The Confession Event

Once the urgency of the situation dawned on me, I quickly called Chiyo to help me tidy my appearance. It took almost half an hour, but by the time I reached the drawing room, I managed to present myself properly as the duke’s daughter.

“Excuse me, Otou-sama. This is Akari.” I called out from door.

“Ah, come in. We’ve been waiting for you.” My father replied.

I stepped through the doorway and immediately saw Suoh sitting on the couch across my father and brother. The three of them turned to me with warm smiles, and I could sense the tension slowly draining from my body.

“Please excuse me for making you wait.” I curtsied politely.

“I don’t mind it—I’m the one who came here so suddenly. It’s not your fault.” Suoh rose from his seat and approached me.

“Um…Suoh-sama, do you need something from me?” I tilted my head in confusion. We’d already met each other earlier today, so if he needed something, wouldn’t he already tell me this morning?

“Yes, actually it’s the reason why I summoned your father and brother to the palace.” Suoh stopped right in front of me, then he suddenly knelt on the carpet.

“S-Suoh-sama?!” I was flustered, but Suoh grabbed my hands and shot me a comforting smile.

“Akari, I was never one to believe in love at first sight, but meeting you has changed my entire belief. Your innocence, your kindness, and your strength—I am hopelessly attracted to you. I meant to bury this feeling deep in my heart, since I was already promised to your sister, but when I found out how terribly she treated you, I cannot stand by and watch any longer. Now that I am no longer promised to anyone, I do not wish to hide my feelings anymore. Himemiya Akari…”

Suoh reached into his inner pocket and took out a small velvet box. He opened it, revealing a beautiful ring inlaid with precious jewels.

“…I am in love with you. Will you marry me?”

I froze, my gaze was fixed on the ring. I slowly glanced at Suoh’s earnest expression, then back to the ring again. I looked back and forth between them, my tongue felt heavy in my mouth.

“What…what should I say? Since he’s the crown prince, should I accept his proposal? But if so, I’ll become the queen one day. Is it really okay for someone with commoner blood like me to be queen? No, before that…do I really love Suoh-sama?”

As my thoughts kept swirling in my head, the silence grew longer and longer until my father couldn’t take it anymore.

“Akari! Why aren’t you saying anything?! Don’t keep His Highness waiting!” Tatsuo rebuked me, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“M-My apologies!” I reflexively bowed my head.

“Does that mean…you’re rejecting my proposal?” Suoh’s face clouded over as he carefully asked.

“H-Huh?!” I was taken aback. “N-No, that’s not…um…I’m not rejecting your proposal…”

“Then, do you accept it?” His face instantly lit up.

“Tha-That’s…also…not quite right…” I averted my gaze. “I…um…need some time to think it through…”

“Akari!” Tatsuo jumped to his feet and stomped over to me. He grabbed both of my shoulders and stared intensely at me. “What else do you need to think about?! Aren’t you also in love with His Highness?! Then you should accept his proposal! You don’t need to think about anything else!”

“B-But…I’m not so sure…” My voice grew smaller as I shrunk back from Tatsuo’s pressure.

“Besides, not all marriages start from love! You can have all the time in the world to build your love once you’re married! You—!”

“Otou-sama, that’s enough.”

Just as my father started ranting, Fuyuhiro stepped in and stopped him.

“Fuyuhiro, you need to talk some sense into your sister…!”

“Otou-sama, this is Akari’s decision, and hers alone. If she needs some time to think, then why not let her? That way, she’ll regret nothing, and it’ll be better for both her and His Highness in the future.” Fuyuhiro reasoned with him.

“I agree with the Young Duke.” Suoh interjected with a wry smile. “I must admit that I was a bit too hasty. Akari, please allow me to apologize to you. I was so impatient that I forgot to take your feelings into account. You can take your time to think it over, okay?”

I slowly nodded, feeling relieved that I didn’t have to answer right away.

“However, please keep in mind…” Suoh took my hand and lightly kissed it before looking up at me. “…not to keep me waiting for long, my dear Akari.”

*****

When I came back to my senses, I was sitting alone in my room. The half-written letter was resting on the desk, untouched, but I’d already lost the will to finish writing it.

“Mom…” I whispered, tracing her letter with my finger. “What should I do about Suoh-sama’s proposal?”

When I looked back at our relationship, Suoh was always the one who chased after me persistently. He was always open about his affection to me, while I kept him at arm’s length, neither affirming nor denying his advances. I knew he was Miyuki’s fiancé, so I shouldn’t be close to him, but he was the first person who saw me as myself, not as a Himemiya's illegitimate daughter. I couldn’t help but get attached to him, just like a duckling who imprinted on the first person it saw. Amidst the hostility and indifference that I faced as an outsider, he was the only person to show me kindness. Even Miyuki then turned her back on me and began harassing me, so he was the only one I could rely on.

