Epilogue

V1 Epilogue

In the end, Alan decided to step down from the crown prince position. There are still formal procedures that need to be done but the official announcement should happen soon. With this, the seat of the crown prince will be vacant for a while until either Cyrus or Alan take it again.

Of course, it would take an extraordinary effort from Alan for him to take back the position. Thinking about it normally, such a thing is pretty much impossible but recently, Alan seems like an entirely different person. He has been taking his work seriously and even looked quite enthusiastic about pursuing the education in the area that he is lacking.

According to the Queen, Cyrus also changed a little as well. Olivia doesn’t see such a change herself but it appears that Cyrus has begun taking up his studies of national affairs, the subject which he had never been interested in before. When she asked what could cause such a change, the Queen smilingly said [That child must be thinking about a lot of things in his own ways. Perhaps it is all thanks to you?]

Thus, this bet between the King and the Queen will have to continue until it is clear which one of them will be the next king.

Meanwhile, Tiana’s engagement with Alan was broken and House Lemone was crushed. The problematic Lemone territory that was the center of this incident was transferred to Duke Atoir. The monetary damage from Count Lemone’s illegal gold smuggling is being paid off using the asset seized from the Lemone family while the country has to pay the excess while former Count Lemone and his family were sentenced to hard labor.

On the other hand, Olivia is——–

“In the end, it’s given to me again. Is this really okay?”

The room which once confiscated from her due to the broken engagement——–in other words, Olivia’s old room was given back to her.

After Olivia left, the room was used by Tiana and was filled to the brim with her personal belongings until just two days ago. However, they were removed and the room is now empty.

The King plans to put new furniture in here but it seems that it still hasn’t arrived yet.

While looking around the now empty room, Olivia has to wonder if it has always been this large. Meanwhile, Taylor who has just finished changing the curtain nodded to the result of her work with satisfaction.

“Of course, this room was originally prepared for Olivia-sama after all.”

The last remaining piece of furniture belonging to Tiana was a flashy rose-pink curtain. With it removed, an olive-green curtain that gives off a calm feeling replaced it at Olivia’s request. That alone made it finally feel like this is her own room.

Olivia plans to engage herself with Cyrus but with all the turmoil going on from the international problem Count Lemone caused and Alan annulling his engagement again, it will be announced later once things calm down.

For the time being, the Queen and the King appeared to have a discussion with each other and decided that the crown prince’s work will be divided between Cyrus and Alan. Because of that, Olivia expected that some of it would flow to her again.

“Considering the amount of paperwork, I wonder if this desk is big enough for it.”

“………Olivia-sama, you made it sound like it will definitely come your way even though there hasn’t been any request though.”

“Rather than just two people, it would be faster if the three of us take care of it, right?”

“Is that really the point you should focus on though……”

Taylor sighs as though she gave up.

Unable to understand the tired expression on Taylor’s face, Olivia tilted her head. Perhaps because she has been taking care of them for so many years, such paperwork is not really that much of a pain to Olivia. Besides, with her room in the castle, she can visit the library whenever she wants. The sooner she finishes her work the more free time she can enjoy.

“Come to think of it, I heard that they have prepared a princess education course for you……I don’t believe that it is necessary though.”

“It is. I think there are a lot of things I can learn from Wattle-sama you know.”

Yes, whether Olivia becomes a queen or not depends entirely on Cyrus so it’s not like the education is absolutely necessary. However, Olivia decided to redo her princess education out of her own will. Of course, she herself wants to learn more, but this is also for the sake of Cyrus and herself.

Olivia has been dubbed as a fool who hasn’t even received the princess education. With such an impression established, it wouldn’t be so easily changed. With that being the case, the simplest and easiest way to do that is to make her effort visible. She can’t afford to let others make fun of Cyrus because of her. Moreover, if she does become a queen in the future, it will be difficult to get involved with national affairs if people make light of her as a fool.

In Alan’s case, since she acted like that at Alan’s own request, she felt that it is only right if he has to deal with the aftermath himself. In the end, the only one troubled will be Alan——she used to have shallow thoughts like that but thinking about it now, her [Don’t care] attitude was also at fault. If she had properly confronted Alan at some point in time, things might have turned out very differently.

(…….I was also at fault for acting like I couldn’t care less about my reputation.)

Is it because of Alan as well that she began thinking this way?

A little after Count Lemone was arrested, Alan came to see her alone. As soon as he saw Olivia, he deeply bowed and apologized again for the attitude he took toward her. Back then, Olivia was stunned as she never thought Alan to be someone who would lower his head to her like that.

Then, with a smile that felt as though he was laughing at himself, he continues—-

———Watch me. I will show you that even I can change. Someday I will make you say that you see me in a new light.

Olivia personally thinks that such a day is not so far off.

Alan’s high pride made him seem like an overbearing person but it doesn’t mean that he is a foolish prince who is beyond saving. If he’s a big enough fool that could ruin a country, Alan wouldn’t have been given the position of crown prince in the first place. He has plenty of things that he needs to fix about himself but if he’s motivated, he is someone that can definitely turn out for the better.

“Olivia, so this is where you are?”

While Olivia was thinking about various things in the empty room, a voice called out to her from behind.

When she slowly turned around, she found Cyrus, who should have been taking his lesson on national laws until a moment ago, standing there with a smile. The amount of lessons he’s taking has increased but she couldn’t spot a sense of fatigue from his expression. Rather, he looks like he’s enjoying himself.

“I have an hour of free time so do you want to go to the library together?”

