The Unattractive Princess' Marriage - Episode 12

“Good day, Your Highness.” The previously tranquil atmosphere of the greenhouse, which had been simply heartwarming, was now tinged with a subtle tension. Of course, the reasons differed for Sophina, Anna, Zeerath, and Bardner.

“Could you bring some of those flowers to my office as well?” “Oh, ah, yes. Well, then, if you have any preferences,…” “Anna’s taste has been confirmed in Sophina’s room. I’ll leave it to you.” Feldric’s smile at Anna was exactly like a prince from a storybook. His golden hair, reflecting the greenhouse’s scattered sunlight, now appeared as pure light. His emerald and gold eyes shone like priceless jewels.

“It’s hot.” “…It’s a greenhouse, and spring is almost over.” Sophina gave an exasperated look to him, who had approached and grumbled without a greeting. He showed less than half the warmth he had for Anna. “Right. That’s exactly what Your Highness always says, ‘Anyone with a bit of common sense would understand,’ or so it seems… I mean, it doesn’t seem like that at all…” “Would you mind acquiring the wisdom to finally shut your mouth…?” Feldric and Zeerath, who were equally good at saying unnecessary things, exchanged their usual barbs, while Anna watched the scene with a strained expression. Bardner, who was generally resourceful, pretended not to notice.

Feldric, who had been glaring at Zeerath, turned his face to Sophina, and immediately lowered his gaze to his hands. “……………Do you like flowers?” “Eh, yes…” “…” Sophina braced herself for a barrage of sarcasm and unpleasant remarks, but Feldric simply stared at her, as if looking at something strange. (I was sure he’d say something like “you’re outshone by the flowers”…) She glanced sideways in puzzlement, and saw Zeerath and Bardner also frowning, overtly suspicious.

(What is it? Or did I do something…?) Last night, she had explained Meskel, a board game from Hydeland, to Feldric. They used to play it on the sofa in the reception room, but recently, Feldric had declared it “troublesome” and moved it to the bed. Just yesterday, yawning and lying in bed, he had made a point of saying, “I pity Sophina, who always loses at Othello,” before prompting her to talk about Meskel. And he had even made the sarcastic remark, “Well, once you learn the rules, I’ll win anyway.” At that point, he didn’t seem to be acting strangely. This morning when she woke up, and after breakfast when he left the room, he seemed a bit sleepy, but there was nothing particularly odd about him.

(So, this morning…? I haven’t met him, and I haven’t done anything special, have I…?) Sophina fidgeted, feeling uncomfortable under his prolonged, scrutinizing gaze. At that moment, Feldric opened his mouth. “…” But he frowned, closed it immediately, passed by Sophina, and crouched down in the section where late-blooming tulips were planted. “—Here.” The flower he picked and offered was a double-petaled variety, with a faint new green tint at its white base, and a pale pink gradient from the center to the tip of the petals. (…Is he giving it to me, I wonder?) “Th-thank you, very much…” Sophina accepted the unceremoniously offered flower, half-bewildered.

(Is it a new species? What a beautiful color…) As she gazed at the lovely, unfamiliar flower in her hand, a gradual joy welled up within her. “Hehe, it’s cute.” Sophina smiled, unknowingly letting out a laugh, and looked up at Feldric.

“……………This flower suits you too well, it’s not funny.” Feldric, whose eyes met hers, snatched the white flower Sophina had originally been holding with an expressionless face, and turned on his heel.

(……Oh, I see. It means that a combination of plain me and a dull flower is not a good joke. And yet, I was happy… How many times do I have to go through this to learn my lesson?) She tried to feel relieved that Feldric was acting like his usual self, but she couldn’t stop her spirits from sinking. “…” Cursing her own carelessness, Sophina simply gazed at the flower in her hand.

“It truly is lovely, Your Highness, it suits you beautifully.” She felt like she had replied blankly to Bardner’s voice. “……That’s a new species that His Highness had brought in, you know.” But she didn’t notice Zeerath muttering that, looking at Feldric’s retreating back with an unusually stern gaze.

That night, Feldric, who arrived as usual, still seemed a little displeased. Sophina, unable to think of a reason, was perplexed, but as soon as he entered the bedroom, he became cheerful, again for reasons unknown. She knew this was proof that he didn’t care for her, yet she was disturbed again, and hated herself even more. (I’m completely at his mercy…) The image of her mother frowning came to mind, and Sophina quietly exhaled.

Deciding to play it safe as much as possible, Sophina placed the Meskel board and pieces, whose rules she had taught Feldric yesterday, on the bed. “This is the Wind Fairy, that one’s Earth, this one’s Fire, and I think this is Water…” Seeing Feldric pick up and examine each piece, she relaxed a little.

Though still the same, compared to the beginning, she no longer felt hopelessly nervous, and Feldric seemed to have reduced his thorny remarks. Even if their relationship was not at all that of husband and wife, it was greatly appreciated that they could maintain an amicable atmosphere.

“Do you want a handicap?” “No need. I don’t want you making excuses when I win.” “Your confidence is so extreme it goes beyond sarcasm and is almost refreshing. Besides, I won’t lose.” “To not say you’ll win, should I call that humble, or knowing your place?” (He’s so irritating.) She glared at him but he just laughed, which made her even more irritated… and then more heartbroken.

As they began Meskel, Sophina sought a topic that didn’t require deep thought or cause her to feel down, and decided to talk about the two guards. Not many people saw Feldric’s true nature. She was curious to see how he would react to them.

