Chapter 52 – Episode 52. Night Market (4)
【You want to change it!?】
‘I can’t change it! I can’t change it!’
Astrid was sweating to stop the real Astrid, who was raging in her head.
In the carriage back home. Ashley, who was sitting across from Astrid with a load of food she had bought, was skewering and eating fruit candy repeatedly, unaware of her sister Astrid’s hardships.
“Oh, sister. Don’t you eat? This is fine It is very sweet because it is thickly coated with sugar syrup. Try it.”
“… Do you put it in your mouth?”
Apart from the real Astrid that was raging in her head, Astrid also felt uncomfortable inside. No, why would it appear there? Or show up a little later.
【That guy is strong, so he won’t die if you throw it here!】
‘It’s not going to break anywhere.’
【You won’t die!】
‘He’s your younger brother!’
【I’m saying this because she’s my sister!】
On the one hand, it was fortunate. Just a moment ago, Leopold was literally at the point where he was about to confess.
At least that’s how Astrid saw it. She asked if she still doesn’t have a heartbeat, so whether she answered there or not, maybe Leopold I have a heartbeat for you… Some words would have followed.
If it did, it would really be over. Astrid couldn’t answer no in that situation. If that’s the case, it’s a breakup, and it’s just…
‘That’s probably not it. Leopold has to go to the academy for four years.’
If that was the case, Astrid would have had to leave her academy and quietly take bridal lessons. She was cooking and housekeeping, as well as her social skills and conversation skills, and the manner in which she behaved as the Crown Princess in a high position, asking her to be aware of all things above all else rather than the manner of a noble lady.
‘I know most of that anyway. A person with 10 years of self-employment experience… No, what am I thinking.’
“Try one.”
As if to wake up Astrid, who was lost in her thoughts, Ashley held an apple candy in her hand.
“It is delicious. Try it.”
【Don’t skip over this!】
But what can I do? It’s not like Ashley was doing it with malice. She just didn’t notice. Astrid took a bite of the candy apple she held in her hand.
It was really sweet and delicious with the sticky sugar syrup and the refreshing sweetness unique to apples.
【… It sounds delicious.]
‘Yes?’
Well, good is good. Astrid decided to think so. Rather, it’s good. It’s a good thing she didn’t go beyond that.
Her carriage was driving down the boulevard. The night market is also nearing its end, so the long boulevard stretches between the sidewalks full of people returning home and those looking for empty carriages.
The carriage with Astrid and Ashley running on it.
*
‘So, you said you had something to say.’
【I do.】
At the night market, the real Astrid stopped to say something. Astrid remembered that too.
‘Now, tell me.’
The bathroom was full of steam. Although it is said to be the capital’s residence, the size of the bathroom was enormous because it was the residence of a grand duke, and there was a bathtub in the middle.
A gilded lion’s head was attached to the wall, and hot water was pouring from it. The amount of water draining down and the amount of water supplied were kept almost the same so that the water did not stagnate, so the temperature of the water in the bath was maintained and the surface of the water was maintained at the same position.
And in the bathtub, Astrid was sitting with a towel over her head.
Be sure to take a half-body bath for 30 minutes a day. It was one of the real Astrid’s requirements, and Astrid had been keeping that promise until now.
【You really look like a fairy.】
‘… What?!’
I almost slipped on the bathtub step where I was sitting. You’re a fairy I don’t know what this means.
No, I know the meaning of the word, but I couldn’t understand why this word came out here.
‘Hey, hey! What are you talking about right now?!’
【Is this the correct answer?】
‘No it’s not?!’
Not really. At the very least, it would be wrong to say that she was a flirt, but she was a fairy. The gender that the word refers to is wrong.
【But how are you so good at acting like a fox?】
‘What do you mean… ‘
There was no context. I cut off the context of her before and after, and when I spoke, I couldn’t understand her intentions.
It was embarrassing even though she knew the true character of Astrid, and it seemed like she knew what kind of hardships other nobles and her daughters had to go through who had to deal with her in front of her.
【What I was trying to say earlier.】
‘What do you mean?’
