She spoke shyly and in a low voice, but her little voice carried a strange confidence.
Even though she said to a strange man she met for the first time that he could take her away and imprison her, there was no trace of fear in her words, even if she seemed confused and ashamed.
'This is not fear.
Rather...expect?'
He tilted his head curiously and asked her seriously: “Why would you say something like that to me?
We just met.”
'...what?'
Atha was confused.
She thought he would fall in love with her at first sight, and if she said to him “Take me,” he would take it enthusiastically.
Shouldn't he welcome her?
I expected that if I behaved kindly and cooperatively, there would be a friendly atmosphere without kidnapping or imprisonment.
She never expected him to doubt her in such a direct way.
She realized that she viewed this world and her situation, and even the other person, as characters in a novel too easily.
But after she said “Take me,” she couldn’t hold back and say that she had spoken wrongly.
She thought in her confused mind and opened her mouth with difficulty: “Well, doesn’t everyone have romantic dreams?
My dream is to be imprisoned by a handsome man who loves me.”
Then she smiled innocently.
As an incarnate, she has to be a slut to win.
Of course, of course.
Honestly, what woman in the world would talk like that just because of looks?
But Atha knew.
Cedric is the man who will give her endless love throughout his life.
Therefore, she mustered all her courage, whether it existed or not.
As I expected, a positive response came from the man: “Okay, let’s go together.”
'It worked!'
Although she was nervous because of his unexpected reaction, she was sure that he fell in love with her at first sight.
I had a good feeling that things would go smoothly from now on.
She imagined a comfortable imperial household, and added a little selfishly: “It would be nice if the room had large windows...”
But her words were not finished.
Suddenly, the man pulled a brooch from his collar.
Of course, the brooch is just something that can be suddenly taken off.
This can be understood.
'But, why...why is his hair color changing?'
Once the brooch was removed, his bright blonde hair turned black in an instant, and his eyebrows changed color to become darker as well.
Atha did not understand what was happening for a moment.
At that moment, a luxurious carriage decorated with gold appeared at the entrance as if it was waiting.
A man riding a horse got down beside the carriage and saluted the hero: “Your Highness, the arrangements have been completed.”
Then he turned around and greeted Atha kindly: “Miss Atha, you are from the Hermann family, aren’t you?
It is a pleasure to meet you.
I am Gerold Behrens.”
Only then did Atha realize that something had gone seriously wrong.
She didn't know Gerold's name, but she knew his nickname.
'Bernce?
'Bernes is the title of the imperial family!'
And the man called “His Highness” by someone with the title of Berens is only one person in the empire.
Alisto Behrens.
The Crown Prince is strongly supported by the Empress Faction, which has strong control over the prominent political families.
She felt a shiver run down her back.
In the original story, the Crown Prince did not have a large role, but he always appeared as a ruthless tyrant, which made him an unforgettable character.
He was often depicted as a cruel devil, and was a rival to the male hero, Cedric.
'Oh, no, wait a minute.
Why does the Crown Prince appear here?'
Where did Cedric go?
Atha was in complete panic, but she closed her mouth tightly.
If she mistakenly said she had the wrong person or was confused, it might be interpreted as a joke, and she might be beheaded.
Isn't there a saying that there are people who, if they are your allies, are powerful, and if they are your enemies, they are scary?
Alisto was similar, but a little different.
He was cruel even to his allies, and if he became an enemy, you would lose your sleep.
'Did I find myself in a tiger's den instead of a comfortable rabbit hole?'
A cold sweat began to pour out, and her head felt tingly.
Of course, she tried to look as calm as possible on the outside.
If only she had closed her mouth and run away before saying that romance!
Is it too late to back out?
Are you running away now?
Her voice trembled involuntarily: “I have the honor of meeting a great personality.”
After greeting Jerrold Behrens, she realized her mistake.
You did not give the appropriate greeting to the Crown Prince.
She quickly turned around, and bowed towards the Crown Prince: “I apologize for not recognizing the star of the empire.
I return my greetings.
I am Atha Hermann, daughter of the Hermann family.”
She tried to look as calm as possible, but Alisto immediately realized that she was confused.
Being the crown prince of a country, he was adept at reading people's insides, and she was someone who was easily read.
She started to get visibly confused since he took off the disguise brooch and returned his hair to its original color.
When Gerold appeared and greeted him with a trembling voice, Alisto became certain.
Everything she said about being taken and imprisoned, and about wanting a handsome man to love her, was because she didn't know who he was.
At first, when the Strange Saint suddenly said that he could take it, he of course doubted her.
Being taken by a handsome man and loving her is her dream?
Is he supposed to believe that?
She definitely has other intentions and goals.
Or maybe I turned back time.
Are you trying to infiltrate the imperial palace with some plan?
Despite his doubts about the saint, he decided to take her with him.
Whatever her motives were, it was best to keep her under his watch to monitor her.
But…
Did she really say that without knowing that I was the Crown Prince?
The saint who can turn back time?
'So...was her desire to be taken by a handsome man really an innocent dream?'
Well, this dream itself is not entirely innocent.
Alisto looked at the woman who was writhing before him in obvious confusion.
***
Atha's head was full of chaos.
Is it so difficult to meet the person coordinating it in the park and accompany him?
In the original story, the Crown Prince wasn't supposed to appear so quickly!
So, where is Cedric?
At that moment, her eyes fell on a man.
There was a man looking at her from the direction of the center's fountain.
From his blonde hair, it looked like Cedric, who you were supposed to meet today.
What do you do?
'Should I run away now?'
Unfortunately, Atha's expressions and feelings were completely visible to Alisto.
He followed her confused gaze, and saw a man there.
Alisto realized immediately.
The man whom the saint intended to accompany, and of whom she spoke so romantically, was not him, but that man over there.
There was enough to be suspicious, as Saint couldn't take her eyes off that man, and her eyes became moist.
'This can't be happening'
He felt strangely angry, so he moved to block her view of that man.
Atha was surprised, as if she were a dog wagging its tail, and looked at him.
Her round eyes and drooping sides looked desperate.
'Now, your pathetic expressions are of no use.'
Since he knew that the Saint had the ability to rewind time, he would not let anyone take her.
He smiled and extended his hand to her: “I will take your word that you will not run away.”
Despite his sophisticated smile, his words to Atha sounded like: ‘If you run away, I will not leave you.’
Atha shuddered from the chills that came over her, then quietly accepted the Crown Prince's escort and climbed into the carriage.
She instinctively felt that she could not escape.