I Seem to Have Been Reincarnated, So I Tried to Get Everyone to Sensibly Handle the Broken Engagement—In the End, I Didn’t Even Know What "Serves You Right" Meant — Part 2

When I said that while covering her with a sheet, Lady Lilia blinked a few times before lowering her gaze.

“…But I am destined to become the queen of this nation. When I think of the weight I must bear on my shoulders, no amount of effort will ever be enough.”

Hey, isn’t that something the crown prince should be saying? That guy barely puts in a tenth of her effort but is more than happy to complain like he’s entitled to it.

…Ah, so that’s why Lady Lilia was chosen to be the crown prince’s fiancée. Makes sense.

No, wait, this isn’t the time to be agreeing with that logic. It’s completely wrong for all the burden to fall so disproportionately on Lady Lilia.

What’s even more infuriating is that, if this follows the otome game’s plot, the heroine will likely end up choosing the crown prince as her love interest, leading to Lady Lilia being cast aside. She’ll be accused of bullying the heroine out of jealousy, stripped of her position, and exiled from the country.

I remember thinking, back when my sister was obsessively playing those games:

“Everyone in this story is an idiot.”

To think that a freshly introduced young girl—sorry, the heroine—could drive away someone like Lady Lilia, who has poured her life into preparing for the role of crown princess… it’s absurd. It would doom the nation, plain and simple.

You can’t just wake up one day and magically have the skills and education needed to be queen.

In the game, sure, it’s all smiles and happy endings when the heroine gets together with her love interest. But this is my reality now, and there’s no way I’ll sit idly by while the country heads toward ruin.

Though, if the heroine chooses someone other than the crown prince, I suppose I can let that slide. At least the nation wouldn’t face catastrophic damage.

Incidentally, I’m apparently one of the potential love interests, but I couldn’t care less about the heroine. Not in a “love or hate” kind of way—I’m just genuinely uninterested. So, I’m out.

Anyway, I’m not about to let this world bend itself to the heroine’s convenience. For the sake of the nation and my own future, I’m determined to ensure everyone around me makes rational decisions.

But for now, my focus is on Lady Lilia. She deserves happiness befitting her hard work.

“Your resolve is noble, and as one of the kingdom’s citizens, I am deeply proud of you. However, you don’t need to bear all the burdens on your own. When things are tough, when it feels unbearable, it’s okay to lean on those around you. Those who know your efforts will be glad to support you.”

Of course, I include myself in that, though my contributions may be modest. Trying to sound cool, I gently patted Lady Lilia’s head. Her eyes widened in shock.

…Oh no. I messed up.

My old-man instincts from my past life kicked in, and that was extremely inappropriate.

I quickly withdrew my hand.

“My apologies. That was terribly improper of me.”

“N-No! It just surprised me, that’s all… Um… thank you.”

Blushing, she pulled the sheet up to her nose, her voice barely audible. Her eyes, as she glanced up at me, seemed slightly misty.

Ah… I’ve embarrassed a noble lady… I’m no gentleman anymore.

Feeling a deep sense of shame, I still managed to express my gratitude for her gracious response—likely polite formalities on her part.

“Well then, I’ll speak with the doctor and your tutors. For now, please take this opportunity to rest properly.”

With that, I bowed and turned to leave—not to escape, but… okay, maybe a little. Just as I was about to go, Lady Lilia called out to me, her voice tinged with hesitation.

“Um… Sir Farsil?”

She stopped me, but it seemed like Lady Lilia was struggling to find the right words. Her gaze darted nervously as if unsure of what to say. I waited patiently, and eventually, she gathered her resolve and looked me straight in the eye.

“Truly… is it really alright for me to rely on you?”

Her words caught me off guard, and I couldn’t help but widen my eyes.

I had suspected as much—she truly had no one she could depend on. As the future crown princess and a noble lady, she had always faced her responsibilities without complaining, never revealing any weakness.

The crown prince was supposed to be the one to support and encourage her.

That idiot is absolutely useless.

“Of course. If it’s me, you can rely on me anytime.”

I gave her my warmest smile, hoping to put her at ease, even though I’m often described as “serious to a fault” or “a walking rulebook.” If nothing else, I could at least use my annoyingly fresh and charming appearance to reassure her.

With that, my first meaningful interaction with Lady Lilia, now armed with my past life’s memories, came to an end. I immediately set myself to action.

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