“Compared to Hydeland, they’re, well, very friendly. Is that normal in Kazarak?” “Well, perhaps because most of them were originally commoners, there are many knights like them. They value showing respect to others but don’t pay much attention to formal etiquette.” The founder was originally a commoner too, he said, and then smiled very gently, as if reminiscing about something, making her heart skip a beat. She desperately tried to suppress the expansion of her superficial bl00d vessels so he wouldn’t notice. “You won’t get bored, will you?” However, her attempt failed as Feldric, lying on the bed and fiddling with a piece in one hand, looked at her. Sophina, flushing crimson, glared at the chuckling Feldric, and in that moment, snatched his piece—the Wind Fairy. “Ugh.” “You’re gravely mistaken if you think I’ll keep losing.” “…So you’re saying you’re growing?” “This is Meskel, after all, I will absolutely not lose. …No, I will win.” “Presumptuous.” His frown made her feel even better.

“By the way, did you go to the western district of Kasalena the other day?” “Yes. I thought the canal needed dredging.” Looking only at the board, they continued their mundane conversation, as was their custom. “Zeerath said he once fell in there a long time ago. He laughed and said the impact was quite significant because the water was too shallow.” “…It wasn’t a laughing matter, though.” Feldric sighed at Sophina, who laughed recalling him at that time. “Then, I’ll leave that to you.” “Eh? The canal dredging, to me? Oh, um, then, tomorrow I’ll look into the water resource usage in the north… Ah!” “Still a long way to go, aren’t you, getting caught up in your thoughts? A royal should be able to think of three or four things at once.” Feldric, holding Sophina’s Dragon piece, smiled alluringly. “Appearance doesn’t matter, but your mind is different; it can be improved as much as you want—do your best, okay?” “…I’d say your personality also has room for improvement, so I’d appreciate it if you’d work on that.” She retorted sarcastically, hiding the pain in her chest.

Sophina had certainly changed since coming to this country. Yet, some parts remained unchanged. She was still swayed by Feldric’s words and actions, foolishly hoping and then being disappointed, feeling pain each time. However, her acting to hide such clumsiness was becoming perfect. She had become accustomed to the sensation of pain by now. There was no good to be gained from wishing for a normal husband-and-wife, male-and-female relationship, and thereby coming to despise her partner. They could talk like this, sometimes even laugh. They could work together to make more people feel happy. The work he had just entrusted to her involved domestic coordination, meaning it involved power. This meant he had started to trust her a little.

Sophina told herself that her relationship with Feldric was fine as it was. (As long as I keep doing this, this love will fade away, and someday… someday?)

“Unfortunately, I rather like this personality of mine.” “Well, I hope that someday, you’ll acquire a mind that can feel that way, too.”

(Someday? Someday I’ll fall in love with someone? And then…? In my case, even if I could forget him and fall in love with someone else, it wouldn’t come to fruition. I have to stay by his side forever…)

“…” —In any case, I will never attain the happiness of those brides I once saw. The sudden realization struck her with dismay.

“Sophina?” “Oh, what is it?” Noticing Feldric’s puzzled frown, Sophina hurriedly rearranged her expression.

“By the way, what about the two of them, their abilities as guards?” “…Did something happen?” It was merely a question to divert attention, but Feldric’s aura sharpened instantly. She involuntarily held her breath. “N-not really, but they’re very young, and how should I put it… they’re, well, laid-back, you could say…” “Oh, that. ‘Laid-back’ sounds nice, but they’re idiots.” He didn’t forget to disparage the two of them. That’s why those two were so wary of him, Sophina thought, pursing her lips. By watching Zeerath, she could tell if Feldric was nearby, even through a wall. While she found that remarkable, she was also genuinely amazed by Zirath’s sensibility when he seriously stated that ability was “necessary for survival.”

“But their skills are reliable. Any knight commander will vouch for them.” “Is that so?” “So… you can rest assured.” Feldric whispered reassuringly to Sophina, who widened her eyes in surprise, and smiled faintly. “…” Sophina held her breath at his seemingly gentle face. (Why, why do you make such a face, how cruel are you—) “Well, there aren’t many people who would be interested in someone like you anyway, so you’d be safe to begin with.” (—And yet, he pushes me away so quickly.)

“Shall we go to bed soon?” Feldric said, then lay his tall frame on the bed, abandoning the game and everything else, wrapped himself in the blanket, and closed his eyes. Sophina pretended to roll her eyes at him, then urged her trembling hands to pick up the game pieces and return them to the box. She turned off the lights.

Sophina was truly grateful that Feldric had closed his eyes so quickly, and for the darkness that followed. If her flushed face and trembling heart were noticed, she would truly want to die. If her inner feelings were exposed and scorned like on the night in Hydeland, she wouldn’t be able to bear it.

(Did he assign those two to me because he cared for me? So I could feel at ease and adjust to this place?)

Every time those two made her laugh, delighted her, or brought her peace of mind. Every time she realized that thanks to those two, her distance from those around her had lessened, and she felt her longing for her homeland fading. Every time this person showed his true self in front of those two and her, spewed venom, and yet smiled with an expression he showed no one else. —She found herself holding onto hope.

Even though her hopes had been so clearly crushed and she had felt so miserable. Even though he was the kind of person who did such things without a second thought.

In the darkness, Feldric’s breathing beside Sophina repeated softly, softly.

“…” Not wanting to hear that sound, Sophina curled her knees and covered both ears with her hands. She genuinely loathed her heart for wishing for an unattainable future, for finding hope where there was none, and she desperately wanted to destroy it.