Home/The Prince died, so we're starting over!/ch11

Episode 11

Well, at any rate.

My acting was effective once again this time.

The Countess turned pale and pulled me into an embrace.

She assured me not to worry, saying she would send a letter of refusal to the Third Prince immediately.

'No! This time around, I'm not planning to refuse!'

Having been slumped over the table, I hurriedly lifted my head.

"B-but I'd like to meet His Highness the Prince at least once!"

"Hariella, there's no need to push yourself. We can handle this proposal on our end—"

"No! Mama and Papa think well of him, don't you? I'm scared of making a decision right away, but I want to meet him! Then I'll be able to see what kind of person he is!"

In my rush, I'd forgotten to replace "I" with "Hari."

Perhaps because of that, my words weren't quite as effective.

Count Lulupel furrowed his brow and replied in a reluctant tone.

"Are you suggesting we invite His Highness to the Rüdebekia Court? ...Hmm, it's not impossible, but holding off on a reply to the proposal while inviting the prince could come across as arrogant."

The Countess also seemed displeased with my suggestion.

I quickly bit my tongue to squeeze out more tears.

"...Mama, Papa, I didn't realize it would be so difficult for you."

At my crestfallen expression, the Count and Countess froze.

"I'm sorry. Hari just thought that Mama and Papa could do anything..."

I drooped my shoulders and pretended to be thoroughly deflated.

The Count and Countess began to look visibly flustered.

"Hariella! What nonsense! Your father can do anything for you!"

"...Even inviting His Highness the Prince to Lulupel?"

"Of course. Certainly. Isn't that right, my dear?"

Count Lulupel shot a pleading look at the Countess.

"...It's not impossible."

The Countess replied after a brief moment of consideration.

"Really? Can you promise me?"

"Yes. I promise."

"Yay. Hari loves Mama and Papa more than anyone in the world."

I beamed with the most innocent smile I could muster and hugged the Count and Countess in turn.

Delighted by their youngest daughter's cute display of affection, the Count and Countess wore deeply satisfied smiles.

Phew...

If I hadn't regressed, I'd be about their age by now...

Here I was, a grown adult, putting on a childlike act—it all felt rather futile.

But the Count and Countess, oblivious to my inner feelings, looked purely pleased.

They exchanged meaningful glances, then nodded slightly at each other.

"Yes. On second thought, your idea has merit. It's been years since any Imperial representative visited the Rüdebekia Court. It's about time we sent word."

"I think so too. Hosting His Highness would certainly boost the territory's economy. Who do you suppose our Hariella takes after, to be so clever?"

"Why, she takes after you, of course."

Ha ha, ho ho.

Laughter bloomed around the Lulupel dining table.

I followed the harmonious couple with an awkward smile of my own.

What on earth did the original Hariella, raised in such a warm environment, pick up that turned her into a villainess?

"But you'd best break that habit of interrupting your elders."

Others might not notice, but I certainly did.

---

"My lady! My lady! Wake up at once!"

"Mmgh... Anna, just five more minutes..."

"One, two, three, four, five—ding! Five minutes are up! Hurry! You need to get moving."

The day after receiving the contract from the Third Prince.

Anna was urging me on from the break of dawn.

Because the Third Prince had invited me to breakfast.

When Anna was washing and dressing me, I'd been indulging in the flattering delusion that "that little one must be eager to see the contract."

Inviting someone to breakfast was quite rare.

Having barely managed to sneak the contract past Anna, I walked along, pondering how to naturally dismiss the servants during the meal.

But when I arrived at the dining room, there were two more people than I'd expected.

To my surprise, they were the Count and Countess Lulupel.

My sense of foreboding began there.

"Hariella! My little fawn! Did you sleep well last night?"

"...Yes, good morning, Papa."

I gave a dazed nod to Count Lulupel, who greeted me with a jovial voice.

"Hariella, I understand you're happy to see your father, but shouldn't you greet His Highness the Prince first?"

And immediately, I was scolded by the Countess.

I'd only responded to the Count's greeting...

