Chapter 112: Elliott's Proposal

Zupan! With a satisfying sound, the thorns were slashed apart, and the double doors behind them fell inward. I intended to hold back quite a bit, but it seems I put more force into it than I thought.

“This is…”

The room we stepped into was quite bleak. There were the bare necessities—a chandelier, carpet, a chair, a desk, a bed, and curtains—but absolutely no paintings, vases, sculptures, or ornaments. Honestly speaking, I couldn’t believe this was an Imperial Princess’s room. It was too plain, and above all, there was only one chair and one desk. In other words, it was a room not designed with the thought that anyone would ever visit.

“Risha!”

Imperial Princess Leticia rushed in from behind me. She looked around the dim room and fixed her gaze on a certain spot. On the bed. There, hugging her knees, was a girl in a negligee crouching down. And surrounding her was an iron cage, as if to confine her. No, that wasn’t exactly a cage…

“A birdcage…?”

Right. Following Imperial Princess Leticia into the room, Elliott leaked those words upon seeing the enclosure. Wedged between the posts of the canopy bed was a structure with a dome-shaped top, shaped exactly like a common birdcage. And even that birdcage was wrapped in thorns extending from the bed. Is she trapped in that birdcage? If so, I should use the [Holy Sword] to…

<<Little master, do not break that. That birdcage is that girl’s last spiritual pillar… so to speak, her emotional support. If you break that birdcage, this girl will never wake up again.>>

“Eh!?”

At Kohaku-san’s echoing voice, I stopped the [Holy Sword] I had begun to swing. This birdcage is her emotional support? What does that mean?

“Risha! Can you hear me!? Please, answer me!”

Imperial Princess Leticia called out from outside the bed, but Imperial Princess Risha, still hugging her knees, didn’t twitch.

『Go home…! Don’t mind me anymore…! Everyone thinks I should just die anyway, right!』

Imperial Princess Risha’s inner voice echoed throughout the room. A lamentation. Intense emotions resonated through our bodies. I almost staggered from the vortex of emotions—anger, sadness, loneliness, and jealousy. These were the feelings she had suppressed until now. The earnest thoughts she couldn’t put into words.

“I could never think such a thing! I…!” 『Even you think I’m a nuisance, Sister!』 “Wrong!”

At Imperial Princess Risha’s words, Imperial Princess Leticia shook her hair, denying it vehemently.

“I have never thought of you as a nuisance! I… I cherish you!” 『Liar…! You were always exasperated with me…!』 “Wrong…! I… am bad at smiling… Even when I want to smile, I inevitably get nervous and my expression stiffens… That look was me being annoyed with myself, exasperated with my own inability…”

Ah, perhaps that expression meant she was trying to smile? Because she glares expressionlessly, it only looks like she’s angry… Unlike usual, an expression of sorrow was clearly conveyed from Imperial Princess Leticia now. That showed just how desperate she was. Perhaps Imperial Princess Leticia’s words reached her, for Imperial Princess Risha raised her face slightly.

『I was always alone… No one cares about me. Even Sister never came to this room once!』 “That is…! Umm, I thought it would disturb your studies… No, that is an excuse… I didn’t know how to interact with you…”

Imperial Princess Leticia closed her eyes and let out a voice full of regret.

“I have many younger brothers and sisters, but… I am a daughter of the Empress (Seihi) like Brother Frost, and the other children are children of consorts. Inevitably, there was the influence of their mothers behind them, and I couldn’t become close…” 『I don’t have a mother, so…』 “Right. That is why I could interact with only you without any fetters. Neither Mother nor Brother said anything about it… But you were always frightened, always gauging my mood. For my part, I didn’t know what to talk about with you. I couldn’t tell interesting stories to make you happy, nor could I offer kind words. The only thing I could do was teach you how a proper Imperial Princess should be. I thought I had to teach you at least that much properly… Because I knew it would eventually become armor to protect you…” 『………………』

So Imperial Princess Leticia’s strict words came from such thoughts. It seems she was misunderstood due to her iron mask expression and serious words. Even by Imperial Princess Risha.

“When I heard you were poisoned, I thought I would use any means necessary to destroy this country.”

Wait!? That’s a scary thought, sis!? Though, certainly, she did look like she was on the verge of snapping back then…! Elliott is also recoiling with a ‘Uwaa…’ face!?

