The Banished Villainess' Husband Chapter 1

My name is Eufranc Ditalier Bailey.
Our house is a Count household and my father works in the law office as chief justice.
I was deceived by such an outrageous woman.
The crown prince's 『friend』, all of the sudden saying he wants to change his fiancée and push "her" on me.
At the time the story was confidential, she hasn't been told by His Majesty and her parents and my parents haven't told me yet.
I've heard the gossip going around, it sounds like a joke.
But you can notice it was severe.
The one who brings it up is the prince himself.
The other party is the Duke's daughter.
There is no problem with social status.
My social standing is not that high.
The thing is at this age, I have no fiancée. And it tires me because every time I meet my parents, they keep asking about it.
If I didn't choose a fiancée soon I'll fall behind and if you look beautiful and have a good social standing, you have nothing to complain about.
Moreover, it's the crown prince's former fiancee.
But the prince's chosen woman is a problem.
She's guardian dragon blessed child who possesses 『Holy Light』.
The dragon is the guardian who protects the country and if war breaks out the dragon's shield and spear will protect the country.
The guardian dragon cherishes and protects those who have distinct magical power called 『Holy Light』.
In other words, there must be a person who has 『Holy Light』 in the country…… someone who the dragon cherishes and protected.
If they're despised or mistreated, the country could be abandoned and destroyed by the guardian dragon.
Yes, the crown prince Alfred chose that kind of woman.
That's why no one disagrees.
No way I can do it.

………or that's what I thought.

Alfred who's engaged to Elana Rousfet Forsyth breaking their engagement in the middle of the graduation party and made this loud declaration in front of everyone, including His Majesty and prime minister, her father.

"This evil woman! Did you think I don't know how you often hara.s.s Rifana!"
"Wha–"
"I don't want to see your face! I'm going to break my engagement with you today! I'll make sure you pay for the hara.s.sment you did to Rifana!"
"Please wait, your Highness. Isn't that her own fault? I know she's blessed by the guardian dragon and possess 『Holy Light』 but I'm His Highness' fiancee…"
"Silence! I'm sick of that arrogant att.i.tude of yours! Go away! I don't want to see your face again!"
"Eh…"

The woman in the purple dress was pushed away.
Alfred's fiancée… no, former fiancée. Elana is shaking, clenching his fists, biting her lips and Alfred is embracing Rifana's shoulder and look at her as if he's about to curse her.
No one reaches out their hand to her and she can see their laugher hiding behind their fan.
And from the back, she can hear someone didn't even bother to hide their laughter and said, "That evil lady is done for."
The laughter gradually spreads.
Right now you can see a surreal sight of the King and the Knight trying to hold back the red-faced Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, after being pushed Miss Elana expression turned into a smile and standing up with staggered feet before bowing so beautifully.

"I understand. If your Highness goes that far, I don't mind if the engagement back to the blank slate. Well, excuse me now I have to do my part to break our engagement!"

After saying that, she tried to leave.
Still smiling, you can hear the sound of her heels walking towards the entrance.
However, she suddenly lost her balance.
Looking at how dangerous it was, my body moves before I can think.
I grasp her arm to keep her up.

"Oops. Did you sprain your leg when you fall?"
"E-eh! Wh-who are you?"
"I'm Eufranc Ditalier Bailey. Oi oi, aren't we in the same cla.s.s?"
"Same cla.s.s? ….e-eh??"
"Hey, are you really okay?"

Miss Elana is holding her head.
Her complexion is getting worse.
I know it's impolite to scrutinized and stare at her, but it didn't deter them from looking.
I'm tired of it and I stare back hard at them.
Some people quickly look away, some tried to act nonchalant or attempted to make a talk with the person next to them…
Looking at them, I saw Prince Alfred laughing with Rifana as if nothing had happened.
Oi oi…… Prince, are you serious?
Are you no longer thinking about Miss Elana?
Looking at him and Miss Elana, the prime minister nodded at him with face burning bright.
Phew. Let's get out of this strange place, young lady.

"I'll accompany you so it doesn't get worse."
"Ah, I was worried. So~ kind~."
"Eh!"
"Well. Are you going to continue strain yourself till the end?"
"………"

While grabbing my arm, she leaves without any pain in her legs.
In the end, they left while displaying splendid courtesy.
When the door closes, Elana sits as if the tension leave her body.

"………………."
"Let's arrange the carriage. Can you wait here? Or….."
"I want… to go to entrance hall…"
"Okay. Let's do our best."
"!"

I offer her my hand.
And was met with a surprised face.
Is it so strange for her to see a gentleman offering his arm to a lady?

"……I don't understand. Your own situation–"
"Alfred is my 『friend』. And I feel bad about what my friend did. But if a lady is standing in front of me, I'd offer her my hand. I'm a gentleman. Right?"
"………. Right."

