Character Page

Prologue

Prologue

A short distance from the glamorous ball venue, an adorable girl stood in a quiet garden as her raven hair fluttered in the breeze.

“Clearing an otome game isn’t simple at all… But well, it should all end with this. The last one on the list is…Luke Klein, the son of Duke Klein.”

When such shocking words spilled forth from this girl’s lips, a pure white light painted over Amelia’s vision.

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“—YOU aren’t worthy of this!”

The next thing Amelia knew, the raven-haired girl standing before her eyes tore off Amelia’s necklace by force. Pain stung the skin around her neck with the relentless motion, but what stood out more was the dizziness in her head that rendered her immobile—her tongue couldn’t form words as she wished.

A woman of noble birth with features remarkably similar to the girl spat, “The crux of the matter is, I will not allow you to make your debut in high society, Amelia. Accordingly, you will not attend the ball tonight either.” Without another word, she turned on her heel and strutted away.

After the woman, the girl, as well as their entourage of maids, vacated the area, Amelia was left all on her lonesome.

A building in the background was so desolate that it was almost unthinkable that it was a royal palace, with a deserted garden that barely even had any flowers.

It was a familiar sight to Amelia. A sigh spilled from her lips. “Time has reset again, huh?”

This was the fourth reset. It was the fifth time that her necklace, a memento of her mother, had been snatched away from her.

With yet another sigh, she wearily sat down on the cobblestone paving and rubbed her neck, which was still tingling with pain.

Amelia was born as the Glaisharle Kingdom’s fourth princess. However, after the death of her mother, the king’s fifth consort, she had been practically confined within these grounds that were titled the Fifth Palace, unable to leave at her will. The daughter of the fifth consort didn’t hold any significant inherent value. When the fifth consort was still alive, a number of servants, including maids, had served at the palace. Alas, merely a single person remained to this day.

The lack of servants, combined with the fact that the gates were always locked shut, meant that, naturally, meals wouldn’t be automatically served on her table either. Only the bare minimum of food and necessities was delivered approximately once a month. The supplies were all abysmal in both quantity and quality, but at the very least, they meant she wouldn’t die on the spot, which was the one saving grace.

After the passing of the fifth consort, the fourth consort had become Amelia’s guardian, but likely, it hadn’t been by choice. Once in a blue moon, she would come, bringing her daughter Prisca—the fifth princess—to give Amelia a piece of her mind, then march away right after. The woman’s disdain was evident to Amelia, but it wasn’t that the fourth consort actively held hatred for her. To be more precise, the woman was likely neglecting Amelia because she couldn’t care less about the girl.

Amelia’s world had been tiny. For years, she hadn’t interacted with anyone besides her only servant, the fourth consort, Prisca, who visited once in a while, and the gatekeepers. If the current timeline was consistent with all the previous time loops, it should be just before the ball where Amelia would make her debut in high society at sixteen, but there was a much more pressing concern at the moment.

“Her next target…is Lord Luke,” Amelia whispered.

As that truth sank in, Amelia’s shoulders trembled minutely. Whoever Prisca set her sights on would fall for the girl without exception.

After all, that was how this world was designed—it was how the world of an otome game worked.

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“—AND so, I’m going to sell strawberries!” Amelia declared.

The man in his prime scrutinized the princess, who stood with her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest with pride. He skeptically furrowed his brows. “Pardon?”

“Ideally, I’d like them to have some kind of added value too!”

Hearing Amelia’s announcement, the only servant of the Fifth Palace, Helt, shook his head while dragging out a long sigh. Even though Amelia had gone out of her way to head to the gates of the Fifth Palace, where Helt was, she didn’t get a very supportive reaction for some odd reason.

The man politely said, “You have spent many years of your life in confinement, and your long-awaited chance to venture into the outside world—your participation in the debutante ball—was revoked. I can empathize with your sorrow. Now, I would have understood if you were discouraged about the fact that you couldn’t see your fiancé, the young lord of House Klein, but… How in the world do strawberries come into the picture?”

Amelia inclined her head quizzically. “Didn’t I just explain? I reincarnated into this world, which is the world of an otome game, and it’s gone through four time loops.” She’d gone through all that effort to give him a lengthy and detailed explanation. Had he even been listening?

It was only after four entire timelines that Amelia had finally recalled the fact that she had reincarnated into this world after her previous life in Japan. Though it sounded surreal, considering how many times the same series of events had repeated, she had no choice but to believe that this was indeed her second life.

