Chapter 351

Outaishihi ni Nante Naritakunai!! Chapter 351

She and the Discovery 2

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“―― I’m sorry. I wonder if I’m a little late.”

The instant I was invited inside the room, I apologized.

I intended to come posthaste, but I might have been just a tad late. Considering my standing, there was no way they could point that out, so I apologized first, but Sion smiled and shook his head with a, “No”.

“You’re right on time. There’s no problem.”

“I see, then it’s all right. I’d feel sorry for being late despite specifying the time.”

“Oh dear, is the Crown Princess saying that? You needn’t worry… Nevertheless, you are a serious person.”

“It’s only natural to be punctual.”

I answered Sion’s words like that and sat down on the indicated seat. Dressed in the court lady uniform, Rena carefully brewed tea.

“What a pleasant scent. I wonder what kind of tea it is.”

It smelled of fruit. When I asked after thinking that, Rena answered with a smile.

“I’ve heard it’s a grapefruit tea. The cooks in the kitchen taught me that it’s refreshing and easy to drink. They advised me to serve it to Princess Consort.”

“I see. Thanks. I’m grateful.”

Since it was everyone’s recommendation, I gratefully accepted it. When I placed my mouth on the edge of the cup, a fresh fragrance tickled my nose. I drank it enjoying both the scent and taste. It certainly was easy to drink, and the aftertaste was refreshing. It was the perfect tea for summer. I then reached my hand for the sweets served together with the tea. The small baked sweets had a light texture and were quite well made.

Seeing the slightly burnt edges and Rena’s serious look on me, I understood who made these sweets and told her with a smile.

“It’s delicious. Perhaps Rena, did you make them?”

When I asked, Rena enthusiastically smiled and nodded again and again.

“Yes! I did!”

Sion, who was sitting in front of me, talked to Rena.

“Isn’t that great, Rena? Your effort bore fruit.”

“Yes!”

Seeing Rena’s delighted expression, I spontaneously broke into a smile.

From what I heard, Rena seemed to want to do something for me for the matter of her hometown. I felt happy as I understood these baked sweets are related to that.

“Thanks. I’m very happy about this gift.”

When I thanked her for the warm gift, Rena said with an utmost effort despite her embarrassment.

“I-I couldn’t make them as good as Princess Consort… but if I make them more skillfully, w-will you eat them again?”

“Of course.”

The act of somebody making something for you is precious in itself. As I gratefully accepted Rena’s feelings, I turned my eyes to the baked sweets served on a small plate.

“Rena, you made them specially for me. I wonder if I could take the leftovers with me.”

Rena prepared them for me. I don’t want to go back while leaving them behind.

When I told her I’d take them with me, Rena delightfully said, “I’ll get them ready!” As she did, I took out the letter addressed to her.

The letter had already been unsealed and there were traces of it being read. While feeling apologetic for that, I presented her the letter I was holding.

“Here, it’s a letter from your father. I apologize, but the contests were checked by both Ilya and me. I didn’t want to intercept another person’s letter, but…”

Inspection is necessary no matter what. Especially since it was an exchange of letters between Wilhelm and Irvine, the contents being examined was a matter of course.

When I handed it to her while certain that she’d like to be the first to read it, Rena shook her head.

“It’s all right. I’ve heard from the start that checking the contents of the letters is necessary, so I understand it’s natural… Err, can I read it?”

“Yeah, of course. It’s a letter to you.”

Ilya contacted the island and received a letter from there.

Inside, Rena’s father expressed his joy that she is alive, and support for his daughter wanting to return the favor. And that he’s waiting for her to return to the island one day. It was a heartwarming letter.

“Err…”

Rena opened the letter, and with her utmost effort she followed letters written on the writing paper. She can’t write yet, but she can now read with hardly any discomfort. She seemed to be able to read her father’s letter written in a simple language just fine.

“Dad…”

Rena tightly hugged the letter and shed tears in silence. It was painful to see a little girl crying, but I understood she wasn’t sad, so I left her alone. After being still for a while, Rena finally looked at me and quietly bowed her head.

“Princess Consort… Thank you. I never thought a day would come when I could read Dad’s letter… And even see his picture …”

Enclosed with the letter was a decent picture of her father.

There’s no culture of making pictures among beastmen. However, Ilya asked Rena’s father to prepare one for his daughter who’s doing her best in a place far away from home, and he met that request.

