I’m Back in the Other World? Chapter 46

Chapter 46 – Fiancée Candidate (highlight)

Being alone, I take a look at the hall once again.

There are many cl.u.s.ters of people here and there.

Over there are the young women, on the other side are the slightly aged women, over here are the men you could call old aged, each having a pleasant chat.

Sometimes, I feel glances in my direction, but I’m sure they’re just curious.

Ah, the Prince is with that group of young men.

Several men are pointing in my direction, then slapping the Prince’s back. Doesn’t that seem quite painful?

It appears many people are s.h.i.+fting around to greet the King and Queen.

「Umm, ojou-san?」

When I turned towards the voice I heard close by, a young, most likely still halfway through his teens, boy, that might as well be called a young man, was standing there with a flushed face.

「If it’s alright with you, would you dance one song with me?」

Ha? What could this person be talking about?

No, I know the gentleman wants to request to dance with the lady in this situation…

However, please think about it.

That young man is a human of this world with a tall stature. I believe he’s surely taller than average. Because from what it feels like from observing, my neck would be even more tired than with Prince Sedrim1.

No matter how I think about it, we physically don’t match. It’s impossible.

「I’m sorry, I cannot dance, so…」

No, I can dance you know? Since I’ve had ballroom dancing lessons in j.a.pan.

But I can’t dance with that physique difference.2!

「Well then, at least your name…」

Is this a pick-up?

Rather, what do you plan to do once you have my name?

Hey, don’t those onee-samas over there look more tasty?

As for me, I’ve never been picked up before.

But I’ve been confessed to you know? In primary school though…

In other words, I have no experience in these sorts of things.

As I was thinking of a way to reject him, help came from a place I least expected.

「Fu, don’t you hate that. You’ll be hated by women if you ask like that you know?」3

「Y-Your Highness Crown Prince Edwill!」

The troublesome prince had appeared.

「Besides, this child is the child Sedrim brought along you know? Wouldn’t it be wise if you run away before he notices?」

When that young playboy heard those words, he alternately looked at Prince Edwill and me, left the words「p-please excuse me.」and went away.

「I was in a bit of a predicament. Thank you very much for helping me.」

I thank Prince Edwill for the time being.

「Fu, don’t worry about alright. If you really want to, then please make me a meal as grat.i.tude.」

Did you turn up because you were lured by food…? (note: the word food here means bait or food for animals)

Well, since it’s a fact I was saved… Next time I make something, I wonder if it’s alright to entrust some to the Prince?

「However, your impression has completely changed na. At first, I didn’t realize who you were you know? And, where’s Sedrim? What is he doing leaving this princess by herself.」

「Prince Sedrim had to do some greetings, so he’s by that group over there at the moment.」

「What is that guy doing…」

Prince Edwill irritatingly looks in the Prince’s direction.

「Shall I stay here until Prince Sedrim returns?」

Eh? What kind of rare sight is this?4

For that troublesome ‘ore-sama’ prince to take others into consideration!

「N-No, it’s alright you know. I’m sure Prince Edwill is occupied as well. Besides, other than being whimsically called out, there’s isn’t anything else.」

I’m grateful for the offer but, the other party is a prince. I’m sure he’s still left with round of greetings to do.

「Whimsically, huh. I’ll be good if that’s the case but… Well then, I’ll be going but, be careful okay?」

What would I need to be careful about…?

Bidding farewell to Prince Edwill, I checked on Prince Sedrim’s location, but it seems he wasn’t by the previous group. When I tried searching, he was surrounded by a group of elderly men this time. Ah, that count-san from a short while ago was there as well.

In the same way as the previous group, it seems he’s is being slapped on the back with a bas.h.i.+bas.h.i.+ sound.

This seems, it’ll take some time as well ne.

Since I’m getting hungry, shall I get something to eat?

As I walked to the table while thinking that, this time, a woman’s voice called out to me to stop.

「Wait, you over there.」

Although I heard someone’s voice, since I don’t have any acquaintances here, I wouldn’t know why I would be called to stop.

Leaving that aside, it’s meal time.

「Wait a moment! It’s you wa! Right, small like a child!」

Mu, I have a feeling I was challenged.

I slowly turn my body towards the voice’s location.

A red haired woman was there. Five other women was behind that woman.

It seems I was stopped by that red haired woman.

「Do you have any business with me?」

As I looked up at the red haired woman, she approached.

Please don’t get too close. My neck will get tired.

「Business? Right, it’s business wa. You’re the person from the recent rumors right?」

Like I’ve said, even though everyone’s saying ‘rumor’, what is it?

The red haired woman scrutinisingly stares at me.

「Hmph, since I’ve heard you came here with His Highness Prince Sedrim, I was imagining what sort of woman it was… Although your face doesn’t seem to be bad, you have a shabby body. You’re not even a child.5」

Saying that, the red haired woman taps the folding fan she’s carrying on her mouth and laughs.

And as if they’re matching, the women behind her laughs as well.

