I Possessed The Villain’s Childhood Friend

46 – Run away

Let’s be honest.

When I won the Heroos Dance Competition and couldn’t meet you.

I was relieved on the other side of my heart.

At first, it was actually a very simple feeling.

Yes. It felt like I was watching an idol that I could only see on TV in my previous life.

I am cool to act for you.

This kind of narcissism is what keeps me moving.

Running to save you at the first ball was all impulsive.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t regret it.

Sick. Because I’m scared.

Is it right for me to do this? Maybe running away is the answer.

I was worried about that countless times.

But as I met you more often and talked more with you, my thoughts gradually changed.

The seeds that were sown once began to grow without my knowledge.

When I heard your request to win the championship by gifting Diana.

At some point, I truly moved only for you.

No matter how much I told myself not to have these emotions, the seeds of emotions that had begun to grow were not broken.

There was me who really wanted to win against the crown prince.

I used to be happy dancing with you at Heros’ ball.

In the end, even though I knew that if you and the prince were connected, I would be the only one who would be hurt, but I only postponed my decision until later.

So, before leaving Heros, I was able to talk with Duke Ricard and feel at ease.

Ah, I can kill this feeling now.

I guess I can break down this feeling that has grown too big before I know it.

I was able to do the thought that I had to do sooner.

Time passed and I entered Arcana.

And I knew it the moment I met you in the Garden of Mist after a long time.

That this feeling has not been blunted at all.

So I distanced myself from you from time to time.

For example, after saving Anna, I made an excuse to wait until the letter arrived.

After the tea party, I took advantage of your avoidance of everyone and didn’t approach you.

To prevent you from becoming unhappy at the end.

Because I don’t want to get hurt in the end.

That’s why I kept my distance from you and even refused Sophia’s request.

“Ike. I don’t want to get away from you because of those rumors. Because I now know that there are more important things than reputation.”

But why are you looking at me with those eyes?

★

“… That can’t be the case, Miss Reina.”

“Why?”

Reina glared at me, frowning.

“You don’t like living the way you used to?”

That can’t be.

“Or are rumors and reputation really that important?”

There is another important thing.

“His Highness has also allowed it to be okay. But why are you refusing?”

If this becomes a problem and you later have problems with your relationship with the crown prince, you won’t be able to be happy.

Even if there are no problems, if this feeling grows further, it will eventually come back to me as a scar.

I’m afraid of that.

“Miss Reina told me the other day. Miss Reina is Your Highness’ fiancée, and we’re adults soon, so let’s always be polite to each other.”

“That is.”

“I think you are right. Each of us has a position, so we have to be polite.”

I was talking with my head down before I knew it.

I was afraid to look into Reina’s eyes.

When I see her dreamy eyes, I don’t think she can resist.

“Lies. Then why did she talk the same way when she told Anna’s story?”

“It was because I was immature. Sorry.”

“….”

It was an uncomfortable silence.

But I couldn’t complain.

“Your Highness. Could you please pretend you didn’t hear the whole story?”

“Well, I’ll think about it.”

At my words, the prince shrugged.

“… I will wake up first.”

And after Raina said that, she stood up.

She looked away slightly and saw her glaring at me biting her lip.

My body naturally shrank from the cold eyes.

“Now, I won’t run away either.”

With those words, Reina left the garden.

“Ha ha.”

I let out a natural sigh because I was exhausted.

Actually, I still couldn’t understand it.

Why did Raina bring up that story?

Because Sophia’s request stimulated a certain part.

“Ike.”

When she turned her head, there was the prince sighing.

“Your Highness. Why did you allow it so meekly earlier?”

The prince replied to Reina’s words that she had nothing to do with it.

But there was no way she didn’t know that it was nonsense.

It is the class of nobility that is often criticized for absurd reasons.

For example, there are times when simply giving a handkerchief to an injured woman creates a scandal.

Of course, rumors of that magnitude would easily subside, but in any case, even good deeds like that became a source of gossip in the aristocratic society.

“When I do what Miss Reina said, I’m not the big problem. Miss Reina and Her Highness, it must be two people. Someone who knows that better than anyone else, why?”

“I don’t know.”

“Yes?”

“I don’t know what you think.”

The prince frowned at him.

As if I was wrong.

That fact made me laugh out loud.

“Miss Reina is Your Highness’ fiancee. Wouldn’t that be enough?”

