NOVEL NEXT Ch25 - The Wish of Prince Christopher
25: The Wish of Prince Christopher
(From Christopher’s Perspective)
The beautiful princess with silver hair that sways gracefully as she smiles elegantly is right beside me.
Ah, this must be my first love. My heart pounds as the heat of love spreads throughout my body.
And here I am, sitting awkwardly in a chair with patches of snow stuck to me, looking like a fool. It’s the aftermath of falling out of bed earlier. This is the worst. I wish I could disappear. No, as the First Prince of the Felsnow Kingdom, I must not think such things…!
“Michela. I wish to become Queen.”
Michela’s piercing gaze is as powerful as a catapult.
“Let’s talk.”
Her words sharply pierce through me. Ugh…! Though she said “talk,” I can feel a clear intent to “bring me down.”
Ah, I expressed it poorly, but it’s more of a determination that feels like intent to kill.
“…Here’s what I think.”
“Yes. Please share with me.”
“First, this is too sudden. As the knights just mentioned, we must not make such a significant decision impulsively. Second, I am currently the first in line to the throne. Since there are already plans for state affairs with that in mind, it would cause confusion in many places. Third, no princess of Felsnow has ever become Queen. We should proceed cautiously with something that has no precedent. While I’ve received education as a king, Michela, you’ve been educated to forge ties with other nations as a princess. That’s a big difference.”
I closed my mouth. Michela waited for the right time without interrupting. Her eyes glinted… like a bird of prey!?
It’s coming. I swallowed nervously.
“I will address each point in order. First, as I mentioned earlier, now that the plan for Fenrir’s successor has been scrapped, I believe this is the right time. If I miss this opportunity, I will simply return to the path of being a princess. I only have this moment. Second, handling the various responses will be done smoothly. Leave it to me. I’m serious about becoming Queen. Third, I have also mastered the royal studies you learned. I secretly read your textbooks.”
“What! Especially the last part!”
“I’ve wanted to be Queen since I was a child. I sincerely apologize for the theft, and while this is all I can do to apologize here, I’m willing to accept any punishment.”
This has never happened before! There’s no such punishment, but it’s not something I can just overlook… My head hurts. My sister is too unpredictable!
She’s always been like this. Always… Ever since… “I wanted to be Queen”… Michela’s voice echoes in my head.
“…I never noticed the textbooks were missing. It’s impossible for such important documents to go missing. I just reread and studied them yesterday. When did you see them?”
“I snuck into your room late at night, read the books, and put them back. The conversations during daytime study sessions were recorded. I used a hairpin to pick the lock and a listening device that fell from another world. I asked the King for these items when I was a child.”
“What skill…!”
Michela, you’re a princess, not an assassin! You’re using your talents in the wrong way! And I’m a complete idiot.
(What skill, indeed. I completely agree with the prince.) (As expected of Princess Michela. I want to learn her methods.) Hey, captains of the knights! I understand your interest in new espionage techniques, but your excited whispers are too loud!
If I can hear you, then surely the princesses can too…
They’re clearly put off… Ah, even that expression is so beautiful!! What a precious existence!
“Brother. Then please listen. Article one of the royal legal documents.”
Michela’s words flow through my ears and pound my brain as they pass through.
Her face seems to say, “This is no time to be gazing at Lady Elle for comfort!”
My own face stiffens. I was truly in the wrong.
“Michela, that’s enough…! I understand that you’ve memorized everything correctly. I acknowledge your high abilities.”
“Oh! Thank you very much.”
Michela’s true goal wasn’t to showcase her abilities but to bring my focus back to the royal meeting. She thanks me with a cold expression, which is hidden from the princesses at an impeccable angle. She’s truly something.
“Michela is excellent. I’m sure she will handle everything smoothly. But that alone is not enough to make me relinquish my position as the first in line to the throne…!”
“So, you’re saying you just ‘don’t want to’ because you’re not satisfied?”
That cut deep.
