MFAWW 08

**Chapter 08

“Didn’t she have anyone to help her?”

With a family like the Brights, surely they could have found her good friends or a proper chaperone from an early age?

At my question, the Crown Prince gave a bitter smile.

“Unfortunately, the Marquess Bright’s daughter had no one. Those who claimed to be her friends were busy using her, and the high society veterans with hardened bones treated her as prey.”

“I see…….”

“The greenhouse flower, starved for affection, couldn’t distinguish between goodwill and malice directed at her. She tried her best in her own way, but her immature responses only escalated things, and her clumsy behavior caused problems.”

“Hmm.”

“When the Marquess Bright’s daughter became the subject of gossip, all those who called themselves friends turned their backs on her. Even the chaperone the Marquess had appointed criticized her conduct.”

This is difficult, so difficult.

Perhaps it was because I knew nothing about high society. Even though the Crown Prince had kindly explained, there were still so many things I didn’t understand.

“I know it’s hard to comprehend. But high society is a battlefield without swords. It’s a place where you get devoured the moment you show weakness.”

My expression must have looked quite strange, as the Crown Prince smiled bitterly.

“A battlefield…… so the Bright Young Lady was a loser in that war?”

“That’s one way to put it. By the time she realized the problem, it was already too late. All sorts of rumors about the Marquess Bright’s daughter circulated, and people consumed them as gossip. No one believed in her.”

“……Not even the Duke and Marquess Bright?”

At my question, the Crown Prince responded with a wry smile instead of an answer. That alone told me what the situation had been like.

If even her family hadn’t taken her side, it meant the Bright Young Lady had truly been alone. Thinking of the Duke who had aggressively confronted me when he thought I was her, and the Marquess who had only sniffled like a drowned deer, my mood sank sharply.

“I understand why Your Highness considers the Marquess Bright’s daughter a victim. Then what were the evil deeds she committed?”

I’d heard quite a bit, but questions still remained. I still hadn’t heard what incident the Bright Young Lady had actually caused.

Even if she’d been witch-hunted in high society, it didn’t make sense for commoners—not just nobles—to know about her. There must have been something that seared the image of the Bright Young Lady as a villainess into people’s minds.

“Well…….”

Just as the Crown Prince opened his mouth to answer my question, the aide who had brewed the tea and left the room re-entered.

“Your Highness, I apologize, but an urgent message has arrived from the palace…….”

The aide carefully handed over a letter while gauging the Crown Prince’s reaction.

“Oh dear.”

After confirming the contents of the letter handed to him, the Crown Prince let out a small sigh. He looked at me with an apologetic expression.

“What a shame. It seems I won’t be able to continue the story due to an urgent matter.”

“That’s alright.”

It was regrettable, but unavoidable. I was thinking I’d have to ask Sophie or the butler when I returned to the Marquess’s residence, or find information elsewhere, when the Crown Prince, rising from his seat, suddenly asked about my schedule.

“Do you happen to have time in two days?”

“Pardon?”

“I’d feel bad sending you off like this. I’d like to talk at a more leisurely pace.”

“Ah, well…….”

I couldn’t answer right away and trailed off. I had time, but meeting the Crown Prince again felt somewhat burdensome.

“Is it not possible?”

As I hesitated, unable to answer, he looked at me with eyes like an abandoned puppy’s—round and pitiful.

“No, it’s fine. I’m really free.”

In the end, I lost to his eye attack. Having achieved his goal, the Crown Prince smiled brightly and raised his pinky finger, wiggling it lightly.

“Good. Then I’ll send someone to coordinate the details.”

A promise had been made without my realizing it. All because of that pretty face. As I was blankly staring at his face—admirable even upon second look—the Crown Prince, now wearing his coat, approached me again.

“Earlier, I said I was favorable toward the Marquess Bright’s daughter.”

“……? Ah, yes.”

“That’s because I have a bit of a guilty conscience toward her.”

“A guilty conscience?”

“Yes. The Marquess Bright’s daughter was originally my half-brother’s fiancée. They’ve since broken off the engagement, though.”

The Crown Prince’s half-brother? That would be a member of the imperial family. My jaw dropped at the unexpected revelation. Come to think of it, the clerk had mentioned something about the Second Prince earlier.

“His Highness the Second Prince, by any chance?”

“Hm? Did you know?”

That’s right, that’s it. Goodness, the Second Prince had been her fiancé.

As I blinked in surprise, the Crown Prince smiled awkwardly.

“The public knows it as the engagement being broken off due to the Bright Young Lady’s fault…… but actually, it was our side’s fault. After that incident, she disappeared from the capital, so I’ve been somewhat concerned.”

“Your Highness……!”

As the Crown Prince spoke openly about the imperial family’s dirty laundry, the startled aide fidgeted and tried to stop him.

“We have no time to delay. You must go now.”

“Alright.”

At the aide’s urging, the Crown Prince sighed wearily and swept his hair back. As I blankly watched the emerald strands fall smoothly, he smiled brightly at me.

“Then I’ll see you in two days.”

……Please don’t smile so prettily. I might get attached.