7th Time Loop WN Vol. 5 Fan Translation

163

With teary eyes and trembling, Dietrich resembled his father, the king. Seeing him in such a state made Rishe feel uneasy.

(Dietrich-sama, you mustn't behave like this at a soirée! It's against etiquette to be alone in the early stages, even if it's acceptable later on.)

Silently, Arnold's gaze fell on Rishe. Gripping Rishe's arm, she was taken aback by his intense stare.

(That's right! I shouldn't be advising Dietrich about anything right now.)

Understanding Arnold's gaze, Rishe nodded subtly.

(I understand. It's alright, Your Highness Arnold!)

Arnold seemed to want to say something, but he remained silent. Gathering her composure, Rishe called out from behind the pillar.

"Good evening, Your Highness Dietrich. I heard you accompanied His Highness Arnold on his official duties today. Well done."

"Ugh..."

"How was it? How was His Highness Arnold's performance?"

"Ho... How was it? It was... terrible!!"

Dietrich emerged from behind the pillar, his face on the verge of tears.

"W-wait! Let's move to the balcony for now, shall we!?"

Seeing Dietrich's behavior, the guests exchanged surprised looks.

They hurriedly took him outside to the balcony, where they wouldn't attract attention. But Dietrich, seemingly unconcerned, began speaking as if a dam had burst.

"Arnold!! Do you always cram your schedule like that with work!?"

"That's right."

"Damn it!! There's no way it's like that! That tight schedule was forced on me just to scare me! It's a schedule built on impossible demands!!"

Rishe looked up at Arnold once more, surprised.

"Your Highness Arnold, was your work today really that demanding?"

"No? It was actually less hectic than usual. Oliver adjusted it without my input."

Arnold's expression remained unchanged in the face of the situation. While Dietrich writhed in distress, Arnold remained composed.

"First, that man kept insisting on breaks, so I had to let him take one."

"But that's precisely what's wrong!! How can there only be one break during work until nightfall!? It's just work, travel, work, travel, work, work, work! Even during the travels, you're buried in paperwork inside the carriage!! Don't you know about 'carriage sickness'!?"

"Really now, Your Highness Arnold..."

Rishe sighed, then turned to Arnold.

"It's no good. You must take regular breaks."

"In that case, I return those words to you."

"Why do you speak as if this is normal daily life!?"

Dietrich seemed exhausted, struggling to catch his breath. Despite seeming loud, his voice wasn't particularly loud.

"Are you human? Or are you made of human stamina...!?"

(Dietrich fear isn't unfounded. Even from my perspective, His Highness Arnold's workload is extraordinary.)

Dietrich must have been frightened witnessing the official duties up close. Moreover, the idea of Arnold and Dietrich alone in a carriage was beyond imagination.

While Dietrich struggled to breathe, he eventually took a deep breath and turned to Arnold.

"...Have you ever wondered...?"

In Dietrich's serious tone, there was an air of tension.

"As royals, we're expected to sacrifice our time and energy for the people from morning till night. No matter how much we toil, no one will praise us. Sacrifice is expected, selfless service is assumed, and if we can't do that, we're considered unnecessary..."

"Dietrich..."

Dietrich furrowed his brow and continued.

"We don't get to choose how we live. Despite appearing to live comfortably to the people, our lives are filled with constraints! We're bound by traditions, scrutinized by the public, and in the end..."

"So what?" Startled by Arnold's indifferent voice, Dietrich tensed up.

"Don't you understand? A royal's life holds more weight than the lives of millions of commoners." Arnold's middle finger tapped against his own chest.

"A royal's life carries the weight of the entire nation's responsibilities. Whether one is aware of it or not, the lives of royals are merely pawns in the game of politics."

"P-Pawns...?"

"Neither you nor I have the right to live as individuals."

Arnold's words sent a chill down Rishe's spine.

"But... Isn't your stance a bit extreme? It's almost as if you're saying we should be prepared to die for the country at any moment!"

Arnold's expression turned dark as he chuckled. "As the crown prince, that's an obligation."

"Your Highness Arnold..."

Gritting his teeth, Dietrich turned away and hurried back to the soirée.  Rishe attempted to follow but stopped a few steps away.

Only Arnold and Rishe remained on the balcony in the summer night, the silence broken only by the gentle breeze.

"Rishe."

Called by her name, Rishe timidly raised her head. From a few meters away, Arnold's blue eyes met hers. Unable to say anything, Rishe looked at him expectantly. Arnold let out a small sigh.

"Hmm... What were you saying to that cat earlier?"

"Your Highness?"

As if trying to remember something, Arnold looked down. "...Ah, that's right." Then he looked back at Rishe, reaching out towards her with a soft expression and an equally soft voice.

"...'Come here.'"

"Eep!"

Surprised by Arnold's uncharacteristic words, Rishe's cheeks flushed instantly.