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  2. Althea: The Legendary Saintess [Shoujo]

  3. Chapter 43 – Prince of Starry Stars Kingdom
Althea: The Legendary Saintess [Shoujo]

Chapter 43 – Prince of Starry Stars Kingdom

"Congratulations, Brother!"

Althea returned to the dressing room with Siegfried, who had gone back to the audience seats ahead of her, and smiled, congratulating Regalus, who had just finished the awards ceremony.

"Being third among the first-years is truly amazing. Mother praised you enough for it," she said with a smile.

"Thank you... but... I can't help but feel I'm still not up to father's level... It's frustrating... I was so close..." Regalus said, his shoulders sagging slightly, wearing a smile that could be interpreted as wry.

The semifinal against Yugg de Starry Stars was indeed a close match. Yugg had challenged the semifinals with concealed weapons, a departure from the single-handed sword matches in previous rounds. Regalus wondered if it was because concealed weapons were Yugg's specialty or if he looked down on him. He hoped it was the former.

As Regalus clenched his hands tightly with such thoughts, there was a knock on the dressing room door. After exchanging glances with the others, Regalus and Siegfried made eye contact. They confirmed Siegfried's position to hide Althea's back, and then Regalus opened the door.

Standing there was Yugg de Starry Stars, the tournament winner, with a smile on his face. Yugg, despite being only 14, had a sturdy build that made him appear much larger than Regalus, with a noticeable difference in physique. His distinctive brown skin tone, black hair, and green eyes added to his handsome appearance.

Though cautious, Regalus praised the senior who had won. "Congratulations on your victory, Prince Yugg... What brings you here? Do you have any business with me?"

Siegfried stood silently in the back of the room as Yugg turned back to Regalus. "Not really, but honestly, you were tougher than the runner-up, Mythril Monte Del Salvador, despite being a first-year. If the tournament positions were different, you could have been the runner-up. I came here to praise you for achieving such a feat as being third in your first year. Truly worthy of being Lord Monclair's son," Yugg said.

He then proposed something unexpected. "I just thought of something. Would you like me to have a match with Lord Monclair, whose fame transcends boundaries?"

"With my father?" Regalus asked, surprised.

"Yes. His name is renowned even in our empire. Lord Monclair was the runner-up in his first year while in school, if I recall correctly. That record still stands unbroken. So, I wonder how formidable you really are... Of course, I'm stronger than you, aren't I? Maybe even stronger than your father?"

"Stronger than my father?" Regalus thought, insulted.

No matter how much of a senior he is, no matter if he's a prince of another country, I must protest...!

As Regalus clenched his fists, ready to speak up, a protest voice rang out from the back of the room.

"Even if he's a senior, even if he's the winner, that's rude!"

Siegfried, who had been shielding Althea, pointed sharply at Yugg. Though he tried to conceal her again, it was too late.

Momentarily bewildered, Yugg entered the dressing room with a faint smile, standing beside Siegfried with a respectful bow.

"Your Highness Siegfried, please show me the 'thing' you've been hiding."

—'Thing'—

Both Regalus and Siegfried bristled with anger.

"Sieg, have you met him before? Even though he's in a different grade, that guy...!" Regalus's tone was unusually heated.

"Yeah, even though we're from different countries, we're both from royal families. But when I met him before... he wasn't like this. He seemed more... indifferent, like he didn't care."

"...With you, you mean...? So, that's not good..."

Regalus murmured, his hand on his chin, while Siegfried agreed with his sentiment.

"But, Prince Yugg is currently in his second year, and he seems to have a bit of magical power, so I think he'll go to the magic department. When Althea enters school, he'll be in his fourth year... The regular and magic school buildings are separate, so the chances of them meeting... are low, right?"

Seeking further agreement, Regalus asked confidently, but Siegfried remained silent, lost in thought.

Meanwhile, Althea, initially angry, began to worry that her impulsive actions might have led in the wrong direction upon hearing the words "not good" from her brother and His Highness. She stood silently, feeling anxious.

Noticing her state, Siegfried smiled reassuringly, patting her head.

"Don't worry, Althea. We'll protect you no matter what," he said, meeting Regalus's gaze.

Regalus nodded. "...I'm sorry. For speaking in a way that seemed to belittle Father and Brother... I got carried away and spoke rashly... I'm still far from being a lady. I'll do my best to handle situations more maturely in the future."

"No, thank you, Althea. I'm glad you got angry for us. But let's just forget about what happened earlier as if it was a bad dream... Now, I'm sure Mother is waiting, so shall we head back?"

Regalus took Althea's hand, who still looked repentant, and smiled at her before leaving the room.

At the arena entrance, a group of female students gathered.

"Oh, Lord Regalus is here!"

"You were amazing, Lord Regalus!"

They surrounded Regalus, showering him with praise, barely noticing Althea beside him, who felt a bit sidelined by their enthusiasm. Siegfried placed his hands on Althea's shoulders and guided her away from the crowd.

"I was thinking of leaving and joining the family gathering, but with that situation, leaving it to Regalus seems difficult," Siegfried murmured, looking at Regalus.

Following Siegfried's gaze, Althea remarked, "My brother seems to be very popular... Indeed, he's charming, but even though you, Brother Sieg, are also charming, it seems like he is more popular... oh, I'm sorry."

"No need to apologize. I can't deny there's some responsibility on my part for Reg's abnormal popularity. In a sense, I feel guilty... but..."

"Eh? What do you mean by that...?"

Althea tried to inquire further, but she noticed female students beginning to crowd around them.

"Anyway, let's head to Lady Monclair's place for now. Reg is used to this, and he'll manage somehow," Siegfried said, holding Althea's hand and leading her away.

"But...?" Althea looked back at her brother, who seemed calm amidst the crowd.

"He seems to be used to it indeed. While it's nice that my brother is so popular, it's a bit lonely..." Althea trailed off, feeling dejected.

Siegfried paused and led her to a secluded spot, lowering his head in apology.

"Sorry, Althea. I said there wasn't any reason on my part, but the fact that Regalus is so popular is partly because I... am distant toward girls."

Althea was taken aback by Siegfried's admission.

"Um... I don't really understand what you're saying...?"

Siegfried explained, "You heard that from Reg? Actually, it's true. I... frankly think I dislike girls."

Althea was surprised but quickly connected the dots. "I see. So that's why Brother Sieg is the cause too."

Siegfried nodded apologetically.

Althea glanced at Regalus before asking, "...Has Brother Regalus ever blamed Brother Sieg for that?"

"No..."

"Haha, that's so like my Big Brother! I understand. Shall we go ahead then? Brother seems fine, and... but... the relationship between him and you, the prince, is wonderful, isn't it?"

Addressing Siegfried unusually as "the prince" and laughing cheerfully, Althea began walking toward her mother's location, with Siegfried following behind with a relieved expression.

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