How to Survive as a Princess in a Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 63
“It was…… just by chance…… I happened to create a butterfly, and then Lady Nepheli just happened to pass by.”
Lady Nepheli?
The odd title caught my attention, but I decided to focus on the more pressing issue at hand.
“By chance, you say?”
“Yes, purely by chance…….”
“I see. Just by chance, then.”
As if.
According to Killis, there hadn’t been any princesses leaving the palace on the day I’d gone out. And even if there had been, Cirilla was the youngest among them.
For a young mage like her, using magic excessively was discouraged, meaning she’d normally have been accompanied by guards.
‘They even assigned me a knight escort—there’s no way they’d let Cirilla, who’s even younger, wander around alone without any protection.’
But the girl showed no intention of confessing the truth. Fine, then. I’d just have to get her to spill.
I fiddled with the wooden box in my hand, keeping my gaze fixed on Cirilla.
“I happened to receive a delicious gift earlier. Would you like to try some? I heard it’s especially good for kids, so it should be perfect for you.”
“N-No way! I saw Lady Nepheli eat it and throw up!”
“She didn’t throw up, but you did spy on us, didn’t you?”
“Gah!”
Realizing her slip, Cirilla quickly clapped her small hands over her mouth. Not that it would undo her words.
“I’ll ask again, Cirilla. Why were you spying on us? Did Duke Equus order you to?”
“No, my father wouldn’t tell me to do something like this.”
“So, it was Duke Morris, then?”
“……!”
Cirilla’s eyes went wide, as if she wanted to ask how I’d figured it out but restrained herself.
‘So I was right after all.’
Even if I were wrong, the only person left to consider was Meliana, so I had already anticipated this to some extent.
‘An anxious child like this, trembling in fear, could never have come up with such a spying plan on her own.’
If that’s the case, someone must have ordered her to do it. And there was no reason for Evgenia to risk her young daughter’s safety by sending her to spy.
The one who stands to gain from spying on me would be someone from the opposing faction…… In other words, it was most likely either Cirilla’s father, the Second Duke of the Kingdom, or Meliana and her father, the First Duke.
Since the Second Duke, Equus Cecil, was ruled out, the only possibilities left were the First Duke, Morris Futurum, or Meliana herself.
What struck me more than anything, however, was how her expression betrayed every emotion so openly…….
‘She’s still just a child.’
To think Morris would send such a fragile child to spy—what a despicable man he must be.
“Are you going to tell me everything?”
“Who to?”
“To Duke Morris…….”
“Do you want me to tell you?”
She quickly shook her head. Seeing her try to hide her pain out of fear of being caught made me feel sorry for her.
‘The more I see her, the more I think of Jiyu.’
Jiyu had also tried to hide his pain and smile in front of me…….
A child pretending not to be hurt and smiling couldn’t hide it from me. I was simply turning a blind eye because I was struggling with my own issues.
“I won’t tell you, so don’t worry.”
“Really……?”
“Yeah. And you can tell Duke Futurum about what you saw today.”
“Huh?”
“You were sent to spy on me, right? Anyway, he’ll ask what I did today, so you might as well have something to tell him.”
“Wait, Your Highness. Are you serious? You’re going to allow the spying without any consequences?”
“Reno, don’t interrupt Your Highness’s words.”
“But…….”
“I know what you’re worried about. I’ll tell you later.”
Although Cirilla was very young and resembled Jiyu, which softened my heart, that was all. There was no reason for her to do something that would harm me.
“Instead, let’s make one promise.”
“A promise?”
“Yeah. Next time Duke Morris sends you to spy on me, will you tell me beforehand? Or at least make your familiar obvious. If you draw a big star, I’ll know it’s familiar. How about it? Can you do that?”
“Yes. That much…….”
“Good. It’s a promise, then. Now, promise.”
I extended my pinky finger toward Cirilla. She tilted her head slightly in confusion.
Ah, do they not do it like this here?
Just as I was about to pull my hand back in embarrassment, Cirilla linked her pinky with mine.
“A promise? Is this how you do it?”
“Right. Well done.”
I lightly patted Cirilla’s head.
Ding!
[<System> ‘Cirilla Vita Anesis’ affection has slightly increased.]
