The Villainess Who Looks Like a Little Girl Is in the Arms of the Ice Prince (Who Is Sometimes Cute) - Chapter 3

“Hoh? Only four years old, but you’re quite composed for a princess.”

In the throne room, the Emperor of the Barling Empire looked down at me from his elevated seat, a magnificent crown resting upon his silver hair, his cold aqua eyes piercing through me.

Beside him sat the Empress, gazing down at me in the same manner. With her abundant platinum blonde hair, emerald eyes, and well-defined, elegant features, she was an imposing beauty.

Enzo, due to his status, was not permitted to enter the throne room.

Alone, I stole glances at the two of them from under my lashes, maintaining my curtsy as I awaited their next words.

“…At ease.”

Following the command of the man standing to the Emperor’s right, I raised my head and looked straight ahead. The man looking down at me with cold eyes had the same silver hair and aqua eyes as the Emperor, and he wore a silver circlet upon his head.

He must be the Crown Prince. I believe he turned twenty this year.

I bit my lip tightly as the Emperor glanced sideways at the man and spoke.

“Princess Rianne, you have come a long way. This is the Crown Prince, your future fiancé.”

Urged by His Majesty, the man took a step forward and met my eyes.

“I am Folkhardt Barling.”

“I am Rianne Chevran.”

I gave him a slight curtsy, bending my knees, and he returned the gesture with a slight bow, hand over his chest. Internally, I felt relieved that he didn’t seem inclined to treat me dismissively. Even though I was a princess, I had prepared myself for the possibility of being ignored, given that I was just a young girl.

“…Your Majesty. The long journey must have been harsh for a young girl. It would be a great loss if she were to fall ill and die. May I take my leave to escort her out now?”

“Very well. I leave the rest to you.”

“Yes.”

“Rianne, make yourself at home in our country.”

“I humbly accept your kindness.”

I couldn’t help but think, What a way to put it! but I was grateful for his consideration.

Having only exchanged names, I left the throne room.

Out in the hallway, my attendant Enzo was waiting for me with a worried expression. Seeing his slender eyes with their downturned corners, I let out a sigh of relief.

Surprisingly, Prince Folkhardt himself seemed to be leading the way to guide me to my room. As we walked at a leisurely pace on the red carpet, the Prince suddenly stopped.

Tilting my head in curiosity, I saw his hand hovering in the air. Since his wrist was right at my eye level, I noticed even the slightest movement.

(Could it be?)

“Your Highness, might you escort me?”

“Tch. Ah, yes.”

Timidly, I gently placed my hand on his offered fingertips. He muttered with a deeply furrowed brow.

“You’re small.”

On my part, I thought, Well, obviously.

“I’m only four years old.”

“R-right. We have quite a walk from here. Will you be all right?”

I was confident in my stamina, but with this difference in stride, I’d likely have to take many more steps than the actual distance required.

“Might I be permitted to be carried?”

“Carried by your attendant?”

As Prince Folkhardt tilted his head in confusion, I thought it would be quicker to show him.

“En.”

“Yes.”

“Pick me up.”

“At once!”

I temporarily released the Prince’s hand and raised both my arms high. Enzo, with practiced ease, placed his hands under my armpits and lifted me from the front. Then, he settled me onto his left arm so I faced forward. He kept his right hand free as a precaution, so he could draw his sword if an unexpected situation arose.

I’d rather not imagine Enzo fighting while running in this position, though.

Prince Folkhardt had earlier offered his left hand for the escort. Meaning his dominant hand was probably also his right. With this, we can’t hold hands, I hesitated, but then Enzo shifted me to his right arm.

“En?”

It’s fine now, Enzo whispered near my ear. I nodded slightly and offered my right hand to the Prince.

“Your Highness. I apologize for reaching up.”

“…? Ah.”

Now that my eye level was higher, I could look directly into his aqua eyes. They were like clear springs, aquamarine, and I found myself captivated.

“My, how beautiful.”

(Ah! What am I doing? I need to act more like a young girl.)

“Beautiful?”

“Um… Your Highness’s eyes.”

Enzo made a choked sound, as if stifling a laugh, so I pinched the skin on his neck quite firmly with my left hand. (He might say it’s cruel, but he brought it on himself.)

However, the Prince abruptly turned on his heel.

“I’ll guide you to the detached palace. Follow me as you are.”

