I was enjoying my cup of tea while reading a book in the living room, but then the shocking truth finally came out of nowhere.
Akari: “The prince (1st prince) has come of age. To welcome the advent of such an occasion, among other things, the search for a suitable bride began. Sakura was expected to go to the Royal Palace as a candidate”.
I almost spit out my delicious tea.
Sign.
Saitou: “His Highness’s search for a bride or something, it’s far beyond our house, right? In these circumstances, how about refusing the invitation? ”
Sakura “As if we could do something like disobey orders from royalty!”
The queen’s proclamation, which has only been a nuisance to others, came out two days ago.
To welcome the prince’s adulthood at 16, daughters of the nobility (or rich daughter) are to assemble at the Royal Palace in order to carry out a bride search for His Highness Michio(mean man on good path).
The target range of the daughters goes from eleven to twenty.
Your strike zone sure is wide, Your Highness. I’m starting to think that maybe, his highness is a pedophile.
Damn those royalty.
But despite this, she already has someone she love (apparently her lover is something Chino). Which she reminds me of my mother. So I decided to volunteer in her place, don’t get me wrong but I’m pretty confidence that I can come back home without being select. Besides, this family has help me out too much. It’s time I return a favor.
But…………….
Sakura: “no way! I can’t let you go”
Saitou: “Sakura, as a man I can’t let you go when you already have a lover”
I think what I said might have tick her off. Maybe?
Sakura: “What man! The only thing I see in front of me is a pretty girl!”
Did you have to go that far to hurt my pride! Sakura be more gentle please.
Saitou: “…….that doesn’t matter. I will go in your place!”
Sakura: “why would you go so far for me!? Don’t you want to return to being a boy!? Don’t you want to live a carefree life!? Don’t you want to spend your day peacefully!?”
I wouldn’t have been here if it weren’t you guys.
Saitou: “Of course I want all of those, but I also don’t want to take the easy route! No way in hell am I going to take it! If I can help my sister then so be it!”
I took a deep breath.
Saitou: “beside, what about you? Are you just blindly following order without a brain? Are you willing to abandon your lover? Don’t you want to have a happy life with that person? Or is it that you never love him to begin with? I’m not asking what Sakura Amino want to do, but I am asking what your heart want to do. My mother always told me that “The worst mistake you can make is walking away from that one person who actually stood there and waited for you”. So tell me, Sakura. Do you and that guy truly love each other or is it just fake love? I f it’s fake love then I will withdraw my declaration. If not, then I will go in your place”
Am I just going to cry and lay in bed just because I turn into a girl? No way! I can’t just cry like a baby while the world continues to move forward. I know this is stupid of me to do this, but I need to do it. A man got to help a damsel in distress, right?( the irony is real) Beside it might just be my own pointless sense of pride, but being able to stand on my own two feet is what gives me the right to live.
I need to become stronger (mentally and physically). This will be the first step to that temporarily goal.
Akari: “that enough you two!”
Handa: “let talk about this later. Right now, you two need to calm down”
Sakura then stood up and walk out of the room. When Sakura has left, I face Akari and Handa with a serious face.
Saitou: “I want you both to trust me in this. Also, you guys already know that this isn’t the right path for Sakura either”
While acknowledging the stern expression her husband had on his face, she quietly answered him.
Akari: “Dearie”
Handa: “Ah.”
The two of them had been married for 40 years now. They could understand each other’s intentions with just a simple exchange.
Before long, Handa uttered with a big sigh while stroking his moustache.
Akari did not say anything.
After a while, both of them finally made their decision.
Akari: “Okay Saitou”
Saitou: “Thank you”
Even though both of them agree to my request, they still have a worry look on their face.
Although I hesitantly took up this responsibility and more, I fully intended to accomplish my role as a substitute.
I don’t want to do something like watch a family member give up their love for “royalty”. The truth was that Sakura was already engaged with one of the Chino family member when she was young, but she (her family) were going to break off the engagement just because royalty take priority. I don’t blame them and here’s why.
