This Delusional Voice Keeps Telling Me I’m a Villain

“My cheesecakes… We were loving each other so much… Yet it was only a dream…? No way! I can’t accept that!!”

This almost brought me to tears. Like, so damn much. I was in disbelief.

Theodore looked at me in astonishment.

“….Since you look so well, there’s nothing more I could ask. It feels like I worried for nothing.”

“I’m not well! I’m in despair! You know what, I had just been surrounded by no-bake cheesecakes, baked cheesecakes, soufflé cheesecakes, basque cheesecakes and cheese tarts! I was surrounded by all these lovely, delicious, sweet cakes! Then I wake up, and they’re gone! They were so yummy…..”

“…Haaa~”

He heaved a very deep sigh at me! But how could I help it? I really was in bliss a while ago! I did feel bad for Theodore, who had been worrying about me, but I was having the time of my life… But, when I opened my eyes, I realized that it was all nothing but a dream…

Hm? But, that reminded me; I had an inkling that I heard some strange stuff back then…

“Hey, Theodore.”

“…What?”

“Did you see anyone saying strange things to me at my bedside?”

“Huh?”

“Things like ‘capture strategy,’ ‘sugar something,’ or ‘bitter something’–and also this choice or that choice–something like that?”

“Why are you speaking nonsense? Have you finally lost your marbles after hitting your head? Nope… You’ve always been like that.”

“Oh, my God! Theodore, you’re so awful!”

I turned away in frustration; out of the corner of my eye, I saw Theodore chuckle. Obviously, it was not a smile born of mockery.

‘Hmm? Why did he laugh?’, Theodore patted me on the head.

“Wha! What’re you doing!”

“…Well, as long as you’re well, that’s all that matters.”

“Huh?”

“Just go and rest for the day. I’ll tell the chef to prepare all kinds of cheesecake for tomorrow’s teatime on your behalf.”

‘Wow! Theodore, you really know me!’

“Thanks! Yay!”

‘Theodore, so sweet! Cheesecake tomorrow! I’m so happy! Theodore has been sweeter lately. I had no idea why though. Anyway, that’s not important! I can eat cheesecakes for real!’ I smiled in delight quite foolishly.

‘Ahhh, I can’t wait anymore!’

Theodore blushed a little as he looked at me and continued to stroke my head.

At the same time.

On the outskirts of the palace, in an outer corridor. Followed by two guards, Carlos slowly walked back to his room. In his hands, he held a bundle of paperwork that he hadn’t been able to finish today, and, as he walked to his wing, he checked them over with a deft hand. There, in his hands, was also a document that he needed to pass to the House of Minusle using a messenger in the coming days. Of course, the recipient was Duke Minusle and Urschel.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew one of the papers out of Carlos’ hand, and the paper flew up.

“Ah…!”

The document flew about three metres away from Carlos and landed on the ground. A person coming from the opposite direction picked it up; Carlos’s eyes narrowed and precariously flashed when he saw who grabbed the document.

“Hey, this paper fell. Carlos.”

“Yeah… Thanks.”

The person passed the document to Carlos. There was no malice in his action–only goodwill born out of kindness. It was like he was following up on his inept little brother; it was an act of unpleasant goodwill from Carlos’s perspective.

Carlos took the document and made eye contact with the said person: Leodore, the first prince. Like Carlos, he had two guards in his entourage; the man stood there with a soft smile on his face. There was nothing in Leodore’s hands; he had already completed his duties.

“If you don’t hold your papers properly, you’ll drop them. Be careful.”

“…You’re right.”

“Moreover, that’s quite a lot you’re holding… Don’t you think you’re carrying too much? Didn’t you get any work done during the day…? Then you should have at least sent me some of the work that I’m able to do…”

As Carlos listened, he grew inwardly annoyed. Leodore had no ill intentions. There were no ill intentions, but he had always treated Carlos like a child–an incompetent child at that.

Well, that was a given.

For Leodore, who could solve a hundred problems in an instant, he was right to think that Carlos, who needed one whole day to solve a hundred problems, was an inept child. Maybe that was why the two were at odds over the position of the crown prince, but Leodore apparently held no animosity towards his brother. He remained the older brother who shadowed behind his inept younger brother, no matter how much time passed. This fact further aggravated Carlos’s nerves, but Leodore, whether he knew it or not, continued to act the same way.

However…

“Oh, yes…”

This time, it was a little different.

“Carlos. I hear you’ve made Urschel Minusle your prospective fiancée?”

“Huh?”

Carlos was surprised to hear that directly from Leodore. As for Leodore, despite bringing up this time, he had a friendly smile on his face as always—his true emotions couldn’t be ascertained at all.

“Carlos, now you’re getting a fiancé; before I know it, you’ve grown up. It seemed like a lot happened during my coming-of-age party… Even though he’s only a prospective fiancé, I’m amazed that Duke Minusle actually allowed it.”

“Well… Yeah…”

“When I made the request a few years ago, I was flatly refused. He must be placing a great deal of trust in you, Carlos. I never expected that my little brother would beat me in this aspect.”

Leodore smiled as he said that, but what he actually felt in his heart was beyond Carlos’s knowledge.

‘Flatly refused’—that phrase weighed heavy in Carlos’s mind.

“See you, Carlos. Don’t get so bogged down in paperwork that you break down.”

“…”

As he was leaving, Leodore patted Carlos lightly on the shoulder as if to say goodbye, and then walked away.

‘What was that?’ Carlos couldn’t help but look towards the direction from which Leodore had left. His brother’s back was already gone.

""

Leodore walked along the outer corridor into the palace and entered the guest room with a familiar gait. There, waiting for him, was a man.

“Hi, Ben.”

“Good evening, Your Highness Leodore.”

Ben had a large, stout body that was neatly dressed in formal attire, close-cropped dark brown hair, and brown eyes. The youth, who was like earnestness personified, was bowing to Leodore.

Benedict Grantier—one of Leodore’s close aides—was given the nickname Ben by Leodore.

“Your Highness Leodore, I am very sorry that you have come all this way during your time of rest.”

“I don’t really mind; you’re my friend before you’re my close aide.”

Leodore beamed at him, Benedict raised his head and broke into a little smile.

Benedict then promptly made his request to Leodore, “Let me be frank with you. This is a very personal request, I would like for Your Highness to…” He paused a bit before he continued. “Please, by all means… make use of me. In your plan to get Urschel in your hands.”

When Benedict voiced out his plea, Leodore smiled.

…It was not the smile of a man who cared for his brother, but the smile of a man who was willing to destroy everything to obtain what he desired.