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「Are you alright, Claudia?」

Her third eldest brother, Ralph, visited Claudia after she had returned to her room.

Claudia has three older brothers. Among them, she was closest to Ralph, as they were close in age.

Ralph was also close to Alexis and Isaak because they were the same age.

「I’m fine. I have already calmed down.」

After crying alone for a while, Claudia regained her composure. She took a seat on the couch and had just finished drinking her chamomile tea when a servant let Ralph in.

「Anyways, onii-sama, you already know all about it, right? Including details that I don’t know.」

「Well, perhaps.」

While smiling, Ralph sat down on a chair in front of Claudia.

「The parlour is in a terrible state, as expected, but is Isaak alright?」

「There didn’t seem to be any problems. His hair was just singed a bit.」

It was obvious that Claudia was hiding something. As Claudia turned away sullenly, Ralph’s face brightened up.

「As expected of Isaak. There is no other man who could stop your magic power.」

「Don’t joke around with me.」

Even as she glared at him, Ralph was completely unperturbed.

「I do think that Isaak is perfect for you.」

「……Are you trying to say that Alexis-sama and I weren’t suited for each other?」

Claudia hissed, and, in response, Ralph gave a wry smile.

「That’s not what I meant. It’s because Alex thought of you as a younger sister, since you’ve been together for so long.」

Claudia averted her eyes and sighed.

「I have never seen Alexis-sama in the same way as I do my brothers. Alexis-sama was never mean like my brothers and always treated me kindly.」

「Hiding my precious books, surprising me with magic, ostracizing me, and persistently teasing me; Alexis-sama never did such childish things.」

「It was always Alexis-sama who came to comfort me whenever I cried.」

Claudia closed her eyes as she once again thought of Alexis.

She took a deep breath. She had shed enough tears… At least, that is what she told herself. Besides, even Isaak had said so: she should just be herself.

「But that is enough.」

When Claudia opened her eyes, Ralph felt that she looked somewhat refreshed.

「People’s feelings… They can’t be helped.」

Ralph stared in surprise, and his expression softened into a smile.

「That’s great, Claudia. As expected of my sister.」

「That’s right. However, he isn’t dead so there is surely a chance that you will meet again. 」

「Although there will be numerous difficulties, it is the path Alex chose. Let us support him from afar. Though… I can’t say that I forgive him for making you cry. Everything will be alright. After all, you have Isaak and me.」

Claudia agreed, and, though she still felt some unease, her mouth loosened a bit at the seams. It’ll be alright. She repeated it once more in her mind.

Then, Claudia decided to ask a question that had been on her mind.

「……At any rate, since when did you learn the truth about Alexis-sama? The schedule of return was supposed to be today, and you can’t have found out about it today, otherwise you would not have been able to arrange my new engagement, right?」

Aah, Ralph said, grimacing.

「I knew since three days ago. It was hidden from you, but it caused quite the uproar, not only in our family, but in the other royal families as well.」

There are nine kings in this Kingdom of Roenburg. Claudia and Ralph’s father was the lord of Rosenheim, Alexis’ father was the lord of Kirsch, and Isaak’s father was the lord of Lambertz.

「……Good grief, I didn’t notice at all. It was hidden well, ne? I went to the academy as usual, but n.o.body told me anything.」

「It’s a good thing that you only have a few friends.」

Hahaha, Ralph chortled. Claudia’s gaze chilled before she threw the most important question at him.

「So, then, why Isaak? Were there no others?」

「Of course there were talks about other candidates. Naturally, every house desired your magical power.」

In this country, human beings that possessed magical power were mostly n.o.bility, and, among them, those who were members of the royal families greatly surpa.s.sed the others in power. The reason why the royal families could maintain their stable position in the hierarchy was because magical power provided many benefits to the country.

It was for this reason that marriage generally occurred among members of the royal families, although marriage to a high-ranking n.o.ble was also common. The power of the house was directly related to the strength of the magical power preserved in its lineage.

However, occasionally, people like in Alexis’s case will appear. People with magical power may be born amongst the common people. Most of them end up working for n.o.bility or serving at the cathedral, and, depending on the strength of their magical power, some may even be deemed “saints”.

「As family, I did not want you to marry into someone else’s house.」

Since Claudia had lost her mother around the age of seven and was the only girl amongst the male members of their family, she was heavily doted on. Isn’t it commonplace for the bride to marry into another family? However, Claudia’s father and brothers wished for a son-in-law that would allow Claudia to continue to live at the Rosenheim residence even after marriage.

「To marry into our family — was the only one able to fulfill the conditions Isaak?」

「No, there were others. Specifically Lord Kirsch — that is to say, Alexis’ younger brother came to apologize to you.」

Claudia frowned as she recalled the brother who was nearly the spitting image of Alexis.

「Isn’t he only six years old? To have a fiancé who is more than ten years his senior would be truly pitiful……」

「Of course, father refused. Their feelings of remorse were already properly understood, ne? This matter was a particularly hard blow for Lord Kirsch, what with the engagement being annulled and his spirit broken.」

Although Alexis wasn’t the eldest son, a precious son was lost in this situation. The Kirsch family probably received a greater shock than Claudia.

「So, while father and our other brothers continued to deliberate on what to do, I recommended Isaak.」

「The Lambertz family has decided that Isaak’s younger brother would succeed the throne. That guy’s complex situation… You know about it too, right?」

「……Un.」

From his appearance and behavior, Isaak gave off the impression of being wolf-like. In fact, he was often called the 「Wolf Prince」 .

「That guy’s in a rough spot. He is hard to understand because he isn’t honest, but he is a good person. He will surely cherish you.」

「Until now, that guy would refuse whatever he found unpleasant, but he accepted this time because it isn’t so. Isn’t that good?」

「…………」

As far as Claudia was concerned, Ralph’s words were surprising.

（So… I wasn’t disliked, you mean?）

What came as a surprise also gave rise to many questions.

「What’s wrong? Why are you making such a face?」

「In your case, doesn’t quarrelling mean you two are close?」

「Haven’t you been arguing back just so you won’t lose?」

「They’re not wrong.」

Ralph’s jovial, yet insulting, response incited a glare from Claudia. Her face contorted in displeasure.

「First and foremost, I have not forgiven Isaak.」

「……I won’t say. It’s not something I would tell other people.」

Claudia’s scowl deepened as she recalled her youth.

（I shouldn’t care about the past. It’s useless, but… But that……）

「Whenever I remember, it makes me angry.」

Even her magical power started to seep out with her emotions. Soon, Claudia’s hair began to stand on end and crackle prompting Ralph to rush out of the room.

TN/EN: