It wasn't until shortly after that the reason why the First Prince, who had clearly hated me, suddenly became so warm and kind to me became clear.
"It must have been the First Queen's order. She probably told him to win your heart that way. I'm sure of it. She even proposed a marriage arrangement to me."
The moment I heard the word "marriage arrangement," I froze and quickly backed away.
What? Marriage!? With that scumbag!? Are you out of your mind? No way! I’d rather bite my tongue and die than accept that!
"Just to clear up any misunderstanding, I rejected that proposal. Someone like you is not my type," he added.
“Ah. So, the incompetent prince is in the same category as the pathetic virgin? Seems about right. A virgin, pathetic, and incompetent. Though this one seems even more talentless.”
I snapped back at him as he was mocking me, and Arthur immediately fell silent.
Why is he like this? Normally, he would have exploded and gotten irritated by now.
‘Ah. Now that I think about it, was that the reason Grandpa got so angry earlier?’
<...I thought it was foolish, but well. I can't let you be handed over to someone like him!>
Even if Grandpa hadn’t gotten so angry, Benedict would have rejected him anyway, probably saying something similar to what Grandpa just said.
‘But I wonder how the First Prince accepted the proposal. I didn’t think he liked that guy.’
<Personal preferences have nothing to do with it. In aristocratic marriages, whether they like each other or not is irrelevant.>
Grandpa explained that in aristocratic marriages, political motives are what matter most.
Those born into noble blood are treated accordingly, but in return, they have to give up certain things.
Understanding this, I began to understand why the First Prince approached me, suppressing his own feelings. Since he was dependent on the First Queen, he had no choice but to accept her orders, no matter how he felt.
<What you should be questioning is something else.>
‘What do you mean by that?’
<Lucy. You are the only heir to the Arlen family. So, getting married elsewhere is impossible. Without you, the Arlen bloodline will disappear.>
‘Oh. So they have to come here, don’t they?’
<Yes. The First Prince must give up the throne that he has already secured and come to Arlen. No matter how much it’s the First Queen’s order, it’s strange that he would willingly accept this.>
‘No, I don’t think it’s that strange for the First Prince. It’s hard to explain, but it’s not impossible.’
Usually, when people are about to lose what they believe they must have, they resist. The bigger the loss, the greater the resistance, right?
If we put it another way, if someone has grown up in such a wretched environment that they can't even learn to resist, they might not have any choice but to accept losing it.
Grandpa seemed puzzled by my words but didn't press the issue.
<Well. There’s no need to worry too much. As long as you don’t want it, there’s no chance this marriage will happen.>
‘Is it because of Benedict?’
<Yes. If your father rejects the proposal, who could force it? He would rather die than see his child’s unhappiness. So, the proposal won’t be officially mentioned. At least not until you change your mind.>
So that’s why the First Prince had such a disgusting smile.
Was he trying to seduce me like he does with the other young ladies!?
Ugh. If this guess is true, it means he will try to seduce me even more in the future.
In my previous life, my dream was to have a girl flirt with me at least once, but now it’s happening in the opposite way!
The more I think about it, the more horrifying it becomes. I’d rather deal with a perverted fox or a delusional psychopath than this. It’s that disgusting.
<The mildest solution to this is to just wait for time to pass. Once the public opinion turns against him, he’ll have to give up.>
‘So you want me to watch the First Prince try to flirt with me until then!?’
<There are other ways, but they’re a bit more extreme. Are you okay with that?>
As soon as I heard Grandpa’s words, I instinctively blurted out that I should just wait.
His tone, filled with excitement, made me extremely uneasy.
Though I’m sure the result will be favorable, his advice is politically sound, but I can't help but feel the process will be tumultuous!
<I can assure you that nothing will harm you.>
‘You’re only saying that nothing will harm me, right?’
<What’s the problem with that? It’s his fault for approaching you without knowing his place.>
I couldn’t help but laugh at Grandpa’s somewhat irritated tone, but I shook my head again.
‘It’s fine.’
I don’t like the First Prince.
From the outside, when I was watching him on the monitor, he seemed like a nuisance with too many unnecessary lines, always interfering with my speedrun attempts. Even now, with his past known to me, I still find him bothersome.
I pity his tragic past, but that’s as far as it goes. I don’t think he’s someone I need to save, nor someone I have to protect like I do my own people.
However, strangely, I couldn’t be harsh with the First Prince. There was a subtle unease that blocked me.
Perhaps this feeling belongs not to me but to Lucy.
The source of this c𝓸ntent is frёeweɓηovel.coɱ.
What happened between Lucy and the First Prince in the past?
‘I’ll hear about it later when there’s no other choice.’
So, I decided to put off listening to Grandpa’s suggestion. I need to visit the island again to find traces of the hero. After facing Lucy’s past there, it won’t be too late to discuss it.
Despite somewhat calming my mind, I couldn’t help but feel my expression sour.
How could I not be disgusted when a man I absolutely loathe just declared he was going to try to seduce me? In this situation, the only person who could keep a smile on their face would be Fabie.
“I will never allow such a marriage!” I thought.
Fabie was already getting angry, veins popping out on her neck.
Her reaction, so unlike her usual self, made me tilt my head in confusion, but then I remembered the connection between the church and chastity, and without realizing it, I accepted it.
Don’t worry, Fabie! That thing you’re worried about will never happen! Unless that pathetic god is up to some strange business!
“So, Hero, what brings you here again?”
After the commotion settled, the Fairy Queen wrapped things up.
