“Is this really okay…?”
“Y-yes! Prince Harold is even more splendid today than usual!”
The servants are praising me with all their might, but this outfit clearly doesn’t suit me.
A white-based dress uniform with shoulder pads, and a collection of gaudy, tasteless accessories.
If this game had a ‘Charm’ stat, it would be debuffed to hell the moment I equipped it.
If the protagonist or a rival character wore this, there might be a one in a million chance it would suit them, but unfortunately, I’m just a stepping stone, a sycophant character. There’s absolutely no element that could turn this negative into a positive.
“N-no, this outfit is no good! Get me something else!”
“H-huh!? A-as you wish!”
I shouted my refusal, so they must have thought I was furious.
The servants turned pale and hurriedly began preparing other outfits.
But, when I think about it, Harold always wore something like this in ‘EnHaza.’ Maybe the servants prepared it with that in mind. I feel bad.
Even so, today is a crucial meeting that will determine whether I live or die. I can’t afford to fail, so please allow me to be a little selfish.
So.
“Yes… yes! This is it!”
“I-I’m glad you like it…”
The servants looked relieved as they watched me change into the outfit and nod in satisfaction.
If I’m dressed modestly and cleanly, her impression of me might be a little better… I hope.
“Oh, I forgot my Handkerchief.”
I told the Maid, and she prepared a Handkerchief for me.
“Ahaha… it’s been a while since I remembered.”
I smiled involuntarily as I stared at the Handkerchief with the Dragon Embroidery.
My… or rather, Harold’s memories from when he was a child, before I regained my memories from my previous life.
I gave the same Handkerchief to a beautiful, bob-haired boy who was locked in a room in the Royal Palace and crying.
I never got his name, but I wonder if he’s doing well now…
“W-well then, it’s almost time…”
“Ah, is it already that late?”
Oops, this isn’t the time to be lost in thought.
I hurried to the reception room where the King was waiting for the meeting.
And.
“Oh, Harold. I’ve been waiting for you.”
“M-my apologies.”
King Aival Wel Dehвальз, my father, broke into a smile when he saw me.
He looks dignified and kind at first glance, but for some reason, three years from now, he’ll call all four of his sons, including me, and declare, “The one who brings the World’s Greatest Fiancée will be the next king.”
Even if he seems normal, I can’t let my guard down until the ‘EnHaza’ main story begins, because I don’t know when he’ll go crazy.
“? Harold, what’s wrong?”
“Huh!? A-ah, no, I’m just a little nervous…”
I can’t let myself drift off. I need to concentrate.
Then, the middle-aged man and the young lady sitting opposite King Aival slowly stood up.
“Prince Harold, it is an honor to meet you.”
The young lady gracefully curtsied.
Platinum Blonde, long, and lustrous hair, and sapphire-like blue eyes.
Soft, cherry-colored lips that stood out against her translucent white skin.
Her name is Alexandra of Chevalier.
She is the daughter of Duke Chevalier, the head of the largest noble family, who owns one-third of the Dehвальз Kingdom’s territory, and she was my fiancée until the very beginning of the ‘EnHaza’ main story.
In the ‘EnHaza’ main story, Harold does something incredibly rude: after King Aival’s declaration, he immediately cancels his engagement with Alexandra.
He claims he’s going to find a woman more suitable to be his fiancée.
Naturally, Duke Chevalier is furious, and together with his son and the nobles of his faction, he raises a rebellion against the kingdom.
The kingdom faces an immediate crisis from the very beginning, but the protagonist successfully resolves it, earning recognition for his skills and meeting one of the main heroines.
In other words, this is where Harold’s stepping stone play begins.
By the way, Duke Chevalier is executed for treason, and Alexandra is also executed for being involved.
All because she was engaged to the worst person, Harold.
There is a scene of Harold’s Engagement Cancellation prepared in the tutorial Scenario, and Alexandra also appears in the game.
But… in my previous life, I loved that tragic beauty more than any other heroine.
Even though there was only one still image, no facial expressions, and no voice acting.
Even though her lines were just ellipses.
Even so, it didn’t matter to me, who fell in love at first sight.
From the day I learned about her, I played the tutorial dozens of times just for that one scene, sent emails to the distribution label every day requesting that she be added as DLC, tweeted praise for her on SNS like a curse once a day, and crushed any posts that disparaged her on bulletin board sites… well, I didn’t have the chance. She was too minor.
That’s how much I was in love with Alexandra.
So, it’s no wonder that I’m speechless with emotion and nervousness right now. I’ve always been terrible at talking to girls.
“…It seems Prince Harold does not like my daughter.”
“H-huh!? M-my apologies! I was so overwhelmed by Lady Alexandra’s beauty that I… I became nervous…”
I apologized hastily after being glared at by Duke Chevalier.
Of course, there was no lie in my words.
“Hahahaha! I see, I see! I’m glad you like her!”
“…………………”
In contrast to King Aival, who was laughing in good spirits, Duke Chevalier did not hide his displeasure, even though his daughter had been praised.
As expected, he seems to be against my engagement with Alexandra, but that’s only natural, considering my reputation.
“Well, well! It would be easier for you two to talk without us here. Harold, show Lady Alexandra around the Royal Palace.”
“Yes.”
I nodded to the King and came in front of Alexandra.
“L-Lady Alexandra, this way…!?”
“Ah…”
“Eh!?”
Despite being the Third Prince, I knelt in front of her and offered my right hand… but I ruined it by biting my tongue.
However, my actions seemed to be unexpected, and Duke Chevalier’s eyes, which I didn’t know if they were open or not, were wide open.
“Ahem… then, let’s go.”
“Yes…”
I coughed to cover up my mistake of biting my tongue, and as I felt the warmth of her small hand gently placed in mine, we left the reception room, watched over by the King and the Duke.
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