chapter 11

Ooh, my beauteous? princess, Whenever I think about you um.

Okay, cut.

She looks as if shes just swallowed a bitter bug as she glares at me.

Eeh?! Again?!

Its downright unacceptable. Start over from the beginning.

Im not the one whos going to act as the prince anyway. Cant I have some leeway around it?

Her cla.s.s is going to perform a play at the culture festival, so Im helping as her practice partner. But for some reason, shes the one coaching me instead.

You dont understand, do you? The mood is important. It doesnt make for a practice if the opposing role is acting like a pole.

Even if you tell me, I suck at acting and such.

haah. From the beginning, please.

Okay.

Her role is the princess whos yearned by a prince from another nation. I think its a perfect role for her with how beautiful and refined she is. But, she usually hates taking part in conspicuous events like that. I wonder what makes her accept the leading role. Although, Im sure she wont tell me even if I ask her, so I wont.

Pray tell me, why are you here?

I wish for meeting you again. That is the sole reason I have come from the neighboring nation.

I read the script and deliver my lines to the best that I can with my ability to act. But I fumble my words, speak in monotone many times, I know exactly how terrible I am at this. She, on the other hand, delivers her lines smoothly without even looking at her script.

No, you mustnt. You are the prince of our enemy nation, are you not? It will be perilous should anyone discover you here.

Even so, it is my wish to meet you.

Why would you face such risks?

um, the horse

Smack!

My head is. .h.i.t with the script. Although it doesnt hurt much, isnt it cruel of her to hit me so suddenly?

What horse? Which line is that from? How can you make that mistake when youre reading from the script?

S-sorry. Huh? It seems that Ive skipped some lines. Umm, my next line is

I trace the dialogue with my finger so that I can read it correctly this time.

Its because, I love you.

Whats wrong? I thought that Ive read the wrong lines again, but after double-checking the script, I see that its not the case. It should be her line next.

Ah, did you forget your lines? Here, look

Smack!

By the time I notice that I was smacked on the head, shes already turned away from me and is walking towards her mansion. Whats going on? Is she going to the toilet? But did she really need to hit my head for that?

With nothing to do, I read the script again and practice until she returns. After a while, she returns while looking a bit displeased.

Welcome back. Are we continuing from where you left?

Yes.

She breathes in and gets into her role. Drawn by her serious expression, I cant help but stiffen mine, as well.

Dear Prince, you mustnt. You will not be forgiven for it.

This love may be a taboo, but it matters not. I cant contain, my feelings towards you anymore.

I have memorized the dialogue around here, so I gaze in her eyes instead of the script.

No, you cant. You cant do this, Prince! Dont say another word!

Ill say it as many times as necessary. I love you.

Huh?

Shes stuck again. Whats wrong? Has she actually forgotten some of her lines in this scene?

Say

Thud!!

Ouch!!

This time she uses all her strength and hits my head with the corner of the script. There is a limit of being unreasonable. I rub the place where she hit me. I dont think its going to be a b.u.mp, but there is a throbbing pain when I touch it. Tears well up in my eyes from the excessive pain as I glare at her.

Ow, gee, what are you doing?

~~

She glares me back with an indescribable look on her face. I dont understand the reason behind her enigmatic actions, so I have no idea what to do, either.

Hey, you gotta practice properly.

Were ending it here today.

Eeeh?

More importantly, as Ive told you the other day

Okay, okay.

She never cares about other people, shes self-centered. I never hate her for that, though.

Thinking that its just the way she is, I smile and forgive her.