Chapter 4

I recall being called "You're such an idiot" in my past life, over and over again by those around me.

"You'll die young if you don't change your habit of getting angry and acting like a monkey."

These were the words of my mother in my past life. It was a rather harsh evaluation, but since I died at eighteen without ever breaking that bad habit, it wasn't entirely off the mark. In fact, it was quite accurate. As expected of a mother, she knew her child well.

Would the bad habits from my past life carry over to this one? If there were an experiment with such a premise, I would gladly submit this record.

——The current situation where I am being carried princess-style by Prince Lotus.

"………"

"………"

Prince Lotus and I meet each other's gaze in silence.

I can feel the blood draining from my face.

Why am I being carried like this? The answer is simple. He shielded me from falling. When I was about to fall, Prince Lotus adjusted his position in mid-air and caught me, then landed on the ground.

Thanks to him, I'm not hurt at all, but my mind is a mess because I was saved by the person I kicked.

No, I must have looked terribly uncool. I'm so embarrassed—before I could even think about such a girlish reaction, the image of a guillotine flashed in my mind.

Ah, goodbye, my head. I'm losing it again in this life.

As I was thinking about my last words to the servants, Prince Lotus spoke to me.

"Hmm, you. Are you hurt? Can I put you down now?"

His words snap me back to my senses. I nod hurriedly and let him set me down.

Prince Lotus, after confirming that I'm not hurt, smiled contentedly.

"However, you are quite interesting. I never imagined you would jump from the vine and kick me from there! Truly, it was amusing."

He laughed heartily. The other participants, the young ladies and their attendants, gathered around us, drawn by the commotion.

Prince Lotus, who didn't blame me for my impolite actions, made me hesitate to give my real advice.

It seems that if I back down now, he might forgive my impolite kick. I don't want to die yet. I don't want to be beheaded again. If I value my life, it might be best to leave here quickly.

...But.

Seeing Lilia running towards me, out of breath, I steeled myself.

"Thank you for saving me, Prince Lotus. However, there is something I must say, even though it may be impertinent."

I knelt on the ground and bowed my head.

Prince Lotus's cheerful voice came from above.

"I forgive you. Raise your head."

I lifted my head and met his gaze.

"May I speak my grievances about this incident?"

"Grievances?"

Prince Lotus looked surprised, as if he didn't understand my words.

Feeling a bit angry at his reaction, I spoke with a sharp tone.

"Yes. One of the young ladies you invited was injured due to your mistake, and I must speak about your lack of sincerity."

"………"

Prince Lotus said nothing. He just stared at me with his burning red eyes.

He was telling me to continue. I braced myself and continued.

"In this selection of a fiancée, you said the invitation did not mention a tea party. However, there was no mention of dress code either. When invited to the palace, it is proper for subjects to dress formally and show respect to the royal family. The young lady who was injured followed this protocol and showed respect as a subject. The same goes for the others, including me. But what about you?"

I paused. The gazes of those around me were painful. The pressure from Prince Lotus was intimidating.

Still, because of that, I continued.

"In this incident, you imposed inconvenience on your subjects by trying to be too flashy. Your comment that it was 'boring'—ignoring our loyalty—was extremely, extremely insincere."

I could hear my father's angry voice from a distance. Ignoring it, I pleaded with Prince Lotus.

"We are your subjects. If the king orders us to die, we will gladly offer our lives. However, this relationship only holds if the king is sincere to his subjects. Prince Lotus, we are human. If our loyalty is not recognized, no matter how much we serve, we will eventually leave. Please, look around. Look at the faces of those who serve you—!"

I couldn't finish because my father pressed my head down. I was forced into a position where my forehead touched the ground, and I quickly supported my body with my hands to keep from falling.

"I'm sorry! Prince Lotus! My unworthy daughter has been extremely impolite! Please, please forgive her!"

I could feel my father's anxiety from the side. If it were his own daughter who spoke impudently to the crown prince, he would be just as desperate.

Still, I had no intention of ending it here.

As I opened my mouth to speak, my father, sensing my intention, pressed my head down harder. It's frustrating how good his instincts are, especially since he can't hide the fact that he has a stepdaughter.

Then, from above my head, Prince Lotus said,

" Duke Savage, it's fine. I said this would be a day without formalities. Release your daughter."

"But—"

"I am talking to your daughter now. Be silent for a moment."

His tone was soft, but the atmosphere was commanding.

My father reluctantly released me. When I lifted my head, Prince Lotus smiled.

"So, what do you wish from me?"

