If You Take the Enemy Prince as Your Knight Chapter 52

“Ah, Shushu. I’ve been avoiding drinking lately…”

“Can I bring my own tea?! I don’t like the tea Sister Orlette gave me. I’ll have the maid bring mine right now…”

In the end, Sister Orlette burst out. “Why is everyone so dissatisfied! Just sit where you’re told and drink what you’re given!”

“Yes…”

Finally, the chaos came to a halt, and the table fell silent.

“And Sasha, try not to talk today if you can. It ruins the mood.”

“…”

Next to me, Lilliana sneered as if she found it amusing.

At a glance, it might seem like I was being treated like a nuisance, but Sister Orlette’s actions were also for my sake. Since I’d drawn so much animosity, by restricting me as the host, she was actually protecting me from the guests. Besides, I had already decided from the start to speak as little as possible.

“Anyway, let’s try to build some camaraderie.”

“…”

“Why is everyone so quiet?”

Nanaen stepped in. “I’m not trying to be sarcastic, but I’m not sure if camaraderie is possible just because we want it. We’re competitors, after all.”

A gloomy atmosphere settled over the table. Nanaen was right. The princesses at this round table were now competitors who had to fight for their own survival. It would be an accomplishment just not to harbor grudges against one another.

“We shouldn’t only focus on short-term competition. There must be parts where we can definitely cooperate—”

“How can there be cooperation when it’s kill or be killed? Look at Sasha.”

Lilliana cut Sister Orlette off. The teacup she slammed down thankfully didn’t shatter, but her crimson eyes burned with fury. She drew everyone’s gaze toward me, but didn’t look at me herself, instead staring into space.

“Who do you think caused Sehera to end up like that? Sasha deliberately buried her! And in the process, even Sir Yulis and Sir Heinz were punished. Is there anyone here who doesn’t know that?”

“…”

“If I don’t crush others, I’ll be the one crushed. Someone has to lose anyway, so someone has to take that role! So who’s going to take that role?”

“…”

She wasn’t wrong.

“S-Still… Sister Lilli, there’s no need for us to fight among ourselves…”

“Shumel, be quiet. You benefited from the last competition.”

“Huh…?”

“Are you playing dumb, or are you really that clueless? You and Sister Gwen were at the bottom, fighting for last place. But Sasha flipped the board, and you got lucky and moved up!”

“T-That’s…”

As Shumel began to tear up, Sister Vivian couldn’t stand it anymore and stepped in.

“There’s no need to get buried in competition. There might even be another way besides just winning…”

“And what would that be?!”

“…”

“There isn’t one!”

At last, Lilliana started trembling, her shoulders shaking. No one thought it was strange. The sight of Lilliana, pushed to her limits by the pressure of competition and rivalry, was no different from the reflection of the princesses themselves in the mirror. And so, no one could stop the venomous words spilling from her mouth.

“If we’re going to help each other, then say so. Who’s going to be the next to be eliminated?”

“…”

“Should we decide that too? How? By drawing lots? A popularity vote?”

“…”

No one answered. Lilliana’s trembling lips curled upward. She tried to sneer, but her face looked as though she might burst into tears at any moment.

“Ho about this instead? Personally, I hope Sasha is the next one eliminated. Anyone willing to team up and make Sasha come in last? Should we form a little group just among us?”

“Lilliana!” Sister Orlette scolded her sternly.

In the midst of that, Gwendellin, as if she had actually considered joining in, awkwardly touched her side hair with the hand she had half-raised.

Now it was certain. The princesses’ gathering was a complete failure. There would never be a second meeting.

After Sister Orlette’s outburst, no one dared to open their mouths. A long time passed in that silence. The suffocating stillness was broken not from within, but from outside. With a knock, a maid entered and gave a slight curtsy.

“To the seven princesses, I bring a message. The chamberlain has come to visit.”

“Chamberlain? …Let him in.”

The mad emperor’s minion was clearly an unwelcome guest, but there was no stopping him. My sisters and I immediately put on bright smiles, as if nothing had happened. A refined, middle-aged gentleman with neatly combed gray hair entered the room, which now wore a façade of false harmony.

“Welcome, Chamberlain. What brings you here?”

“His Majesty heard of the princesses’ gathering and sent some desserts.”

One by one, cakes were placed in front of each princess from the wagon he brought in. Each small whole cake was decorated differently, ranging from lavish to modest styles. Mine, the most lavish, was decorated with flowers and birds.

“There are small differences based on the results of the last competition.”

He subtly emphasized the competitive situation in front of all the princesses. How cunning.

“What were you all discussing?”

The princesses could barely keep their composure as they stared at their cakes. Here, Nanaen and I took the lead.

“Of course, we were discussing the upcoming birthday banquet for His Majesty.”

“Just like Sister Sasha. We’re daughters devoted to our father. What else would we possibly talk about?”

“Is that so?” Count Gildren’s wrinkled lips curved up. His sly and arrogant expression made it clear he didn’t believe us.

I turned the question back on him. “Why? What kind of conversation did you think we were having, Chamberlain?”

“When gentlemen gather, they talk about ladies; when ladies gather, they talk about gentlemen, don’t they? With beautiful princesses, as lovely as flowers, gathered here, I thought you would be talking about dashing young noblemen who would surely bring joy to the table. After all, it’s the perfect season to fall in love.”

That’s exactly the kind of thing an old man would say. It wasn’t enough to provoke us.

“Of course not. We have no thoughts beyond His Majesty.”

“Thinking of His Majesty, huh. Well…” But his next words were more intense. “After all, every father is his daughter’s first love.”

“…”

The table fell silent as if doused in cold water. Some nearly dropped their teacups, and I was one of them. Did I really just hear that? Could words like that even exist in real life? Thankfully, there was one sister among us who was the most immune to this kind of thing.

“Of course. Father is my ideal type. No other nobleman interests me, because there’s no one like Father. Maybe I’ll live with Father for the rest of my life.”

“No wonder His Majesty treasures Princess Golden Deer so much.”

“Mmm, the cake is delicious. Please thank His Majesty for me.”

“Yes, I will.”

Reluctantly, the rest of us picked up our forks. Only after pretending to eat did the chamberlain smile in satisfaction.

“Then, I’ll be off. Please enjoy your time.”

As soon as the door to the parlor closed, the sound of utensils stopped. It was as if the last bit of energy had been squeezed out; my sisters all looked exhausted. We could feel that we all shared the same, indescribable emotion.

Sister Vivian stood up, representing the feelings of everyone. “I-I’m not feeling well… Uugh! S-Sorry.”

The others followed suit.

“I’m tired, so I’ll take my leave.”

“M-Me too…”

“Can Shushu leave too…?”

Lilliana, Gwendellin, and Shumel left in order. The owner of the room didn’t bother to stop them. The only ones left at the table were Sister Orlette, Nanaen, and me. None of us moved, just stared into space.

The maid peeked in, saw everyone had left, and quietly shut the parlor door again. As soon as the door clicked shut, the silence at the table broke.

“Ha, this is insane.”