Volume 01; Side Story 01: Part 01

Extra 01: Roma Market

――― And they lived happily ever after.

There was a soft woman’s voice and the sound of a book being closed.

A small child, who was looking at the woman’s hands as his eyes sparkled, raised his face.

『Mother. Does ever after mean forever? Will no more sad things happen to the Prince and Princess?』

The woman warmly wrapped the child’s cheeks in her hands as she smiled gently.

『Well, they might experience painful and sad things. But, they lived happily ever after.』

『How?』

『They can overcome painful and sad things if they’re together.』

The child pouted as if he didn’t understand this.

『But, the Prince didn’t come to rescue the Princess. The Princess also didn’t try to run away. The one who saved her was the magician and animals.』

『That’s true.』The woman laughed warmly to soothe the child’s stubbornness.

Her smile deepened, and she asked the child a question.

『Then if you were the Princess’s Prince, would you definitely go to save her? If you were the Princess in captivity, would you run away?』

The child replied, bravely.

The woman’s smile became wider as she heard his answer.

『Then, I’ll teach you a secret charm.』

『A secret charm?』

The child’s eyes twinkled even more. The woman put a finger to her mouth to tell a secret.

『It’s a special charm I heard from your father. If you say this, then both the Prince and the Princess can be happy forever.』

『Tell me, mother.』The child demanded, and the woman told him.

『But, you know, this charm only works on your special someone. So you should never use it until you meet this person.』

『Okay, mother.』

The woman smiled to the child, who had replied innocently, and taught him the charm. Those special words stayed with the child, along with her bright and fresh smile.

The child didn’t know.

That this was the last conversation he would have with his kind mother. That this was the last, irreplaceable moment.

Warm smiles and expressions, the warmth of a hand and the gentle time spent together are things that will remain in the child’s memory forever.

◊♦◊♦◊♦◊

Under the sunlight of the blue sky, there are a lot of colourful tents and unfamiliar people.

Foreign language is mixed in the conversations. Men and women were wearing outfits which were rare in Southlynd, and exposed a lot of their brown skin, but they looked suspicious because they had on cloaks with hoods which only revealed their eyes. The children running around were nothing new, and there was rhythmic music flowing around as if it was weaving its way through the gaps. Even the aromas floating around smelled exotic.

They are Roma people who weren’t an uncommon sight on the continent’s public roads.

But the party this year is comprised of different groups. They are a group of scholars called Thistle Star from the holy city Saulkan in the east. The group consists of researchers who have completed their academic presentation, which occurs once every three years and their followers.

There is a theory that they were initially Roma people because they travel with Roma people instead of the continental merchants. For that reason, they are treated in the same way as the Roma people, who have been subjected to discrimination and prejudice, in the Ars continent, and they have been feared for a long time, but their knowledge and research results are the capital of academic research. The value of things increases as soon as it is recognised by the prestigious Saulkan.

They have received invitations from academies from every nation, been invited as private tutors for nobles, and the royal familiars have reached out to them.

Thistle Star appears once every three years with a newly published academic book, and they generously sell them in the street stalls.

They didn’t just sell new books. They also carried a wide variety of unusual books, such as rare books from the olden kingdoms, well-known and unknown foreign books.

Is there any other sight that would make the book-loving Bernstein House want to shout in joy?

I couldn’t help but tremble in an unladylike way as my heart filled with excitement.

And, I leapt out to an adventure on a foreign sea while suppressing my pulsing heartbeat.

There, he smiled and gently held me firmly.

“――― Elli.”

I can’t resist his sparkling smile.

It started on a day that was the same as always.

In the morning, I saw father and brother off as they went to the royal palace, discussed the house details with the butler and head maid, and then I got dressed and boarded a carriage to the royal palace.

It’s a bit frightening, but I have been riding a carriage with the royal family crest on it to and from the royal palace ever since I became Prince Christopher’s fiancée.

The people at my home were nervous at first, but they’ve grown accustomed to this scene after four years, and they even chat with the imperial guard and coachman now.

The carriage swayed as my maid and I rode on it, and we arrived at the exclusive entrance for the royal family while I thought about what had happened in the last few days. The different event began from here.

I was brought to another room by the maids who accompanied His Highness and was forced to change my clothes.

“Huh? Mm, exactly what…”

“It’s His Highness’s request. Miss Elianna.”

Pressured by their smiles, I was forced to change into a plain dress as a question mark continued to float in my mind.

I like how there weren’t any gaudy accessories and excessive fabric on the dress, but I don’t think this is appropriate for the royal palace.

This is what His Highness wanted…? I questioned, and Prince Christopher showed up as if he had timed his arrival.

“――― Are you ready, Elli?”

I looked back and was speechless. Even His Highness was dressed in plain clothes similar to mine, and he looked like a knight.

I’ve only seen Prince Christopher dress as the Crown Prince, so it’s like… this may sound rude, but he looked like a stranger when he suddenly dressed like a junior knight, and I was perplexed.

His Highness looked at me from the front and seriously criticised me, “Hmmm. As I thought, Elli’s naturalness wins and you look like a noble lady who is trying to hide her social position while sneaking out. This might be bad…”

I had more questions when I saw that His Highness was troubled over what to do. And, Your Highness, could I say something?

All the criticism you said to me also applies to you, Your Highness.

Even if you dress like a knight, you can’t hide the nobility and grace that oozes out of you. Your dazzling blonde hair, sky-blue eyes, and your elegant, handsome features… are all outstanding.

I felt my heart throb at His Highness, who looked different from his usual self.

Since that incident the other day, I feel restless whenever I’m by his side. I want to stay by him, but I also want to run away, but I get lonely when we’re not together… I, 『Princess Bibliophile』, felt these indescribable feelings.

