Prince Gardner entered Galé.
It looked as if he would bring a large procession, so our diplomatic representative specified that he could bring up to five people. He apparently replied that he wouldn’t come to Galé unless he knew he had the ability to protect himself.
It was a shame since he seemed to want to show off his goodwill for Galé.
Would Prince Gardner be able to speak with Gillain properly? I was a bit concerned for him as the love of my former life.
The struggles they’d overcome were worlds apart, after all. Gillain bore the scars of fighting alone for years, whereas Prince Gardner grew up surrounded by yes-men, hiding in the queen’s skirts.
Had he grown a little after Maribelle left, or was he still under her charm?
I explained Maribelle’s “charm” power to Gillain and Asu.
“Interesting,” said Asu. “Will I get to observe a power that could control even me?”
“I’d like to see what it looks like put to full use,” Gillain agreed.
“You guys! You can only say those things because you haven’t felt what it’s like!” Lou bared his fangs. I agreed with Lou on this.
“It really does hurt to see...”
“Don’t worry, Sere. The source isn’t here this time.”
“Have trust in me, Sere.”
I trusted Gillain... I’d decided to. But just because I trusted him didn’t mean I wasn’t anxious.
Gillain himself came to pick me up as I was waiting in his private room to meet with Prince Gardner.
I was wearing a white shirt and black pants that Gillain had had tailored for me a few days prior. They were easy to move in and hide weapons in, and they were almost the exact same clothes as those my brother usually wore. He completely understood when I said I didn’t want to wear a gown in front of Prince Gardner. My hair was finally long enough to do high updos, so it was in a ponytail and held in place with one of my grandmother’s hair ornaments.
I was completely armed. I’d come to this day with that mindset.
Gillain wore a cape over a black military uniform since Prince Gardner was representing another country.
As I was about to get up, thinking it was time to go, Gillain put his hands on the elbow rests on either side of me from the front, surrounding me, and kissed me from above.
“Ah...”
I was suddenly a different kind of nervous. My heartbeat sped up, and my body went weak. It felt like a corner of my enraptured mind was filling with Gillain’s magic. There was so much—it was overflowing, overpowering my own magic. His pained feelings were mixed into it. I was...being dyed in his color.
When he pulled away, I was out of breath. I slumped against the backrest.
“Why...?”
Gillain smiled wryly. “I’m marking you.”
Marking? Asu mentioned something like that...
“You used to love the prince, right?”
When he pointed out something I hadn’t even thought of, my eyes opened wide.
“That was...in another life.” I looked down.
Gillain gently put his hand on my chin and met my eyes.
“Even if the prince has changed so much that he’s become a hero and is unrecognizable as what he was, I still won’t let go of you.”
No way...
“You belong to me. I won’t let the prince have you, even if your feelings change.”
He thinks there’s a possibility I might fall back in love with Gardner? That’s the last thing that would happen. I’m not such a doormat that I’d fall back in love with the man who betrayed and killed me. And in my new life, I’m enveloped by Gillain’s rarely-spoken-aloud, enigmatic love.
“I’m too weak to move right now, Gillain... Come here.”
He brought his face close, and I kissed his cheek.
Pain, pain, go away. Go to that dumb Prince Schneider!
A troubled (?) expression flashed across Gillain’s face. Then, he gently kissed me on the lips again. I was full enough of coffee already. He then lifted me upright.
“Okay, let’s go.”
What... Oh, god... I can’t walk...
“Ho ho, look how well you two are getting along!” Regueid laughed.
Regueid!!!
“Sakaki, help! My legs are too weak! Get me a chair! I can’t sit in Gillain’s lap! A step below him!”
“What are you doing?”
Can everyone stop looking at me with pity?!
“You can sit next to me, Sere,” Gillain assured me.
“No! Some little girl can’t just sit next to the emperor!”
“Now that we’re all nice and relaxed, shall we call in the stupid prince?” Regueid asked.
I’m nice and exhausted... Lou licked my cheek and hopped down from my shoulder. I just hope this works out somehow...
