The Duke's Daughter Goes Her Own Way
[The Guards Witness! x3]
Translated by: ME
The mysteriously popular guard knights.
Three short stories in a row.
**[A Certain Day's Tea Party - Narrator: Pierre Dion]**
I'm Dion, a member of the Crown Prince's personal guard.
My childhood dream was either to become a knight or an adventurer exploring the world. I somehow managed to achieve my first choice of becoming a knight, and while surprising even myself, I lead a fulfilling life every day.
I prefer defensive skills over offensive ones. I'd rather protect someone than defeat someone.
That's why I volunteered to be a guard knight.
And now, I have the honor of being part of the Crown Prince's personal guard. It's the highest honor.
Our Crown Prince is currently having tea with his fiancée, Lady Elizabeth.
His Highness's demeanor changed after he met Lady Elizabeth. The previous tense atmosphere around him lessened, and he softened somewhat.
That said, the fact that he hasn't become lax is truly commendable.
Lady Elizabeth, who softened His Highness, is staring intently at a specific spot in the garden.
...When she stares at a single spot like that, it makes me nervous. Did we mess up our duties?
[Ellie? Is something wrong?]
His Highness noticed too and called out to her.
[Ah, yes... I thought it might just be my imagination...]
Lady Elizabeth excused herself with a [Please pardon me for a moment,] and stood up.
What? What is it? Did she find something bizarre and interesting again?!
Lady Elizabeth walked towards a corner of the garden. His Highness also stood up, looking puzzled, and followed her.
[I knew it!]
[What is it?]
In response to His Highness's question, Lady Elizabeth pointed at a patch of grass in front of her.
This garden is designed to be as natural as possible. Of course, the grass is neatly trimmed, but it's arranged to resemble a natural landscape, so there are occasional weeds here and there.
I heard that completely removing weeds can adversely affect the flowers, but I don't really understand that.
What Lady Elizabeth is pointing at isn't a cultivated plant, but what seems to be a weed that grew on its own.
[This is a very treacherous weed!]
...A *treacherous* weed?
Hey, Harrison, don't make that "Here we go again" face! I can totally tell you're getting excited!
Lady Elizabeth crouched down, plucked the weed she was pointing at, and snapped it off.
A young lady! Plucking a weed...! (Internal agony)
[It looks just like an edible plant! But if you mistakenly eat it, it can cause respiratory failure, and in the worst case, death! If this isn't treacherous, then what is!?]
[...I see...]
It *looks* like an edible plant!
But normally, people don't eat random plants!
Your Highness, help us, Your Highness! The image of Lady Elizabeth holding a weed in one hand with the other on her hip is too much! At this rate, *we're* the ones who'll get respiratory failure!
[The plant that looks like this is delicious when prepared as *ohitashi*! The sheer audacity to just mimic its appearance is beyond treacherous!]
Oｗｗｗhiｗｗｗtaｗｗｗshiｗｗｗｗｗ! (This is them holding back their laugh)
Wait! Harrison, wait! Don't leave! I'm reaching my limit too! There's only one relief guard today! If you switch out, I'm stuck here!
I tried to endure by clenching my teeth, but my shoulders were probably shaking.
Oblivious to this, Lady Elizabeth tossed the weed in her hand onto the ground.
Oh no, at this point, everything Lady Elizabeth does is funny... Help...
[Really, to have the nerve to grow even in the royal castle! What would happen if someone mistakenly ate it?!]
No one's going to eat it---!!!
Even we wouldn't eat it---!!!
So please, Lady Elizabeth, have mercy---!!!
[...Ellie, let's return to our seats for now... I'll inform the gardener about that weed.]
[Yes. You're right.]
Seeing Lady Elizabeth being urged back to her seat by His Highness, I quietly left to switch places with Harrison...
**[A Moment That Feels Like Spring - Narrator: Noel Gray]**
[...What should I give Ellie this year...?]
His Highness, while working, let those words slip out quietly.
Hearing that, I thought, 'Ah, it's that season again.'
Every year, around the end of March for Lady Elizabeth's birthday, His Highness gives her a gift.
While it's somewhat of an obligation as her fiancé, that's not the case for His Highness. He simply wants to make Lady Elizabeth happy.
The problem boils down to the single point that we have absolutely no idea what would make Lady Elizabeth happy.
[What have you given her so far?]
His aide, Lord Hendrick, asked.
[Last year, Ellie requested a hair ornament. The year before that, a pocket watch. The year before that, a book bookmark, and before that, a fountain pen...]
[...Aside from the hair ornament, there's absolutely no romance in those.]
His Highness sighed at Lord Hendrick's exasperated tone.
[Ellie doesn't show interest in accessories and such.]
[But last year it was a hair ornament, right? And it was a request, right?]
His Highness sighed again at Lord Hendrick's puzzled question.
[Ellie said her hair was getting in the way and she wanted to cut it all off. I asked her not to cut it, promising to give her a hair ornament that would make it easy to manage... Then she requested the specific one she wanted.]
[The reason...]
It must have been an unexpected reason. Lord Hendrick made a complicated face.
But that's just like Lady Elizabeth.
And she was very happy with all the gifts His Highness gave her so far, which Lord Hendrick called 'completely unromantic,' and uses them fondly. The hair ornament was one that could hold her hair in place with a simple clip, and Lady Elizabeth was delighted by its 'functionality.' It was a very delicately crafted item, but her comment on that aspect was just, [It's pretty.]
