CH 4

4. First Princess Anastasia

For Anastasia, her father was like the sun.

Above all, she liked the ruggedness of her father, especially when he used his rugged hand to stroke her head.

Anastasia’s father, was from Astarte Household.

It might sound like he came from a prestigious family, everyone would normally think so.

And everyone would think of a delicate, short-stature man in their head.

But that wasn’t the case.

Though not that ugly, if someone asked whether he would be included in the favorite type of the women of the Anhalt Kingdom.

The answer would be, No.

He was a little off.

First of all, He was tall.

And he had a muscular body.

Because he couldn’t get out of the mansion, his hobby was gardening――perhaps, he was farming in the large garden of the Duchess’s mansion.

Well, the hobbies of aristocratic men, were many.

And, Agriculture wasn’t bad at all.

Not bad, really, though.

Because of that, his hands were full of calluses and blisters, and every time he used those hands to touch Anastasia’s scalp, it made her squirm.

Anastasia heard that there were dozens of candidates for her mother’s husband, and her mother could choose any of them or all of them.

So, why did her mother―― Queen Rezenlotte had only one husband, presented by the Duchess family?

Anastasia had a doubt.

In fact, she had heard that the court nobles were making noise about it now

Well, that aside,

There was something interesting happening in front of Anastasia now.

Anastasia who was standing in the hallway, spoke to Faust and Astarte, who were standing in the garden.

“Astarte, what were you talking to Sir Polydro just now?”

“It’s about a lover contract.”

“Lover contract?!”

Anastasia had anger on her face.

Sir Polydro ―― Faust stared at Anastasia’s face for a while then quietly turned his gaze.

Are you so scared of my face?

Anastasia closed her eyes as if to soothe Faust.

Somehow, this reminds me of the old day ――

In the old days, Anastasia liked getting stroked on her head by her father’s rugged hands.

She felt loved as a daughter.

No matter how much noise the court nobles were making, it could be said that her mother’s eyes were correct.

Father was really a competent person.

Though he had a short temper, his roots were actually, gentle.

And he was such a person who wouldn’t mix public and private matters.

Her father refused any request of the Duchess’ family, using the messenger.

The petty official’s plea that went through him, if it was really on the verge of need, he would do it himself ―― In any case, he refused a direct plea to mother.

He was trying to protect mother and me, his family.

He was a family man.

Always swung the hoe on a sunny day.

Read a book on a rainy day.

Anyway. Anastasia loved his hands, which were full of calluses and blisters, which occasionally used to pat her while hanging out with her.

Her mother probably loved her father as well.

Her sister probably loved her father as well.

That was why Anastasia couldn’t forgive it.

She wanted to monopolize her father’s love.

That feeling seemed to be what the world called, first love.

――From the hands of my dear father, who loved agriculture, there was certainly the scent of the sun like this.

Cut off her thoughts.

Returned to reality again.

Anastasia opened her mouth.

“The royal family isn’t willing to forgive such a connection between the Duchess and Sir Polydro.”

“Why’s that?”

Astarte responded with a funny face.

A provoking face.

“Such a connection between the first princess’ counselor and the second princess’ counselor, isn’t funny.”

“All just for a show, isn’t it? I mean, there’s no such thing as second princess faction.”

“I’m worried about you. How could you have the nerves to speak such in front of Sir Polydro, the second princess’ counselor? As expected, Sir Polydro doesn’t fit you.”

Just said that and closed her mouth.

Once again, Anastasia’s mind went somewhere.

It went back to the past.

—————-Flashback—————-

One day――Anastasia’s father suddenly died.

It was because of poison.

Even if her mother got angry and tried to find the criminal by making full use of her outstanding skill ―― but, nothing was found.

Her father was never a hated person.

Her mother was still looking for the criminal.

Still, she couldn’t find anything.

If found, ‘Hell’ would be shown to that criminal.

Still, nothing was found.

Her love had suddenly gone.

Even though her mother loved her, her mother’s gaze toward her felt like seeing a public figure, the first successor.

It must be love for her talent.

There was no love as a family member.

One day, when Anastasia was a mere 14-year-old first princess who showed her power while parading around the city.

Her mother, her guards, and her counselor, Duchess Astarte, all of them had the same eyes.

They were looking at her as the first princess Anastasia.

Only one ―― her father, who looked at her, as his daughter Anastasia.