Naturally, the Prince didn’t take my hand, and I watched as he strode off briskly. Left with my hand hanging in the air, I had no choice but to grab Enzo’s collar instead.

“I wonder if I upset him.”

Enzo lightly shifted me to his left arm and, as he stepped forward, whispered again.

“Maybe he’s just embarrassed?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

While I tried to memorize the route from the throne room to the detached palace by looking around at the splendid stone decorations, the paintings and artworks hanging on the walls, and the large windows. Enzo’s smile never faded.

“…Are you finding this amusing? You’re not holding back information about the Prince, are you?”

“A four-year-old saying ‘holding back’ is no good, you know?”

“You’re dodging the question!”

I puffed out my cheeks in a pout, just as Prince Folkhardt happened to glance back at us.

“Ahem. We’ve arrived.”

“Y-yes.”

Enzo set me down on the floor, so I straightened the hem of my dress and stood beside the Prince.

“This is your room, Rianne.”

Hearing my name called again made me feel somewhat sad. It really hit me that Yuliana was gone.

“…Your Highness.”

“What is it?”

“I’d like you to call me Ria.”

“…Ria. Then, you may call me Hal.”

“Yes. Lord Hal.”

“…Ahem, ahem. Yeah.”

I was glad, since ‘Folkhardt’ is hard to say.

“If you need anything, tell the maid assigned to your room.”

“I humbly accept your kindness.”

Even though I’d mustered my best curtsy, he left again without even facing me, walking off briskly.

“Ehh… Isn’t he a bit too cold?”

As I stared blankly at his retreating back down the hallway, the maid who had been waiting inside the room bowed deeply.

“Your Highness, may I offer my greetings?”

Urged by Enzo, I nodded. The maid, who appeared to be in her mid-twenties with red hair and prominent freckles, raised her head.

“Princess Rianne. I am Magot, the maid assigned to your room.”

“Magot.”

“Yes!”

“I’m not very familiar with things in this empire.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

“Please teach me various things.”

“Gladly!”

Enzo, who had muttered Is this a tavern?, cleared his throat, straightened his posture, and announced clearly:

“Magot Bashlé, daughter of Viscount Bashlé. She comes from nobility of the Forest Kingdom, which was annexed by the Empire fifteen years ago, placing her far from the Empire’s central power. She was assigned to the Imperial Castle two years ago and is well-trained. A good choice, I’d say.”

Magot blinked her brown eyes rapidly and let out an admiring gasp.

“Whoaaaa! Amazing!”

“…Correction. There might be an issue with her decorum.”

“Ugh. I’m sorry. I’m a bit of a dropout maid.”

Even though I’m only four, for a neighboring kingdom’s princess and the Crown Prince’s fiancée, she might indeed be lacking in capability, but for now, that suited me just fine.

I didn’t sense any malice from her. That was the most important point, and it seemed okay.

“Please call me Ria.”

“Eek! That would be far too presumptuous!”

“It’s fine. I want us to get along quickly.”

“Then, Lady Ria! You must be tired! Please relax here!”

“Thank you.”

The prepared room was likely intended for a young girl. I noticed fabrics dominated by white and pink frilly decorations, low chests, and a showy vase.

To be honest, it wasn’t to my taste, and I planned to change it gradually, but I was grateful for the consideration behind its preparation.

“I thought I might be treated more coldly.”

“Cold treatment! You know such difficult words!”

Being stared at with Magot’s sparkling eyes made me incredibly uncomfortable.

As I made a slightly awkward face, she started talking on her own.

“Prince Folkhardt is an extremely capable person, but all the young ladies who were candidates to be his fiancée ended up declining! I think he must be very pleased that you’ve come, Lady Ria!”

—Well, if he’s that unsociable and scary-looking, it’s no wonder they’d decline, even if he is the Crown Prince, I was thinking, when Enzo cut right to the chase.

“It’s strange that you don’t hold a grudge against the Empire, considering your country was annexed.”

Watching nervously, I saw Magot laugh cheerfully.

“Ah~ well, our country was on the verge of collapse. The Empire’s protection saved us.”

(Huh!?)

That was an unexpected assessment. I’d thought the Emperor had forcibly annexed countries through harsh measures.

“His appearance is scary, as you saw. But the Emperor is strong and gets things done—that’s the feeling! He took down the entire corrupt clan that was ruining our country. We’re grateful!”

“…I see.”

(This is quite different from what I’d heard!?)