“Rena, how do you feel about including your picture in the reply? I’m sure your dad will be delighted.”

“M-My… picture? T-There’s no way I can…!”

As Rena shrank back, Sion, who was listening with a smile, encouraged her.

“Don’t say that. How about trying? You were happy to receive your father’s picture, right? Don’t you think he’ll feel the same?”

“Dad will…?”

Her eyes said she’d never thought of it like that. However, seeing the hesitation in her expression, I cut into their conversation.

“Rena, since you were happy, I’m sure your dad will be happy too. I will talk to a painter employed at the Royal Palace about the picture. I believe you will be visited by that painter soon, so Sion, even if he looks suspicious, don’t drive him away.”

“Of course. However, is he so suspicious?”

“… If you don’t know him, he does seem like that.”

The painter employed by the Royal Palace has superb skill famous across the kingdom. However, he’s a person who cares about nothing aside from paintings, so far from a suspicious person, in the worst case he might be taken for a vagabond.

I was surprised when I saw him for the first time as well. His skills were excellent, but… everything else was much too disappointing.

He has a room inside the Royal Castle and lives there painting all day long.

He’s a person who’s always searching for models, so he should come immediately once I make a request.

“… There’s a fine line between genius and insanity.”

Sion made a complicated face after hearing what I said. I very much wanted to agree with him, but I stopped at wryly smiling.

“That painter will be fine. I’m sure he will paint a splendid picture. Rena, tell me when you write the reply. I’ll inspect the contents again, but I’ll make sure it’s delivered to your dad.”

When I told her that, Rena nodded.

“Yes. Umm, I have Sion’s help, so I will try to write as much as I can myself.”

“I think that will make your dad happy as well. I won’t hurry you, so take your time.”

“Yes!”

I returned a smile to her spirited reply. With this my business here is over. When I stood up, relieved to have fulfilled my role, Sion stood up almost at the same time.

“Sion?”

“Excuse me. Lord Alexei just contacted me telepathically. He asked for my help, so would you mind if I accompanied you on the way?”

“Yeah, I don’t mind.”

I’m surprised. I never would have thought Sion would have a telepathic communication contract with Brother. When I unconsciously pointed that out, Sion said, “It’s convenient,” with a wry smile.

“Recently I’ve only been working as Lord Alexei’s assistant. So Lord Alexei suggested we make the contract, so he could easily get in touch with me.”

“Is that so…?”

I knew about Sion being Brother’s assistant, but I didn’t think Brother trusted Sion to that extent.

Before I noticed, Sion got gradually closer with people of Wilhelm. Understanding that, I spontaneously grinned.

However, there was something that awfully bothered me in Sion’s words, and unable to endure it, I asked.

“Hey, listen…”

“Yes. What is it?”

As Sion showed a gentle smile, I spoke what was on my mind.

“Sion, you can use reflection magic, right? I have a small question, umm… Don’t you find it, umm… difficult to use general magic? I’m surprised that you could make a telepathic communication contract…”

That was it.

I can’t use magic that everybody uses on a daily basis. As for why, it’s because the system of my neutralization magic and the magic everyone uses is truly different.

Ms. Delris told me that I could manage if I practiced, but despite practicing in my spare time, I seem to get no results.

And here’s the crux of the matter, Sion is the same as me in regards to using a unique magic.

So I wondered if he wasn’t facing the same trouble at me, but the words he returned made me hang my head in dejection.

“Certainly, it was difficult to get used to. But once I got the hang of it, I could use anything… Does that question mean that Princess Consort is perhaps weak at magic?”

“Uu….”

Sion knows that I can use neutralization magic. So he must’ve understood my reason for asking why he can use magic.

As my gaze wandered about, Sion nodded, “I see,” and frankly said.

“Slow and steady wins the race. Only effort matters. There are no shortcuts.”

“Ah, yes.”

For a moment I felt like Shion-senpai from the past got angry at me.

When I unconsciously straightened my posture and replied, Sion wryly smiled.

“Please don’t tense up like that. There’s no need to hurry if you don’t experience hindrances… If you’d like, should I teach you? I believe I can offer you some tips.”

“Really!?”

I’m very grateful to have a person in similar circumstances teach me. He’ll precisely understand what I don’t get. I’m sure the possibility of me learning magic will skyrocket.