Anastasia was just a mere 14 years olds, so how much was the feeling of loss she felt?  In any case, when Anastasia noticed it ―― she already didn’t remember the shock she felt so much.

No, she didn’t want to remember.

In the shadow of something, like a ghost―― bending over and crying in bed, she didn’t want to remember those.

Then, the day of the first campaign finally came to her.

It was the invasion of Willendorf.

Anastasia met “him” there.

“Faust von Polydro. The Second Princess’ Counselor. I’m pleased to make an acquaintance with you.”

The man had a stronger body than her father.

The height was close to 2m, and the great sword swung with one hand, showing how muscular he was.

The five fingers of both hands were filled with blisters of sword and spear.

Such a man.

Such a man ―― was prostrating under her command as a counselor of her sister, Valliere.

Yeah, her sister.

More than anything else, it was her sister.

After finally, she found a replacement for her father.

It wasn’t funny.

It wasn’t funny at all.

It’s not funny you know. Valliere.

Did you think it’s so easy to find a replacement?

No, right? Valliere…

“It’s an emergency now. I’ll follow the command of the first princess, Anastasia. Please your command!!”

First of all ――I could certainly say that there was a mixture of anger in my words.

Really, it was a completely stupid decision.

“Go to the front line with Astarte!”

I did a “trial”.

I wished for him to die.

“……Understood!”

However, Faust went to the forefront and was successful.

He defeated the leader, the Knight Captain Reckenbell, the core of the barbarians, in one-on-one combat.

Hearing it, Anastasia quietly, smiled for the first time in a few years after her father died.

Aaahh――Can you take place of my father?

Such an illusion suddenly came to her.

Therefore, Anastasia often talked to Faust on the battlefield against Willendorf.

“Why look away?”

“……Because looking at the first princess Anastasia, is too much of a reward.”

“Don’t you think it’s rude to look away?”

Faust muttered with an embarrassed expression, scratching his cheeks.

“Well… yes, that’s right, yes.”

He was so honest.

Similar to her father.

On the battlefield, Sir Polydro, who rampaged with anger, was called as the “Knight of Wrath”.

But, the real face of Sir Polydoro―

― Faust’s face was, in peacetime, it was like a family man.

While holding his head down, he was apologizing to Anastasia with a sorry look.

Her father’s figure when he was scolded by her mother, was there.

Wrong.

He wasn’t her father.

He was a different man.

All she saw was just an illusion.

Even so, her father’s appearance and Faust’s overlapped.

Before Anastasia knew, when she saw Faust, she began to follow him with her eyes.

He was a man who was kind to his people.

He was a fair man to the knights of his compatriots.

He was the man who made Duchess Astarte declare him as her comrade in arms.

The roots were too similar to that of her father.

You――can you take place of my father?

Anastasia thought so.

But then Anastasia understood.

That feeling Anastasia had for her father wasn’t, first love.

The feeling of naturally chasing a man with her eyes was what they called, first love.

She understood that.

Now that Anastasia finally understood it, Anastasia wanted him.

—————-End of Flashback—————-

Sure, I want him.

Anastasia’s thoughts returned to reality

Then, she opened her mouth.

“Hey, Sir Polydro”

“Yes!”

Faust folded his knees and opened his mouth, as such was a courtesy.

His face never went in her line of sight.

That much didn’t matter.

“Please quit being the Second Princess’ counselor. Be under me.”

The remark was made naturally from within the heart.

That was, to become hers.

“… I refuse.”

On the other hand, it took three seconds for Faust to say no.

Perhaps that hesitation was intentional in consideration of Anastasia.

“Why refuse? It’s not Astarte’s words, but there’s no such thing as a second princess faction. There’s no future for you.”

“That is ――”

Faust hesitated.

This time, he looked straight at Anastasia.

And muttered.

“I still have a thing called “heart”. I’m proud as the counselor of the Second Princess Valliere.”

It was a perfect answer.

So naturally, Anastasia’s crotch was about to get wet with “love juice”.

If he really had the same roots as her father, he would answer that. To an extent, Anastasia had expected such an answer.

Aaah…Faust.

Faust von Polydro.

You’re the right person to be my husband.

I don’t want others except you.

By any means,

I’ll make you my husband ――or lover, by any means.

What? If just a lover you still can be taken as a husband by someone else? Don’t worry, I’ll never let that happen.

I’ll make you my own.

Only mine.

