The new year has dawned.
At the age of 23, Leonard joined the Red Knights as deputy commander.
Commander Dalton couldn’t keep his mouth shut for a while, and he boasted about Leonard to every man he could catch in the Imperial Palace.
So did I, of course.
“Don’t you think the knight’s uniform really suits my brother?”
Whenever I went to teach swordsmanship, I boasted about Leonard to Caesar.
Each time, Caesar looked like he wanted to run away. In fact, he always seemed like he wanted to run away whenever he saw Dalton.
“The instructor is right! What a reliable man! No other man in this empire could be as good as him!”
But when Dalton and I were together, he couldn’t run away.
The headquarters of the Red Knights.
Dalton, Caesar, and I sat around happily, drinking tea and bragging about Leonard.
It was only me and Dalton who did the talking, while Caesar merely drank his tea in silence with a look in his face as if he had been poisoned.
“Wasn’t he really cool when he swore the pledge of loyalty?”
“Of course! His voice did not tremble even once! What a bold character the Instructor’s brother has!”
“You do know your stuff, Commander!”
“Whoa, it’s really good that you understand me, Instructor!”
As Dalton and I clapped our hands together, Caesar’s expression was beautifully distorted.
“It’s getting late, so you’d better go back, Master.”
“What? I don’t want to. I still want to talk to Sir Dalton.”
In response to my rebuttal, Dalton said Ouuuh with a look of interest.
It was only quite recently that I found out that I was the only human in this Imperial Palace who could oppose Caesar’s words.
And Caesar could never get mad at my refusal.
“Both of you have been talking about Leonard for two hours.”
“Oh my, it’s only been two hours? What a short time.”
“Helena…”
As if Caesar were sick of it, he held his forehead with one hand.
In the end, Caesar’s target was changed to Dalton, knowing that nothing would work on me.
“By the way, Sir Dalton, I’ve got a request for military training in the frontier. Do you want to go on a business trip?”
And I saw… Caesar’s red eyes gleamed like a wild beast in the middle of the night.
“Oops… Come to think of it, I forgot to check the training of the members.”
Dalton, who was much bigger than Caesar, stood up from his seat after lowering his tail at one glance at Caesar’s lit eyes.
“Then you two have a good chat. I’ll have to excuse myself.”
Then he slipped out of the room.
In the end, there were only two guests left in the commander’s room without the commander himself. What’s with this?
After Dalton left, I stretched my legs.
“Well, it was really fun. Is Caesar not happy that Brother is doing well?”
“I was happy until you started praising Leonard for the whole week.”
Mm, it’s been a week already.
Well, I’ve been talking about Leonard every time I met Caesar lately. Of course, Caesar listened with a smile at first.
I suddenly feel sorry.
“Of course, it’s not that I don’t know how crazy you siblings are about each other.”
“I’m not crazy.”
In an instant, my face heated up.
Although I like Leonard a lot. Although I boasted about Leonard a bit too much. Although I think Leonard is the best in the world. But, but—!
‘… Was it a bit too much?’
But it can’t be helped.
Leonard was the one who taught me that siblings are not meant to kill each other. Even if the whole world turns its back on me, I think he will be by my side.
“When I won the gladiator competition, you just nagged at me.”
“I had my reasons.”
“Should I quit being a crown prince and join the Knights?”
“Nonsense.”
Caesar smiled brightly at my response.
“I’m trying to become emperor to get a compliment, but it’s so hard for me to get a compliment from Master.”
Is it okay to become emperor for such a light reason?
“Well, then you should entertain me so much that I can’t even think of my brother.”
“Such a difficult task for Master who is lazy and finds everything in the world bothersome.”
With that said, Caesar looked quite happy. As if he already knew what to do, as if he had been prepared.
“I have New Year’s limited chocolate from the candy bakery in my room, What do you think? Would you like it?”
“Ah, the one I couldn’t buy because it was fully booked!”
“Yes, I heard from Agoth.”
“How did you get it?”
“After hearing that, I called the chef to the Imperial Palace.”
What? Isn’t that an abuse of power? Will that be okay?
“Whoa, you’re disgusting.”
“So you don’t like it?”
Caesar tilted his head to one side and smiled.
Well, let’s let it slide this time.
“No, I like it.”
I smiled broadly and clung to Caesar’s neck. Caesar said while hugging me tightly.
“Wahhaha, I want to buy you 100 boxes of chocolate every day.”
Oh, what a sweet voice.
I buried my head in Caesar’s neck and grinned for a long time.
***
In spring, an event that worried me very much was waiting for me.
It was the party.
I felt a lot of pressure just because it was a party held in the Imperial Palace. Not to mention I was the main character. Oh my god.
Moreover, with such an event being held, there was always someone who visited me and bothered me.
Rowena Evergreen.
“You must be more beautiful than Young Lady Brande.”
One morning, Rowena, who had visited the mansion without question, was burning with a fire that was unlike her usual rare expression of emotion.
“The empress has sent the best costume designer and dance teacher to the Brande. We’re one step behind. I’m ashamed.”
“No… It’s alright. You don’t have to go that far.”
I said while waving my hand to Rowena, who was embarrassed. What’s that? She even sent a dance teacher? I think it’ll be annoying just from the sound of it.
But my comfort didn’t work at all. Rather, it seems to have stimulated Rowena.
“What kind of weak words are you saying, Princess!? You cannot win this war with such a weak heart!”
Rowena scolded me in a rare, loud voice.
It was my first time hearing someone calling me weak in both my past and present life. Oh my god. Was it war, not a party, that I had to participate in?
“Even though all the famous designers were lost to the empress, don’t worry, Princess. After asking around, I’ve been recruiting newcomers who are on the rise these days.”
It was the most worrisome thing I had ever heard.
