She and her Father

Too many things happened, while sulking in bed, it was already the morning of the next day.

When I opened my eyes, my first thought was that it has become a ha.s.sle….certainly this has exhausted me.

Slowly I got up.

Abruptly peering at my chest, there the unchanging blue rose,「king’s Flower」brilliantly and a.s.sertively remained.

I looked over it again and my shoulders dropped.

……this wasn't a dream.

No, of course I knew.

I just wanted to escape the reality a bit. It’s just that.

I was really troubled last night.

I want to say this was already a whole lifetime worth of troubles.

In the end……worrying has become troublesome. In other words, I was in a bind.

……Okay. I understood. I was also a woman.

Since it has come to this, why don't I just get married.

As long as there is the「king’s Flower」, I can not run away. Yesterday, I received an thorough explanation on how troublesome something like the 「king’s Flower」 was.

I will not be able to become someone else's bride with such things.

Or should I say the Royal Family would not permit it.

Anyhow, there was nothing I could do other than to obediently marry.

“Why did something like this happen to me?"

But there was no answer, even if I was talking to myself.

However, if there was something like an answer, it would be like this:

Reap what you sow.

I know. I already knew that.

Unfortunately, because I carelessly did it with that kind of guy, it has become like this now.

“But, I suppose I should more or less consult with Delris…”

Delris-san, who is famously known as the country’s best witch, may possibly know way to escape this situation.

A witch who lived in the corner of the town, I nodded as I'm reminded of Delris-san.

Previously, I have not bothered her since buying the contraceptive from her, but I did get permission to go visit for fun.

It might be a good change of pace to go out for fun.

Although I understand that I cannot escape at the moment, but for the time being, I thought I should do whatever it takes to.

◇ ◇ ◇

“Lidi"

The atmosphere at breakfast was heavy.

As it was time, I went downstairs and headed towards the table. Only my parents were at the table.

None of the usual servants were there.

When I quickly sat down at the table getting ready to have my meal, my father started to speak to me in a strained voice that I do not usually hear.

“What is it, Father?”

I t.i.tled my head in wonder.

Something was strange about the atmosphere. When I looked next to my father, my mother had a worried look.

While thinking the situation was incomprehensible, I took a sip of the black tea that was prepared.

Slowly tasting the sip of tea……today's is a.s.sam tea? (TN: seems to be type of black tea)

"…….ahem…. Lidi, I heard from his Highness yesterday."

“Yes"

Giving up on my father who had a hard time speaking, I enjoyed the tea by myself. Then, at last, my father cleared his throat and began to speak.

I was starting to get irritated by my father's roundabout way of speaking, but for the time being I decided to listen.

Quickly say it. I'm heading to Delris' place after this.

“You, is it true that you were given the「king’s Flower」?”

“……Buuu!!"

Talk about a fastball, I almost spat my tea out at father who had asked me such a thing unexpectedly. That was close.

Surprised, I stared at my father. In order to confirm the truth, he motionlessly stared back at me.

……I can’t escape this.

The same purple eyes as mine, were seemingly telling me to say the truth.

Perhaps he is asking as the Prime Minister, rather than as a father.

Understanding it as such, I gave up and shrugged my shoulders.

"……It's as you say"

"You! When!?”

Outright admitting to it was as bad as I'd thought.

My father began to rise from his seat in order to approach me.

My mother, held both hands over her mouth in disbelief

……Even I didn't want to believe such things.

“Didn't you already hear from his Highness?"

"It was skillfully avoided…..perhaps because he would not say it himself, I decided to look into it on my own accord…"

My father glanced at me with a scowl on his face.

There are many people who would shake in fear from this gaze, however being on the receiving end of it on a daily basis, I thought nothing of it.

My father let out a heavy sigh seeing how I was still calm and composed, and from his breast pocket took out several sheets of paper.

“……This morning I received something in my hands, there was an incredible thing written there……. Lidi, it seems you have gone to a masquerade ball?”

The investigation report was slammed onto the table loudly, and my father intensely glared at me.

My mother next to him went pale and was likely to collapse anytime.