Are they, lackeys?

「Let me teach you something good wa. I am Elina Isa Hertsmere. One of the duke’s household wa. And, I am also His Highness Prince Sedrim’s fiancée candidate. A shabby looking girl like you, how could you even a match wa?」

Hertsmere, it’s the same name as that chubby old man from the beginning ne. So that’s the daughter?

And also, one of the Prince’s fiancée candidates.

When I look at it, the red hair suits her strong-willed face.

And that dress’ design highlights her bodyline.

I can easily see with a single glance with that dress. F…… no, could it be a G?

And that unbelievably narrow waist. Even though it’s probably been fastened by a corset…

And that big b.u.t.t.

This is… the type of body the Prince likes ne.

Is it okay if I pluck some off? Like the chest or the chest.

Well then, this quarrel I’m in right now… is the Prince’s fault right?

It appears this Elina woman feels kindly towards the Prince.

And so, she called out to me who appeared as his partner out of nowhere today.

「If you understand your social position, then back off.」6

Click, it released.

What do you mean by back off? In the first place, wasn’t it the Prince who came over to eat without permission? Today’s matter as well, even though I only came because it couldn’t be helped since the Prince earnestly requested…!

「I don’t clearly understand the meaning of your words. I have no intention of doing anything with the Prince, the Prince simply decided on his own to come to my house. ‘Don’t get close’, if you want to talk about that, then please tell that to the Prince first.7」

Well, because if you don’t do that, I’m sure he’ll continue to come to my place.

「Wha! This, don’t get carried away because I took a modest approach! The likes of you lowly commoners, I can do whatever I want to you if I feel like it!8」

When did you take a modest approach?

I only have memories of your condescending att.i.tude though…

At the same time as those words, the female lackeys spread out and surrounded me.

With that, I completely hidden from the outside.

「Ara, I wonder what you’re doing? I’d like you to inform me by all means wa.」

Audible from the other side of the encirclement was a voice I recognized.

But shouldn’t she not be here…?

「Nee, would you kindly inform me?」

「Your Highness Princess Aria…」

Her true ident.i.ty was spilled out from one of the female lackeys.

Why is Princess Aria here? Didn’t she need to go to an inspection…?

The reason why I’m here today should’ve been to subst.i.tute for Princess Aria.

If so, why would Princess Aria be here?

「Good grief, how shameful to gang up wa. The matter is Sedrim nii-sama had selected her. And our entire family has accepted it wa. Your complaints are being misdirected wa.」

「H-However, I am! His Highness’ fiancée candidate…!」

「What’s this about me?」

「「「Your Highness Prince Sedrim!」」」 「Sedrim nii-sama!」

「What’s happening? What is this about? Eriina-jou, could I receive an explanation?」

Excuse me, I have no idea what’s happening at all.

After all, I can only hear voices.

For now, what I understand is Princess Aria, who shouldn’t be here, is here, and when she was arguing with that Elina woman, the Prince came, is what seems to have happened.

「I-I, couldn’t allow an unknown commoner to get close to Your Highness! I was thinking of Your Highness’ sake…!」

「For my sake? That’s for myself to decide. Not you.」

「Onii-sama, she, was going to use her family’s power to do something you know.」

Uwa, Princess Aria, do you have to say that right now?

「Is that true? To use the power for the people for personal interest… the Duke’s household sure has fallen. Leave. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear this conversation.」

From those words, Elina-jou + the female lackeys left with a patapata noise.

So the Prince who I’d thought was a good-for-nothing knew how to perform when it’s time to perform ne.9

「Sakura, I’m sorry. For something like this to happen…」

The Prince approached and fell on his knees, then placed his hand against my cheek.

Wait, what is this? Uwa, close!

「I-It’s alright! Since Princess Aria had came to help! Ah, leaving that aside! Why is Princess Aria here? Shouldn’t she have went to an inspection? You said before, ‘since Princess Aria won’t be here’ right!?」

Right, if Princess Aria is here, then I don’t have a reason to be here.

The hand which was brus.h.i.+ng my cheek came to a halt.

「Ah, umm… Ahahaha… onii-sama, I’ll leave the remainder to you wa.」

「Wai-, oi, Aria!」

As Princess Aria quickly left with her fluttering dress, the Prince’s figure was left behind.

「The reason, you’ll be able to tell me it right?」

I intentionally question him with a deep tone.

「C-Calm down, that’s right, something to drink! I’ll go fetch something!」

I won’t let you escape either you know?

「If it’s drinks, isn’t there’s some even if you don’t go fetch it?」

I called the waiter who happened to pa.s.s by with good timing, and picked up a gla.s.s.

「Ah, Sakura, that’s…!」

I drank the contents of the gla.s.s in one go, then returned the empty gla.s.s to the waiter.

I then turn my face towards the Prince.

「Now, Prince. Your, explanation…?」

Before I knew it, the things before my eyes suddenly shook, and my consciousness broke off just like that.

kyuu~.