25

Jealousy Jealousy

Father crossed

to the chairs and took a seat next to mother. Marie served him tea. Just then

the door, burst open and a tall man with black hair entered.

Father and

Mother rose from their seats. Father bowed low and mother curtsied low. Marie, who stood at attention in the corner, curtsied as well.

Just behind

the man was the servant who pushed us into the room.

‘Prince

Stephan, you can’t just do this. If you’re going to have an audience you have

to call…’

The Prince did

not respond to his words but came up to me, menacingly,

‘You!’ he

said.

I am being

scolded. Didn't something similar happen recently?

I’m not happy

about this. Was this really the Prince?

Did someone

fill the Prince’s head with those vicious rumours about me?

But, I was

called because of General Brennan.

So, the

Prince’s hostility to me…No, it can’t be? General Brennan must be very popular.

Wow! (Zuben: Oh Fredericka…)

‘Respectfully,

your highness, had my daughter been rude in some way?’

‘This is the

bad lady who tempted Brennan!’

Bad lady?!

I suppose if

the Prince is in love with Brennan, he would see any lady who was dating his

beloved general as bad.

‘Look at me.’

He grasped my

shoulder and tilted my head up to look at him.

‘Gyip!’ I’m

sorry mother; why didn’t you raise me to make cute sounds?

Here I was;

eye to eye with the Prince.

The Prince,

though he trained daily, was not a heavily muscled man, but rather, he looked

lithe. He had a beautiful figure. His eyes were slanting and lashes were long.

They had a very direct blue gaze.

Could he be

the same age as I was? Was he guarded by the General? Did they have a

teacher-student like relations.h.i.+p that had developed during his training? Hmm,

close but different. I feel like our distance is shortened a bit. (Zuben: thoughts go here, there and back again)

‘I don’t know

what kind of methods you used,’ he said, ‘but you had better stop the plot

against Brennan.’ He said as he drew closer to me.

Although

you’re the Crown Prince, could you not come so close? He’s very close, isn’t

he?

‘As, that…um’

Just then the

door was burst open nearly off its hinges. The Prince jumped.

In the open

doorway, were General Brennan and Oliver behind him. Oh, Oliver went to get the

General.

‘Stefan!

Fre-Fredericka!’

To my surprise

and the Prince’s, it looked like; General Brennan ran towards us and caught me

in his arms and turned me away as if to hide me from the Prince. He hugged me

tightly. I was relieved by the scent of dense forest and sweat for a brief

period, and then I realised he was holding me too tightly and I could barely

breathe.

Ge-general,

please loosen your arms! (Zuben: Volker, don’t kill your wife before you marry

her)

‘Stefan, what

is this about?’ his voice reverberated through his body to my ears. Though I

could not see him, I could tell he sounded angry. But could he talk that way to

the Crown Prince? This wasn’t good!

On no, please

the strength of your arms…gufu~

‘You know

Fredericka is my dear person…’

Oh General

said something embarra.s.sing. It is also pleasing. But…

‘Oh no! Miss

Fredericka…!’

I heard Marie’s

voice call out in alarm from a distance. I’ve been saved, but Marie, you should

have helped a little earlier.

*

When I came

to, I was lying in a sofa with Marie sitting on a chair fanning me. General Brennan

was pacing behind a fl.u.s.tered Marie, making his eyebrows look like a character.

I caught his

eye, and smiled and mouthed a h.e.l.lo to let him know I was alright, but

general’s expression turned into one that looked like he wanted to cry.

‘Brennan,’ the

Prince called. He was still not convinced. As the general ascertained I was alright,

he returned my smile. His eyes twinkled brightly. How is the General so pretty?

‘I don’t know

how Stefan heard of those baseless rumours. But is not a speck of sordidness to

my love for Fredericka. I have not been forced, nor is it pity. I simply love

her.’ (Zuben: Swoon)

『Bu u fu! 』(Zuben:

Honestly, j.a.panese and the sound effects)

Ge-General

Brennan! The Prince, as well as father and mother were wondering why?! My

cheeks were dyed red. Marie also blushed and gave a small excited squeal.

(Zuben: we’re with you Marie: squee!)

This is going

to be fun for a while.

‘Brennan, you

have never talked about marriage, you haven’t even been seeing anyone recently.

Now, you’re suddenly getting married!'

