“Well then, I’ll be going now.”
“Yeah. There’s no need to be so nervous.”
“Thank you very much.”
After entering the school building and climbing all the stairs, at the very top floor, there was the Principal’s Office.
The room was mostly made of wood, giving off a warm and gentle atmosphere.
A red carpet was laid down the corridor, with large glass windows on one side, and portraits of famous people and flowers adorning the other.
As Patricia stepped into the Principal’s Office after a knock, Clive watched her go and let out a heavy sigh.
“What’s with that sigh?”
“A sigh out of worry for Patty’s heart.”
With a nonchalant response, Clive shot him a sharp glare.
“Of course she’s forcing herself. Things have been hectic until now, so she probably hasn’t had time to really think about it…”
“Seriously, what even happened that day?”
“…That day, huh.”
Clive slowly closed his eyes.
From the darkness behind his eyelids, the scenery from that time vividly surfaced, as if playing out like a film.
It was at the Emperor’s birthday celebration.
***
“I will not become the Crown Princess.”
The one who declared this with a loud voice was the woman remembered by all as the future Crown Princess, Patricia.
She brought with her the Crown Prince, Alex, whose face showed he had no idea what was happening behind him.
“Patricia, what on earth is the matter…?”
“My deepest apologies, Your Majesty the Emperor. I realize it is terribly improper to bring this up at such a joyous occasion, and I fully accept any scolding I may receive afterwards.”
“I cannot bring myself to scold you. What has happened?”
“Patricia, please explain properly.”
“Your Majesty the Empress… Thank you.”
After receiving approval from both Their Majesties, rather than speak herself, she pulled Alex forward by the hand.
“Now then, Your Highness. Please, go ahead and speak.”
“Patricia, you—”
“Your Highness. Please, tell them everything.”
“—…”
Clive had to stifle a laugh.
There was no way Alex could explain everything now.
When Patricia ran from the hall and they parted, Clive had caught sight of Alex sneaking away somewhere with the Slave Girl.
Patricia had followed after them.
And then, almost immediately, this incident erupted.
There was no doubt that trouble with the Slave Girl was the cause, but that proud brother of his would never want to admit his own wrongdoing.
Yet, with the Emperor and Empress demanding an explanation, he couldn’t just say nothing either.
Clive was about to watch the spectacle unfold from the sidelines, when suddenly, a woman leapt out from the side.
“Alex-sama! Please, stop! Why is Patricia-sama always so cold to His Highness?!”
“—,” Clive quietly covered his mouth to keep from laughing out loud at the unexpected turn.
That woman always seemed to make the worst possible moves.
Alex’s expression changed instantly at her appearance.
And so did the Emperor’s.
“…What is the meaning of this, Alex? Why is that girl here?”
“This is—”
“Seize her.”
At the Empress’s command, the knights advanced toward the woman.
But Alex held them off with a hand and shielded her behind him.
“Wait. I invited her. She did not enter unlawfully.”
“Fool! How can you not realize that is the cause?!”
A voice slipped out despite himself.
What a farce this was.
All this did was lay bare Alex’s disgrace.
“However, Your Majesty. I have the right to invite guests. And she… she is to be my Concubine.”
“—…”
‘What was that?’
In the suddenly silent room, Clive even forgot to breathe as he stared at Alex.
He could feel the blood rushing to his head, and his body tensing up.
Just one phrase.
To enrage so many people with a single phrase—he was a genius in the worst way.
Not yet, though.
She still hadn’t moved.
“…What are you saying?”
“I’ve decided. She is someone I need. She supports, loves, and heals me. I want her by my side.”
“Alex-sama…” The two looked at each other, cheeks flushed.
‘What a comedy.’ Clive thought he couldn’t even laugh at it, but he found himself snorting despite himself.
So this was the stuff of mockery.
While the two in question grew more fervent, the mood in the hall rapidly cooled.
At first, the audience had been abuzz with curiosity at the royal scandal.
But as the couple got more passionate, everyone else seemed to lose interest.
Clive glanced at the Emperor.
His usual cold face was now twisted with anger.
Of course, the Emperor had loved Patricia as if she were his own daughter.
So, this was the end, Clive sighed.
Then, what would happen next—
“Alex. Do you realize what you’re doing?”
“I never said she should be made Empress. I only want her by my side. Even Father took a Concubine.”
“You—!”
“Your Majesty!” The Empress stopped the Emperor, who was losing himself to anger.
Any more, and the dignity of the imperial family would be at stake in front of so many eyes.
“For now, let us end this gathering. We can continue in the antechamber.”
“…I leave the rest to you, Empress.”
“As you wish.”
The Empress briskly issued instructions, and the party was brought to a close.
As the guests were seen off by the servants, those involved in the matter were gathered in the antechamber.
Clive slipped in as well, out of concern for Patricia.
The Emperor sat on the sofa, with the Empress beside him.
In front of them were Alex and the Slave Girl.
Patricia, her father the Duke, and Clive stood and listened.
“…Patricia.”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Emperor.”
“…Your resolve is firm, is it?”
“…”
He looked at Patricia standing beside him.
Her eyes, slightly lowered in sorrow, nevertheless faced forward with strong resolve.
“—Yes.”
“…I see.” That was all the Emperor said.
After a long silence, he turned his gaze to the Crown Prince.
“You realize there will be consequences for causing such a disturbance?”
