Three People’s Soliloquies (POV of a Certain Young Noble)
Translated by: chocolala
Proofread by: Kitje
“Ben! I said, Ben! Are you listening?”
“Y-eah…” My call was only answered half-heartedly.
My fiancé in front of me seemed to have no presence of mind and was spending his first tea party with me in months in a daze. He had been like this for a while.
He’s got his fiancé, whom he’s going to marry next year, right in front of him, and yet he’s like this. Can’t he at least cooperate in acting that we’re a loving couple?
“Ben. You have to do your duty at the least. Even if both of us have no feelings for each other.”
“…I know.”
“At least, you should respond to what I’m saying, even perfunctory ones. I don’t know what’s going on with you, but this isn’t like you.”
We had what is called a ‘political marriage’. And it was decided when we were still in our parents’ bellies. We were engaged without any consideration of our own intentions.
I had nothing to argue about that. It was just the kind of marriage that aristocrats would have. I’d do anything to get what I could from the union of the families. If I were a parent, I would have got the children engaged even if they were not yet born.
It was just that, inevitably, there were times when you had to marry someone you didn’t get on with because your compatibility was never taken into account. That was exactly me and Ben. Ben and I had always been unsuitable for each other. I was a playboy, a gambler, and liked to have a good time, while Ben was a workaholic and the perfect gentleman who was also a prince’s close aide; we simply couldn’t get along.
Still, we both understood our obligations as nobles, so we didn’t feel any resistance when it came to marriage, and we both saw this relationship as a job. Maybe, if things went on like this, making babies would also be taken as an act of duty? That was just the way I felt about it.
And today was the day of the tea party between us—the two engaged couples—which occurred every few months at the behest of my parents. My parents didn’t want the world to think that we didn’t get along. In fact, they wanted people to think that everything was just fine.
Well, of course. Ben was a close aide to the future king of this kingdom, so he would probably be a great diplomat in the future. If people think that our family was on good terms with such a person, they’d come in flocks and bring together lots of good things.
But, you see…
I looked at the guy in front of me, who also didn’t seem interested in me. Although he was actually more considerate than most people… But today, he seemed to be troubled by something to the point that he couldn’t care less about the tea party.
Hah~ God can be so unreasonable.
“Ben, want to call it a day?”
“…Hm? Ah, did you say something?”
“I said, do you want to call it a day? Your mind is not on this tea party at all, is it? You dare to be in deep thoughts while you have me right in front of your eyes.”
“I’m sorry. I should have focused on the tea party… I’ve been feeling a bit frivolous lately… I can’t stop thinking about it. I don’t mean to belittle you, but…”
“Oh, I see.”
I just wanted to ask whether he wanted to end this tea party or not. God, you really are unreasonable. I like cheerful, easy-going guys. A good talker would be a plus.
However, this guy here is out-and-out a serious person, a complete workaholic. He doesn’t talk about anything exciting or fun; to me, he’s simply a boring person. To put it bluntly, he is the complete opposite of my taste.
Why did God put me together with this man? Isn’t there someone else for Ben, and someone else for me?
“Lenny. Once again, I apologise. I agreed to have a meeting with someone really nostalgic to me. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him, so I’ve been reminiscing a lot about the old days… I failed in my duty to take care of my fiancé.”
“It’s fine. Apologies and all. But, hmm, someone nostalgic? Someone that could even make you ignore your own fiancé in front of you, heh. What’s he like?”
“He used to be one of His Highness Leodore’s study mates.”
Did you just ignore my sarcasm? What a nice personality you got there. Well, not that I mind it.
Ben began to talk in a somewhat good mood.
…Maybe, he just couldn’t wait to see this boy.
“He’s younger than me, and he’s a lovely, honest boy. Like a little brother. His Highness Leodore was also very fond of him… But for various reasons… he didn’t become his close aide. But I’m sure if it’s him, he would have made an excellent aide and would have been trusted by His Highness.”
“…Haa…”
I’m not at all interested. But Ben seems to desperately want to tell someone about him. His mouth never stops talking. Well, I’ll just listen…
“His Highness Leodore is a wonderful man. But there is something about him that worries me. I can’t help thinking if it’s that boy, he could have supported him… I… I’m not able to properly support His Highness. His Highness is incredible, but someone like me is no support or consolation to him… Perhaps, if it’s him, surely he can…”
*yawns*
Oops, a yawn escaped my mouth.
Ben stopped talking as if he had noticed my absent sigh and apologized, “I’m sorry. To make you listen to my story. This tea party is meant for me to listen to you.”
“…Huh, well, if you understand, that’s good. We both just have to do the bare minimum as engaged couples. Ben agrees to this tea party and listens to me. I’ll help you a bit with your work in return for your agreement. That’s the deal.”
“…”
“Hey, Ben. Can you not be so silent all of a sudden?”
“Oh… Sorry about that.”
“Anyway, if we can show the outside world that we get along, our family will shut up. That’s it for today. We’ve talked, we’ve had tea. I’m going to the casino this evening, so I’ll be going now.”
“Oh, well… I’m sorry for making you feel uncomfortable.”
“…Whatever. For the time being, Why don’t you go and have some fun with that little brother(?) of yours?”
Not that I cared about that boy. I just said things randomly, and left the cafe where we had the tea party.
I’ve known Ben for a long time, but we just don’t click. I don’t really enjoy spending time with him. I’m sure he feels the same way.
But…
“…When telling me about that boy, Ben was smiling…”
I hadn’t seen Ben laughing for a long time, well almost ever, as I hadn’t seen him when we were together.
I see, so he can smile…
I have no complaints about the engagement. Nor do I object to the contract we have made. I have no reservations about getting married. But if only both of us could each be with someone we love, with who we’re comfortable with… I’m sure we’d be happy and have a life full of smiles.
“But when we were born, the decision was made. There’s nothing you can do about it, Ben.”
My muttering faded into the air, unheard by anyone.
chocolala: Lenny the fun-loving one but pitiful to be matched with Ben the workaholic