Chapter 5

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His Highness chuckled and looked up at me with a mischievous gaze.

...Stop making that face, it’s cute, you look like an angel on the outside. (But you’re a complete jerk on the inside.)

"You talk like that with that face... I thought you were just another boring noble lady, selfish, arrogant, and unpleasant, like all the others."

"Hmm."

His Highness, who says such outrageous things with a straight face.

I always thought he was a kind prince to everyone but me, but he actually thought of all the noble ladies this way. And what a terrible way to describe me. He seemed to have hated me from the first moment we met, but at what point did he decide I was so selfish, arrogant, and unpleasant...? Anyway, his prejudice against me and the other ladies is so strong that I don’t even feel like complaining.

"You, who love me so much, saying something like that... Did you finally decide to let go after hearing about Mirea?"

"Huh?"

"Hmm?"

What did he just say...?

His Highness seemed to notice my stunned expression and tilted his head in confusion.

No, no, no.

"Who... who loves who...?"

"You, me, right?"

"...I’ve never liked you, Your Highness."

"Huh?"

His Highness opened his mouth wide in surprise. He looks genuinely shocked, but I’m the one who’s surprised...!!

"...Are you being stubborn? ...I thought so, but it doesn’t seem like it..."

"Yes."

I answered immediately, and His Highness covered his face with both hands.

"Why did you have such a misunderstanding in the first place?"

"An misunderstanding... because, you..."

"Have I ever said I liked you, even once?"

"That... no, you haven’t."

"Right? Before even saying I liked you, we hardly ever had a decent conversation."

"What a disaster..."

He muttered and clutched his head, clearly having genuinely believed I was in love with him. No way. How could he think that based on our past interactions? Is his head full of flowers?

I ignored His Highness, who was still hanging his head, and started eating the cupcake in front of me.

Oh, the bear is chocolate flavor and the rabbit is strawberry flavor! Hmm, they’re delicious! I love the pastries made by the royal pastry chef so much that I would happily spend time in the kitchen on days when there’s no tea party.

After enjoying the pastries for a while, His Highness finally spoke up.

"My mother... my mother said..."

"Hmm?"

"This engagement was the result of you begging the Duke of Lester to arrange it because you fell in love with me at first sight."

"Huh?"

I stopped bringing the fork with the pastry to my mouth.

"At the time, I was only ten, but I was already tired of seeing the noble ladies’ flirtatious attitudes and their ugly attempts to outdo each other. When I heard that this engagement was due to your feelings... I thought you were using your power to get your way, and I hated you even before we met."

I see, so that’s why you called me 'selfish, arrogant, and unpleasant.' It’s starting to make sense.

The queen must have said that with good intentions. I thought of the queen, whom I often met during my education. Although the queen and the king were a political marriage, they fell in love at first sight and are incredibly in love. The king has no concubines and is devoted to the queen. Despite being gentle and kind, she must have thought something like, "I want them to be like us."

...But, Queen, this is completely counterproductive! You’ve completely misunderstood your son’s feelings!

"So, you’ve been showing me open disdain all this time."

"I’m sorry."

"Anyway, I’m relieved that the misunderstanding has been cleared up. I wouldn’t want to be disliked for a nonexistent crush."

"I’m sorry."

"But even if I had truly admired you, your attitude would have made me lose any affection I had."

"I’m sorry."

"Also, even if your misunderstanding had been true, as a fiancé, your behavior was completely unacceptable."

"I’m sorry..."

He seemed genuinely uncomfortable realizing his misunderstanding and kept bowing his head, only saying, "I’m sorry."

Well, it’s fine. If I had really been in love with him, I wouldn’t have been able to endure his treatment, but fortunately, I wasn’t. I feel a bit relieved to have said my piece.

"Well, it’s good that you found your true love, Mirea, after only seeing noble ladies in a negative light. If we had ended up married, we would have been a miserable couple, and I’m glad the misunderstanding has been cleared up. ...In a way, it’s thanks to Mirea."

After all, Mirea is so cute. Being cute is justice, right? Of course, I don’t see her as a romantic interest, but cute people are soothing. I can’t help but smile when I think of her. I wish we could have become friends under different circumstances.

Alright, once I break off the engagement with His Highness, I’ll make lots of cute girl friends!

As I was making this resolution, His Highness looked at me with wide, stunned eyes.

"Your Highness? Are you okay?"

"---Ah, no, I’m sorry. I realize I’ve completely misunderstood you. ...Actually, before the time loop, Mirea was subjected to a lot of bullying by the noble ladies."

"You thought I was the one doing it...?"

"But, Mirea wouldn’t... No, you wouldn’t do something like that. I’m really sorry."

That’s a bit much. ...But it’s fine now. At least he understands it was all a misunderstanding. Being angry is exhausting.

Still, Mirea went through such a hard time? I didn’t know about it. Maybe no one told me because I don’t have friends? I should have heard about it, though.

Of course, the noble ladies wouldn’t be happy about a baron’s daughter being the prince’s lover, so it’s understandable and inevitable, even though it’s wrong.

"...Anyway, it’s not my place to say, but the misunderstanding has been cleared up. From now on, can we be friends and help me marry Mirea successfully?"

This prince is so bold now that he knows I don’t have feelings for him!

I’m fine with helping, but don’t think that erases everything he’s done to me!

"...In return, please help my father when the time comes."

"Of course."

In the end, my vow to never have anything to do with His Highness lasted only a few minutes, and after a total of nine years of interaction, we became friends.

It was a nine-year period that felt like it never existed!

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