Chapter 306

Outaishihi ni Nante Naritakunai!! Chapter 306

She and Her Family 4

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“Sleepy…”

The morning after pulling the all-nighter, I ate breakfast with my family while half-awake. While we were waiting for the pickup from the Royal Castle afterwards, Brother said.

“You look sleepy. What? Don’t tell me you were so lonely without Freed that you couldn’t sleep?”

“… No way.”

I got just a little startled by Brother’s words.

Certainly, what Brother said is correct, but I was only lonely for some time. Partway through I became completely immersed in the world of my hobbies. It was unexpected that I stayed up all night, but I think it was ultimately a fun night.

“I simply finished a book I’d been reading, continued an embroidery, wrote down recipes, and then morning came. I was surprised it came just like that.”

When I told Brother the truth, he made an incredibly amazed face.

“I’m amazed that you’re the same as ever.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ain’t those the same things you were doing when living here? You really are something to do them on the last night at your parental house before marrying.”

“S-Shut up…”

“Normally you’d be thinking back upon the past or being lost in reverie. I’ve heard a lot about sudden uneasiness. Yet you…”

Saying good grief, Brother shrugged his shoulders. As my face turned red, I said to him.

“Various things caught my attention so I couldn’t sleep! It couldn’t be helped!”

“I can’t hide my surprise at your nerves of steel. This will be the Crown Princess… No, without such nerve you’d be unfit for being the Crown Princess, so maybe it’s just right…?”

“Older Brother, you idiot!”

“Gueh!”

As Brother began deliberating, I punched his stomach with all my strength. Thanks to the swing, it seems I was able to deal quite some damage. Serves him right.

“You really resort to violence immediately! You tomboy. How about you behave yourself a little…”

“Lidi, I kept you waiting. I’m here to pick you up.”

When Brother was about to start his lecture while clutching his stomach, the front door opened, and Freed came inside. As the unexpected person entered, I and Mother, not to mention Brother and Father, made surprised faces.

“Eh, Freed? What about work?”

According to the plan, Clara was supposed to come. And taking the opportunity, Brother and Father would ride on the same carriage as me. So why is Freed here?

Ignoring our surprise, Freed came to my side with a smile.

“Lidi, I wanted to see you. As expected, being by myself was lonely and I couldn’t sleep well. Lidi, what about you? Huh, don’t you have dark circles under your eyes? Perhaps Lidi, you couldn’t sleep without me?”

“T-That’s…”

As Freed smiled happily, I averted my gaze, unable to tell him the truth. Seeing that, Brother said with laughter.

“Freed, regrettably that’s just a lack of sleep. Dawn broke while she forgot herself in her hobbies.”

“Older Brother!”

When I glared at him wondering why he’d say that, Brother laughed scornfully.

“It’s revenge for before.”

“Scum! Stop being childish!”

“Who’s childish!? It was you who raised your hand first!”

“Older Brother, you said something uncalled-for first!”

“Alex! Lidi! Don’t clamor in presence of His Highness! How shameful!”

Father sharply rebuked me and Brother for making noise.

As soon as we fell silent, Father glared at us and bowed to Freed.

“Your Highness, I apologize. Forgive me for not sufficiently teaching my children manners. Incidentally Your Highness, have you come specially to pick Lidi up?”

“These two are always like that in the castle, so you don’t need to worry. I’m used to it. Yup. I came to pick up Lidi. I wanted to see her as soon as possible, so I had Clara stay back.”

“I see.”

Father deeply nodded, then he faced me and said.

“Lidi, His Highness graciously cherishes a tomboy like you. Always be grateful for that and never become haughty.”

“… Yes.”

“Don’t fool around with Alex forever… Alex, you too. Have a little awareness as the successor to the ducal house… Aah, why are our children…”

“Got it. Got it, so stop your lecture, Old Man. Freed is watching.”

“… That’s right.”

When Brother pointed that out, Father held his tongue despite looking like he still had more to say.

Then he coughed theatrically.

