Chapter 92 – The Princess's Constraints

King Melvin left the salon, saying he would return once matters were settled.

“Um… Albert already knows about this, right?”

“Yes. I spoke with Father. Marlene, could you put on the ring?”

Princess Marlene tilted her head slightly, but seemed to understand she didn’t need to hide anything from Grace and Ashley. She put on the Disguise Ring and poured magical power into the Magic Stone.

Her body was momentarily enveloped in light, and there she stood – transformed from Princess Marlene into Marian’s appearance.

“So Her Highness Marlene was Lady Marian.”

“I see. That makes sense now.”

The two nodded with more understanding than surprise. While they weren’t very familiar with Princess Marlene, her age and characteristics were quite distinctive. They must have noticed the resemblance while spending time together in the salon.

Princess Marlene blushed slightly as she removed the ring and bowed her head to Grace and Ashley.

“And I’m Alfred, but that’s not important right now.”

“I’ll explain from here. King Melvin approached me about having Princess Marlene stay with us as my fiancée.”

He explained the proposal from King Melvin.

The attempted assassination of Princess Marlene and the perpetrator. That Rosemary probably wasn’t involved. That King Melvin wanted to entrust her to him since the motive was unclear.

As he explained these matters, the two listened with serious expressions and nodded.

“So you want us to discuss this matter among ourselves?”

“That’s right.”

Grace looked at him quietly.

As for Princess Marlene, she seemed slightly surprised, as if she hadn’t been fully informed. King Melvin had said he was still exploring options.

“—As for me,”

Ashley spoke first.

“I don’t think I’m in a position to say anything about this matter. I’m only here because Theodore-sama and Grace-sama accepted me. However—I do like Her Highness Marlene. If you say she might be in danger, I want to do everything I can to help her.”

So Ashley was in favor. What about Grace?

“…When I first saw Lady Marian—Her Highness Marlene—in the workshop, it reminded me of the past.”

Grace spoke with a distant look in her eyes.

“The past, huh.”

It was understandable that Princess Marlene would be wary of unfamiliar people. After all, there was a time when I kept everyone except Grace at a distance too.

Princess Marlene… must have worked quite hard to stand up like she does now. That’s what I think.

Both Grace and Ashley probably understood that aspect. They each had their own experiences to draw from.

“Yes. About how to interact with unfamiliar people, I suppose. I think Her Highness Marlene herself is a kind person, and I like her. If I can be of help, I think it would be wonderful to have Her Highness Marlene with us.”

Grace smiled as she said this.

Princess Marlene smiled happily at their words, but then showed an expression that was somehow both sad and lonely. Seeing this, Prince Albert spoke.

“…Actually. We’ve completed a prototype.”

He brought over a package from the corner of the salon and handed it to Princess Marlene. Inside was something resembling a thin stone slab with glass attached.

The stone slab was engraved with letters and numbers. Several Magic Stones were embedded along the edges… about the size of a paperback book, maybe slightly larger.

“Well, it’s just a preliminary prototype before the real test model. We’ve managed to get text input and display working, at least. Marlene, just for today. If you have something you want to say, try saying it.”

Prince Albert explained.

Marlene hesitantly accepted it. She touched the keypad with her finger, operating it clumsily before showing it to them.

『I will be a burden』

Glowing letters appeared in the empty space at the top of the panel.

“Why do you think that?”

『Because I think it’s fine if I don’t get better』

Princess Marlene continued with her sad expression.

『I asked Mother to save me. I think I shouldn’t have said that』

In other words—she regretted that because she said such things, her mother might have used Sacrifice. She was blaming herself—unable to forgive herself.

That’s probably why she thought she would be a burden, leading to such self-assessment.

Having seen someone like Mother up close… I think someone who would use Sacrifice while understanding the risks would have done so regardless of what Princess Marlene said or didn’t say.

But this isn’t about whether Princess Marlene’s understanding is right or wrong.

What’s needed is her own acceptance. So that Princess Marlene herself can be satisfied. So that I can be satisfied seeing it. That’s all that matters.

『Brother is amazing, but I don’t want to use this to communicate either. So I want to be somewhere where I don’t have to speak』

So she was also affirming her decision to go to the Temple.

“I think—it’s fine as it is.”

That’s what I answered.

“If Marlene doesn’t want to use words… I think that’s fine. My mother was like that too, so if I were in a similar situation, I might do the same. And I think when someone makes such a decision, they don’t want others telling them what to do.”

At my words, Princess Marlene nodded with a serious expression. I’m not sure how much she knows about my mother’s story.

But at the very least, I would never consider her a burden just because she can’t or won’t speak.

“I think Penelope-sama will definitely create a place for Marlene. So it’s not necessarily that I’m needed. But at least, I want to affirm Marlene’s feelings about this. I could never think of her as a burden.”

Princess Marlene looked up, still gripping the panel with both hands. She peered at me as if asking if that was really okay. We stared at each other like that for a while—until eventually, Princess Marlene operated the panel again.

『I’m happy. May I live in that house too?』

“Of course.”

When I nodded, Princess Marlene showed a smile like a blooming flower.

“…I’ll call Father.”

Prince Albert, who had watched the entire exchange, smiled gently, took the panel from Marlene, and left the salon.

Princess Marlene—along with Grace and Ashley—happily embraced each other.

“It seems matters have been settled. That’s good to hear.”

King Melvin, who had returned, appeared to be in quite a good mood.

He said it wasn’t just a pretext… When comparing the Temple and me as destinations for Princess Marlene, he probably thought I was the better option.

“However, being a daughter of the royal family, she cannot simply be married off. Especially since the head of Baron Silun’s house is already listed as your fiancée. We’ll need to arrange for her to be adopted into a noble house. Well, rest assured we won’t cause you any trouble with careless mistakes.”

King Melvin laughed.

“Do you have any candidates in mind?”

When Prince Albert asked, King Melvin nodded.

“I think House Fobrester would be suitable. They happen to be visiting due to the season. It’s perfect timing to discuss matters.”

“Ophelia’s…”

House Fobrester. That’s the family of Miss Ophelia, Prince Albert’s fiancée.

Unlike that Marquis Broderick somewhere, they’re proper marquises.

Though they tend to keep their distance from the capital and focus on managing their territory, so they don’t have that much influence in Termwills. Ophelia herself seems to be studying at the academy’s noble dormitory.

Princess Marlene herself seemed attached to Ophelia, and she looked happy upon hearing about House Fobrester.

“I often speak with Ophelia-sama at the academy. She’s a wonderful person.”

Ashley smiled. We’d met Ophelia at the workshop once too. Though we were hiding our identities at the time, Ophelia knows Ashley. Does that mean Ophelia initiated contact?

Ashley has been making appearances at the academy while also exploring labyrinths and training. It seems she’s been able to build horizontal connections with noble families that benefit the baronial house, which is reassuring to me.

“Ah, that’s right. When I spoke with Head Shrine Maiden Penelope, I received a message for you in her letter.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about the Sealed Door at Great Corruption Lake.”

“That’s what Sir Chester found, right?”

“Yes. According to rough calculations, the seal will break after the one in Dusk Forest. It seems the release periods are staggered.”

“That’s convenient, since we couldn’t handle all four locations being released simultaneously.”

When I said this, King Melvin nodded. Starting tomorrow, things should return to normal, I suppose.

…Wait. Speaking of tomorrow—

Hmm. With all the Rosemary commotion, it completely slipped my mind. Since it happens every year, I doubt Grace hasn’t prepared anything.