If You Take the Enemy Prince as Your Knight Chapter 49

Why does everyone look unhappy? Did I make them wait too long? Feeling a bit intimidated, she was approached by a count’s daughter who spoke with a stiff face.

 

“Your Highness, I don’t think you needed to say that earlier.”

 

“What do you mean by that…?”

 

“I mean when you said not to do something because the young noblemen wouldn’t like it.”

 

What’s the problem with that? Gwendellin blinked in confusion, not understanding the issue.

 

At that moment, a marquis’ daughter next to her quickly stepped forward and scolded the count’s daughter. It was an attempt to protect her friend, the count’s daughter.

 

“What kind of rude mark is that? Your Highness, please don’t mind that comment. It was just a slip of the tongue.”

 

“R-Really…?”

 

“Yes. Your Highness is someone who understands your position well. You were simply teaching the young princesses accordingly.”

 

But Gwendellin’s previously blank expression suddenly changed. “What about my position?”

 

“What about my position?”

 

“Your Highness…?”

 

“What about my position? Go on, say it.”

 

“…”

 

Gwendellin glared sharply at the marquis’s daughter. Taken aback by this unfamiliar side of her, the marquis’s daughter soon felt a deep sense of injustice. Her mention of ‘position’ was simply repeating what one of the vulgar young noblemen had said earlier about Gwendellin. At that time, Gwendellin had taken it as a compliment and smiled brightly.

 

“I-I was just repeating exactly what Lord Pico said…”

 

“Lord Pico is a man!” Her true feelings slipped out. Nothing could have summed up Gwendellin better.

 

An uncomfortable silence followed. As soon as the shock wore off, the noble ladies quickly made up their minds.

 

“That, I think I need to visit the powder room for a moment…”

 

“Me too…”

 

“Please excuse me, Your Highness.”

 

There is nothing more dangerous for women than a woman with a double standard between men and women.

 

Left alone at the large outdoor table, Gwendellin sat awkwardly. She’d experienced this kind of thing before and was used to it, but still didn’t understand what the problem was. The only person around to ask was her silent, red-haired personal knight standing nearby.

 

“Sir Heinz, did I do something wrong?”

 

“A knight does not judge his lord’s rights or wrongs.”

 

It was less a statement of loyalty and more drawing a line. It was the same kind of resistance of a knight forced to serve a lady they hadn’t chosen themselves.

 

“I see. Knights really are loyal. So different from the young ladies.”

 

“…”

 

“Ah, I didn’t mean to speak ill of the ladies…! A-Anyway, there’s definitely a misunderstanding about what just happened. I should talk to the ladies to clear them up.”

 

Gwendellin went to the powder room set up for the picnic guests, but couldn’t find them there. After persistently wandering the picnic area, she finally spotted the young ladies gathered by a quiet lakeside. They all look so serious. What are they talking about without me? Gwendellin naturally thought to eavesdrop.

 

“Princess New Moon is really too much. She reacts completely differently to the same words depending on whether it is a man or a woman who spoke them…”

 

“Not to mention, Lord Pico has a lower status than the lady. He doesn’t even have any inheritance rights.”

 

“That’s not all. That guy was one of the idiots earlier, ranking the princesses in order of preference.”

 

“Her Highness took that as a compliment, didn’t she? She even smiled, saying her name was included.”

 

“Honestly, her way of thinking is just…”

 

Listening to the relentless criticism about herself, Gwendellin felt tears welling up in her eyes. What did I do so wrong? She felt hurt and wronged. If those ladies were in her position, possibly about to be auctioned off like a dowry, they’d act the same. But she resented and disliked them for not understanding her difficult and anxious situation at all.

 

Could it be they’re jealous because I got so much attention from the noblemen earlier? Thinking like that, everything made sense, and she felt better.

 

Gwendellin still thought it was more comfortable being with men, who lacked jealousy, but she still wanted to fit in with the women. From experience, she felt safer and more benefited when she was among groups of women. It seemed like she needed to find a new group, different from the young ladies she had met earlier. Just then, someone caught her eye.

 

“Excuse me, Milady. If you don’t mind, please use this handkerchief.”

 

A brown-haired young lady she’d never met before looked at her with worried eyes and offered her kindness. She must be the type who can’t stand to leave something pitiful or weak alone. Gwendellin was, if nothing else, very good at recognizing such people.

 

“Thank you for the handkerchief. But did you just call me ‘Milady’?”

 

“Pardon? Yes. Did I make a mistake?”

 

“I’m Princess New Moon.”

 

“Kyaa! I apologize. I-I-It’s my first time at the palace…! Reina of the Baron Fabiet family greets Your Highness.”

 

It was a mistake often made by new nobles just up from the provinces. Gwendellin nodded and accepted the greeting.

 

“…But, Your Highness, why do you look so troubled despite your beautiful face?” Reina looked up at Gwendellin with concern.

 

Gwendellin was expecting this question and had already prepared her answer. “Do you know Princess Silver Bird?”

 

“I heard she’s the princess who won first place in the last competition.”

 

“I made a slip of the tongue in front of her. She’s a favored princess, so everyone tries to win her favor. That’s why everyone is shunning me.” It was a heavily embellished version of the truth, with barely any facts left intact.

 

“How could they…”

 

It was rare for anyone to doubt a tearful beauty right in front of them. Reina was no exception.

 

“If that’s true, then everyone is being too much… Didn’t Princess Silver Bird try to stop them?”

 

“No… It’s true that I made a mistake…”

 

“Anyone can make a slip of the tongue. I mean, I just failed to recognize Your Highness! Please don’t be upset.”

 

“Still…”

 

Reina beamed and held out her hand to Gwendellin. “Your Highness, I have some young lady friends over there. Would you like to go boating with us?”

 

“Would that… be okay?”

 

“Of course!”

 

Reina’s smile was as bright as sunlight, painting over everything in white. Gwendellin felt comforted by her radiance, but also a sense of discomfort, like staring directly into a backlit sun.

 

The friends Reina introduced were also kind. Excited to be with a princess, they happily included Gwendellin at the center of their conversation. For the first time in a long while, Gwendellin felt tears come to her eyes at the attention and kindness she was receiving from a group of women.

 

Normally, women didn’t treat her as the only girl among men, and it bothered her. On top of that, lately, she had been feeling insecure and lacking in popularity or value compared to the other princesses. But today, these gentle and kind girls surrounded Gwendellin and restored her self-esteem. She couldn’t help but be moved.

 

To think they’re treating someone as outcast as me so kindly… A thought naturally formed in her mind. They must be pushovers. I can treat them as I please.

 

✦

“Looks like Sister Gwendellin found herself a new nest.”

 

After fighting with Lilliana, I went looking for a quiet place and found Sister Orlette and Nanaen waiting for me as if they’d known I’d come. The place was near the lake, so you could see people boating. It was inevitable that Gwendellin would catch our eyes.

 

“What nest?”

 

“‘Nest’? Aren’t you the bird, Silver Bird?”

 

“…”

 

I was so shocked by Orlette’s sappy way of calling me that my face fell. Then, realizing my face had fallen in front of my sisters, I was even more shocked. I really do let my guard down around my sisters.

 

“Ugh, seriously. What are you two doing without me?”

 

“I mean, she calls me ‘Deer,’ so…”

 

When Nanaen grimaced, Orlette blushed and tried to explain, but it didn’t work.

 

“You never use that cheesy tone when you call me.”

 

“Cheesy? That’s harsh.”

 

“Whatever. Well, she’s more like a baby bird rather than a silver bird.”