Chapter 4: TS Princess is Cornered

TS Princess is Cornered

We left the village. I barely slept last night, thinking about my future plans.

...No, I can't even think straight in this state.

"Isolde, you look pale. Are you okay?"

Nina looked at me worriedly.

"...It's okay. I'm just going home now, so it's fine."

I made her look even more worried. I'm sorry.

As I walked along the road, I began recounting the situation.

Nina: She misunderstood and declared herself a concubine.

Clarissa: She's actively trying to pair me with Leon.

Leon: She plans to ask for my hand in marriage during the audience with the King.

...What should I do?

I especially don't understand Clarissa. I don't sense any feelings for Leon from her behavior. Therefore, I don't know her intentions and I don't know how to respond. What's more, her actions are the most inconvenient for me.

...Leon and Nina are chatting happily side by side at the front. Clarissa is smiling like a Saint next to me, as if she's having fun.

...Isn't that always the case?

"It's peaceful... except for me."

I muttered quietly. No one seems to hear.

On the fifth day, there are no villages or towns to relay to like before, so the four of us camp out. The environment is far inferior to that at the inn, but it probably doesn't matter to me, since I haven't been able to sleep properly even there.

"Isolde... Are you okay these past few days? You haven't been able to sleep."

After dinner, Leon spoke to me. ...I couldn't help but wonder what kind of expression this kind guy would make if I told him it was all his fault.

"Ah, it's fine. I didn't realize it, but maybe the fatigue from the journey is just starting to set in."

"...Right. We're almost to the royal capital, so get plenty of rest."

Unfortunately, that's where my troubles lie.

•

•

On the sixth day, the royal capital's walls began to look larger and larger. We expected to arrive there in two days.

"Wow, we can see the royal capital! Soon... soon!"

Nina innocently expressed joy that was surely more than just the fact that the journey was finally over.

"That's right. Our journey as a group of four is over now..."

Leon muttered with deep emotion.

"Yeah... I'm looking forward to it."

Clarissa smiled as well. ...I was filled with suspicion, and every time Clarissa spoke, I couldn't help but wonder if she was up to something. 

"...I guess so."

The situation continued unabated, and time was running out.

The seventh day, our final camp. Tomorrow we'd arrive at the royal capital, and if things continued like this, I'd lose all my freedom.

"...Why did this happen?"

This was the last time I had left. We were leaving for the royal capital tomorrow morning. Then there would be no chance for us to sit down and talk before the audience with the king.

"Well, I guess there's no other way..."

I decided to act the next morning and organize the arrangements for that.

•

•

After breakfast, everyone cleans up, then I call out to them, looking over at where they've stopped.

"Everyone... could you please give me a moment before we leave?"

The three of them look at me.

"There's something important to discuss."

The four of us sit down in a quiet spot near the campsite we've used for camping.

"What's wrong, Isolde?"

Leon looks at me with a worried expression.

"Isolde, your complexion's worsen again... something's up..."

I've been worrying Nina for the past few days. I'm sorry.

"....."

Clarissa doesn't say a word, but she's watching me with interest.

...Before speaking, I take a deep breath to calm my nerves. 

"First of all... Leon. There's something I need to apologize for."

Not only Leon, but the other three also look serious. I faced Leon and open my mouth.

"Your diary... I read it without permission. I'm sorry."

"Eh...?"

Leon looks surprised and blushes. ...He must have remembered something he'd written recently.

"I was sorting through my belongings at the inn in town, and your diary got mixed up with mine. ...I should have just returned it, but I couldn't help but read it. I'm truly sorry."

"Um... Did you read the whole thing?"

"Yeah. So now I know how you feel... and what you're planning to do when we get home."

Leon's face turns bright red. Nina looks shocked as well. 

"I read and found out the things about Nina and Clarissa as well."

"Huh..."

Nina whispered softly. Clarissa, on the other hand, listened quietly.

"After I found out, I've been trying to get the two of you and Leon together for the past few days."