“The idiot knight did something stupid, so I came to find him.”
“If it’s him, he’s in the center of the forest, swinging his sword with Yuden, but what’s this ‘stupid thing’?”
“He ignored Brain Muscle Grandpa’s orders.”
“...Brain Muscle Grandpa?”
The Fairy Queen seemed confused, not understanding my words at all.
Hmm. Uh... I can’t explain this.
Fabie, you understand... Oh, you don’t either. Arthur’s also furrowing his brows.
“Ugh. Forget it. No matter what I say, idiots like you won’t understand. Just follow me.”
Following the Fairy Queen’s guidance, we arrived near where Frey was.
As soon as we arrived, I felt a chilling sensation sweep across my neck.
This must be a warning of danger. What’s this? Is there something dangerous inside? Didn’t the dark idiot get crushed a long time ago?
With the Fairy Queen beside me, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem, but just in case, I heightened my guard. At that moment, I heard Yuden’s angry voice from inside.
“See! I told you to calm down! If I weren’t here, this forest would already be in chaos!”
“It doesn’t matter because you’re here, right?”
“Aaargh! That’s it! I’m going to smack you!”
“Want to spar? Fine! Sounds fun!”
“...Why aren’t you scared?!”
Listening to their conversation, the tension around me started to fade naturally.
What is Frey up to this time? What if Yuden really gets mad?
Ah. Frey would probably just laugh and think it’s fun even if he gets beat up. He’s not just any crazy person.
Curiosity piqued, I stepped outside the bushes and saw the sword Frey was swinging through the air.
Her sword, slicing through the air, only cut through a tiny portion of the vast space.
I thought it was odd, even as I said it, but that’s exactly what happened.
The sword, swung with immense force from behind, was aiming for only a small part of the vast air.
And yet, strangely, the phenomenon created by her sword strike was anything but small.
Just like when Yuden’s sword cut through the darkness, Frey’s sword soared towards the sky.
Comparing it to Yuden’s sword strike, Frey’s was certainly clumsy.
But somehow, I had a feeling that the gap would close in an instant.
That’s the kind of talent Frey has.
“You again! My words don’t make sense to you...!”
“Lucy? It’s Lucy!”
Ignoring Yuden’s temper, Frey happily ran up to me, asking if her sword strike had been amazing.
I grabbed her cheeks and said it might work on those weaklings, and she laughed cheerfully.
“Why are you here? Came to spar? Let’s do it! I think I can get past your shield this time!”
“That’s not why I’m here. You brainless idiot.”
“Huh? Then why are you here?”
“Why did you ignore Brain Muscle Grandpa’s message?”
“Brain Muscle Grandpa? Oh! That guy... whatever, I moved him aside because he was blocking my sword swinging.”
“God of Martial Arts!? Did his voice reach you, the one only those with overwhelming talent should hear!?”
Arthur gasped and raised his voice at Frey’s nonchalant response.
“You ignored the voice of the god, which is the desire of all martial artists!?”
“Then what? Is that a problem?”
“Of course it is! Which insane person ignores the god’s voice!?”
“If it were Lucy, I think she’d ignore it sometimes.”
“...No matter how disrespectful this guy is, he wouldn’t do that!”
“You shouldn’t say such bad things. Lady Kent. She’s a noble person.”
Right! I might sometimes want to ignore it, but I’d never actually do it!
Because I don’t know what kind of revenge might come from it!
Encouraged by Fabie’s words, I internally retorted, then told Frey to talk properly.
“Hmm. If Lucy says so, I’ll understand.”
It seemed like Frey was indeed trying to have a conversation with the god of martial arts, tilting her head to the right and left repeatedly. As I watched her, the Fairy Queen whispered to me.
“Excuse me, Hero. Would it be alright if I joined in on the marriage discussion you find so troublesome? I really love love stories!”
It’s just like you, you meddling old hen. Just stay out of it! I told her to stay quiet.
“You’re not going to try anything dirty like preparing something, right?”
“Of course not.”
I sighed dramatically. This old woman, why is she so restless despite being hundreds of years old?
After I told her to move along, the Fairy Queen nodded excitedly.
“I’ll do my best to ensure the marriage goes forward as you wish, my lady!”
“...Marriage?”
“What’s this about marriage?”
“Marriage?”
Hearing the Fairy Queen’s voice, three pairs of eyes suddenly locked onto me.
One of them was Frey. She was looking at me, puzzled, after having just finished talking to the god of martial arts.
The other was the perverted knight. He dropped everything he was holding but didn’t bother picking it up, staring at me with a bewildered expression.
And last, my stupid fox pet, who had been lying limp, suddenly rushed up to my face as if nothing had been wrong.
“No! I won’t allow it! Whoever it is, Lucy must be mine! If not, it’s better if she belongs to everyone!”
“I agree! Lady’s beauty should be shared by everyone in this world! If the goddess doesn’t have her, no one should!”
“If I have to see her in someone else’s hands, I’ll cut that person’s neck! Who’s the one to be decapitated!?”
“It’s the First Prince of Soladin. Lina.”
“Thank you! Fairy Queen! I’ll go attack him right away!”
“Wait a moment! Lina! Let me use my connections in the Soladin Kingdom to create public opinion first! Once we have the right justification, then we can strike!”
After tearing off the fox from my face, I kicked the perverted knight in the groin to make him shut up.
<If you don’t solve this problem quickly, it won’t be your life at risk but the First Prince’s.>
‘...You’re right.’