The Duke's Daughter Goes Her Own Way
[lizabeth screams "Yaaaaaaaaaaaa!" at the center of the world ]
Translated by: ME
The long tunnel of exams ended, and it was spring.
I did it!! I really did it!!! I was glued to my desk for months. I successfully submitted my paper, snatched a Stanford University application, somehow finished the written exam, and finally!!! The acceptance letter has arrived~~~!!!! A-ccep-ted!! Hoo~♪ It's spring! It's a glorious spring!! Sakura blooms! Well, there aren't any cherry blossoms in this country though!
I'm Ellie, twelve years old. I'll be a freshman at Stanford Royal Academy starting in May! Oh, Your Highness? Of course, you passed. He was watching me, smiling gently as I rejoiced over my acceptance. Your Highness, you're so calm and collected~!
The Stanford University entrance exam, a super prestigious and super difficult one. It was even more than I had heard... First, when I requested an application form, a thick package arrived. And it was heavy. I thought, [What the heck?], and opened it to find three sets of thirty-page report paper along with the application. Yes, you already know! It's for writing that paper! The paper had the Stanford University name and crest printed on it. And you had to write at least thirty pages on it. The application form also included the contact information for requesting more paper if you ran out... Apparently, they won't accept anything written on anything else. Of course, the paper had to be an unpublished work. The format was also specified, and the instructions were included. There was also a booklet with important information about the entrance exam, and when I read it, it seemed that reports could be submitted at any time before the final deadline. In other words, they accept them year-round. And if you qualify to take the exam, that qualification is valid for three years from the year you obtained it. In other words, you could just get the qualification and take the exam next year... I wondered, [Could it be that His Highness already has the qualification?], so I asked him. The answer was, as expected. His Highness was really just waiting for me. I now have the qualification, and it's valid for three years. In other words, I have to get the qualification within three years. I have to do it!!! I can't let the busy His Highness have his qualification revoked!!! And so, Ellie's eleventh year was gray... It was all about the entrance exam (or rather, writing the paper)...
To bring good luck, I used the fountain pen that His Highness gave me on my tenth birthday to write the final draft of my paper. Your Highness, give me strength...! Give me some of the benefit of your brilliant mind...! Whether my prayer reached God (or rather, His Highness?), I received notification that I had qualified to take the exam a month after submitting my paper. I jumped for joy. And then I fell. The sprain took four days to heal. I applied for the exam with His Highness, and on the day of the exam, we rode to the school gate together in the royal carriage. If I failed after this, it would be hilarious. The people around us were buzzing, but I was too nervous to care. His Highness was taking care of me very diligently next to me. Your Highness, why do you become more overprotective every year...?
Due to security concerns, His Highness and I were separated from the general examinees during the exam. But thanks to that, I was able to relax. A small room with His Highness, me, the guard knights, and the examiner. Everyone except the examiner was a familiar face! Yeah, power to the authorities! During the lunch break, we had a relaxing time with a lunch box sent from the palace, including the guard knights. To the palace chefs! Thank you for the delicious sweets and snacks! So, I was able to take the exam in a relaxed atmosphere.
It's March now. The entrance ceremony is in the first week of May. Until then, I can enjoy the spring break ♪ I won't be living in the dorms. I'm a [national figure], so for security reasons, I'll be commuting. His Highness will also be commuting from home (if that's what you call it...). ...It feels really weird to say, [His Highness commutes from home]... Dorm life seems a little fun, but I shouldn't inconvenience the guard knights with such a silly whim. I thought I could make up for my lack of [femininity] in the girls' dorm, but I'll try to make friends and make up for it that way.
Today, an [Ellie Congratulations on Passing Party] will be held at my house. My mother named it. The participants are all of my family and all of the servants. ...Actually, my brother also passed at the same time. But no one is mentioning my brother's passing... And my brother himself doesn't seem to care at all. Is that okay...? I told His Highness about it, and he wanted to participate, but I don't think there's anything particularly fun about it? His Highness has to attend to the ambassador from a friendly country tonight. Thank you for your hard work! He clicked his tongue, wishing the ambassador's visit was a week earlier or later..., but I'll pretend I didn't hear that.
[Ellie, congratulations on passing.]
[Ellie-chan, congratulations~]
I bowed my head to my parents, who were clapping and congratulating me.
[Thank you, Father, Mother.]
[This is our congratulatory gift.]
The butler, Thomas, brought a large box. It's full of clothes.
[These are clothes that Ellie-chan can wear to school~]
My mother said with a smile. Even though we are nobles, we don't wear dresses every day. Dresses are for special occasions like evening parties. Normally, we wear skirts that reach near our ankles. They can be dresses or two-piece outfits.
