An Otome Game Spinoff Featuring a Prince with Maxed-Out Affection and a Reincarnated Noble Girl
[Don't forgot to change the title]
Translated by: S3
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*****
「First, let’s see...」
Chris let out a small breath and looked at the table.
Tea, sweets, flowers... and the jewelry case.
From the various items on the table, Chris picked up the jewelry case. He gently opened the lid and held it out so I could see inside.
I knew the contents well.
An elegant, beautiful tiara. Earrings with small stones. And that infamous necklace.
But somehow, I felt a slight sense of incongruity.
As I stared at them, Chris watched me in silence.
Most likely, my first impression of "something's off" was correct. Chris was waiting for me to notice what it was.
After staring into the box for a while, I unintentionally blurted out, 「Ah, I see.」
At my murmur, Chris gave a small laugh.
「What is it that you "see"?」
「I felt a slight sense of incongruity... and I’ve figured out what it is.」
「What exactly?」
At Chris’s prompting, I pointed to the necklace sitting right in the center of the case.
「It’s this stone.」
Yes.
The source of my "weird feeling" was none other than the national treasure gemstone itself.
「The last time this was brought out was for your birthday celebration two years ago, Prince Chris... but I feel like the color of the stone is different now compared to then.」
I didn't know if it was true.
I had no idea how reliable my memories from two years ago were.
However, I felt like this stone used to be a bit more green.
To begin with, it was a stone with a very mysterious color.
It was a light yellowish-green, close to peridot, but depending on how the light reflected, it could look green, blue, or yellow—a truly strange hue.
Right now, that stone was a green with a strong blue tint.
It was supposed to look like blue had been added to a yellow base when mixing paints, but now it looked like yellow had been added to a blue base.
「You’re right. It has become quite bluish.」
Confirming my words, Chris placed the box back on the table.
「Does this stone change colors...?」
A gemstone that changes color in such a short period of time? Does such a thing even exist?
Chris laughed lightly at my question and tilted his head slightly.
「For now, let’s take things in order.」
To me, who was looking at the mysterious stone and thinking “Whoa...”, Chris gave a slightly mischievous, almost mean-spirited smile, as if to say his prank had succeeded.
This man can make faces like that, too...? And that mischievous smile is so calculatedly cute...
「Sera, do you know why this stone is designated as a "national treasure"?」
「Because it’s the "Gemstone Gifted by the Spirits" told of in mythology, right?」
「Yes. That’s exactly right.」
I thought so. After all, that’s what I was taught during my princess education.
Once upon a time, there were four great nations in the world.
The four fought each other, vying for world supremacy.
Much blood was shed, the land was devastated, and yet humans continued to fight. The gods lamented this greatly.
So, the gods sent a single spirit to the earth.
The spirit gathered the four kings, listened to each of their wishes, and granted them treasures befitting each of them.
—There’s a myth like that, and one of those "four kings" is said to be the founder of this country.
Well, basically, it’s that kind of thing—like "Merlin and Excalibur" or the "Three Sacred Treasures."
I don't care whether the myth is true or not.
Whether it has mysterious powers or not doesn't matter either.
Currently, it’s simply an item that carries roughly the same weight as "sovereignty."
...Seriously, what is up with this royal family, trying to hand this over to someone so casually...?
「This stone is said to "have the power to grant wishes."」
So they say. I definitely learned that.
There is no "magic" in this world.
I don't even know if gods exist, and spirits are probably just inhabitants of a fantasy world.
In short, the handling of such things is the same as on Earth.
People who believe, believe; those who don’t, snort in derision.
In Japan, how many people truly believe that the Three Sacred Treasures came out of Orochi's body?
This gemstone is treated the same way.
However, this gemstone is indeed mysterious.
It doesn't fit into any existing category of precious stones or jewels.
It is a completely unknown stone.
Therefore, scientists claim, 「If it was "gifted by a spirit," does that mean it’s a substance that "fell from the heavens"?」
Well, the truth is something only God knows.
If civilization develops further, perhaps its origin will eventually be understood through methods like radiocarbon dating.
...But it’s unlikely to happen within my lifetime.
Phenomena beyond human understanding are "the work of a tengu." Objects whose nature is unknown are "gifts from spirits." In other words, that’s how it is.
As a side note, there are no "tengu" in this country. Just making sure.
「Do you believe the stories surrounding this stone?」
If I were to answer immediately, it would be "No." But would it be okay to say that so bluntly?
「Regarding the part about wishes, I’m skeptical. However, since the stone itself is something unknown, perhaps it really was gifted by a spirit.」
Well, honestly, I think the chance of "spirits" existing is zero percent too.
