Chapter 8: Olivié Alwei’s Reasons 2

“Then I’ll ask the same. Do you have any intention to marry me?” (Jared)

“Answering a question with a question… I’m not impressed, but since you have the courage to even reply I’ll answer that.” (Olivié)

With a smile like a blooming flower, Olivié declares.

“–I don’t intend to marry you”

“Dare I ask, why?”

“Simple. I hate men. Of course, that doesn’t mean I prefer women.”

Olivié continues to speak happily with a smile.

“I hate all of humanity. The only two I can trust are Mother and Treiné.” <母さま>

“But I got the feeling that Duke Alwei truly cares about you …”

“You’re right, it seems he truly does. I give my thanks for that. But, were you to ask me whether I like or hate him, I hate him. After all, it’s Father’s fault I hate men.” <父 not 父さま (Chichi vs Otou-sama), she doesn’t attach -sama when talking about her father as a sign of disrespect>

Olivié’s smile quickly changes to a look of distrust.

“I understand that for the sake of an heir, Father took a woman other than my mother to be his wife. However! Father will never understand how hard a time Mother had because of that. My kind and considerate mother, despite being the legal wife, couldn’t give birth to an heir, and so she hardened her heart and allowed it. But because of Father, she suffered countless grievous and cruel experiences!”

Olivié’s eyes shook with her wrath.

“Father never noticed. No matter how much I begged and pleaded, he saw Mother who was putting up a strong front, and brushed off my words as mere childhood pranks.”

“That……”

“You don’t have to say anything. It’s not unusual for noble households to have strife between the lawful wife and concubines, or for the vassals and subordinates to follow the concubines for power. But! Father should have noticed how he was hurting Mother. While saying he loves her, Father continued to take in more and more concubines, so forgive me for being apathetic towards his ‘care.’ I can’t forgive my father. Hence, I hate men, and I hate women.” <The ‘love’ here is 愛している (Aishiteiru), which has a special meaning in japanese, to the extent of ‘I would do anything for your happiness’, so his lack of attention is akin to stabbing his self-proclaimed ‘true love’>

I don’t know what to think of Olivié and her mother’s relationship. My mom died soon after giving birth to me so I don’t have much memory of her. I was lovingly raised by my grandparents, but that’s probably different from a mother’s love.

But, Olivié clearly loves Hannelone from the bottom of her heart. And she hates her father who did not look after her mother well.

“Do you remember yesterday how I insisted you get my permission before taking any concubines?” <This was mistranslated in the prologue, might have to redo those chapters. See TL corner>

“Of course.”

“That’s because of what I just told you. I don’t want to experience that anymore. I don’t intend to marry you, but if Father pushes things forward, I can’t possibly go against it. Hence I told you that story.”

“Please tell me, if that’s so why did Olivié-sama call me to the mansion? If you don’t intend to marry me, why not leave well enough alone? Hannelone-sama was overjoyed to see me. When she learns the truth she’ll be sad… ”

“You’re worried about Mother huh… but you were only called here because of her. Without my knowing Mother had sent a letter to Father. She was worried I might never marry. So, I let her meet with you. Rather than ‘overjoyed’, wasn’t my mother more ‘relieved’ to see you?”

Certainly, when I think back on Hannelone’s face it seemed more like relief than joy.

Her ‘left-overs’ daughter has finally brought home a fiancé. She can finally have peace-of-mind.

“You’re trying to go through with the absurd conditions I’ve given you. Of course, I’m aware that it’s not for my sake, but I recognize your efforts and formally approve changing your title from a ‘fiancé candidate’ to ‘fiancé’.”

“No, isn’t it a problem if you take me as a fiancé even if you don’t intend to get married?”

“Ara, are you dissatisfied with being my fiancé?”

” ‘Dissatisfied’ you say… rather our peers gazes…”

“–Because of the bad rumors huh. My condolences. But, I won’t apologize for the rumors because they aren’t ones I spread myself. My ex-fiancé candidates are the ones spreading bad rumors to get revenge on me for harassing them. I’m not to blame.”

“If you’re aware you were harassing them, isn’t Olivié-sama also to blame!?”

“I am not!”

To Olivié, who says she’s not to blame, I want to say that she’s as bad as the rumors make her out to be!

That said, the widely-known rumors aren’t what I’m worried about. I wanted to ask if it was truly okay to recognize me as a fiancé, but it seems that my intentions didn’t get across to her.

I’m lost on what to do about it.

Olivié declared that she doesn’t intend to get married. Her will is firm to never marry anyone, not just me.

Because of the bitter experiences surrounding her mother’s marriage, as a third party I shouldn’t comment. However, I have a feeling there’s some other reason she’s not telling me.

Olivié’s hiding something from me, but the mood she’s giving off shows it’d be useless to pry.

“Oh yes, I’ve officially accepted you as a fiancé, so shall I have you live in this mansion as promised?”

“Are you serious?”