The guards opened the double doors and the group, led by the prince, entered the room. They kneeled before the throne.
Gillain was the head of state. Prince Gardner was only a candidate for the throne, so he wasn’t on the same rank.
Asu stood brilliantly on Gillain’s shoulder. Regueid stood below him to the right, I sat to his left, and Lou was laying at my feet.
“Lift your heads,” Gillain commanded.
Prince Gardner began a spiel at Gillain’s words.
Prince Gardner, who I was seeing up close for the first time in this life, was still the same blond-haired, blue-eyed, shining prince that he once was. The bridge of his nose resembled that of Prince Schneider. Was it because of a broken heart that he looked a little gaunt, or because the queen was mad at him?
How disappointing... He’s only looking at Gillain. Prince Gardner should have seen Asu the moment he looked up, if he was capable of seeing him. Asu had no illusion cast on him.
As a part of the royal family, Prince Gardner had a genetic capacity for magic three times stronger than the average person. To not be able to see Asu despite that...was just negligence. Even Matsuki, whose capacity was less than a fourth of the prince’s, could see holy beasts! Apologize to your own magic and to the people!
But I was glad... I felt calmer emotionally than I expected. Being prepared seemed to make encountering people from Wild Rose less upsetting. He wasn’t paying any attention to me either. Hooray for being total strangers!
I felt someone’s eyes on me other than the prince’s, though. One of his attendants? The big guy on the right with green hair kept sneaking glances at me despite his lowered head... Wait, green hair! My elbow slid off the armrest.
“Sere? Do you know him?”
Gillain looked over at me and then followed my line of sight.
Yep, I know him... Cecil looked up at me, his face a mess with tears and snot.
“L-Lady Serephione...!”
No way! He stood up and ran right at me! In front of the emperor! This is a historic event for Galé!
“Waaah!”
If I punched him, then I would get snot on my hand! I hastily reprimanded my weak legs, stood up, and swung a roundhouse kick into Cecil’s left cheek! No holding back! He was too gross for that!
Whoosh! Kabam!
The room fell silent. Cecil, who had been slammed against the left wall, had tears running down his face...and a smile.
“Ah... Lady Serephione finally kicked me... I have no more regrets in life...”
Crickets.
“Sere... Who’s that?”
Gillain’s voice had a rare hint of confusion.
“A pervert,” Lou answered in place of me. Correct.
“I see you’re Count Granzeus’s precious jewel,” Prince Gardner said. “It’s nice to meet you. And congratulations on your engagement.” His voice was bright and animated.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m sorry to speak to you from so high up, Your Highness.”
It was a bit mean-spirited, but I wanted to make it clear to Prince Gardner that I wasn’t in a subservient position to him. You may think, does being engaged to the emperor really warrant that? But my position was inherently more than that.
I was contracted to the holy beast Loudarylphena, as well as Miyu. It would be tantamount to disrespecting the dignity of Lou and Miyu to take a humble attitude toward someone in power.
“It’s not a problem... You’re beautiful. Beautiful as well as strong! May I submit a complaint to the emperor for taking such a treasure from our kingdom?”
“You flatter me. I must not look womanly to you in this outfit.”
Doesn’t the prince like fluffy, pink girls?
“What?! Your beauty combined with your strength creates the ultimate beauty!” Cecil choked out.
Cecil was bothering me after his quick recovery, so I made my way over to him briskly and pressed my pointer finger into his forehead. This was a new type of magic—Paralysis. It rendered the recipient’s brain unable to send the command to move their limbs. I’d created it because Lou couldn’t wait patiently before he ate his cake. I had to touch the target directly to use it, so I didn’t often get the chance.
“I-I won’t move!”
Why are you happy?! I should fix it so you can’t move your mouth either.
I turned to the throne and quietly explained that Cecil was a pervert from my class in knight school. Gillain, Asu, and Regueid all had weird looks on their faces. I promise knight school isn’t just a bunch of perverts!