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「Sigh……」
Sighing,
she sorted through the presents while telling herself that this too was to
become a good Imperial Princess.
（Besides, wouldn't it be nice to have
nobles who would help me leave the Empire when I'm in a pinch? Fufu, how smart
I am.）
It's
not like Candice hadn't been thinking about anything since regaining her
memories. In short, even if she stopped being an Imperial Princess, she
didn't know what might trigger her being killed, so she had to formulate a
strategy. Ideally, she would catch a prince who was smarter and better-looking
than Georges and marry outside the Empire, but who knows what the future
holds. There was also the wall known as Duke Radziwill, but it was a
realistic thought.
（I want to go together with Eva
and Rose. Besides, I can't just leave Arthur and Jeanne
here.）
A
mysterious sense of duty that she had to protect Arthur. Besides, it
would be best if his marriage was decided early.
（Because that means my safety will be
guaranteed!）
She
divided the unused presents among Eva, Rose, Arthur, and Jeanne.
「I-Is it really okay?」
「They are all things I wouldn't use
even if I kept them. It would be a waste.」
「Our younger sisters will be
delighted!」
「How many younger sisters do you
have, Eva and Rose?」
「Yes! We have four younger sisters
and brothers.」
「In other words, including you two,
there are six siblings!?」
「「Yes, that's right.」」
The
two voices synchronized perfectly. Eva and Rose were daughters of
a fallen Viscount household. They were currently working at the White Palace,
and it was said they sent most of their earnings back to their family home.
（In a place I didn't know about, Eva
and Rose had been supporting their family.）
It
seems their father was about to marry them off to an Imperial noble forty years
their senior, but right at that time, maids for the White Palace were
being recruited. Candice truly thought it was a good thing she hadn't
fired Eva and Rose back then. Looking at it this way, the reason
they were so good at handling Candice was probably because they had
younger siblings around the same age.
「Candice, Imperial Princess. U-Um,
you see…… we have a favor to ask.」
「Oh my, what is it?」
Rose pressed her index fingers together,
looking like it was hard to say.
「Actually, we would like to return
home for a bit, so we would like to request a vacation.」
「…………hk!」
At
Eva's words, Candice let the present box she was holding slip and
drop.
「Does that mean…… you are leaving
me!?」
「Considering the round trip, we would
like about a week……」
Candice's personal maids were currently
only Eva and Rose. There were other maids in the White Palace,
but perhaps because of the incident where Candice was almost kidnapped,
it was said that Valentin was carefully handpicking them. She had little
direct interaction with the other maids, and they were the only ones constantly
by Candice's side.
「Why……?」
The
two looked at each other awkwardly and then fell silent. It was rare for Eva
and Rose to mumble their words like this. When Candice asked for
the reason, unexpected words were returned.
「We wanted to see our family after
such a long time. We are worried if everyone is living safely……」
「We've received many letters, and our
younger sisters are missing us too.」
「…………Ah.」
Candice wasn't even easily permitted to see
her parents. Arthur didn't even have a mother. But Eva and Rose
properly had a family. Why had she forgotten such an obvious thing?
「Candice, Imperial Princess-sama, we
are so sorry!」
「We didn't mean to make you make such
a face……!」
Right
now, she didn't know what kind of expression she was making while looking at
the two. As she reflexively looked down, Eva and Rose hurriedly
rushed over to Candice. Arms hugged Candice, whose hands were
tightly clenched.
（I should be the one who understands
the pain of not being able to meet one's family the most……!）
Candice had wanted her parents' love so
badly she couldn't help it. Even if she wanted to meet them, it wasn't
permitted. Not even a letter would come. Without even knowing what it was to be
loved……. Jealousy, feelings of envy, and an intense loneliness. Various
negative emotions surged over Candice.
「We really shouldn't have said it!」
「Even though Candice, Imperial
Princess-sama is suffering this much.」
「Please pretend this conversation
never happened! Because we will stay by your side forever.」
「Eva, Rose……」
Had
Eva and Rose been holding back for Candice's sake all this
time?
（I didn't know that being separated from the two of them would be this lonely.）
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