I Favor The Villainess Chapter 14

The Second Prince, Sein Bauer.
He's a troublesome man, much like the master I love, Claire-sama.
His appearance isn't particularly bad, but for some reason he gives off a shady impression.
Although shady handsome men are usually popular, in Sein-sama's case, his troublesome manner gave him many evaluations, such as "gloomy" or "asocial"

Ever since the test, Sein-sama's been avoiding me, but just because I'm Claire-sama's maid doesn't mean there's no opportunity to get in touch with him.
Claire-sama somehow managed to keep interacting with him.
For example, sitting next to him during a lecture, approaching him during the afternoon socializing, or bringing up eating the same menu in the dining hall.
Well, she's really courageous.

However, because Claire-sama is also excellent, she's a companion he's poor with, so all her attempts end in failure.
He's really a hopeless prince.

Be that as it may, he cannot avoid Claire-sama forever.
My intention is to admire Claire-sama while at the same time also making her happy.
I want to a.s.sist Claire-sama's love in one way or another.
I think there's a good chance,

"Ara? What is this sound?"
"I can hear something"

Claire-sama and Lene seem to be hearing something.
I also strained my ears.

"Ah…"

It's a chance.
This is an event with Sein-sama from the game.
Sein-sama's hobby is playing harp, at one point there's an event where the protagonist accidentally hears it.
Sein-sama is no match for other princes in almost all aspects, but only when it comes to playing harp he's outstanding.
His skills surpa.s.s leading active professionals.
The protagonist, enamored by the timbre praised him frankly, but Sein-sama didn't accept her admiration, that's the outline of the event.

"Claire-sama, here"
"?"
"Hey, Rei-chan"

I led Claire-sama, who was on the way to a tea party of a certain lady, a little forcibly to Sein-sama.
If we miss this event, I don't know when the next one will be.
I'm sorry for the lady, but let's prioritize Sein-sama.

"Hey commoner, where are we going?"
"Shh! Here, please look"

From the shade of the building, we peeped around the corner into the academy's courtyard.
In a gazebo on the edge of a pond.
There, as expected, was Sein-sama's figure playing a harp alone.

"Sein-sama…"
"Waa… It's a lovely timbre"

Noticing Sein-sama, Claire-sama and Lene voiced their admiration.
Same as in the game, Sein-sama's musical skills are wonderful.
As if woven with a delicate warp and a graceful weft, it's a melody like the finest velvet, it's sure to appeal to a person's heart.

"It's lovely, Sein-sama!"

Despite him being in the middle of the performance, Claire-sama raised her voice without reading the situation and ran up to the gazebo.

"! … Claire-sama, that's a bad choice"

Regardless of the choice at this occasion, Sein-sama won't accept the praise, but approaching him after listening until the end leads to the most favorable outcome, it's something like that.
Sure enough, Sein-sama stopped his performance and stared at Claire-sama with irritated eyes.

"… You are… François's house's"
"It is Claire. I would be happy if you remembered it soon"
"… Ah… That's right"

Saying so, Sein-sama put away the harp.

"Ara? You are not going to play anymore? I would like to listen some more"
"… That's just a pleasantry. It's not something others would want to hear"
"Is that so? Even though you're so skilled?"

Both Claire-sama and Lene unanimously complimented him.

"… Something like a harp is only useful for Liberal Arts. It has nothing with the qualities of a king"

Saying so, he stowed the harp away.

What's important for Sein-sama is to become a fine king.
His ideal is the current king, His Majesty Roseille Bauer.
However, Sein-sama believes he falls far short of the king.
Sein-sama's harp skills are wonderful, but he doesn't recognize them as they have no worth as king's abilities.

"Then, will you play a game that test the qualities of a king?"
"… Hou?"

At my words, Sein-sama's eyebrows twitched.

"… Rei Taylor. I've heard you became Claire's maid"

Why does he remember my name.
He remembered mine rather than Claire-sama's.

"Thanks to that I'm spending each day in happiness"
"… That's good. What's the game that tests the qualities of a king? Chess? Certainly, you are greatly skilled at it"

I'm not someone he should be concerned about.
If he has free time to remember such things, he should notice the gaze of a maiden in love, Claire-sama, that's br.i.m.m.i.n.g with envy since a while ago.

"The game that tests the qualities of a king… That is"
"… That is?"
"Exactly, it's a king game"

It's a complete lie.
There's no way the qualities of a king would be measured with such a thing.

"… Hou, sounds interesting. What kind of game is it?"

I think most people know it, but just in case I'll explain.
In the king game, a number of people draw lots with numbers written on them, the person who drew the highest becomes the king, and orders "Number ○ and number △ do □", it's like that.
I gave the same explanation to everyone.

"… Can you measure the qualities of a king like that?"
"Yes"
"… Alright, let's do it"

I quickly made lots and a.s.signed them numbers from 1 to 4.

"Then, everyone, please draw them"

Sein-sama, Claire-sama and Lene drew the lots in that order.
I took one last.

"Then, who's the king?"
"… What is that?"
"That's how you play the game. When checking the results of the draw, everyone has to say that"
"… I see"
"Yes, then, once again"

""""Who's the king?""""

The first king is――.

