“…?”
I heard a distant voice. It felt like my consciousness, was being pulled up from the depths of the sea, and I was relieved to be escaping such an unpleasant world. My mind remained foggy, but I anticipated it would clear once I was fully awake. There was a hint of lethargy, yet it felt like a typical morning awakening.
My vision slowly brightened, and the sounds around me grew clearer.
“… !… ck!!”
I must have worried everyone.
After waking up, I’d need to apologize and rest a bit before trying to sort out the situation…
“Your Highness! Hurry! Wake up!”
“There’s no time to rest!! Lady Bertia is—!”
“Quickly wake up and deal with this situation!! Otherwise…”
“Wake up!! Stop Bertia!!”
… Quite lively, isn’t it?
Do you all realize that I’ve been unconscious here? Maybe a little concern or comfort would be nice…
“Hurry up, or Lady Bertia… your fiancée will end up bald!”
… Wait a minute.
Bertia becoming bald? What’s that supposed to mean?!
“Your Highness!!”
Stunned by the surprising remark, I instinctively opened my eyes. Those nearby, attempting to rouse me, cheered enthusiastically.
Their relief seemed not just because I had woken up, but as if they were welcoming a savior.
“… What about Bertia?”
After the attack by the light spirit, I would have preferred a more gradual re-awakening. However, I couldn’t afford to rest because of the alarming words I thought I’d heard. Wincing from the throbbing pain in my head, I glanced around to assess the situation.
Joanna knelt beside my bed, clutching my collar as if attempting to rouse me. Silica, her face pale, appeared to be softly slapping my cheeks. Zeno sat on the bed, propping up my upper body from behind while firmly patting my back. Marquis Noches was preparing to splash water on me from a finger bowl… Seriously, Marquis? Such behavior isn’t fitting for the Crown Prince, is it?
Well, the actions of the other members are on the edge of out of line too, especially Zeno. You knew I was about to wake up, didn’t you? And were you hitting me on purpose? I heard you mutter, “payback for the usual grievances,” you know. Are you still holding a grudge because I gave your snack to Bertia the other day? Next time I feel like it, I’ll buy some treats for Bertia and get something for you too, so let’s stop with the sighing. Oh, and of course, it will be during a lecture. Looking forward to it, aren’t you?
With a silent smile directed at Zeno, Marquis Noches, having returned the finger bowl to the table, said urgently, “Your Highness! You must stop Bertia at once!”
He gestured toward Bertia, who stood a short distance away. In tears, she was rampaging uncontrollably. Guards and my personal aide candidates were desperately attempting to soothe her.
“Please release me! I need to join a convent! Otherwise, Lord Cecil!! Scissors! If not those, lend me your dagger! If that won’t do, then please allow me to use the sword at your side!!”
The scene was alarming, but her words were even more concerning. What in the world had occurred? And what does she mean by “join a convent… maybe became a nun”?
Joanna shared her explanation, and then Silica added, “She has been shouting things that don’t make sense, like ‘I will become a nun to save His Highness!’ and ‘I will shave my head right here!’ while attempting to cut her own hair.”
“Until we moved here to the anteroom, she begged Lady Heronia, pleading with tears.” She said, “If it would save Lord Cecil, she would go to a convent or anywhere else. Please, save Lord Cecil” Silica continued, “But after we separated her from that girl and brought her here with you, Your Highness, and seeing you wouldn’t wake up, she started panicking, asking, ‘What should I do?! Should I not go to the convent? Should I shave my head and become a nun?!”
Joanna and Silica swiftly moved away from me, pretending as though nothing had occurred. Both wore expressions of bewilderment fitting for noble young ladies.
While I had my opinions on their behavior, I didn’t think now was the right moment to share them.
“Whoa! Hold on!! Lady Bertia, please don’t unsheathe that sword yourself!! It’s dangerous!!” Charles shouted, but Bertia ignored him.
“Please hand it over quickly! I’m planning to shave my head! I promise not to use it for anything too risky!”
“Swords are not intended for shaving your head! And please, don’t shave it at all!” Nert attempted to intervene with Bertia, but…
“I have to shave it!! If I don’t, Lord Cecil will definitely not awaken!! Destiny, the heroine, will prevent that!!”
“It’s okay! His Highness is such that even if you killed him, it wouldn’t matter! So please, calm down!”
“Your Highness! Please hurry and take action! If not, Lady Bertia’s wedding hairstyle will be ruined!”
Nert and Charles, noticing that I had awakened, urgently pleaded with me.
… I feel like the way everyone is treating me is getting worse, but maybe it’s just my imagination?
I feel that everyone is putting too much work on me, don’t you think?
After all, I’m only human—not immortal, right? It’s perfectly fine for you to treat me with kindness, isn’t it?
Meanwhile, Bard stepped in between the guards and Bertia, stopping her from grabbing a sword from one of the knights.