âHai! Iâm sure that in the sequel, weâll learn more about the generalâs pastâ¦! Iâm looking forward to seeing him play an active role in the future.â
ââ¦â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦â
Rishe smiled and chose her words carefully.
I never imagined that the General would die protecting Jean in the next volume either.
Rishe knew the future.
This meant that she knew the âunpainted future developmentsâ of the stories that existed in this world.
While chatting with Harriet, she must tread carefully for her not to realize it.
Once you know whatâs going to unfold, you canât go back to the time when you knew nothing!! I didnât want to talk about ongoing books with someone who loves to read, butâ¦
This was also the only topic that Harriet seemed to be open to.
As expected, Harriet seemed to be much more relaxed than before, and talked to Rishe.
Then, she whispered very quietly.
âUh, Iâm so glad. In Fabrania, Iâve been told to look through more practical books, not fictional storiesâ¦â
âHow long have you been in Fabrania for bride training, Harriet-sama?â
âWell, a year and a half.â
âWow, so long? So has it been a year and a half since youâve seen your brother?â
âT-Thatâs rightâ¦! Iâm sure my brother has read the Cradiette Adventures, and Iâm looking forward to talking to him about itâ¦â
After saying that much, Harriet took a big deep breath.
âAh, that, Rishe-sama.â
âYes, what is it?â
ââ¦Thank you for letting me meet my family.â
She said so in that same inaudible voice.
The maidens waiting some distance away probably couldnât hear her. In a voice that was probably strained by design, Harriet continued.
âCough, I donât mean that in a weird way! But I â if it wasnât for your wedding, I wouldnât have been able to see my brother until my own wedding ceremony. Thatâs next year, and itâs a long way.â
ââ¦Donât you go back to your country during your bride training? Itâs not like Fabrania and Sigwell were very far apart.â
âT-Thatâs because Iâm married, even if Iâm just engagedâ¦Unless there is a celebration or mourning, it is a shame to return home.â
When Rishe blinked, Harriet said, somewhat wistfully.
âI donât want to be a nuisance, at least not to you. Iâve been training to be a bride for a year and a half now, and Iâm still a complete mess.â
âThat isnât true, Harriet-sama.â
âNo, I am. Because the only use for a useless princess is in a political marriage!â
Her small hands covered her face over her bangs.
âIâve been kept alive and nurtured by the peopleâs taxes. If Iâm not useful to my country, not only is there no meaning to life, there is no meaning to being bornâ¦â
âHarriet-samaâ¦â
Looking closer, Harriet was trembling.
âIâve got to do it rightâ¦Iâve got to-do it rightâ¦â
It was not something she intended for Rishe to hear, let alone the maidservants.
You think your role can only be fulfilled through a political marriage.
This mentality was quite familiar.
Sheâs just like the old me.
If that were the case, there was no way Rishe would tell her here and now.
The potential that lies within you would always be an unreachable longing unless you find it yourself.
For Harriet now, it was as distant and unrealistic as a story written by someone else.
So instead, she told her something that could comfort her.
âââHarriet-sama, the carriage just passed through the gate.â
â!â
Harriet gently looked down at her from the window.
A few moments later, the carriage stopped and a man got out from inside.
His golden hair, the same color as Harrietâs, was cropped short.
He was tall, with a supple, slender body. He was dressed in simple but elegant clothes, and wore a cloak as formal attire.
The person looked up and smiled as if he was relieved to see Harriet.
âBrother Curtisâ¦â
ââ¦â
Rishe looked at the eyes of the man that Harriet called.
Thanks to the glimmering moonlight, she could see him clearly even at a distance.
â¦I see. So thatâs how it is.
The manâs eyes were red