[Thank you. I'll take a look later.]
When I said that, Thomas handed the box to a maid. The maid took it and quickly left. She's taking it to my room. My mother is a high-sense lady with a lot of femininity, so I'm looking forward to it.
Next, Thomas presented a long, small box that had a very luxurious feel to it.
[This just arrived. It's a congratulatory gift from His Highness Leonardo to Ellie.]
From His Highness...! Wow! ...My gift to His Highness was a little simple though... My mother was excited and said, [Open it and show us~], so I untied the ribbon on the outside. This is bad. The ribbon itself feels like high-quality silk... I can't throw this ribbon away... I handed the untied ribbon to the maid next to me and gently opened the box.
Inside was a necklace on a velvet pedestal. Oh, Your Highness!!!
[Oh..., how lovely.]
My mother sighed like a maiden. There are five jewels set in a delicate chain. That's all, but. But! This overly simple design is actually based on an artifact excavated from the ruins of the Holy Makeia Empire of the ancient Agathian River Civilization. Your Highness, you know exactly what I like!! Moreover, there's a story that Empress Felicity II, who was known as a saint, received it as a proposal gift from her husband, General Garamis!
The original had four diamonds and only the center stone was a ruby. The chain was also made of pure gold. The one His Highness gave me has four diamonds and an indicolite in the center, which is a blue tourmaline. ...Yes, it's the color of His Highness's eyes. The chain is made of thin platinum. It's more elegant than the original. And on the back of the setting of the five jewels of the original, there is an inscription. It says [To my beloved] in the language of the Empire. I gently turned it over, and there it was. As expected, Your Highness. Moreover, the original [my] part of the sentence is changed to [Ellie]... As expected!!
[Ellie-chan, what does it say?]
I smiled vaguely at my mother's question.
[I'll ask His Highness next time.]
I'll pretend I don't know. Because it's impossible to read this in front of my parents! His Highness's expressions of affection have become more blatant since last year. I don't mind, but my sense of shame is screaming. It was an engagement arranged under a political strategy of [neither good nor bad], [no benefit or disadvantage to anyone], but it's better to have love. ...I like His Highness too (hehe♡). But it's a little..., I get embarrassed when he kisses my hair, kisses my fingertips, kisses my cheeks...! I don't hate it, but I'm embarrassed... And His Highness is getting more and more attractive every year, and he's unnecessarily sexy... It's too stimulating for a child...
[My Ellie! Congratulations on passing! This is my gift to you!]
...I wonder if he doesn't care that no one is congratulating him. My brother is handing me an envelope with a big smile. This brother is a beautiful boy. He's two years older than me, so he's fourteen now. Like me, he has light blonde hair that is fluffy and curly. While I have green eyes like my mother, my brother has blue-gray eyes like my father. His eyes are big and round, and his nose is straight. Each of his features is well-defined, and he is truly beautiful. No one cares, but my brother also passed Stanford University. According to our guards, he is skilled in swordsmanship and martial arts. He has a good figure and a perfect appearance. But unfortunately, this brother's personality is terrible...
I accepted the envelope my brother was offering with thanks. It's our family's envelope. I wonder what kind of horrible thing is inside... I'd be happy if it was tickets to a play or an exhibition. My brother has never given me a [gift that I'm happy to receive].
When I opened it, there were several cards inside. They were invitation cards that we use when we have tea parties at our house. The cards were decorated with beautiful calligraphy using colored inks. My brother's unnecessary versatility is on full display.
[Date with your brother ticket (Ellie only) Valid: Unlimited]
...Can I tear it up?
The others were [Holding hands with your brother ticket], [Sleeping with your brother ticket], [Kiss from your brother ticket]...
My mother, who was looking at it from the side, became surprisingly expressionless and took the cards from me.
[Mother? What's wrong?]
Don't look so puzzled, brother! What's wrong? is not the point! My mother began to tear the cards into pieces, one by one.
[Mother!? What are you doing!?]
What is not the point!!
[Ellie-chan, you didn't see anything. Okay?]
[Of course, Mother.]
My brother's attendant is holding him back as he tries to pick up the pieces of the torn cards. This chaos is everyday life.
[Thomas, I told you to tie Elrick to a chair,]
Did you really say that, Father?
[However, even if we did, I believe young master would crawl to young lady's side,]
What are you saying with a straight face, Thomas?
[I suppose you're right...]
Father! Don't give up!
[Young lady, please take your seat. The chef has prepared a cake to celebrate.]
