Chapter 91: Mine

Clink!

The sound of breaking plates echoed from outside. In this supposedly soundproof room, hearing any noise was unusual, so both the Princess and I turned our eyes toward the sound.

Looking back, I noticed that a door hadn’t been properly closed—a gap remained as the Princess came and went.

“Who is it?” she asked.

After her inquiry, the maid outside cautiously opened the door with trembling hands and stepped inside. She paused, as if unwilling to accept that what she had heard was real.

“…Your Majesty the Princess? Did I just hear that wrong?” the maid stammered.

The Princess simply replied, “Oh.”

After studying the maid’s face, she smiled and then glanced back at me. 

I felt absurd and glared at her, muttering, “What are you doing? Why aren’t you giving an explanation?” 

Yet she only smiled and offered no further clarification, until the clearly confused maid left the room.

***

Fortunately, the rumor that the Princess and Ian were involved did not spread. 

In the Imperial Castle, such scandal—especially with his status already revealed—would have immediately drawn suspicion upon the maid. Speaking ill of the Princess was a grave offense against the imperial family, one that could have led to the ruin of the maid and her entire family.

Because of this, no false accusation was made. However, Ian was growing increasingly weary of the Princess, who flirted with him every day.

“I came to see you today,” declared Ivenoah as she knocked on Ian’s door.

Noah, who had been flirting with Ian, frowned as she glanced toward the door.

“I’m here again,” she said.

Noah did not care much for the Princess—mainly due to the fact that Ian was clearly annoyed with the woman, whose beauty could captivate anyone. 

Still, they couldn’t refuse a visit from the imperial household, essentially the Princess’s domain. 

As Ian approached and opened the door, Ivenoah, already inside, rushed over to greet Noah.

“Miss Noah!” Ivenoah called out, her footsteps echoing as she hurried over. She immediately embraced Noah and affectionately rubbed her cheeks. Though they shared similar names, Ivenoah’s fondness for Noah was unmistakable—as if she were her little sister.

“Wah, Princess… let me go…”

“Didn’t I tell you to call me sister?”

“… Uh, sister.”

“Hey!” Ivenoah exclaimed, clearly feeling happy about the matter. 

Ian, watching the scene, frowned, “What did you come here for?”

“Oh my gosh, I forgot—Father is calling you both,” Ivenoah replied.

“His Majesty the Emperor?”

“Yes. You are invited to dinner.”

None could refuse the Emperor’s summons. And it was also a welcome chance to escape this oppressive situation. 

On the way to the meeting, Ivenoah groaned—as if recalling something she had forgotten.

“Oh, even my brother will be present there.”

“… Brother?”

“Yes,” she confirmed again.

When the Princess arrived at the dining hall, the servants promptly opened the door. 

At the same moment, a palpable hostility emanated from within. 

Ian was met with an almost tangible, aggressive energy, leaving him to wonder why such animosity was directed his way.

There had been no public rumor linking the Princess and Ian; yet it was inevitable that word would eventually reach the Emperor.

The Princess, Ivenoah, had long been favored by the Emperor and the Prince. 

To them, Ian was nothing more than a thief who had stolen their daughter and younger sister—overnight.

***

A rattling sound filled the dining room. Even as the royal family dined, the orchestra played continuously to keep the atmosphere lively. 

Despite the overly luxurious feast, Ian was so overwhelmed by the pressure that he wasn’t sure whether the rice was going into his mouth or his nose.

‘Wha… what’s with this situation?’ he thought.

It seemed the tension surrounding the table was infecting everyone; slowly, Ian began to feel feverish. 

At that moment, the Prince set down his knife and looked up at him.

“I’ve heard a lot of rumors about you.”

“… Yes, thank you,” Ian replied.

“Do you know what the rumor is?”

“I haven’t done anything worthy of honor, so I’m not concerned with rumors.”

“Right. The rumors I’ve heard are that you have at least four lovers and change women every day.”

At this, Ian was at a loss for words and remained silent. Clearly, the intention behind these remarks was to warn him not to covet Ivenoah—a warning he had never needed to heed.

