Episode 10. He’s here?
Louis Clovis.
And Walter Ertmann.
‘What is the relationship between the two.’
After the Emperor’s tea party ended like that Walter took Odette to the palace.
Odette couldn’t get the thought out of her head until late into the night.
This is why the conversation she had with Walter during the day didn’t go away in her head.
‘The Duke of Ertmann misunderstands that I like Count Clovis.’
Where on earth did that misunderstanding come from?
Odette recalled the conversation of the day.
.
.
.
“……Is that because you’re in love with Louis Clovis?”
Walter said.
Odette was briefly speechless.
She was confused by the sudden appearance of Louis’s name.
“Why does Count Clovis appear here ……? This has nothing to do with him.”
“Your Highness wanted him so badly that you even decided to propose to him for a marriage, can you call it irrelevant?”
“I…”
Odette, who was about to spit out that she didn’t mean to propose because she loved Louis, paused.
She glanced up and saw that Walter’s face seemed to be pensive.
How strange.
‘I’m sure he likes Lizaina and trying to seduce me.’
Why does he seem so distressed whenever the subject of Louis comes up?
This was the reason why Odette was confused.
If this was intentional, Walter must be the worst of the worst.
‘Get a grip, Odette.’
This man does not like you.
How could he possibly like you when the first thing he did was interrupt your plans at the victory celebration?
You’ve given up on your romantic dreams that one day someone who will purely like you for who you are will appear.
‘….. Yeah, that’s right.’
That was a decision I made after a very painful experience, and I can’t believe I forgot about it already.
Odette dropped her gaze, bitterly biting her lip.
And for the first time in a very long time, she lied.
“……Yes, I’m in love with Louis Clovis.”
“…….”
It’s probably just her imagination but Odette felt that Walter’s hand seemed to be tense.
‘Although conscience hurts a little.’
She needed this lie to protect herself from the man who was trying to seduce and use her.
“But regardless of how I feel right now, there will be no way to love you.”
“……It’s a pity.”
The coldness of Walter’s reply stabbed Odette’s conscience, so she lowered her gaze and exhaled lightly.
“Neither do I, so why don’t you stop trying to get me involved and-“
“Because the princess will have a husband who will never love her.”
“I’d rather……. No, what?”
Odette’s eyes widened in disbelief.
However, Walter’s face was as calm as usual when she looked up.
Maybe because of the angle of where he was looking downwards at Odette, he looked even more arrogant.
“Even if you don’t like it, as a husband and wife, we have to see each other’s faces every day… Are you okay with that? It would be better if you loved me.”
“Wh- what the hell are you talking about? I’ve already turned down the proposal!”
“I’ve already told you that I intend to marry Your Highness one way or another.”
Odette’s jaw dropped.
“You mean you’re going to blackmail me into marrying you?”
“Well, I intend to seduce you, so that you will choose me Princess.”
Oh my god.
“Even if I like someone else?”
“Yes.”
“And even if I want to marry someone else?”
“Not Louis Clovis.”
“No, I want Count Clovis.”
“You may do so. I’ll stop you.”
Is this man out of his mind?
No matter what she said, the young man would make a comeback. Odette was at a loss for words.
Walter’s behavior had never been according to anyone’s common sense.
I’ve already turned down the proposal – maybe he didn’t mean it – and I even said I liked someone!
‘It’s even more suspicious because it’s come out like this.’
If Walter’s words are true, he wants Odette.
But even if that’s usually the case, no, doesn’t that make you respect the other person’s will more?
Odette was dumbfounded.
“Duke Ertmann, are you saying that you don’t care what would happen to me?”
“……I’d rather do that, so we don’t have to have this unnecessary argument.”
Walther’s face frowned slightly as he said this.
“I know it’s hard to believe, but I sincerely hope that your Highness…….”
“……?”
Odette waited for him to continue his sentence but, no matter how long she waited, the answer never came.
Even when she looked at Walter, she could only see a look of discomfort on his face.
Finally, after an unnatural silence, he said.
“……Anyway, no Louis Clovis. So give up as much as possible.”
As if that’s the best Walter could do.
.
.
.
‘……It’s the worst thing to think about again.’
If today made anything clear, Walter Ertmann is the worst man Odette has ever met.
The young princess thought she already had enough of the worst men in the world that she wouldn’t have to update her list anymore.
It’s a big world after all.
“……I wonder what Duke Ertmann is up to.”
“Duke Ertmann again? Ugh, stop thinking about him.”
Odette’s mutterings made Ellie grumble as she got ready for bed.
She had heard what Odette and Walter had been talking about that day.
“I don’t understand all these men, really, why are they so desperate to leave you alone!”
“Because they can gain from me.”
“I’m a noblewoman myself, but I really can’t relate to that kind of thinking from the high nobility – as long as they can get what they want, they don’t care what happens to anyone else!”
