The Beloved Fiancee Is Likely to Be the Villain - Chapter 9

　The weekend with Elizabeth had many holes in my tender and sensitive heart, but it was a rewarding experience nonetheless.

　I was convinced that Edward’s behavior was suspicious.

　The fact that he did not attack Elizabeth and the ladies around her indicated that he was still rational, but he seemed to have completely lost it with Miss Ulysses.

　Even when he complained about Miss Ulysses’ unhappiness, a normal Edward would have asked me what I wanted to do. A knight by nature would never do anything against the will of his superiors. He would first confirm their intentions before making a move.

　Besides, Edward was touching Miss Ulysses with all his might. That overly aggressive behavior is also unimaginable from a man who is extremely serious and chivalrous.

　So the day after my meeting with Elizabeth, I called out to that person.

“I never thought that you would be the one to call me.”

“I’m going to have to cut your head off for insulting me, Raphael.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’m so happy.”

　Before Rafael could touch me, his body was restrained by Harold, who had opened his arms to me as soon as we met. The first time I saw him, he was in a state of shock, that’s what Raphael said, who was shrugging his shoulders.

　It is forbidden to contact royalty without meaning, no matter how close they are.

　Especially if, the person was like Raphael, a qualified 《wizard》.

　Raphael’s father is also my tutor in magic. Raphael is one year older than me, and when I was little, his father used to bring him to the royal palace with him as a competitor, and we would often compete against each other. Naturally, Raphael, who had more opportunities to practice, quickly overtook me.

　Because of this upbringing, Raphael treated me with a frankness that was on the edge of disrespect. Even though he was the son of a family that, like Edward, we had a master-servant relationship, and Harold disliked him a little for this.

“I won’t go near him anymore.”

　This time, he took an exaggerated distance and went all the way back to the wall to wink at Harold. Finally Raphael broke the ice, “So,” he said.

“What did you want to call me for?”

　It’s hard to talk about this, but I don’t like the idea of approaching him, so I decide to keep talking.

　I guess he is putting up wards without my knowledge. Raphael is a man with a good eye for such things anyway.

“Edward was acting strangely.”

“Well, that’s worrisome. He’s like a stone boiled down to the word ‘sane’.”

“Your metaphors are still as cryptic as ever…….”

“And you want me to find out why?”

“You’re very quick. You know Miss Ulysses?　She looks just like the main character in “Otohoshi.”

“Miss Ulysses Merryfield, right?　I know who she is!”

　Raphael’s face lit up and he raised both hands in a hail Mary.

　He is indeed a rare wizard and a rare lover of women. He wears his long purple hair in a bun around his shoulders and a monocle for adjusting his magic power. In front of me, he reveals his rotten side, but at the school, he is a decent talker, so I guess that’s why he is wearing a catsuit so as not to spoil his good looks.

　”If you know Miss Ulysses, that’s also easy to talk about.”

“I’ve been meaning to talk to you!　But you definitely wouldn’t want to, would you?”

“You know exactly what I meant to say.”

　Really, Raphael would be perfect as a future aide if only he could fix his childish way of behaving.

“I’ll explore whatever Miss Ulysses has to offer if you’ll let me meet her…… Hmmm… I’m looking forward to it.”

“For God’s sake, you stay away from Elizabeth.”

“I know that too. I’d love to meet Miss Elizabeth at least once, but it would have to be at your wedding celebration. If we get that far, it would be as good as it gets, wouldn’t it?”

“Kek, marriage ……!”

　The unexpected word brings back Elizabeth’s smile from yesterday, and my cheeks heats up. Rafael spotted the change in me and smiled with a hint of a misbehaveness, “Oh, well, something good happened.”

　Behind him, Harold is sighing loudly, not thinking of his master.

“Do you have anything in mind?　Nothing?　Well, I’ll just try to find out who she is.”

    Shaking my head, I watched as Raphael turned and bowed in a distracted manner, and then I finally took a breath.

　Elizabeth’s bashful smile, which I must have replayed 10,000 times from last night, is still highly destructive for my heart.

　After seeing Raphael off, Harold returned with a glass in his hand. I silently drank from the glass offered from him.

　The cooled water soaks into my hot body. It is delicious.

“Yes, Harold. I have a favor to ask of you too.”

“Anything.”

“First, I need you to read through this…”

　I handed “Otoboshi” to Harold. Harold accepted it with both hands and bowed. Since this is a gift from the Crown Prince, he has to show he is grateful.

    And I realized yesterday, after reading it again, that the author is probably related to a nobleman.

　I read it again before giving it to Harold, and that’s what I found out.

　The book was received by the aristocracy because the characters who resembled me and Elizabeth were realistic, but there were many other details that only an aristocrat would know.

　The scenes in the school and the coming-of-age party at which the heroine and the Crown Prince condemned their fiancée were described in detail, as if they had seen them firsthand. It is impossible for a mere commoner to write this from imagination alone. Unless he or someone close to him had actually lived in the Royal Academies.

“Try to figure out the identity of the author along those lines. In case this was written by an aristocrat–“

“We cannot close our eyes to it. It is a crime of impiety, and in some cases, a crime of state treason.”

　Originally, I had thought that the commoners must have added the outlandish setting to sell the novel. But if it was written by an aristocrat with the intention of humiliating royalty, it could not be left out.

　And what if there were people who not only wanted to undermine but also intentionally made this novel popular and tried to tear apart the relationship between me and Elizabeth according to that scenario?

　I must make an example of them so that no one else will be so inclined.

“I know it will take a lot of work, but I’m counting on you.”

“As you command, Your Highness.”

　At that time, I was like a king. I had the fire in my eyes, ruthlessly slaughtering the enemies who turned on the kingdom.

　Harold bowed as he received my command.

　–Who would have guessed?

　Who would have guessed that the author would be discovered by mere chance the following week, after having made such an ostentatious effort?