Even though the dude’s grandma gave the green light for Sakura and him to be engaged, many family members from the Chino family disagree with it. It’s like Romeo and Juliet but one family isn’t a noble and the other is one (plus both family don’t hate each other, it’s just about power stuff).
You guys still ask why don’t we just decline the invitation since she is engaged to one of the most powerful family in this country? Let just say that if we decline the invitation, then those who are oppose of the engagement would use this against our family.
I also don’t want to make my family look foolish.
If I also continue telling lies, the facts of the story could change up on me. So if I don’t expose my true colors to absolutely anybody and everybody, it’ll be fine.
Thus, we finally got our problem solve at home and Sakura still wouldn’t look at me.
We accepted the invitation via email and in a couple of hours, they will come and pick us( Saitou and Handa) up.
Sign.
Four hours later.
When I open the door to the front yard, there was a fancy car waiting for me and Handa.
Well, I’m off to the capital. I mean look at the bright side. I don’t get to go to school (mc don’t like school).
Solution 1: Kick the prince in the balls and my problem will be solved.
****************************************
“…… up. Wake up, Saitou.”
Handa whispered in a low voice to inform me. We’ve arrived at the Royal Palace.
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
A handkerchief was thrust before my half open eyes – since I was looking at him dazedly in a sleep induced stupor, “Your drool, wipe your drool off”
I was told by Handa. Looks like I was fast asleep.
Accompanied by my uncle (Handa) to the Royal Palace, I’ve marched into the den of thieves. An unpleasant air of trickery and wiles swirl around this place.
Handa: “Listen up, Saitou. The bride selection period is two months.”
I almost choke up blood.
Handa: “I’ll come pick you up after two months.”
Saitou: “Please leave it to me. I’ll keep an eye out without causing a racket or standing out.”
As I bade farewell to him in parting.
A maid quickly came and approached me. “I shall humbly guide you around,” she said as she bowed her head.
As expected of the Royal Palace. The people working here are also beautiful in uniform.
The gorgeous castle interior wasn’t half bad. Paying only slight attention as I was passing through while half-asleep, I went towards the hall where the other bride candidates had gathered.
Wooooow, it’s certainly noisy in here, huh……
I had just entered the reception hall and was already engulfed in an uproar of sound. As I winced from the noise, I shrunk back and took refuge in a corner.
If three girls had gathered it would be noisy, but what on earth is this? There might be hundreds of people assembled here.
The children at age eleven are crying, and as for the maidens chattering amongst themselves in amusement.
It seems as if I’ll choke from all the foundation and perfume odors mingling in the air.
In this stuffy atmosphere caused from all these bodies packed together.
However, let’s think about it. Due to so many people gathering around, standing out amongst the crowd will be difficult.
Hell yes. This way I won’t stand out hehehehe.
Unless I engage in some very unreasonable behavior, I probably won’t draw any attention to myself.
Crash! rang the gong. The hall reverted back to silence.
The prime minister, who just came out, appeared to be explaining the guidelines for the current bride selection process.
………… I can’t hear anything. He’s way too far away.
But thanks to the impromptu, light-speed game of Telephone between all the girls, one way or another I was able to know what the prime minister’s words were.
First, we were all to split up into small groups.
Well, the conditions would be unappealing if a marquis’s daughter were to be in the same group as a low-ranking rich guy(girl) like me, right? It’s only natural.
For one thing, His Highness is visiting a group every day. Accordingly, it then becomes possible to deepen your sense of intimacy with him.
Because the number of people in attendance is so large, it is only possible to meet the prince once per week. Once the girls knew that, a wave of dejection ran throughout the group.
Fufufu, it’s fewer than I expected.
Four meetings in one month. Only four meetings, which mean eight meeting overall. If I let my encounters with the prince idly pass by, I’ll be looking forward to ordinary life.
For a start, it’s been established that the selection period is two months.