“I’m serious. It’s vexing, but I clearly said you would in front of Father and your grandfather. I have to uphold my pride.”

“Please throw away such pride!”

“I won’t!”

This girl doesn’t intend to change her opinion on anything! I’m frustrated, but can only endure by taking a big breath.

Well, if either Duke Alwei or my grandparents hear that Olivié recognized me as a fiancé, I would be sent to this mansion by them anyway.

Although it was a one-sided decision, it’s also true that I didn’t refute it yesterday.

Above all else, Grandfather never fails to keep a promise. Grandmother may sympathize with me on the sudden development, but would still send me over in the end.

In conclusion, I have no choice.

“Alright, alright! Well, I’ll organize my luggage later, so please prepare the room properly!”

“Ara, I’m surprised. Do you want to live together that badly?”

“– You-…” <bastard!>

“You-? If you have any complaints, please say them clearly. Ara, I wonder if you’re holding back because I’m the daughter of a duke?”

“… Not really… Complaints?… how could I have any?”

“You really don’t? You’ve been clenching your fists for a while now, but there’s no way you’ve been holding in any complaints, right? If you have any complaints, by all means tell me. I don’t think it’s healthy to bottle them up.”

I’m not foolish enough to complain about you!

I doubt you’d tattle on me if I did complain, but in the very unlikely case you did that’d be bad. I absolutely do not want to cause trouble for Grandfather later.

“A court magician candidate-sama, and someone who unprecedentedly took down a demonic beast solo, is scared of a sweet young girl who means no harm like me?”

However, everyone has a limit.

There’s no way I’m irritated, but — my tongue slipped.

“Huh? … A — young — girl?”

I tried too late to cover my mouth with my hands.

“… Jared Murphy. I never expected you would hold your complaints over everything else, but to actually voice doubt over my use of ‘young girl’.”

Crap. I’ve made a big mistake.

She’s smiling, but Olivié’s voice is shaking with anger.

“It’s fine, it’s fine~. Being told so much I would have struggled to hold in my complaints as well. Well, let me admit I — am — a ‘bit’ old to call a ‘young girl’. But you know, women will always want to stay young — both mind and body!”

“I’m aware!”

“You may not know because a virgin boy has had no chance to interact with a woman, but a woman’s heart is delicate like glasswork. If you don’t handle them carefully, you might be seriously injured you know?”

“Don’t say ‘virgin boy’! As a noble’s daughter be more modest!”

“Ara~, do you like modest women? But no matter the woman, on the inside they’re dark and calculating. In actuality your ‘modest woman’, is quite deplorable!”

This unpleasant woman. I feel that way from the depths of my heart.

I’m not saying that I like modest women, but they would be an ideal partner. However, the remark that there were no truly modest women from Olivié who has mingled with noble women all her life gave me a little shock.

I’m only sixteen-years-old and have never been with a woman, nor have I been in love. That is why, even though it’s just a fantasy, I yearned to one day embrace such a woman.

But she clearly said no such woman exists! My shock is immeasurable.

Forget hers, I realized that — my — heart was like glasswork.

“Anyhow you must have dreamt that it would be good if I were different from the rumors. But in reality I truly am a ‘left-over’ woman who has both a bad personality and a bad mouth. You never told me your reply, but it seems you don’t intend to marry me? I’m troubled that you’ve turned me down!”

“No, um, I intended to marry you.”

I tried to calm Olivié who became emotional,

“Liar-!”

Instead, it has an adverse effect.

Olivié leaned towards me, raised her hand high, and struck my cheek with a resounding slap.

Translator’s Corner:

Lmao. These two make a good couple.

The aforementioned mistranslation in the prologue:

     “And, do you have a lover or some girl you are interested in?”

     “None”

     “Then that’s fine. As Baron Daun had said, you can marry into our family and live in a side room with us, but only if you earned my approval. Is that clear?”

     “Umm…”

     “Is that clear?!”

     “Clear!”

Should be:

     “Then that’s fine. If it’s as Baron Daum says, and it’s decided you will succeed the Baron household, there might be cases where you will need to invite concubines. However, before inviting anyone please get my permission first. Is that clear?”

Not sure what to do about ‘Father’ and ‘Mother’, since she clearly holds her mother in respect and endearment while holding her father in disrespect. Darn you English language. ‘Mom’ etc sounds too casual for -sama and yet ‘Father’ sounds too respectful for someone she’s clearing spitting on with every word (no honorifics). Any thoughts?

Edit: Think I’ll just stick with ‘Father’. ‘Father and dear Mother’, and ‘Sire (my sire)’ were suggested, but they sound a bit funny to me. ‘Sire’ in particular is really close to what I was looking for – didn’t think of that word while translating.

Thank you for all the comments and encouragement last chapter! Didn’t get any comments on the translations for his attribute’s name or the character names, so I’ll use them going forward. If at any time someone has a better name for them please lemme know.