Observation Record of a Self-proclaimed Villainess' Fiance

Chapter 2 : Bertia (9 years old)

I didn't see Lady Bertia again until winter of next year.

We are technically engaged.

I did invite her for tea a number of times in order to get to know each other better, but she was apparently undergoing medical treatment and was thus cooped up in a mansion on the House of Noches' domain.

I did ask her father Marquis Douglas Ibil Noches, who worked at the castle as the prime minister, about his daughter's condition a number of times, but every time I asked he would just paste a smile on an expression that looked like he was sucking a terribly sour lemon and tell me "My daughter is actually afflicted with an incurable disease (called stupidity)."

... There's not much point in him just slightly mouthing the words "called stupidity". I can still understand him perfectly well given that I'm mastered lip reading.

And anyways, if she was really afflicted with an incurable disease it would've been difficult for her to become my fiancée.

Even if I'm just a child, as royalty, I can conclude that much.

Also, since I was a little worried that it was my fault that she was staying cooped up in that mansion ever since our first meeting, I sent an 'envoy' over to her domain to investigate her condition.

The reports that this 'envoy' sends me every-so-often have become my number-one source of entertainment recently.

So I know all about how every day, from morning to night, she runs around outside near the mansion dressed as a young boy, you know?

Would a noble daughter undergoing medical treatment cry "Another two kilometres to go!", drenched in sweat as she runs?

She waited for the day before my eleventh birthday before appearing in front of me.

"It's been a while, Prince Cecil! What, you can't tell who I am? I'm Bertia Ibil Noches. Your fiancée! Did you think I was someone else? You did, right!? What are you doing, Father!?"

"Prince Cecil, I apologize deeply for my idiotic daughter's actions. I will re-educate her."

She and her father, Marquis Noches, had been waiting in a room I often use to meet people in. The moment she saw me, she greeted(?) me with a wide smile.

From a certain point of view it was a cute, childlike reaction, but as a noble daughter and a crown prince's fiancée, I don't think it's acceptable.

Tears form in the corners of her eyes after Marquis Noches knocks her on her head with a fist. I can't help but smile wryly at the sight.

On a side note, Marquis Noches hitting her on the head isn't exactly right either, but I didn't really have the courage as a child to confront him about it what with his crazy-bright smile.

However, it would trouble me if he brought Lady Bertia back home and kept her cooped up again.

She's my source of entertain - fiancée that I've finally seen for the first time in a year, after all.

"No no, please don't worry about it, Marquis Noches. It's rather cute in a childish way, wouldn't you say?"

"Prince Cecil, you're unchildish as usual I see."

"I get that a lot," I say with the most childish smile I can muster. Marquis Noches smiles brightly in response.

Even as Lady Bertia holds her head - as that was where she had been hit - in her hands, she stares at me, blushing.

I'm not really proud of it, but girls often look at me like this.

Though well, my family, my father, and other attendants often say things like "I worry that he'll be a player in the future," or "How sly," or in contrast, "I'm looking forwards to seeing him as king."