The Beloved Fiancee Is Likely to Be the Villain - Chapter 11

　Thanks to a chance encounter with Miss Serena, I left the geography classroom with an ease mind.

　The time was just when Elizabeth’s salon was finishing. It was the best after-school experience I had ever had at the school.

　I walked down the corridor with light steps.

　The room used for the salon is on the first floor of the west school building. The first thing I need to do is to make sure that I have a good idea of what I am trying to do. I’m not sure if it’s a good idea to have a pleasant time with Elizabeth, but it’s a good idea to think about it. …… Well, I told Harold to have the carriage go there.

　The two of us just happened to be returning home at the same time, so it would be okay to have a chance encounter with Elizabeth.

　If it weren’t for …… “Otohoshi,” I might have been able to take Elizabeth home in my carriage and have an after-school date with her…….

　The problem is that the book is not to be blamed for the author’s personality. But the people like Miss Ulysses and Edward are passionate about it to a greater degree.

　As I walked along thinking about these things, I heard the sound of gorgeous laughter coming from the room where Elizabeth and her friends were.

　I heard them say, “Have a nice day,” to each other, and then the door opened.

　The timing was perfect. If Harold had been there, he would have declared me as a stalker.

“Ah.”

“Oh.”

“Oh, my God. ……”

　The ladies who came out from inside the salon let out a gasp as soon as they saw my face. But soon after remembering the courtesy, they closed their mouths and bowed deeply.

“Good evening, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“It’s been a long time.”

“Good evening to you too. Well, I’m glad to see you’re all doing well.”

　I nodded back lightly. I wondered if Elizabeth was still cleaning up.

　As I stopped in front of the door, a young lady asked me to come in.

She said, “My Lady Elizabeth, the Crown Prince is here to see you.”

　No, I didn’t come to see you because the building comes on my way of leaving the school!

　I came to see you in the true sense of the word.

　But I’ll give a ‘good job’ and a thumbs up in my heart to the lady who called me.

” Your Highness?”

　A lovely, yet dignified sound like the tinkling of a bell struck my ears.

　It was Elizabeth.

　I felt someone moving, and Elizabeth’s face peeked out of the door. Perhaps it was for a study session, but today her blonde hair was braided into a single strand. It looked much more mature than usual, and seemed to add to Elizabeth’s grace and receptiveness.

　Her pretty lips opened as she gazed at me, forgetting that she was in public.

“Vin–“

“Your Highness Vincent!”

　But it was not the voice of a bell that called out my name, but a voice very unlike and lively as an aristocrat lady.

　Miss Ulysses appeared, her footsteps echoing within the hallway like a drum that could not have been that of an aristocrat lady.

“Ah! Your Highness Vincent, help me! I am being chased by a suspicious man!”

“Miss Ulysses, ……? Why are you here?”

　I don’t know about others, but the freshman classroom is not in the West Building and should only be visited by those attending the salon.

　Miss Ulysses did not respond to my question; on the contrary, she clung to my arm with tears in her eyes.

“!”

　The surrounding daughters raise their eyes in bewilderment.

　When I looked at Elizabeth, she too covered her mouth with her hand in surprise.

　Touching the opposite sex in public is an extremely immodest act. Moreover, it was not right to do so in front of my fiancé, the Crown Prince.

　This woman did it on purpose, in front of Elizabeth.

　I clench my fists and endure the blood rushing to my head. If I shake her off in anger here, it would be a blow to my royal character.

　I tried to respond by putting on an outwardly calm face.

“Your Highness Vincent!”

　The weight that had been entangled in my left arm suddenly disappeared.

　The owner of the voice I know so well is unusually angry. I couldn’t tell whether he was deliberately showing his emotions on my behalf, since it was difficult for him to be impolite, or whether he was really angry at my impolite behaviour as a servant of the Crown Prince.

“Lady Ulysses. Whoever you are dealing with, if you are a nobleman, you do not touch a person’s body lightly. Nor should you call them by their name, especially if they are royalty. Especially Royalty.“

“I’m sorry, Master Harold, …… I was afraid to ……”

　Harold’s eyebrows furrowed in displeasure, and Miss Ulysses deliberately apologized in a nasal voice. She slumped her shoulders and turned over, wobbling weakly while standing on her feet.

　But the gazes of those present were cold – except for one person, Elizabeth.

“Yes, I heard there was a suspicious man or ……”

“He’s already gone,” Harold said. 

“He is a student of the school. He is not a suspicious man.”

“I’m glad to hear that, Miss Ulysses.”

　Elizabeth chuckled and said. It was a smile that was trying to settle the moment.

　Harold’s logical argument is what all the people behind Elizabeth are thinking. Among them are the daughters who had previously denounced Miss Ulysses. The gaze directed at Miss Ulysses was as sharp as if it were burning.

　But by standing by Miss Ulysses, the scene is like I’m trying to protect her.

“Yes, thank you. I’ve made a mistake and if it’s not …… important, I’ll leave. Have a good day, everyone.”

“You too, Miss Ulysses.”

　Miss Ulysses was greeted by Elizabeth and left the place. As expected, she did not dare to stay there.

　She was trembling with fear, but her steps were firm, and she left without anyone’s help. Behind her, whispers were heard in the background.

　The one who interrupted the ladies, who were pointing out to each other that it was all a ruse, was Elizabeth, after all. So, they didn’t refute her.

She interrupted them and said, “Well, you mustn’t talk like that. Ulysses has no experience in social circles, and there are very few people who know her. It is only natural that she would feel uneasy if suddenly approached by a stranger.”

　With a single word from her, the chattering stopped.

　The tone of her voice was soft and sympathetic, yet clear and unequivocal. No one could blame Miss Ulysses any more for the admonition of the one who should have been most offended.

　It was clear that Elizabeth had struck a balance. She was silent, Harold showed his infrequent harshness, and everyone around me was irritated. Without Elizabeth on our side, the discomfort with Miss Ulysses would continue to rise.

“We should go home, too. Your companions will be worried.”

　At the urging, the daughters of the nobles began to move little by little. Some of them went back to their rooms to get their bags.

　But is Elizabeth really okay with this?

　I cast a glance at Elizabeth, who was also looking at me. Our eyes met and I hurriedly tried to avert my gaze, but Elizabeth bowed and passed by me.

“I don’t mind, Your Highness Vince,” she said.

　As we passed each other, she whispered the nickname that she calls me in secret. My heart skipped a beat at her sweet voice.

I’m  going to fall in love with her. ……!　Oh! I was already in love with her. ……!