I Don’t Need Them Anymore — Abandoning the Family That Never Loved Me, I Find Happiness in a Neighboring Kingdom - Chapter 13

“Was the rumor about the Monster Prince a lie?”

My sister, having regained her composure, shouted at Lady Edith, who nodded with a smile still on her face.

“That’s correct. I was wearing a hood to hide my ugly appearance.”

“Ugly? How could you say that…! I think you’re absolutely wonderful!”

“Thank you.”

After expressing her gratitude, Lady Edith turned to face me.

“Are you ready now?”

“Ah, yes. There’s just one thing I’d like to ask my brother.”

“Dahlia! Come here!”

Perhaps thinking I was going to tattle to my brother, Father called me with an angry expression.

There were times when I’d been hit if I resisted. That fear resurfaced, and I found myself unable to defy Father. As I approached cautiously, for some reason Father suddenly looked flustered.

“I-I only called for Dahlia, Your Highness Edith, you don’t need to.”

“I just spoke with Dahlia, and I genuinely want to protect her. Therefore, I wish to stay by her side as much as possible.”

Though Lady Edith said this without any sign of embarrassment, my heartbeat accelerated incredibly fast.

Loin had also said he would protect me, but that only made me happy without making my heart race like this.

Even though I knew it was just a kind lie he told because my sisters were present, I was so happy I felt tears welling up.

“Hmm? Your eyes are teary. Did I say something unpleasant? If so, I apologize.”

“Please don’t apologize. These are tears of happiness.”

“I see. If they’re tears of happiness, then that’s fine.”

Lady Edith peered into my face and gave a gentle smile. The fear I’d felt earlier vanished as if it had never existed, and I turned to face Father to ask my question.

“Did you need something from me?”

“N-need something, well, you know what I mean, don’t you?”

“What would that be?”

“It’s about not saying unnecessary things to Rix.”

“What about me, Father?”

It seemed he intended to threaten me, but now that his name had been mentioned, there was no way Brother would remain silent. When Brother stood beside me, Father fell silent.

“Rix, you knew about Lady Edith! Why didn’t you deny the rumors!”

“Mother and the others are people who judge others they’ve never met based on rumors alone. There would be no point in me telling them anything. Seeing the real thing is best.”

Brother sharply rebuffed Mother, who was trying to blame him.

Amazing. I wanted to be able to speak to Mother like that too. No. I will become stronger from now on. I’ve come to understand my own weakness. All that’s left is to not retreat where I shouldn’t.

After taking a deep breath, I spoke to Mother.

“Mother, as of today I will disappear from before your eyes, so you can rest easy.”

“W-what are you saying!”

Perhaps because Lady Edith was present, Mother made a flustered expression and tried to reach for me.

“Wait, wait, wait!”

It was my sister who stopped Mother’s movement. My sister seemed completely distraught, holding her head as she appealed to Lady Edith.

“This is unbelievable! Why didn’t you try to correct the rumors when people were calling you the Monster Prince!”

“I must say this myself, but since childhood I’ve had rather striking features. There was considerable risk of kidnapping. Therefore, my parents refused to let my face be seen by more people than necessary. The rumors just spread in an exaggerated, amusing way among the citizens.”

“Isn’t that disrespectful!”

“Unless said in front of the person involved or their relatives, as you’re doing now, it’s not punishable.”

Perhaps uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation, my sister changed the subject.

“But there’s no point in maintaining such lies! Eventually, when you become king, you’ll have to appear before everyone!”

“By that time I’ll be an adult, so I’ll have the awareness that I must protect myself.”

Lady Edith answered with a constant smile, but suddenly her expression turned serious.

“Princess Ramula, you’ve suffered an unfortunate incident and must still be hurting. Since you didn’t seem to want to marry me, I thought it might ease your feelings somewhat if I married Dahlia instead.”

He was indirectly saying that since she didn’t have to marry him, my sister should be happy.

From Lady Edith’s perspective, knowing the circumstances, it was quite sarcastic, but my sister didn’t know about that and looked like she was about to cry.

Lady Edith turned to face me and gently took my hand.

“Dahlia, thank you for becoming my fiancée. I will definitely make you happy.”

“Th-thank you! I’ll also work hard to make Lady Edith happy!”

“Thank you. Just that sentiment alone makes me happy.”

Lady Edith’s face was too beautiful to look at directly. I wonder if my eyes will eventually get used to it.

“That’s… that’s impossible! But he’s my destined person!”

My sister began to panic and started saying incomprehensible things.

“Um, Your Highness Edith! Look at me! Please look at me! You should realize that I’m your destined partner!”

My sister tried to cling to His Highness Edith, but his guard soldiers blocked her, preventing her from getting close.

Looking at my sister in such a state, Brother spoke to her with a pitying expression.

“Sister, it’s established that those who become brides of the Rofeus Kingdom royal family must be pure.”

“I’m a poor victim who was assaulted!”

“That’s true.”

Brother nodded, then whispered to my sister.

“Currently, the Rofeus Kingdom side has located the pirates who allegedly assaulted you and are interrogating them. From what I heard from Lady Edith, the pirates who claimed to have assaulted you seem to have changed their testimony, saying they were told to lie about having assaulted you.”

Whether they overheard the conversation or not, I could see not just my sister’s face, but our parents’ faces as well, draining of color.