By Zephyria 
“We greet Adrian Pearson, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, heir to great glory.”
After stopping by other territories in between, and repeatedly riding in the carriage without rest, we finally arrived at the target, the Hope County. Count Hope bowed deeply and bent his knee, paying his respects as a vassal. Originally, when the Crown Prince received respects, those of lower status could not be present together, but now that I had officially held the engagement ceremony and received the status of a quasi-royal, I was an exception. Count Hope, although he did not call me by the title “Your Highness” like the Crown Prince’s subordinates, bowed politely to me as well.
As the Crown Prince nodded, the members of the Count’s family, who had been lined up behind the Count, all paid their respects in unison. Although it had now become a proper part of the central region, this place had originally belonged to the northern border of the empire until the north was incorporated into the empire. True to a family that still holds the title of Marquis of the Frontier as a sign of respect for history, the actions of the retainers and knights belonging to the Hope County were so disciplined that it made one’s heart feel resolute just by looking at them.
“Enough, you may rise.”
“Yes, Your Royal Highness.”
It was only in words, but the manner of taking respects and the scale of the prepared protocol were no different from treating an already enthroned Emperor. This must be why they say power is good. Seeing that no one says anything even when the Crown Prince behaves arbitrarily and arrogantly.
In any case, I also had to do my best in my assigned role. I was escorted by the Crown Prince, and with a picturesque smile, I took each step gracefully. Soon, as the gates of the County opened, a thunderous cheer erupted. In that cheer, I could feel the excitement and respect of the people who were seeing the future Emperor and Empress for the first and last time in their lives. ……It’s a bit annoying, but even excluding my personal feelings, Adrian Pearson, as someone who leads the country, was quite capable and decent, so it’s a natural reaction.
Whenever I experienced the multifaceted aspects of the characters I had been trying to regard only as characters, I felt strange from time to time.
For example, it was like this. Throughout all the Iterations so far, Adrian Pearson had been a merciless judge to me, but he was a wise ruler who skillfully managed the chaotic state affairs, and Frederick Hamilton, who could change his mind in an instant about the affection and anything else he had for his family, was a steadfast knight who would risk his life for the sake of his younger brother and his country’s well-being. What more can I say about Kyle Gray, who was the first to betray me and run away? Even he, in the later part of the game, rose to become a Sword Master and, together with Lennox, made the greatest contribution to organizing the chaotic situation, rising as the hope of the people, an unparalleled hero of a turbulent era.
It was only natural that I hated the fact that those bastards, who were worse than the worst to me, were three-dimensional figures, each with something to look up to. But more than that, for some reason, when they each had their own individuality… and were so prominent… I realized that I had to acknowledge this world not as a simple game, but as a truly independently completed ‘world’…….
“Young Master Noah!”
I was walking behind the Crown Prince, lost in various thoughts, when a head of curly brown hair suddenly popped out in the corner of my vision. The Crown Prince, who had already reached the Count’s residence, was being led ahead by the Count and Countess, and the one who appeared before me was Young Master Russell, the only son of the Hope County.
“Haha, it’s been so long!”
“Young Master Russell, weren’t you in the capital?”
“Eii. I was caught by my mother and dragged here. I said it would be okay since my father is in the territory anyway, but you wouldn’t believe how much I was scolded!”
He, who was quite close to Beatrice, had been maintaining a relatively close relationship with me for some time. Unlike me, who didn’t bother to go out into society unless it was absolutely necessary, the two of them had been dominating society from early on, building their friendship. As a result, Young Master Russell naturally became one of the few noble scions who could be called a friend in my meager external relationships.
‘D, young master, please!’
I heard a very desperate whisper, and when I glanced behind Young Master Russell, I saw someone who appeared to be his direct attendant stabbing the young master’s back relentlessly with an expression that seemed like he wanted to faint immediately. It must have meant what kind of rude behavior was he daring to commit against the confirmed Crown Princess. My young Nicole was superimposed on that bloodless face, making me laugh for no reason.
Half the intention was to reassure the attendant, and half was unexpected delight. I smiled brightly and took Young Master Russell’s hand.
“That’s terrible, now that both you and I are down here, the young ladies of the capital must be very bored.”
“That’s a good thing. Beatrice honestly needs to realize how precious we are!”
