Published: August 25, 2025
“I want to hear your story,” said my guardians as they led me to my Foster Father’s office. I was seated in a solitary chair placed in the center of the room, my cold sweat trickling down as I nervously glanced around at the three guardians surrounding me.
...Ugh, I’m surrounded by scary faces.
“I’ll clear the room. Only Karlstedt, Ferdinand, and I need to hear what Myne has to say.”
“Lord Sylvester, wouldn’t it be necessary to have someone present to supplement the explanation concerning the time the princess was unconscious?”
“We will listen to Myne first. If needed, we’ll ask then. For now, leave.”
“Understood.”
My Foster Father, his brow furrowed deeply like that of a high priest, ordered my close aides to leave. They looked at me worriedly, and Richarda and the others left.
...No, please don’t leave me here!
Watching the door slam shut mercilessly, I was already feeling like crying. This was like a merciless, oppressive interview.
As I anxiously searched for an escape, the high priest shrugged his shoulders and sighed.
“It can’t be helped. You have excluded your close aides and are speaking directly with the prince. If the prince decided it’s better that certain things not be heard, it’s best to respect that as much as possible.”
“So, you’re saying I have to tell everything I talked about with Prince Anastasius?”
“That’s right. Without knowing, we can’t set guidelines for Ehrenfest’s actions.”
Though my Foster Father said this, I felt uneasy about having to talk about Anastasius’s love story, which was quite a personal matter. I was also afraid that people would find out I talked about it.
“It’s really a personal matter. I believe Prince Anastasius would dislike me sharing it.”
“If you were an ordinary noble, this sort of interrogation wouldn’t be necessary. But you always do something unexpected. Tell everything without hiding anything. Otherwise, we can’t advise you on how to act in the future.”
That might be true—it would be better to have points of caution and guidelines regarding my future actions. It’s very possible I’m unconsciously doing things outside normal bounds.
I nodded, and my Foster Father sat at his desk. Father stood behind him, and the high priest, usually seated where clerks do their paperwork, tapped his fingers lightly on the desk.
“Then tell me the circumstances that led to such a deep relationship with a royal family member that you would only overlap a year in school? Since the prince excluded his attendants, you must have had quite a deep conversation.”
“...Huh? A deep relationship?”
I tilted my head, surprised by the unexpected words from the high priest. I had promised not to approach him, only met when summoned, and basically only talked about Eglantine’s love story. I had no memory of a deep relationship with Anastasius.
“It just happened by circumstance, beyond my control. I couldn’t disobey the royal’s orders, so I went along with it, and this is what happened.”
“...Huh?”
Though I answered seriously, my Foster Father glared at me. But facts are facts.
Not understanding, the high priest flipped through several sheets of paper in front of him.
“When did you first come into contact with the prince? The reports here say it was at the dedication dance, but if there’s anything else, be honest.”
“...Um, the first was a greeting at the social gathering. I was accused of being different from the rumors about the saint.”
When I mentioned the greeting at the social event, all three put their hands on their heads. Foster Father pressed his brow and groaned.
“I’ve never heard of such a thing, Myne. Did you really pick a fight with the royal family?”
“...I was just a bit irritated by the constant complaints. I didn’t mean to fight…”
I said while my gaze wandered, and the high priest gave a chilling smile, saying quietly, “That’s the most sarcastic and ironic answer I’ve ever heard. It’s a headache.”
I gasped, chilled by his angry smile, and Father sighed and shook his head.