It seemed like

Prince Stefan thought that this was a plot by Frederick Castley to trap General

Brennan to capture the military.

Hmm, I don’t

think father has the time to drop his business and grasp the military. It’s

more like having a good relations.h.i.+p with a business partner. (Zuben: Aww, all

of daddy’s innocent manoeuvres) It’s more like that.

But I couldn’t

really tell everyone that what connected us was my lost underwear. I really

don’t want the story of my underwear tearing in the middle of the ball while I

was getting my engagement cancelled to get out there. Mother, Marie, don’t you

be laughing secretly. I can see your shoulders shaking!

‘Brennan! You

said you will be with me until I became independent.’

This Prince

really has a strong devotion to General Brennan. He looked up at the general

with a gentle extremely devoted expression.  Fuwa?!

‘Stefan, you

are already a splendid man. In politics and in fencing you have excelled. You

do not need me escorting you about.’ Brennan said as he patted the young man’s

head.

Did he just

call the Prince by name just now?

The Crown

Prince got all choked up and clung to the General.

‘But Uncle!’

What?!!

Did I hear

that right? Did anyone hear this news?

(Zuben:

Upgrade! From Duke to Prince!)

26 Jealousy

Jealousy

An explanation

was given.

In his youth,

Volker Brennan abdicated. So he usually forgets that he is a member of the

royal family. Even the General agreed with his rueful expression that it was a

bit off.

The Prince was

hugging him all the while.

Most people in

Father’s generation knew about it but it was not spoken about. It wouldn’t do

any good. And if it was spoken of, it is regarded as treason because it was

seen as maligning the royal family.

He was the

illegitimate son of the previous king.

Volker’s

mother worked the Palace at the time, and became lover to the King. She gave

birth to Brennan, but because she was of lowly status was not allowed to take

position of Queen by the House of Lords. (Zuben: Stuffy old goats)

His mother

eventually died of complications of her weak heart. (Zuben: Don’t they all have

weak hearts)

He was adopted

by his aunt and her husband and abdicated. From then on the Prince Volker

became plain old Volker Brennan.

The Brennan

family were a renowned line of warriors. Each generation produced a solder or

knight. His adopted father was even stricter in training the general.

There were so

many things I didn’t know about him…

General

Brennan was the younger brother of the current king.

What is

happening? More and more, there was a tremendous feeling of imbalance. A Prince

(Former) and a disgraced Viscount’s daughter… Even though the General asked me,

how well do I suit being his wife? Is it okay to do it? This isn’t good, is it?

(Zuben: Freddie don’t get in a tiswas)

Come to think

of it what does General Brennan like about me? He asked me to marry him, but I

didn’t specifically ask. I haven’t heard him say anything. I don’t remember

doing anything particularly special in front of him. (Zuben: The sight of your

forest green eyes seared his soul)

I started to

feel uneasy.

‘I never

planned on joining the Royal Guard…’

While I was

lost in my maudlin thoughts, the General looked in my direction and pulled the

pried the Prince’s hands off his waist. (Zuben: The prince is cute too. They

are all cute!)

‘Please stop

hugging me I have not forgiven you yet,’ he said to Prince Stefan coldly.

‘There was joint training of the Western Army, which I belonged to and the

Royal Army. It was then I was forced into taking over the training of Prince

Stefan.’

I was

surprised that the General could speak coldly like that.

‘But Uncle…?’

Stephan was also surprised; he seemed he had no idea why his beloved uncle was

angry with him.

‘Firstly, I

asked you to see me as your va.s.sal at all times. I am also your teacher,

calling me 'uncle' without restraint is not allowed. Secondly, you intimidated

and touched my Fredericka.’

The Prince’s

eyebrows rose dramatically as he recalled his earlier actions. He had been

behaving childishly with the General. Calling me ‘his’ made me feel glad, but

my embarra.s.sment over shadows it ne~

‘Very well, I

admit there was a misunderstanding. But there is an imbalance between your

levels…she doesn’t suit you.’ Stefan said. (Zuben: Who dares say that? Let them come out and let me beat them.)

Well that is

true. The Military and Aristocracy are inviolable. But if there was to be intermarriage

between a high ranking military person and an aristocrat, the n.o.ble house

should be of good standing, especially when the person is a General. Someone

like General Brennan should be marrying a high n.o.ble.

