Chapter 7

Oscar Abel Prospero.

He is the crown prince of this country and the fiancé of the duchess's daughter, Cecilia Sylvie.

With his deep red hair and eyes sharp like knives, his face is well-formed but gives off a cold impression. His limbs are long, and he is enveloped in the aura unique to royalty.

(Oh no. I've stumbled into a dangerous scene...)

Cecilia made herself even smaller to avoid being seen by the two.

This is the first romantic event between Lean and Oscar.

It is a scene where Lean, who has taken on the difficult fate of being a candidate for the divine child, and Oscar, the crown prince, meet in the courtyard, with Lean feeling confused.

‘I know you bear a heavy burden, but let’s work together. At the very least, I think you are more suited to be the divine child than Cecilia. Your delicate appearance, as you face the harsh reality without turning away, is very endearing.’

Oscar offers these words of encouragement to the bewildered Lean.

(Oscar has liked Lean from the start. And he hates Cecilia more than anyone else...)

Cecilia, his unwilling fiancée and the greatest obstacle to his relationship with Lean, is someone he despises more than anyone. On the other hand, Cecilia admires Oscar and, out of jealousy, ends up hurting Lean. This touches Oscar's sore spot, leading to her imprisonment and execution.

In fact, the sequence of ‘hurting Lean, being imprisoned, and executed’ frequently appears even in routes other than Oscar’s. In most cases, it is Oscar who sends Cecilia to the executioner.

Even if Lean ends up with someone else, Oscar continues to think of her. What a pure love. However, because of this, Cecilia is disliked by Oscar in every route.

(I must avoid getting involved with Oscar. Especially in this event, it’s dangerous...)

This romantic event has a continuation. Suddenly, Cecilia interrupts.

Just as the two are getting along well, Cecilia suddenly appears and slaps Lean’s cheek.

‘What are you trying to seduce my fiancé, you fox woman!’

Oscar, who is angry at Cecilia, advises her, ‘I am deeply disappointed in you,’ and supports Lean by putting his arm around her shoulder before leaving the scene. Cecilia, as a result, becomes even more hostile towards Lean.

This incident is mentioned several times later, and when Cecilia is suspected of something, she is accused of being the culprit, even though she didn’t do it.

(Alright! I have to run!)

If she stays here and interferes with this event, Cecil might end up on the same path as Cecilia in the game, despite her efforts to disguise herself as a man.

Cecilia, still crouched, quietly stood up.

However, the next moment, the kitten in her arms jumps up.

“Kyaa!”

The kitten uses Cecilia’s head as a stepping stone and jumps towards Lean and Oscar.

Cecilia, thrown off balance, falls backward.

“What?!”

“Kyaa!”

Cecilia, in a bridge-like position supported by the hedge, looks up at the two, who are trembling in fear.

(I did it...)

The kitten is now in Lean’s arms, purring contentedly, “Meow.”

“...Were you eavesdropping?”

Oscar looks down at her with cold eyes, and her whole body shakes. He must be upset that his intimate moment with Lean was interrupted by an unknown man.

At this point, Oscar’s affection for Lean is already 80% filled.

If he likes her so much, why doesn’t he give her the treasure?

I can’t help but think that, but it’s probably just how the game is designed. There’s nothing I can do about it.

“Ahaha... I was just taking a nap in the shade of that tree...”

“...I see...”

Oscar narrows his eyes at her feeble excuse.

Of course, he doesn’t believe her. This is bad.

“Lady Cecil, are you alright?”

It was Lean who, with an angelic smile, helped her up.

Normally, she would never want to get involved, but with the cold north wind nearby, her smile feels like a warm sun.

“Thank you.”

“Even the always cool Lady Cecil makes mistakes. It makes me feel closer to you.”

“R-really?”

“...”

(The north wind! The north wind’s gaze is so intense!!)

Oscar is staring at Cecilia as if he could burn a hole through her. His gaze seems more like an observation than a glare, though it’s not exactly gentle.

(W-what!? Is he thinking, ‘What kind of person is trying to get close to my Lean?’ I’m not getting close! I’m leaving now!!)

“Um, I’m going home. I’m sorry for the disturbance...”

“If you don’t mind, would you like to join us in our conversation, Lady Cecil? I’ve always wanted to get to know you better. I’m sure Oscar would be fine with it too?”

“...I see.”

(That’s not a very enthusiastic response!!)

“I-I’ll pass for now! See you!!”

Cecilia left the scene, as if fleeing from the north wind’s gaze.

After Cecilia left, the two remaining people looked at each other.

“She’s gone. I wish we could have talked more...”

“Indeed. By the way, that face...”

Oscar stroked his chin, deep in thought.

At that moment, the kitten in Lean’s arms meowed cutely, “Meow,” and jumped out of her arms. The handkerchief wrapped around its paw fell and fluttered in the air.

“This cat was with Lady Cecil earlier, wasn’t it? Oh? It seems to be injured...”

“It was being treated with a handkerchief. We should properly bandage it or disinfect it, or it might fall off. ...This handkerchief.”

Oscar picked up the handkerchief from the cat’s paw and frowned. He recognized it.

“What is she...”

Oscar glared in the direction Cecilia had gone, his face twisted in displeasure.