Home/The Prince died, so we're starting over!/ch24

Episode 24

"Why not?"

"I don't see why I should have to pick up a sword. I have no interest, and I doubt I have any talent either..."

"You do have talent. I can vouch for that. Since you have talent, interest will follow soon enough."

"Still, I don't want to."

It's such a hassle.

I made an openly disgusted face, but the stubborn male lead was undeterred.

That was the problem with people who'd lived their whole lives without caring about others' opinions.

They thought their own opinion was the only right one.

"But you're a second child, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"Count Lulupel has no other titles, as far as I know. For a second son—or daughter—who won't inherit a title, there's no better path than knighthood."

"Yes, well... I don't particularly need a title. I'm going to be engaged to His Highness the Third Prince, after all."

"Getting married doesn't mean you can't become a knight."

No, it means I don't want to...

The male lead was a handsome man with a resolute impression, like a pine tree clad in armor.

And unfortunately, true to his appearance, he was stubborn as a mule.

Having lived his whole life with only a sword, he seemed completely unaware that there were people in this world who didn't desire the path of a knight.

His sunset-colored eyes were lost in thought.

After a moment, an unexpected sound came from between his pretty lips.

"...Is it because I refused your marriage proposal?"

"...Excuse me?"

Is he delusional? Why is that coming up now?

Men's thoughts really did lack substance.

He seemed to be the type who assumed all women lived for love.

"That was for your own good. The land of the North is incomparably more barren and dangerous than Lulupel. The earth is parched, and vicious monsters appear every night. Those who come from other territories rarely last three months."

"Yes, I see..."

I've heard your unsolicited explanation.

I nodded mechanically, like a bobblehead doll on a dashboard.

My mind was occupied with when I could get rid of this stubborn mule.

The male lead was not a welcome guest.

But he was, nominally, my savior.

For that reason, I couldn't rudely show him the door.

'What excuse can I use to get rid of him without being rude?'

Just as I was racking my brain, the male lead suddenly brought up something unexpected.

"But if you wish, I could reconsider."

"...Excuse me? Reconsider what?"

"If you'll come north with me, I promise to make you the next Duchess of Caledonia."

His words were so shocking that I had to doubt whether my ears were working properly.

The male lead was proposing a contract marriage to me!

Is he... is he insane?

"I'm getting engaged in four days, you know?"

"One can never know what tomorrow will bring."

"Did you perhaps eat something bad this morning?"

"The cook's skills weren't bad."

I was at my wit's end.

I couldn't understand why the male lead would want a contract marriage with me when he had a perfectly good female lead waiting.

Of course, I knew he hadn't met the female lead yet.

But even so, a male lead shouldn't go around proposing to just anyone!

What was this—was his love first-come, first-served?

If you're a romance novel male lead, act like one and wait for the female lead—then love her for a thousand years!

"...This insult is unbearable!"

I jumped to my feet.

Apologize! Give me back the time I wasted reading your first-come-first-served love story!

This man—no, he wasn't even worthy of being called a male lead.

From now on, you're just the Something-or-other Young Duke!

The Something-or-other Young Duke looked up at me for a moment, then obediently rose.

"It seems I've been rude. I'll come again tomorrow."

"Don't come! You can't just come whenever you want! I won't let you in!"

"Ah, and I told Count Lulupel that you and the Third Prince fell from a tree. I was the only one who saw you getting out of my carriage, so you need not worry."

"...I appreciate that, but! Just go!"

I hurriedly chased the Something-or-other Young Duke out.

He hesitated for a moment, then left the room, saying he'd come again.

Unbelievable. Who said I'd let you in?

From now on, I will never meet the Something-or-other Young Duke again!

What I wanted was a peaceful, ordinary life—secretly wealthy.

Everyone around me thought I was just a commoner, but in reality, I'd own three buildings on Garosu-gil.

Even though my fourth life was half-ruined, I couldn't let it spiral any further.

"Knock knock. My lady? My lady?"