“That is nonsense. Which woman would show interest in a poor baron’s son?”

“Hey, can you tell me what you did with Ivenoah a few days ago?”

“Nothing happened.”

“Then why did I hear that you have taken Ivenoah’s first?”

“Brother! That…!”

“Quiet,” the Prince snapped, forcibly silencing Ivenoah. The conversation dissolved; it was impossible to have a proper discussion with someone so abruptly shut down.

Taking advantage of the lull, another spoke up. 

“Prince, I have something to tell you.”

“What? If it’s an excuse—”

“To be honest, I don’t like the Princess.”

“… What?”

At these words, all eyes turned to Ian. How could he possibly dislike the Princess—a woman admired as the empire’s most exquisite flower? It was unfathomable, and the remark felt like an insult to the Prince who adored his little sister.

“What nonsense!” the Prince exclaimed.

“It is true: Her Majesty the Princess is beautiful, but… somehow, it just doesn’t pique my fancy.”

“Look again! Just as flowers become more beautiful the longer you admire them, you discover a new beauty every time you gaze upon my sister’s face!”

Hearing this, Ian regarded the Princess with a newfound understanding. Admiringly, he admitted, “Exactly… when I look closely, she truly is beautiful.”

“Right? So, will you fall for her now?”

“Yes. If I had the chance to see the Princess like this, I would have fallen in love immediately.”

“… You’re using the same argument again,” the Prince remarked, clearly discerning Ian’s inner feelings. 

With that one comment, all doubts about him were dispelled. 

A scandal with the Princess? Ian had never truly taken a good look at her face—how could such a thing be possible?

Meanwhile, the Emperor, having listened to the exchange, grinned in amusement as he turned his gaze to Ivenoah.

“Ivenoah?”

“Yes, Father.”

“What do you think?”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you like Marquis Clark?”

“Yes, I do. Personally, I’m quite fond of him.”

At this clear response from Ivenoah, the Emperor shifted his attention to Ian.

“Marquis Clark?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Do you remember what I said before?”

“What you said before…?”

“My suggestion to betroth you and the Princess.”

For a moment, Ian frantically searched his memory, but he could not recall ever saying such a thing. Yet, facing the Emperor’s dignified expression, he dared not contradict him and simply nodded.

“You now confess that you like the Princess, and that she likes you too. Why don’t we make your engagement official?”

At these words, Ian looked at the Emperor in surprise. 

The Emperor smiled brightly, as if his earlier pressure had been nothing at all. 

Observing that the Prince’s face remained tense, Ian suspected it was the Emperor’s firm resolve at work.

It didn’t matter in the end.

‘This crazy Emperor…’ Ian thought bitterly as he realized that he was being maneuvered by both the Emperor and the Prince. Whether he wanted it or not, he was being pulled along.

Ian could understand why the Emperor wished to link him with the Princess. After all, the Duke of Eritz did the same, but…

People in this world believed that superior summoners were born to excellent summoners—and that excellence bred excellence. But for Ian, the summoning system had always been utterly unlucky. Nonetheless, since others accepted this notion through inductive reasoning, pursuing the connection seemed natural.

“No…” Ian murmured.

“Wah, His Majesty the Emperor!” someone interjected just as Ian was about to refuse.

Before he could voice his dissent, Noah—quietly eating—shouted and called out to the Emperor. 

The Emperor looked at Noah, slightly startled by her assertive interjection.

“Hey, Ian can’t get engaged… No, no!”

“… Countess, why?”

After a brief hesitation, Noah gathered her courage and declared, “Ian is mine!”

---

Check out my other projects: Roughly an Isekai Hypnosis Story (er0-novel)

Rehabilitating the Villainess (complete)

Pushover Extra Trains the Villainesses (complete) 

Transmigrated as the Villainess’s Childhood Friend

I Picked Up an Amnesiac Witch, 

My Wife is the Devil (recommended) 

Transmigrated as the Butler of a Defeated Heroine