Reid and I had agreed to et after finishing our respective tasks.
In the middle of the hydrangea garden, where lush lilac blossoms blood abundantly, I was pacing anxiously.
“Why isn’t he coming?”
“Right? He’s probably trapped sowhere by now. I should go rescue him imdiately...”
I opened the system map to check locations like the underground prison, the tower top, the interrogation room behind the closet, the secret storage, and so on. Just then, I sensed a presence near a massive tree.
On high alert, I sharply turned around, ready to knock him out if needed. Then I realized I had been overly cautious.
“Ah, Reid!”
The black-haired man, whose beauty remained undimd even in the shadows, stopped abruptly while walking toward .
I hurried over, relieved, but was startled by the long scar slashing across one smooth cheek.
“What happened to your face?! Wait, let’s treat that first. That must hurt.”
“...”
“There, all done. The scar’s gone, nicely healed. Good.”
“...”
“Hmm? Hey, Reid?”
He didn’t respond at all. He just stood there blankly, as if shocked by sothing.
After a while, he slowly blinked and finally spoke.
“My eyes weren’t wrong.”
“Huh?”
“You’ve beco prettier.”
“Ah!”
Only then did I realize how much my outfit had changed since the last ti he saw .
He, who had stared at for a while, finally seed a bit more accustod and said,
“Did the queen do this?”
“Yeah. She was kind.”
Rembering his simple wish, I added that quietly. The small smile he gave was probably more consideration for than sincere.
He was so kind—I didn’t understand why the world was so eager to tornt him.
My rococo-style attire seed to give Reid much to think about.
“Co to think of it, you really are the granddaughter of Duke Hispenril, so the next duchess, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. You really know your stuff.”
“You’ve been through a hundred loops.”
Well, he knew he was a prince, so he’d know I was a duchess.
At that mont, Reid’s gaze toward grew a little dazed. I knew that look well.
“If that’s so, then if...”
It was ti to imagine possibilities.
“If neither your life nor mine had been twisted, maybe this could have been the first ti we t.”
“...”
That would probably have been a normal eting typical of the social circle.
[‘The Scales of Soul Judgnt’ fantasizes about the ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ prince and duchess marrying first, then falling in love.]
[‘The Balancing Cynic’ says since he’s not fit to be king, having him as a son-in-law would be perfect.]
“There’d have been many marriage proposals. It would’ve been sad if we t already engaged.”
He looked happy, so I decided to join in a little.
“Hmm, we probably t when we were kids too. Rember? Even when we were ten, we got along well for a while.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
[‘The Scales of Soul Judgnt’ fantasizes about childhood betrothal, bickering, a ssy marriage, and a strong ‘love denial’ period.]
[‘The Tower Architect of Trials’ hates slow plots with no action.]
[‘The Balancing Cynic’ asks when the dungeon burst will happen.]
Reid’s tastes were peaceful and ordinary. The more we entertained the “what if” possibility, the softer his expression beca.
But returning to reality inevitably brought a drop in mood.
“That was a pointless thought.”
Reid finished with a bitter smile, as if unwilling to think further.
I could easily guess why he suddenly considered that possibility—it was probably because he’d recovered mories of his childhood.
At that point, I decided to bring up the topic I had been putting off.
“Reid, about your cheek earlier...”
“Just a scratch.”
No way.
Reid was a transcendent being constantly wrapped in an aura that distorted physical laws. There was only one person he would have allowed to leave a wound on him.
“The queen.”
Ligares harassed him from the front, and Queen Raviosa did so from behind—it was certain. If karma were mileage, those two would be VIPs.
Trying not to show how upset I was, I carefully checked him over.
“Is sowhere you can’t see... okay?”
“Well.”
He gave a vague answer as if burning from within. Unconsciously, I furrowed my brow, but Reid looked deeply into .
“Oh, seeing you ask that ans...”
“...”
“You’re worried? Like I got beaten up or sothing?”
“...Yeah.”
What could I deny? Both he and I knew Queen Raviosa was fully capable of that.
“That didn’t happen. Don’t worry.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really.”
