Leddorio had already resigned to the idea that Chloe would abandon the kingdom and live to love Locke. The things he had done against the ducal lady are horrible enough to warrant her complete departure.
However, the answer that came from the ducal lady made him stare blankly in surprise.
‘Does his highness wishes to make away with me that much? This time, not just from the capital, but from the kingdom altogether.’
‘….Huh?’
‘Think about it, sir. I have so far only been able to conquer superfluous dungeons, all of which, were under the supervision of the academy and adventurer’s guild—A noble lady with no survival skills at all, so to speak. How could I possibly do well by myself in places with severe public order?
I’ve realized that I can’t do anything without Shin’s assistance, something that has become more evident to me during my quest for atonement. If I chase Locke as I am, I will only be dependent on him, and I don’t want that.
I want to become a woman Locke can rely on and entrust his back to. So if I were to leave, I would only do so after I’ve made proper preparations.’
Leddorio was quite taken aback by the continuous words of the lady, but he felt relief at the thought that she won’t leave. Although he couldn’t quite understand why Chloe fell for him, at the very least, he’ll still meet her more frequently as her co-worker compared to Locke, who only visits the kingdom occasionally.
That makes him happy, however―
‘How very kind of you. I did not expect that you’ll refuse your only escape route and present yourself for the kingdom’s use in a silver platter. There’s no possible way you don’t think anything of us who did you harm. Kei―the crown prince must’ve offered to grant you any wish, right? Has it not occurred to you to pursue vengeance?’
He just wanted to ask her whether she was satisfied with everything, but he inadvertently laced his words with thorns. Leddorio wondered why he could only ever speak in this manner. He wanted to take a more favorable tone with her, but he could not reform a habit with several years of backing. Perhaps due to getting used to him, Chloe did not show any sign of surprise but merely muttered denial and turn her gaze upwards.
‘If it were right before my condemnation, I may have chosen that, sir. However, the false charges did not strip me of my nobility. Besides, even though I was indeed attacked by the bandits in Iris Mountains, it’s not like you were the one who instigated it.’
‘That may be true… but I did scheme to ruin you completely out of sheer hatred.’
When Leddorio tried to apologize to her for his arbitrary condemnation of the lady, Chloe only got angry at him for setting a bad example to others instead. She insisted that it was reasonable because she did harass Momo. But what of the things after that? Together with his associates, the prince pleasantly watched all the hardships of his former fiancée like it’s some sort of spectacle. That cannot be called a just punishment; it was just something out of their personal grudges.
‘Well, I did hear about that from his highness, the crown prince. He said that even though the remarks were made in private company, they were not something that a prince should be considering against a helpless person.’
The lady heard it all from Keith who witnessed everything happen. Back then, Leddorio plotted to push the ducal lady to the depths of despair and did not have the slightest bit of concern whether the Lady learns the truth later on. But now, Leddorio felt ashamed at having the most unseemly parts of his heart revealed.
‘But sir, if people are punished from the scheming and planning stages, I would have not been let off with just condemnation and banishment. After all, I would’ve committed a lot of worse things if Shin hadn’t deceived and stopped me secretly.’
‘…What else were you planning on doing back then?’
‘They all ended in mere attempts, sir. Let’s just say that we’re equal in that regard and brush them off.’
Chloe placed her forefinger in her lips with a mischievous smile on her face, making it impossible for the prince to press for more details. Whether she refuses to say more out of consideration, or that the contents make her hesitate; whichever the case, Chloe made it clear that she does not intend to reproach him.
‘Still, you should be a little―nay, reproach me to your heart’s content. The two of us have never opened up against each other during our 7 years of engagement. I am regretting that now.’
What leaked out from Leddorio’s mouth were sentiments that rose from the innermost corner of his heart which he forcibly suppressed countless times before. Chloe’s eyes widened in surprise at the bared feelings of the prince that she heard for the very first time.
‘I’ve been having this impression for a while highness, but do you seek a punishment from me, sir?’
‘Is that bad? I have dignity too. Besides, weren’t you the one who spoke about settling responsibilities before..’
‘I did say that… and come to think of it, his highness, Yello said something about this before. He told me that forgiving each and everything like a saintly being, on the contrary, could make other people miserable.’
(Keith, you cur! Saying miserable is too overboard! It’s just that my feelings will remain unsettled if I were to be forgiven just like that.)