【I will do my best to help you return to your original world.】
And for a while, nothing was said. Around that time, when Astrid was getting frustrated little by little.
Again and again, only the sound of water droplets dripping from the ceiling into the bathtub echoed in the quiet bathroom.
【… Please help me.】
‘What?’
Considering the real Astrid’s personality, it’s probably the first time in her life to ask someone for help like that.
【Me… Help me… 】
It was a strange feeling.
The real Astrid’s voice seemed to tremble a little.
‘… Are you really crying?’
Not likely. Astrid was able to feel the emotions that the real Astrid felt.
It wasn’t sadness. I don’t know exactly, but she felt something like a feeling of melancholy and bitterness.
【It’s just because I’m sad. My ability, I’ve never felt like I lacked my ability in my life. I can feel it today. Is it because I became emotional?]
‘That… Hmm.’
At a time like this, she doesn’t know what to say. Astrid, at the end of her troubles, just shut her mouth. Since she didn’t know what the real Astrid was doing, she couldn’t pass anything on top.
‘… What can I help you with?’
She had to start from there. Astrid untied the towel from her head and rinsed it in her cold water, wringing out the water.
– Dududuk…
He said to adjust the power, but the towel was cut in half with a tearing sound.
【Me and Her Highness Leopold… To get married, I need you.]
‘What?’
Astrid threw away her torn towel and went to pick up a new one, but ended up standing where she was. She said she needed Astrid to marry Leopold, what she was saying she didn’t quite understand from what she was hearing now.
【Female… I know that I’m not good at answering questions, and I’m not good at speaking or being sociable… If you, you go back to the original world and I’m left… 】
Only then did I understand what the real Astrid was trying to say.
“Grunt… “
But Astrid didn’t quite understand what she was asking for help. Even if she goes out on her own, she realizes that the real Astrid will allow her to marry Leopold, and she doesn’t even know why she’s the way she is.
【I think you are very feminine. She is very feminine and naturally shows the best young lady that a man wants. 】
Astrid is a man
【Probably, Highness Leopold… Ashleyna, at least the inspiration of our house… No, even my father thinks you better than me.]
The body is now a woman, but the mind is definitely a man, Astrid.
The real Astrid was telling Astrid that she could marry Leopold only if she had someone as feminine as you.
Astrid felt like crying.
【Therefore… Please, help me become the Crown Princess. I will do my best to help you return to the original world… After becoming the Crown Princess, after that… Can’t we go back? I know it’s selfish and I know it’s selfish, but… 】
Astrid had no answer.
It would have taken a lot of courage for the real Astrid to bend her pride and ask for something first, knowing what the real Astrid’s personality was like.
【Please… 】
No, with that being said, I don’t know how else to turn this down.
*
“Aren’t you going to see your brother-in-law?”
“I’m not going.”
“Hagisa Well, I’ll see you again tomorrow, so you don’t have to go.”
Astrid didn’t answer.
It was already the last day of vacation. Tomorrow, he had to head to the academy, and he was scheduled to leave by carriage tomorrow morning.
“I didn’t do much during my vacation, aren’t you sad?”
From the morning until noon, Ashley had been sitting in Astrid’s room talking about all sorts of nonsensical things.
Astrid didn’t even have to kick Ashley out like that, so she was passing her time by responding in moderation.
Day by day, she has nothing to do, and nothing she wants to do.
In fact, if she had known it would turn out like this, she even regretted it a little, saying that she would have just gone to the north. He can’t say that he’s not the real Astrid, and that’s forbidden and like some sort of witchcraft… If I had known it a little earlier, if I had known right away in the first week after the vacation started, I would have headed north immediately.
Since he could exchange with the real Astrid for an hour a day, he would have captured the shaman of the northern barbarians in that state, found a way to break the ban, and immediately after finding it, told the truth to Leopold and received help.
However, it is already late, and when he returns to the academy, he has no choice but to wait for summer vacation.
For that reason, formal classes will begin after the weekend after returning tomorrow. The beginning of full-fledged academy life was right in front of my eyes.
