I quietly opened the hidden door and checked the situation outside.
What started as hide-and-seek somehow turned into tag, and before I knew it, I had witnessed the dark side of the clan.
I’m honestly shocked. What on earth is going on here? Hey?
Complaints and grudges can wait.
Right now, I need to figure out what to do with the tiny princess chasing me, plus my twin little sister (provisional).
I don’t understand the meaning behind any of this. How did things end up like this?
「Ah! I found onii-chan～!」
「Tch!」
I spun around to dodge the tiny princess charging at me like a puppy and ran at full speed.
There was a dull thud behind me, but she should be fine. Yeah. Let me just double-check.
When I glanced over my shoulder, there was a shachihoko from the castle right there. A human shachihoko, to be exact.
Did she just face-plant straight into the floor? Isn’t she in too much of a hurry to die?
Also, those wide-area panties are questionable.
Yeah, those. They look exactly like paper diapers.
「Nooo～! Camille-sama!」
A girl who burst in while I turned the corner screamed like a noble lady who had just stumbled upon a murder scene.
It’s okay. That kid is unreasonably strong. Her build is tough.
I told myself that and kept running at full speed.
If anything happens, I can just give Noie some cake and have her deal with it. Camille should calm down with a smile.
「Enemy of this woman!」
「Whoa!」
A kick suddenly flew in from the side.
I dodged it purely by luck. But the boy who threw the kick immediately followed up.
「Stop right there! Enemy of this woman!」
「I’d rather hear those words from someone wearing a pretty dress!」
Then I sensed something unpleasant from behind.
I stopped for a split second and looked over my shoulder. A trembling boy was glaring at me in rage.
「I’m a girl～!」
「Then don’t dress like that～!」
My complaint is perfectly reasonable.
God. Did I do something wrong?
「This outfit is my hobby～!」
「Ah, I see.」
If someone says it’s their hobby, there’s nothing left to say. That’s the ultimate unbeatable phrase, isn’t it?
For now, I tuck my tail between my legs and run away at full speed.
-0-
After running for a while, I finally left the castle and reached the training ground where the soldiers practiced.
No more. I can’t run anymore.
I bent over, hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath.
My twin little sisters (confirmed) walked toward me.
They were breathing hard and sweating, but they could still walk… Is this what youth is?
「Former Prince Argusta.」
The girl in the dress spoke.
「The countless rude remarks toward Halfren-sama. The violence against Camille-sama. And above all, your daily arrogance is known to nobles throughout the kingdom! As someone who shares the same father, the king, I can never forgive you. Repent!」
She pointed straight at me like a detective cornering a criminal.
「Ah～. Most of the stuff with my idiot aniki is his fault, you know? As for Camille, she self-destructed, and the rude remarks toward nobles…」
I hesitated for a second, but decided to tell the truth.
「It’s wrong to speak badly of my wife. That’s the one thing I will never forgive, no matter who it is.」
I made that declaration clearly to the two little sisters.
They flinched for a moment, looking intimidated, but then braced themselves and faced me.
Wait, what are they planning to do?
「Also, why are you saying bad things about me? Who did you even hear it from?」
「「……」」
They looked at each other, troubled, and whispered in low voices.
The girl in the dress was the one who shot me a sharp glare. Probably the older sister?
「It was written in a letter from Halfren-sama. 『Every day I’m being bullied by Argusta and it’s terrible. Please help me.』」
「Die, you shitty aniki!」
I couldn’t help but shout toward the castle window visible from the training ground.
From the idiot aniki’s office, the tall maid leaned out, gave a polite bow, and closed the open window.
I’ve decided. Later, Noie and I are storming that room together. I’m not forgiving him for real.
「So that’s your true nature! You really are bullying Halfren-sama like this!」
Oh no. I just dug my own grave!
The twins, now fully hostile, slowly closed in.
Ah～ seriously. This is such a pain. Why am I being chased by my own little sisters? I don’t get it.
「Little sisters. Let me give you one warning.」
「……What is it?」
The girl in the dress stopped advancing and asked.
「Yeah. Do you understand what it means to oppose me in this country?」
「What do you mean?」
「Well…」
I paused for a moment, then whispered.
「You’ll learn just how deep my wife’s love is.」
「What are you….」
Gucha gucha gucha… splat!
Something that was probably a dragon came flying from afar and painted the training ground’s dirt with a grotesque color.
Seeing that, the two little sisters trembled violently, clung to each other, and collapsed right where they stood.
「Yeah. It’s pretty bad in a lot of ways, but… oh well.」
「……Yes.」
At the voice that came from thin air, the twins looked around frantically.
Noie appeared as if seeping out from behind me.
「「Hii!」」
Completely terrified, the two shook like broken dolls while staring at us.
Seeing the pure white Noie, they might have thought she was something else entirely.
「Let me introduce you. This is my wife, Noie.」
「……Nice to meet you.」
Noie bowed deeply, then stepped in front of me and offered her head.
Yeah. My wife is just too cute.
I stroked her head thoroughly. She twitched once and looked toward the west.
「Go ahead.」
「……Yes.」
Noie vanished with a soft puff.
Witnessing that, the twins trembled even harder.
Maybe I scared them too much?
「Noie is usually very gentle, but if anything happens to me, things get really bad… so be careful, okay?」
The two nodded jerkily like broken puppets.
Good. I think this is enough for the first contact with my little sisters.
The problem now is… the dragon-like thing that was splattered everywhere, and the fact that Noie flew around inside the royal capital?
I crossed my arms and tilted my head, thinking.
「Well, whatever. Let’s just blame it all on my idiot aniki. Yeah.」
I don’t want to become the kind of older brother who pushes blame onto his little sisters.
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