Recalling how Prisca had used the words “otome game” and her actions until now, she must be a fellow reincarnator—and the heroine at that.

Amelia first caught sight of Prisca by sheer coincidence. It had been during the ball held in celebration of the king’s birthday. Unable to grow accustomed to the showy and glamorous venue, she’d been resting in the recesses of the garden out of fatigue when Prisca and a young man had come along.

The young man, apparently the son of a viscount, had asked for Prisca’s hand in marriage, and after he left, Prisca had fiddled with her necklace with a sigh. “If I have to marry someone, I would have preferred a more charming man,” she muttered. “Oh, if only I could turn back time and start over.”

Not a moment later, Amelia’s vision went stark white. The next thing she knew, she’d returned to one year prior.

At first, she’d relived the same year, utterly lost about what had happened, until eventually, the ball on the king’s birthday came around again. Intrigued, she’d taken cover in the garden just like the first time and waited to see what would happen.

Not long after, a boy claiming to be the son of the knight commander arrived with Prisca. He asked for her hand in marriage, and Prisca whispered she wanted to start over again, and then Amelia returned to one year ago.

This cycle repeated again. And again.

The son of the prime minister in the previous loop and the son of the high priest in the loop before that hadn’t seemed too interested in Prisca herself, but they’d proposed to her in the end. It appeared that the heroine’s influence was astounding, just as one would expect.

Helt sighed again. “Yes, yes. I have heard all about it, my princess. I can’t say I really understand the reincarnation or otoh-may game part, but the point is, Princess Prisca has special feelings for the young Lord Klein, is that right?”

“Huh.” Amelia quirked an eyebrow. “So you were listening. What was with that reaction then?”

Luke Klein, the son of Duke Klein, was Amelia’s fiancé. Four years ago, when she was twelve, she’d met the boy in person and was betrothed to him. She hadn’t interacted with him since, but to Amelia, he was her cherished first crush.

Judging by the demeanors of the men who had proposed to Prisca before, they hadn’t exactly adored her from the bottom of their hearts. They’d seemed like they’d given in to some kind of force that made them express their affections.

It was particularly true in the case of the prime minister’s son in the previous time loop. Disgust had bled into his mannerisms, and he looked like he was even trying to leave the area. Prisca had clung to his arm, forcing him to stay. The pair had then drawn closer to each other, and to Amelia’s shock, he’d proposed to her the next second.

Anyone would conclude that his actions weren’t of his own free will. Even if this world truly went round for the sake of the heroine, Prisca, forcefully making Luke go against his own wishes was simply awful.

On top of that, Prisca had said that Luke was the last on the list. If she wasn’t going to reset the timeline again, it would mean that Luke and Prisca would get married.

A determined fire burned in Amelia’s eyes. “The thing is, I want Lord Luke to find happiness with the person he loves of his own will. …It doesn’t matter even if it isn’t me.”

If she led her life the same way as all the previous time loops, Prisca would definitely turn Luke into her trophy.

Amelia was up against the heroine that the world revolved around, and she was even a princess to boot. Believe it or not, she would even turn out to be a saint in the near future. A girl with no support structure like Amelia couldn’t hope to hold a candle to such an opponent with lukewarm measures.

Helt cocked his head. “It is true the saint often appears in the royal bloodline, but if I were to be frank, I can’t say that Princess Prisca has the aptitude for such a role… On that topic, your mother, the fifth consort, was a saint. Isn’t there the very real possibility that you are the next saint instead?”

“If Prisca sets her sights on Lord Luke, as his fiancée, I’ll become what’s typically called the villainess noblewoman or a rival in love. Positive and attractive attributes like the saint status likely belong to the heroine.”

Typically, rival characters came equipped with everything you could imagine—exceptional looks, exceptional clout, and exceptional wealth. Their only flaw would be their personality.

A shred of doubt wormed into Amelia’s heart. Would the plot be able to progress properly with her as the villainess? Or was it perhaps a move of confidence on Prisca’s part that she could make her target fall for her without any issues? After all, Amelia had been confined for many years, and Luke had been extremely frigid to her since their betrothal. They practically hadn’t even communicated with each other since.

No… Amelia shook her head. There seemed to be some kind of dispute between the pair during the time loop of the prime minister’s son, so maybe she just isn’t fussy about what happens along the way as long as she can win over her love interest at the very end.

