The Crown Prince's Sweet Confession

I'd assumed it was Adam's hand and reflexively placed mine on top of it... It wasn't until my skin made contact that I realized this hand was smaller and softer than Adam's.

I'd already lifted my foot and paused, but my body swayed toward the hand's owner, and I could finally see who stood before me.

'Britain!'

Beautiful silver hair, sharp features with blue eyes — the moment my gaze met that of Britain Aslet, the textbook perfect young man who looked like he'd stepped straight out of a photo spread, my heart dropped.

I lost my balance and stumbled forward, and Britain wobbled slightly but immediately steadied me. I found myself holding Britain's hand, half-embraced, facing him.

A few seconds passed, and a bright smile settled on Britain's lips.

"I've caught you, my lady."

A gentle, sweet voice flowed into my ear.

"All that chasing paid off."

I stared at Britain with flustered eyes.

Britain, as if nothing were unusual, lifted his hand around my waist a little higher to help me regain my balance.

I gazed at his face in daze.

"...I wanted to properly greet you, but you left again today..."

Then he continued with a slightly wistful tone.

"I couldn't bear to miss you, so I followed."

The beautiful sapphire eyes that met mine sparkled brilliantly.

I almost nodded involuntarily at the boy's beauty, but barely managed to snap back to my senses.

In the Marquisate's reception room — a space so large I hadn't yet grown accustomed to it — I looked at Britain with nervousness, as this was the first time I'd ever hosted a guest here.

Britain lifted his teacup, savored the aroma of Earl Grey, and then met my gaze. A faint smile crossed his lips once more.

"Next time, I'll bring a sweet dessert to go with the tea."

What I'd felt while being with Britain for a short while was, well... that he was destined to become the quintessential prince on a white horse that every woman would want.

A sprout of a man — no, a man certain to become one — combining intelligence, beautiful looks, and noble character, like a unicorn! His status was beyond a golden spoon — a diamond spoon — and he was the crown prince, after all.

'As I thought, he's too much of a burden.'

Before I transmigrated, when I lived in the modern world, I'd once ended up in a relationship with a popular male coworker, and I'd gone through some hard-to-explain difficulties. Since then, I'd avoided dating men who weren't on my level, and that principle hadn't changed.

If persuading Parmes was impossible, I'd have no choice but to persuade Britain!

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince."

"Yes, my lady."

I clenched my fists and opened my mouth with determination to get to the point.

"So, Your Highness, what do you think about our marriage?"

I believed that Britain, who kept smiling at me, must have some complaints. After all, he was being told to marry a girl who'd just come up from the countryside. Especially in a private setting like this, I'd be able to see his true feelings.

But his answer flustered me.

"Actually, I'm so excited that..."

The boy's lips parted, and a shy voice emerged.

"...I can't sleep at night and wander outside."

W-what?!

At Britain's unexpected reaction, I stared at him with flustered eyes.

Britain paid no mind and continued with a pleased smile.

"It's a pity there's so much time left until we reach marriageable age, but until then, I'd like to meet with you often and spend time together like this."

"..."

"I hope you feel the same way."

This wasn't the kind of answer I was looking for.

But why did my insides keep itching?

This kid, he's so cu... cute... No, stop!

I barely managed to snap out of it from Britain, who was charming me with his pretty face and smiles.

"We, we met for the first time at the imperial palace, right?"

"...Yes, my lady."

A few seconds passed as if he were pausing, and then Britain answered brightly.

Hmm? It felt like the atmosphere was a little off just now.

Anyway, I continued.

"Don't you think it's unreasonable to have a political marriage that doesn't reflect the Crown Prince's will? You were told to marry a girl you'd never even seen. So please, be honest. If we work out a plan together, then Emperor... I mean, Your Majesty might also..."

"My lady, you..."

Britain's blue eyes rippled like waves.

"Do you think my marriage is unreasonable?"

"That's..."

I couldn't continue. Because this boy who had been smiling at me had lowered the ends of his eyebrows as if ready to be hurt no matter what I said.

This face with this expression was cheating.