“However, when I found out it was Brother Darkel’s instruction, I regretted it enough to want to die. I felt that I had caused this situation. Because I was content with an uncertain position like neutrality between two brothers, Risha was used. If things had continued and Risha’s death was blamed on the Kingdom, I would have undoubtedly sided with Brother Darkel. To avenge you, I think I would have turned the Kingdom into permafrost.” 『Sister…』

Hearing that, it really was quite dangerous… If Elliott and the others hadn’t intruded, we might have been trapped perfectly. Even if a war with the Empire happened, I don’t think we’d lose easily, but tremendous damage would have occurred.

“Risha. Just once more, please believe me…! Next time, I will definitely protect you. I intend to depose Brother Darkel together with Brother Frost, and have Father abdicate too. I will make the Empire reborn, so no one will ever direct scornful eyes at you again. Will you give me that chance…?” 『…I, also, want to believe Sister… But… still, it’s scary… If Sister says I’m not needed, then…! I have nothing…!』 “I will absolutely never say such a thing!”

Imperial Princess Leticia shouted, but Imperial Princess Risha fell silent. Can she not have confidence in herself?

『I am not strong like Sister, nor do I have special powers like Lady Sakuraile…! I’m just an empty doll with nothing…!』

Special power… huh. Which is better, being me, who might die without such power? It’s tough over here too, you know.

“Ordinary people living in the city don’t have [Gifts] or special powers. Still, they do what they can and live desperately. Saying you can’t do anything without power—isn’t that just an excuse? Didn’t you think of changing yourself?” “Sakuraile?”

I threw somewhat strong words at Imperial Princess Risha. Elliott called out to me, but I ignored him for now. I think I was a little angry at Imperial Princess Risha. Children living in the slums were desperate to live even if every day was painful. I also tried to live hard, searching for what I could do. This child is trying to give up so easily. Why don’t you struggle? Why don’t you try to change yourself? Why don’t you reach out?

“You have nothing yourself? You have a sister worrying about you right here. That is a betrayal towards Highness Leticia, who even said she doesn’t mind making enemies of your father the Emperor and your brother the Second Imperial Prince for you. Just as the Second Imperial Prince cut you off, are you cutting off Highness Leticia too?” 『W-Wrong…! Wrong! I… I won’t cut off Sister! Absolutely not that…! Only Sister… Only Sister is my ally…!』 “Risha…!”

Crying, Imperial Princess Risha reached out from inside the birdcage, and Imperial Princess Leticia firmly grasped that hand.

『Sister…! I’m sorry…! I had no confidence in myself…! I thought I had no qualification to be Sister’s sister…! That such a sister doesn’t suit Sister…! So I should just disappear…!』 “Qualifications are not needed. You are my precious sister. That is the only fact.” 『I’m really sorry…! Making you worry, trying to betray that kind feeling…! I… I don’t want to be alone anymore…!』

Before I knew it, the birdcage around Imperial Princess Risha had disappeared. The dim atmosphere of the room had softened somewhat. Is this okay? Her so-called spiritual pillar disappeared, though. Does that mean she doesn’t need it anymore? Did she acquire the courage to face things without clinging to a birdcage… maybe? Or did her spiritual pillar become Imperial Princess Leticia…? I don’t understand it well, but it seems okay. Leaving me tilting my head, Elliott stepped forward in front of the two holding hands.

“…Highness Leticia.” “What is it, Crown Prince?” “How is it actually? Can Imperial Princess Risha spend her time safely in the Empire?”

That exactly.

“That is… If Risha clearly shows she has obtained my backing, I think the idiots doing stupid things will decrease. In the first place, harming Risha, an Imperial Princess, is originally not allowed. Even if the plot failed, I don’t think Brother Darkel will persistently target Risha…” “However, then Imperial Princess Risha’s evaluation in the Empire remains low, right? Possibility exists that she’s seen as clinging to that position merely by Imperial Princess Leticia’s mercy. The Second Imperial Prince might try to use Highness Risha for something again. Wouldn’t it be harder for them to meddle if His Majesty the Emperor and the Second Imperial Prince thought Highness Risha is a highly valuable existence for the Empire?” “Crown Prince…? What exactly do you want to say?”

Imperial Princess Leticia’s suspicious eyes were directed at Elliott. I felt a spirit radiating from her that said she wouldn’t forgive him if he did something to her sister. Not intimidated by that gaze, Elliott cleared his throat once—ahem.

“Highness Risha. How about it? Won’t you get engaged to me?” 『Yes? …………Yes!?』 “”Haa!?””

At the sudden bombshell statement by Elliott, Imperial Princess Risha froze with her face turning bright red, and Imperial Princess Leticia and I let out weird voices in surprise. Wait, what are you saying, this idiot Prince!?