Chapter 2: Changing My Relationship with My Favorite Heroine from Hostile to Doting
So that’s how it is.
Servia must have been anxious all this time about whether Cain would accept her again.
Indeed, the Cain in the actual game was always snapping furiously at Servia, saying things like, “How dare you betray me and suck up to Prince Leon, Serviaaaaa! I’ll keep you as my slave for life! Kneel!”
“Just as I’ve been thinking of Brother Cain all this past year, Brother Cain has also been thinking of me without change!”
Servia showed a smile like a blooming flower.
Her voice was so cheerful, I’d never heard it like that in the game.
Come to think of it, she was a character who had always felt guilty about defeating her fiancé, Cain, whom she also adored like an older brother.
Ah, I see…
Servia never had the slightest intention of betraying Cain. She truly loved Cain.
And yet, Cain only thought about himself and couldn’t realize her feelings.
A warmth spread through my heart, but at the same time, understanding the meaning of Servia’s words made my cheeks grow hot.
“Brother Cain. Tonight, just like when we were children, let’s sleep in the same bed and talk all night.”
“Wh-whoa, wait a minute!? We’ve only just gotten engaged; we’re not married yet. Sharing the same bed is not okay, you know!?”
I hurriedly admonished Servia.
Sleeping with a 14-year-old girl… is way too dangerous, or rather, it’s a case for arrest!
No matter how much she’s my absolute favorite heroine. No, precisely because she’s my absolute favorite heroine, I can’t do something like that so carelessly.
“Mmph… I loved sleeping with Brother Cain’s arm as my pillow.”
Servia pouted her lips, adopting a coddling tone.
“We’re not children anymore, so we can’t do things like that! It’s unbecoming of a lady, right?”
“I understand. If Brother Cain says so…”
Her shoulders slumped, Servia looked disappointed.
“But, tonight, I’d like to talk leisurely with Brother Cain after so long. Brother, not only do you seem unchanged… but somehow, your aura feels gentler than before.”
“I-Is that so…”
That’s probably because I regained the memories and personality of my previous life.
The previous Cain was arrogant and lorded his status as the heir to the Earldom over others, but the current me can’t do such embarrassing things.
Servia has always been an incredible beauty, so wanting to earn her respect, I have memories of saying such smooth-sounding things like “Rely on me if you’re in trouble!” or “I, who will eventually become a Margrave, will protect you!”
“I greeted Uncle Schwartz earlier, and he kindly accepted me. He told me to call him ‘Father’ from now on.”
“Father did…?”
It was then I realized something important.
The order from Prince Leon to “abuse the false saint Servia, who deceived the royal family, and drive her to suicide” had naturally reached not only me but also Father, the head of the Schwartz Earldom.
Father chose currying favor with Prince Leon, the next king, over friendly relations with the neighboring Viscount Fernando’s family. The entire Earldom was supposed to thoroughly torment Servia, and it was set to begin at tonight’s welcoming banquet.
The reason Father told her to call him ‘Father’ was because crushing her after making her think she was accepted would inflict greater psychological damage on Servia.
…I absolutely cannot allow that to happen.
Above all, if I don’t crush Prince Leon’s scheme, things will end up proceeding according to the game scenario.
To do that…
“…Brother Cain?”
I rummaged through my desk drawer and found the letter from Prince Leon.
Found it. This is it.
“Ah, that wax seal… is that the royal family’s crest?”
Servia peered over, wondering what I’m doing.
“Servia, calm down and read this letter. It’s a secret missive from Prince Leon.”
She ran her eyes over the letter and her breath hitched.
“‘Servia plotted against the royal family, claiming to be the World Tree Saint, and on top of becoming My fiancée, she uttered unforgivable, abusive words to Me. Merely breaking off the engagement will not satisfy My anger. Cain Schwarz, after accepting her as your fiancée, thoroughly torment her, make her taste despair, and drive her to suicide. If you accomplish this, I, the next king, promise to appoint you as My right-hand man. Leon Albion.'”
At the end was the prince’s signature, and the royal family’s crest was stamped.
“Aaah, Brother Cain, th-this is…!?”
Servia was horrified, and her body trembled violently. Tears welled in the corners of her eyes as she looked up at me.
I declared resolutely.
“Rest assured. I have absolutely no intention of obeying such an order.”
“Eh…?”
“We made a promise when we were children, didn’t we? ‘Rely on me if you’re in trouble. I’ll protect you.'”
I tore Prince Leon’s letter to shreds.
Stomping on the remains of the letter that fell to the floor, I declare.
“I promise you again. No matter what happens, I will absolutely protect Servia. I want Servia to be happy.”
There’s no turning back now.
My current actions, if discovered, would be deemed as rebellious intent against the royal family, and I could be charged with treason.
I will shatter the game scenario and seize a future where I can be happy with Servia.
I, who have played this game to exhaustion, should be able to do it.
“…B-Brother Cainnn!”
Servia threw her arms around me and started bawling her eyes out.
“Aaah, um, Servia? …Sorry, are you okay? I’m sorry for startling you. I wanted to talk to you about this as soon as possible…”
I tried to calm her down by patting her head, but it doesn’t look like she’ll stop crying anytime soon.
Th-this is troubling.
Before I directly negotiate with Father, I wanted to know what she said to infuriate Prince Leon…
Thinking about it carefully, Prince Leon’s order was strange.
To go out of his way to make Servia my fiancée and then order me to abuse her seems overly elaborate.
In truth, the church’s oracle was mistaken, and Servia was not a saint. If he can’t forgive her for deceiving the royal family by claiming to be a saint, shouldn’t he just punish her for that crime?
It should be simple with the royal family’s authority.
This part wasn’t properly depicted in the game, so I didn’t know.
“Lancelot, come here!”
“Yes, Young Master Cain, is something the matter?”
When I called out loudly, the butler, Lancelot, immediately came into the room.
“Lancelot, could you show Servia to her room and help her calm down? I have something important to discuss with Father.”
“Yes, sir!”
I have to talk to Father and completely stop the abuse towards Servia.
Otherwise, I won’t be able to thwart Prince Leon’s intentions.
However, with half-hearted measures, I probably won’t be able to persuade Father, who prioritizes the interests of the Schwartz Earldom.
“Servia, sorry, but I’ll see you later…”
“Uuuuh, yes, Brother Cain…”
“Now, Lady Servia, this way please.”
Servia was led by the hand by Lancelot and left the room, looking reluctant to go.
After seeing her off, I gathered the pieces of Prince Leon’s torn letter.
This was one of my trump cards for persuading Father.