Chapter 3

"Then, why don't we go back in time together and cancel this engagement?"

"---Huh?"

No way, what is this person saying?

Is it my fault for not understanding? Jack, the prince, is looking at me with such a serious face that it's making me nervous.

"Prince Jack..."

Seeing my stunned face, the Baroness Miria, looking worried, gently tugs on the prince's sleeve. She's petite, with a childlike face, and her worried eyes are well-suited to her upward glances. Indeed, she's so cute! The prince must like this kind of cute girl! No wonder he never comes near me, who is often told I'm hard to approach!

Prince Jack, after placing his hand on his cute lover's hand and giving a sweet smile, turns back to me with a serious face. He changes his mood so quickly.

"I'm sorry, I should have explained first. Do you know the legend of 'time travel' that has been passed down in our Grailt Kingdom?"

Oh, I shouldn't be admiring the cuteness of Baroness Miria right now.

---The legend of 'time travel.' Of course, I know it. Having received long-term education as a future queen, I should.

But, "Even so!" I feel angry again.

"Time travel is not just a legend but a real secret technique."

...Really?

"By using the 'Cup of Time Travel' that has been passed down in the royal family and drinking a potion made from the extract of the 'Star Flower,' which blooms once every 100 years, it is said that one can actually travel back in time. However, the Star Flower blooms only once every 100 years, regardless of whether you want to travel back in time or not, and its location becomes vague over the 100 years. Therefore, it is almost impossible to actually travel back in time."

I know about the Cup of Time Travel, but the Star Flower is new to me. Probably, to prevent anyone from using it for personal gain, only the royal family knows the details.

Right now, the prince in front of me is saying he wants to use it for his personal desire to marry the one he loves!

"Do you want to cling to this impossibility and travel back in time to cancel this engagement...?"

Please forgive my sharp words.

For the prince, it's more about wanting to marry his beloved than just canceling the engagement.

"No, actually, a few days ago, I found the Star Flower by chance."

"By chance?"

Found the Star Flower...? The flower that blooms once every 100 years and whose location is unknown, by chance...?

"At first, I thought this marriage was something I had to accept and give up on. But... you know, the existence of the mysterious drug that has been spreading in the capital for a long time. I've been investigating the drug with the knights and researchers. While searching for the plant suspected to be the raw material for the drug, I found it by chance."

You just said you had to "give up" on marrying me. I won't forget that.

Also, this cute Baroness Miria, I remember she had a fiancé, right? That was... but never mind.

More importantly, did you really find the Star Flower by chance?

"---I thought this was fate. However, I felt it was unfair to you if only Miria and I kept our memories while traveling back in time, so I decided to invite you as well."

When I heard more details, it turns out that by drinking the secret potion made from the Star Flower using the Cup of Time Travel, everyone who drinks it retains their memories from before the time travel. Of course, the prince intends to drink the potion with Baroness Miria and remember their relationship while traveling back in time, but he is inviting me to join them. Indeed, he could have just gone back in time without telling me, but by inviting me, he might be showing some sincerity.

"The secret potion has already been made according to the recipe in the book about time travel in the forbidden library. ...It was completed this evening, and I barely managed to talk to you in time... Anyway, we will travel back in time before tomorrow's wedding. What will you do? Do you want to keep your memories?"

Listening to this in silence, to be honest, I feel like saying, "Are you kidding me?!"

What about? Of course, everything.

Even though I am his fiancée, he casually created a lover and was willing to endure this marriage as a "last resort" and "had no choice but to accept it." Even if the Star Flower was found by chance, using the royal family's secret technique for his personal desire without hesitation is questionable. It's like... for them, it's a desperate last resort and a ray of hope in despair, but don't you think you've trampled on my heart too much?

I am filled with humiliation and anger.

But no matter what I say, these two will travel back in time.

There is a conflict, and I am very angry. But let's put aside my feelings about these two and think calmly.

When I think about it---it might not be such a bad deal.

Traveling back in time with my memories intact. This is a huge advantage.

I don't intend to use it for any evil schemes or to make money.

Only one thing comes to mind.

---I might be able to save Father's life.

Four years ago, just before my 14th birthday, Father died of an illness.

---Haisa disease. It was a disease that first appeared that year.

Since then, it has become a seasonal disease every year, and a cure for Haisa disease was developed soon after it started spreading. If you take the medicine properly, you will recover quickly, and even if you take it late, you will only need to rest for a while. Yet, Father died from this disease so quickly.

If I can somehow prevent his death, maybe the benefit of traveling back in time is greater for me?

Probably, the prince knew this and made this proposal to me.

You'll be happy too, right? To make it even? I still feel a bit uneasy...

Still... this is undoubtedly a stroke of luck for me.

Yes, that's right. The thought of going through a loveless, heart-crushing marriage makes me shudder! My anger doesn't disappear, but this could be incredibly lucky!

Save Father!

And... if possible, I want to marry someone who loves me!

My feelings are gradually building up. I'm surprisingly simple. I feel anger fading and hope and joy rising.

I can't help but lean forward and firmly grasp the prince's hands.

Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything by it. Baroness Miria, don't make such a face!

"Prince, I understand your feelings. Let's travel back in time together... the three of us."

And so, on the eve of the wedding, my second start in life was decided.

---

By the way, when it came to drinking the time travel potion.

Baroness Miria was extremely reluctant to let me drink from the Cup of Time Travel after the prince.

She was also reluctant to let the prince drink after me.

...This is so troublesome!

Of course, she's reluctant, but can't you bear with it just this once??

Well, I'll forgive her because she's cute.

If I ever fall in love, will I understand her feelings?

In the end, we drank the potion in the order of Prince → Baroness Miria → me.

I was given strict instructions on where to place my mouth on the cup and where not to.

So, it's so troublesome!!