“Oh… if it isn’t Harold.”
“Mother…”
The guest was Margaret Well Dehauvalz, the First Queen of the Dehauvalz Kingdom… my mother.
But why would she come to a tailor like this?
“Hmm… Harold, have you come to have a dress made for the upcoming New Year Celebration as well?”
“…Yes.”
I desperately squeezed out an answer to Margaret’s question.
Having regained my memories of my previous life, I no longer have any lingering feelings for my mother, Margaret. I don’t need the maternal love that the former Harold craved.
And yet… why can’t I say anything in front of this woman?
She’s supposed to be someone I don’t care about anymore.
“More importantly… you’ve been quite active lately, haven’t you?”
“!?”
I involuntarily lost my voice at Margaret’s unexpected words.
Did Margaret, that Margaret, just praise me?
No matter how hard I tried, no matter how much I strived, she never acknowledged me… this woman who never even looked at me?
“I’ve heard. Recently, you’ve gained the support of the stubborn Minister Olson, who never sided with anyone, successfully carried out goodwill missions with the Capetien Kingdom, and even become acquainted with Lord Drake, the former division commander and a hero.”
“Ah…”
Margaret… Mother, has she been watching me properly?
Wasn’t she only interested in Cardis, and not at all interested in me, the ‘Incompetent Rascal Prince’…?
Remembering Harold’s circumstances in “Engage Hazard,” the emotions I thought I had discarded were stirred up within my chest.
Perhaps I don’t have to give up… perhaps it’s okay to seek… that kind of thing…
“Sa, Sandra…?”
“………………….”
Suddenly, Sandra, who was next to me, bit her lip and hugged me with a pained expression.
…I see. So that’s how it is.
Understanding the feelings of my favorite fiancée, I gently stroked her platinum blonde hair.
At that moment.
“That’s wonderful. Now, you might finally be of some use to him.”
I knew it, I knew it all along.
That to this woman, I am nothing more than a tool for Cardis.
That’s why Sandra is hugging me so tightly.
To prevent me from getting hurt, even a little.
To prevent me from being sad, even a little.
“From now on, as his younger brother, you must do your utmost to support him in becoming the next king, understand?”
It seems the measurements for the Celebration Party dress were already finished.
Margaret nodded to her accompanying servant and headed towards the exit of the store.
“…I’m afraid I cannot meet Princess Margaret’s expectations.”
“Harold?”
Margaret turned back, a puzzled expression on her face.
“Are you not aware? I have already left Cardis’s faction.”
“I know. But you’re his younger brother, so that shouldn’t matter…”
“It does matter. I have already told him that ‘I have no intention of siding with my brother’ and ‘I cannot cooperate in the future.’ In other words, that’s what it means.”
“Harold! Stop throwing a tantrum!”
“In any case, I will not support Cardis in any way. …No, rather, I will adamantly refuse to let that man aim to be the next king.”
In the first place, the moment Cardis joined hands with Wilfred, I had no intention of cooperating with that man.
And… this is my first act of defiance against you.
“I have nothing more to say to you. You’re finished here, aren’t you? The exit is that way.”
I placed my hand on my chest and bowed deeply.
In response, Sandra also curtsied gracefully.
“Hmph…! Remember this! I won’t let this go unpunished!”
With a vein throbbing in her temple, Margaret left the store with an angry expression.
“Phew… that was quite the ordeal…!”
“Lord Hal… you have me, after all…”
Sandra jumped into my arms, her sapphire eyes filled with sadness on my behalf.
“Yes. I have you. Besides, I already have a mother.”
That’s right… I have a mother… Madam Norma, Sandra’s mother.
So, I’m not expecting anything from someone like her anymore.
That just now was because of the Harold who couldn’t give up before regaining his memories of his previous life. It’s not the current me.
“With that said, let’s change our mood and have our outfits made. So that we can shine the most at the Celebration Party.”
“Yes… yes…”
I hugged Sandra’s small body tightly, as she was always kind and always there for me.
To convey, “It’s okay.”