“May I ask what you mean by villainess noblewoman?” Helt asked.

“It’s typically a young noblewoman who gets in the way of the heroine’s romance.”

“But Your Highness, you are a princess. Wouldn’t villainess princess or royal villainess be more fitting?”

Sparing a sidelong glance at Helt, who was nitpicking at something inconsequential, Amelia cleared her throat as if to move on from the topic. “In any case, I want to protect Lord Luke from Prisca and this world. I want him to find happiness, and if I’m going to take action anyway, I might as well get him to dump me mercilessly in person, don’t you think?”

“I’m afraid you are not making any sense again, my princess.”

Amelia sighed. “You don’t understand a thing about the heart of a maiden in love, Helt.”

If Luke called off this betrothal of his own will, he would at least think about Amelia in that split second. Considering how she probably hadn’t even skimmed one corner of his mind for the past four years, that was more than enough for her.

She nodded to herself. “Just imagining Lord Luke’s perturbed expression when his fiancée, whom he has no interest in whatsoever, is giving him unnecessary trouble makes even hard bread heavenly to gnaw on.”

There was a pause. “I must say that your affection for him has grown so convoluted that it has turned rather…peculiar.”

Though Amelia was somewhat aware of that fact, the only thing she could do in her situation was to entertain herself in such ways, so it wasn’t like she had a choice. “At the moment, I’m considering seeing Lord Luke in person before anything else. He might already be fond of someone, not to mention that it should be effective to confirm his own wishes and tell him to watch out. Plus, I also want to discuss calling off our betrothal.”

Despite practically being a prisoner, Amelia was also technically a princess. That was likely why Luke hadn’t been able to readily dissolve the betrothal, causing four entire years to flow by fruitlessly.

The next moment, she frowned. “But even if I managed to leave the Fifth Palace, I couldn’t see Lord Luke in this outfit.”

Amelia’s dress was pitiful. It had subdued colors, an outdated design, and stiff, worn-out fabric. It was a far cry from comfortable. She didn’t dislike it since it offered plenty of mobility, but it definitely wasn’t what a princess ought to wear.

She looked up at Helt again. “I can’t leave from the Fifth Palace’s gates, right?”

“Gatekeepers are stationed under the fourth consort’s orders, so that is likely an impossible venture, yes.”

The gatekeepers in question had never permitted her to leave from the front entrance for the past four years, so it wouldn’t be prudent to place her hopes on that route. She could break through with force, but she’d rather avoid that option, considering all the trouble it would lead to afterward.

Crossing her arms, she muttered, “In that case, I can only think of two methods right now. The first is to visit House Klein’s estate.”

The problem with that option was that she couldn’t leave through the Fifth Palace’s front entrance, which meant that she couldn’t formally request a meeting as a princess. Even if she snuck out, she hadn’t a clue where House Klein’s estate was. Assuming that she did somehow find it, no one would believe her claims of being the fourth princess, Amelia Glaisharle, when she was dressed more like a commoner. They’d probably turn her away at the gates.

It appeared that she didn’t have to spell the complications out for Helt, because he furrowed his brows.

She listed the next option. “The second method would be finding him at social events, such as balls, held in the royal palace.”

The gatekeepers probably wouldn’t let her leave officially from the front entrance, but it was more realistic than sneaking out and going to House Klein’s estate, especially given the distance. More than anything else, the fact that she knew the general way to the venue—even if her memories were somewhat hazy—tipped the scale in favor of this choice.

Shrugging, she said, “No matter which I choose, it’d be ideal to have some clothes or a dress that’s just a little more respectable than my current one.”

“And…may I ask what strawberries have to do with this?”

“Whether it be normal clothes or a fancy dress, I need money. And strawberries are the only things I can rely on, aren’t they?”

Amelia lifted her hand and stared at her palm. The next moment, a shiny, petite strawberry appeared out of thin air.

Yep, you heard that right. It’s a strawberry. I can summon strawberries.

Now that her memories from her life in Japan had resurfaced, she felt even more disoriented than before because she couldn’t figure out how it worked or why this was happening, but… Yes, she could summon strawberries.

The cause and effect of the manifesting strawberries aside, what mattered was that selling them could net her money. By merely using up some mana, she could procure them for free. Could there be a sweeter ability?

