My Uncle and I Choose the Life That Will Not Be Ruined

Chapter 18 : Prince's Attack

The courtyard of the mansion is filled with the bright sunshine of summer and the scent of green leaves. The terrace, which is unified in white, is Miriella's favorite place. It was the same season of green leaves when she heard Leon's scream here.

In the past, speaking of afternoon tea time, it was Miriella who would devoured a large amount of sweets on the cake stand. However, now that she has reached her age, she know that eating large amounts of sweets is bad for her body and skin, so she refrain from doing so.

Miriella sniffed while looking at the tea that Melisa was pouring.

"I wonder what is this? Its letting out a sweet smell."

"Did you notice. I heard that this is called flavored tea. It seems to be popular these days, and the other day a vendor I commute gave me to try it."

"Is that so. It's very sweet... was it apple?"

"I heard it smells like apples."

When she tried to put her mouth to the cup while smiling at the sweet scent. A maid poked her head out of the door leading to the courtyard.

"Ojou-sama, you have a guest."

"I'm sure I shouldn't be having any plans for today."

When she tilted her head and looked at Melisa and Judy, they both nodded. The maid frantically looked back inside the door many times.

"um, His highness Prince Alexis is here, to say hello."

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Miriella enters the reception room where usually used by the Duchess and nobles children to welcome guests. Anessa is the only friend she invites to her mansion, and since she comes directly to Miriella's room, it was very rare for Miriella to use this room.

Alexis sits down on a sofa upholstered in delicate patterns. Miriella bowed to the prince's chamberlain standing behind him and stood beside him.

"It's truly has been a while. Ever since we skated. At that time, you taught me how to skate, thank you very much."

"Aa"

"If you had let me know, I would have been able to welcome you."

"I just came because I happened to pass by."

Miriella implied the meaning of "If you're coming, please tell me first," but it's doubtful if it's being conveyed.

He didn't say anything after that, so Miriella sat down on the sofa.

A saucer and a cup were placed in front of the two facing each other, and tea was poured. Miriella was a little disappointed by the usual scent of black tea.

"The other day, It was your birthday I heard."

The other day? Miriella twists her neck. Even though he said the other day, her own birthday was already more than a month ago. Alexis furrowed his brow as he said it.

"It was just recently that I asked Ed."

"Is that so"

"Why don't you have a birthday party?"

“At our house, we only hold parties for guests on birthdays. My brother does too.”

As he dipped his mouth into the tea, Alexis wrinkled his eyebrows again. Judy shuddered even though she didn't make the tea herself.

“You weren’t even at the party of Earl Burstein last week.”

"yes. I've heard that it doesn't matter if I refuse."

Perhaps because she is a daughter of a duke and will be enrolled in the Royal Academy next year, she has been receiving invitations to parties all the time. Miriella consulted with her tutor Tuvalus-sensei, who also serves as her advisor, about her choices, and she refused to go.

Even so, she can't see the main point of Alexis' conversation. she doesn't know what the heck he's talking about or why he's talking about the party, and it seems like she's being blamed for something.

Alexis sighs, overflowing with the dignity of a prince. But he always looks grumpy. Except he wasn't like that when they were skating together.

Miriella was paralyzed by the pointless conversation.

"Your Highness. Did Your Highness come to tell me that I have a bad social disposition?"

"No. That's not it."

For the first time, Alexis saw Miriella from the front. His disgruntled mask peels off a little, and he hesitates to open his mouth and say something.

Pausing, he asked quietly.

"From your eyes, what kind of person do I look like?"

"Your Highness, is it...?"

She turned her attention to the prince's chamberlain who was standing behind him. What if I was accused of being disrespectful after saying whatever I wanted here? I wonder if these people will capture me. is what Miriella was thinking.

Seeing Miriella like that, Alexis laughed with a snort.

"No matter what you say, I won't do what you think I will."

"I haven't said anything yet."

"It's easy to know what you're thinking."

Then, drinking tea, Miriella opened her mouth.

"Your Highness always looks grumpy. You feel unapproachable is what I think."

"And then?"

"If you're like that for no reason, I think you should fix it. But I was wondering if there's a reason."

Hou, Alexis muttered breathlessly.

"What kind of reason"

"That's right. The reason it's hard to get close to is probably because you don't want people to get close to you. Your Highness doesn't want to be surrounded by such people is what I'm thinking."

Miriella's mind flashed there. Her face, which had been sour until now, suddenly changed to a bright one. [TL note: flashed, as in, sudden realization.]

“You don’t like being approached because of your status or appearance? I see, so that’s why you talked about that when we met at the royal palace.”

It seems so. And Miriella who is pleased with her own realization. Alexis listened in silence, but he did not deny it.

"It's fine, Your Highness."

"About what?"

“Sooner or later, a woman who will look straight at Your Highness will surely appear.”

She didn't say "definitely".

According to the game her uncle taught her, the heroine falls in love with one of the five men she spends with at the academy. Certainly, among the men, she should have been the most likely to fall in love with the prince.

Even if she never fall in love. Even if he just meets the heroine and becomes close to her, she may be a salvation for Alexis.

Because she's a heroine.

"Don't say anything inappropriate"

"I can't say for certain. But rather than being disappointed to be with a woman, getting engaged to 'whoever and whatever is fine candidate', it's more meaningful to find someone who can see Your Highness the way you really are."

So she said, and Miriella laughed.

She's sure in the world of the 'game', this prince would be engaged to her for that reason. Otherwise, he wouldn't be engaged to a girl who would end up in jail after harassing others.

One of her doubts was resolved, and Miriella naturally became cheerful.

"If you get tired of people who are attracted to authority and appearance, you can complain to my brother. If I have a problem, I too will ask my friend Anessa to listen to me."

"If I complain to Ed, I'll get even more tired later."

"Oh... I can't deny that."

Miriella takes a deep breath while imagining her brother.

It certainly seemed like he wasn't the right person to listen to people's complaints and troubles. Though she think he will give him a lot of encouragement.

"It can't be helped. I'll put up with you."

"About what?"

"Listen to complaints"

She stare at Alexis who has a very serious face.

“Your Highness and I are not friends, and as expected, that role is for my brother…”

"Then let's make you my friend too."

No, it's not like that.

Miriella was going to retort why she had to do such a thing. But she saw that Alexis, whom she had been suggested to become his friend, had a slight tint to his earlobe. Even skating in that cold weather didn't change his complexion.

It can't be helped. If it's complaints alone then I'll listen to and give it to him.

"I am honored. Your Highness is my third friend."

"Hou. Ed's fiancée and who else?"

"Is it already about five years ago. A dancer from a circus troupe that came to this town before. It was also a circus troupe that was invited to the royal palace, but I wonder if Your Highness saw it. It has a very nice dance you know."

Alexis puts his finger on his shapely chin and thinks. Even downcast eyelashes are beautiful, Miriella looks at them while drinking tea.

"Such events are not uncommon in the royal palace." (Alexis)

"It seems to be so." (Miriella)

Come to think of it, she remember that it was so to Alexis who returned it curtly. It was the same at the time, and even now the royal palace often invites those kinds of people.

Thus, Miriella became a friend of Prince Alexis.