Mother is still tearing up cards, brother is struggling to pick them up, a servant is holding brother in a headlock, father is sighing with a grim look, and the butler is the same. And the maid is smiling, completely ignoring them.
Yeah. What a crazy family! This is my, the Macnagan, family.
Rather than just loving his sister, my brother, Elrick Macnagan, is indifferent to everything but his sister.
[Brother, you passed the Steinford Academy exam, didn't you?]
I couldn't help but ask, since no one in the family was mentioning it.
Father nodded to that.
[It seems so.]
[What about a celebration for brother's passing—]
[Let's take a bath together, brother!!]
Brother interrupted, jumping the gun like crazy.
Brother is now tied to a chair, his hands and feet restrained. The chair is also firmly secured by brother's servant. My family has [brother-only restraints]. It's not abuse. Absolutely not. This device is used when brother's rampages are severe, like today.
[...Should we celebrate?]
Father asked, sighing deeply, and I shook my head from side to side.
[No... I'm sorry, I asked something unnecessary.]
[Why is he like that...]
Father is looking sadly at mother, who is pressing her eyes as if she's about to cry.
I'd like to know why too, but the scary thing is, brother has apparently been like this since around the time I was born. He apparently stayed by my crib all day long, kissing my cheek.
...I know. The scene is very heartwarming. Brother is a beautiful boy as he is. He must have been a beautiful toddler. He's snuggling up to his newborn sister and kissing her cheek. It's probably beautiful and heartwarming.
But when I heard that, I got goosebumps all over my body. Because it's that brother!
If I try to eat, he takes away my cutlery and forces me to say [aah], if I try to sit in a chair, he naturally invites me onto his lap, he tries to hug me at every opportunity, if I'm taking a bath, he appears as if it's nothing and says [I'll wash you], and at night, he even sneaks into my bed and sleeps next to me without permission, that brother!!
When I was three years old, my parents warned me, [Always lock your door when you go to bed at night.]
...Who would have thought that brother would show his useless talent and make his own duplicate of the key...?
Currently, there are three locks on my room door, and they are replaced with new ones at random intervals. There are three because one is locked, one is not, to buy time for picking. Only my room key is carried by the butler himself, not in the key box in the butler's room. It's a key that can't be opened even with a master key. The master key is useless, but there's no helping it. It's for my peace of mind, and my parents' peace of mind.
When the engagement with the prince came up, my parents were actually secretly happy. They thought they could get me away from brother with this. The other party is royalty. And the crown prince. Even brother can't do anything about this. It's impossible to call off the engagement with just brother's say-so. And if I move to the royal castle, brother won't be able to sneak into my room at night. Isn't he the perfect person to marry me off to!?
...Thank you, Father, Mother. Seriously, it's perfect.
In novels, there are stories like, ['I tried to improve my relationship with my brother to avoid ruin, but for some reason, my brother became obsessed with me'], but I don't remember doing anything. I don't remember doing anything!!! What the heck pierced brother's fetish!!!
Brother loves me as [brother]. Therefore, I have never felt a perverted crisis of chastity. It's just annoying. And creepy. Brother's obsession is abnormal, and it's a little scary.
[There's a problem we can't avoid forever.]
In the dining room, where brother had been drugged and put to sleep, Father opened his mouth heavily in a Gendou-like pose. Mother and I are at the table. Around us, the main servants, including the butler, are lined up.
[That one showed his useless excellence and passed Steinford. From May, he will be studying at the same school as Ellie.]
[That one] is that one. The pathologically siscon who is no longer named.
[His Highness the Crown Prince is also at the same school. There is a very high possibility that that one will do something.]
Many people nodded at the serious, low voice. Brother's reverse credibility is amazing.
[If Ellie isn't involved, that one is excellent. ...But that one took Steinford because Ellie is there. It's impossible to tell him not to get involved.]
Brother's servant is nodding deeply at those words. ...I'm always sorry.
[So...]
Father said heavily, then raised his face, which had been downcast. I saw an illusion of his glasses, which he wasn't wearing, gleaming.
[I'm thinking of introducing that one to His Highness.]
At those words, the servants raised their voices slightly in a stir. ...Everyone, aren't you too enthusiastic?
Brother has a history of turning down His Highness's request to be his aide at the speed of light. His Highness didn't mind at all, but Father was stunned when he heard that from brother. Normally, you don't refuse. Or rather, you can't refuse. But that brother didn't have [normal]! I and Father apologized profusely to His Highness. No, His Highness said he didn't mind, so it was okay.