I won’t let Astarte get in the way.

Not to mention my sister, Valliere.

Even my dear mother, Resenlotte.

Since I’ve decided,

That, You are only for me.

“Well, then, it’s fine, for ‘now’. Do your best in Valliere’s first campaign and get rid of the bandits.”

“Understood.”

Faust answered with his knees folded and prostrated.

This is the relationship between us now.

But eventually, you’ll stare at me while whispering your love.

Whether as a lover or husband.

Aaaahhh, Faust.

I love you.

Till the end of the world.

Till, the end of the world.

Anastasia called Astarte’s name, ordered her to follow from behind, and left.

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

I, Faust von Polydro, was wondering.

Why she has such a scary face?

I don’t want to look at you, Princess Anastasia.

Even Astarte, the “Demon Goddess”, isn’t so scary.

Also, somehow, the aura surrounding you is strange.

You’re still just the first successor to the Elector, but you’re already unleashing such aura.

Sure, you’re also an unreasonable beautiful girl, but your eyes look like reptiles.

So much different from my master, the Second Princess Valliere, who’s in a way, a girl with an ordinary talent.

While thinking about that, I listened to Princess Anastasia’s words.

“The royal family isn’t willing to forgive such a connection between the Duchess and Sir Polydro.”

“Why’s that?”

Duchess Astarte answered as if to make fun of the first princess.

Well, it was within my predictions.

“Such a connection between the first princess’ counselor and the second princess’ counselor, isn’t funny.”

“All just for a show, isn’t it? I mean, there’s no such thing as second princess faction.”

“I’m worried about you. How could you have the nerves to speak such in front of Sir Polydro, the second princess’ counselor? As expected, Sir Polydro doesn’t fit you.”

That was right.

Duchess Astarte was a straightforward person without much care about troublesome things.

She’s too carefree. Not that I mind.

But the problem is, she’s in the ass group. Even though she’s big boobs. What a shame.

For me who’s in the boobs group, she’s my enemy.

Perhaps this is why, she’s hated by those court nobles.

I’m sure, they’re in the boobs group too.

Though hated by them―― Those bureaucratic nobles must’ve been desperate to put their son as the husband of the Duchess Astarte.

After all, she’s a Duchess.

Well, status and power are blinding, it can’t be helped.

I sighed again and waited for the storm to pass.

It seemed when I was thinking about such things, Princess Anastasia was also lost in her thought.

I wonder what she’s thinking?

After a while, the First Princess opened her mouth.

“Hey, Sir Polydro”

“Yes!”

I put my knees on the ground and replied such. That was the courtesy after all.

“Please quit being the Second Princess’ counselor. Be under me.”

No way, dumbass.

I’m scared of you. you know?

I’m so scared that I don’t understand why the Duchess Astarte is under you.

Damn it.

I answered desperately, even though my tongue was about to cramp in fear.

“… I refuse.”

Princess Anastasia asked again.

“Why refuse? It’s not Astarte’s words, but there’s no such thing as a second princess faction. There’s no future for you.”

“That is ――”

Oi, me, find out why, now!

I can’t say that I’m not interested in the power struggle in the royal palace.

Something, think of some reason, me!

―― Ah, that’s it.

“I still have a thing called “heart”. I’m proud as the counselor of the Second Princess Valliere.”

It was a perfect answer.

Perfect.

She must’ve become speechless.

I gazed at Princess Anastasia.

Princess Anastasia looked back at my gaze and smiled like a snake.

Why do you laugh like that?

And why did my “son” get a little excited when I’m so scared like this?

Must be a survival instinct.

Even though the tip of the d◯ck hit the metal chastity belt, I held the pain and returned the snake-like smile with a bitter smile.

I just didn’t know what to do other than that.

“Well, then, it’s fine, “for now”. Do your best in Valliere’s first campaign and get rid of the bandits.”

“Understood.”

“for now”? You mean, it’s not fine in the future?

Damn it, I’m completely being watched.

What did I do wrong?

Is it because of what I did in the battle against Willendorf?

Is it because I opposed the Second Princess Valliere’s first campaign at the royal meeting earlier?

Or, is it because I get along with Duchess Astarte?

F*ck, I don’t know the reason.

I’m scared because I don’t know the reason.

Why don’t you leave me alone?

Why?

As the First Princess Anastasia and Astarte were leaving.

I was still on my knees, worrying about my future.