CH 89

Normally when you bet something on a match, it should be something that both people are competing for. Something both people want a lot, right?

I have never gambled before nor have I ever bet something on a showdown before. Mariabell used her political power to get her hands on anything and everything she wanted and failed in the end. Maybe I just don’t understand gambling, though I do understand the feeling of wanting to compete for a free giveaway.

In any case, if the winner sees no value in the prize, then the match is over automatically, right?

Personally, I don’t want the match to happen, so I’ll try to decline.

“Um… I think there’s a misunderstanding? I was listed as a candidate before, but it should already be cancelled.”

At least, Runa himself had said that it probably would be someone else. I don’t know how much influence a prince has on choosing his fiancée, but I had been denying rumors because I trusted him… Although it seems my denials haven’t spread much. Give me a break!

“Cancelled… What happened for the favored candidate to have such a misunderstanding…”

“……”

That’s my line, what kind of misunderstanding do you have.

Favored candidate? Those are words foreign to me.

“If I’m not mistaken, there are plenty of fiancée candidates for Runa-sama and there are names that have stood out. But… no one is on the same level as you.”

That doesn’t matter to me at all. I certainly am of the highest level in terms of lineage, but I don’t have any talents that could be of use to the country. If I were good at something, I would first use them to do something about my destruction flags. Furthermore, Runa is a minefield of destruction flags.

What kind of person would charge into a bomb?

“Right now, there are two likely candidates to become Runa-sama’s fiancée. One is you and the other is… me.”

My shoulders suddenly felt heavy from the gravity of her words.

I should have broken the flag long ago… The flag I had put my all into breaking was still alive. Furthermore, I wasn’t just a candidate but the favored one. Is this hell!?

And, Christine-sama was causing mayhem with this truth right in front of me.

There wasn’t…. supposed to be this kind of development in the game. Could it be, Mariabell forced the other candidates to yield to become Runa’s official fiancée? It’s possible. She did have the political power and the personality for it.

Otherwise, if the heroine chose a target besides Runa then the fiancée wouldn’t be Mariabell, but someone else. In the end, the prince had to marry someone out of duty if he didn’t end up with the heroine. Part of his job is to make blood ties.

I only know that in the future of the hero and heroine, Mariabell will be showered with misfortune. I don’t know anything else besides that.

And, while the heroine is not here, the game won’t begin so I cannot do anything. Villainesses sure are unreasonable. Be gentle with me, I did enough work for five people.

“I’m surprised. There have been candidates who have stood out until now, but none of them were a match for me.”

Christine-sama became Runa’s fiancée candidate before I was even proposed as one. Before she was old enough to understand what was happening, she was already being raised to become Runa’s fiancée. Although she was still only a candidate, her surroundings thought it was already 90% decided and that her status was just a formality. It looks like she thought so too.

The reason why Runa had rejected me must have been because of Christine-sama’s existence.

As I thought, Mariabell had definitely used under-handed methods to get the candidacy. How could she do things like that… If Christine-sama becomes the fiancée then I can be done with being a villainess. It’s one thing to hear about being exiled to a foreign country but it actually happening can cost you your life, okay!

“That’s why this time also, your presence didn’t bother me. I had confidence that no matter who my opponent was, I’d be chosen in the end. There wasn’t anyone more suitable for Runa-sama than me… At least that’s what I thought.”

For Runa’s sake, so that she would look his equal, she had put in every possible amount of work. She has the etiquette to stand next to the prince, the future king, as a princess as well. The time she’s spent and her feelings, she had confidence that she would lose to no one. That’s confidence for you.

The moment she has been pouring everything into for had almost come and she didn’t think it was just a dream.

Like a comet, another favorite appeared. The rumors followed her around, Tempest family’s gorgeous daughter.

Mariabell Tempest… Me.

“Hearing about you, I investigated you immediately. Lineage, appearance, ability… I researched it all. I understood why you were the strongest candidate.  You certainly are an existence suitable to stand next to Runa-sama.”

I’m being praised, right? Christine-sama surely thinks there is no higher form of praise than what she is saying.

But I’m not even 1 micron happy. Every word and phrase coming out of her mouth has been a brutal blow, so I’m on the verge of dying.

“That’s why… I want to have a match. Fair and square, for the right to be by Runa-sama’s side.”

Her train of thought was impossible for me to understand.