Odette gave a small laugh at Ellie’s whining about being taken advantage of.
“You’re the odd one out, Ellie. That’s how normal nobles live.”
Of course, she was grateful that Ellie took her side, but if she were to be honest, Odette had the typical values of high-ranking nobles.
“If you don’t have power, you have no choice but to be used.”
“Still, aren’t you angry?”
“Of course the Duke of Ertmann is the worst. Just like Count Xavier, no, he is more than the Count. Anyway, I never thought I would meet a man as bad as that person.”
“Count Xavier, is that the man who tried to seduce you on the orders of the Third Princess?”
At Ellie’s angry words, Odette nodded lightly.
Count of Xavier, known as Regis Xavier.
He was the one who tried to seduce Odette by joining hands with Lizaina, until this day he’s still one of the worst men.
– Think about it. Do you think you’ll ever find a better man than me?
– You’re going to regret this!
Odette thought about the memory of Regis for a moment, then shook her head.
“No, on second thought, I think Count Xavier was more terrible.”
“Why, from the way he talks, Duke Ertmann seems worse.”
“Because at least Duke Ertmann didn’t seem to be doing it for fun.”
If he had, Odette thought, they wouldn’t be having this discussion.
In fact, if she was misunderstood that Walter was trying to pick himself up by holding Lizaina, like Count Xavier, Odette would be able to sleep soundly without any worries.
The problem is that, aside from Walter’s nasty behavior, he seems quite sincere.
He really wanted Odette to accept his proposal.
‘But why?’
Is it because Walter wants her, or because he has some sort of connection to Louis Clovis?
“Could it be that Duke Ertmann really does have a thing for you?”
“I doubt it. If he did, he would have at least confessed that he loves me.”
“Well, that’s true…….”
Ellie muttered in a wistful tone.
As much as Ellie cursed Walter, she secretly hoped that Odette would be the winner of the lush rumors surrounding Walter, Odette, and Lizaina.
It was true that I felt pleased to think that Lizaina would have been humiliated by this rumor.
‘The Third Princess who has always tried to make Her Highness Odette’s life difficult.’
Ellie would be glad to be able to give her a punch in the nose.
Of course, Ellie felt that way when she saw Odette wandering around in the aftermath.
Odette leaned back on the long couch and muttered to herself.
“……Anyway, getting angry isn’t going to solve anything, so I’m going to find out what he’s up to.”
Odette had no intention of letting her confusion get the better of her.
“First, I need to find out what the relation between Count Clovis and the Duke of Ertmann is.”
“Hmm, but have they had any contact? It’s a really bad combination.”
Louis was a social butterfly, but Walter was a closed book.
In fact, it made it even harder to read his mind.
But.
‘But that doesn’t mean there’s no contact they could point to find.’
Odette, rested her chin on the couch, looked out the window.
With a somewhat funny and nostalgic expression.
“I’ll be seeing Anne for the first time in a while.”
* * *
“My God, Your Highness! What brings you here!”
“I told you to call me Odette, how are you Anne?”
“Oh, how can I just call the Princess by her first name, I’ve been fine, sit down, sit down!”
A woman with her curly brown hair roughly tied up with a long ponytail and thick glasses that covered more than half of her face was shaking as she talked and served tea.
There were a few “Oops!” and “Clink, Clink!” along the way, but thankfully no “Clangs!” as the tray of tea was safely placed in front of Odette.
This untidy, careless woman’s name is Anne Sophie.
She was a magical studies student at Belfort Academy, the Empire’s most prestigious private school, and she a close friend of Odette’s from her time at the academy.
“Ugh, I haven’t slept much lately, so I can’t see very well.”
“…… didn’t you clean your glasses?”
“Aha, yes, you’re a sharp one after all!”
Anne Sophie replied, and busily wiped her glasses.
Now her chestnut-colored eyes could be seen clearly, shining brightly at Odette.
However, the traces of a long night’s sleep beneath them.
“……Anne. I know you’re busy, but I hope I’m not interrupting you.”
“Well, it would be a lie to say that I’m not actually busy. The academic festival is coming up soon, so everyone is on their toes.”
Every two years, scholars from all over the continent gather to hold an academic festival.
The main purpose is to present their research and create a forum for a debate…….
“The professor is so angry that he will burn down the lab if he is defeated by the Tehez Kingdom again this time…….”
“Well, if that’s the professor’s personality, it would be understandable…….”
…… Unfortunately, as time passed, the original intention faded away and the reality was that it became more of a competitive arena.
“So Anne, don’t you think you have time for all this tea?”
“Oh, it’s all right! The professor was away just in time for a guest to come. Claus, or was it, Count Colobie?”
“……By any chance, Count Clovis?”
“Ah! That’s right! Count Clovis! That handsome man who dresses up a lot!”
Odette’s face hardened at Anne Sophie’s delighted words.
‘Count Louis Clovis…… is here?’