Amelia concluded, “Well, there are still all kinds of problems left—more like a gigantic pile… But I can deal with most of them somehow with strawberries.”

As someone with nothing of her own, strawberries were the only things she could use as she liked. But there was a saying that you could manage anything as long as you had strawberries, so surely her plan would go smoothly.

“Can you really, my princess…?”

Helt looked doubtful, but you never knew until you tried, or so Amelia told herself. Nodding firmly, Amelia raised her fist high into the air.

She would do everything within her power for the sake of Lucas’s happiness—the happiness of her first crush.

“I’ll make it happen,” Amelia declared. “I swear I will defy these time loops and help Lord Luke find happiness with my strawberries, just you watch!”

Chapter 1: You Can Do Anything If You Have Strawberries

Chapter 1: You Can Do Anything If You Have Strawberries

HELT gazed at Amelia solemnly. “You don’t have to go through all that effort to make an extravagant dress, my princess. You are more than adorable even in tattered rags.”

Appalled at the man’s statement, Amelia reflexively sighed. She was born with silver hair and strawberry eyes, but the fourth consort and Prisca called them “elderly white hair” and “eyes of blood.” The fifth consort and the servants had complimented her on her beauty, but familial bias likely played a large part. In fact, she felt that there was only bias in that judgment.

She’d like to believe she wasn’t so hideous that others would avert their gaze from her, but she had trouble gauging the assessment of the general public. And that was all because of Helt, who unconditionally lauded her appearance.

“It’s been four years since our betrothal,” she muttered. “I haven’t even received replies to my letters so far, much less gotten to see him, but he’s still my first crush. Anyone in my shoes…would want him to think that I’m at least a little cute.”

Helt swiftly covered his mouth with his hand.

Amelia blinked in confusion. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. It is dangerous when your cuteness attacks my nose. Even if the chances are slim, I can’t afford to have a nosebleed in front of you, my princess.”

“Helt… Sometimes, you act just like a pervert.”

“I shall take that as a compliment.”

To Amelia, Helt was a diligent and kind man who was both a brother and a father figure, but the strange statements he sometimes spouted stumped her.

That aside, as someone who barely interacted with any other humans, it didn’t matter much whether her appearance was superior or inferior in the eyes of the public. What was important was that she wanted to win Luke’s affections, even if a little…but she didn’t even know his taste in women.

Amelia crossed her arms. “Hmm, I don’t remember much about Lord Luke other than the fact that his eyes were gold.”

She knew it sounded outrageous, but in her defense, she’d only met Luke once. Combined with all the time loops she’d experienced, she hadn’t even seen his face for seven years. It was unavoidable.

The time loops begin with the fourth consort declaring that Amelia’s debut in high society was called off, then lasted until the ball on the king’s birthday a year later.

For better or worse, because she was basically a prisoner, Amelia had hardly met Prisca during the previous time loops and had gone about her life as normal. So she didn’t know the details, but Prisca’s saint status would be discovered at some point this year. Prisca already overflowed with the glorious traits of a heroine, but she was going to gain yet another weapon on top of them, which was a terrifying thought.

Still, Amelia might be able to make a stand somehow if she figured out a way to see Luke before the ball a year later, which might turn into a forced proposal event.

She hummed to herself in thought. “I don’t even know the market price or how to sell strawberries, so for now, I’m thinking about heading out into town and doing some research before anything else.”

It was time for her modest and stiff dress to shine. No one would expect a princess to walk around the streets in such a garment, and her face wasn’t well-known either, so she should be able to move around freely.

“May I ask how you intend on heading into town?”

“The hole in the wall on the far side of the garden,” she replied immediately.

The man’s eyes widened slightly. “Why do you know of that…?”

“You were the one who took me into town from there during a previous time loop, Helt.”

Amelia had learned that when a handful of servants were still around, they’d head outside to purchase food from that exit.

“I see. It seems that you were telling the truth about these ‘time loops,’ as you call them.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Did you doubt what I said?”

“I didn’t doubt you, no. I simply had trouble believing it.”

Isn’t that the same thing? Amelia thought. But now wasn’t the time to be picking at minor details. “Back to strawberries. Normal strawberries wouldn’t fetch much money, would they?”

“Oh, so that is the reason you mentioned ‘added value.’”