Let’s say, for the sake of argument, I was a suitable fiancée for Runa. I really don’t acknowledge that at all, but I have to to move this conversation along. I don’t actually think I am at all.

Even if it were true, what’s the point of having a match? If I have to marry Runa, I’ll surely die. The only thing waiting for me if I become his fiancée is death itself. Isn’t that the complete opposite of happiness?

It’s extremely unfortunate that I am somehow the favored candidate but, I will do whatever it takes to wipe that notion away. My life is literally at stake, after all.

Honestly, for me, Christine-sama’s existence is my salvation. She’s like a goddess descending from the heavens.

If she continues at this rate and becomes Runa’s fiancée, then I’ll have one less destruction path to worry about. With just a small step, I can go from diving headfirst towards the heroine to being completely safe. And Runa can have a happy future. Talk about two birds with one stone. Although 90% of that is at my convenience.

“The prize for winning Ozcon isn’t much, so having the fiancée candidacy on the line should be in your favor. It’s the best stage for our battle.”

Certainly in terms of appearances, it’s hard to say who is superior between the two of us. If someone finds someone beautiful then there is surely someone who thinks the opposite. Supposing the majority decided the outcome, a contest that can give concrete placements could influence a fiancée selection.

A royalty’s fiancée should have a good face but her social status and ability, no matter how trivial the difference, can become an important factor. Although I really don’t care, I want nothing to do with this.

“If it’s you, you’ll easily pass the preliminary judging.”

“No, Um… I don’t want to have a match…”

If I am still a candidate, I can’t clearly reject being his fiancée. My words could be misconstrued to be disparagement or disrespect to the prince… People who aren’t in danger of being served a full course of destruction can throw someone else under the bus easily with little evidence. For some reason, distorted facts spread further and faster than true ones and people tend to believe the information they hear first.

That’s why I have to be indirect, but if I don’t clearly decline, then misunderstandings will scatter. The best option is to avoid mentioning Runa, fiancée candidacy, and other delicate matters and just straight up avoid the match. A pointless fight would be born otherwise. I guess someone like me who was just a sacrifice for the heroine’s happiness has no persuasive power.

“Are you scared?”

“Eh?”

“That you’ll lose and Runa-sama will be taken from you.”

Actually it’s the opposite you know, kidnap him right now and I wouldn’t care. Wait, he’s not even mine, I don’t need him.

“N-no, that’s not it… I didn’t know I was still a candidate. And something like marriage… I can’t even imagine that right now.”

If I could, I would declare that I’m cancelling my candidacy. I’ll even sign a pledge. I want to tell the world that I won’t marry Runa.

If I did that, my candidacy would be erased for sure but, at the same time my existence would be erased. Just like Mariabell.

I laughed to show her I wasn’t trying to trick her and I tried to let out a bitter smile. I wanted her to think it wasn’t about Runa, but that I as an individual had never imagined being his fiancée. Honestly, I really can’t imagine something like marriage.

“… Everyone always says that in the beginning.”

She said in a low voice. I could hear traces of sadness and anger in her tone. Disappointment… She wasn’t saying that to me or anyone at all but to herself.

A wrinkle formed on her smooth brow. Her confident atmosphere had fallen. It looks like my statement made her think of something.

“In the beginning everyone acts humble. Because they’ll be seen as pure hearted that way. They’ll act humble and modest, putting up a pure act… They only keep up that appearance in the beginning though.”

A prince’s fiancée. What I saw in Christine-sama, who was the closest person to that glorious position, was what I detested most.

Before, Mariabell had caused trouble for her surroundings with her lies, selfishness, and malice. It’s not rare in the social world but just because something is common doesn’t mean it should be tolerated.

I can understand why Christine-sama doubts me so much. It would be dangerous to accept my words without any questions. I also thought so.

I’m not mad or sad that she doubts me.

It is extremely bothersome for me. Because, my words really are my true feelings… No, I did sugar-coat my true feelings instead of directly declining. I want to show my true feelings—double meanings are bad. Realistically, it’ll be bad for me later.

“But, that doesn’t concern me. Your words are lies and you want to increase your standing as a fiancée candidate. It’s a fact that you have that sort of disposition.”

Please stop, if you don’t understand me then the conversation can’t move forward!

I can’t believe it. My intentions weren’t conveyed to her at all. Christine-sama steeled herself and then thrust a ticket straight to hell at me.

“You or anyone else, I will definitely win… I’ll win fairly and I’ll be the one standing next to Runa-sama.”