall we let our parents know the good news?」

「Okay, that sounds great.」

「Let’s have a kiss to prove it to them.」

He would make her sign their marriage certificate as well. It would be more of a pledge than just a certificate, of course.

「That’s so embarrassing… but, as proof of our love… okay, I understand.」

Almeria nodded, giving the prince a sweet smile.

They secretly agreed to meet again that night. The heroine, the princess, the girl who had treated him like trash — within the confines of his room, he could do anything he liked to Almeria. And who would — no, who could stop him?

After their tête-à-tête at the restaurant, Fabian sent her back to her villa and went to report to his father.

「It has all gone according to plan, Father.」

「Hm, well done. Fufufu. With this, the Kingdom of Ferland will fall right into our hands.」

「I look forward to our luncheon.」

「Ah, yes.」

The monarch’s evil laughter reverberated around the room.

The lunch ceremony was held at the Reubens family’s villa. Unlike the previous night’s dinner, the royal families’ attendants were allowed in as well. However, it was unthinkable for staff to dine with the royals themselves, so only four portions of food — first-class delicacies prepared by first-rate chefs — had been laid out on the table.

Aside from father and son, the guard cum middleman Elvi as well as two of Fabian’s ladies-in-waiting made up the Reubens faction.

For the Ferland faction, their King and his daughter were present, of course. In addition, there were two men who appeared like knights and that guild employee who had been appointed to lead the escorts.

With everyone present, Fabian rose.

「Before we commence our luncheon, there is something I would like to announce to all of you present here.」

He glanced at Almeria, who had her head hung low. Embarrassed, no doubt.

「I have proposed to princess Almeria, and she has agreed.」

His words caused a stir among the congregation.

「A-Almeria!? Really…!?」, shouted a bewildered King Randolph.

「Almeria? Did, did you really –!?」, chimed in Elvi, her eyes wide open with shock.

「Kindly quieten down, everyone. Perhaps it is a little early, but this luncheon will be one to commemorate our marriage.」

Having shushed the crowd, Fabian made his way over to the princess.

「Our kiss?」

Murmuring arose among the delegates again. All was going according to plan.

For Almeria, of course.

「I would advise against getting any closer.」

「Eh? Why –?」

Just when Fabian put his hands on Almeria’s shoulders and leaned in for a kiss…

Baku-ooooooooonn!!

…Almeria slapped the prince with a force unlike any other, producing a sound that echoed around the room for longer than it should have. Fabian was sent flying. He crashed onto the banquet table, bringing the dishes down with him.

In an instant, his best clothes were reduced to a mosaic of delicacies.

「A kiss? A marriage? Tough luck, man, you’re disgusting.」

Almeria’s apathy had been replaced by contempt. She stared at the scum beneath her feet with cold, unfeeling eyes.

「Eh? Ehhhhhhhhh…!? What in the –!?」

The effect had worn off! It was supposed to last for a few months — no, half a year! It had to be someone. Someone who had done something –!?

Despite the sudden chaos, a solitary figure stood in a corner of the banquet hall, observing the entire spectacle. His eyes meeting Fabian’s, the guild employee gave him a mocking smile.

So it was him –!?