I put aside my feelings while worrying, and Sir Glenn, who was dressed like His Highness and looked like a friendly merchant’s guard, stopped His Highness.

“Let’s cancel it if you think it’s bad. Ok? We can still make it. I can picture Alex being angry with a vein popping out of his head.”

“I’ve already cleared the urgent matters. It’s not like there will be a political situation that would waver just because I’m away from government affairs for a day.”

I could hear him bragging about his abilities. “I don’t remember conducting such brittle affairs,” he seemed to say.

“Even if you say that…” Sir Glenn still seemed reluctant.

“You just argued about the budget with Alex yesterday, didn’t you? Baron Moseley is persistently asking for a meeting because of the usual problem.”

“The government affairs will be stagnated if I have to go along with all their worthless statements. His budget application was rejected for a good reason. What good does it do him to bring it up to me? I could only think that he’s making light of politics.”

I peeked at the stern expression His Highness showed in his office. “But…” Sir Glenn argued, and His Highness smiled at him indifferently.

“You don’t know when to give up even though we’ve already changed, Glenn. If you’re going to keep complaining, then I’ll let you listen to Alex’s lecture alone.”

“Don’t make such a terrible threat…”

I also understood what was going on at this point. Apparently, His Highness wants to go incognito. And he wants to take me with him.

“… Your Highness. Mm…”

Is it alright for you to do something like this? Fortunately, I don’t have any plans, but my position cannot compare to yours.

His Highness, who had returned his gaze to me, had a surprisingly gentle smile.

“――― Thistle Star.”

I gulped in surprise. I know that that group is currently in Southlynd. But…

“Elli, you said you wanted to see and pick their books for yourself even if it’s just once, right? If you miss your chance today, then you’ll have to wait another three years. So, let’s go together?”

“… Your Highness, but…” I objected like Sir Glenn. I’m interested in Thistle Star. But there is a problem.

His Highness took my hand as I began to talk and put the other hand gently on my chin. His thumb traced my lips, and a sweet aura was floating about just like his eyes, which were tempting me.

“You’re banned from calling me Your Highness today. We’ve changed into different clothes today… I mean, stop it. I want you to call my name in public. Elli.”

My cheeks turned red like a ripe fruit when he looked at me. I didn’t need a mirror to tell that my cheeks were getting hot like when I have a fever. His Highness captured my eyes with his sweet gaze.

“Today, I am just your knight… Miss Elianna, I will protect you. Would you come out with me?”

Why is the situation the exact opposite even though he was being theatrical and asking me gently?

I kept breathing even though I couldn’t speak clearly, and His Highness was smiling sweetly. Sir Glenn sighed and turned away from both of us.

I would like you to help me and not pretend that you can’t see us…

I was cornered by His Highness, who was shortening our distance… and a fearful and faint voice called out to us.

“Mm… I’m aware that this is rude…” The maid, who accompanied me from the Bernstein House, said as if her breath was being taken away. I have two maids, but the older one had gone out on an errand, so the one who is with me today is a young maid named Annie, who serves me in the royal capital mansion.

“Master firmly stated that the Young Miss cannot associate with the group called Thistle Star. He also said that she can’t approach Roma people…”

This is not limited to Southlynd, it is a phrase that wealthy ladies are told from an early age. Roma people have been avoided since long ago because they have a different religion from any of the gods worshipped in the Ars continent, and they haven’t taken root in any particular kingdom and have built their own culture. Even though this has eased because of the worth of Thistle Star, the fact that they are avoided doesn’t change.

All the more so for noble girls who would get bad impressions of someone if they were gossiped about just for being involved with that person. Annie’s concern is justifiable.

His Highness smiled in return.

“I’ll be with her. I promise that Elli’s reputation won’t be damaged at all. And, I thought about this a long time ago when I heard it, but the Marquis only said she couldn’t associate with them but didn’t tell you the reason, did he? The Bernstein House doesn’t care about public appearance, do they…? Or do you know the reason for this?”

“I don’t…” Annie couldn’t come up with the answer. His Highness nodded.

“Well then, Elli will be left with regrets forever.”

“Your Highness…”

I felt my heart throb even more.

As His Highness said, I’ve always wanted to visit the market ever since I heard about the existence of Thistle Star and that they carry books to the market once every three years. However, everyone in my family, including father, was stubborn and wouldn’t give me permission to go, so a servant from our house would go to purchase the books every time.

And Thistle Star only traverses across the main roads, so the only opportunity I have to meet them is when they are in the royal capital.

He probably knew my desire since I had probably told him about this when we met when we were younger.

I can’t remember any of that, so I felt terrible, and it is one of the reasons why I am lost in thought, but I was happy, and my chest became warm when I found out that His Highness hadn’t forgotten about this and was trying to grant my wish now.

I’m sorry, but the guilt from breaking father’s command faded in front of those thoughts.

His Highness smiled and blocked my way so that I had nowhere to escape.

“So, Elli. You’ll practice how to call my name until we get to the market.”

“Huh…?”

“How about I punish you every time you say, Your Highness? Of course, I’ll decide on the punishment. Well, it’s simple, isn’t it? All you have to do is call my name.”

“Huh?” I asked again. His Highness smiled and didn’t give me the chance to agree or refuse as he took me out of the royal palace.

Sir Glenn sighed as if he was giving up, and Annie had no way of resisting His Highness despite her frustration and could only follow after us while looking troubled.

I was stuck with being punished by His Highness in the carriage until we arrived at the market where the Roma people were opening their stalls outside of the royal capital.

His Highness seemed thrilled, and it somehow made me really angry, but I could only respond to his punishments since I couldn’t get my head around the situation.