Chapter: 614
I felt a sense of relief as I watched Lucy weep sorrowfully while Rene hurried to comfort her.
Before meeting Rene, Lucy had been so fragile that it wouldn’t have been strange for her to fall apart at any moment.
So this is what Joy meant by their first encounter.
It’s normal not to know how they got closer. How could anyone predict that I would become someone who understands Lucy, just by reading her inner feelings?
‘What should I do to make her stop crying? Ha. Fine. Just go ahead and cry your heart out.’
Rene at this moment resembled the Rene I had seen when everything in the game ended.
The kindness that emerged amidst her grumbling must be her true essence.
Huh? Thinking about it this way is a bit odd.
There’s no reason for the two to fall apart.
Since I can read their inner feelings, there shouldn’t be any misunderstandings caused by the Mesugaki Skill.
Lucy, who needed someone to cherish her, wouldn’t treat Rene coldly, and Rene wouldn’t create a rift with Lady Allen from the Allen family either.
Rene is good at charming women, after all. It must have been easy for her to bake that vulnerable girl one way or another.
No matter how I think about it, the only factor in this relationship going awry is Lucy.
Ah! Could it be that Lucy is the one with the obsession? That makes sense! To Rene, Lucy is just one among many acquaintances, but for Lucy, Rene is her only one!
‘I’ll take my leave now. There are still many I haven’t greeted.’
‘…Are you seriously going to leave a girl in distress? Scoundrel! Human trash!’
‘We’ll see each other again anyway.’
‘Huh?’
‘You know you’ll just be lounging around once the social hall opens, right? I’ll be mingling with the nobles for a while, so we’ll naturally run into each other.’
‘Hmmm~ Did you secretly want to see me later? It’s quite adorable how you’re devoted to your desires.’
‘I don’t… No, forget it. See you next time.’
‘Yes~ I hope you aren’t too gloomy next time~’
My prediction that Lucy’s dependence would deepen with their relationship turned out to be correct.
Until now, Lucy had only received hatred from others. Meeting someone who looked at her straightforwardly for the first time, how could that person not become precious to her?
‘Does the prince have no one else to meet besides me? Did everyone run away because they were startled by your gloom?’
‘You’re the same though; you have no close friends aside from me.’
‘There’s no reason to be friends with such shoddy people. I’d catch their stupidity!’
However, the part that was contrary to my expectations was on Rene’s side.
‘How can you be so self-willed?’
‘Why can’t the gloomy prince be self-willed? Is it because he’s a timid loser even though he’s a prince?’
‘There’s such a thing as social standing. Kid.’
‘So that’s why you can’t say anything even when little kids tease you? Then please remain a gloomy loser.’
‘You want me to keep being your toy?’
‘You seem to enjoy being teased, don’t you? I don’t want to do it, but I’m just trying to cater to your preferences, Prince Maso. It’s really annoying.’
‘…Do you know what you’re saying?’
‘Why? Why? What do you mean?’
‘Damn it.’
Just as Lucy led everyone to misfortune in the social circle, Rene was also searching for Lucy with his eyes.
Then, as usual, he chuckled upon seeing Lucy fighting with another young lady.
Sigh. If it were up to me, I’d want to just hide away in a private room.
‘Prince. Pervert.’
‘That’s not what I meant. I meant that catering to the nobles is suffocating.’
Despite Rene possessing the talent to become a king, he disliked being praised or worshipped by others.
He lamented that he could roughly understand what others thought but found it bothersome when they spoke boldly contrary to that.
‘Someone trying to take something from me, someone trying to find my weakness, someone groveling, someone trying to gauge me, someone trying to assert dominance. Nothing is normal.’
‘You really have a lot to worry about, don’t you? Should I call you gloomy prince or gloomy slave instead?’
‘That’s blasphemy.’
‘Oh~ is that so? What will you do about it? Swing your fist at a small girl?’
‘You want me to swing it?’
‘Then I’ll tell my silly father right away.’
‘Ha. How scary.’
For Rene, who could somewhat guess others’ thoughts, there wasn’t much difference between Lucy and the outside noble class.
In fact, it was easier to deal with Lucy. Unlike those who smile on the outside while harboring sinister thoughts inside, Lucy was just a rough girl on the outside but pure on the inside.
‘But you know, gloomy lone prince, why do you come here if you hate the social circle? Do you enjoy suffering? Or do you like me that much?’
‘Well, part of it is that talking to you is comfortable, but the main reason is that it’s necessary to become a king.’
‘What will you do with the power you gain? Even so, the timid prince won’t be able to do anything.’
‘…What will I do? I’ve never thought about it.’
‘Are you an idiot?’
‘I can’t deny it. I thought I had to become a king, but I never thought about what I’d do once I became one.’
For most people, being a king is a means to achieve a goal. The reason they aim for the throne despite enduring numerous struggles is to gain the power they wish for.
However, it isn’t the same for Rene. In his view, the throne is both the result and the goal. There’s nothing beyond that.
‘I’ll think it over and give you an answer next time.’
After saying that, Rene’s parting words at the next social gathering were somewhat unexpected.