“Um, Your Highness. Thank you for coming. I will go to the castle with my son on our house’s carriage, so Your Highness, please go ahead with my daughter.”

“Thank you. I will take you on that.”

Father’s suggestion perfectly put Freed in a good mood. While grinning, Freed took my hand.

“Now, let’s return to the castle. Anything you forgot?”

“No, I’m fine. Ah, wait a moment.”

I let go of Freed’s hand and stood in front of Mother. Then I handed her the handkerchief I’d finished last night.

“Lidi? This is?”

“Err, I made it last night. Um… I was thinking of you while making it, Mother. Thank you very much for raising me for eighteen years. Even if I get married… um, can I come visit again?”

“Lidi!”

“Wah.”

I was tightly hugged by Mother. While shedding tears, Mother nodded again and again.

“Naturally. Come back anytime. This is the house where you were born.”

“Mother…”

“Lidi, my dear daughter. Be happy.”

“Yes… Yes…”

While in Mother’s embrace, I nodded. The strong hug ended and my body was slowly released. Mother wiped her tears with a finger and smiled beautifully.

“I am truly glad you can marry a person you love. Your Highness, please take care of my daughter. Please make this child happy.”

“… Yes, I definitely will.”

Seeing Mother bow her head, Freed firmly nodded.

Father nestled against Mother and stroked her back.

“It’s alright. You can count on His Highness.”

“Yeah… Yeah, you’re right, Dear…”

Grasping the handkerchief that I’d given her, Mother repeatedly agreed. Father turned his face to me.

“I’ll go to the castle with Alex after calming down Rosina. You go ahead with His Highness.”

“Yes.”

When I looked at Brother, he shooed me away.

“It’s like this, so hurry up and go. Freed, I’m sorry, but start work first.”

“Got it… Let’s go, Lidi.”

“Yup.”

Urged by Freed, I left my mansion. I could hear Mother’s sobbing from inside. I know she blesses us, but hearing Mother cry, I followed suit and began crying. As I did, Freed said to me.

“… Do you no longer want to marry me?”

“No way.”

I answered immediately. I didn’t need to think about it.

I’m marrying a partner I’m confident I can love for a lifetime. There’s no way I wouldn’t want it anymore.

“There’s no way I’d feel that. I’m honestly happy. However, when I heard Mother cry… I thought I lacked any filial piety… I feel guilty.”

Noble ladies marry early. I’m eighteen, a perfect marriageable age. You can marry at fifteen or sixteen at earliest. That’s why something like filial piety might be impossible, but I still feel guilty for not doing more for Mother.

“Freed. Listen, can I go back to my parental home even after we marry?”

I tried asking Freed about what I said to Mother before. When I peeked at him, he smiled with a gentle face.

“You can. Lidi, I’m lonely without you, so I don’t want you staying overnight, but I don’t mind day trips. When it’s time to return, I’ll come pick you up.”

“Thank you.”

I’m happy to have received the permission. I joined hands with Freed and got in the carriage. When we sat down, the doors were astutely closed, and the carriage began lightly moving.

Freed pulled my waist to himself and secretly asked.

“By the way, say? How was it really? Lidi, I was lonely without you. How about you?”

When Freed asked what didn’t even need to be asked, I glared at him.

“… Isn’t it obvious? I was… very lonely.”

Hearing my answer, Freed smiled with relief.

“I see. Then it’s good. After all, we need to be together, don’t we?”

“Yup.”

When I tightly gripped Freed’s coat, he dropped a light kiss on my lips.

Then he said in a whisper.

“Lidi, tonight I want to sleep with you in my embrace.”

“… Yup. I’ll also be happy with that.”

Otherwise, I can’t even sleep anymore.

To tell the truth, it wasn’t because I immersed myself in my hobbies that I couldn’t sleep.

When I noticed, it was morning – that’s not true.

I immersed myself in my hobbies because the night without Freed was so hopelessly lonely and because I didn’t want to sleep alone. Even without anybody explaining it to me, I have long noticed that.