Chapter 52

"Good morning, Duke Orion, Lord Rain."

The second princess was there.

"Oh, Princess! It's been two days! How have you been since then?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Nothing was done to me, so there's no problem. I appreciate your search for me, Duke."

"Oh no, it's just what I should do as a subject. Oh, that's right! If you have some time, would you like to talk with Rain for a bit?"

He suddenly said this. (No, it's not like 'Oh, that's right!' I don't want to! I don't need to talk to him ever again in my life.)

"Ah, well, I'm not feeling very well..."

"Is that so... That's very disappointing."

He made a slightly sad face.

Thinking that it was probably just an act, I felt exasperated. It was the source of my recent stress.

"Rain! It's fine, go talk to the princess for a bit. I have something to do, so I can't go back today. When you're done, just take the carriage you came in to go home."

He pushed me insistently. As a duke, he couldn't let this opportunity slip away.

"Then, Princess, I'll take my leave!"

And he quickly left.

"Well, I'll take my leave as well."

I turned to leave.

But he grabbed my arm and said,

"No, did you hear what I just said?"

"Yes, I heard! But I'm not feeling well, so I'd like to be excused."

I tried to leave, but I couldn't because he was still holding my arm.

"No, that's quite rude, isn't it?"

I thought so too.

"I'm very sorry, Princess! But it's true that I had a hemoptysis two days ago. I was just called by His Majesty and I'm quite tired, so I'd prefer to decline."

I firmly refused.

"You're really refusing... And you talk like you're not a five-year-old."

"I was taught strictly by my father."

(You're the last person I want to hear that from.)

I agreed, though.

The reason I ended up like this in my previous life was because I couldn't pretend. If I could smile at everyone and pretend, I wouldn't have been bullied.

It's not like I always do it, but in front of my father and others, I try to act properly. Still, in front of the princess, I lose my composure. It's like the distance is too close.

(Huh! Could it be that I'm being surrounded?)

Before I knew it, I might be inside the inner moat.

"Since you're not feeling well, why don't you come to my room? We can talk while sitting."

He invited me.

"What... What are you saying...?"

I couldn't hide my shock.

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

(In my previous life, the eighth most desired phrase from a woman was:

'Why don't you come to my room today?'

I never thought I'd hear it in a place like this...)

I was stunned.

But the princess seemed to misunderstand and said,

"No, you're only five, and I'm nine, but it's fine."

He cast an unnecessary suspicion. It was a complicated feeling.

"No, that's not what I meant..."

I don't care.

There's no way I care.

Please don't label me as a lolicon.

Since I became this body, I don't feel anything when I see pretty older women. It's more like I feel something for cute girls...

(No, no, no, wait, I wasn't a lolicon in my previous life!)

I was troubled, and he said,

"Come on, just come!"

He pulled my arm, and I said,

"Ugh..."

I couldn't help but let out a sound.

Do you know what personal space is? It's the distance at which you feel uncomfortable when someone gets too close. Recently, I've become more tolerant of people being close (in my previous life, it was about two meters), but I still feel uncomfortable and anxious when someone touches me. It's a trauma from being the target of the "germ game" in elementary and middle school. I wonder if the other person is actually very uncomfortable and just touching me out of obligation. I know that's not the case at this age, but my body reacts on its own.

Fortunately, it seemed he didn't hear me, but there was something else that caught my attention. The princess was doing something inappropriate, but the maid behind her didn't say anything. Moreover, the maid was a muscular woman with a level of 38. Clearly, she was the princess's guard. The previous maid I met at the tea party was a normal woman, probably chosen based on her family background, with a level of less than 20. This one had "adventurer" listed as her profession. Despite her muscular build, she had a certain grace. I could tell she was probably from a noble family.

Before I knew it, we were in front of the princess's room.

"Here we are. Welcome to my room."

He opened the door.

The room was childlike, with pink walls and furniture made to fit a child. It was probably all custom-made. There was a balcony from which you could see the entire capital.

"Thank you for inviting me."

I ended up saying it in a monotone.

"Hey, are you going to cry soon?"

"What kind of threat is that!?"

I ended up shouting.

"Since a girl invited you to her room, isn't there something else going on?"

He said.

(No, there isn't.)

If someone saw this, they might think I'm getting cocky because I'm suddenly popular. I want to say that's not the case.

(In my previous life, I thought any girl who liked me was fine. Whether she was beautiful or average, as long as she liked me, I was fine.)

If the princess had just appeared as a regular girl, I would have definitely been smitten.

(I would have thought, 'A girl like this... who wants to become an adventurer... but still...') and had some painful thoughts.

Seeing her smile and act carefree would have made me flustered.

As a 20-year-old virgin who never had a proper youth, I would have been torn between wanting to get physical with her and worrying about the future.

But I'm not masochistic enough to enjoy being harassed. I'm not that positive to think it's a sign of affection.

As a man who has never been popular, I think of this opportunity as a chance to get married and start a family. When I look at someone, I think, "If I marry this person..."

(If I marry the princess... it won't end well!)

So I'd rather decline.

"Wow, what a wonderful room."

I replied neutrally.

"You're still so reserved... Well, sit down."

He sat in a child-sized chair and called me over.

"Yes, as you wish."

I sat in the chair opposite him.

"Let's talk, shall we?"

He started.

"By the way, my abilities are a secret."

He said in a slightly friendly tone.

"Don't preempt what I was going to ask."

"No, I'm used to it. I can't tell you."

"Ugh, I see..."

He seemed a bit disappointed and looked down.

"Is there something you want to ask me?"

"Sure, go ahead."

He answered lightly, as if the previous disappointment was a lie.

"Thank you. Since you've asked me about my age a few times, I think there's something off about your age as well."

I concluded we weren't reincarnated last time. So what is it?

"Hehe, you're right, I'm aware of it. Do you know that sometimes people reveal their true selves?"

"Of course."

Of course, I know. It happened recently. When I realized my parents' love, I felt the importance of human connections. When I, who feared interacting with others, realized the importance of it.

Suddenly, he became serious, and the atmosphere changed, even to a layman like me.

"It happened to me when I was four. I was so shocked, I almost fainted. That's when my 'dream' was born. I aimed for it but failed immediately. I was shown that I couldn't achieve it, no matter how hard I tried. In short, I lacked talent. But I quickly realized there was a second-best option. But for that, I needed to put in a lot of effort. I couldn't act like a child. I practiced speaking properly more than you might think. Even other things, no matter how hard I tried, didn't go well. I couldn't afford to waste a single second."

He showed his hands. There were several small calluses on his palms.

"I'm doing everything I can to achieve my 'dream.' I empty my magic power and faint every day to gain a little experience and level up. Do you think I'm crazy? I don't care. If I live a normal life, I won't reach my goal. I have to be crazy. What I'm aiming for is in a realm that can't be reached any other way. I'll stand there no matter what."

He concluded.

"..."

I was shocked. I never thought the princess, who I thought was just a nuisance, was doing this.

Then, he suddenly smiled and asked,

"Here's a question. What do you think of a girl with calluses on her palms?"

"Eh?! Ah, well, I don't dislike her, no."

"I'm glad."

He smiled.

Another question came to mind.

"Um, what is your dream?"

I wanted to know. What is it that you pursue so desperately...? It's something I couldn't find in 20 years of my previous life.

"Secret."

He said with a full smile.