Thanks to Freed I experience no hindrances despite not being able to use magic, but it would be best if I could use it.

I was about to go with the flow and nod. But I suddenly stopped.

“Ah…”

“What’s the matter?”

Sion made a curious face. He offered to teach me in good faith. I understand that. That’s exactly why I mustn’t get him involved now that I’ve noticed.

“Err… I’m very happy about your feelings, but it’s alright. Thanks.”

“Eh? Is that fine?”

“Yeah.”

I refused with a smile.

―― Freed would definitely be displeased.

Moreover, I noticed.

Freed is relatively tolerant of Sion. Sion understands that too, but the day I said that I’d asked Sion for private tutoring, even Freed could explode with jealousy.

I haven’t said Sion is my ex-boyfriend from my previous life, so he shouldn’t have found that out, but Freed is strangely perceptive, and I can say with confidence that he’s a man deeply possessive of me.

Even if Sion is his subordinate, he’d never allow me to be alone with Sion since he’s a man. Yup, if I remember correctly, he even said that before.

―― It’s safer to pass on it, I guess.

I can’t underestimate my husband’s jealousy.

When I firmly made that decision, Sion laughed like he sensed something.

“Eh? Eh? What?”

Why did he laugh? As I blinked my eyes, Sion again laughed and spoke.

“No… You’re right. It feels like His Highness Friedrich would get angry, so let’s stop. I shouldn’t have asked. I apologize.”

“Aaaaaa… How could you tell…?”

“Well… that’s…”

I felt so embarrassed that he guessed what I was thinking that I just wanted to be buried on the spot.

I resigned myself to us being treated as lovebirds, but it’s different to have something like that pointed out. It’s incredibly, incredibly embarrassing.

My face flushed, and I groaned. However, since he wasn’t wrong, I affirmed in a very thin voice.

“Sion, it’s as you say. He is, umm… a jealous person. B-But, I’m very grateful for your proposal.”

I don’t want him to misunderstand that. When I answered with that in mind, Sion said with a smile.

“Yeah, of course I understand that. I also don’t want to draw unnecessary enmity. I’d be grateful if you pretended my proposal hadn’t happened.”

“Yeah… You’re right… Let’s do that.”

Sion’s proposal didn’t happen. Thinking that it was the best solution, I deeply nodded.

Sion spoke to Rena, who was silently watching our exchange.

“Rena, I’ve been called by Lord Alexei, so I’m going out. Please take care of things here.”

“Yes! Lord Sion, please leave it to me.”

“Rena, see you later.”

“Yes! Princess Consort! Thank you very much for the letter.”

Before I knew it, quite some time passed.

As Rena responded vigorously, I bid her farewell and went outside with Sion.

I walked together with Sion (We had a soldier with us, so we weren’t alone. It was safe). We parted in front of the office and I went back to my room.

“I’m home… Woops.”

It’s natural, but Freed hasn’t come back yet. For the lack of anything better to do, I sat on the huge sofa placed in the middle of the main room.

And then I reminisced about the words Sion said.

“Only effort matters, huh. Hmm… I wonder if I didn’t put enough effort…”

Since I know Shion-senpai has long been a hard-worker, his words were particularly persuasive.

Actually, him saying that he learned to use magic exposed my lack of effort. I won’t make excuses, I certainly neglected to put effort into it, so I can’t retort anything.

“… It’s regrettable that I can’t have him teach me though.”

It wasn’t just because Freed would feel jealous.

After all, if Freed said something similar, I’d absolutely hate it. Alone with the opposite sex… Even if I understand that he can’t get hard to anyone but me, I wouldn’t allow it.

In that sense, I might be more narrow-minded than Freed. However――

“… After all, I love him. I want to monopolize him. I can’t help it.”

In the end, it’s like that.

And precisely because I think that, I couldn’t ask Sion to teach me.

―― Don’t do to others what you don’t want them to do to you.

It’s only natural.

“I wonder if Freed will come back soon….”

I flapped my legs.

The glittering ring on the fourth finger of my left hand caught my eye.

My precious ring. The matching proof that shows I and Freed are a married couple.

I gazed at the glittering blue jewel with spellbound attention.

“… I love you, my husband.”

I kissed the ring and afterwards became incredibly embarrassed by the action I’d taken.