“…Why is it wrong? I will marry Patricia. I will make her the Empress. And Mia as a Concubine.”
“No. I will not marry. It’s not because Mia-san will become a Concubine. It’s because I’ve realized I cannot spend my life with Your Highness.”
“Heh.”
Clive couldn’t help but laugh, though Alex only shot him a sharp look.
“Patricia. Isn’t it your dream to become Empress? Why are you being so stubborn when I can make that dream come true?”
“…”
Ah, truly.
This man was a genius at angering Clive.
Clive, who rarely let his emotions sway, had precious few people he truly cared about.
And Patricia was one of those few—perhaps even unique.
She had thrown everything away for Alex and aimed to become Empress.
Clive had sealed away his own feelings and supported her.
What a fool Alex was.
“Dreams change, Brother. And weren’t you the one who stole that dream from me? You really ought to understand the feelings of those around you more. Not that I’m one to talk… But you should not have let go of Patty’s hand—she tried to stay on your side to the very end.”
“Clive, enough from you.”
“I won’t be quiet. Because now, Patty is no longer your fiancée. Right, Father?”
The question was directed at the Emperor, who had remained unmoving, face lowered.
It must have hit him hard, but this was the moment to make things clear.
“…Yes. Patricia. I wanted to call you my daughter.”
“Your words honor me, Your Majesty… If I may, I too would have wanted to call you Father.”
To Clive, a father was both a figure of respect and fear.
He believed his father had loved him as much as any parent could.
But by loving just one woman, he had caused irreparable terror to his wife and sons.
He respected him as Emperor, but feared him as a father.
Because he kept that woman close.
And now, that man shed a single tear.
Clive had never seen his father cry before.
This would probably be the first and last time he showed tears to his real son.
‘So even this man could cry’, Clive thought with surprise.
“—The engagement between Patricia and the Crown Prince is hereby annulled.”
“…Thank you, Your Majesty the Emperor.”
In the somber air, the man who just couldn’t give up slammed his fist on the table.
“I refuse! Patricia is engaged to me! How can you break the engagement after only hearing one side?!”
“…Alex, you—”
“Father! Why do you always take everything from me? Why always—”
“Alex-sama.”
As Alex’s demeanor shifted, a bad feeling flashed through Clive’s mind.
But before Alex could say more, the Duke, who had been silent throughout the commotion, spoke up.
“Your Highness. I cannot give Patricia to you.”
“—…”
That was a clear rejection, a decisive end to their relationship.
For Alex, it meant losing his support.
But he was probably too upset to realize it now.
‘Serves him right’, Clive thought, breathing in deep and then exhaling slowly.
Now, at last, he could act.
“If you’re no longer the Crown Prince’s fiancée, then there’s nothing stopping me from saying that I want Patty, right?”
“…Clive, you…” Her eyes widened.
She must have always known how Clive felt.
And yet, the one who had chosen to ignore it was none other than herself.
She turned her gaze away, not meeting his eyes.
Now, the only thing reflected in these eyes was that one person.
Clive gently took the hand of the girl who looked at him in confusion and smiled softly.
“Patty, I love you. Please marry me.”
***
“You confessed?!”
“Seize the initiative, right? I could never stand for someone else taking her.”
“I see… Well, judging by the situation now, I think I know how she answered.”
“Shut up.”
Clive clenched his fist, ready to punch, and Heine, noticing, hurriedly dodged to the far wall.
“Whoa, dangerous. …So? What did she say?”
“Would you ask that?”
“You’re asking me to be normal?”
Clive closed his mouth, conceding the point.
Thinking how pointless this conversation was, he gave up and recalled the memory once again.
He remembered it all so clearly—it came back right away.
When Patricia heard Clive’s words, she opened her eyes wide, her cheeks flushing just a little.
He loved the way her cheeks colored like a pale pink blossom, and how she shyly averted her gaze.
He wished he could look at her like that forever.
But it didn’t last.
When she slowly closed and then opened her eyes again, her blush was gone.
” ‘Forgive me. I cannot accept it. I don’t want to be chosen anymore. I know I’m being selfish. People will say I’m a rude, impudent woman. But even so, I want to choose the one I love… This time, for sure,’ she said—and after that, I couldn’t say anything more.”
In reality, right after that, he begged, ‘Then I’ll work hard to be someone you’d choose, so at least look at me, even just a little.’
But he didn’t tell Heine that.
He didn’t want him thinking that he was miserably clinging on.
“…What’s that…”
When Clive turned to the muttered words, Heine had stuck his head out the open window, looking up at the sky.
He couldn’t see his face, but Clive frowned with a bad feeling.
Heine: “What’s that supposed to be? Isn’t she way too cool? I could fall for her.”
“You want to get punched?”
“No, thanks. But honestly, she really is cool. Did you fall for her all over again?”
“I never stopped.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
So, when he heard Patricia was coming to the Academy, Clive felt both joy and unease.
If Patricia were to find someone new here at the Academy…
Clive was sure he’d lose his mind.
“But that’s good, right? If you’re at the same Academy, your chances go up.”
“…I suppose so.”
Either way, if he could stay by her side, nothing could be better.
“Well, with a woman like that, things will never be boring.”
“…Just remember—if you fall for her, you’ll have to fight me.”
“Yeah… Honestly, I’m not too confident, in a lot of ways.”
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