‘After pondering for a long time, I still don’t want to be king. I have nothing I want to do once I become king.’
‘Are you bragging? Don’t you feel sad and pathetic?’
‘What’s wrong with being pathetic? I’ll be a waste anyway.’
Rene had not even gone outside the private room and engaged in trivial conversation with Lucy.
Seeing Rene seemed to shake off his burdens, Lucy thought enviously of him but shared a smile with him.
And then, after a while, suddenly, Rene disappeared from the social circle.
Someone who had said, “Let’s meet again in a few days,” didn’t come out of the castle even after a month.
As Lucy stared at that empty space, her head filled with all sorts of unfortunate imaginings.
Having lost a precious person once, misfortune became clearer than hope for her.
Nonetheless, the reason Lucy continued to come out to the social circle was that she didn’t want to let go of that tiny hope.
She feared that if she lost hope again, she would never be able to stand back up, so she waited and waited for Rene to come.
‘…Gloomy prince?’
However, the reunion that occurred after such a long time wasn’t in the form Lucy had desired.
Unlike usual, Rene didn’t even glance at Lucy. He turned his gaze away as if Lucy didn’t exist in this world.
Why? As she trembled at the thought of being betrayed, Lucy waited for a moment when it would just be the two of them.
Because to her, Rene was still her only hope.
‘Nice to meet you. Lady Allen.’
The one who greeted Lucy, who had arrived in the private room first, was not Rene, but a woman in a black mask.
‘Who are you?’
‘I’m a messenger of the First Queen, here to convey a message. You wouldn’t want to waste time on someone like me, so I’ll cut the flattery. Lady Allen, please do not interfere with the First Prince.’
‘What? Interfere? Me? Nonsense! It’s that gloomy loner who’s interfering with me!’
‘You know well that the interest that began from sympathy is just that.’
The masked stranger pushed Lucy into the mud with a dry voice.
She forcibly made Lucy confront various facts she didn’t want to acknowledge. It bloomed flowers of doubt in the relationship between her and Rene.
‘Isn’t it enough that your parents grab others’ ankles? Do you find satisfaction in ruining someone else’s life?’
‘…You.’
‘If you feel grateful to the First Prince, please make a wise choice.’
After leaving Lucy behind, the masked woman soon departed, and not long after, Rene entered the room. After a stern expression, he let out a long sigh and, with a sloppy smile, called out to Lucy.
‘I apologize for what just happened! Lucy Allen! I had personal reasons and couldn’t acknowledge you!’
‘…’
‘Why? Are you very angry? I thought so, but please understand my circumstances. I didn’t want to keep you waiting like this either.’
‘…’
‘Ha. I get it. I understand. I even prepared a bribe up to this point. This bracelet. Ooh. Are you interested in the word “bribe”?’
Silently, with her mouth tightly shut, Lucy stomped forward and snatched the bracelet from Rene’s hand and threw it right onto the floor.
‘You thought you could win me over with this cheap piece of junk? Your brain must be a flower garden.’
‘Lucy Allen.’
‘Did you run out of money to prepare something fancy that suits me? Tsk. What kind of trashy prince can’t even be a good fool?’
‘You.’
‘Aah. Enough. Just get lost. I’m already tired of playing with a loner.’
‘Did someone come by and spout nonsense? Why are you babbling about things you don’t even desire?’
‘…Ha. Seriously. You really are a sympathy with no sense. It’s annoying! Seeing you so comfortably selfish!’
Tears dropped down Lucy’s cheek as her fantasy crumbled.
But for me, the changes happening around me didn’t matter.
That masked stranger from earlier. It must be that girl I know.
Karia’s heir. A brat acting like she’s something special.
Seeing her throw a fit like this even if the world has become reality, it’s quite entertaining.
The method she used isn’t the First Queen’s style. Would the First Queen go so far as to create conflict with the Allen family?
Though she’s insane, she knows how to do politics tastefully. If she was going to pressure someone, she would have targeted Rene. That way, there would be no traces left.
So, what she said to Lucy was her own unilateral decision.
Hoo. Good. Once I get off this island, I’ll grab that girl by the hair right away.
I’ll make her bow her head in front of Rene and confess everything she presumptuously did.
No, that’s not enough. I need something more intense. Something that’ll make her blow a gasket.
“Welcome, hero of the next generation. I’m ashamed to see you shouldering the burdens due to my incompetence.”
“Shut up. Can’t you see I’m thinking?”
“…Hey.”
“Can you be quiet? Don’t you have ears?”
“Oh. O-oh. Um. I get it for now. If you think slowly and come to a conclusion, let me know.”
Sigh. Seriously. Whoever you are, you’re annoying. Why are you bothering me when I’m already heated? …Huh?
“Has your dilemma ended? I’m glad! I was wondering how long I’d have to wait!”
“What’s with that stupid-looking face?”
“Ha ha ha. Do I look stupid? People often say I’m foolish!”
Despite his tone being far from polite, the man who brightly smiled shrugged and raised his voice.
“Nice to meet you! Hero of the next generation! I am your predecessor!”
The hero has appeared.
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