This Delusional Voice Keeps Telling Me I’m a Villain

Main Story Chapter 6
I Don’t Know Why, But I Can’t Stand Watching It

When I told him I became Prince Carlos’s prospective fiancé, Theodore seemed shocked. I didn’t think Theodore would be so shocked, so I was also startled. Did I say it in a bad way? What do I do? I had never seen Theodore so depressed before; I was so confused.

Nevertheless, this prospective fiancé thing, I agreed to it on the assumption that this arrangement would be cancelled later… And I already gave tit for tat to Prince Carlos…

If one person leaves the anteroom with a relative or someone else within half an hour from the start of a romantic affair, it means that what had happened inside was a non-consensual affair, according to high society’s secret code.

So, the story would be told like this: His Royal Highness Carlos forced me into a love affair without my consent. Well, yeah, that’s quite an unpleasant scandal… But His Highness Carlos himself said it was nothing much, so I guessed it was okay…?

I couldn’t exactly explain all this to Theodore here, since I didn’t know who might be listening nearby although we were in an area devoid of people. Without any means of calming him down, I was very unsettled. But I knew I had to do something.

I hugged him.

I could sense that Theodore was stupefied in my arms. But, this was all I could do at this moment.

“It’s okay, everything’s alright, Theodore. It’s only prospective, pro-spec-tive.”

“…”

“And I’m the only son of the Duke of Minusle. I can’t be officially engaged unless the bride or the groom marries into the family.” I didn’t know what Theodore was so shocked about, but I comforted him anyway.

Then I heard Theodore’s low voice coming from my shoulder. I couldn’t see his face because I was holding him, but he sounded a bit angry.

“So, why did you become… that prospective thing?”

“Hmm? Out of mutual interest? As a result of our deal, I became his prospective fiance.”

“…Mutual interest?”

Theodore was sceptical. He looked at me doubtfully as if he were asking ‘Why do that?’.

Ah, yes. Theodore, who had little knowledge of the nobility, might find this incredulous.

“When it comes to nobles, everything is some sort of a deal… Especially when it comes to engagements. Being a nobleman means protecting your status, your identity and your heritage simultaneously. That is why there are always stakes in every agreement. If we sign a contract that is not beneficial for the house, we will lose our nobility, and if it is good for the house, we will take the initiative in cinching the deal. So, if our interests are aligned, we will go along with whatever is offered; we’d just do it.

Especially since this time we are dealing with royalty. Although, I think Prince Carlos wouldn’t be as severe, refusing him would probably raise his ire and get us punished. So it’s more pragmatic to work out a mutually satisfactory solution; and, compared to a normal deal, I could obtain even better gains.”

To protect and make the family grow. All storied noble families had been doing that. This mindset was ingrained within me by my father since I was little. I had no doubts or reservations about it, but I bet Theodore wasn’t the same…

As expected, Theodore seemed unconvinced.

“…So, you would get engaged and marry anyone for the good of the family?”

“Hmm. It also depends on who the other party is, but isn’t it always like that? My parents’ marriage was also a political deal arranged between their families.”

“…”

I couldn’t stand to see Theodore so distressed, so I patted him on the back. I could feel how breathless Theodore was.

“Then, Urschel, you… Are you okay with that? Doesn’t that make your life just a tool of the House?”

Theodore must be grieving for me. But, you know…

I suppose a lower-class noble or commoner would have the freedom to get engaged and married as they wish and think of marriage as one of life’s happiness. As a member of the House of Minusle, duties that come with the position made it impossible for me to have that privilege.

Actually, I couldn’t tell Theodore more details about our family because I hadn’t gotten permission from my father, but the House of Minusle was not just any ducal household… We were slightly special in terms of our role in state affairs.

We could not afford not to be ruined. If we were to fall, the very foundations of this country would be undermined. That highlighted the importance of our role in this country.

That’s why everything must be used to protect the home and, by extension, the country. Even our lives were at stake. This was the reality of the House of Minusle, or should I say, our life’s mission. It would be hard for anyone else to understand.

“That’s fine, as long as it protects the House of Minusle. Besides, if I protect the House, I can protect Theodore as well. I already can’t imagine a life without Theodore in it.”

“…!!!”

“So yeah, I’d use my life as collateral if it can be used to retain our current livelihood. Oh, but regarding Prince Carlos, it’s merely pros-pec-tive, okay? I repeat, pros-pec-tive! So do not misunderstand me! If you ask me if I absolutely have to be tied to him in the future, that will never happen; I’ll never do that. In short, this is nothing but an oral promise that can be retracted at any time. It’s not like I’m tossing my life away at all, alright?”

""

After all was said and done, we were silent for a while.