Britain, who had been waiting for my answer, opened his mouth shortly after. His voice was somewhat desolate.

"If my lady thinks it's unreasonable..."

I paused at Britain's words.

Right, my heart ached a little, but it seemed like we were reaching the conclusion I wanted. After all, he was the crown prince of the empire — his pride couldn't possibly not be wounded.

"...I will try not to think it's unreasonable."

Huh?

At Britain's voice, which went against my expectations, I was left speechless. And following it, a bright smile.

When the pretty boy smiled, it was as if tens of thousands of flowers bloomed behind him.

Britain slightly lowered his head toward my flustered face, and shyly added.

"I really... like you, my lady."

At that soft voice, for some reason, a chill ran down my spine.

The young boy's voice, which seemed gentle but wasn't quite gentle, was somewhat like Parmes's.

"I feel like I've aged ten years today."

Adam looked at me with a gentle expression as I let out a deep sigh.

"Oh, you've only lived about ten years, so that won't do. I should have them prepare the pecan chocolate cake you like today."

"Mm, that sounds good."

Adam had already grasped my tendency to feel better after eating sweets.

'By the way, I wonder if Mars will come today?'

It was the first week since I'd entered this mansion, and Mars had been coming to see me every other night. He couldn't speak, so he couldn't be a conversational partner, but the boy faithfully listened to all my complaints. Just that alone seemed to comfort me in this unfamiliar daily life.

"Um, Adam."

"Please, speak, my lady."

"I've been thinking carefully."

Everything that had happened to me recently was unbelievable. But for me, who knew the future, what I needed to avoid was clear, and to go in that direction, what I needed first was...

"I'm going to rebuild the Marquisate and restore its reputation."

I clenched my small fist and recalled the city's appearance two years from now. Corpses strewn across the streets and the faces of emaciated poor people. One of them could be Mars. Perhaps some of the people from Galnem village would be among them too.

"You know, Your Highness. I know a very important secret about the country's future, but if it's something no one would believe... what should I do to make people believe me?"

"The Marquis Maila was said to have deep public support. It's said that no one easily ignored the words of a Great Spiritist like him. In the end, the influence of one's words depends on how trustworthy and how influential one is."

Right. If a kid who just came up from the countryside warned about a famine, no one would listen.

The heir of the Marquisate and the crown prince's fiancée — neither was a position I earned through my own efforts.

'Britain said that to secure enough food for several years, an enormous budget expenditure would require the emperor's approval and the consent of the four chancellors.'

Parmes, called the tyrant, had a solid base of support in the form of the four chancellors. The Palace Department, the Economic Department, the Military Department, and the Foreign Affairs Department. They wielded tremendous power directly beneath the emperor.

To persuade them, I'd first need to stand firm as my father's heir. And I'll definitely prevent the famine two years from now! And I'll definitely protect my money in Hugobrin too!

"...My lady, I'm truly moved."

Adam's eyes, slightly moist as if moved by my determination, rippled.

"If the Marquis Maila knew how wonderfully you've grown, how happy he would be...!"

After looking at me for a moment, Adam suddenly put on a serious expression and continued.

"I was planning to tell you after you'd adjusted a bit, but since it seems you have a clear goal for rebuilding the Marquisate, I think it would be better to tell you now."

Adam's gaze grew even more earnest.

"Besides the trust in Hugobrin, the Marquis left behind assets. These assets can be accessed even before you come of age."

At the word "assets," my eyes sparkled.

"What is it?"

"Would you follow me for a moment?"

At Adam's words, I followed him, scurrying along. He opened the door to my father's study and went in. And at the end of the study, he stood by the right wall and said to me.

"Please place your palm on this handprint."

There was a large handprint-shaped stain on the wall. I spread my small palm and pressed it there, and after a moment, part of the wall opened like a sliding door, revealing a small safe.

"This is..."

Instead of a password, the safe had grooves in the shapes of a circle, a triangle, and a square — it seemed something had to be inserted there to open it.

I tilted my head and stared intently at the safe.

"What's inside?"