The Villainess Enjoys Her Seventh Life as a Free-Spirited Bride (hostage) in a Former Enemy Country
Chapter 27.1: Meeting my (future) brother-in-law

“The soil I tilled so hard…”

“Rishe-sama, I think that’s what the problem is…”

As a knight pointed him out, Rishe looked down at the boy.

She had never heard of his features, but from his appearance alone, she could guess who he was.

“Could he possibly be the Second Prince?”

“Yes, His Highness Theodore.

I knew it…

I just wanted to pat my head. There was no way this boy who was lying directly on the ground and breathing in his sleep was Arnold’s younger brother.

I can’t believe I met him the day after I was told to stay away from him.

In all of Rishe’s lives, she had never been aware of Theodore’s existence.

Rishe had lived in another country and very little information about the Garkhain royal family had reached her ears. Thus, she was still in the process of gathering information about the Garkhain royal family little by little since her arrival in the country.

Theodore was four years younger than Arnold and was said to be 15 years old, the same age as the Rishe.

The current emperor was said to have six children, but she had heard that Arnold and Theodore were the only male heirs to the throne, and the rest were all princesses.

“Hmm…”

The knights began to panic again at Theodore’s grumble.

“Rishe-sama, please step back here for a moment.”

“Rishe-?”

“Ahhhh.”

Theodore’s shoulders jerked in response to the knight’s scream, and his eyelids slowly opened. The knight who woke him up covered his mouth with his hand, while another knight punched him in the back. But the boy who had been asleep seemed to have woken up.

His eyes, which were the same blue as Arnold’s, was dazzling as he looked up at the sky.

Theodore held out a hand in front of his eyes to create a shadow, and then glanced up at Rishe.

“You-Older Brother…”

Apparently, he also discovered Rishe’s presence.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness Theodore. I apologize for greeting you so late.”

Rishe smiled at him with the utmost caution inwardly.

“My name is Rishe Irmgard Wertsner. I had the pleasure of being added to the ranks of the Royal Family. I have to admit that I’ve done nothing to deserve it, but I’ll serve the family to the best of my abilities.”

“…”

In fact, I’m trying my best to slumber in this castle.

Theodore blinked sleepily as he stared at her.

To be honest, I couldn’t predict what he would do next.

Nevertheless, Rishe was only considered a ‘hostage’. To the powerhouses of Garkhain, she was merely the daughter of a duke from a weak country.

I’m sure I’m not welcomed, though.

As she was looking for a way out, Theodore raised his upper body, smiled and said, “It’s nice to meet you, my beautiful sister-in-law!”

Uh…

His beautiful, feminine face brimmed with a huge smile.

“It’s a shame that we’ve met in a place like this. I’ve written to Brother so many times, but he hasn’t ever replied!　But with a wife as beautiful as you, I can see why he’d want to keep you all to himself.

“Uhm… You flatter me.”

“Hahaha, don’t be so stiff, I wish you could be more at ease.”

Theodore stared at Rishe amiably.

They’re siblings, but they don’t look much alike.

Their hair and eyes were the same color, but their lips, and other features were different. There was no doubt that both of them were exceptionally beautiful, but had she not known that Arnold had a brother, she wouldn’t have thought he was his brother.

To begin with, their expressions are completely different.

“So if I don’t lie here all night, I’ll never get to shake your hand.”

Theodore stood up and roughly brushed the dirt from his body. He was a little taller than Rishe, but much shorter than Arnold.

“Theodore Auguste Hein. Second in line to the throne, Arnold Hein’s brother.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness Theodore.”