At my answer, Chris nodded, saying, 「I see,」 and lowered his gaze to look at the box on the table.
「I’m the opposite; I don't doubt the "power to grant wishes." I’m a bit unsure about the legend that it was gifted by a spirit, though.」
Heh. I wonder if Chris surprisingly likes that kind of fantasy.
As I was thinking that, Chris raised his gaze and smiled.
「That’s because I’ve actually had a wish granted by this stone.」
「...Huh?」
Ah, dammit.
I just blurted out a 「Huh?」 with my "What is this guy talking about?" emotions in full gear.
Glossy cat who's napping, come back for a second. If my true self leaks out too much, I'll be way too impolite.
However, Chris didn't seem to mind my rather disrespectful attitude and returned his gaze to the stone.
「Well, I think it’s an unbelievable story. But for now, I want you to swallow it under the premise that "that’s just how it is."」
Pausing for a moment, Chris let out a breath like a small deep breath.
Then he looked me straight in the eye.
「Twenty years ago... I made a wish upon this stone. I said, "I won't make a mistake this time, so let me start over."」
Twenty years ago...
If it was twenty years ago for the current twenty-year-old Chris, he would have just been born.
But this surely isn't that kind of story.
「I think it’s a story that is beyond absurd and impossible to believe. However, I remember it clearly. It’s not a vague, dream-like memory; it exists within me as a memory accompanied by all five senses.」
「"Start over," you say...?」
When I asked, Chris gave a small laugh. It was a clear, unmistakable laugh of self-derision.
「I was an incredibly foolish human being. I committed mistakes that I couldn't correct on my own. I committed sins too heavy to bear. Sins so great that I thought I wouldn't mind offering my very life if I could atone for them.」
...That’s heavy.
Because Chris is talking so calmly, it feels even heavier.
「If I could start over, I wanted to. If I could correct my foolish actions, I wanted to. And this time, I wanted to not make any mistakes, not misjudge what I should cherish, and become a person who wouldn't be ashamed before others or myself. ...That is what I wished for.」
Chris, that’s a bit too heavy a wish to make upon a fantastical "wish-granting stone"...
「The stone seemingly listened to my selfish wish... and before I knew it, I, who was twenty-five in my memories, had become an infant. My father, who was supposed to have passed away, was smiling at me as a newborn. My mother, who had been so ill she could barely even sit up, was healthy and holding me as if I were precious.」
Time leap?!
I mean, there are too many things I’m curious about—I don't even know where to start!
So the person inside Chris is twenty-five?!
And by that time, His Majesty is dead?!
Furthermore, Her Majesty the Queen is ill?!
What?! What on earth happened in the world before the rewind?!
「It makes no sense, does it? At first, I couldn't believe it either.」
To Chris, who was smiling at me (I likely had a "???" face), I countered in my heart, No, it’s not that it makes no sense. I’m just confused because the situation before the rewind makes too little sense.
Of course, I couldn't say that out loud.
This is a trope-filled world with an "otome game time-space" setting. It wouldn't be strange even if a trope development like a time leap occurred. ...Well, it is strange, but you know.
I mean, assuming that "rewind" was real.
「...Is that phenomenon that happened to you really the power of that stone...?」
Chris seems to believe so without any doubt.
「I believe it is. ...Just before I went back to being an infant, I made a wish before this stone. I asked to be allowed to start over...」
「I see...」
Since it’s a mysterious phenomenon, it’s not strange for a mysterious stone to be the one causing it. ...Well, it is strange.
「Before starting over... "the previous time," should I say? I was a very foolish human being...」
Chris lowered his gaze as if looking down slightly and began to speak in a very quiet voice.
***
I was born as the only male child of the direct royal line.
My sister was born the following year, but her birth was extremely difficult, and as a result, my mother became unable to ever hope for another child.
Because of that, I was raised very much spoiled.
Calling it "spoiled" is only something I think now that I’ve started over; at the time, I thought, I’m the only prince, so this kind of treatment is only natural, and was completely full of myself.
And there was no one to rebuke me for it.
No matter what I did, those around me neither scolded nor got angry.
Even if I broke a vase sent from another country as a token of friendship, they would only say with a smile, 「The Prince is quite energetic, isn't he?」
Naturally, there was no way I would grow up properly in such a situation.
By the time I was five years old, I had grown into a magnificent monster.
Because I was still young, my world was narrow, and the "world" I knew was only inside this castle.
However, in that "world," there was no one with a higher standing than me.