Perhaps she could generate a decent profit by marketing them as strawberries straight from the fourth princess’s hands, but she’d be dragged back to her gilded prison if someone discovered her. Even if no one discovered her identity, she might be charged with insolence against royalty. A strategy that was a little more novel and fit in with the commoners would be her ideal option.

An idea sprang into her mind. “So, how about making strawberry sweets instead?”

Until now, she’d never questioned the fact that she could summon strawberries or thought of trying to make any alterations. But in the present, Amelia’s mind was brimming over with knowledge of Japan’s colorful and gorgeous sweets. If she were able to produce confectionery that was just the right mix of unusual and delicious, she should be able to gain the interest of customers.

She proceeded with that train of thought. “Let’s see, as a start… Maybe cookies?”

She’d never manifested anything other than strawberries until now, so she figured she should begin by making something that was easy to picture.

Strawberry cookies… Pink, aromatic, crunchy cookies that are just a tad golden brown on the edges… Her mouth began to water. I’m craving some right now.

Amelia’s usual diet mainly consisted of the grains that were delivered to the gates and the vegetables that she was cultivating in the field, which meant that sweets were more like a concept from a whole other world.

I want to eat light, crunchy, melt-in-your-mouth sweet cookies.

At this point, her thoughts were practically the voice of her gluttony. As if responding to it, a single cookie appeared on Amelia’s palm. She popped it into her mouth without hesitation. The aroma and sweetness of strawberries were heavenly.

Helt stared at her hand in a daze. “You truly…managed to summon one.”

“It’s so good… I’m in bliss… If I knew this was possible, I would have tried way earlier.” She used to think that nothing good could come out of her being dragged into the time loops, but this was a splendid discovery. “I’m thirsty now. Right, would it also be possible to summon strawberry milk?”

If she could even manifest beverages, the amount of room she had to work with when it came to strawberries would balloon magnificently. Her heart dancing in anticipation, she envisioned strawberry milk.

The next moment, pink liquid appeared out of thin air and splashed noisily onto the ground.

After a pause, Helt muttered, “It appears that your powers don’t involve summoning containers.”

As Amelia smelled the sweet fragrance that permeated the air and stared at the wet soil, she nodded. Selling liquids would be difficult unless she prepared containers, so she would have to put that on hold for now. With this discovery, it was probably best for her to summon sweets that could maintain their own shape to a certain extent.

She crossed her arms. “Parfait and ice cream are showy and attractive, but I need containers for them, and they’d melt. Hmm… What about traditional Japanese confectionery then? Like strawberry daifuku.”

Amelia pictured a standard strawberry daifuku, but she realized her customers might not recognize it as a strawberry dessert since the strawberry was hidden in the middle of the red bean paste within the round mochi rice cake. So that people could tell with one look that it had strawberries inside, it was probably better to make the mochi wrap directly over the berry instead of the red bean filling, letting its natural redness show through.

With that in mind, Amelia resumed the summoning process. Possibly because of the complex directions she’d added, she felt a slight sense of fatigue by the time the daifuku appeared and settled on her palm.

She held it up. “Helt, could you give this a try?”

Helt’s brown eyes wavered with the smallest hint of hesitation. Well, I’m not surprised, Amelia thought. Traditional Japanese confectionery likely seemed considerably outlandish in a world with a Western setting like this one.

Amelia continued, “It’s called a strawberry daifuku. Have you ever seen sweets like these before?”

“No, I believe I haven’t.”

“Well, try it and tell me what you think.” She pushed it into Helt’s lips.

Stuffing the entire daifuku into his mouth, Helt busily chewed. She hadn’t expected him to eat it in one bite. That said, it would probably be inconvenient for women to enjoy them if they were too large. Maybe making the daifuku into bite-sized treats was something she could consider.

After finishing the sweet, Helt gave his report. “The dessert is mainly sweet and chewy, which is a contrast with the refreshing sweet and sour taste of strawberries. It is delicious in my opinion. Though…its appearance has some room for improvement.”

Judging by his reaction, the taste was agreeable in this world as well. That was good news. If she were to start a business, she would prefer to earn money effectively with unusual confections instead of run-of-the-mill ones.

Helt gave her a mystified look. “Putting that aside, your creative thinking and ability to take action are mind-blowing. Being able to summon strawberries is already a curious phenomenon by itself…”

She had to agree that she couldn’t make sense of how the strawberries appeared out of thin air, but it was reality, so she had to live with it. “Right, Helt. I’m asking this just in case, but do you have any money? Do you think we have enough to make a dress?”

