Banished Villainess

121 : Yello Keith Coloflare - My Fiancee's Suspicious Behavior

I am the 2nd prince of the Coloflare Royal Family, Yello Keith Coloflare. Those who are close to me call me Keith. I am three years younger than my older brother, the 1st prince, but because of the different political factions for the succession of the throne, we have been estranged from one another as siblings.

My subordinates are always stirring me up telling me that I’m the superior one, but as I grew up, I came to realize that things were not that simple. Coloflare has two ministers. The one who governs the internal affairs of the kingdom was the minister to the right, from the first prince faction. The minister to the left was the one who governs the country’s diplomacy and those who have connections with the neighboring influential powers, are trying to back me up through him.

Presently, the unifying power of the royal family has dwindled and if left alone, it is likely that the country will become a puppet state in the near future. Flustered, the royal family clung to the kingdom’s state religion, the Sacred Church. In consideration of the increasing density of the miasma in recent years, they aimed to have the designated saintess ward it off as the first prince’s fiancee in order to seize political strength.

As for me, I hated being in the position of being swayed by these surrounding agendas. Although I cannot say that we get along, I love and respect my older brother. The main reason why I am studying was also in order to be able to support his reign, and stealing the throne from him is the last thing I’ll ever do.

Why do we even have to fight for the throne? Why aren’t we allowed to get along as siblings?

Even though his cold glare each time we pass by each other pains me, I still haven’t given up dreaming that one day we will arrive at a future where we can embrace each other as siblings.

I was ten years old when my engagement partner was decided. She was a ducal lady from our neighboring country, the Corundum Kingdom. That was good and all, but I was shocked upon knowing that I will be sent towards their kingdom once my older brother ascends to the throne.

‘Why!? Why can’t be by Brother Leddorio’s side? Why is that!?’

‘Keith, We need you to become the bridge that would strengthen the two kingdom’s alliances.’

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That’s what mother told me, but I knew that no matter whichever of us becomes the crown prince, the kingdom would be in danger as long as the factional dispute splits the aristocrats. As long as I remain in the kingdom, the 2nd prince faction will keep backing me and throw the country in disarray. Despite the minister to the left’s efforts to hold them off, the people close to me are still all whispers, trying to incite me to aim for the throne.

‘They’re making the fool out of highness, don’t they? They want wed you to one of their retainers and not to the Corundum’s royal family… They’re treating us like we’re vassal state.’

‘That’s going too far. I heard that they are also currently under a succession conflict which left the royal family in pieces. Not to mention, they do not have a princess that suits my age either. Besides, House Riqum is also of the royal bloodline.’

The one chosen to become my fiancée was the ducal lady of the House Ricum, a close relative of the royal family. Her mother is the present king’s younger sister making her position suitable to be wed to a foreign kingdom’s royal family. However, the disheartening part is that I will have to pledge allegiance to their royal family upon going there. Even though this development will bring merits to our kingdom, I do not wish to bow my head towards any country other than my kingdom, nor personages other than my older brother.

With such somber feelings, I was to welcome the lady who crossed the national borders for our engagement. Escorted by their crown prince, Prince Safir, as well as the lady’s father, Duke Ricum, Canaria makes her appearance before me.

At first glance, I thought ‘what a beautiful person.’ I already knew how she looked from the portraits, but illustration do not bring justice to her charm. I thought she has the same amber hair comparable to that of a ripened barley as mine, but her dazzling blonde hair was shimmering like gold. Although her eye color was different from her hair, something that is seldom seen in this country, they were like a pair of blue jewels. She truly fitted the image of a princess from the “Kingdom of Jewels.”‘

However, perhaps brought by the anxiety of her first visit to a foreign country, her facial countenance was bad and her eyes swam around. Witnessing her nervousness, which looked more like confusion, I cut my self-introduction short. Telling her that I’ll walk her around, I took the lady to the castle’s courtyard.

”I took you with me of my own accord because you didn’t look so well , but are you alright?’

‘Ah, No… Please do not mind me, sir. I just didn’t expect that I would end up meeting the real deal so…’

‘…Do you perhaps, feel unwilling to this engagement?’

The real deal she says but surely she had been sent reports of my personal history too. It appears that the engagement hasn’t hit the lady all this time but, I wonder if she feels reluctant to marry a foreign prince now.

‘No, Not at all, sir! Being wed to Keit… Prince Yello was my dream, sir.’

‘I-Is that so? Thank you…. I guess?’

Wasn’t she about to call me Keith, earlier? Well, I wouldn’t feel opposed to letting such an adorable fiancée do so, but if that’s truly how she feels, her behavior earlier does not make any sense. As I feel suspicious of the lady, the person herself was mumbling, seemingly trying to make sense of the situation.

‘Huh…? He really is Keith of the “Rainbow Crystal,” isn’t he? He doesn’t have a secret route, nor is he capturable in the fan discs. He was my favourite… What does this mean? So right now the Coloflare Kingdom is…’

‘Uhm, Lady Canaria?’

‘Wha!? Pardon my rudeness, Keit– Prince Yello.’

‘Keith is fine. May I call you Canaria too? Anyway, if you truly do not dislike this engagement, then what are you so anxious about?’

I caressed her hair to reassure the lady but, Canaria seemingly shrank back. It was not due to fear but merely a reflexive reaction towards the person she admires.

‘Did it show on my face, sir?’

‘That’s why I brought you here. If you’re being mindful of the public gaze, we should be able to get to the gazebo after a little walk. We can talk about it there.’

Both my older brother and I are trained in magic due to being blood-related to the House Whitey. Although I’m still 10 years old, considering our current situation, I should start to prioritize learning magic that would be convenient to me. While thinking that, I took Canaria by her hand and led her to the gazebo. It was my first time holding a hand of a lady close to my age, so I checked up on the lady at times and saw her down casted face slightly reddened. The feeling of wanting to protect her within me grew stronger.

However, upon taking a seat on the gazebo’s bench. The words the came out of the lady spoke after a moment of rest was so absurd that it threw all those feelings away.

‘Sir Keith, if I told you that this world is a game…, would you believe me?’