Said Cyrus as he flashed the key to the forbidden section in front of her. It appeared that he borrowed it from the King again.

Of course, Olivia gave an immediate reply.

After telling Taylor that she will be back in an hour, she heads to the library located in the garden with Cyrus, hand in hand.

As she enters the forbidden section, Olivia approaches the bookshelf with skipping steps.

After picking up some books, she headed to the reading room in the back where the beautiful rose garden is visible from the window with Cyrus.

There, instead of sitting across from each other, they sit side by side.

Olivia then tried to open her book immediately but her hand was stopped by Cyrus.

Wondering why he stopped her, Olivia looked up and tried to ask him what he’s doing but–.

“——–!”

Olivia’s eyes opened wide as when she was about to open her mouth, a kiss was placed on her lips.

“Once you focus on the book, you won’t take your eyes off it after all.”

“B, but…….being surprised like this is–”

Cyrus satisfactorily smiled at Olivia’s bright red face.

“If I don’t take you by surprise, you would run away right?”

“Uu…….”

Olivia isn’t used to this kind of physical contact yet so she would turn away if Cyrus let her know that he’s coming for a kiss.

Knowing that, Cyrus dropped a surprise kiss on her so that she doesn’t have time to prepare herself.

Because it’s bad for her heart, she asked him to stop but he refused so Olivia has to wonder if her only choice is to get used to it.

(…….how can I focus on the books after that.)

Her heart started to beat loudly and when she opened the book, its content didn’t register in her head.

When she looked up at Cyrus with a pout, he only smiled as if he thought that it’s funny.

“Right. It seems if I kiss you then you can’t concentrate on your books huh.”

“Pl, please don’t tease me.”

“I’m not teasing you though. I’m just happy.”

Saying so, Cyrus started playfully pecking at Olivia’s cheek.

In response, Olivia turned to the window to hide her red face.

Then, she saw the Queen and the King walking together in the garden. When her expression turned strange at the sight, Cyrus bitterly smiled.

“It’s not like those two are on bad terms or anything you know. Rather, I think that they are quite close.”

“Is that the case?”

Olivia was confident that the King’s relationship with his wife is a strained one. However, if that’s not the case then why did they make such a bet against each other? Things should work out as long as they talk to one another. In the first place, what will the winner get out of this kind of bet? Just what is at stake here?

“A child.”

“…..eh?”

Cyrus said as though he read her mind.

“Those two are betting which one between me and Aniue would be the next king but the prize——-putting it like that sounds a little terrible huh, well, in short, the stake they are betting on is a child.”

“A child?”

“To put it simply, my father wants another child but my mother is already tired of raising children so she doesn’t want to give birth to another. That’s why they placed a bet and the loser would have to listen to the winner. When my brother became crown prince, Mother declared her victory but Father told her to wait and see first. In the end, the bet continues to this day. ……..Father probably already gave up on having another child though. There’s my mother’s age to consider after all.”

Even if he says that, the Queen should be only 40. It’s not like she can’t give birth if she tries. Cyrus may think that his father has already given up but with the King being, what’s the word? a schemer? tenacious? a sore loser? anyway, with how he is, he still probably hasn’t given up completely yet.

Just thinking about it already tired Olivia out. It’s such a big bet so she was wondering what kind of amazing prize is at stake here but it’s only about having another child. If it’s just this then it would be nice if they can just talk it out with each other.

“Olivia, you might think that all this is just absurd but if you don’t take this seriously then the next victim will be you and me you know.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, if Father finally realized that Mother won’t give him another child then, the next best thing for him would be……..”

“N, No way…….”

“A grandchild……..I mean, my father has always wanted a girl after all.”

Olivia wanted to hold her head.

She very much wants to avoid a future where the King asks [Where’s my grandchild] every time he sees her.

“Well, they should be entertained enough with the bet between them for a while so I think we will be fine for now though.”

Fine or not, Olivia and Cyrus still haven’t married each other. Even their engagement is still in the future. If the King started pestering them for a [Grandchild] in a situation like this then she would be troubled. If it’s going to turn out like that, she needs to prolong this bet of theirs as much as possible and lure their attention away from her.

While Olivia was strategizing a survival plan, Cyrus reached out and touched her cheek.

“Deep in thoughts again? If you are going to think about something then it would be nice if you think about me though.”

When she turned at him in surprise, Olivia saw Cyrus making a sullen expression.

When she smiled at him pouting, Cyrus sulkily pinched her nose.

“If you laugh too much then I will kiss you again you know.”

Hearing that, Olivia’s face turned bright red again as she started to fidget.

Before she could escape, Cyrus trapped Olivia within his arms and kissed her cheek before nodding satisfactorily at her red face and placing her on his lap.

“Hugging you like this really soothes me so should we stay like this until the break is over?”

Hearing that, Olvia doesn’t know what to do.

In the end, Cyrus kept hugging Olivia until Colin came to call him. With Olivia’s face still bright red, he took her hand and left the library with satisfaction.

When Olivia returned to her room with a blushed face, Taylor greeted her with [Ara Ara].

Since then, the figure of Olivia blushing while her hand is locked with Cyrus was witnessed many times by the people in the castle, some even started to secretly call her [Princess Apple]. It will be a little later until the person herself becomes aware that she has such a nickname.

A hundred plus several tens of years later, the names [Princess Apple] and [Olivia the Wise] were recorded in the history of Brior. The story of [Princess Apple] whose face always turned bright red whenever she walked the castle hand in hand with her husband became a famous story even among little children.