The sole servant of the Fifth Palace also managed its funds. In the case that there was some room to work with, she could avoid going through the trouble of selling strawberries. But well… Knowing how things are, I highly doubt it.

Help shrugged. “Either way, I doubt that the fourth consort would allow a tailor into the Fifth Palace. And naturally, we don’t have any money.”

“I figured.”

Which meant that she’d have to order the dress in town. She didn’t have a clue how much it would cost, and unfortunately, she also needed to purchase other necessities.

“We still have the last of our envelopes and writing paper, right? I’ll write a letter addressed to Lord Luke, so send it for me,” she said. “After that, I want to request a meeting with Lord Luke, as well as the king.”

There hadn’t been any replies despite the numerous letters she’d sent out until now, nor had she ever successfully snagged a meeting with her fiancé. Still, this wasn’t the time to mope, so she resolved to try everything with a chance of success.

That said, there was a limit to the number of envelopes in her inventory. It was exceedingly rare for the regularly delivered supplies to include envelopes and writing paper, so she had to stock up on those, too.

At the end of the day, she needed money for everything she wanted to do. Looks like I’ll have to sell strawberries with everything I’ve got.

Then Helt spoke up. “Incidentally, I wasn’t able to move from my position at the gates under the fourth consort’s orders earlier, much to my regret. Was everything all right?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s the same old.”

It had been the same old—her visitors had grumbled at her before snatching her necklace away. She couldn’t say that there weren’t any issues, but she’d already gotten used to it after the repeated time loops.

“On that topic,” Helt began, “you seem to have come from a peculiar direction. Surely you didn’t walk on top of the wall, did you?”

“I didn’t walk on top of the wall. I ran on top of it.”

Though desolate, it was still a palace bestowed on one of the king’s consorts, meaning that the Fifth Palace’s grounds were vast. The standard path to the gates where Helt had been was a roundabout route, so Amelia had moved via the top of the wall that separated the palace from the outside world.

Helt furrowed his brows a tad. “That is unbecoming behavior of a respectable woman, much less a princess.” He paused. “No one has caught sight of you, I hope?”

“I could see the fourth consort and Prisca from where I was. Oh, and a man—no, more like a boy?—with grayish hair. Judging by his attire, he didn’t look like a servant.”

He appeared to have been conversing with the fourth consort, suggesting he was someone of relatively significant status. Still, it was rare for anyone to be present on the outskirts of the royal court.

“And?” Helt prompted. “Did the fourth consort discover you?”

“The boy I mentioned looked in my direction, so I jumped off in a rush. The fourth consort and her companions had their backs turned to me, so I’m probably fine.” She shrugged.

“Please don’t jump off a wall to begin with. Actually, before anything else, please don’t climb onto a wall.” Helt glared at her, exasperated, but this wasn’t anything new. Old habits die hard.

A deep sigh reached Amelia’s ears. The man muttered, “It is a shame that you won’t be able to meet the young Lord Klein. I know that you were looking forward to it very much.”

She couldn’t deny that she’d been thrilled. It had been her chance to see him for the first time in four years—she’d worked hard so that she could seem even a little beautiful, like meticulously combing her hair.

However, that was the sentiment of the past Amelia, who hadn’t experienced the time loops. After experiencing her fourth timeline reset and regaining her memories of her life in Japan, what mattered now was protecting Luke’s free will, not her emotions. It wasn’t the time to take things lying down and wallow in her sorrow. If there was even the slightest of possibilities, she had to try every method she could think of.

“That’s okay,” she declared. “You can do anything if you have strawberries.”

“You truly love strawberries, don’t you?”

“I do!”

Amelia would meet Luke and talk to him so that she could protect him and defy the loop. She needed a dress for that, so she would sell strawberries and earn money. While that was going on, she would also write letters and continue requesting in-person meetings.

All right. I’ve got a plan, and strawberry daifuku seems like it’ll sell well, too, Amelia thought. I’ll wake up early in the morning tomorrow, make strawberry daifuku, and head into the city. There’s no time to waste!

Seeing Amelia’s strawberry eyes shine with determination, Helt sported a troubled smile.

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AFTER stuffing strawberry daifuku into a bag, Amelia left for the city through the hole in the Fifth Palace’s wall. The Fifth Palace, at the edge of the royal court, was deserted. She didn’t spot a single soul.