Once the prince has made a decision on his bride to be, the announcement will take place the next morning of the final day. Those who weren’t chosen will be sent away from the Royal Palace.
Even if I grumble and remain here, the position as his bride is beyond my power. And wouldn’t I get called useless later? The people close to that ugly prince will definitely join in on that. Besides, I don’t plan to be seduce by a male. Just thinking about it make me want to vomit.
Leave it to me! For the sake of His Royal Highness, let’s quickly depart! Become gone with the wind!
****************************
“Kyaaaa!! Your Highness! Your Highnesssssssssss!”
It’d be corny(gay) for me to scream like that. While trying to endure the goosebumps I sat down next to Miss Miku, who was breaking out into falsetto screams of joy.
The way everyone was behaving was as if the tasty-looking teas and pastries never came into their sight at all; rather than brewing black tea, hot gazes were brewing toward that ugly prince instead.
It’s perfect camouflage.
While all these are happening, I quietly sat at a corner eating all these delicious foods.
The group members’ faces began to look resigned at times, but over the course of these seven days I’ve repeatedly observed them. With a splendid average age of fourteen, these girls possess a high-strung tension.
Beside they look cute. Plus I get to bath with them…ahem I mean we’re all lady here, right? There nothing wrong while enjoying the bath with pretty girls, right?
Anyway, the girls were all making such a huge fuss about it. And I can’t believe I agree with them – he has a well-kept appearance.
black hair and dark-blue pupils with his tall height and long, slender, well-proportioned features. If you were to compare him to his grim knight escorts, His Highness looks scrawny and wiry. But, popular expectations are that he’ll grow after this.
Sign.
Such a lucky bastard he is.
After reaching the mark of exchanging a few unimpressionable conversations, that ugly prince (ugly prince = handsome prince) excused himself and left.
I was never able to show off my appeal! The other girls’ lips pursed together, creating some very displeased looks.
“It’s okay. There’s always next time!” While these words of comfort were spreading around, everyone steadily regained their enthusiasm. It seems these girls all firmly believed that.
With this informal meeting with His Highness, the official schedule created involves two tea parties, one banquet, and one ball. It appears that only a select number of groups can attend the ball happening in the fourth week. Hopefully it’s not going to be me (haven’t learn to dance like a girl).
Dukes, marquises –beyond highly-ranked nobles like them, the decision of how many groups from the lower court ranks could attend was currently postponed.
Phew, that’s music to my ear.
A nonstop month without breaks.
That ugly prince is going through a lot of trouble, being summoned to things like tea parties and dinner parties every day.
I heard this somewhere, but according to the eyes of the other people attending the party, our group was the final one of the round. Looks like we set the record for His Highness’s shortest stay.
Yes yes yes, thank you mother and father for this incredible moment (Saitou talking about the record for shortest time fyi).
*****************************
We were given the relative freedom to act as we pleased.
Now it’s time to go to the library. You ask why I want to go there? Huhuhu it’s to get information of course, plus There are tons of book in the royal capital that you couldn’t get elsewhere. Also, it’s quiet there and I won’t stand out since nobody really goes to the library.
As I made my way over there, I see a chubby boy sitting down at a bench crying.
what could have happened to him. Am I seeing things? For a second he seems transparent but I guess I’m thinking too much.
I walked over to him.
Saitou: “what wrong? Are you okay?”
The chubby boy jumps in surprise.
Boy: “you can see me?”
Saitou: “of course I can. What’s up with that question”
Damn this is deep, so people been ignoring him just because he’s fat. Now I see.
As a brother, I need to help this guy out.
Boy: “………. Miss…um normal people wouldn’t see me”
Saitou: “don’t worry about those normal people. They only care about themselves that’s why they don’t see the big picture.”
The boy just stares at me dumbfound.
Saitou: “anyway I’m going to the library. Do you want to come with me?”
Boy: “s…sure”
No worry brother, I will be your first friend.
As we were talking back and forth between ourselves, people just kept staring at me.
