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Volume 6 Chapter 5 Part 6

Translation and editing by Team Foxsunes

The princess had invited me to the tea party and there were just two of us. The princess back then gently smiled at me and my body was all stiff since I was nervous. And she asked, ｢What is love like? ｣

It was like the title of a play from the previous world. It was asked casually as if she wanted to know tomorrow’s weather but it had a curious tone to it. At least to me, it seemed like that. The answer I gave that day still remains in my heart. That time, I answered― for me, love is that man―namely Agedilus Von Lancent, the person that is closest to this heart’s love. I don’t know whether she was convinced by my answer or not but her amber eyes were wide open and a clear droplet fell from her eye. She muttered in a startled manner. 

「―I, I was, in love. 」

―Love, it was love. It was something that’d never come true, it was never meant to be. The princess murmured while tears kept flowing from her eyes and she really was beautiful. The princess back then was definitely a girl in love. I don’t know who she was in love with or what kind of love it was. I don’t have any means to know. But I understood that the princess didn’t wish for me to know, and that it was a love that didn’t have a happy ending.

I don’t think being heart-broken is a bad thing. It is said that love makes a woman beautiful. The princess will overcome her love that I’m unaware of, and will further grow beautiful. But that’s the reason that keeps me wondering about the person she loved since she couldn’t get him even with that charm of hers. Was it someone with a status gap? But I don’t think the princess would give up if that’s the case. The previous world where the previous me lived, before turning into the current me, it wasn’t like that world didn’t have lovers having a status gap. There was more than enough of it when it came to a love story between a royalty and a commoner. It isn’t so simple if we consider the princess’ position but even with all the hurdles if she still wishes for it then. 

｢I would cheer for you no matter who becomes my foe.｣

It’s probably my selfishness but I’d never want her to lose her love. But even so, I can’t stop myself from wishing. Her petal-like lips turned into a crescent and she gazed at me. 

｢Oh, so can you say the same if I fall for your husband?｣

｢!｣

I gasped and couldn’t think of anything to say. What just happened? My words from a few seconds ago have been refuted by none other than the princess. I couldn’t say, ｢Of course I can｣ and that disappointed me. It seemed like the princess found it funny, her chirping laughter touched my ears.

｢I’m sorry, I was being mean to you. It’s just a joke, I would refuse that man even if I was asked to be with him. You are the only one who can control him.｣

｢Is that, so?｣

The princess says that but I’m dubious whether I’m able to control Edi or not. I feel like the princess who keeps insulting him has more control over him. My eyes were flickering with worry and princess smiled mischievously and said,｢Of course yes, haven’t you realized it yet?｣ E..even if she says so…

My mind had stopped working and I was trying to search for words while the princess was looking at me with eyes full of mischief and then she closed those eyes. And after a while, large amber coloured eyes showed themself. Before I could realize the feelings hidden in those amber eyes, her body that was left for the water to carry made a splash as she stood up abruptly.  The droplets were falling off her body and she had further deepened her smile.｢I’ve probably used up all the romance that was allowed in this life. I crossed the boundaries of birth, staces, race and everything else. It has all ended now. I don’t have anything more to wish for.｣ My heart became tight at her tone which was different from her elegant tone or the mischievous tone she had a few moments ago. It was a tone with hints of loneliness and it was coupled with a smile. When I realized I was extending my hand towards the princess I hugged her frail body, her eyes were wide open with a surprised glow. I continued,｢Princess.｣

｢What is it?｣

It would be cruel to say such a thing to someone who is tilting her head in my arms like a child. But, even so. 

｢No matter how many times it is lost, I think it’s still a wonderful thing.｣

What a cruel thing am I saying? I am hurting the princess out of my selfishness. That’s to satisfy my wish that I don’t want her heart to stay broken. I’m being so hurtful. 

｢Yes, I am aware of that.｣

Even after all this she looked into my face upclose and smiled at me. Although her smile was broken and it looked as if she would start crying any second. The princess slipped out of my arms and swam out of the spring. 

｢I’ll leave now, you can take your time and relax.｣

She muttered magical language briefly and her wet body dried within moments. I covered my face with both hands after the princess had left fluttering the light fabric. It was as if I was about to die with self-loath. It was a different pain that the youth Heinrich made me realize,it had covered my heart. It was heavier and more suffocating. Tears started swelling up in my eyes, I tried fooling myself by quickly splashing water on my face. But the tears didn’t stop. Contrary to my efforts the tears came rushing even more. I couldn’t stop myself from sobbing after trying to swallow the sounds. I’m not the one who really wants to cry, but even then I was the one crying it made my frustration for myself grow. I took in deep breaths a couple of times to calm myself down. It was then that I heard a sound of shoe on the stone floor behind me. 

｢Princess!? Did you forget something…..!? ｣

I poured water on my head to hide the tears and looked back. Little did I know that I was going to go stiff as if I had been struck by lightning. Seems like it was the same for the person standing behind me. He had his eyes wide open with surprise, a rare sight to see. The person standing behind me near the spring was none other than my husband Agedilus Von Lancent. We spent some time staring at each other both equally dumbstruck. It was a bit later that I remembered how I looked and I hurriedly bent down and hid my body by submerging myself in the water till the shoulders. 

｢E…Edi! Even if it’s your own wife, what kind of ill manner is it to come in while a lady is bathing!｣

｢N..no, the princess told me to pick you up….｣

It was rare for him to make excuses, ｢I, I see.｣ I could only respond to him in a shivering voice due to embarrassment. The princess knew that I was feeling down so she sent the man to cheer me up but truth to be told, I wanted her to wait a bit. Even if I didn’t want to know, I could feel that my face was all red. Since I was only wearing a piece of thin cloth, the wet cloth became see-through and they stuck to my body, exposing my body-line. It’s more embarrassing than being naked. Don’t say that it’s fine because we are a married couple, or it’s a bit too late to be embarrassed. No matter what others say, an embarrassing situation is nevertheless embarrassing. I don’t want to waste time complaining, I don’t want him to see my red face or the wet body. I wanted him to go quickly so I turned away from him and kept looking down, there I heard a splash. A splash? I looked back and saw the man coming towards me, indifferent to his clothes getting wet. I had my bent body straightened and was unable to process the situation as Edi’s hand touched my back. There was no way he didn’t realize that my body shivered reflexively but the man proceeded to rub my back. I was about to ask what he was doing but then suddenly I realized that he was rubbing my scar inflicted by the high-tier fire spirit. 

｢Edi?｣

He didn’t respond even after being called. 

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