Rowena was burning hotter than ever.
“I think it’d be better. Famous people indulge in mannerisms and stick to classic tastes. Naturally, the crown princess should lead the trend, and not follow it, don’t you think?”
Fashion, what is that? Why are you suddenly asking me to lead something I’ve never followed before?
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“Rowena… Do you have any loans that you lent to the Brandes and haven’t gotten paid back?”
I asked half-jokingly. That means I was half-serious.
I had no idea that she would be so excited about facing the Brandes.
Rowena was conscious of her condition only then. She became a bit embarrassed and fixed her glasses for no reason.
“Excuse me. I was a little excited.”
“Did something really happen with the Brandes?”
“No, if anything, it was with the empress.”
“Really? What happened?”
I asked lightly.
Rowena sighed in response to my question. Her brows wrinkled, as if she had to remember something she didn’t like.
“A long time ago, the Valer destroyed my family.”
… Uhmm.
I shouldn’t have asked.
I curled my lips and turned my gaze to the side. How awkward.
Hamilton! Why didn’t you tell me in advance of this important thing where I could have made a mistake!
“It doesn’t matter anymore. It was a long time ago.”
There’s no way it doesn’t matter to you!
“When I gave up everything, His Highness took me, who had nothing, in. That’s why I’m always grateful to Princess.”
“Me? Not Caesar?”
What a strange thing to say.
I asked the question with a tilt of my head.
Rowena smiled bitterly at my question.
“Just as Princess took in Miss Agoth, His Highness took me in.”
Come to think of it, I got to know Rowena after I brought Agoth into the duke’s residence.
I’ve never heard of Evergreen, and I thought it was strange that Rowena was quite young to be a confidant of the crown prince.
“‘If you have the skills, your past or your status doesn’t matter. I will only follow the example of my teacher, for she has done so. So, prove your skills by my side.’ His Highness said so to me.”
“I see. That’s what happened…”
What a surprise.
Caesar was on bad terms with Agoth.
Of course, it was half a joke. Nowadays I wondered if it was a love and hate relationship because sometimes they got along really well.
But apparently, that’s what he was thinking while watching Agoth.
“Because he respects and relies on Princess’ sincerity.”
Rowena’s gaze was warm.
She seemed to be devoted to Caesar with all her heart. As Agoth did to me.
Naturally, I smiled as well.
“What a wonderful man, Caesar.”
“Yes, he really is.”
Rowena affirmed my boastful remark.
I was happy as if it was I who had been praised. It warmed my heart.
It would be great if other people who were afraid of him also knew that he was such a good man, that he was such a wonderful person.
“… For that reason.”
Rowena, who had been smiling warmly, erased her smile again and fixed her glasses.
“For the sake of my pride and revenge, I can never be pushed back by the people on the empress’s side. Princess, please don’t be annoyed and do your best.”
“Ugh…!”
Wait a minute.
So in the end, I’m being used for Rowena’s revenge?
I finally let out an inaudible, inevitable scream in my heart.
***
A change of heart.
That must be a word prepared for me at this moment.
“Whoa… Incredible.”
The day of the party.
Standing in front of the mirror, my mouth opened wide as I saw my change beyond recognition.
“I don’t think you are of this world, my lady…!”
Agoth expressed her appreciation for my appearance. She was almost on the verge of fainting.
I looked in the mirror to see Rowena standing behind me. Rowena alone had a satisfied expression on her face.
“Ha… I really did my best. I put my soul into it.”
I heard the groaning voice of the costume designer behind my back, so I looked back.
“Be sure to press Young Lady Brande, Princess…!”
“Because of Miss Evergreen’s urging, I think my pride will be broken if I lose to the empress, whom I have never seen before…!”
The new designers, whom Rowena had carefully selected and recruited, were sprawling on the sofa with their exhausted faces after burning all their enthusiasm for me.
“Please come back victorious, Princess…!”
The designers said to me in unison.
Oh well, I wasn’t going to fight, but sure.
“You’re so beautiful that I want to show it off to others, but you’re so beautiful that it’s a waste to show it to others… My lady, you are the best.”
“Thank you, Agoth. Listening to you gives me confidence.”
Then the door opened with a knock.
The one who opened the door and appeared was Leonard, who had been “remodeled” just like me in the next room.
Leonard also looked completely different from usual from head to toe.
The dark blue and white suit matched the silver hair and blue eyes so well. It shimmered as if there were blue sapphires all over his body.
“Wow, Brother… Wow…”
I was speechless. I couldn’t help but admire him.
I pointed my finger at Leonard and looked at Rowena with a Wooow, and Rowena smiled with satisfaction.
“I ground my soul.”
How many souls have been ground…
Leonard also approached me with a Wow. His eyes twinkled with wonder.
“I thought you were beautiful enough, but apparently there were still parts that could be made more beautiful.”
How can you speak so beautifully, my older brother?
“Come on, we’re running out of time. It doesn’t make sense if the main character is late.”
As Leonard and I looked at each other and admired each other, Rowena clapped her hands to evoke the atmosphere.
As I left the room, Rowena followed me and gave me instructions.
“Be careful not to step on the skirt. Never rub your eyes. The earrings weigh quite a bit, so don’t shake your head too much. The corset is tight, so don’t eat too much.”
“Ugh, there are so many things I shouldn’t do.”
“Being beautiful is hard work.”
After saying that far, Rowena took off the glasses she was wearing and whispered in my ear.
“You can ruin the lipstick.”
“…?”
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I can ruin my elaborate makeup?
I looked at Rowena with a puzzled expression, but Rowena nodded her head towards me with determined eyes alone.
I didn’t even understand the determination, but I nodded my head once.
‘Does that mean I can drink as much as I want?’
Eventually, without realizing the meaning of her words, I got into the carriage.