When we reach the library, a group of girls behind me whisper “who is she talking to? Is she crazy? Does she have an imaginary friend?”
These girls sure tick me off.
They completely ignore this boy next to me!
******************* *
When we enter the library, there was a Liberian at a counter.
She is a lady with big breasts and two-colored eyes. So I can call her “Boing”.
We went over and register our name.
Lady: “how do you do”
Saitou: “I am doing well”
Lady: “is it just you today?”
Saitou: “no, my friend is with me”
Lady: “hmmm I can’t sense anyone next to you though”
Saitou: “………………”
I turn and look at the boy
Saitou: “don’t just stand there, introduce yourself”
Boy: “sorry to burst your bubble, but I’m actually a spirit. I used to be a human a year ago”
Saitou: “stop joking around. If you were a spirit then how am I able to see you”
Lady: “aw that quite the talent you have there miss. No wonder I can’t sense anyone beside you”
Saitou: “w……”
Is this some kind of joke? Warning warning, brain overheating.
Lady: “you see miss, in this world there are only a few people who can see spirit and you happen to be one of them.”
Saitou: “that’s impossible, I’m just a normal person without magic”
Lady: “having spirit power doesn’t mean you have magic power. A person with magic or without magic can have spirit power. Shaman and exorcist are example of spiritual power”
Saitou: “I…...see”
Lady: “oh my, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Lilith vampirr, you can call me Lilith”
Saitou: “Okay, I am Saitou Amino. You can just call me Saitou, Lilith-san.”
Lilith-san’s movements were stable and certain.
Even so, something was missing. There was an unnatural feel in her movements.
I continued observing for a while and finally found out what missing.
…This person… She is giving me a pass without looking at her hands.
Normally, when you do something, you look at your hands. Even if you are familiar with it, when you use your hands, you usually look at your fingertips.
From my side, Lilith-san’s two-colored eyes were blue on the right and red on the left. In other words, her left eye is blue and the right eye is red.
Both of her eyes had no light. Clearly, neither eye is in focus.
Saitou: “… Your eyes… Maybe you can’t see?”
Lilith: “Yes. A few years ago, when I was fighting against a monster … at that time…”
Saitou: “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said all those things”
Lilith: “It’s fine”
Saitou: “Can’t you cure it with healing magic or medicine?”
Lilith: “I already tried using healing magic myself and I was also asking famous doctors and shaman… none of them were any help.”
Saitou: “Hm… was that so?”
A blindness that can’t be cure with healing magic and medicine?
Can I to cure it with my healing Magic? (magic tool)
I whisper “activate”
Poof. A sword pop up.
I took a deep breath.
Saitou: “Lilith-san, can I try to heal your eye?”
Lilith: “go ahead”
God and spirit if you hear me please heal this beauty eye.
Saitou: “ancient moons, lend your power. Bring me peace this very hour. I call upon your strength and might, Bless your child this secret night.”
Please cure her eyes and let her see again
I hope this Recovery Magic spell counteract the curse …
And I cast it on Lilith-san’s eyes.
Lilith: “…Huh?”
Saitou: “How is it?”
Lilith: “Huh… Ah, light, there’s light …”
… It looks like it was successful.
Even if she close her eyes, light still comes through somehow.
If she can recognize it that means her vision has returned.
Saitou: “Calm down. Please open your eyes slowly.”
Lilith: “Oh, alright… ”
Lilith feel nervous to open her eyes.
Her two-coloured eyes that appeared in my sight wasn’t dark shade like before.
Recognizing the light, recognizing me, her pupils were swaying.
It looks good. It seems to have healed properly. After all, it seems that the curse was the cause.
Lilith: “I can see… I can see…!”
Saitou: “It seems your eyes has been cured”
Lilith: “I couldn’t see for two years. I already gave up … thank you… Thank you very much, Saitou!”
Saitou: “your welcome, well I must get going and explore this place. My time is limited”
Lilith: “please go ahead”
If I ever turn back to a guy. She will have to return a favor for me, so ahem I will see until then.