"So that's why you did that..."

Nina looked understanding.

"There was only one reason why I did it... to avoid marrying Leon."

"To avoid..."

Leon looked at me with a shocked expression.

"Isolde, why..."

"...I'll tell you everything."

"You might not believe it, but...I have memories of my past life."

The three of them listened quietly.

"I was living in a different world from this one... and then, the next thing I knew, I was a baby."

I paused for a breath. 

"And in my previous life, I was a man."

A heavy silence reigned. But Nina muttered in a trembling voice.

"Eh... you were a man?"

"Yeah... I've lived as a princess for 19 years. But I've still lived as a man for longer, and my consciousness hasn't changed."

"So that's how it is..."

Clarissa muttered as if convinced.

"That's why, Leon. I've never thought about marrying a man. I love you, but it's only out of friendship and trust as a comrade. I'm sorry."

Leon listened to me in silence.

"The cultures of this world and my previous one were completely different... There wasn't much I enjoyed. But there was magic, which wasn't there in my previous life. I became obsessed with it. It quickly became my purpose in life."

"And so I lived a carefree life of research, saying I would only marry someone stronger than me. I don't want to get married, but being a Princess is useful for my research."

"But Leon, you're probably stronger than me. Besides, if you desired me, the King would definitely push for our engagement. He seems worried about me in his role as a father, too."

"So, knowing your feelings... I made such a roundabout move... Once again, I'm sorry."

No one spoke for a while. I looked down as well.

"Isolde..."

In the silence, it was Leon who spoke first. He approached me and embraced me. 

"That must have been... painful. You've had to carry it all by yourself for so long."

Leon gazed at me with a gentle expression. My eyes widened at his unexpected reaction.

Nina and Clarissa also put their hands on my shoulders to comfort me.

"No... nothing like that. Like I said before, I pretty much did whatever I wanted."

I felt awkward, receiving more sympathy than I'd expected.

I may have spoken in a heavy-hearted tone, but that was just my guilt towards Leon; my gender nonconformity wouldn't have been a big deal if I hadn't gotten married.

"So, really, the only thing that's painful is not being able to marry a woman... Well, in my past life, my type was someone like Clarissa, so I would have made a move on her... haha... ha.."

The atmosphere was tense, so I tried to lighten the mood with a joke, but Clarissa, who was deep in thought, didn't move a muscle when she heard it.

"...Ju-Just kidding! Of course I'm not seriously aiming–"

"That might be an interesting proposal. We could just become a family..."

"Huh?"

Clarissa looked serious and interested in the proposal. I thought she might be angry, since she belongs to a Church that is particularly intolerant of homosexuality, but that seems not to be the case.

"After all, Lady Isolde will marry Leon-sama. However, as you will be a wife in name only. ...Nina and I will join as concubines. Since it's just a formality, Lady Isolde will be free to continue her magical research."

"Leon-sama's wish will also come true. Lady Isolde will no longer be troubled with the topic of engagement. Nina will be able to be by Leon-sama's side. I will be free to escape the Church's interference."

"In that case... but..."

I look at Leon. 

"I'm fine. ...Just so you know, my feelings haven't changed since I heard that earlier. Well, feel free to use that as a cover."

"I think so too!"

Nina, finally understanding what we were saying, loudly agreed.

"Let's become a family, the four of us! ...I've been feeling lonely. Once our journey is over, we'll be in different positions... I was worried we'd all drift apart. But if we do as Clarissa says, we can stay together, right?"

"So, does everyone agree?"

Clarissa, now in control of the conversation, began to wrap up.

The three of them nodded.

"Thank you, everyone."

"Then let's head to the royal capital."

With Leon's words, the discussion came to an end and we headed for the royal capital.

If I had noticed the unsaintly smile on Clarissa's face at that moment, my future might have been different. 

But I didn't notice, so I felt a sense of relief and walked to the royal capital with a light heart for the first time in a long time.