It felt terribly unfair, but rather than pouting like a child, it was far better to offer my greetings to the Third Prince and the Countess—even if belatedly.

"I'm sorry. Hari was just so shy. Good morning, Your Highness. And Mama."

I hurriedly put on my cute act before the Countess's scolding could continue.

With a good-girl smile plastered on my face, I fidgeted with my fingers as if shy, and even the Countess's stern expression softened into a pleased smile.

The Third Prince even dropped his fork.

A sharp clang echoed through the dining room.

When our eyes met, the Third Prince blushed and averted his gaze.

All because I was too pretty, of course.

Phew, maybe I should become an actress in my next life?

Someone of my prodigious talent being stuck in a frontier territory must be a tremendous loss to this country.

"Ah, good morning, Lady Lulupel..."

The Third Prince greeted me in a voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes, Your Highness. Good morning."

I offered a suitably polite reply.

"Heh heh. It's such a joy to have the whole family together for our first meal."

"Indeed. If only Takar were here too."

"Takar—you must mean the young Viscount Lulupel."

"Yes. My humble son. I'd love to introduce him to Your Highness someday. He's not as accomplished as you, but he's a boy who doesn't shame his parents."

Soon, cheerful laughter began to fill the long dining hall of the court.

In just one day, they'd grown remarkably close.

As if they'd already come to some sort of agreement.

"The whole family...?"

I easily caught the odd word mixed into their conversation.

At the same time, I sensed that the foreboding feeling creeping up the back of my neck had become reality.

Or perhaps, from the moment I'd spotted the Count and Countess in this dining room, I'd already known my fears weren't unfounded.

Count Lulupel let out a hearty laugh at my puzzled head-tilt.

He explained in a clear, crisp voice.

"Aha! My lovely little pumpkin pie must not know yet! We, the Lulupel household, have decided to gladly accept His Highness the Third Prince's proposal!"

What, just because he uses cute nicknames, it's all fine?

So they'd gone ahead and finalized the engagement without caring about my opinion at all!

I shot the Third Prince a sharp glare.

Everyone was bad, but he was the worst.

Last night, I'd clearly told him I'd speak positively to the Count and Countess today.

And yet, not trusting me, he'd gone and won them over behind my back!

I thought he was an adorable little puppy, but he's a complete fox!

Receiving my reproachful glare, the Third Prince flinched and even dropped his knife.

'Oh dear, eat with your bare hands then.'

I silently scoffed as I watched the Third Prince stare at his empty hands.

Earlier, I might have found that clumsy sight endearing, but now I couldn't look at him kindly.

After the Count and Countess, the second culprit who had rendered last night's worries useless—

Was the unexpectedly shrewd Third Prince, who was nothing like he appeared!

"...Speaking of which, the Rüdebekia Court is in excellent condition. His Majesty the Emperor must surely be pleased with your devotion, Count."

"You flatter me. I merely did what needed to be done."

"Now that I think of it, last night's banquet was splendid as well. Even in the capital, such an affair is rare."

"Thank you. Since we were hosting Your Highness, we spared no effort. It seems our hard work paid off."

Whether I was upset or not, breakfast proceeded in a harmonious atmosphere.

The Third Prince and the Count and Countess laughed and chatted, gilding each other's faces with praise.

Left out of the conversation, I chewed on my carrots like a racehorse stuck in a rut.

Of course, I didn't forget to glare at the Third Prince now and then.

Even while conversing with the Count and Countess, the Third Prince kept dropping his fork and knife, putting on a poor display of clatter.

But no one in the room called him out on it.

How unfair.

If I'd dropped my fork, the Count and Countess would have said something like "It seems we need to teach the little angel proper dining etiquette" a hundred times over.

"...With Lulupel's qualities being so outstanding, I look forward to the engagement ceremony that will soon take place."

"Of course! Leave it to us!"

Just as I'd finished chewing through my carrots, which had a strange, earthy taste, the Third Prince brought up the topic of the engagement ceremony.

Count Lulupel's eyes lit up, as if he'd been waiting for those very words all along.

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