My Life Was Taken by My Charm-Wielding Sister—But It Ends Here (The Mind-Reading Noble Lady’s Journey to Happiness After Escaping Her Toxic Family) - Episode 51

“That day…”

Repeating Varick’s words, Otilie gently lowered her gaze.

Which day, which conversation he meant—she understood immediately without needing an explanation. It was the night when matters at the temple had been settled.

‘Otilie, I want you to stay by my side forever.’

That’s what Varick had said then. ‘Once more, this time I’ll create a situation where Otilie can’t possibly misunderstand, and tell you properly.’

“Otilie, I love you.”

Varick spoke. Her heart leaped especially high, and tears nearly spilled from her eyes.

“Lord Varick, that is…”

“Not as my aide. I think of you as special, as a woman. I love Otilie. More than anyone else in this world… I’ve loved you for a long, long time.”

His cheeks were dyed crimson, his eyes slightly misty. From his words, from his expression, Varick’s feelings came through so intensely it hurt, and Otilie pressed a hand tightly to her chest.

“But, I’m the crown prince. I can’t choose my partner based on emotion alone. I’ve been raised hearing that since childhood, and I believed it myself. That I must welcome a wonderful woman everyone can accept as my princess… That’s why today, I faced it properly.”

Saying this, Varick looked at Otilie.

“I looked properly to see if there were any other women suitable to be princess, and thought about it. But the more I faced it, the more I thought, the more I realized there’s only Otilie for me. I think… that Otilie is more suited to be princess than anyone else.”

“Th-that’s… I’m not…”

“You’re cute and kind, sincere and fair. You seem gentle, but actually have incredible guts. At first, I just thought ‘I want to protect you,’ but before I knew it, I was the one being protected so much. Both during our walks in the royal capital, and with the temple matter.”

He came before Otilie, knelt down, and took her hands. Otilie’s heart pounded loudly.

“The tea party earlier was like that too. Because you spoke to the other girls and made them enjoy themselves—thanks to that, we managed not to disappoint the invited guests. How many times have I been saved by your warm consideration until now?”

“That’s because I have the ability to read minds. Because I understand, I just think ‘I have to do something.'”

“That’s right. But don’t you think how you use a given ability depends on the person? Otilie is a wonderful woman.”

At Varick’s words, Otilie hung her head. She wasn’t strong enough to affirm “You’re right.” She couldn’t have that kind of confidence. Not knowing how to reply, Otilie agonized over it.

“Mother agrees with me too. She praised you unreservedly—both your careful and earnest work ethic and your feminine consideration are wonderful. She said she could entrust the princess role to you, that you would be good. She said she would respect my opinion, my feelings.”

As he explained, Varick peered into Otilie’s face. Urged, Otilie slowly raised her face. Varick took a deep breath, then stared intently at Otilie.

“So, please allow me to ask you. Won’t you become my wife?”

The wind rustled. Her heart and body grew hot under Varick’s passionate gaze.

She had been proposed to as directly and clearly as possible. There was no room for misunderstanding. Even without hearing his inner voice, Varick’s feelings were obvious.

(Me… what should I do?)

Normally, it would be difficult to refuse a proposal from royalty… especially from the crown prince. But currently, she couldn’t accept Varick’s feelings, nor was she prepared to become princess. Besides, since it wasn’t an order, the option to ‘refuse’ shouldn’t be zero.

“…You don’t need to reply immediately. I want you to think it over properly and come up with your own answer.”

Perhaps sensing Otilie’s confusion, Varick said this with a gentle smile. Was this alright? …Even thinking that, she couldn’t seem to reach a conclusion right away.

“…Yes.”

Replying “Thank you,” the day’s tea party finally came to a close this time.

The next day, Otilie headed to the office feeling somewhat awkward.

(I barely slept at all…)

Thinking about Varick’s, about the proposal—she couldn’t sleep a wink. Although he said yesterday ‘no need to rush your reply,’ how much time did she really have? As the crown prince’s aide, his princess selection was also one of Otilie’s duties. If Otilie refused the proposal—she had to consider even that and act accordingly.

With a sigh, she entered the office.

Varick wasn’t in the room yet. However, the other aides had come to work unusually early, and upon seeing her, they smiled broadly and said, “Good morning!”

[Otilie-san probably hasn’t given her reply yet. I wonder what kind of answer she plans to give?]

[I’m curious… too curious, I won’t be able to work today.]

[If Otilie-san becomes princess, she’ll have to scale back her work as an aide, I suppose. The princess has her own official duties.]

The inner voices reached her immediately. Otilie’s eyes widened in surprise, and she pouted her lips in irritation.

“Everyone… you know I can ‘hear’ you, right? If you’re going to ask, you might as well say it out loud.”

It was annoying to be asked deliberately in their minds. At Otilie’s reaction, the aides gave wry smiles.

“Sorry, sorry. The content being what it is, it felt awkward to ask directly. We ended up thinking all sorts of things in our hearts… you know.”

Saying this, the aides didn’t seem particularly apologetic. Otilie let out a small sigh.

“More importantly, how do you know about it?”

She felt hesitant to clearly say she had received a proposal. Blushing, Otilie glanced at the aides.

“Well, if you watched, Lord Varick’s feelings were obvious.”

“When the tea party came up and he sent Otilie-san to Her Highness the Queen, I thought ‘Ah, so in Lord Varick’s mind, the princess decision is settled on Otilie-san.’ Giving you a tea party dress, writing your invitation himself… it was endearing, wasn’t it?”

“We were being quite careful so that Lord Varick’s feelings and proposal wouldn’t be revealed to Otilie-san through our inner voices, you know?”

At the aides’ words, Otilie’s cheeks turned even redder.

“So? Have you decided on your reply?”

Airny asked. Otilie hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. “No.”

“Why is that?”

“Why, you ask…”

Just as Otilie was about to answer, Varick arrived at the office.

“Good morning, everyone.”

“Good morning, Lord Varick.”

The usual morning greetings. Bowing her head along with the other aides, Otilie glanced briefly at Varick. Then, just as he seemed to turn this way, their eyes met, and Otilie’s heart skipped a beat.

[Good morning, Otilie]

A warm, gentle voice full of affection. That alone made Otilie feel like crying.

(Me… what should I do?)

She didn’t understand her own feelings. Staring at Varick’s smiling face, Otilie clenched her fists tightly.