As soon as the Something-or-other Young Duke left, Anna opened the door and came in.

She made knocking sounds with her mouth to get my attention.

"Anna!"

I rushed into Anna's arms.

I'd met too many strange people in just a few hours.

I'd probably encountered a lifetime's worth of lunatics in a single day.

My mind was exhausted to the point of dizziness—maybe I needed a shaman.

"My lady! What happened? Did you kick the Duke of Caledonia out?"

"I don't even want to talk about that man!"

"Oh, come on, tell me! He fell for you at first sight, didn't he? This Anna always believed the day would come when he'd regret refusing your proposal!"

Anna chattered on with a cheerful face. She was as lovely as a singing bird.

But the more she talked, the more exhausted I became.

"You wouldn't believe how many times the Duke of Caledonia came to this room!"

I didn't want to imagine it.

But Anna had already escaped into her own romantic world and failed to notice my sour expression.

"What did he say to you? Couldn't you tell just me? Please, my lady?"

"Anna!"

"Did he say he wants to make the marriage proposal work even now? ...Hehe, that's ridiculous, right?"

Anna scratched her cheek shyly.

She would probably never know that she'd just hit the nail on the head.

Flustered, I desperately racked my brain for a topic to divert Anna's attention.

"Oh! Speaking of which, what about the Third Prince?"

"Excuse me?"

"Yes, that's right, the Third Prince! How is he? He got hit hard on the head—I mean, he hit his head hard—is he alright?"

"Ah..."

The new topic, though improvised, was excellent.

Having brought it up, I genuinely became curious about the Third Prince's well-being.

Of course, I didn't think anything serious had happened to him.

After all, my fourth life wasn't over yet.

My vision had cleared, and my hearing was working fine.

Since I was fine, I believed the Third Prince must be too.

"Ah, well..."

But strangely, Anna wore an expression of difficulty.

"What's wrong? Did something happen to His Highness?"

"Hmm, well... Actually, the master told me not to tell you yet..."

"What is it? ...Surely he hasn't died?"

Anna's unusual hesitation made a wave of anxiety surge up.

A suspicion crept in that I might have been wrong.

Until now, I'd been nearly certain that there was a connection between the Third Prince's death and my regression.

But there was no guarantee that was true.

This wasn't something that could be scientifically proven.

Well, not that entering a novel's world was any more scientific.

At any rate, everything I'd pieced together about this inexplicable regression was just highly plausible speculation.

It wouldn't be strange at all if things went wrong at any moment.

"H-he's not dead! Not yet!"

Anna hurriedly shook her head.

But her words contained a troubling phrase.

"What do you mean, 'not yet'?"

"Well... Oh, I don't know if I should say this. You have to promise to keep it from the master!"

"Fine, I promise. Tell me."

"Since falling from the tree, His Highness hasn't woken up. So..."

Anna trailed off hesitantly before biting her lip.

She looked uncertain about whether she should be sharing such serious news with an eight-year-old.

It seemed it would be better for me to check the situation myself rather than rely on Anna.

"Let's go to His Highness's room right now, Anna."

Grabbing Anna's hand, I led her toward the Third Prince's room.

The guest room and the Third Prince's room were far apart, so we had to walk quickly.

Arriving at his door, I knocked loudly.

Soon, an attendant opened the door and stepped out.

"...Ah, good day, Lady Lulupel."

It was the same attendant who'd come to find the Third Prince at the lakeside garden on the night of the welcoming banquet.

Unlike that Androo-something attendant, he greeted me with a decent level of courtesy.

"Hello. I came to see His Highness for a moment."

"...I'm afraid His Highness is not in a state to receive visitors at the moment."

"Do I have to say the same thing twice?"

The attendant looked down at me with a troubled expression.

But an attendant couldn't possibly win against me, the Court Count's daughter. After a moment, he reluctantly stepped aside.

I'd spoken like a pushy noble lady, but regardless, I'd successfully entered the Third Prince's room.

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