Cinderella Did Not Leave Her Shoe Chapter 25-27
Add caption
25
Jealousy Jealousy
Father crossed
to the chairs and took a seat next to mother. Marie served him tea. Just then
the door, burst open and a tall man with black hair entered.
Father and
Mother rose from their seats. Father bowed low and mother curtsied low. Marie, who stood at attention in the corner, curtsied as well.
Just behind
the man was the servant who pushed us into the room.
‘Prince
Stephan, you can’t just do this. If you’re going to have an audience you have
to call…’
The Prince did
not respond to his words but came up to me, menacingly,
‘You!’ he
said.
I am being
scolded. Didn't something similar happen recently?
I’m not happy
about this. Was this really the Prince?
Did someone
fill the Prince’s head with those vicious rumours about me?
But, I was
called because of General Brennan.
So, the
Prince’s hostility to me…No, it can’t be? General Brennan must be very popular.
Wow! (Zuben: Oh Fredericka…)
‘Respectfully,
your highness, had my daughter been rude in some way?’
‘This is the
bad lady who tempted Brennan!’
Bad lady?!
I suppose if
the Prince is in love with Brennan, he would see any lady who was dating his
beloved general as bad.
‘Look at me.’
He grasped my
shoulder and tilted my head up to look at him.
‘Gyip!’ I’m
sorry mother; why didn’t you raise me to make cute sounds?
Here I was;
eye to eye with the Prince.
The Prince,
though he trained daily, was not a heavily muscled man, but rather, he looked
lithe. He had a beautiful figure. His eyes were slanting and lashes were long.
They had a very direct blue gaze.
Could he be
the same age as I was? Was he guarded by the General? Did they have a
teacher-student like relationship that had developed during his training? Hmm,
close but different. I feel like our distance is shortened a bit. (Zuben: thoughts go here, there and back again)
‘I don’t know
what kind of methods you used,’ he said, ‘but you had better stop the plot
against Brennan.’ He said as he drew closer to me.
Although
you’re the Crown Prince, could you not come so close? He’s very close, isn’t
he?
‘As, that…um’
Just then the
door was burst open nearly off its hinges. The Prince jumped.
In the open
doorway, were General Brennan and Oliver behind him. Oh, Oliver went to get the
General.
‘Stefan!
Fre-Fredericka!’
To my surprise
and the Prince’s, it looked like; General Brennan ran towards us and caught me
in his arms and turned me away as if to hide me from the Prince. He hugged me
tightly. I was relieved by the scent of dense forest and sweat for a brief
period, and then I realised he was holding me too tightly and I could barely
breathe.
Ge-general,
please loosen your arms! (Zuben: Volker, don’t kill your wife before you marry
her)
‘Stefan, what
is this about?’ his voice reverberated through his body to my ears. Though I
could not see him, I could tell he sounded angry. But could he talk that way to
the Crown Prince? This wasn’t good!
On no, please
the strength of your arms…gufu~
‘You know
Fredericka is my dear person…’
Oh General
said something embarra.s.sing. It is also pleasing. But…
‘Oh no! Miss
Fredericka…!’
I heard Marie’s
voice call out in alarm from a distance. I’ve been saved, but Marie, you should
have helped a little earlier.
*
When I came
to, I was lying in a sofa with Marie sitting on a chair fanning me. General Brennan
was pacing behind a fl.u.s.tered Marie, making his eyebrows look like a character.
I caught his
eye, and smiled and mouthed a h.e.l.lo to let him know I was alright, but
general’s expression turned into one that looked like he wanted to cry.
‘Brennan,’ the
Prince called. He was still not convinced. As the general ascertained I was alright,
he returned my smile. His eyes twinkled brightly. How is the General so pretty?
‘I don’t know
how Stefan heard of those baseless rumours. But is not a speck of sordidness to
my love for Fredericka. I have not been forced, nor is it pity. I simply love
her.’ (Zuben: Swoon)
『Bu u fu! 』(Zuben:
Honestly, j.a.panese and the sound effects)
Ge-General
Brennan! The Prince, as well as father and mother were wondering why?! My
cheeks were dyed red. Marie also blushed and gave a small excited squeal.
(Zuben: we’re with you Marie: squee!)
This is going
to be fun for a while.
‘Brennan, you
have never talked about marriage, you haven’t even been seeing anyone recently.