However, now that I was able to think it over calmly, I was sure that what I felt toward Suoh wasn’t love—it was closer to admiration. Rather than seeing him as a man, I saw him as more of an older brother. If I was still a commoner, I would’ve rejected his proposal, using my lack of romantic affection as the reason. But just as my father said earlier, the nobilities were different. You could get married without having a shred of affection for your partner. Even having a positive feeling toward your partner was already considered a blessing.

“Urgh…then what should I do…?” I groaned, growing more confused the more I thought about it.

At times like these, it was best to ask for someone else’s advice instead of overthinking myself. My gaze fell to my unfinished letter. What I really needed right now wasn’t my mom’s letter—I needed her in person. I wanted to tell her everything that I’d been keeping bottled inside of me. I wanted to tell her how scary it was living among the nobility, where even the smallest mistake could cost you your life. I wanted to tell her how much I was saved by Suoh’s kindness, as well as Hijiri’s and Daichi’s friendship. But more importantly, I simply wanted her to hug me tightly and tell me that everything was going to be alright.

“Alright, I’ve made up my mind.” I rose from my chair and strode out of my room, heading straight to my father’s study.

After knocking on the door, Tatsuo immediately allowed me to come in. He was sitting behind his desk, grappling with piles of papers and reports. It must be hard being a duke, for him to be constantly buried in work even after dinner time.

“What’s the matter, Akari? Do you need help with something?” Tatsuo beckoned me closer.

I approached him as he quickly tidied up his desk. A sheet of paper flew off his desk and landed near my feet. I bent down to pick it up.

“Hm?” I reflexively let out a bewildered sound.

The paper was filled with some sort of magic circle, albeit an overly complicated one. For me, who had just begun to study magic for a year, it was way over my head. However, I instinctively sensed that it was something ancient and meant to cast a large-scale magic spell.

Before I could scrutinize it further, Tatsuo already snatched the paper out of my hand.

“A-Ah, thank you, Akari.” He shoved the paper into his desk’s drawer as if he didn’t want anyone to see it.

“What is that magic circle, Otou-sama?” I asked curiously.

“No, it’s just something that the court mages have proposed. Nothing for you to worry about.” Tatsuo brushed the issue off. “Putting it aside, why are you here, Akari? Have you thought about your answer to His Highness’ proposal?”

“Ah, about that…” I hesitated for a moment.

Ever since I stepped into this house, I had restrained myself from making any troubling demands. I didn’t want to be labelled as a burden and lose my place in this house. However, this time I was determined to get my father to agree, no matter what I must do.

I took a deep breath before saying my request. “I’d like to visit my mom just for one day.”

For a moment, silence filled the room as Tatsuo gaped at me in shock.

Then he came back to his senses. “No, no, wait a minute. What does your mother have to do with the crown prince’s proposal?”

“I-I need to consult with her about his proposal, you see.” I fidgeted with the edge of my dress, unable to look at my father in the eye. I did realize just how far of a stretch my request was.

“If you need to discuss it with someone, won’t it be better to discuss it with me or your brother? Why would you involve your mother, someone who isn’t even a noble, in this? Are you trying to run away from this house, using your mother as an excuse? Do you really hate the idea of marrying His Highness?” Tatsuo’s voice grew lower as he spoke.

“No, of course not!” My head instantly shot up when I heard his last sentence. “I’m not planning to run away or anything! It’s just…” I averted my eyes. “…I want to get my mom’s opinion, as another woman. I don’t have any female friends, and the only adult woman I know is my mom, so…” My voice gradually disappeared by the end of it.

Tatsuo heaved a deep sigh and massaged his temple. “Haven’t you received her letter today? Didn’t she write that she’ll support your marriage with the prince? Do you still need to ask her?”

“T-That’s…” I stuttered. “Otou-sama, how did you know that? Did you read her letter beforehand?”

Tatsuo froze for a moment, then he cleared his throat. “Yes, I did. I had to make sure she won’t put any strange ideas into your head, you see. Putting it aside, you can ask her through the letter, so you don’t have to go and visit her in person. I’ll even make sure she writes a reply once the letter is delivered. It won’t be good if you keep the prince waiting just because of your mom’s letter.”

I pinched the edge of my dress as I grew more desperate. “B-But it will be faster if I go to see her in person! Besides, it’s been almost a year since I last saw her. Don’t you think I can visit her at least once? I’m sure she’s also missed me, and—”

“Didn’t I tell you to never visit her?!”

Before I could finish my argument, Tatsuo’s anger finally exploded.

“Do you want to disgrace yourself further?! We’ve been trying so hard to present you as a proper noble lady, and yet you’re going to ruin all of our efforts by showing your commoner’s roots! Can you imagine how much rumor will arise if anyone saw you visiting a commoner?! It will hurt your image as the crown princess!”