As the only son of the Count’s family, and an Omega who had been confirmed as the successor early on, Young Master Russell was always a cheerful person. Perhaps it was because he had grown up without any worries or concerns. Not like Allen, who had been strangely twisted by the System, or even ‘Allen Hamilton,’ the innocent protagonist in the original story, who would have to take a step back.
“Come on, let’s go quickly. I’ll show you our mansion. Let’s leave the boring stories to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the adults!”
I smiled at Young Master Russell, who was smiling brightly, and then widened my stride and began to walk briskly after him. The period of time we were to stay in the Hope County was only four days. Now, in just four more days… we would finally be leaving for the north. A pleasant tension filled my whole body.
* * *
As in other territories, there was especially nothing for me to do in the Hope County. Receiving reports on the operational status of the County and any special problems, and inspecting the public welfare, was solely the duty and right of the Crown Prince, and all I, who had accompanied the tour as his fiancée, did was sleep soundly in the safe castle, finish the prepared meals, and laze around waiting for the Crown Prince to return.
At least here, thanks to Young Master Russell, whom I knew, it was less boring. Usually, even if there were noble scions of the same age, they either couldn’t dare to spend a long time with me, or even if they did spend time with me, they were so stiff and frozen that it was more of an ordeal for me to watch.
Today was the same. I woke up late, finished my meal, and was playing chess with Young Master Russell when I received word that the Crown Prince had returned. I hurriedly straightened my clothes and was about to go out to the main lobby, but I was a step too late.
“I was wondering where you were, so you were in a place like this.”
“Your Royal Highness!”
The Crown Prince, who had suddenly appeared, barely acknowledged Young Master Russell’s bow, who had lowered his posture as much as possible, and immediately grabbed me into his arms. There was a difference in height, and I wasn’t that short, but he was holding me like he was holding a child…!
“Please let go. There are people here…!”
“Eueung? Then we just need to go somewhere where there are no eyes watching.”
He roughly waved his hand at Young Master Russell, who was still paying his respects, giving him permission to stand up, and then moved his feet with me still in his arms. The subordinates who were following the Crown Prince and the servants of the Hope County still lowered their heads hastily whenever their eyes met mine, with eyes that said they had seen something they shouldn’t have. Ah, damn it…. Why is it always my share to be embarrassed.
When I, unable to bear the embarrassment, finally gave up and buried my forehead in the Crown Prince’s neck so that my vision was completely blocked, I heard a satisfied chuckle above my head.
“When you look at it calmly, you don’t look like it, but you’re very simple. It’s clear that Count Hamilton didn’t raise you that way.”
It was a rebuke that I was a Count’s son who had been raised to be revered, so why was I so concerned about the eyes of the lower people. I banged my forehead against the Crown Prince’s collarbone once, as if giving up. Hieik! The sound of the servants gasping in horror from behind followed as a set.
“Alright, alright. I just won’t say things you don’t want to hear.”
He was only comforting me in words. Why was his face, which was grinning from ear to ear, so annoying? I could only sigh deeply.
It had been a long time since the path I was walking had deviated quite a bit from the original story, but it seemed that this one thing was maintaining the same Setting. That once I went all the way, the Crown Prince’s favorability would take a steep upward curve.
Even before, I could clearly feel that his heart was leaning towards me, but since the first time we did it in the carriage, his attitude… had been too blatant. Even in official situations, he begrudged me walking on my own two feet and tried to hold me like this every time. No…, even when he was Allen’s main love interest, he cherished Allen to some extent, but he didn’t go to this extreme and run wild, did he? Apart from his sadistic and perverted sexual tastes, his attitude towards the protagonist was rather simple and clean, wasn’t it?
“Is your back alright? You said you were in so much pain this morning that you couldn’t even get up.”
“…Could you please, please ask me things like that only when we’re alone?”
“When we’re alone, I’ll end up doing something that will hurt your back again, so I’m too ashamed to do that in good conscience.”
“Since when did you have a conscience?”
“Hmm, that’s true. Originally, the Emperor is shameless.”
…He was really annoying, but it was difficult to say anything since he was the one who would really become the Emperor. I could only shake my head as I looked at the Crown Prince, who was still holding me and smiling broadly. Neither the one being held nor the one holding and carrying noticed that the posture was too comfortable and familiar.