Drop!! ～A Tale of the Fragrance Princess～ (LN)

Volume 05, Epilogue: A Little into the Future Part 02

Translator: Blushy

Editor: SenjiQ

I was jealous that Vernoux could change his mood so easily, but he probably wanted to avoid talking about this. Without concealing that feeling, he brought up a different topic.

Oh Come to think of it, it seems like Dilly wont be back for the New Year celebrations.

Yeah. Isma and Elvis will be working anyways. She said she met Cyrus in Ertiga.

Ertiga isnt close enough for us to go incognito.

Its not that far that I wouldnt be able to go if I make up some ridiculous excuse.

Dont do that. Clay will get angry if you do.

Vernoux shrugged, and a knocked echoed in the room.

Excuse me, Sylvester-sama.

It was Clay who Vernoux was just talking about.

Wow, speak of the devil

Vernoux said in a small voice, but fortunately, his voice died down before the door opened.

Still, Clay sent an icy gaze to Vernoux when he came into the room.

Vernoux-dono. Where on earth are you sitting?

Well, its a good position to look at paperwork right now.

Even children understand that a desk is not a chair

Ah, hes angry after all. However, Vernoux, who had made Clay angry, didnt seem like he would put up with it at all and got off the desk in disappointment.

Why didnt you tell Vernoux-dono to get off the desk, Sylvester-sama?

No, His Highness did tell me to. I just didnt get off.

Why dont you obey what your Lord tells you to do!?

Well, isnt it fine when no ones around?

You dont know when someone would enter the room! I entered, didnt I?!

I knew it was you from your voice and didnt get off.

Ah, theyve started already.

However, when I see them interacting, I remembered Dilly again.

Come to think of it, Clay also thinks of Dilly as a threat.

Clay hasnt said anything about Dilly in particular since their first meeting. Well, he probably doesnt say anything because he doesnt know that Im exchanging letters with her as Gille. Even so, he didnt like it when I had matches with the Earl before, but it doesnt seem like he minds now.

Its good that he doesnt hate it anymore, but Im a bit curious to know if something happened between him and Dilly. However, if he suspects something because I brought Dilly up, then Dilly might be troubled. Thats why Ive been trying to find the right timing to bring it up, but

Oh, Clay. Whats that?

Its nothing.

A letter slipped onto where the documents were placed from Clays chest pocket, and Vernouxs gaze was glued on it. Clay immediately picked it up and put it into his inner pocket, but that letter is definitely from her.

That sealing wax. I recognise it.

Clay probably didnt intend to talk about it, but he sighed at Vernouxs words and took it out again to show Vernoux.

Of course, you would. It belongs to the Pameradia House.

Eh, who are you writing to?

It doesnt matter, right?

No, wait Well, it isnt the Earl, and if youre not writing to Cyrus-dono, then youre not writing to Isma-dono. Which means dont tell me its from Dilly?

So what?

Clay put the envelope away while showing his disgust to Vernoux, who didnt hide his surprise.

Clay didnt notice, since he wasnt looking this way, but I think I looked stupid too.

Huh? Clay and Dilly are on bad terms I mean, Clay you hated Dilly a lot, didnt you?

We dont have a good relationship now either. Were just communicating for gains.

Clay replied indifferently, but Vernoux and I were surprised since we hadnt heard about this from Dilly.

What? Werent you saying shell cause harm to His Highness or something like that before? So, why are you interacting with her?

I still have concerns about her now, but shes a little weird and has bad taste, so I dont have to worry.

What?

Anyway, His Highness and Earl Pameradia arent alike at all, so its fine, right?

The words that Clay had clearly stated were correct, but they pierced my heart. I know we dont look alike, but I want him to respect my feelings since Im trying my best to reach her ideal type. Well, Clay doesnt know about this, so I guess he cant respect my feelings.

Besides, its not like Cordelia-jou doesnt listen to what people say. At least, she listens more than you, Vernoux-dono.

I stopped moving reflexively when Clay said that.

Vernoux opened his eyes wide, then grinned.

Hey, what do you mean? Is what Id like to ask, but Cordelia-jou, huh? I should ask you more about that.

Thats true, Im sure Clay called her Pameradia-jou. Clay frowned at Vernouxs question, but I didnt stop the conversation because I wanted to know as well.

Its not a big deal. She just told me to call her that.

Just. If you dont want to call her that, then you would have definitely refused.

I agree with what Vernoux had said. I was also shocked that Dilly had said something like that.

Dilly and Clay havent known each other for very long, and theyve met as much as Sylvester had met up with Dilly, but theyve talked enough for this type of conversation to pop up. It doesnt feel like they would have that type of conversation.

I felt a little frustrated when I thought that, and I wanted to know how he got her to ask him to call her that.

Clay sighed unpleasantly at Vernoux when I thought that.

You know about it too, right? We talked because of what happened with the miss from the Clydereine House.

Oh, that? So thats where your interests match.

What else is there?

Vernoux sounded shocked, and Clay replied indifferently. But, judging from how Clay was behaving, he wasnt writing to her against his will. If he was, then he would be angry.

When I see how Clay is acting, I thought that I would hate it if he became my rival in love, though I wouldnt say it out loud.

