I Will Return My New Brother

Did they say there were times that heaven helped desperate people?

An invitation arrived from the Imperial palace.

This time it was an invitation from the Crown Prince, not the Emperor.

“Why did that person send it to Marianne . . .”

Jeremy looked very confused.

First, the reason for the invitation was because he wanted to hear about the Second Prince’s condition and life from Young Lady Miller, who lived with the prince. But there were obviously hidden intentions.

“It’s fine. I can just come back after exchanging a few words.”

Jeremy had a regretful expression when facing me, as if looking at a mouse entering a bear’s mouth.

I mean, at least people in the Imperial palace were okay.

Of course, I was talking about the workers in the Imperial palace— except for the Emperor, the Crown Prince, the Imperial family and the high-ranking nobles who often visit the palace.

“Then do you want to go with me?”

“Have a nice trip.”

He didn’t say he would go with me even if he died.

As though he was embarrassed to answer honestly in only a minute, Jeremy looked at the floor.

However, he made sure of his resolution to not return to the Imperial palace even if I accompanied him.

As I looked at him, I thought I got him.

How difficult it was to live in a palace with no one to lean on when he felt danger at every minute, every second.

Although I acted casual, I also unconsciously trembled under the pressure of Young Duke Bolton’s presence.

There was also a desire to escape the moment I sensed his murderous intention.

Hence, Jeremy, younger than me, enduring that long time was surely an impressive thing.

“It’s, it’s no use even if you look at me like that. I will not go to that place.”

I nodded to the determined face.

“I understand. I will go alone.”

Jeremy’s face was tinted with confusion when he saw me answer quickly.

He then asked hesitantly.

“Should I go with you?”

“No, I will go alone.”

Leaving behind the prince, who looked guilty as if he had done a very bad thing, I headed to the Imperial palace alone.

Sir Rune, accompanying me as an escort, looked at me with a very curious expression.

“It’s amazing to see the one who usually makes any excuse to easily accept the invitation. I thought you would never take an interest in the Imperial palace.”

“I didn’t know that I would come again either.”

When I was involved with the Imperial family, the results were never good.

I ended up receiving admission to the Imperial academy on my first visit, and when the Crown Prince visited the mansion, I was taken as a hostage out of nowhere.

“If I forced my way to avoid it, I would get blame placed on me. Since that’s the case, I will accept what I have to accept, and I should benefit as much as I can.”

“You have a very determined expression.”

Sir Rune smiled.

I, who was about to smile back, turned my head a bit and pretended to look outside.

I didn’t want to look suspicious for trying hard to smile at an unfunny thing.

It would be better if I had a personality that could lie nonchalantly.

* * *

“Returning to the palace?”

“It’s been quite a while since the horrible scene, and Jeremy is clearly a prince of the Imperial family.”

I shutted my mouth because I didn’t expect to hear this kind of talk.

As I thought about Jeremy’s calm expression when he sent me off this morning, he seemed to be clueless as well.

The Crown Prince then continued as if he read my thoughts.

“He has to return whether he wants it or not. He might be criticized by a lot of aristocrats if he continued to stay in the Duke’s mansion. There’s also an opinion that it could lower the Imperial family’s dignity.”

“Did Duke Bolton say that?”

When I brought up the figure, whom I thought about as I heard the ‘Imperial family’s dignity,’ the Crown Prince nodded with a strange expression.

“You’re really good at treading even though you look like you’re not interested at all.”

“He looks like someone who cares about the Imperial family’s authority more than His Majesty.”

“Although it is true, it is also based on a certain amount of loyalty.”

He sided with Duke Bolton.

“In the first place, we sent Jeremy because we regarded the contribution of Young Duke Miller at the time was high, so we respected his opinion. I do understand you, but it’s difficult for him to stay more than this.”

“Yes.”

Nothing could be done with things that didn’t work.

Even if I returned to the mansion and looked for a new way, that would be after Jeremy decided whether or not to accept this.

When I took a sip of tea with a heavy heart, the Crown Prince spoke as if he was bitter.

“Honestly, I didn’t expect much when I heard you would take him, but he surely changed.”

A bitter smile was on his face.

“It means that the Imperial palace isn’t a good home for him, but people have to live according to their decided position when they were born.”

Letting out a sigh, he looked at me and asked.

“I want to give a proper compensation for you, but is the cancellation of the parade back then really all you want?”

Usually, I would say I only did the natural thing to do.

Being involved with the Crown Prince was actually a great discomfort as well.

I stared at him and then opened my mouth.

“When May comes, I will have to attend the debutante, right?”

“I see. You are sixteen I suppose.”

The Crown Prince looked at me as if that was unexpected.

Semi-debut was usually the method taken by young girls who have not had enough contact with noble families before the socializing season.