Tensei Saki ga Shoujo Manga no Shiro Buta Reijou datta Chapter 118

The border city was located in between the southern country and middle country.

This place that faced the ocean was also developed as the base of trade.

The bright sunshine peculiar to southern country and the slightly mixed up atmosphere made us feel at ease.

Even if my weight rebounded again due to the confectionaries.

When we arrived at our destination, we got off from the carriages.

[Good. U-n, as I thought, this body is heavy.]

Alighting down behind me, Merrill smiled at me brightly like a sun.

[It's alright, you're not fat enough to worry about it! Aren't you cute the way you are?]

In this society, when girls say "cute~" to other girls, the comment was entirely unreliable.

Merrill's line was on that level.

[Besides, they say that girls who are slightly plumper are cute! I think so too!]

I didn't want to be told so by a beautiful girl with a forever slim body.

I kept my silence and had a fake smile.

(I understand that she's not a bad girl but… she's lacking in delicacy.)

The crown prince who got off from the next carriage was in a great mood.

[Britney! You look healthier today more than ever!]

[……Gufu.]

Emirya had a surprised expression when he looked at me who became chubby at a short period of time.

Ryuze pointed to Marlow "please don't give sweets to Britney anymore", it's like being stabbed by a nail. Seeing Marlow frivolously laughing, the comment didn't stick to him at all.

Ricardo cared about me gently as unchangingly as always.

[It was a long trip, are you okay?]

[Un, thank you. Ricardo, how about you?]

[I'm sturdy, so there's no problem.]

While we were talking, Merrill ran up to Ricardo and began to ask questions about the things she saw along the way.

(…Why is she asking Ricardo instead of Marlow-sama?)

Ricardo politely and honestly answered her questions.

It was me who had complicated feelings again.

Our place of residence in this border town was one of the houses owned by the governor of this area, including this town.

Since the crown prince and a princess were accompanying us, the warm reception was amazing.

For now, Merrill was not running around recklessly and calmly entered the mansion.

When I settled in my prepared room, I secretly started my diet.

It only took a moment to get fat, but strict effort was necessary to lose weight. That was the human body.

One could easily lose weight simply by ○○… if there's truly something like that, humanity would have the bodies of models. Incidentally, there were no foul skills like liposuction in this world.

TN: Liposuction, or simply lipo, is a type of cosmetic surgery that removes fat from the human body in an attempt to change its shape. Evidence does not support an effect on weight beyond a couple of months and it does not appear to affect obesity related problems. So it's actually useless for Britney even if it exists.

(Uu, I wonder how I can become chubby so fast…)

It's probably the fate of a chubby character, but it's really painful for a young lady.

Merrill then came into my room for some reason. I didn't have any plans until tonight so I was free.

[Hey, Britney, let's talk together!]

[Ye, yes…]

It was also the same case for Angela, I couldn't refuse a direct invitation from a princess for no reason.

[A, the thing is…]

Merrill whose doll-like long eyelashes were trembling a little laid it down.

[I want Britney to be my friend. I, I don't have any female friend…]

(…No wonder.)

[Unlike other people, you don't gaze at me with strange eyes, and we also chatted normally in the carriage.]

(Maa, that's true. Other girls loathe Merrill after all.)

When Merrill entered the room, my maid Maria began preparing tea.

We guided the princess to a sofa, and I sat down on an opposite sofa.

(However, what should I talk about?)

If I handled it poorly, Merrill's fighting spirit would catch fire and the daunting incident at make-up association would repeat again.

Then, Merrill cheerfully started a topic.

[Hey, Britney, have you fallen in love?]

[Buuf…!]

Hearing that, I spat out the tea in my mouth.

What was she saying so abruptly, this princess.

[Lo, love is it…?]

[That's right. My engagement partner has been decided, but I'm in love.]

[Ee!?]

Suddenly, I was surprised by what Merrill had said, and a bad feeling arose in my heart.

I wished that she would shut her mouth, but Merrill kept talking with a smile.

[I, that… on this trip, I came to like Ricardo.]

[…!? Is, is that so.]

During the trip, I had such a feeling for some reason.

That Merrill liking Ricardo was obvious.

However, if people were to know about this, her feelings wouldn't be accepted.

(How does she feel about Lucas?)

I waited for Merrill's next words.

[Lucas is kind to me but, what to say… it feels like a blind devotion. I don't know what he's thinking and I still feel like he doesn't really understand me.]

[I see.]

Certainly, Lucas had that part.

Clearly, right now he's just intoxicated by Merrill's appearance.

[So, why don't you try to have a mutual understanding with Lucas-sama?]

[Well, love is not that simple. I wonder what to say… first of all, it's instinct! It's impossible to reason.]

[…Is Princess Merrill intending to put that love into action?]

[I would like to do so, but when I think about my surroundings, I feel troubled.]

I was concerned about the friendship between Lucas and Ricardo.

(But, I guess this means that I can't say anything about others.)

I replaced Merrill's situation with myself.

Currently, Ryuze wanted to be engaged with me, and objectively, he's the best candidate to be my husband.

Still, I couldn't give up my feelings on Ricardo, and the current trip was due to my lingering affection.

(After all, I can't criticize Merrill.)

It's certainly easier to choose Ryuze, and I would be lucky to have such a handsome partner, but… to me, he's a family.

He was my important cousin, but it's uncomfortable to me if he's my fiancée.

[That's right, Britney! Can you support my love during this trip?]

[Ee?]

I looked at Merrill.

I knew it's better to follow the princess' proposal.

The aristocracy was the royalty's retainer, and it's better to avoid any bad situations by rejecting the request of the second princess.

However, by all means I couldn't agree with her, I didn't want to.

(…I can't afford for Merrill to have a relationship with Ricardo.)

While watching the beautiful girl in front of me, I timidly opened my mouth.

[Ano, Princess Merrill, I'm afraid I cannot do so.]

[Why? Because it's against the engagement decided by the country?]

[There's also that… but it's because I don't want to do so.]

[What do you mean?]

[I, I like him too, so I can't support your love…!]

I declared so while blushing, Merrill then gazed at me quietly.

[Maa! Maa, maa!]

Her rose coloured eyes that were framed by long eye-lashes were opened wide.

[Oh, so that's how it is! I'm really sorry, Britney!]

I thought that there was a better way to say it, but I couldn't stay calm when Ricardo was involved.

(Spontaneously, I told her the fact honestly… I wonder if it's okay.)

Merrill continued to say a series of "maa, maa, maa!", she seemed excited.

After a while, she settled down, her thin hands enveloped in white gloves then grasped my thick hands.

[I understand your feelings. From now on, we are rivals! Let's work hard and fight fair and square!]

[…Ha, haa.]

I was puzzled from being unilaterally declared as a love rival.

(Merrill is my love rival, I won't lose to her!)

For the beautiful Merrill, surely she had more suitors than others, but it became like this for some reason.

(That's right, Ricardo is gentle, and he's really nice.)

I didn't think that the sincere Ricardo would betray me easily, but my opponent was a beautiful heroine.

Moreover, she's a royalty.

I felt insecure just a little bit.

TN: Fight, Britney! Ricardo has loved you for many years, so at least you have the upper hand (for now at least, who know what will happen in the future). What a typical shoujou manga development.

Chapter end