…..Wahh, its already found out.

As expected of the Duke's intelligence network. Great achievements in such short time.

Our house, since the olden days have employed personal spies that have an elite level of intelligence a.s.sessment. It was simple matter for them to thoroughly investigate a daughter’s affairs. (TN: 娘の男性関係-daughter’s male relations)

It was supposed to be under the jurisdiction of my older brother who’s currently out at the moment, but it seems that my secret has completely been exposed.

Perhaps Freed didn’t say anything for my sake.

While I do feel grateful for his consideration, but since I’m already found out there’s not much meaning to it.

“Yes, because I was already interested in it since before."

“Do you even know the purpose of the masquerade b.a.l.l.s?!"

If I don’t properly talk my way out of this, a thundering rage will fall upon me.

While I was trying to come up with a reply, I thought that no one other than me has seen this side of the Prime Minister.

“But I heard that it was seemingly an evening party where one goes to have fun while hiding their ident.i.ty.”

"You idiot! With that sort of surface reasoning, why is it only you that don’t understand!!”

"…..There was no other way. For the sake of my goal, I didn’t have the luxury to choose."

As if nothing happened, a low groan like sound was returned.

“Why did you do something this foolish?"

“Because I didn’t want marry his Highness the Crown Prince. I would do whatever I could to avoid it, and that was the most reliable method I could think of.”

At any rate the cat is out of the bag now, even my purpose was found out. It was clear from the look on my father’s face.

If that’s the case, then at this point there was no point to lie.

However, speaking of unexpected, towards the me that used that kind of method, my father, while his expression was full of vigor, did not appear to think this was something he did not foresee.

Strange, this feeling I have, that was how I would describe it.

"Unexpected"

"What is?"

"From father's expression, I do not see the words 'unexpected'"

I honestly told him my doubt. My father let out a tired sigh.

“……I always thought, as your father for many years now, that someday you would do something like this.”

“Ah”

“Don’t ah!!….More than anything else, the Masquerade Ball of all places! When I received the report, my heart stopped!!" (TN: originally he says my liver froze but don’t think thats common in english so I changed it…)

That was surprising.

I never thought that my father was aware of it.

“……If only I had known, it would have been good to used all my power to stop your engagement with his Highness….”

“Is there someone that I’m able to entrust such a difficult daughter like you to……Or did you want to marry Will? Was that why you came up with such a last resort?”

“Will?”

Suddenly hearing the name of my childhood friend, I went blank.

Why did his name come up here.

“William von Pellegrini” aka Will.

The eldest son of the Duke of Pellegrini.

Head of the current magic division. 23 years old.

He is the eldest son of a family that is indeed comparable to the Vivoir family, and he is my only childhood friend.

Renowned as a genius magician, he was famous since he was a child. He has grey eyes, black hair, and well-ordered facial features.

Yes, not only can he use magic [mahou], he was a genius in the magical arts [majutsu].

This is a world where there are mahou, majutsu, and hijutsu mix in. (TN: 魔法-magic, 魔術-magical arts and 秘術-secret arts)

Mahou is something that one can invoke in no time using using the magical powers within oneself. There are many simple things you can do. For example switching the lights on and off, talking to someone who is far away, these are all possible with magic.

Majutsu, with the use a circular formation called Majutsujin, you can invoke it for the first time by performing the ritual. By performing the ritual, you can do things that magic can’t do. (TN: see footnotes for an attempt at an explanation)

Hijutsu [秘術] is something thats a combination of mahou and majutsu. Each one is too unique to fit into one category.

Although I went on a tangent, in short Will is a genius at performing majutsu.

Not only is Will famous to point where he is too famous, but he also has an equally famous younger brother as well.

The younger brother named Gregor, who is the second son of the duke, is known as the head of the Imperial Guards.

Though I don’t know him very well since I’ve never met him. But anyways, Will was practically the only man I was close to.

“If that was the case. If you’d said so, generally, without going to some place as dangerous as the Masquerade Ball, if you’d asked Will, he would have happily taken on the responsibility.”

I seem to have misunderstood what my father was saying. I furrowed my brows.