[Pardon me, Your Highness. Her Highness Princess Linalia wishes to see you.]
[Send her in.]
[Yes.]
Shortly after the attendant left, Princess Linalia entered.
[Brother, please review these documents... Is something the matter?]
Noticing that His Highness's hands had completely stopped, Princess Linalia tilted her head curiously.
His Highness sighed in response.
[No... Lina, do you know of anything Ellie might want?]
Asked this, Princess Linalia let out a small, [Ah.]
She must have remembered that Lady Elizabeth's birthday was approaching.
[Ellie...? ...Now that you mention it, the other day...]
As if recalling something, Princess Linalia said quietly,
[She said she wanted a sickle for cutting grass.]
A strange silence fell over the office at her words.
[...A sickle.]
Princess Linalia nodded at His Highness's muttered word.
[Yes. A sickle.]
[I see... Thank you. It wasn't helpful, but thank you.]
[It seems I wasn't of any help, but you're welcome.]
After handing the documents to His Highness, Princess Linalia left. His Highness let out a deep sigh.
Lord Hendrick also let out a small breath.
[Hey, why not just give her the sickle?]
[...For her birthday?]
[If you wrap it nicely, it might look somewhat appropriate, no?]
[I'm not sure *what* it would look appropriate for...]
His Highness sighed again and rubbed his temples with his fingers.
[...I feel a little sad at myself for thinking... 'She probably *would* be happy with that'...]
[...There, there.]
At Lord Hendrick's consoling murmur, Cox covered his mouth and quietly left the room.
In the end, it seemed His Highness settled on a beautifully decorated paper knife for that year's gift. We haven't told His Highness that among the guards, it became a topic of discussion that he might have gotten the 'bladed object' idea from the sickle...
**[I'm Not Jealous At All! - Narrator: Billy Stein]**
It's been one week since His Highness married Lady Elizabeth.
The state guests we had invited have safely returned to their countries, and daily life is gradually returning to the castle... Well, there are still various parties and events for His Highness and Lady Elizabeth, but still.
His Highness is already diligently attending to his duties as before.
But you can tell he's in a good mood.
His expression and atmosphere are softer.
Well, you know... I guess... he's... relieved... about, you know, *various things*...
Yeah, well, I can't go into detail.
While His Highness is already back to normal, Lady Elizabeth's schedule remains relaxed for a while longer.
You know... with *that sort of thing*, it's often harder on the woman, right?... What 'that' is, I can't say in detail.
The office door knocked, and an attendant looked in.
[Pardon me. Her Highness the Princess Consort wishes to see you.]
[Send her in.]
[Yes.]
The efficiency of this exchange is one of those 'His Highness is amazing' moments.
The Captain of the Royal Guard, for instance, always comes with pointless chatter...
I don't care about your dog. [My dog had puppies, what do you think?] What am I supposed to think? All I can say is [Congratulations.] And I'm not even sure if that's the right response.
[Pardon the intrusion. Thank you for your time.]
[Not at all. Is something the matter?]
...I mean, isn't this a bit too... normal?
Aren't you newlyweds?
Well, that 'normal' is still a very affectionate scene.
[Would you like to sit?]
[No, this will only take a moment.]
Ah.
The two of them smiling have a slightly softer air about them than before.
Haa... They really are newlyweds.
...Not that I'm jealous or anything. Nope. Not jealous at all.
Haven't had any luck with women since I got dumped five years ago. But I'm totally not jealous.
Not putting on a brave face. Really.
[I had some happy news. I just wanted to report it to you, Leon-sama.]
[Happy news?]
Lady Elizabeth nodded with a lovely smile at His Highness's puzzled question.
[Yes. I received permission to use the royal castle's kitchens!]
Crap! I choked weirdly!
[Permission...? From whom...?]
Your Highness! Please, not that stiff smile! I understand how you feel, it's making me want to laugh!
[From Her Majesty the Queen!]
[Her Majesty... I see...]
[Yes!]
Wow. Lady Elizabeth has a really, really nice smile.
And what will you be making in that kitchen?
It's for His Highness, of course, right?
There's obviously none for us, right?
[Now my three years of research at the academy won't go to waste!]
Wait a second! Lady Elizabeth, what were you researching for three years at the academy?!
Wasn't it meteorology or something?!
[This time, I will finally make cookies... no, a cake!]
[Why did it rank up to cake!?]
Your Highness, stop! Stop with the accurate retorts!
James! Hang in there a bit more! And your face! Don't look down! Do your job!
[I thought cake might taste better.]
[I see...]
Don't give up, Your Highness!
Taste aside, Lady Elizabeth's sweets have no flavor!
If Your Highness gives up, you'll be the one eating it! I definitely don't want that! Eating a flavorless cake!
[That's all for my report today. Once it's ready, I'll bring some to you, Leon-sama.]
Lady Elizabeth, tilting her head slightly and smiling, is dangerously cute. Cute, but...
[I see... ...Thank you...]
Please notice that His Highness's eyes are a little dead inside!
Watching Lady Elizabeth leave the office with a buoyant step, I thought from the bottom of my heart:
Yeah, I'm definitely not jealous of this.
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