Now, you’re suddenly getting married!'
It seemed like
Prince Stefan thought that this was a plot by Frederick Castley to trap General
Brennan to capture the military.
Hmm, I don’t
think father has the time to drop his business and grasp the military. It’s
more like having a good relationship with a business partner. (Zuben: Aww, all
of daddy’s innocent manoeuvres) It’s more like that.
But I couldn’t
really tell everyone that what connected us was my lost underwear. I really
don’t want the story of my underwear tearing in the middle of the ball while I
was getting my engagement cancelled to get out there. Mother, Marie, don’t you
be laughing secretly. I can see your shoulders shaking!
‘Brennan! You
said you will be with me until I became independent.’
This Prince
really has a strong devotion to General Brennan. He looked up at the general
with a gentle extremely devoted expression. Fuwa?!
‘Stefan, you
are already a splendid man. In politics and in fencing you have excelled. You
do not need me escorting you about.’ Brennan said as he patted the young man’s
head.
Did he just
call the Prince by name just now?
The Crown
Prince got all choked up and clung to the General.
‘But Uncle!’
What?!!
Did I hear
that right? Did anyone hear this news?
(Zuben:
Upgrade! From Duke to Prince!)
26 Jealousy
Jealousy
An explanation
was given.
In his youth,
Volker Brennan abdicated. So he usually forgets that he is a member of the
royal family. Even the General agreed with his rueful expression that it was a
bit off.
The Prince was
hugging him all the while.
Most people in
Father’s generation knew about it but it was not spoken about. It wouldn’t do
any good. And if it was spoken of, it is regarded as treason because it was
seen as maligning the royal family.
He was the
illegitimate son of the previous king.
Volker’s
mother worked the Palace at the time, and became lover to the King. She gave
birth to Brennan, but because she was of lowly status was not allowed to take
position of Queen by the House of Lords. (Zuben: Stuffy old goats)
His mother
eventually died of complications of her weak heart. (Zuben: Don’t they all have
weak hearts)
He was adopted
by his aunt and her husband and abdicated. From then on the Prince Volker
became plain old Volker Brennan.
The Brennan
family were a renowned line of warriors. Each generation produced a solder or
knight. His adopted father was even stricter in training the general.
There were so
many things I didn’t know about him…
General
Brennan was the younger brother of the current king.
What is
happening? More and more, there was a tremendous feeling of imbalance. A Prince
(Former) and a disgraced Viscount’s daughter… Even though the General asked me,
how well do I suit being his wife? Is it okay to do it? This isn’t good, is it?
(Zuben: Freddie don’t get in a tiswas)
Come to think
of it what does General Brennan like about me? He asked me to marry him, but I
didn’t specifically ask. I haven’t heard him say anything. I don’t remember
doing anything particularly special in front of him. (Zuben: The sight of your
forest green eyes seared his soul)
I started to
feel uneasy.
‘I never
planned on joining the Royal Guard…’
While I was
lost in my maudlin thoughts, the General looked in my direction and pulled the
pried the Prince’s hands off his waist. (Zuben: The prince is cute too. They
are all cute!)
‘Please stop
hugging me I have not forgiven you yet,’ he said to Prince Stefan coldly.
‘There was joint training of the Western Army, which I belonged to and the
Royal Army. It was then I was forced into taking over the training of Prince
Stefan.’
I was
surprised that the General could speak coldly like that.
‘But Uncle…?’
Stephan was also surprised; he seemed he had no idea why his beloved uncle was
angry with him.
‘Firstly, I
asked you to see me as your va.s.sal at all times. I am also your teacher,
calling me 'uncle' without restraint is not allowed. Secondly, you intimidated
and touched my Fredericka.’
The Prince’s
eyebrows rose dramatically as he recalled his earlier actions. He had been
behaving childishly with the General. Calling me ‘his’ made me feel glad, but
my embarra.s.sment over shadows it ne~
‘Very well, I
admit there was a misunderstanding. But there is an imbalance between your
levels…she doesn’t suit you.’ Stefan said. (Zuben: Who dares say that? Let them come out and let me beat them.)
Well that is
true. The Military and Aristocracy are inviolable. But if there was to be intermarriage
between a high ranking military person and an aristocrat, the n.o.ble house
should be of good standing, especially when the person is a General. Someone
like General Brennan should be marrying a high n.o.ble.