His clear answer drew a sharp line.
Then maybe it’s best not to pry what really happened. What words could comfort him if I pretended not to know?
As I hesitated, Reid showed a deliberately troubled expression.
“If you don’t believe ... it’s a bit hard to prove here.”
I flinched when I saw his finger hook on his shirt collar.
“No, I don’t necessarily an I want to see it with my own eyes.”
“I see.”
[‘The Scales of Soul Judgnt’ slyly incites, saying it’s already dark enough here, what’s the problem?]
[‘The Scales of Soul Judgnt’ notes the royal garden has historically been a hot spot for secret etings...]
I waved my hand to clear the ssage window as if fanning it away.
At that mont, I felt a gaze quietly follow my cheek. Coincidentally, the perceptive regressor was observing .
“Ayleth Rodeline.”
Being called by my full na after a long ti made him focus more than usual.
He seed lost in thought. His gaze partly unfocused as he spoke.
“How do you know everything about my past?”
“...”
“You weren’t even on that tiline... yet you know every miserable detail...”
“...”
“How do you know it all?”
“...”
There was no way I could answer.
“Not just about , but about other people too?”
“...”
“Answer at least one thing.”
“...I only know about you.”
Reid seed reasonably satisfied with my answer. He smiled as if deciding not to ask for more.
“That makes happy. I feel special.”
“...”
It’s not just “feel” though.
I reflexively parted my lips then closed them again. If I answered now, it might count as a confession.
...It was sad that I had to worry about this.
“Anyway, I’m glad you don’t have any other wounds, Reid.”
“Yeah.”
“Don’t co back hurt.”
“...Upset?”
Reid asked suspiciously. Agnes imdiately stepped forward, apparently worried.
Agnes seed to have rembered well my previous intention to act weak and pitiful.
But Reid’s response surprised .
“Ah.”
“That’s right.”
“Yes. Thanks for reminding .”
Had I just revealed sothing I shouldn’t?
Agnes and I flinched, but Reid didn’t even sparkle his eyes. Instead, his gaze seed calr than usual.
“If I get a chance to be pitied, I should happily take it—but lately, I don’t really want that anymore.”
“...Really?”
“Yeah.”
It was great progress. I almost clapped.
But Reid seed troubled by his own state.
“It’s strange. Why have I beco so passive?”
“So what? It’s a good change.”
“A good change?”
I deliberately hid no surprise as I looked at Reid.
He really looked like he was searching for an answer. So I had to tell him kindly.
“You don’t have to act pitiful, because you can get what you want from anyway.”
Actually, you already know everything, Reid.
“...”
“...”
The conversation paused briefly. A breeze stirred our hair, carrying the strong scent of sumr flowers.
After a long mont, Reid spoke first.
“That’s strange.”
“What now?”
“Why hasn’t the world ended yet? It’s disappointing.”
“...I’m not confessing, you know.”
“Is that so?”
His low laugh echoed in my ears.
Looking at his face, which was much less gloomy than before, I poked his arm.
“How do you feel? Got so energy now, Reid?”
“Yeah, thanks to you.”
“Good. Then let’s cheer up—”
I clenched my fist.
“Let’s conquer the kingdom of Vinchester!”
“Yeah, let’s do that.”
Since entering the palace was over, the only event left for us was the queen’s birthday banquet.
Ignoring Agnes’s complaint, we refocused on constructive goals.
✠
A week passed.
[ ‘Genre Change Ticket Trial Version’ remaining ti: 4 hours 31 minutes.]
The ti had co both to end the chaotic family regret and to carry out the plan to conquer the kingdom.
When going to battle, one must wear battle clothes. Reid and I stood side by side in outfits perfect for today, in front of the main gate of the palace.
Several knights stood lined up on either side, but none dared stop the uninvited guests without invitations. They were overwheld by the rank of 9th degree and 9th circle.
Ignoring the frightened knights, Reid smiled calmly at .
“Shall we go, Your Holiness?”
“Yeah, let’s go.”
Nodding firmly, I called him by the na allowed only today.
“Prince Reminic.”
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