My parents were busy, and my care was left entirely to the servants. My parents did not know that the servants were spoiling me in that way.
My parents and I didn't see each other on a daily basis, and in the eyes of my parents who came to check on me occasionally, I probably looked like an innocent and active child.
The educational policy toward me did not change.
Spoiled, with all my actions permitted and affirmed... what was created was a monster with an inflated ego, arrogant enough to believe that there is nothing in this world that doesn't go my way.
When my parents realized this, they were understandably panicked.
Of course they were.
If things continued like this, this monster would become the next king.
An insolent, haughty monster who didn't doubt for a second that even his most unreasonable whims would be granted if he demanded them.
To anyone's eyes, I didn't possess the qualities of a king.
A hollow, hollow shell.
Perfect for unscrupulous people to hold up as a figurehead.
Even if there were no people trying to exploit me, the country would be ruined if someone like this were allowed to take the throne.
My parents slowly began to replace the servants who were with me, a few at a time.
They thought that if they replaced everyone at once, even someone as empty-headed as I was would notice something.
As things that didn't go my way increased and the servants started giving me natural scolding, I had become a troublesome child with a short fuse.
Whenever something happened, the first thing out of my mouth was to scream, 「I’m a prince, you know!」
...Even though I hadn't acquired a single thing befitting that status.
Even though I had avoided etiquette, academics, and even common sense, saying, 「I don't need these things.」
Who would ever think to respect a child who has no education and is base in character?
Even so, the servants performed their duties patiently and calmly on the surface. Regardless of how they felt inside, they treated me with smiles.
Though, being the fool I was, I thought things like, These guys aren't on my side.
In an attempt to do something about the spoiled and tantrum-prone me, my father gathered several children.
Hoping that if I made friends, I might become a bit better. Hoping that I might be influenced in a good direction by the children around me.
...To tell you the conclusion first, my father’s plan would end up failing.
Gathered were five boys and girls of the same age.
All of them were children renowned for being exceptional.
The son of Duke Evans, the son of Marquis Harvey, the son of Viscount Roman, the daughter of Duke Malone, and—
***
「The daughter of Marquis Camden. Those five were chosen to be the caretakers of the troublesome monster.」
As Chris said this while looking at me, I couldn't help but ask, 「Is that... me?」
Out of the five people Chris named, I knew four of them.
The three sons are the ones who are currently Chris’s aides. Plus, my wicked brother.
The daughter of Duke Malone is also working under Chris, despite being a woman. She’s famous for being sharp and is incredibly beautiful. ...Though her strong-willed nature shows in her face a bit.
I know full well that people were saying, Why choose this little pipsqueak as a fiancée when you’re always with that Duke’s daughter?! incidentally, I thought so too.
But according to my brother, the Duke’s daughter apparently has a massive "motherly" streak.
She supposedly whips the asses of the men who are indecisive about policy directions, saying, 「Don't waffle around, decide firmly! Once you decide, move! Come on, hurry up!!」
「Lady Felicia is the most "manly" of us all...」 my brother had said with a faraway look in his eyes.
...I can clearly see how, even if she’s beautiful and has a great body, it wouldn't develop into romance...
Incidentally, I was told by that Felicia Malone, 「Please rest assured, okay? I don't fancy slender men.」
Chris is exactly that—a slender, delicate-featured beauty.
Apparently, "Mother's" preference is "muscles with a spirited, straightforward personality." Power!
Those four, and me in addition?
The four who are currently Chris’s aides should be the same age as him.
So why me, who is seven years younger?
「It’s definitely you, Sera. To me, who was introduced to you, you gave a very beautiful bow and introduced yourself, saying, "I am Serafina, daughter of Marquis Camden." ...I, however, wasn't able to give a return greeting befitting that.」
Chris spat out that last sentence.
Even though he was talking about his past self, Chris’s tone was thorny throughout, as if "describing someone he hated and despised." The words he chose weren't even as cute as self-deprecating. They were filled with sheer loathing.
「Seeing the young girl bowing beautifully before me, I was completely captivated.」
Is it a good memory for Chris? He’s smiling, which is rare.
...Or so I thought, but that smile clouded over in an instant.
「As I said before, I was an "ego-inflated monster." A fool who didn't doubt for a second that "everything in this world goes my way." I was convinced that I could have even the existence of a "daughter of a Marquis" before me just as I pleased.」
The tone in which Chris described himself was painful.
He wove his words very resentfully, as if spitting them out.
Even though he was talking about himself...
「I decided on my own that the lovely young lady was "mine." This monster didn't even know that "other people have wills of their own."」
...I have a bad feeling about this...