I couldn’t find any words.
On reflection, she’s absolutely right. Michela surpasses me in studies, negotiation skills, social etiquette, martial arts—everything. There’s no reason she shouldn’t become Queen. As she mentioned, she will likely manage all related matters smoothly. I’m aware that some people are quietly whispering that Michela is more suited to the role than I am.
Am I just being stubborn because I’m reluctant to let go of my efforts so far?
Her dignified posture is truly fit for a king. That’s how I felt about Michela.
A silence fell over us.
“I don’t wish to oppose you.”
Michela looked at me directly. Her expression showed concern for me. Her ears were slightly red. This was her habit when she wasn’t wearing her social mask, something only family knew about.
…It hasn’t changed since we were kids, this little quirk of hers. Somehow, I felt a sense of relief.
“Let’s indulge in a bit of idle talk. Brother, what is your dream? Putting aside your current position, tell me about your true ‘dream.’”
“…I…”
What appeared in my mind was a snowy field. Pristine, powdery snow, with unfamiliar plants and animals. The pure curiosity to know more about this special winter stirred within me. I could see the child version of myself, eyes shining with excitement… And looking at him was…
The princess was gazing at me.
“I want to understand winter.”
Unconsciously, I took the hand of the princess beside me. She looked surprised. I was surprised too. Yet instead of a sweet atmosphere with blooming flowers in the background…
“That’s enough playacting.”
A sharp chop from Lord Unicorn fell on my wrist.
Oww…!
“Glare, what are you doing!?”
“I permitted this discussion, but I never said you could touch Lady Winter lightly, did I? That’s rude.”
“Oh no!”
“We deeply apologize!”
Michela and I apologized in unison.
Oh, I see how capable my sister is, and how utterly useless I am! One mistake after another…
“I didn’t mind, really.”
At the sound of the princess’s voice, bells of blessing rang loudly in my head.
Calm down!!!
My heart is threatening to overwhelm my reason, and I’m about to cry. I didn’t know love could be so intense…!
“Thank you for your kind words, Lady Elle.”
“Lady Elle, that’s too kind!”
Michela immediately jumped in, and Lord Unicorn was furious.
“Well, I thought it was like a handshake. Right?”
The princess was probably trying to help me for the sake of diplomacy. Even so, her saying she didn’t mind the touch was far too powerful…! Ah, I mustn’t get carried away, I need to remember Michela’s cold gaze.
“I think Glare went too far, so I’ll cool it down.”
I’m dead.
She took my hand again.
“Thank you for your consideration.”
I was glad I managed to squeeze out those words.
There’s nothing I can do about my face being bright red now. Really… haah. I’m still so immature.
“I refuse to accept that this man will be our next king and that we will have to serve him for a long time! I believe Princess Michela is far more suitable!”
Lord Unicorn’s words hit me hard.
“I promise I will handle everything smoothly.”
Michela quickly took the opportunity to promote herself. She’s truly incredible. How does one develop such a strong will?
It’s a gift from birth, honed by relentless effort.
“Prince Christopher. You’re still struggling, aren’t you?”
“!!”
The princess’s voice is not only beautiful but also sincere.
“It’s understandable that you’re having trouble deciding. It’s a difficult issue. But realizing what you truly want to do is a good thing, isn’t it?”
“…Was it really a good thing? If I hadn’t remembered, I could have just continued focusing on my duties.”
Now that I’m aware of my longing for winter, no matter how hard I work, I’ll be distracted by the view outside. I imagine I’ll have to live with this struggle.
My hand trembled slightly for a moment.
“With my full intervention, it will be impossible for you to proceed straightforwardly on that path.”
“Michela…!?”
“A child with determination is strong.”
The princess laughed softly at Michela’s bold interruption.
What is this, a paradise?
“Princess Michela will become Queen. I’m sure of it. I know the strength of someone who pursues their path with firm resolve and effort.”
Lord Unicorn said this, fully convinced…