‘But, I’m not trying to do that at all. I just thought that while I’m at it, I might as well give the characters of my beloved game their happy endings. That may be impossible for a villainess like myself, but even so, causing others sorrow for my benefit would just leave me bitter aftertaste.’
Chloe’s awkward excuses astonished Leddorio for a moment, but hearing game terminologies one after another gradually crumpled his eyebrows.
Leddorio never said anything about it, but he always thought that unlike before, Chloe had become a true saintess since she remembered her past life memories. The prince thought that her refusal to condemn their malice and her ready acceptance of them came from pure sentiments. He certainly didn’t expect them to root from her love of the “game.”
His discerning eye was off to the very end, he thought.
‘…Wasn’t this reality? You even audaciously claimed that to Momo before.’
‘Alright, I’ll admit it! People seem to misunderstand me, but I’m not a saint or anything like that at all, sir. I’m just an ota―a fangirl from another world. I’m not trying to imply that “Revenge takes you nowhere,” or anything of that grandeur.
But still, I want to give them a chance to start over, just as I was given.’
The lady claims that she is not trying to be a saint or any of that sort, but Leddorio thought her to be naive.
Starting over―rebuilding broken things into their new forms. For Chloe, even if Leddorio and the others were just game characters who pushed her to the path of ruin, their futures are not settled. All is well as long as they grow and reflect just as she did; She wants to see that happen.
‘If you’re satisfied with that, I won’t talk about revenge anymore. How about wanting to do something for you as a comrade who served our country. Is there anything we can do for you?’
‘Sir Leddorio?’
‘Benny is fine. Chloe, I… want to make you happy.’
Chloe’s feet halted. Leddorio repaid her surprised pair of eyes with his earnest ones. He thought that even if those eyes revolve around a different man, there shouldn’t be anything wrong with wishing her to be happy.
(But then, that sounded like.)
Leddorio spoke those words while overwhelmed by his feelings, but now his cheeks reddened at the realization of what they can mean. The two of them were presently carrying documents in their arms. The prince thought that he could’ve spoken while they were empty-handed, but then, doing so in their spare time would’ve created an incomprehensible ambiance.
After blinking her eyelashes twice or thrice, Chloe chuckled and smiled at him.
‘If it’s that, then you’ve already given me something, sir.’
Leddorio had already resigned to the idea that Chloe would abandon the kingdom and live to love Locke. The things he had done against the ducal lady are horrible enough to warrant her complete departure.
However, the answer that came from the ducal lady made him stare blankly in surprise.
‘Does his highness wishes to make away with me that much? This time, not just from the capital, but from the kingdom altogether.’
‘….Huh?’
‘Think about it, sir. I have so far only been able to conquer superfluous dungeons, all of which, were under the supervision of the academy and adventurer’s guild—A noble lady with no survival skills at all, so to speak. How could I possibly do well by myself in places with severe public order?
I’ve realized that I can’t do anything without Shin’s assistance, something that has become more evident to me during my quest for atonement. If I chase Locke as I am, I will only be dependent on him, and I don’t want that.
I want to become a woman Locke can rely on and entrust his back to. So if I were to leave, I would only do so after I’ve made proper preparations.’
Leddorio was quite taken aback by the continuous words of the lady, but he felt relief at the thought that she won’t leave. Although he couldn’t quite understand why Chloe fell for him, at the very least, he’ll still meet her more frequently as her co-worker compared to Locke, who only visits the kingdom occasionally.
That makes him happy, however―
‘How very kind of you. I did not expect that you’ll refuse your only escape route and present yourself for the kingdom’s use in a silver platter. There’s no possible way you don’t think anything of us who did you harm. Kei―the crown prince must’ve offered to grant you any wish, right? Has it not occurred to you to pursue vengeance?’
He just wanted to ask her whether she was satisfied with everything, but he inadvertently laced his words with thorns. Leddorio wondered why he could only ever speak in this manner. He wanted to take a more favorable tone with her, but he could not reform a habit with several years of backing. Perhaps due to getting used to him, Chloe did not show any sign of surprise but merely muttered denial and turn her gaze upwards.
‘If it were right before my condemnation, I may have chosen that, sir. However, the false charges did not strip me of my nobility. Besides, even though I was indeed attacked by the bandits in Iris Mountains, it’s not like you were the one who instigated it.’
‘That may be true… but I did scheme to ruin you completely out of sheer hatred.’
