Chapter 209: Talk ; Practice (1/2)
”Huh?!” I blurt out upon hearing Henrietta's proclamation.
Looking over at the three girls standing before me, I realize that I had been a little neglectful back in the academy.
According to what just Henrietta said, Tabitha, whose actual name is Charlotte, just so happens to be the crown princess of Gallia. The reason she is the crown princess and not Isabella is because of interest.
Now that Joseph is dead, a new ruler is required for the kingdom to be brought back on its feet. I can tell through the conversations I've had with Catherine and Isabella that neither of them wished to take over that role for some reason.
With them out of the picture, the only candidate to take over would be Charlotte, as she's the closest in line.
Leaving that aside, I'm more surprised about Kirche's origins. She is the heiress of a Grand Duchy from Germania that was sent here as a consequence of refusing to marry a partner chosen for her.
”I can understand Charlotte being a secret member of the royal family,” I say in a dubious tone, ”But… Kirche being the heiress of a Grand Duchy?”
”Hey! What are you implying here?” Kirche exclaims.
”He just means that you're too childish,” Louise, who's sitting quite a distance away from us and reading a book, remarks without raising her head from the book.
”You-” before Kirche can finish her piece, Charlotte taps her shoulder while shaking her head.
Seeing this, Kirche turns her head as a displeased expression covers her face.
Shrugging my shoulders, I look Henrietta in the eyes and ask, ”Has the date for your coronation been set?”
Before she can respond to my query, Kirche turns her head to peer into my eyes as she teasingly asks, ”Are you that excited to marry her?”
I blink my eyes several times before looking at Henrietta inquisitively.
”Ehm…” she awkwardly utters, ”I got a little excited and told them about it.”
Hearing this, I continue to gawk at her for a few more seconds before a grin forms on my face as I say, ”It's fine. They would've found out soon, anyway.”
”If anything, I would be surprised if the news didn't reach them by tomorrow morning.”
Henrietta nods her head as a small smile forms on her lips.
Hold on…
”Say, does this happen to be the reason Louise has been acting so strangely?”
”Yes,” Kirche responds, ”She's just jealous that her dream man was taken away.”
I see. Using Clairvoyance, I check Louise's face, only to find her looking at the book with a conflicted expression on her face.
She's overthinking this, after all, I wouldn't let her go after everything that has been said and done.
Shaking my head, I look over at Kirche and ask, ”What about you? Aren't you displeased in any way by this?”
As if she had been waiting for me to say this, Kirche presses her hand against her hips as she confidently states, ”As great as a man you are, I'm sure that you wouldn't be content with just one partner.”
My eyes widen as I hurriedly glance over at Henrietta, only to discern that she is calm and collected.
”She's right,” Henrietta states, ”I would understand if you desired mistresses.”
”And you're fine with that?” I assert, astounded by her words. Heck, I was sure that she would respond negatively to this.
”You're not the same person as the Wales that I once knew,” Henrietta states, not explaining the intent behind her words.
”Do you hate it?” I ask with a wry smile on my lips.
Realizing what her words could imply, Henrietta quickly shakes her head while waving her arms in front of her and saying, ”No! Not at all! You misunderstood me.”
Shrugging my shoulders, I say, ”Well, you're right. I'm indeed not the same person as Wales.”
Upon hearing this, a wide grin forms on Kirche's face as she looks over at Henrietta and asks, ”What if he returned to being who he once was and forgetting everything that happened during the period he had 'changed'?”
Right after that, Henrietta's expression changes to that of horror as she silently stares at the ground.