I, with Will? ……Impossible.

“Father, Will is like an older brother to me, I never thought of such things.”

“Is that so? But in Will’s case…….”

“Well certainly he doesn’t have a fiancee yet, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay for him to shoulder that kind of responsibility, even I can understand that much.”

Will was kind.

That’s what makes him feel more like a real brother to me. I don’t know why that kind of guy doesn’t have a fiancee yet, but I did not feel like getting him involved in this matter.

Besides something like giving someone who is like my brother my virginity, is absolutely something I do not want.

“…..I think Will would be troubled”

“Is that so? ……As it is a marriage proposal is likely to come.”

“You’re joking. In the first place, father’s and that Duke’s terrible relations.h.i.+p, is such a famous story that even I know of it.

Father and Duke Pellegrini has had a bad relations.h.i.+p since long ago. Their relations.h.i.+p, so to speak, is like cats and dogs. (TN: in j.a.panese it’s dogs and monkeys)

Marriage between such quarreling houses is unheard of.

My father should have excluded Will from the beginning.

That’s why I also did not say anything.

“……I recently heard that guy broke down.”

I could not hear what my father muttered.

“…..Well, there is nothing to be done now, so that’s fine. However, a young unmarried daughter does not attend a masquerade ball alone. Do you understand?”

“Yes”

To such strong words, I nodded.

Of course I don’t intend on going back there any more.

“Honestly…..it seems that it was good that his Highness had been there by chance, any longer and something irreversible would have happened!!”

“Well, I was aiming for it.”

I was glared at for saying that.

“…….Hah. I get it so be quiet….And so? Is there no doubt that he granted you the「king’s Flower」there?”

Because I was told to shut up, I affirmed without saying anything.

My father mumbles while holding his head.

It is said that his Highness was saved thanks to his cleverness.

No, but are you ignoring the fact that Freed was in that place?

It feels unreasonable that only I’m the one getting blamed, I need to say something.

"…..father”

“What”

“Why was his Highness in such a place?”

While pointing that out, my father was lost for words for a moment.

However, he easily recovers and puts on a serious face.

“It's not something to praise about, but on the surface it's not something to criticize either………Even his Highness has his circ.u.mstances. Furthermore, as of now, rather than to blame his Highness, I'm rather grateful towards him. So I won't do things like condemning him.”

Once again I shrank under his gaze.

Aahh, that’s why he wanted to say it was all my fault. I get it.

“Circ.u.mstances, huh?”

“Since you’re his partner I’m sure he’ll tell you why. So ask him directly.”

That’s what my father said, but I honestly wasn’t interested.

My principle was that, as long as from now on he doesn't fool around anymore, I won't make a fuss over his past affairs.

I don't intend to criticize him for things that have nothing to do with myself.

“….In any case, you were granted the「king’s Flower」…Concerning that, his Majesty the King has ordered me to bring you along to meet him. Tomorrow we will head to the Royal Palace, understood?”

“Yes”

That being the case, I nodded obediently.

“Is father gonna confirm it?”

Rather than as a father, I guess this time, he was also speaking from the position of a Prime Minister.

Thinking that, I tried asking about it.

“It is decided that after his Highness bestows it, his Majesty is the next to confirm it. So until then it’s best to not show it to anyone.”

There seems to be some troublesome rules put in place.

Up until now, I disliked talking about troublesome things, so I quietly nodded.

My mother, who kept silent the whole time, opened her mouth.

“Lidi……what a foolish thing you did……."

"Mother"

Do you mean the masquerade ball?

It was probably because my father had been told in advance that he had a somber expression the whole time, but it seems the atmosphere has gotten tense.

Getting stared at with teary eyes, I can’t help but to feel bad if I were to avert my eyes.

"Never do it again okay?"

“Yes, mother. I am sorry”

This time, seeing how I obediently apologized, my father let out a heavy sigh.

“Let’s have breakfast, this is the end of this conversation."

majutsujin「魔術陣」I understood it as people standing in circle formation to perform magic

And hijutsu「秘術」is just combo of the two and I have no idea how it works.