There weren’t any permanent guards other than the one stationed at the front entrance. On top of that, Amelia’s face wasn’t well-known, and she wore an old, plain dress. Even if someone did happen to see her, they’d probably assume that she was a mere servant. Furthermore, because she’d already slipped out from the royal court several times in previous time loops, she carried out her escape with practiced ease.

Helt had insisted on accompanying her. However, it would be troublesome if the fourth consort popped over on a whim, only to find that there wasn’t anyone to receive her. If he claimed Amelia was confined to bed with a cold or something, the fourth consort and her entourage wouldn’t approach her because they wouldn’t want to catch her illness, so there was nothing to worry about. As she snuck out, she waved at Helt, who’d been reduced to the personification of reluctance.

After Amelia managed to reach the city, she looked at the crowds and sucked in a deep breath. “Today’s goal is market research,” she muttered to herself. “It would also be nice if I could find bags to put sweets in.”

If she were selling sweets to Helt, she could wrap them in a handkerchief and stuff them into his mouth, but she couldn’t exactly do the same thing as a vendor. Cute packaging would be effective in the sense that it would raise the strawberry daifuku’s added value, yes, but she wouldn’t even be able to purchase bags without selling some first.

I’m technically a princess in an otome game set in a European fantasy world. Even if I don’t look the part, here I am, forced to earn money by starting a business…

She sighed. “Money, money… The world’s tough no matter which universe you’re in, huh? Oh well. My only option’s to work hard.”

She scanned her surroundings. The numerous lined-up street stalls didn’t just sell food but also a diverse range of merchandise, such as clothes and tools. Admiring them was fun, but she wasn’t here to enjoy herself today.

Focusing, she went around observing the confectionery stalls. Most of them offered Western sweets that had a long shelf life, such as cookies and candy. She naturally couldn’t find any Japanese confectionery.

She nodded to herself. “Okay, I think I can work with this.”

When she’d headed into town in the previous time loop, the store that had bought her homegrown vegetables had been kind to her, and she vaguely recalled the same store selling sweets in the storefront as well. Okay. I think I’ll ask that shop to buy my sweets. It’ll help me check the taste preferences of the people in the city, too.

As she navigated the streets while relying on her memories, the shopkeeper of a certain street stall called out to her. “Young miss over there. How about taking one of these home with you?”

She glanced at the stall’s display. Lovely brooches of various colors were lined up in rows. “Sorry. I’m afraid I don’t have any money.”

“Well then, come again with your boyfriend next time. I’ll give you a discount.”

Returning the shopkeeper’s polite smile with one of her own, Amelia left and sighed. Amelia didn’t just have a boyfriend. She had a fiancé. But she hadn’t received any replies to her letters ever since her betrothal, much less presents.

“Until now, I thought that he might dislike me or something, and I figured I can’t blame him for his reaction, but… Isn’t he like, awful? Real awful?”

Even if he’d been betrothed to her against his will—even if his heart already belonged to another woman—it didn’t change the fact that they were supposed to marry each other. Amelia was even technically a princess to boot. How could he treat her this heartlessly?

Before, Luke’s absolute-zero level of coldness only made her lonely and miserable. She still liked him, but at the same time, she wanted to give the boy a tiny piece of her mind.

She tilted her head. “Huh. I wonder why. Has my way of thinking changed a bit compared to all the previous time loops?”

Did her memories of Japan change her? Or had something that had been forcefully suppressed until now been liberated? She didn’t have an answer to either question, but she couldn’t fight back against Prisca with her previous attitude, so she believed it was a good change.

“If I’m able to see Lord Luke, I’ll say to his face, ‘Hey, you. You should at least reply to people’s letters, you know?’” Surely she had the right to at least say that much. Amelia nodded to herself. “All right. While I’m at it, I’ll stuff a super big strawberry into his mouth.”

With a new fire of determination burning in her heart, she arrived at her destination. Despite her nerves, she explained her situation and held out a strawberry daifuku.

The female shopkeeper readily put it into her mouth. It’s something she should be unfamiliar with—she sure has guts. But I’m thankful for her lionheart right now.

The shopkeeper chewed, swallowed with an audible gulp, then nodded while looking convinced about something. “It sure has a mysterious look, but it’s tasty. I like it. I’ll buy all five off you.”

Amelia beamed. “Thank you very much!”

