Super-dreadnought Villainess – Chapter 11

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Chapter 11 – Side Story ② The Crown Prince

I have a fiancée.

The daughter of a duke, academically brilliant, possessing unparalleled mana capacity, and stunningly beautiful—a perfect young lady who has it all.

Since my father insisted on this engagement, I cannot break it off.

That’s why I didn’t like it.

My parents, unusually for a political marriage, are deeply devoted to each other. They cherish one another so much that it makes me feel embarrassed to watch.

Those unaware that it was a political marriage seem to think it was a grand love marriage. No, surely everyone thinks that.

I, too, longed for that.

However, my father heartlessly arranged a fiancée chosen for the sake of the ‘country’.

That was Miss Lunaria Il von Solfege.

The tutor Mother arranged for her education as Crown Princess was a Marquise who was notoriously strict.

If your posture wasn’t straight, they would strike the back with a flexible bamboo rod, and if your tableware handling was lacking, they would strike the back of the hand.

I felt sorry for her, so I thought I’d be kind to her at least.

I believe I cherished her when she was young. When I smiled at her, Miss Lunaria would smile back at me. When I spoke kind words to her, she would smile happily in return.

But when did it start? When did she put on the mask of the perfect young lady?

Part of me thinks it’s fine, but another part of me keeps spewing venom, thinking, “What? She’s gotten stronger,”.

『She’s just curried favor with her tutor.』

『She must be getting special treatment because she’s the daughter of Mother’s friend.』

『She’s from the foremost house of the Four Great Dukes— wouldn’t Father favor her because of that?』

『I can’t stand my own tutor praising her for her good grades.』

『I should be proud as her fiancé.』

『So what am I? Just an accessory to that girl?』

My thoughts churned endlessly.

My initial feelings were wrong. I couldn’t possibly believe that this thought was born of my own arrogance.

『I must be kind to her,』 I thought

From the beginning, Lunaria understood this.

What a marriage between families truly meant.

Since the engagement was proposed by the Royal Family, it was out of the question for the Duke family to refuse, no matter how powerful they were.

Knowing this, she tried to build a good relationship. That was truly commendable. Even though she was young, I felt she was truly a noble among nobles.

However, I’ve never seen Lunaria’s genuine smile. She wouldn’t show it to me.

Even though she played so innocently with the son of the Commander of the Royal Knights.

With a genuine smile that she never shows to me, the one without pretense.

That’s what I wanted to see.

I thought it was a bit of an obsession.

Since they were childhood friends, I didn’t realize that there were things she could show him.

And even though the Royal Family had proposed it, I assumed that Lunaria would be happy about the engagement.

She had the chance to become a Queen.

Every girl dreams of being a princess.

After all, the girl chosen by the prince was overjoyed to become a princess.

It never occurred to me that some girls might not feel that way.

I’m doing my best, but I’m no match for Lunaria.

It was only natural, since in addition to the education she received as a Crown Princess at the Royal Palace, she was also being educated as a Duchess by her mother.

Father had said that if not for the royal engagement, she would undoubtedly be the heir to Solfege.

『It’s suffocating.』

The perfect young lady is sitting next to me, smiling at me, and although I should be happy, I’m not.

I want a marriage like Father and Mother had, where we cherish each other.

It was at that time that I met Manna, the Saintess.

The word “innocent” perfectly describes her, and she perfectly filled the void in my heart that Lunaria could not.

I was happy, I wanted to be praised too. I wanted to be seen for myself, not just as a set with Lunaria.

Falling for her was inevitable. Now I’m scheming to avoid having our engagement broken off on my fault.

Because of her family’s status as the Saintess’ birth family, she could never become the Crown Princess. She could never become the Queen.

At best, she would only ever be a beloved concubine.

But my desire not to lose her was overwhelming.

Hey Lunaria.

You’ll understand, won’t you?

If you were the perfect lady, I believe you’d grant my wish to become “King”.

Even if I understood(knew) how selfish it is, I’m certain Lunaria would consider the kingdom’s affairs, my situation, and even her own.

And above all, I arrogantly assumed that since she never once protested as my fiancée, she must love me at least a little.

Even though she never once told me she loved me

I intended to marry both Manna and Lunaria, cherish them both, and still devote myself fully to the kingdom as its future king.

However, after hearing about Lunaria’s terrible treatment of Manna, Lunaria vanished from my heart.

For now, at least, I’ll let her have sweet dreams as my fiancée.

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