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

Nevertheless, Rishe felt it more appropriate for her to negotiate with Arnold instead of Oliver.

It will also be convenient for me to be with Young Miss. With an excuse to stay in contact with the Jonal family, I can explore more about Young Miss’s ‘curse,’ His Excellency’s changes, and Leo’s injuries…

Besides, if she could be involved in the preparation of the “Festival”, she might be able to understand Arnold’s intentions towards the Order.

It’d be unreasonable for him to get angry at Oliver-sama because of what I want to do.

As she was deep in thought, Oliver chuckled.

“You’re very kind, Rishe-sama. I’m sure that’s why you’ve forgiven Myria-sama. Had it been me whom Myria-sama hugged back there, I probably would have made things even worse.”

“I don’t have anything particular to say, but I can’t imagine any interaction between His Highness Arnold and Miss Myria… To start with, His Highness said that he doesn’t like children.”

“…”

Oliver looked dumbfounded at her response.

“That’s not something you should say to your future wife, by mistake.”

“Yes.”

His eyes widened at the unexpected reply.

Not knowing Rishe’s feelings, Oliver bowed his head earnestly.

“I’m sorry, Rishe-sama. I’ll give my master a stern lecture later on. He’s still unaware that he will eventually be in a position to educate his heir…”

“Ah, no, it’s not a problem at all!! Don’t worry about it at all, uh! Forget about that!!”

While drowning out Oliver’s remarks, Rishe hurriedly changed the subject.

“Children, yes, children! What was His Highness Arnold like when he was a child?”

“Oh, My Lord?”

“Yes! I’d love to hear about it!”

It was a question that came to her on the spur of the moment, but it was definitely something she was dying to ask. Oliver, who seemed pressured by Rishe, lost his bearings and replied.

“He was a wonderfully talented Crown Prince. I met him for the first time a decade ago, but I had heard of his reputation long before that.”

Oliver then told her this.

“Rumors about him being a child prodigy weren’t limited domestically. For example, it is said that whenever His Majesty from the desert country of Khalil Rasha came to visit, he would always bring his son along to exchange knowledge with our sovereign and practice swordsmanship with him.”

“His son” should pertain to King Zahad.

Come to think of it, Zahad, the King of the Desert, seemed to have met Arnold several times.

It was Zahad who promptly informed Rishe in her merchant life that Arnold Hein had started the war.

Rishe suddenly remembered the belligerent look on Zahad’s face at that moment.

His Highness Arnold and King Zahad… They’re close in age, but are both royalty from countries of roughly equal power. Most importantly, they are opposites in personality and thinking. They don’t seem to get along with each other very well…

The desert nation of Khalil Rasha was one of the countries that would be on equal footing with Garkhain in the future when Arnold waged war. Once the two would meet at the wedding, she had a vague feeling that their interaction wouldn’t pass smoothly.

However, there was no point in worrying about that now.

“When you met the nine-year-old Crown Prince, was he the same as rumors claimed him to be?”

“I was summoned to the Imperial Castle and knelt in the audience hall waiting for his arrival. I was very surprised when My Lord sat down on the chair in front of me and allowed me to look up.”

Oliver smiled, almost wryly.

“The first time I saw His Highness, he looked as if carrying painful scars all over his body.

“―― ……”

Rishe’s eyes rounded involuntarily.