Prince Lotus's smile was angelic. Despite being the same age, I almost fell under its charm, but I spat out what I had wanted to say all along.

"Show us your sincerity."

Prince Lotus looked a bit troubled and lowered his eyebrows.

"However, I do not understand what you mean by sincerity. Can you explain it to me?"

"That—"

As I was about to say, "Think about it yourself," I realized something.

Prince Lotus's eyes were filled with amusement. He was smiling as if he found it entertaining.

It was as if he was observing a rare animal. I realized that my words hadn't reached him at all. He didn't understand what I was trying to say.

No matter how much I pleaded, he wouldn't look around.

"Hey—"

As I stood up, my father tried to hold me back by grabbing my arm. I shook him off and approached Prince Lotus.

"Hmm? What—"

Slap!

The sound of a slap echoed loudly in the courtyard.

Screams rose, and I heard my father fall behind me.

Prince Lotus, holding his red cheek, looked at me in a daze.

I was almost acting on instinct, shouting at him.

"That's what I mean by not being sincere!"

Prince Lotus blinked, clearly not understanding why he was being scolded.

I grabbed his collar and pointed at the gathered crowd.

"Look. These people gathered here because you ordered them to. Not everyone has estates in the capital. Some came here by carriage after days of travel. Getting dressed up isn't something that can be done quickly. Preparing formal attire and getting help from maids to dress takes time and money. They spent all that to be here, and you—"

I remembered Prince Lotus yawning and calling it "boring" while hanging from the tree, and my grip on his collar tightened.

"Yawning and calling it 'boring'? Is that the sincerity of a man who will lead the country in the future!? Are you kidding? Yes, you are! You are!"

Prince Lotus's face turned red, and his shoulders trembled.

"What!? I am being very serious! You, who do not understand my mission, have no right to say such things!"

"You're imposing inconvenience on others and expecting them to understand your convenience!?"

I countered immediately. Prince Lotus, who was not used to arguments, opened and closed his mouth but couldn't say anything. I pressed him further.

"Before you argue with me, there's something you should say first! If you're not kidding, show the proper attitude to these ladies."

I gestured to the young ladies watching from a distance. Besides Lilia, many were covered in mud and dust. Some had torn dresses, and others were injured. Their attendants and families were in similar states.

Prince Lotus, seeing this, was at a loss for words and looked embarrassed. His eyes were slightly moist.

"I, I didn't do anything wrong..."

"Huh?"

I couldn't help but ask. What? You're still making excuses at this point?

As if he heard my thoughts, Prince Lotus trembled, then muttered something while looking down.

"Say it."

"I can't hear you."

Speak from your gut. If you mumble like a mosquito, the person you're apologizing to won't hear you.

Prince Lotus lifted his head, tears welling in his red eyes, and shouted loudly.

"I'm sorry!"

As Prince Lotus burst into tears, the scenery of the courtyard began to warp.

Startled, I closed my eyes reflexively. When I cautiously opened them again, a beautifully maintained garden spread before me.

"Wh-What?"

Where did the jungle go?

As I looked around, Prince Lotus explained through hiccups.

"I-It was all an illusion... created by magic... a false scene..."

"An illusion...?"

As I processed his words, the blood rushed back to my head, and I gradually calmed down.

Looking around, I saw that the young ladies who were in tatters had returned to their original states. Lilia was the same; her mud-covered dress had turned into a brand new one without a single stain.

Seeing Lilia's transformation, I realized something.

Wait, did I do something terrible?

"Because it was an illusion, you couldn't touch it... but those with the qualities of a princess could touch the vines... just like me..."

I turned to Prince Lotus with a rusty, mechanical movement. Seeing him crying uncontrollably, I felt a pang of sympathy.

"But, I didn't think you would get this angry... I'm sorry, I'm so sorry—"

Prince Lotus, unable to hold back, broke down and sobbed loudly.

Stunned by Prince Lotus's crying, I stood there, frozen.

Words floated in my head, one by one.

"Jumping to conclusions."

"Completely misjudged and acted rudely."

"Extremely disrespectful, execution certain."

"Guillotine again."

"Goodbye, my head."

"Hope to be human in the next life."

As I was saying goodbye to this life, I remembered something important.

That's right. Even though I have no special talents, I mustn't lose my sincerity as a human.

As I realized this, I moved my body.

"Prince Lotus! Are you okay!?"

"I-I'm so sorry!!"

The captain of the knights entered the courtyard loudly, and I performed a dramatic prostration to Prince Lotus, almost simultaneously.