If the "Serafina, daughter of Marquis Camden" that Chris is talking about is truly me, I have nothing but a bad feeling about how this develops...
「I took the hand of the Marquis’s daughter and pulled it with all my might. Everyone present had a shocked look on their faces, but to the monster who knew neither manners nor anything else, such a thing didn't matter. Pulling the young lady’s hand... I said... "From now on, you are mine"...」
Chris hung his head and covered his face with both hands...
...I sympathize with your feelings...
And Chris from the previous time, you’re out on three strikes.
One strike for pulling her hand roughly. Two strikes for calling her "you" (omae) at the first meeting. Three strikes for treating her like an object.
Change, change!
Who could ever deal with a brat like that!
...And Chris, hanging his head with his face covered, isn't recovering...
From the perspective of the current gentlemanly Chris, those are truly unthinkable words and actions... It’s beyond a "cringe-worthy past"...
「...Prince Chris, would you like some tea...?」
「No... I’m fine. Thank you. ...I’m sorry... It’s just... so embarrassing...」
I understand.
If I were to put it in other words, the current situation is like reading your "cringe-worthy past journal" out loud in front of someone else. It makes you want to die of embarrassment.
Useless words of comfort can sometimes be painful to the heart instead. I’ll just leave him be.
By the time I had leisurely finished one small scone, Chris finally recovered.
Somehow, his face looked haggard.
Chris took a sip of tea and let out a deep, deep sigh.
「Well, anyway, I threw those kinds of stupid words at you.」
Yes. It’s a bit simplified, but.
I can't be cruel enough to ask him to repeat that line again.
「To those stupid words, you retorted with a forceful "...Huh?!"」
Hey! My bad feeling was spot on!
However, Chris was chuckling happily.
「Looking at me as if you were looking at a bug, without even a hint of a smile.」
Hey, Serafina! Cat! You forgot your glossy cat!
If it was "eyes looking at a bug," that’s quite something! Because I hate bugs more than anything in this world! ...Those guys look like it’s absolutely impossible to communicate with them. They’re so gross...
Also, Chris’s "...Huh?!" was probably more accurately a "...Huh?! (with intimidation)," wasn't it...
Now I felt like I wanted to dig a hole and crawl into it.
I mean, I don't have those memories now! ...But in that situation, I definitely would have done that. I can be sure of it.
「It was the first time anyone had ever treated me with such an attitude. For the first time, I felt, "Could it be that I’m not liked?" ...Not "could it be"—at the time, the only people who probably loved me were my parents.」
***
The five people gathered were truly exceptional children.
Because they were exceptional, they were also quick to give up on me.
By the time a year had passed since we were introduced, two of them—the Duke’s son and the Viscount’s son—declined to be my caretakers anymore, saying they couldn't deal with me any longer.
This was because even after a year, there was no improvement in my attitude.
As for me, I was relieved that those two were gone.
Because the Duke’s son was annoying about etiquette, and the Viscount’s son would point out my lack of education.
While those two leaving my side was their own choice, the foolish me felt triumphant, thinking, That’s what happens when you defy me.
People nag because they hope there might be a chance for improvement. Because they think, If only this part were fixed, they would be a good person...
But to me at the time, those words of advice felt like "actions trying to deny me."
They were simply loud, annoying, and an obstacle.
For one year.
They patiently repeated the same scoldings over and over, and eventually gave up.
The noisy gnats are gone.
I even felt refreshed.
...And yet, those "noisy gnats" were exactly the ones I should have cherished.
Even though I was a fool who couldn't be reasoned with, they still looked me straight in the eye and patiently repeated very "obvious" scoldings.
I had felt those words were nothing but noise.
The remaining three, of course, didn't respect me either.
The Marquis’s son and Serafina were of the same rank as "Marquis," and the scale of their territories was similar. So they got along very well.
Since they were in positions where meeting and talking privately was difficult, the common excuse of being "my caretakers" was apparently much appreciated.
Even when they came to the castle, the two of them were constantly exchanging opinions on things like territory management.
The Duke’s daughter seemed worried that if she quit, Serafina would be the only girl left.
She had a stern beauty for a woman, and since her manners followed the rules very strictly, she tended to give a "cold" impression at first glance. But the reality was that she was very affectionate, someone who couldn't leave those in a lower position alone and would unintentionally meddle with her words and even her hands and feet... she was a woman like a mother in a downtown area.
To someone like her, leaving Serafina—who had a weaker standing than her and was being targeted and liked by me—all alone was an unthinkable situation.
Serafina also adored her, and the two seemed to be very good friends.
