Olivier Alway was visited by Veronica W. Fairlyger, the First Princess of the Wethered Kingdom.
“It’s been a while, Princess Veronica.”
“Hehe. Indeed. It feels like it’s been about a year since we last met. It’s lonely that we can’t see each other more often, even though we’re childhood friends.”
The childhood friends, only a year apart in age, had been close since they were little. Veronica was one of the few people Olivier could confide in besides her family, ever since she developed misanthropy after her mother’s life was threatened.
However, her methods of communication were limited, and the fact that Veronica was a princess meant their meetings would inevitably attract attention. For these reasons, their interaction over the past year had been limited to a few exchanges of letters.
After her family issues were resolved by her fiancé, Olivier’s correspondence with Veronica had increased. Yet, meeting in person like this was a rarity.
“Your expression has softened. I’m relieved to see your face directly.”
“I think it’s because Mother’s incident has been safely resolved, and I feel mentally lighter.”
“I heard about Hannelore from your letters, and also from my father. I never doubted you, Olivier, but to think that a consort was actually trying to take your aunt’s life… How terrifying.”
“Thanks to Jared—my fiancé—my mother’s life, my own life, no, that’s not quite right, my family was protected.”
No matter how many times she thought about it, Olivier couldn’t express enough gratitude to Jared. She never would have imagined when she first met him, through an arranged marriage her father had unilaterally decided upon, that he would be able to resolve the issue that had tormented her mother for years.
It had only been six months since then, but due to everything that had happened, it felt like a lifetime ago.
“He seems like a wonderful fiancé for you, Olivier. It’s hard to believe you used to detest men and refuse marriage. You look so happy.”
“D-Don’t tease me. But, yes. He’s too good for me.”
Her cheeks flushed. She had never imagined a day would come when she’d be discussing her fiancé with her childhood friend. She hadn’t had the luxury before, and she had even given up on thinking about the future.
Even now, she had anxieties about the future, but they seemed trivial compared to the days before she met Jared.
“Speaking of which, when we last met, I recall you mentioning that you had a man you were interested in, Veronica. What happened after that?”
“It took me a year, but he finally realized I was a princess.”
“You must have been very surprised.”
“Hehe, yes, very. But you know, the most wonderful thing was that he didn’t change his attitude, remaining the same as he was before knowing I was a princess.”
“Oh? That sounds like a wonderful person.”
Olivier couldn’t help but briefly picture Jared, and gave a wry smile. For better or worse, as a fiancé, one should accept their acquaintance as they are, even if they discover they are royalty.
Olivier understood Veronica’s feelings all too well. Though not royalty, the position of a young lady from a ducal family often became an obstacle in social interactions. It was disheartening when someone’s attitude changed drastically the moment they learned of another’s status, especially after knowing them when they were unaware.
She had experienced it more than once in her childhood and student days – the disappointment of being flattered by someone she wanted to be friends with, or feeling sad when treated like a subordinate due to family circumstances.
It must be even more so with the status of a princess. That’s why people who didn’t change their attitude after knowing she was a princess were so precious.
Some might call it disrespectful. However, for the person themselves, having someone who saw them as they truly were, regardless of their status, was indispensable.
Just as Olivier had Jared.
“I intend to marry him. Fortunately, my father also approved.”
“Oh, then it’s a celebration! Congratulations.”
She sincerely congratulated her childhood friend, who had been teased about being left on the shelf just like her, on the spring that had finally arrived in her life.
“But, there are a few problems.”
“Problems?”
Her childhood friend, looking more troubled than dejected, tilted her head as if asking Olivier for her opinion. Suddenly, a bad feeling washed over Olivier. It was an anxiety, as if something precious was about to be taken away.
“He already has a fiancée. However, his fiancée doesn’t seem to approve of him taking a consort.”
“…I’m surprised that you, a princess, are considering a consort, but is it just me, or does this sound like a familiar story?”
“Actually, that person… is someone you know well, Olivier.”
“I’ll ask, just in case, but who is it?”
Her heart pounded like a drum. The bad premonition was intensifying and morphing into a certainty. She had a vague idea, but she desperately wanted to hear the name from her childhood friend’s lips and be relieved by saying, “Ah, it wasn’t what I feared.”
“Jared Murphy.”
Thus, her wish went unfulfilled as Veronica spoke the name of Olivier’s beloved fiancé.
