HowDeadTL: 4. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince speaks about his fiancee.

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The Duke's Daughter Goes Her Own Way

[his royal highness the crown prince speaks about his fiancee]

Translated by: ME

My fiancée is adorable.

Ellie is currently eating her favorite café's cake, a sparkling smile on her face. Somehow her tastes are rather mature; the café we're in isn't the kind of place an eight-year-old girl would be thrilled about. The very chic interior is stylish but there's none of the cuteness that children of that age tend to like. Yet she gazes with shining eyes at the meticulously polished heavy counter table of this café is moved by the beauty of the cup that's served and smacks her lips over the brandy-infused dried fruit cake.

[Everything about this place is wonderful!] she emphatically declared.

Ellie her cheeks flushed and speaking with slight excitement was adorable. Since Ellie and I started frequenting this place a stepping stool that feels very out of place with the café's atmosphere has been provided. It's a very homemade-looking stepping stool clearly made with do-it-yourself effort. This is because it was difficult for Ellie to sit alone at the tall counter seats.

[Here you are little lady] the owner says as he provides the stepping stool and Ellie was initially very apologetic. She felt sorry for ruining the atmosphere of the café. Ellie bowing her head repeatedly in apology is also adorable. The owner was also watching Ellie with an amused expression. Of course. How could she not be adorable?

The other day Ellie was entrusted with hosting a tea party for the first time as part of her education. However the larger framework was the Queen-hosted court tea party. The guests to be invited are mostly decided by the Royal Household Law. From there she further narrowed down the list devised the wording of the invitations decided on the seating arrangement and ensured the smooth progress of the day. It's not just a tea party. It's a proper political arena.

There are many nobles of my generation. This is because there was a wedding rush coinciding with the King's (then Crown Prince) marriage and a baby boom coinciding with the Queen's pregnancy. If they are of my generation sons could be valued as close aides and daughters as consorts along with their birth families. Ellie is four years younger so she's outside of that boom. There is a very large generation one or two years younger than me. Having abundant talent is a good thing but there are also many who harbor unnecessary desires.

One of those who harbor unnecessary desires caused trouble at Ellie's first tea party. Upon receiving the report I was so dumbfounded that my mouth hung open. Somehow there are too many unexpected things happening around Ellie and I often can't mask my expressions. When I can't mask my expressions Ellie's smile and gaze become lukewarm (that look like she's looking at her grandchild) which I dislike... Please forgive me for being a little dumbfounded this time. Who would have imagined that a young lady who is the eldest daughter of the head ducal house would be having a grabbing fight with a young lady from another house at the tea party venue... Couldn't the young ladies respond gracefully with words like young ladies should? If it were a skirmish between knight apprentices it wouldn't be unusual for hands to be thrown.

Ellie apparently watched the fighting young ladies with an indescribable look. Her Majesty the Queen told me with an amused smile.

[The way Ellie-chan looked at those two was exactly like the way my grandmother looked at the garden.]

...So why does she have the gaze of a grandmother Ellie? Does Ellie look like a grandmother even from my mother's perspective? Moreover it's not the eyes of someone looking at a grandchild but the eyes of someone looking at a garden? ...Given the situation I can understand the sentiment though.

One of the parties involved the young lady from the head ducal house is someone I unfortunately know well. It's because I coincidentally encounter her so often within the royal palace.

[Your Highness Leonardo good day] she says in a saccharine voice that makes me want to rinse my mouth out with tea. I'm not fond of sweets. Arrogance is subtly visible in every word a repulsive young lady. She seemed to have some dissatisfaction with Ellie but everything she hinted at was completely off the mark making her seem like a small-time player. Once I encountered her on my way back to the castle from the knight's training grounds. A sudden gust of wind blew but I was surprised that her curled hair wasn't disturbed at all. I wondered if it wasn't hair at all but an ornament made of metal or something. A fool who without any basis presumptuously believes herself to be more suitable as the Crown Princess. That's all my assessment of her is. I have of course thoroughly investigated the adult who instilled that belief in her. That person will quietly fade out of the royal palace eventually.

...No I said that's all my assessment is but I should add that her hair is something I'm curious about. Ellie also praised her hair a lot. She said it was marvelous hair that didn't have a single strand out of place even during a grabbing fight. She was also very interested in how it was made.

...Please Ellie don't imitate that hairstyle. Please don't grab a maid and consult with her either. I don't want the maid to get excited and start researching hair styling tools. I also don't want the head of the covert operations unit to ask [Shall we investigate the Duke's daughter's room?] That's not your job. And don't come out so brazenly.

...You're misusing your power Ellie...

Three years have passed since the engagement was arranged. At our first meeting I was simply taken aback. After repeated conversations I began to understand the girl named Elizabeth Macnagan a little after about half a year. She was someone beyond my imagination. No beyond is a misnomer. Someone I couldn't even imagine would be more accurate. She has no interest in dresses jewels or flowers and no interest in luxury at all. When Ellie had a troubled look on her face after indulging in tremendous luxury I asked her about it and she confessed that she had purchased a collection of detailed battlefield maps from ancient history.

Certainly that's an expensive book. It costs about the same as a cheap dress. It's a large-format atlas too big and thick to fit on a normal bookshelf. It's a book that I also use in military strategy classes. It appears frequently in history classes as well. When I asked why she bought it she gave me a radiant smile.

[I want to verify if there were more efficient strategies that could have avoided deaths...!]

Why!?

[Also it's romantic!!]

Romantic!?

Ellie is now so close to my academic mentor Nathaniel that it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them friends. When I told him about her statement he nodded and said [Lady Elizabeth understands very well.] I don't understand it well and I feel a strange sense of exclusion and a little lonely. I also don't like that Ellie seems to be having more fun with him than with me.

