"...So, you want to do something about it?"
The young lady... Mileisha's story went something like this.
Mileisha, who would likely marry into a high-ranking noble or royalty in the future, had come to this country to study abroad with her maids and attendants. And she was aware that her words and actions would affect how the people of this country viewed her country, so she put effort into her studies and friendships, and thought to herself that she was doing "pretty well"— She realized that malicious rumors were being spread about her.
They said, "She's a honey trap who targets the sons of royalty and high-ranking nobles," "She's a bitch who approaches every rich guy," and so on—Of course, those were not true.
However, although her close friends were aware of it, there were those with whom she didn't have much contact who believed it, and men who thought that Mileisha was that kind of woman started flirting with her, causing various real harm.
And the biggest problem was that she was studying abroad with the goal of supporting her husband and aiding in exchanges with this country after she marries a noble or royal in her country in the future; however, if her bad reputation spread in this country, it would only hinder her husband and became a major obstacle to her current goal of making more acquaintances in this country. So, she was wondering what to do, and trying to find out why the rumor was being spread and who the culprit was...
"Now they can directly harm you?" (Mitsuha)
"That's right…… Furthermore, various traps were set up to belittle me. There's been a robbery at the place I went to..." (Mileisha)
"Ah~……" (Mitsu-Sabi)
Sabine-chan and I couldn't help but groaned. Yes, of course, both Sabine-chan and I had read stories about villainous young ladies who get their engagement broken off. Sabine-chan was really into it.
"Well, I wouldn't do anything to trick a man who has a fiancée..." (Mitsuha)
"I won't do that! What do you think people are?!" (Mileisha)
The young lady was furious—Well, as an aristocratic lady, that's something to hear.
"Anyway, I think I need to do something, but I’m from another country and I’m going to be dealing with the people of this country, probably the nobles, so I can’t get the people of this country involved. And on top of that, I don’t have any allies and I don’t know what to do in this country, so there’s no way I can investigate…" (Mileisha)
"So, you mean me, who is from another country like yourself, has many acquaintances and many connections?" (Mitsuha)
"That's right..." (Mileisha)
Although the young lady looked a little suspicious at my sudden change in tone, she replied in the affirmative. Perhaps she sensed the change in my tone and that I had become friendlier, and assumed that I would cooperate, as her tense expression relaxed a little—But, unfortunately...
"...I will decline to be involved in this matter." (Mitsuha)
"Eh?" (Mileisha)
The young lady's eyes widened in surprise as she was perhaps surprised by my reply. The two guards also seemed surprised. ...But how can you imagine that I, who have nothing to do with it, would readily agree to take on such a troublesome matter?!
"Wh-why..." (Mileisha)
"Well, if I were to get caught up in a dispute between nobles from another country, it could cause great damage to me and my country! If I'm not careful, I could be made to take full responsibility and be beheaded!" (Mitsuha)
"No, no, it's not like this country would do something like that to a noble from another country..." (Mileisha)
"Not in this country! I'm saying that after I return to my home country, I will be punished for 'causing trouble with another country and causing a huge negative impact on diplomatic relations'!" (Mitsuha)
"Ah……" (Mileisha)
The reason I changed my tone to a more casual one was to say these lines. It's difficult to insult someone using polite language... It's not for the sake of intimacy.
"You! How rude of you to speak to my young lady! For someone as small as the daughter of a viscount... Shut up and obey my lady!!" (Guard)
Suddenly, one of the guards started barking.
...Hmm.
Hmm...
"In your country, are nobles not even able to educate their subordinates?" (Mitsuha)
"Huh..." (Mileisha)
"The daughter of your master was having an important discussion with a noble from another country, and yet a guard who had nothing to do with the content of the negotiations barged in, insulting and threatening the other party." (Mitsuha)
"You couldn't stop them, and you didn't apologize. ...So, this either means you ordered them to say so if things didn't go well, or this guard is more important than you, right? Moreover, he was so powerful that he could yell at nobles from other countries and give orders in an authoritarian manner... Is this person a Marquis? Or perhaps a Duke?" (Mitsuha)
"...Ah, no, that's definitely not the case..." (Mileisha)
The young lady said that in a hurry, but... No, it's too late now. She didn't stop the guard until he finished speaking, and didn't say anything until I responded.
"So, what happened then? Why didn't you immediately scold the guard and deny what I said? If that's the case, it's inevitable that people will take it that you were hoping the guard's words would have an effect on me and was waiting for a reaction. If it were to become known back home that I had accepted an order to serve as a bodyguard for a noble from another country, I would be denounced as a disgrace who had tarnished the status and honor of the nobility of my home country, and would be exiled as unfit to be a noble, no, perhaps even be beheaded? I don't want that to happen, so I'm absolutely unable to cooperate with you guys anymore. Well, it was all due to an order from the guard, who seems to be the most important person among you all..." (Mitsuha)
"Auh……" (Mileisha)
The young lady let out a distressed cry, and the two guards turned pale. Although neither of them said anything, they didn't stop the other's actions, and it's obvious that I wouldn't recognize the guards as individuals, but would simply recognize it as something done by 'the guards of the Count Larisdelle family'. —In other words, the two guards were in the same boat.
"In the first place, when going to ask a noble from another country for a favor, you haven't even done something as basic as discussing with your guards and deciding on a course of action... And you're accompanied by someone who does not even know the minimum level of courtesy required when dealing with the nobles of another country. …You’ve been making a fool of me from the beginning, haven’t you, Count Mileisha de Larisdelle?" (Mitsuha)
"Ugh..." (Mileisha)
The young lady— Mileisha is now half crying. I'm sure she'll be crying all over soon...
"...That's enough!" (Sabine)
Ah, Sabine-chan's "That's it!" is out!
"Ane-sama, you bullied her too much! ...after all, you're still like that...[1]" (Sabine)
Yeah, well, that's true but... There's no way Sabine-chan wouldn't understand. There was no way I could overlook something like that...
Then, in order to maintain our advantage, she blurred out what she said. If they know that I was fully willing to take it on, they might become more confident. Yes, as expected from Sabine-chan. Sasu-Sabi!
Translation Note
[1] ……どうせ、アレ(・・)なくせに…… not sure it's the correct translation.