When Leddorio tried to apologize to her for his arbitrary condemnation of the lady, Chloe only got angry at him for setting a bad example to others instead. She insisted that it was reasonable because she did harass Momo. But what of the things after that? Together with his associates, the prince pleasantly watched all the hardships of his former fiancée like it’s some sort of spectacle. That cannot be called a just punishment; it was just something out of their personal grudges.
‘Well, I did hear about that from his highness, the crown prince. He said that even though the remarks were made in private company, they were not something that a prince should be considering against a helpless person.’
The lady heard it all from Keith who witnessed everything happen. Back then, Leddorio plotted to push the ducal lady to the depths of despair and did not have the slightest bit of concern whether the Lady learns the truth later on. But now, Leddorio felt ashamed at having the most unseemly parts of his heart revealed.
‘But sir, if people are punished from the scheming and planning stages, I would have not been let off with just condemnation and banishment. After all, I would’ve committed a lot of worse things if Shin hadn’t deceived and stopped me secretly.’
‘…What else were you planning on doing back then?’
‘They all ended in mere attempts, sir. Let’s just say that we’re equal in that regard and brush them off.’
Chloe placed her forefinger in her lips with a mischievous smile on her face, making it impossible for the prince to press for more details. Whether she refuses to say more out of consideration, or that the contents make her hesitate; whichever the case, Chloe made it clear that she does not intend to reproach him.
‘Still, you should be a little―nay, reproach me to your heart’s content. The two of us have never opened up against each other during our 7 years of engagement. I am regretting that now.’
What leaked out from Leddorio’s mouth were sentiments that rose from the innermost corner of his heart which he forcibly suppressed countless times before. Chloe’s eyes widened in surprise at the bared feelings of the prince that she heard for the very first time.
‘I’ve been having this impression for a while highness, but do you seek a punishment from me, sir?’
‘Is that bad? I have dignity too. Besides, weren’t you the one who spoke about settling responsibilities before..’
‘I did say that… and come to think of it, his highness, Yello said something about this before. He told me that forgiving each and everything like a saintly being, on the contrary, could make other people miserable.’
(Keith, you cur! Saying miserable is too overboard! It’s just that my feelings will remain unsettled if I were to be forgiven just like that.)
‘But, I’m not trying to do that at all. I just thought that while I’m at it, I might as well give the characters of my beloved game their happy endings. That may be impossible for a villainess like myself, but even so, causing others sorrow for my benefit would just leave me bitter aftertaste.’
Chloe’s awkward excuses astonished Leddorio for a moment, but hearing game terminologies one after another gradually crumpled his eyebrows.
Leddorio never said anything about it, but he always thought that unlike before, Chloe had become a true saintess since she remembered her past life memories. The prince thought that her refusal to condemn their malice and her ready acceptance of them came from pure sentiments. He certainly didn’t expect them to root from her love of the “game.”
His discerning eye was off to the very end, he thought.
‘…Wasn’t this reality? You even audaciously claimed that to Momo before.’
‘Alright, I’ll admit it! People seem to misunderstand me, but I’m not a saint or anything like that at all, sir. I’m just an ota―a fangirl from another world. I’m not trying to imply that “Revenge takes you nowhere,” or anything of that grandeur.
But still, I want to give them a chance to start over, just as I was given.’
The lady claims that she is not trying to be a saint or any of that sort, but Leddorio thought her to be naive.
Starting over―rebuilding broken things into their new forms. For Chloe, even if Leddorio and the others were just game characters who pushed her to the path of ruin, their futures are not settled. All is well as long as they grow and reflect just as she did; She wants to see that happen.
‘If you’re satisfied with that, I won’t talk about revenge anymore. How about wanting to do something for you as a comrade who served our country. Is there anything we can do for you?’
‘Sir Leddorio?’
‘Benny is fine. Chloe, I… want to make you happy.’
Chloe’s feet halted. Leddorio repaid her surprised pair of eyes with his earnest ones. He thought that even if those eyes revolve around a different man, there shouldn’t be anything wrong with wishing her to be happy.
(But then, that sounded like.)
Leddorio spoke those words while overwhelmed by his feelings, but now his cheeks reddened at the realization of what they can mean. The two of them were presently carrying documents in their arms. The prince thought that he could’ve spoken while they were empty-handed, but then, doing so in their spare time would’ve created an incomprehensible ambiance.
After blinking her eyelashes twice or thrice, Chloe chuckled and smiled at him.
‘If it’s that, then you’ve already given me something, sir.’