I put a hand on top of another.
She and Alfred have been engaged since they were small.
So, I've had the opportunity to dance a few times with Miss Elana in a party setting.

"Let's try again."
"I understand."

She only sees Alfred.
Like I didn't exist.
I don't even remember…..
I wonder how it is like to be the crown prince's fiancée.
She looks like quite taken with Prince Alfred.

As a result, I escorted her home.
It brings problem the next day.
While eating breakfast, my father let out a deep sigh and open his mouth saying something so alarming.

"Would you like to marry Miss Elana? You and her? Hm."
"Ha?? N-no. …the prime minister is mad. …his Majesty also holding his head. ……Haah, this is unbelievable…."
"………"

Forking the meat on his plate and carry it to his mouth.
That's right.
The prime minister is as good as turned became Prince Alfred's enemy.
Prince Alfred is our country only prince.
Since he's an only child, he's growing up quite spoiled.
I have 5 younger brothers, but honestly speaking 3rd son is the best.
My father also wants to consider him in line succession.
Our country had a designate succession system, so we can have the best son to inherit.
The second son, Ruth, is thirteen years old. Reagan, the third son is eight years old. After that is five years old and three years old.
I'm using my father as proxy temporarily, my younger brothers will have to show efforts and I'll let the earnest succeed.
Ah, no, it was supposed to be like that.
I think that's no longer the case for my father tho.

"It can't be helped then with the young lady who posses 『Holy Light』?"
"That's right. It became troublesome…"
"Now I can't shield it."
"Yeah… if you knew that, why did you watch without doing anything? Since it's you, it's hard to conduct yourself isn't it?"
"Oi oi, dad. You are overestimating me, you are asking too much from our Count house duty. Just let the higher house 『Five Alumni』 to do the job. Also, I was taking care of something I can't get out off. "
"…………. Is that true?"
"Unfortunately. Isn't this matter also reported to father, prime minister and His Majesty? Are you forgot?"
"Eh! No way! I thought it was a joke!"
"………"

I stared at him with an apologetic expression.
I wasn't apologizing.
……well, that's right.
Other than Prince Alfred, Miss Rifana also pretty close to the close aide candidate like myself, Duke Starlet, Nick, and Carl.
Many of them are sons from a high social standing house.
I was in a different cla.s.s with Miss Elana so I was not really interacted with Miss Rifana.
However, there are many rumors that Miss Elana hara.s.sing Miss Rifana can be heard.
I don't pay attention regarding the authenticity of the rumors.
Because besides her…… I heard Starlet, Nick and Carl's fiancée also heard that Miss Rifana was hateful and ill-spoken.
Though not very much, they don't want to experience the guardian dragon's wrath.
So is Miss Elana.
Maybe there's different force influencing other lady and whispering that 『Miss Elana is hara.s.sing Miss Rifana』 in prince's ears.
Then the blinded prince tries to eliminate the 『enemy』.
Incidentally, Miss Elana has high standing among other lady and many rumors already surrounding her, so she's a good target.
Well, in spite of it… it's not my place anyway.
I'm not dragged into it.

"Now, back to the talk of my marriage with Miss Elana, how sudden is it? Yesterday evening I only help to send her home."
"I told you, the prime minister is out of his mind. …..his Majesty would need to address her fiancé soon. Since you help her get up and escort her, you attract the attention."
"I see. Well, I don't mind."
"Aaa…! If you are! Really! As I thought you would say that!"

Father is holding his head.
Ah~ the meat was delicious.

"Listen to me first! Prince Alfred has proposed his Majesty to deport Miss Elana!"
"Seriously? He's going that far?"
"It seems like he's trying not to spoil the guardian dragon's mood. I don't know how well the guardian dragon knows Miss Elana. But if the rumors of Miss Elana's hara.s.sment towards Miss Rifana is true, his majesty and prime minister can't help her. I have to hold back the crown prince."
"Hmm…"

In other words, if you hate the girl who posses 『Holy Light』 you can anger the guardian dragon, and there's possible calamity the guardian dragon bring.
That 『possibility』 is a threat.
To deport Miss Elana in exchange for guardian dragon contentment.
Well, it is reasonable considering the importance of guardian dragons in this country.
The problem is that the truth of the bullying of Elana to Miss Rifana is unclear…
Miss Rifana had nothing to say about it.
Will they confirm anything?
As far as I know, Miss Elana and other fiance daughters are not bullying Miss Rifana.
No matter how irritating it is, Miss Rifana is blessed by the guardian dragon and posses 『Holy Light』, it's out of the n.o.bles' hand.
……I don't think she knew what was going to happen to Miss Elana?

"………………."

What an evil woman.

tn: translating this is confusing at times because i have attention span of a gold fish and i can't keep track who's saying the dialogue.