"It's me"

It's Sein-sama.
As expected of him.
The hidden setting of Sein-sama is something called "Owner of incomprehensible luck"
The response of the Revolution players when they first learned of it was, in what way is Sein-sama lucky.
He's surrounded by excellent older and younger brothers, tormented by inferiority complex, and followed around by the villainess, Claire-sama.

The explanation of the way his luck worked was like this.
His brothers being excellent means he has talented people close to him, it's not necessarily unfortunate, rather it's a happy thing.
Although there was no explanation regarding Claire-sama, such a good fortune is easy to understand at a glimpse.

"Then, Sein-sama. Give an order"
"… Mm… That's right…"

Sein-sama's hesitating about what to order.
No wonder, even though Sein-sama is a prince, he has little experience ordering people throughout his life.
Unlike Rod-sama or Yuu-sama, he's not good at naturally behaving like a prince.
Rod-sama is an ore-sama, Yuu-sama is a sly fox, both are different from him and being princes comes to them naturally.
However Sein-sama, who doesn't think himself to be suitable for royalty, almost never orders people.

Sein-sama kept groaning for a while, but eventually he seems to have decided on the order.

"… Number two hold number three's hand"
"I'm number two!"
"Kh… Number three is me"

It's been decided that I'll hold Claire-sama's hand.

"Then Claire-sama, please reach out your hand"
"It cannot be helped"

I held Claire-sama's slender hand.
It's a small, delicate hand, it seems it would break if gripped strongly.
While enjoying the feeling I gently stroked the back of Claire-sama's hand with my thumb.

"Kya!? Wha wha wha, what are you doing!?"
"Well, I thought I'd like to experience the smoothness of Claire-sama's hand"
"Please hold it normally! It is enough, right? Let us proceed to the next round"
"You're right. Well, the second round――"

""""Who's the king?""""

The second king is――.

"It, it's me"

It's Lene.
It seems she's fl.u.s.tered that a commoner like her might order royalty.
After being troubled for longer than Sein-sama, she said her order――.

"Number four stroke number two's hair"
"… I'm number four"
"Nu, number two is me"

Oh, it's a success.
Lene, good job.
This too is a part of Sein-sama's incomprehensible luck… not.

"… I think it's imprudent to touch woman's hair…"
"Sein-sama, those are the rules"
"… However…"
"Sein-sama, I am okay with it"

Rather, Claire-sama hurried him up.
She's cute.

"… Then, sorry"

Sein-sama nervously reached his hand out for Claire-sama's hair and stroked it slowly and gently.

"Wafu…"

Claire-sama is delighted.

"… It's enough. Next"

Although it took less than ten seconds, Sein-sama's face grew bright red and he took back his hand.

"Yes. Then, the third time――"

""""Who's the king?""""

The third king is ――.

"Ah, it's me"

It's me.
Then, I'd like to stick together Claire-sama and Sein-sama no matter what.
I blinked at Lene.
Lene blinked three times in response.

It was the same when it was Lene's turn to be the king, but as a matter of fact, I taught Lene how to cheat before the game.
We arranged that when either of us become the king, we'll communicate our numbers with the number of blinks.
I see, Lene is number three.
Then, Claire-sama and Sein-sama are number one and two.
Let's give an command that will be fine regardless of their order.

"Then, number one please kiss number two"
"… What?"
"He, hey commoner!?"

I did it.
Sein-sama eyes became gla.s.sy, Claire-sama is shaken up.

"… Hey, such command is indeed no good"
"Tha, that is right"
"Oh? The king's order is absolute? Now, please do it quickly"
"… I understand"
"Sein-sama!?"

Sein-sama's unexpected statement made Claire-sama gaze at him in wonderment.

"Then, kiss――"
"… That's not it"
"Sein-sama?"

Sein-sama's rough voice frightened Claire-sama a little.

"… This game, it's unrelated to the qualities of a king?"

Sein-sama glared at me.

"… Did you make fun of me?"

His eyes gradually became disapproving.
Fuu, this is a good opportunity.

"As expected of Sein-sama"
"… What?"
"The essence of this game, is whether you realize that fact"

It's a complete lie.
But, I cannot yield to him here.

"In case Sein-sama obeyed an unreasonable order, Sein-sama would have no qualities of a king"
"… You tested me"
"Please forgive me for that. However, after all Sein-sama has the qualities of a king"
"…"

Sein-sama made a complicated expression.
He's displeased with being tested, but he's not dissatisfied by his qualities of a king being acknowledged by others, it's something like that.

"… I'll go back"
"Sein-sama!"

With sour look and without agreeing with me, he stood up and left the gazebo.
Claire-sama worriedly watched his retreating figure.

"Rei-chan"
"What? Lene"
"Was what you just said true?"
"Ah, I just wanted to play with Claire-sama"
"Co, commoner! You are…!"

Be that as it may, Sein-sama didn't issue an unreasonable order as a king, and when told to kiss said no without getting swept away by the atmosphere.
I think those are Sein-sama's good points.
Well, in his case I feel there are too many unpleasant flaws.

"Claire-sama"
"What is it"
"How was getting your hair stroked by Sein-sama?"
"△◆◇×○!!!"

Yup, Claire-sama having fun is what's most important.