He’s also part

of the Royal Guard and the son of a prominent military family. It is only

natural he marries someone more suited.

The General

came to where I sat and knelt before me,

‘I am just a

soldier. Before that I am just a human. If you say Fredericka does not suit me

because I am a General of the Royal Guard, then I will resign.’ (Zuben: Well said. *Minor swoon)

He looked at

me like a beast looking at his prey, causing a frisson of awareness to trace

along my skin. I nodded to him.

I am so

embarra.s.sed, but I also like the General and want to be with him. Please

forgive me for not being able to declare it like you do. I really don’t have

the courage to say it. Even if the was just immediate family and the Prince.

(Zuben: Well he’s family too)

‘Good I am

relieved.’ He said with a smile and carried me in one smooth move.

‘Come,

Stefan.’

He guided

Stefan to sit on the other side of father and I was placed on his lap…as though

it was a matter of course.

General! What

are you doing in front of everyone?!

27 Jealousy

Jealousy

The Prince’s

eyes widened in surprise at General Brennan’s actions. Father sputtered. Mother

laughed with her hand over her mouth. Marie squealed. Oliver continued to serve

tea. (Zuben: Is that an “always full teapot” you’ve got there, Ollie) The

chamberlain froze.

I could not

hold my head up. I hid my face with my hands and hid my red face.

‘General

Brennan, please put me down…’ I said timidly.

‘Do you find

it distasteful?’

Is this the

only choice for him? He said the same thing at the theatre last night. But

that’s not it, I’m embarra.s.sed not disgusted! But maybe embarra.s.sment I feel

here is a little different. I kept trying to think of a way to solve this with

my brain that had short circuited.

‘You can put

my on your knees….when we are alone…’I whispered to him.

A little while

after, General Brennan’s deputy came to get him for some urgent meeting, so he

had to go.

After he left,

an awkward atmosphere filled the room.

It was

Stephan-sama that broke the awkward silence, ‘It’s the first time I’ve seen

Brennan so tame. He’s usually as ferocious as a tiger.’

With a loud

sigh, he sat back into his chair. The “I must convict the bad woman” aura was

gone. He was now partaking in Oliver’s excellently brewed tea.

‘This time…it

seemed I jumped to conclusions. I hope I didn’t shock you?’ the prince said

looking at me with a tired face.

‘No, it’s alright.’

I replied. I did not care for his earlier att.i.tude but the Prince seems like a

good person. Even if I had been shocked, I could not tell the Prince.

‘It’s because

Brennan is one of the people I trust the most, and blood rushed to my head when

I heard a woman was trying to get him. It has happened before. To make amends,

you can ask for anything of me.’

But, it seems that

the Prince is not one to properly apologise, I am surprised. I was about to

decline when he said,

‘I’m still not

alright with it. For Brennan to care about a woman enough to put her on his

knee in front of everyone, it was unpleasant to see. Just say one thing,’

Looking at his

glittering eyes I was a bit troubled. He seemed to have a forceful personality.

He didn’t want to owe me anything. I didn’t want him to owe me anything either,

but I don’t think he would understand. As I thought about it, an idea came to

me.

‘Well, I don’t

really want anything, but Prince Stefan may I ask a favour? Can we be friends?’

‘What?’ Prince

Stefan had a shocked look on his face. Father cringed in his seat. Mother held

her fan over her face.

‘Well, as you

know, my family is not well liked therefore I don’t have any friends. And you

know a lot about Brennan and I want you to tell me about him, so I thought the

best thing is to be friends.’

I want to know

the stories that Brennan wouldn’t tell me.

‘…but, as

expected, it’s not possible.’ I said to no one in particular. It would be bad

if a Viscount’s daughter was hanging around the Crown Prince. It would look as

if I had an ulterior motive and would create misunderstandings.

I was hoping we could have

a 'General Brennan Love' party. I really wanted to have one. I gave a laugh

trying to hide my sadness and embarra.s.sment.

The

chamberlain rushed in, he was in a hurry it seemed, ‘Stefan-sama?!’

But the Prince

held his hand up to stop him.

‘That sounds

like a fun idea. Let’s be friends from now on, okay. You must call me Stefan.’

I stared at

him in surprise. Was my face a little red? I turned to father; he looked like

he’d eaten something bitter. My mother hid her face with her fan and fell back

in seeming agony.

Er…?

♢