NOVEL NEXT Chapter 25 Because I'll change it
“Ugh… huh…”
I felt a cool sensation on my forehead and tried to open my eyelids, but it didn’t go as planned.
Oh right, I challenged Glenn to a fight, and things didn’t go well for me.
But it’s frustrating. I didn’t expect to win, but I didn’t think it would be so one-sided.
In my previous life… I trained hard to protect myself, and even after coming back from the dead, I did my best to protect Princess Abigail.
“Ah…”
Suddenly, a drop of tears fell on my cheek.
Could it be…?
“Princess Abigail!?”
“You shouldn’t wake up just yet.”
I tried to sit up in a hurry when I saw Princess Abigail shedding tears, but I was forcibly held down.
“I… I mean…”
“Doing something so reckless…”
I couldn’t say anything as I watched her distraught expression. From the surroundings, it seemed that there were only the two of us here.
“I heard from Silas… that you challenged Glenn and were defeated.”
“Oh, well…”
I could only offer a weak smile. I had made her worry so much, and I showed her such a pitiful sight.
If only I had been stronger, none of this would have happened.
But…
“…Gustav-sama, please stop doing this. This is…”
“I’m sorry, but I will continue to challenge Glenn. For the sake of getting my revenge on the kingdom and to protect you.”
“What!?”
I couldn’t back down, even though I felt sorry for Princess Abigail. I needed the strength of those two, for the sake of my revenge and for protecting her.
That’s why I challenged Glenn, and there’s a reason for it.
Just as Lennard challenged me in the kingdom, I thought that by challenging him repeatedly, I could become stronger.
And in order to persuade Glenn and General Silas to join our side, I first needed them to listen to me.
But those two were warriors of the empire. No matter how much I appealed to them, they wouldn’t trust a man of mere words.
So I needed to show my determination and resolve.
“…I am Gustav, the sixth prince of the Valrois Kingdom, the enemy of the empire. The people of the empire will never open their hearts to me.”
“That’s not true… Besides, if there is anyone like that, then I…”
While she denied it verbally, she probably understood how difficult it was. Princess Abigail muttered softly and lowered her gaze.
But even so…
“…But even so, if they see me challenging him, maybe they will eventually listen to me. So…”
I reached out and held her small hand with my trembling one, weakened by the pain.
“I will challenge him as many times as it takes.”
“Why… are you doing this?”
“Because, as I said last night, it’s all for you. And for me.”
“Really… already…”
Once she understood that I wouldn’t give in, Princess Abigail buried her face in my chest…
“Ah, you…”
“! Sorry!”
I tried to endure the pain, but a cry escaped me, causing Princess Abigail to quickly pull away. She had touched me just like last night.
“It’s… it’s okay. But more importantly, why were you so distant this morning after being so affectionate last night?”
“….I am the first princess of the Strasclide Empire. They call me the ‘Guillotine Princess.'”
Princess Abigail bit her cherry-colored lips and averted her gaze.
In other words, the empire expected her to be like that.
Princess Abigail of Strasclide was supposed to be that way…
“Why, that…”
“Your Highness Abigail…”
“Yes…”
“I will definitely… absolutely change that. So that the real, kind and wonderful you can be yourself.”
“Ah…”
That’s right. Right now, I was just a hostage with the title of the sixth prince of Valrois Kingdom. But because I knew the future ahead, I would change not only her but also the empire that forced such a thing on her.
For that, I would do anything.
“Gus… you’re the only one who has said such a thing…”
Before I knew it, the pain in my body didn’t matter.
What mattered was this small, wonderful woman who was crying. I wanted to protect her and save her.
So, I gently embraced her…