Chapter 107: Cassandra’s Ambition
I am Cassandra Baumgarten. I am the wife of Dietfried Baumgarten, who is currently the talk of the royal capital.
However, the reason I chose Dietfried as my husband was to fulfill my own ambition. I wasn’t particularly interested in Dietfried himself, but…
Grandfather forced this marriage between Dietfried and myself. Normally, I wouldn’t have been able to complain even if he had refused, so the fact that Dietfried didn’t object must surely be due to Grandfather’s pressure.
In such a situation, it couldn’t be helped if he disliked me, but…
“Miss Cassandra, it might be impossible right away. But I will definitely show you that I can love you. So, I want you, Miss Cassandra, to also make an effort to love me. Let’s be happy together. So happy that everyone will envy us.”
I was caught off guard. To think that I would feel my heart pound for a gentleman.
And what’s more, he’s a thirteen-year-old boy, five years my junior.
I thought it was interesting. That’s why I decided to try loving a gentleman just one more time.
As expected of the gentleman the Princess-sama took a fancy to. Perhaps this person could even love someone as peculiar as myself.
However, first things first…
I look down at the head of Lily-san walking in front of me. A beautiful girl with bright, shoulder-length red hair, just my type.
I have someone I’ve set my heart on, the Princess-sama, but that’s that, and this is this.
I want to hug her from behind right this instant.
The moment I thought that, I was already strongly hugging Lily-san from behind and smelling her hair. Sniff, haah.
“What is it?”
“You were just so adorable, I couldn’t help myself…”
This won’t do, Cassandra. Is this perhaps a rebound from having suppressed my desires for so long? I feel like I’m becoming true to my own desires.
“Ria is what’s important right now.”
“Yes.”
Kuuuh! Her expressionless, indifferent demeanor, as if she has no interest in me, is just the best! I feel like I’m going to lose it.
Drool
I swallow the saliva that was about to overflow and release Lily-san. Someday, someday I want to make her call me “Sister-in-law”!
But, just as Lily-san says, Cornelia-san is what’s important right now.
Cornelia-san, who became terribly upset upon hearing about my marriage to Dietfried. She later said it herself, but apparently, Cornelia-san wanted to marry Dietfried.
If that’s the case, there is a way.
Noble gentlemen sometimes have multiple wives. Moreover, Dietfried holds the rank of Count. For a Count, it’s common to have multiple wives to ensure an heir. Let’s start persuading from this angle.
From the start, I have no intention of settling into the position of the legal wife. If possible, I’d like to create a comfortable inner palace where the wives get along well.
Still, I knew Cornelia-san had feelings for Dietfried, but I never imagined it was to the extent that she wanted to marry him. I also sense Lily-san’s affection for Dietfried, and the Princess-sama too…
This current situation where all these beautiful girls are falling in love with Dietfried is a little enviable, isn’t it?
However, I am now a wife of the Baumgarten household. Disorder in the inner affairs of the house could reflect poorly on my management skills. I must be firm.
For the Princess-sama to marry into the family, for the Princess-sama’s love to be fulfilled, and to be with the Princess-sama until the end.
For the sake of my ambition, do your best! Me!
◇
Three hours later.
“Onii-sama…”
“Ria…”
“I’m sorry for calling you a liar. Do you… still love me…?”
“Of course. There’s never a time when I don’t love you, Ria.”
“Onii-sama…!”
In the small living room of the Baumgarten mansion. There, Dietfried and Cornelia-san were hugging each other tightly.
Is this case closed, I wonder?
After that, Lily-san and I, who had barged into Cornelia-san’s room, listened to Cornelia-san’s complaints for about two hours, and then spent about an hour persuading her.
Still, the sight of a thirteen-year-old girl confessing the budding of her young love is quite something, isn’t it? I got so worked up myself, I had a hard time keeping my breathing from becoming heavy. I thought I might get a nosebleed.
Cornelia-san was anxious. About the situation where attractive girls were falling for Dietfried one after another. She worried that someday he would forget about her and stop loving her. She had been suffering for a long time.
Every time Dietfried got involved with various women, it made Cornelia-san anxious, didn’t it? Goodness, he has no backbone, does he? But, it would be harsh to expect a thirteen-year-old boy to have much backbone.
“Onii-sama, will you make me your bride too…?”
Cornelia-san asks Dietfried, her expression filled with anxiety. This is it, Dietfried! Now is the time to show your backbone!
“……Yeah. I swear I will marry you, Ria.”
“Onii-sama!”
It took a little while, but it’s a passing grade. For now, let’s say well done, Dietfried.
“When you turn twenty, Ria.”
“No, I want it to be eighteen. Dora was eighteen too.”
“……Alright. Then, let’s get married when you turn eighteen.”
“Promise?”
“Yeah. It’s a promise.”
There are various ways to reinforce a promise, like exchanging tokens, sharing a vow kiss, but it’s hard for a thirteen-year-old to think of such things, isn’t it? I’ll subtly teach Dietfried about it later. I, Cassandra, will train Dietfried up!
“Ria, I’m sorry for everything up until now. From now on, I’ll treasure you even more than before. I think this whole incident happened because of a lack of communication between us. From now on, I’ll tell you everything, Ria. So, I want you to tell me everything too.”
“Anything?”
“Yeah, it can be worries, or even trivial things like a flower blooming in the garden. Anyway, let’s talk a lot without holding back.”
“Un…!”
What a lovely promise. But, to have someone you can say anything to. To have someone you’re that comfortable with. Such a person is hard to find, wouldn’t you agree?
Especially for nobles, who are taught not to let their feelings show on their faces. The relationship between Dietfried and Cornelia seemed wonderfully dazzling.
If possible, I couldn’t help but wish that I too could have that kind of relationship with Dietfried, Cornelia, and Lily.