Kays Translations

Chapter 43: A Misunderstanding

A crease appeared between Chloe’s brows, and her eyes shifted suspiciously between Caro and me. She might as well have had the word suspicious written across her face.

“I see. Now I want to know Julius’s secret even more.”

“Everyone has one or two things they can’t tell other people. I’m sure you have secrets too, Chloe.”

Chloe hummed thoughtfully. Even a princess must have had private matters she couldn’t discuss.

“Perhaps. But aren’t the two of you hiding something from me?”

“As I said, everyone has a secret or two.”

“I mean, do you two share a secret?”

She was painfully perceptive. Without thinking, I looked at Caro. Our eyes met, and Chloe immediately noticed.

“Don’t tell me you kissed without telling me!”

“We didn’t!”

Her imagination was far too active. Did she spend all her time thinking about that sort of thing?

“Big brother?”

Rosalia had overheard Chloe and hurried back to us. Her eyes were narrowed with suspicion.

“You’ve misunderstood. Nothing happened.”

“You really didn’t kiss her?”

“Of course not. How could I do something like that in a room full of people?”

“Then would you have kissed her if no one else was there?” Chloe asked.

“Brother!” Rosalia cried.

This conversation was going in completely the wrong direction. Caro had collapsed over the table with a scarlet face, apparently imagining the scene.

Caro, reacting like that only makes us look guiltier.

“That isn’t what I meant. I would never do anything improper with someone who wasn’t my fiancée. You wouldn’t either, would you, Chloe?”

“Perhaps…depending on the person.”

“Chloe, you’ve been reading too many romance novels. You should broaden your reading.”

Who had introduced her to so many of them? Daniela seemed the most likely culprit.

Royal marriages were usually political arrangements, so perhaps it was natural for Chloe to dream of romance. Even so, she shouldn’t believe everything written in love stories.

Chloe lowered her head, suggesting I had struck the mark. I felt slightly guilty, but it was better than allowing the misunderstanding to grow. If rumours spread that Caro and I were romantically involved, both of us would suffer.

In aristocratic society, rumours about children travelled almost as quickly as those about adults. The situation involving Alex, Daniela, and Hilda was probably already being discussed—especially after both families had visited House Heine.

Just as the atmosphere became unbearably awkward, the girls’ parents arrived to collect them. We accompanied everyone to the entrance and saw them off.

That evening, the dining room was filled with exhausted faces. Even Father and Mother looked drained, and everyone ate in near silence.

“It’s been some time since you entertained guests of that rank,” Grandfather remarked. “You look worn out.”

“When His Majesty is present, I can’t afford to relax,” Father replied.

“Ha ha ha! You still need more experience.”

Grandfather laughed heartily. Father was the current Margrave of Heine, while Grandfather, having handed over the reins, lived a comfortable retired life with Grandmother in the annex. Perhaps he had retired early simply to escape the endless obligations of his position. He was certainly bold enough to do so.

“Has Alex found a young lady who interests him?” Grandfather asked without warning.

Alex began coughing. He clearly didn’t want to be questioned.

“Well, that is…”

“Ha ha! What a hesitant answer. There’s no need to rush. Finding the person meant for you isn’t easy, and even when you do, circumstances may prevent you from being together.”

As the eldest son, Alex would almost certainly enter a political marriage. The futures of second and third sons were less predictable.

“What about Cain and Julius?”

“Not yet,” Cain answered awkwardly.

“Neither have I,” I said firmly.

I couldn’t hesitate, or Rosalia would become jealous again. Who knew what she might do then? She might march into my bath or try to slip into my bed. Either possibility would be troublesome.

“Really? Julius doesn’t have a girl he likes?” Alex asked with a grin.

Why was he dragging me into this? I wouldn’t let him escape so easily.

“I could never compare with Brother Alex. He has a beauty on each arm. Which one will you choose?”

“J-Julius, what are you saying? It’s hardly for me alone to choose.”

“What’s this?” Grandfather asked. “My grandson can’t decide upon a single woman?”

Grandfather’s laughter abruptly stopped. The temperature in the room seemed to plunge.

Grandmother was staring at him with eyes as narrow as needles.

“Ah, well…what I mean is that a man must judge character carefully. You should choose someone steady and dependable—someone like my own wife. That’s especially important for Alex, who will become the next Margrave of Heine. His wife must be capable of supporting both him and the house.”

Grandfather glanced towards Grandmother. The chill in her expression eased. Apparently, his revised answer had earned a passing mark.

Women were frightening at every age. The men around the table were shivering, and it wasn’t merely because the room felt cold.

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