[His Highness is a very generous person. He brushed off that one's rudeness with a smile. But if they're at the same school, the story changes.]
[His Highness is Ellie-chan's savior. We can't let that one interfere.]
Mother, who usually speaks gently, becomes sharp when brother is involved.
[We must have His Highness marry Ellie-chan! There's no other way to protect Ellie-chan from that one!]
The servants' nods are deep... Or rather, my family is probably the only one whose reason for [at any cost, become the princess] is [isolation from the siscon brother]...
[To that end, I think we need His Highness to know about that one's ecology, but... what do you think?]
Father looked around at everyone, and the butler, Thomas, raised his hand.
[What is it, Thomas?]
[Yes. Young master is a little hostile to His Highness. I can't help but worry that he might harm His Highness...]
[I don't think there's any need to worry about that.]
Harry, brother's servant, denied it clearly.
[Oh... Harry, tell me.]
Father, how long are you going to keep your voice low?
[Yes. Elrick-sama is surprisingly aware of common sense, despite appearances.]
Hey! That's a terrible way to start! And servants, don't get noisy!
[...Is that so?]
Don't ask back with a straight face, Father!
[Yes. ...Well, it's at the level of [surprisingly] for Elrick-sama, though.]
[Am I the only one who hears that as [almost non-existent]?]
I second mother's words.
[Well, to be honest, that's the case.]
Don't be honest, Harry!
[He knows enough that it's bad to do something to His Highness.]
[...It's understanding below that of a child, but well, is it okay...?]
Father sighed, and Mother also sighed deeply in silence.
[Ellie, you received advance notice of His Highness's visit, didn't you?]
I nodded at Father's question.
[Yes. He wants to visit here in five days. Isn't that right, Thomas?]
When I looked at the butler, he nodded as well.
[That is correct.]
[Very well.]
Father nodded, then slammed his hands on the table with a bang!
[Then, we will now begin the Elrick Rampage Countermeasures Conference!]
At those words, the servants surrounding us applauded all at once. ...So, why is everyone so enthusiastic...?
Well, here we are! The day of His Highness's [Sudden! Visit to Our House!]!
[Alright! One hour left! Final confirmation, is everyone ready!?]
The butler, Thomas's, voice is echoing through the speaking tube. This house is now a battlefield. The war will begin in one hour. I am currently watching the situation in the butler's room. ...Because I'm curious. What will this strange house do?
[Second floor, second block, preparation complete!]
[Third floor, lockdown complete!]
[Second floor, third block, preparation complete!]
Servants are coming to Thomas one after another to report. ...What game is this? FPS?
[Front garden, deployment complete!]
[First floor, all sections, preparation complete!]
[Second floor, first block, preparation complete!]
[Excellent! From now until we have safely welcomed and seen off His Highness, everyone, do not let your guard down!]
[Yes!!]
The united reply sounded like [Sir, yes, sir!!] to my ears. Old Thomas looks like a sergeant...
[What is the target?]
At Thomas's question, brother's maid straightened up.
[Currently, he is making [My Ellie Doll] in his room!]
[Wait a minute!! What's that!!]
I couldn't help but scream, and brother's maid rushed over and gently stroked my back.
[It's okay. Young lady didn't hear anything. It's okay. ...Right?]
[Ugh... ...Yes...]
No, seriously, wait... Ellie-chan's life is already being shaved off... Your Highness, come quickly! No, never mind, don't come!! Run away!! Run away super fast!!
[Continue to track the target. Do not let him run into His Highness under any circumstances until I give the signal.]
[Understood!]
The maid straightened up again, gave a beautiful bow, and left. She's probably going back to monitor brother.
When Thomas saw me looking like I was about to cry, he gave me his usual gentle smile.
[Now, young lady, we must prepare to welcome His Highness. Your smile is the best, young lady, smile, smile.]
[Yes... I'll do my best...]
I stuttered. But I don't care about that anymore. I want to recover my shaved life and sanity...
I had the maid help me change and everything, and headed to the entrance to welcome His Highness. My parents were already there. Both of them have grim expressions. The art style is different than usual. It's dramatic. That's how different the atmosphere is.
[...Don't let your guard down. There's no telling what that one will do.]
[I understand. You too, please have good luck...]
Where are they going to fight!?
What is this, something's wrong with this pace, right!? I've been feeling it a little, but the vibe is off, right!?
[Well... let's go...]
My father said it with the gravity of someone heading to their death, and my mother nodded. It's sad that I can't quite get through this because I'm in the middle of it... Matching my father's
Which battlefield are we heading to!!!??
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