Clay said that he was writing to Cordelia for gains, but Cordelia is away from the royal capital, so how could she get information about the Clydereine House when I think about these things, I felt that they could talk about other things as well.

Leaving that aside, Ive also heard from Clay that Clydereine-jou had falsely accused Dilly. The day when she came to the castle with Earl Clydereine, she quarrelled with Dilly or rather, she criticised Dilly one-sidedly.

Clay was quite angered by Clydereine-jous etiquette, but I think he was furious because it had something to do with me It seems like he was worried about Dilly too.

Honestly, if what Clydereine-jou said was true if Dilly really came to see me, then how welcoming would that be? However, Dilly would stop interacting with me unless she needed to if that were to spread.

I get a headache when I wonder what she would do.

Ive never met Clydereine-jou, so I cant complain about her but, its quite annoying that someone whom I dont know at all is doing something I dont want, for my sake.

I thought that and suddenly realised.

I wonder if Dilly avoided me since long ago to escape from such troublesome things.

If Dillys type is someone like Earl Pameradia, then I wouldnt be her type, but she wouldnt avoid me just because I wasnt her type.

But, what if she wanted to distance herself from me because of my position as Prince and not because of me personally? She might not have been able to predict the things that would happen because of Clydereine-jou, but she might have guessed that people would criticise her if she got close to me.

I also intend to understand what my position is.

Of course, Im not confident that this is true, nor do I have any proof, but I cant deny the possibility.

But after thinking a bit, the things I can do wont change, even if thats her reason for avoiding me.

After all, no matter the reason, if Dilly doesnt take an interest in me then nothing will start. Thats why I have to become someone who she will be interested in, so I need to become someone who I can be proud of.

No matter how big I talk, the biggest problem right now is talking about my identity, and its pathetic since this problem started before I even reached the start line.

So, how often do you two write to each other?

Not that often. If you ask how often, then its about as often as before.

I dont know how often that is.

Vernoux and Clay continued talking even while I was thinking.

I should stop them soon since Clay was gradually looking gloomier, but I was also a little curious, so I decided to wait until the last second.

Then, Clay sighed deeply.

Im not the only one who writes to Cordelia-jou. She writes a lot to the Hale sisters, and to the people who are doing welfare work with her.

Why do you know that?

Im sure Vernoux wanted Clay to say it because he knew that they were chatting in their letters.

Vernoux, you shouldnt insist on knowing what people write in letters.

Are you saying youre not curious, Your Highness?

Vernoux, who was grinning and speaking in an unnatural voice, also seemed to be saying If youre going to say something like that, then I wont tell you even if you ask about it. But Clay would get really angry if things carry on like this, and the words I said were my true feelings.

Even I want to hide the things said in letters.

You can just ask Cordelia-jou about it yourself if youre curious. Its not weird to send your childhood friend a letter, right?

By myself, huh. Well, thats true.

Vernoux had easily backed down, so he was probably going to stop teasing Clay soon. Clay, who was no longer entangled with Vernoux, sighed and turned to me before speaking.

Your Highness. About Clydereine-jou Shes still doing dream fortunes and is apparently respected by the people.

Are her dreams true?

Basically. Therefore, some people want to introduce her to you, including Earl Clydereine, her father.

I shrugged at those words.

We will meet somewhere if they just want us to meet, but thats probably not what they want.

Yes.

Ill keep in mind that I might not be able to avoid it. The Clydereine House is a house that cant be taken lightly.

Clay nodded at my words, bowed, and then left the room.

Im grateful that hes a workaholic, but Im more concerned about what Id just heard instead of being deeply grateful.

It would have been great if all her dreams were false. Only the part about Dilly is different I wonder why that is?

Who knows? Shes pretty vicious if she did it intentionally, and if her fortunes are like other fortunes, then theyre not always correct. In any case, its a little too dangerous for you to rely on that power considering your position.

Vernoux said as he shrugged.

Her power is preposterous if she could really see the future.

But

I want to be able to create my own future without being deceived by others dreams. Of course, Im not going to rely on dreams that trap people.

Well, do your best to convince those around you if you want it to be that way. Fortunately, Their Majesties arent positive about marrying you to Clydereine-jou, and you just need to persist. I can help you too.

I nodded.

I know some people want Clydereine-jou to become queen, and I can imagine that Dilly would receive harsh treatment from others the stronger those voices get.

Considering Dillys position as Earl Pameradias daughter, it wouldnt be surprising if people viewed her as the number one obstacle for Cyldereine-jou.

Dilly has used her own power to get people to recognise her ability and personality. So, she has a lot of allies, and it probably wont be easy for her to fall into a predicament.

But if she were to be hurt by unfounded words, then I want to help her either as Sylvester or Gille.

And, if I want to protect her, then I have to let people realise that my words are trustworthy. If they think my words are too light, then they would only react to it like how Im reacting to the words of the Dreamer Girl right now.

Thinking that, I dropped my eyes onto the third page of the letter I was going to read.

I look forward to going to the flower field again when I get back.

That one sentence blew away the dark feelings inside me.

I can only try my best right now.

So that she would think of me as someone she could rely on a little when she gets back