***
「Come to think of it... Serafina occasionally called the Duke’s daughter "Okan"...」
Heeeeeey, Serafina!! Cat!! How far have you let the cat wander off!
When Chris asked what it meant, I played it off, saying, 「I wonder...? To "the current me," I have no idea...」
By the way, the "Okan" Chris was talking about was naturally not Japanese.
In this country, there is a dialect used by a very small number of people that has an atmosphere similar to the Kansai dialect. ...And of all things, it’s used in the territory owned by that Lady Felicia’s family, the House of Duke Malone.
...Felicia and I were probably really good friends...
I mean, didn't "the previous time's" me leave the cat alone a bit too much...? It makes me break out in a cold sweat every now and then...
***
By the time another two years had passed, the Marquis’s son was gone too.
I knew that he and the Duke’s daughter were always trying to distance Serafina from me, as if protecting her.
So I was happy that yet another annoying gnat had been removed.
Well, the most formidable "Okan" remained, though.
I tried various things to get Serafina’s attention, but I was a monster who didn't understand the "feelings of others" in the slightest. Naturally, there was no way it would go well.
On the contrary, every time I did something, the eyes with which Serafina looked at me became colder.
Of course they did.
Because the only things I did were pull her arm to drag her around forcefully, or pull her hair roughly because I wanted her to look at me.
There were only elements to be hated, and none to be liked.
Even so, she was probably told by her father or someone.
Serafina made sure to visit the castle at least once a month.
But that too came to an end when we were ten years old.
Because Serafina was to go study abroad at a distant academy.
Since that academy was famous for its strict entrance exams, the Duke’s daughter probably had some influence. She was to study abroad with the Duke’s daughter for two years.
When I was told that story, the blood rushed to my head instantly.
Who do you think you are, making such a decision on your own? I thought. You’re supposed to stay here forever.
Seeing that my screaming didn't change Serafina’s attitude, I reached for the pot on the table.
...The reason I picked up the pot was simply because it was in my sight.
Without realizing any obvious things—that the contents were hot tea, that the pot itself had a fair amount of weight, or that a ceramic pot is dangerous if it breaks.
Driven purely by emotion, I threw that pot toward Serafina.
However, the pot I threw did not harm Serafina.
Because ever since my tantrum started, the maids had been paying close attention to my movements.
One maid shielded Serafina by throwing her body over her, as if embracing her.
The pot hit that maid’s back, and the maid let out a scream of pain.
Of course she did.
The tea, which was full, soaked her back, and when the pot hit, it made a heavy, dull sound.
It must have been very hot, and it must have been painful. It’s no wonder she screamed.
But I was looking at that maid with resentment.
Thinking, I was trying to hit Serafina, why did you have to do something unnecessary...
That maid seemingly managed to avoid serious injury thanks to the quick actions of Serafina, the Duke’s daughter, and the other maids present.
I heard that although the burn was over a wide area, it was a light one and didn't leave any scars.
The fact that I felt no emotion upon hearing that proves I truly was a "monster." There was neither relief nor even a shred of guilt.
Saying they were taking the maid to the medical office, Serafina and the Duke’s daughter also left the scene.
At that time.
Serafina, who had started walking, glanced back at me just once.
With eyes that looked as if she truly despised me.
And then, without saying anything in particular, she quickly walked away.
A month later, Serafina and the Duke’s daughter left for a distant, different country.
Serafina and the Duke’s daughter returned from their study abroad in the year we turned thirteen.
Loyal as they were, they gave me a return greeting upon coming back.
I naturally didn't remember what I had done just before their study abroad.
So I thought that I’d be able to see Serafina once a month again.
Two years had passed.
Both Serafina and the Duke’s daughter had grown up beautifully.
I had grown only in body, but my inside was still the same.
After I caused a burn to the maid, all the female servants were removed from my care. The reasons given were that women shouldn't be injured and that, in an emergency, powerless women couldn't restrain me.
Along with that, the long-serving maid who had been the most nagging about my behavior also left.
I don't know who leaked it, but the story that I had committed violence against a maid became famous inside the castle.
Everyone who heard it through word of mouth didn't doubt it for a second, thinking, If it’s that prince, it’s only natural.
No parent would want to bring their precious son or daughter near someone like that.
At the time, I was in a state where I didn't have a single friend around me.
No playmates either.
So I had been waiting for Serafina to return.
To me, Serafina gave her report of return and then said in a quiet voice, 「I have one more report.」
「I have become engaged to a man from that country. Therefore, although I have returned for now, I will be going back there again very soon.」
*****
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