Chapter 120: Met with Lady Stella ②
Chapter 120: Met with Lady Stella ②
Translated by AmaLynne
「……I see. I heard that you have been studying a lot more lately, is something wrong?」
「N-No, I met with Rachel. I am just studying to make up for my inexperience.」
「From my point of view, Stella is doing well. In fact, she seems to be trying too hard. I am afraid that you will break down.」
Stella smiled as she accepted her father’s words of concern for her.
「Thank you for your concern. But I am fine. I will study more and more and try my best to be recognized as a princess by everyone.」
Sam found her smile somewhat fake.
「……I see.」
「Father, by the way. What business brings you to see me today?」
「Oh, yes. I have someone I’d like to introduce to Stella.」
「To me? Is it the boy?」
「Yes. Sam.」
Sam, who had been watching the conversation between father and daughter, rushed to his knees and greeted Stella when his name was called.
「This is the first time I see you. My name is Samuel Scheidt.」
「Nice to meet you. My name is Stella Isle Sky. Please take care of me.」
Stella gave Sam a kind smile.
She seemed much more sociable than he had imagined.
It seems that she is staying home to study, not because she is sick of the world.
「Stella.」
「Yes.」
「Sam is the man you’re going to marry.」
「――!」
「I brought him here today to see you.」
Stella’s body jumped when she was told that Sam was her husband.
She reacted in a frightened manner, as if something she had feared had just happened.
When Sam looked at her face, the smile disappeared.
She looked as if she was about to cry, but bit her lip to stop herself from crying.
「……does that mean you are banishing me from the royal family?」
「Banishment? What are you talking about?」
The King was bewildered, not understanding the meaning of his daughter’s words.
Stella, trembling, shouted loudly,
「Rachel told me! Father, who is not fond of me, is going to marry me off to a nobleman somewhere! And this must be the boy!」
「……Rachel. Where did you pick up such a ridiculous rumor? Calm down, Stella. It is a misunderstanding. It is true that I wanted to marry you off, but I did not want to alienate you. It is because I love you that I want to take you out of the palace and set you free.」
「But I am a princess! I haven’t done anything as a princess yet!」
「Do you think it’s princess-like for you to stay in this room and study?」
「――!」
(Oh, shit. I just interrupted. I was trying not to get involved.)
Stella was annoyed that the king did not seem to be listening to her.
Perhaps she cannot accept her father’s words as they are because she has a bias against what Princess Rachel has told her, but knowing the king’s concern for his daughter, she is annoyed that he does not seem to be getting the message.
「Why should I be told such a thing by you?」
「Let’s listen to the king properly. The king told me that he loves Stella-sama, too. But you stubbornly refuse to believe the King’s words.」
「I…」
「I don’t understand what you mean by admitting or not admitting that you are a princess in the first place. You are a princess, aren’t you?」
Sam stands up and looks straight at Stella.
She meets Sam’s gaze and continues to speak.
「People think I am a child of the wrongdoers! Because of my hair!」
「I know.」
「How I――no, my mother and father――hated the words of such heartless people! Therefore, I must be recognized by everyone as a princess, as the true daughter of my beloved parents!」
「Nonsense!」
「W-What the hell?」
Whether it was in front of the king or with the princess, Sam had run out of patience.
He feels sorry for Stella that she was suspected of being a child of iniquity because of her white hair, and he feels sorry for her discomfort.
He also feels sorry that she is being used as a topic of conversation by a bored nobleman.
But,
「Why do you care what people say about you when your parents love you as their daughter?」
「What do you know?! I have been told since your birth that I am a child of wrongdoing, you have no idea how I feel!」
He doesn’t like the fact that Stella is loved by her parents and recognized as their daughter, but she is only concerned about the voices of those around her.
It was as if she was looking at herself, who once wanted to run away from home but was unable to do so.
「No, I don’t understand. But I can see that you are stubborn. It’s really stupid.」
「――You!」
Stella’s hand came flying at him.
But before her slender hand could reach Sam, Sam was easily able to grab it.
「Let go of me! You’re disrespecting me!」
「May I be excused for a moment, Your Majesty? I promise I won’t do anything dangerous.」
「Oh, yes, of course.」
Clyde was surprised at the sudden turn of events, but he agreed.
Perhaps his bewilderment was too great, but it suited Sam.
「Now if you’ll excuse me.」
Sam grabbed Stella’s arm and moved to the window and opened it.
Then he took her in a princess carry.
「Hey, you! Stop it! What are you doing?」
「You’ve been in this room for so long that you’ve become suffocated, and you’re thinking of nothing but nonsense. Let’s look at the outside world.」
「What are you talking about, eh? eh? Wait, wait, don’t――」
With Stella in his arms, Sam put his foot on the window.
「Okay, let’s go.」
「S-Sto, kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!」
She flew up into the sky.