“Ike. Didn’t I say that before? I want Miss Reina to be happy.”

I definitely said that.

When I met Reina after a long time after entering Arcana.

She realized that her condition was strange and had such a conversation with the prince to find out the cause of her condition.

“Did Miss Reina really not know that if the fact that she is comfortable with you spreads a scandal when people around her know about it?”

“Of course you know. That’s why His Highness should have stopped me….”

“Ike. I just said it. I want Miss Reina to be happy. If she is prepared to face her scandal, I will support her choice.”

“Your Highness will also be affected.”

“It doesn’t matter. I can afford that much.”

Am I being weird right now?

Am I saying something strange?

I started thinking about that.

“Why don’t you respect Reina-chan’s choice? Like you said, it’s me and her that cause problems. I don’t know why you’re turning your eyes away from that resolution.”

“That….”

There’s no way I can tell you.

Disclosure of all my thoughts, coupled with the fact that Reina may die in the future.

It also means that I have to reveal that I am not the real Ike.

“What are you afraid of, Ike?”

“….”

“Are you rejecting the answer? It’s no fun.”

The prince slowly stretched and rose from his seat.

“I know how much you value Miss Reina. Maybe other people are noticing it, too.”

Yes.

Because I value Reina, I cannot change.

I’m not wrong.

“So think about it carefully. Are your actions truly for Miss Reina?”

“That, what.”

“And she is not a doll that moves the way you want it to. I really want you to know that.”

The prince rose from his seat and quietly left.

I was unable to move for a while after hearing his last words.

★

“Ms. Sophia. I have a request for you.”

“I will help you in whatever way I can, Miss Raina!”

After leaving the Garden of Mist, I immediately went to Miss Sophia’s dorm room.

To this day, she seemed apologetic about the request she made when she returned to Arcana yesterday.

I’m really fine now.

Thanks to that, I was able to make up my mind.

“Wait a minute! Reina-sama, it may not suit her taste, but we have black tea and snacks.”

Miss Sophia sat me down at the table, and she started rummaging through her cupboards hastily.

“It’s okay to prepare slowly.”

“Yes! I’ll do it soon.”

I sometimes feel that once Miss Sophia falls for something, she doesn’t seem to listen to others.

Can that part be considered positive?

“Hey, I’ll leave it here!”

Ms. Sophia placed a teacup in each person’s seat, and placed a snack between them.

For some reason, she seemed nervous, turning her gaze around.

“Why are you so restless?”

“Yeah, even though I’ve been to Reina-sama’s room before, Reina-sama never came to my room. Something is shaking.”

Coming to think of it, it certainly was.

Of course, it wasn’t because I was ignoring Miss Sophia or anything like that.

Ms. Sophia has refreshments. In particular, she was very fond of sweets, and I called her to my room because Anna started sending me quite a variety of sweets from my hometown.

“And to think that Reina, who always enjoys only the finest refreshments, is eating what I prepared, I am half excited and half worried.”

“Is that so?”

From the outside, it was a high-level refreshment.

There was no problem with the appearance or scent.

Before getting into the main topic. It’s okay to enjoy this time for a while.

“Mmm.”

To be honest, Ms. Sophia’s black tea had a strong bitter taste because it had been steeped for too long.

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Perhaps he was aware of that fact, he took a sip and frowned.

“Can you tell me how to brew black tea next time?”

“… Yes. Please take good care of me.”

I touched the sweets to erase the bitter taste.

It was Madeleine who looked soft.

Originally, Madeleine would taste better if you dipped it in black tea, but now it would be better to eat it as it is.

“Ah.”

And when he took just one bite of Madeleine.

I inadvertently let out an exclamation.

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Perhaps you want to say that you don’t need to chew at all, Madeleine completely melted the moment she bit into it.

At the same time, the flavor of butter began to spread in the mouth, and the natural sweet taste of Madeleine stimulated the taste buds.

Of the many refreshments I’ve had so far, I can definitely say that this is the best.

“Ms. Sophia.”

“Yes?”

“This Madeleine. Where did you buy it from?”

“Oh, I didn’t buy this, I made it myself. Arcana’s chef lends us tools for baking cookies.”

Miss Sophia was bewildered but gave an open answer.

After hearing that answer, I naturally wrapped my hands around her and opened her mouth.

“Can you make me another madeleine next weekend?”

I have absolutely no doubt that this is the correct answer.