My Dear Husband, Let's Keep It Business-Like! ~Countess Anastasia, Raised in The Downtown, Won't Give Up Her Way~ - Episode 69

“As always, Alex is so formal. We’re just students here, so you don’t have to call me ‘Your Highness’.”

“That’s not how it works…”

“Since Alex finally got to study abroad, it would be tough to change the old customs of Fairfanville.”

Ugh… I was just thinking about the bad customs of my homeland, so this criticism is tough to take.

“So, what’s up? Didn’t you say you couldn’t come here anymore because your return to your home country was approaching? You’ve got all those farewell visits and everything, right?”

I became close friends with Princess Carmilla as soon as I started studying abroad.

The princess, who will eventually marry into Fairfanville, volunteered to be my guide as an exchange student from Fairfanville.

It was surprising to me that the royal family would personally act as guides, and that the princess, being a woman, would be my guide, but my classmates all shouted “Old-fashioned!!” in unison.

Now, it’s a good memory.

“Actually, there’s something I want you to hear.”

I informed Her Highness the Princess about the letter from Jean.

Until I got here, I hesitated about whether it was really okay to say this, but my power is not enough to help those two.

Moreover, Her Highness the Princess has the right to know. After all, it’s about her own fiancé.

“Right. When is Alex’s departure?”

“Early next week”

“……It looks like we won’t make it in time. It would have been more fun if we could have gone together.”

“Uh, what do you mean by that?”

“Huh? I’m going. Me too. That night party.”

Please provide the text you would like to have translated.

I underestimated Princess Carmilla’s decisiveness.

Is it really okay for a princess of a nation to be this light on her feet!?

“But is it really okay? Telling me something like this. Even if this engagement falls through, who do you think will be in trouble? It will definitely be Fairfanville, right?”

“……It’s fine.”

“Yes”

When Her Highness finished the remaining tea in her cup, she stood up gracefully.

“Well then, I’m going. I’ve suddenly become busy.”

A few days after that incident, I left Austburg.

Even while leaving Austburg and heading to the royal capital of Fairfanville, I never neglected gathering information, but the results were all too horrifying to behold.

As if paying the price for all the things I had been avoiding, I spent my days in a flurry, and before I knew it, it was the day of the ball. There was far too little time.

From Princess Carmilla, the messenger brought a letter saying, “I barely made it to Fairfanville, so I’ll go straight to the ball venue. I’ll sneak in, so please lend me the waiting room!”

It pained me to have involved Princess Carmilla, but to be honest, I didn’t have the luxury to choose my methods.

Seeing Anastasia again after a long time at the ball venue, I was truly amazed by how she had become so beautifully radiant.

Eugene and I, dressed in matching outfits that are instantly recognizable, look like a beautiful painting as we embrace each other. It’s clear to anyone that we are a couple deeply in love.

When I, feeling relieved, gently waved to Anastasia, I couldn’t help but laugh a little when Gene immediately waved back for some reason.

In reality, contrary to my true feelings, which hoped it was just a series of mistakes or misunderstandings, the evening party unfolded just as I had imagined.

Even the Crown Prince, who had been close to me since childhood, and my younger sister Christina, whom I was supposed to cherish…

The consequences of having used the noble-sounding excuse of wanting to believe as a shield to escape came back to me in a way more serious than I could have imagined.

Even so, I feel a deep sense of relief that I was able to safely bring Jean and Anastasia out from my waiting room.

I’m glad it didn’t turn out to be the worst.

I was about to say to Jean, “Please take care of Anastasia,” but then I thought, “Wait, something’s off.”

So if I say to Anastasia, “Please take care of Eugene,” that wouldn’t be right either, would it?

After much thought, I said this.

“Support each other, okay?”

And what awaited me when I returned to the hellish waiting room was the sight of my country’s crown prince being made to sit in seiza.

I feel so pathetic that I might cry.

What he was trying to do was utterly despicable, so there’s no way to cover for him, but Her Highness the Princess is also quite merciless.

He must have noticed my return by the sound of the door opening. The crown prince, who had been looking down and sulking, glared at me fiercely.

“Alex! Did you set me up!?”

“No, you simply did something you shouldn’t have, Your Highness. I have actually warned you many times.”

Even so, does the crown prince, who continues to press me, not realize that the princess’s eyes have turned as cold as ice?

With a snap of her fan, Princess Carmilla stands up.

“Given the circumstances, we can no longer continue the engagement with Crown Prince Alphonse. Whether we annul it or nullify it… that will depend on His Highness’s attitude and the discussions between the countries.”

“No way! Th-That’s the only thing…! It was my fault, I thought it was just a light-hearted game. My true love is only for you! Princess Carmilla!!”

Seeing the crown prince cling to the princess’s feet, my head heats up.

“Get away!!”

Before I could even say that and try to pull the Crown Prince away, his body was suddenly blown away, even though no one had done anything.

“Well, that’s terrifying. No matter how much we are still just engaged, to commit such an outrageous act before even getting married…”

Saying that, Princess Carmilla pretended to stagger, and then a group of knights and maids from Austburg appeared from the adjoining room.

“W-w-wait, Princess Carmilla, did you even bring a knight with you!?”

The blown-away prince shouts with wide eyes.

“Conversely, me going to Fairfanville without any guards or attendants? That’s out of the question. Besides, it would be a problem for me to be alone in the room of the Duke of Fairfanville’s son, wouldn’t it? Please don’t think of me as the same as you.”

The princess elegantly covered her face with a fan and retorted.

After watching the crown prince leave the room escorted by the knights of Austburg, Her Highness turned to me with a beaming smile and said,

“Well then, shall we arrange a meeting with His Majesty next? An audience has already been scheduled.”

I’ve finally realized it now that I’ve come here.

I did not involve Princess Carmilla.

I had somehow gotten caught up in Princess Carmilla’s plan.

“Women are… actually strong, aren’t they…”