Since she was a girl four years younger than me I initially tried to choose simple words. But Ellie noticed it immediately and deliberately chose difficult words to speak to me. In other words she was telling me [I can understand up to this level so there's no need to simplify it.] After understanding that it became much easier to talk to Ellie. Not just easier but more enjoyable.

Just when I thought she was saying [I think I can use a sword too!] with the innocent omnipotence typical of children her age I would find her seriously discussing the structure of a replica sword with the knights after I gave her one to try. It's still fresh in my memory that the swords issued to the knights were improved based on Ellie's comments at that time.

However Ellie is clumsy. Occasionally she stumbles in places where there's nothing. I and the guards support her before she falls so it's not a big deal but she seems to see invisible steps and bumps.

[There was a tiny bump there!] she says apologetically with a slightly sulky expression. Adorable.

For some reason she struck her own foot with the replica sword I had only given her to try creating a small bruise. Even though I was watching I couldn't understand how it happened. Ellie still made excuses saying things like [It was heavier than I thought...] or [Was the sword too big for a child's hand!?] I'm sorry Ellie but that's a replica sword for young children.

When I tried to let her ride a horse she was completely underestimated by the horse and couldn't even get it to start walking. Even though I had prepared the most intelligent and beautiful horse owned by the royal family for Ellie who insisted on riding alone! In the end Ellie had given up and fallen asleep on the back of the horse which had sat down. Ellie said incomprehensible things to the horse that didn't listen to her such as [A horse that doesn't run is just a horse!] Well that's true. And even if it runs it's still a horse. When I secretly asked the stableman later he said [Perhaps the horse was worried that Lady Elizabeth would fall off if it moved... That horse is particularly intelligent.] Ellie who is worried about even by horses is adorably clumsy.

After spending such heartwarming days (though opinions may differ) about a year after the engagement I was summoned by the King and Queen and asked.

[Do you intend to designate Elizabeth as your future consort?]

Although she had been designated and kept as my fiancée the official announcement had not yet been made. This is because the selection process to determine whether she was truly worthy of the position had not yet been completed. Also my compatibility with her was unknown. One year.

Spending time with her I learned that she was not just intelligent. Her knowledge and interests are diverse she has a unique perspective but she never boasts or flaunts them. Her appearance is as lovely as a fairy from a story but when she opens her mouth she says surprising things. And she has unnecessary lots of energy. She knows her place and never oversteps. But she never holds back too much either.

I looked straight at both Their Majesties and nodded clearly.

[I desire Elizabeth as my consort.]

That's right. At first she was someone I had decided would be good enough. But now it's different. It's not she would be good enough but she is who I want. Upon hearing my answer both Their Majesties nodded in agreement. And two months later the banquet for the announcement of my engagement to Ellie was held. Well since the main characters were children Ellie and I gave our greetings and left early. Ellie who looked like she was about to move her right hand and right foot together out of nervousness was adorable.

Prior to that announcement banquet I told Ellie about it.

[After that banquet you will be officially recognized by all the nobles in the country as the Crown Prince's fiancée. In other words from then on you will be treated as a quasi-royal and the revocation of the engagement will be impossible unless something extraordinary happens.]

[Yes.]

Ellie nodded with a serious face. Well she probably already knows that even if I didn't tell her. But I wanted to ask her.

[We selected this arbitrarily and placed you in that position without asking for your opinion. If you have any complaints this will be your last chance... Will you agree to be my consort?]

Even at this point it's difficult enough to withdraw. But if Ellie truly hates it I will make sure it never happened no matter what it takes. However if Ellie chooses me of her own will I will protect Ellie at any cost. Ellie closed her eyes lightly once then exhaled quietly and deeply and slowly opened her eyes.

[So my retreat is cut off isn't it?]

Her voice was very quiet. Not the voice of a six-year-old girl. It was the voice of a woman who had made up her mind.

[If your retreat is cut off what will you do?]

The retreat she's talking about probably refers to revoking the engagement or something like that. When I asked her Ellie smiled raising the corner of her mouth.

[If there's no retreat then I'll just have to cut a path forward through the enemy lines.]

Those were words typical of her who likes military strategy. Reliable and powerful. Probably the path will naturally open before Ellie. But --

[Then I will carve out the path. Would you walk it with me?]

If possible I want to shield her. But she probably won't allow it. Would she at least let me clear the way?

[No, Your Highness.]

At the quiet denial I couldn't help but narrow my eyes slightly. But Ellie smiled brightly at that.

[Let's carve out the path side by side. Together.]

I will probably never forget Ellie's face smiling with a slightly warlike light in her eyes.

[If our paths should ever diverge let's talk a lot.]

[Ah... that's right. Let's promise to never give up on understanding each other until the very end... Then lady.]

I extended my hand towards the smiling Ellie.

[Would you grant me the honor of escorting you for the rest of your life?]

[As long as Your Highness desires it.]

I couldn't help but clasp the small hand that was gently placed on mine with both hands. Ellie was smiling as she looked at me. It was the moment when she who had been like a cute little sister became my one and only beloved woman.

Ellie is very happily talking about cups with the café owner. Ellie is gazing at the antique cup that the owner brought out to the counter being careful not to touch it. The owner is smiling and telling her that it's okay to touch it. Stop it owner. You don't know what Ellie might do. After fully enjoying the teacup talk and cutlery talk Ellie recklessly got off the chair without using the stepping stool. As expected she stumbles the moment she gets off. When I support her Ellie says [Thank you] with a slightly embarrassed and slightly dissatisfied expression.

Today, my fiancée is adorable as always.

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