Forgotten by Fiancée, Fake Engagement with Crown Prince Of Neighbouring Country - Chapter 41
Chapter 41
(At the ◇ point halfway through, the story changes to the perspective of Easton )
After breaking the jeweled box, Leefe enjoyed tea time with the old friend.
To her surprise, Oliver and the Demon King seemed to get along very well, their conversation flowing as if they were long-time acquaintances rather than having just met.
Watching the two, Leefe suddenly noticed something and asked, “Oh? The Demon King used to have two horns that twisted around, right? Why is one broken?”
“I was a bit careless,” he replied.
“!? The Demon King being careless enough to break a horn—is that even possible?”
“As you can see, I actually did it,” the Demon King, Silas, said with an embarrassed smile, scratching his head.
He hadn’t changed at all from his previous life.
Then he resumed his lively conversation with Oliver.
They seemed to get along so well that it made the introduction worthwhile.
Smiling at the sight, Leefe picked up a glass of orange juice and walked over to the shelf where the jeweled boxes were displayed.
(These jeweled boxes contain the memories taken as the price for forbidden spells, right? They’re all so beautiful. It’s hard to believe they’re linked to such a price.)
Her gaze landed on a sapphire-colored jeweled box, one that stood out with its delicate glasswork and gemstone decorations.
(It kind of makes me feel sad just looking at it.)
Just then, Rene peeked over her shoulder.
“My Lady, what are you looking at? You know you shouldn’t touch those without permission.”
“I know! I was just thinking how pretty the colors of these jeweled boxes are… like the colors of eyes.”
“!”
For some reason, Rene seemed at a loss for words, but Leefe continued.
“Wow, look at that one in the back. It’s such a beautiful amber color. It’s just like your eyes, Rene.”
“…!?”
Though it was a casual comment, Rene visibly flinched.
Leefe tilted her head, puzzled by the reaction from the usually unflappable, sharp-tongued spirit.
“Rene, what’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing. Let’s go back quickly, shall we? Oliver and the Demon King are waiting.”
“You’re right!”
Nodding, Rene returned to his usual cheeky smile, and the evening of happy reunions continued.
◇
――An impact hit without sound.
“……!?”
Easton, the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Distoria, was walking through a corridor on his way back to his private chambers after dinner when a sudden shock coursed through his entire body, causing him to stumble and fall.
“Your Highness Easton!? Are you alright?”
“Ah… yeah.”
A nearby attendant rushed over in alarm.
It might seem like an overreaction to just tripping, but a few days ago, Easton had similarly collapsed, lost consciousness, and woken up with amnesia.
Their concern was understandable.
(It hurts, but… that’s not all. What is this feeling?)
Sitting on the marble floor, Easton was momentarily stunned.
Unfamiliar—no, lost memories suddenly flooded back into his mind.
A younger version of himself, exchanging engagement vows with Leefe.
Aria, whom he had thought was his lover even before that, introduced herself to him with a “Nice to meet you.”
Leefe, who had taken him to visit an orphanage at her own request.
Leefe, a noble lady, was helping there without a care for dirtying her dress.
The sweet, bittersweet feeling he had experienced as he watched her.
Gradually, as their meetings increased, Leefe’s younger sister Aria began joining them.
As time passed, Easton grew closer to Aria too.
At first, he hadn’t been interested in her at all, but before he knew it, he had become infatuated.
On one occasion, when Leefe wasn’t around, he was invited to the Duke of Tarrant’s residence.
On impulse, he had visited, and what was supposed to be just one kiss with Aria led to days of distress, as Aria sent him letters constantly.
He vividly recalled the day he decided to hide those letters in a secret compartment in his study.
(What is… this!?)
It didn’t take long for Easton to realize that his memories had returned.
But along with that realization came the weight of the sins he had committed, leaving him frozen in shock.
(Is this the truth? What Aria told me was completely different. Yet, what did I do to Leefe…!?)
Now that his memory had returned, it was clear that Aria could never have made magic potions. He now understood that Leefe, one of the few recognized alchemists, must have carefully crafted a special potion just for him.
And yet, Easton had accepted that potion from Aria’s hand, believed her ridiculous claim that “my cruel sister has taken my place,” and then lashed out at Leefe with harsh words when she visited him later.
“What… have I done?”
As Easton held his head in his hands, the pure and innocent image he had once had of Aria shattered completely.
Aria had not only framed Leefe but had invited her to their engagement party to publicly condemn her.
It was madness.
(But something still doesn’t add up. Even if my memory was gone, why didn’t anyone around me point out Aria’s outrageous behavior? Shouldn’t someone who knew the truth have stood up for Leefe?)
As this thought occurred to him, a chill ran down his spine. Something sweet and intoxicating had been at work—something similar to the infatuation that had clouded his mind until just moments ago.
“What… is this?”
As he shook his head, trying to clear the fog of recent memories and the growing sense of unease, his attendant kneeled down to meet his gaze.
“Your Highness, if you are unwell, shall I call for a doctor? Please rest here for a moment.”
“No, that’s not necessary. Instead, I need you to investigate something. At my engagement party the other day, Aria collapsed after drinking a potion Leefe had made, didn’t she? That was sabotage, taking a royal treatment potion. I want a formal investigation into why she did that.”
“…? As you wish.”
The attendant looked puzzled at Easton’s sudden shift, now treating his fiancée like a criminal.