“I haven’t even accepted Suoh-sama’s proposal yet!” I refuted. “Why do you keep assuming I’ll accept his proposal?! It’s absurd for a commoner like me to be the queen in the first place!”

“You’re not a commoner! You are my daughter, descendant of the esteemed Himemiya Ducal family! You don’t have the lowly blood of a commoner! Get that fact into your head!” Tatsuo grabbed my hair and shouted into my ears. “And you should know better that daughters have to marry for their family’s sake! You’re not going to get any better proposal than the crown prince’s, so I will never let you refuse it! Do you understand?!”

“…!” I bit my lips, forcibly swallowing back the sobs that threatened to spill from my lips. Facing such a bloodcurdling anger, my body shrunk and I lost all of my fighting spirit.

Tatsuo seemed to have sensed the same thing, because he let me go and spoke in a softer tone. “Go back to your room and clear your head. Once you think it over carefully, you’ll see that I’m saying this for your own sake.”

I wordlessly nodded before fleeing my father’s study. On my way out, I nearly collided into my brother, but I kept running and ignored his call. Once I was in the safety of my room, I threw myself to the bed and began crying silently.

I didn’t know how much time had passed, but when my tears started subsiding out of exhaustion, I heard a knock on my door.

“Ojou-sama, this is Chiyo. May I come in?” She asked cautiously.

I glanced at the door warily. “…what’s the matter?” I asked in a hoarse voice.

Right now, I didn’t want to meet anyone, even less my father and my brother.

“It’s just, I heard Ojou-sama crying, so perhaps I could be of help…” Chiyo’s voice trailed off, but her warm words still managed to move my heart.

I rose from my bed and trudged over to the door. After opening it a crack, I peered through it, making sure there was no one else with her.

“Ojou-sama?” Chiyo tilted her head at my bizarre behavior.

I ignored her confusion and quickly pulled her inside before locking my door.

“My, Ojou-sama, your eyes are all red and puffy!” Chiyo began fussing once she saw my face clearly. “If it’s okay with you, would you tell me what’s troubling your mind? Just treat me as invisible air and talk to yourself. Perhaps it will bring relief to your heart, Ojou-sama.”

“Mm…”

While I was hesitating over her offer, Chiyo deftly laid me on the bed and got a cold towel from somewhere, then used it to gently compress my puffy eyes. She worked without saying a word, and I slowly recounted what happened in the study earlier. Chiyo listened attentively, truly keeping her words to be like ‘air’.

After I finished talking, Chiyo let out a small sigh.

“Ojou-sama…I did promise to just listen, but if you’d allow me…may I say something outrageous?” Chiyo asked.

“Outrageous…?” I sat up, letting the cold towel fell to my lap. “What is it?”

“If perhaps you really, really want to see your mother…then maybe I can help you.” She offered.

I stared at her, stunned by the unexpected offer.

“…why would you do that for me?” I managed to squeak out. “If Otou-sama finds out, you’ll be fired!”

“It’s because Ojou-sama reminds me of myself a bit.” Chiyo wore a bitter smile unlike her usual self. “I’ve been working in this mansion since I was young to support my sickly mother and younger siblings. I never took a day off and willing to do anything just to earn a bit more money, so I can send them back to my family.

Then my mother’s condition worsened, and my siblings urged me many times to go back home while she’s still alive, but I keep putting it off, believing that if I send even a bit more money, she’ll surely be okay. I didn’t realize how foolish I was until my siblings sent me a single letter, telling me that my mother already passed away. At that moment, I realized that there’s nothing more precious than family, not even money. And I swear to myself that I won’t make the same mistake twice.”

Chiyo looked straight at me, her eyes glimmered from unshed tears.

“That’s why, I’ll help you meet with your mother again, Ojou-sama. If you’re going to marry the prince, this will be your last chance to visit her, right?”

“Oh, Chiyo…!” I hugged her tightly and burst into tears again. “Will you really help me out?”

“Yes, I will. Please leave it to me, Ojou-sama.” Chiyo hugged me back, her warmth filled my heart with joy.

Once we both had calmed down, Chiyo quickly took action. She bribe—asked the stable boy to procure a horse for me, since it would take only a few hours on horse to get to my village. If I left in the morning, pretending that I was going to the academy as usual, I would have enough time to visit my mom and back again before anyone suspected anything.

Fortunately, I’d learned horse-riding as part of my noble education. I’d gotten the hang of it fairly quick, since I was better at moving my body than using my head.

The next day, I executed my reckless plan—and succeeded.

I asked the carriage driver to drop me off a bit further from the academy's gates, saying that I would like to exercise a bit. The driver wasn’t suspicious at all, and I managed to meet up with the stable boy, who came prepared with my riding gear. In just half an hour, I was already on the horseback, galloping through the capital toward Akagawa Village—my hometown.