The Villainess Enjoys Her Seventh Life as a Free-Spirited Bride (hostage) in a Former Enemy Country
chapter-79

That night when Arnold put on the ring for her.

As Rishe walked next to Arnold on the way to the banquet hall, a thought popped up suddenly, and she asked, “Why did Your Highness propose to me back then?”

It was a question she asked him several times when they just met.

He brushed it off those times, but she was hoping that he would tell her soon. When she looked up at him expectantly, Arnold regarded her seriously.

He went on to say with a deadpan look on his face.

“Didn’t I tell you? It’s because I fell in love with you.”

…And that’s an outright lie, isn’t it?!

Even when she replayed the moment they met, she couldn’t figure something that Arnold Hein might have fallen.

Besides, there was no way that Arnold Hein would have asked her to marry him on the spur of the moment. Rishe sulked a bit, but she picked up the pledge he offered.

“After that, you also said you asked me to marry you with the intention of using me.”

“That’s right. ―― Well, I guess it doesn’t matter what the reason is.”

For Your Highness, perhaps!

For Rishe, it was the turning point of her life. She didn’t want to know everything, but she would like to have at least a little more information.

Her show of discontent earned a laugh of amusement from Arnold. At this rate, he was never going to tell her why he asked for her hand in marriage.

Staring at her ring finger ring, Rishe made a decision.

It’s time to move on to the next stage, right?

*****

“And so, Your Highness Theodore. –I would like to know about the relationship between your father and His Highness Arnold.”

“You’re stepping into some pretty dangerous territory, you know…”

Rishe’s question drew a dumbfounded look on Theodore, who was lying on the lawn.

He looked up at Rishe and rubbed his eyes, as if the sunshine was too bright.

Although he seemed languid, he was as kind as his brother because he raised himself gentlemanly.

“The story between my fiancé and his father is important to me as well.”

After laying a handkerchief beside Theodore, Rishe sat down on it and brought her knees together.

“Your Highness is the most knowledgeable about His Highness Arnold. I’m sure you know something about it, so I’ve come to ask you for help.”

“Hmm, that’s about right. I don’t think anyone in this world can beat me when it comes to knowledge about my brother.”

Theodore puffed out his chest proudly as Rishe applauded. He then quickly got up on his knees and rested his chin on his hands on them, pouting.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can live up to your expectations. I don’t care whatever Sister-In-Law asks as long as you offer me new information about my brother as a reward!”

“Whatever you say.”

“I’ve never spoken to our father. I’ve tried to find out as much as I could about his relationship with Father, but he and my father don’t talk to each other in public.”

Theodore continued, plucking at the grass. “Whenever Father gives an order, he summons my brother to the audience hall alone. Oliver and the rest of Father’s servants aren’t allowed to be there either.”

That is to say, the place is thoroughly deserted?

“But I know a little bit about her mother.”

Rishe was looking down, but her head perked up at that unexpected word.

“As I recall, His Highness Arnold’s mother is different from yours, right?”

“Yeah, it’s not that unusual.”

And she heard that the woman who was Theodore’s mother already passed away.

Emperor Garkhain’s current consort was a partner not related to him by blood.

“Do you remember? I told you that Brother killed his mother.”

Theodore asked with a somewhat sad and blank expression.

Rishe nodded and asked a question that she failed to ask at the time.

“What happened?”

“It seems that Brother’s mother had always hated him. She kept him away from her and hurled abuses at him whenever she saw him. One day, after many years of this, he stabbed her with a sword.”

Theodore continued quietly, “It is said he drove his sword straight through his left chest.”

“…”

Rishe suddenly remembered.

In her sixth life, she died under Arnold’s sword.

The tip of his sword pierced her heart.

“Is that a certainty?”

“It’s hidden from the public, but everyone in this country knows about it.”

Theodore carried on somewhat bitterly.

“Brother’s mother was a princess in a certain country. I heard that she was given in marriage as a hostage by her father’s order.”

“His Highness Arnold once told me that His Majesty imposed a condition on his wife: that she must be of royal blood from another country.”

In Rishe’s case, she descended from the royal family of her country.

Arnold said that although she was distantly related, she was recognized for it.