He’s also part
of the Royal Guard and the son of a prominent military family. It is only
natural he marries someone more suited.
The General
came to where I sat and knelt before me,
‘I am just a
soldier. Before that I am just a human. If you say Fredericka does not suit me
because I am a General of the Royal Guard, then I will resign.’ (Zuben: Well said. *Minor swoon)
He looked at
me like a beast looking at his prey, causing a frisson of awareness to trace
along my skin. I nodded to him.
I am so
embarra.s.sed, but I also like the General and want to be with him. Please
forgive me for not being able to declare it like you do. I really don’t have
the courage to say it. Even if the was just immediate family and the Prince.
(Zuben: Well he’s family too)
‘Good I am
relieved.’ He said with a smile and carried me in one smooth move.
‘Come,
Stefan.’
He guided
Stefan to sit on the other side of father and I was placed on his lap…as though
it was a matter of course.
General! What
are you doing in front of everyone?!
27 Jealousy
Jealousy
The Prince’s
eyes widened in surprise at General Brennan’s actions. Father sputtered. Mother
laughed with her hand over her mouth. Marie squealed. Oliver continued to serve
tea. (Zuben: Is that an “always full teapot” you’ve got there, Ollie) The
chamberlain froze.
I could not
hold my head up. I hid my face with my hands and hid my red face.
‘General
Brennan, please put me down…’ I said timidly.
‘Do you find
it distasteful?’
Is this the
only choice for him? He said the same thing at the theatre last night. But
that’s not it, I’m embarra.s.sed not disgusted! But maybe embarra.s.sment I feel
here is a little different. I kept trying to think of a way to solve this with
my brain that had short circuited.
‘You can put
my on your knees….when we are alone…’I whispered to him.
A little while
after, General Brennan’s deputy came to get him for some urgent meeting, so he
had to go.
After he left,
an awkward atmosphere filled the room.
It was
Stephan-sama that broke the awkward silence, ‘It’s the first time I’ve seen
Brennan so tame. He’s usually as ferocious as a tiger.’
With a loud
sigh, he sat back into his chair. The “I must convict the bad woman” aura was
gone. He was now partaking in Oliver’s excellently brewed tea.
‘This time…it
seemed I jumped to conclusions. I hope I didn’t shock you?’ the prince said
looking at me with a tired face.
‘No, it’s alright.’
I replied. I did not care for his earlier att.i.tude but the Prince seems like a
good person. Even if I had been shocked, I could not tell the Prince.
‘It’s because
Brennan is one of the people I trust the most, and blood rushed to my head when
I heard a woman was trying to get him. It has happened before. To make amends,
you can ask for anything of me.’
But, it seems that
the Prince is not one to properly apologise, I am surprised. I was about to
decline when he said,
‘I’m still not
alright with it. For Brennan to care about a woman enough to put her on his
knee in front of everyone, it was unpleasant to see. Just say one thing,’
Looking at his
glittering eyes I was a bit troubled. He seemed to have a forceful personality.
He didn’t want to owe me anything. I didn’t want him to owe me anything either,
but I don’t think he would understand. As I thought about it, an idea came to
me.
‘Well, I don’t
really want anything, but Prince Stefan may I ask a favour? Can we be friends?’
‘What?’ Prince
Stefan had a shocked look on his face. Father cringed in his seat. Mother held
her fan over her face.
‘Well, as you
know, my family is not well liked therefore I don’t have any friends. And you
know a lot about Brennan and I want you to tell me about him, so I thought the
best thing is to be friends.’
I want to know
the stories that Brennan wouldn’t tell me.
‘…but, as
expected, it’s not possible.’ I said to no one in particular. It would be bad
if a Viscount’s daughter was hanging around the Crown Prince. It would look as
if I had an ulterior motive and would create misunderstandings.
I was hoping we could have
a 'General Brennan Love' party. I really wanted to have one. I gave a laugh
trying to hide my sadness and embarra.s.sment.
The
chamberlain rushed in, he was in a hurry it seemed, ‘Stefan-sama?!’
But the Prince
held his hand up to stop him.
‘That sounds
like a fun idea. Let’s be friends from now on, okay. You must call me Stefan.’
I stared at
him in surprise. Was my face a little red? I turned to father; he looked like
he’d eaten something bitter. My mother hid her face with her fan and fell back
in seeming agony.
Er…?
♢