Eventually, I felt Theodore release his held breath over my shoulder as if he were relieved. I released my hold and turned to face him. Theodore still looked unconvinced, but he looked a lot better than before. Good. Did I manage to comfort him even a bit??

Theodore sighed, “Sorry, I was distraught.”

“No, it’s fine. It is completely okay. When a family member suddenly starts talking about a fiancé or something of that sort, you’re bound to be startled. I think I’d be surprised too if Theodore got a fiancée without warning.”

“…”

At my words, Theodore furrowed his brow and looked away.

Hmmm. Did I say something I shouldn’t have again…?

“Oh, look who’s here. Urschel and Theodore.”

This voice is… Father! When I looked towards the voice, I saw Father smiling happily—really happily—and walking towards us in a good mood.

…I got a bad feeling about this smile. He must have done something somewhere. Most of the time, when he smiled like this, it was after he had been wickedly messing with someone.

“What are you doing here, I thought you were in the sweets section? It’s not as if you’re having a secret meeting or anything.”

“Uh, we’re…” What should I say…? Oh, yes. I have to tell him about that matter first, “Father, I have something to report to you when we get home…”

“About the engagement thing with His Highness Carlos, right? Yes, I know the gist of it. We’ll discuss it when we return.”

What quick ears! The deal had only been arranged just now! Oh, well. It’s Father after all; it was a given for him to have quick ears.

Father never stopped grinning and smiling. He really was in a good mood…

“Oh, come on, Urschel. The details will have to wait until we return to the house, but I have no complaints. That’s acceptable to me.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes! As long as it’s not a formal engagement, I’m all for it—except if the engagement separates Urschel from House of Minusle! Yes! That’s how it should be! That’s the ultimate, unwavering truth! And I am sooooo happy!”

I felt like his super good mood polished and spurred his weirdness more than usual. ‘Is my father okay in the head?’

He chuckled, then looked at Theodore, raising the corners of his mouth in a grin, “Theodore, you~ also have the chance, you see?”

Theodore’s eyes widened at Father’s words.

“Ha-ha-ha. I’m often misunderstood, but I’m actually very generous. There are gains, profits, losses, and scheming in everything, but let’s get rid of it all for once! Even a dog has rights and freedoms. Would you rather give Urschel to some other lad? Someone who is a control freak or someone who only cares about losses and benefits… Say, are you~ okay with that?”

As if to provoke him, Father sneered at Theodore.

I couldn’t make out what he was talking about at all. But Theodore seemed to understand, and he looked at me, wide-eyed and frozen. When I tilted my head, Theodore turned away and looked at Father. His eyes, by all accounts, were full of determination.

“Please give me time.”

When Theodore said this, Father chuckled again.

“Well, yes. That’s a fair answer, and a passable response. But I’m only going to give you a chance, you know. You’re on your own with the others and all that.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Theodore bowed his head.

Awwww… I didn’t understand them at all; I wondered what they were talking about. I was puzzled, but Father smiled at me, “Oh, by the way, Urschel. What happened to your sweets?”

Sweets… SWEETS!!!?!

How long had it been since I had left my mountain of sweets? Definitely more than a few tens of minutes!

“Aaah! They’ve melted, they absolutely have all melted!”

‘My sweets… By now, the whipped cream must’ve been ruined in an avalanche…!’

Cry. This would definitely make me cry.

When I rushed back to the heap of sweets, I found that all the cream tarts and cakes had melted and turned to mush, and the non-cream desserts, like the pound cake, were floating in a pool of sludge…

I cried. I cried so much. I fell to my knees. Oh my God! My sweets…..!

‘Damn you! Your Highness Carlos!! I won’t harm you directly because I can get sugar at a thirty per cent discount, but I’ll never forget this grudge my whole life…!!! One day! I’ll remind you that resentment based on food runs deep…! Those cakes that should have been in my tummy by now…! Ugh… How dare he…! I really hate him… I hate him so much …….! If it wasn’t for him, I’d be happy right now …….!’

I was devastated, and Theodore came to comfort me.

“Don’t cry so much.”

“But, but, but the sweets are…!”

“You can go and get new ones. Come on, I’ll go with you.”

Theodore seemed to be back to his normal self; he had returned to the reliable guy I knew him to be.

“Really? You’ll go with me?”

“Yeah.”

I took Theodore’s outstretched hand and stood up. I didn’t notice my father smiling at me behind us.

“Hmmmph, I won’t let you get away with this… Prince Leodore… You stepped on my landmine, you must pay for this…” He said quietly

chocolala: LOL at the father’s description of the two princes. Theodore, do your best capturing your boy! (although you were originally a capture target yourself in this twisted BL game that’s unknown to anybody yet)
And a shoutout to enizave for the Ko-fi.  It made so happy, so next week’s chapter will be a long one released in one go (it’s very cute +illustrations)