Veronica sighed grandly in her private room at the shop.
“Haaaa…”
“What’s wrong, Older Sister? Why the long sigh?”
A glance at her younger brother, who opened the door and questioned her, only deepened her sigh.
“It’s about Jared.”
“…Ah, I see. He audaciously barged into the home of your friend and your fiancé and told them he wanted her as a consort, didn’t he? Judging by your expression, it seems the result wasn’t very good.”
“…You’re not very cute.”
“Not as cute as you, Older Sister.”
Her younger brother, Lars, is a close friend of Jared, the man Veronica loves. Lately, they haven’t had much time to see each other, and she knows her eccentric brother seems lonely.
“It’s the opposite, the opposite. Olivier understood exactly what I wanted to say.”
“Then that’s good, isn’t it? After all, the biggest obstacle to achieving your love is Olivier Alway.”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Hmm… So you think Jared himself will be the obstacle?”
“…I haven’t told you yet… but yes, that’s right.”
She thought inwardly that her brother, who could guess what she hadn’t said, was indeed not very cute.
Because he was unusually siding with her this time, she felt reassured and managed to hold back her complaints.
“You must have known Jared doesn’t want a consort. You should let him and Olivier enjoy their romance leisurely. Once he’s an adult and established himself as a Court Mage, it won’t be too late to take a consort.”
“Isn’t that precisely why I took on this thankless role? There are people who won’t be satisfied otherwise. I don’t want to interfere between my Childhood Friend and the man she loves!”
Even if her own love didn’t come to fruition, Veronica intended to support them. The reason she came forward as a consort candidate was solely for Jared and Olivier’s sake.
Regardless of their own feelings, the nobles were plotting to get closer to Jared. He had garnered attention, both in good and bad ways.
For the same reason, she felt Laurentz Herring, another of her brother’s close friends, would have a difficult time ahead. However, his position and Jared’s were somewhat different.
With Olivier as his fiancé, many would think, “Then why not our daughter?” Not all of them were bad people, but they were all typical nobles, and Jared wouldn’t suit them.
—I don’t like it either!
It might be different with Olivier, who was like a sister, but she couldn’t stand another woman stealing Jared away. For Veronica, Jared was the destined person she had finally found.
With several matters already surfacing beneath the surface, her solution to become a human shield for the two of them was to become Jared’s consort.
Even considering her Royal Family status, Veronica’s qualifications weren’t particularly good. By taking someone like her as a consort, she intended to fend off others who desired to be one.
Currently, this plan was working.
—I doubt anyone would want to make their own daughter a consort alongside the Duke’s family and a Princess. Especially not with a wife with a bad reputation and an unwed Princess.
Thinking this made her sad, but in reality, rumors of Veronica being a consort candidate for Jared had led some to withdraw their marriage proposals.
It wasn’t only by becoming an in-law that one could connect with Jared. Of course, it was the strongest connection, but if one wished, they could gain favor by supporting him.
Ultimately, nobles must love their daughters. Therefore, regardless of the truth of the rumors, they didn’t want to see their daughters become unhappy by being associated with the problematic pair.
—I’m angry, but let’s be happy that it’s working for now.
Not everyone had given up on Jared for the sake of their daughters, and problems still remained, but Veronica was satisfied with the current situation.
“I just hope Jared doesn’t come to hate me.”
“He would never hate you. Well, I’ll put in a good word for you, too.”
“I’m happy to have such a thoughtful younger brother.”
“…You say that. Anyway, returning to our previous conversation, what will you do if Olivier accepts you?”
“You mean about becoming a consort?”
“What else? If things go well, you intend to become a consort eventually, don’t you?”
Veronica pondered for a moment.
“Yes, in the end, that’s the only way I can be the biggest shield for the two of them. And for me, I get to become Jared’s consort, so it’s a win-win situation.”
“The problem is whether Jared will agree. Despite everything, he loves Olivier. Their meeting wasn’t ideal, but now they are indispensable to each other.”
“I know that without you telling me. I’ll be a wall for them for a while, and I’ll make him say yes by the time he comes of age, um…”
Lars didn’t ask what would happen if Jared refused. He knew his sister would remain unmarried for life.
Though she was a bit of a burden, he wished his Older Sister happiness.
He felt sorry for his close friend, but he could entrust his troublesome Older Sister to such a reliable person.
“I can only tell you to do your best.”
“Of course I will. I’ll do my best.”
Lars was inwardly impressed by his sister’s decision to become a consort only after convincing the parties involved.
She could have become consort without all this roundabout effort, for their sake, and they couldn’t have complained. In the worst case, she could have used a royal decree. But she didn’t. She was afraid Jared would hate her if she did.
“For my clumsy Older Sister, I’ll lend a hand, too.”
“Oh, you’re suddenly saying something sweet. Do you want some allowance?”
“…No, I’m also in love. I understand how you feel, Older Sister.”
As Veronica watched her brother’s retreating back after he said that and left the room, she cried out in surprise.
Wait, what was that? I didn’t hear that! Who are you in love with?! Is it someone I know? Or someone from another country?”
There was no reply, and her younger brother hurried down the corridor.
“Wait a minute. Who is the person you’re in love with! Tell your big sister!”
Curious about who her eccentric younger brother had fallen for, Veronica chased after him.
Even as members of the Royal Family, they were like any other siblings in any household.