After accepting the rest of the strawberry daifuku with a smile, the shopkeeper wasted no time and lined them up along the shop front. Then, customers who had watched the exchange came over, and the sweets were gone in the blink of an eye.

Both Amelia and the shopkeeper grinned with joy at the unexpected turn of events.

“Is this cute young lady a new staff member?” a male customer asked, handing Amelia carrots. “Could you wrap these ten carrots for me?”

Amelia looked at the shopkeeper, who held out a bag to her. It wasn’t much of a hassle, and she put the carrots in the bag.

Meanwhile, the man finished paying for his items before smiling brightly at her. “You know, it kind of brightens my day to receive my purchases from such a cute girl like you. I have a gut feeling that good things are going to happen today. Thanks.” He waved amiably at her.

Without thinking, Amelia waved back. For some reason, cheering resounded from the vicinity. People gathered in front of the store at once and held out wares to Amelia.

She blinked in confusion. “Um…?” When she turned around, the shopkeeper’s eyes were alight with a look she couldn’t quite decipher.

The shopkeeper asked, “Miss, could you help me out a bit? I’ll pay you for your work, of course.”

That must mean she wanted Amelia to work as a shop assistant for a while. It would help with market research, and the word “pay” was also alluring. Amelia nodded immediately.

After she accepted her new job, customers flooded the storefront like an avalanche. For a good while, Amelia single-mindedly packed goods and waved back at the people who waved at her. By the time the rush had calmed down, most of the merchandise displayed at the storefront had sold out.

“Whew, thank you.” The shopkeeper grinned. “You were seriously a big help. I’ll buy your products, so feel free to bring them over at any time. If you’re willing to help me out again, I’ll also pay you for your efforts.”

Even just the promise to purchase Amelia’s merchandise was already a welcome offer, and so she agreed.

The shopkeeper proceeded to place a few coins into Amelia’s hand. “This is payment for your sweets and your help. If you don’t mind, could you tend to the store for just a while longer? I’m heading out to fetch some products—I’ll be right back. You only have to turn down customers and say that I’m taking a break until I’m back.”

“Got it. Yes, I can do that.”

Amelia saw off the shopkeeper, who was so chipper that there was almost a spring in her step, before she gazed at the bustling flow of people. Her routine life consisted only of herself and Helt. Watching lots of people going about their lives like this was fun. Selling products directly to customers would make it easier for her to ask for feedback, so maybe opening her own shop wasn’t a bad idea. But, well, I’ll need money to do that, too.

As she entertained that thought absentmindedly, before she knew it, three men were standing in front of her.

One man said, “It’s against the rules for anyone other than those registered as shopkeepers to trade here. You need to pay a fine.”

Interesting. I didn’t know there was such a rule, Amelia thought. Considering how many shops were lined up, a certain amount of regulation was probably essential.

“I was only watching the shop while the owner was away, sir. It’s temporarily closed right now.”

Even though she gave them a proper explanation, for some reason, the men wore thin smiles. “The rules are the rules. If you don’t have money, other methods will do. There are ways for a young lady like you to reel in more money.”

Ways to earn more money? Amelia was a little interested in that.

The next thing she knew, the man before her eyes reached out toward her.

However, a moment later, a shadowy silhouette appeared out of nowhere and shoved the man’s hand away. The silhouette stood before her like a shield. “What nonsense are you saying to a girl who was only watching over the shop? If there’s someone you ought to punish, it should be the shopkeeper. Before anything else, do you lot even have the authority to do this?”

After that, the young man with ashen hair glanced at Amelia over his shoulder and gave her a smile. His eyes were a most beautiful shade of gold.

A voice cut into the exchange. “What’re all of you doing?” It was the shopkeeper carrying an armful of bags against her chest. After putting down her baggage, she stood next to the young man and glared daggers at the men.

The young man explained, “They claimed that it’s against the rules for anyone other than the shopkeeper to trade here and pressed her to pay a fine. They also hinted at other ways for her to earn more money.”

The shopkeeper creased her forehead. With a single movement of her gaze and hands, the shopkeepers of the surrounding stalls gathered round. She narrowed her eyes. “Finding fault with my adorable little helper and trying to squeeze money out of her? Unforgivable.”

Another shopkeeper chimed in, “I thought she was explaining things to customers, but if that’s what they were here for… There’s no need to go easy on these three.”

The shopkeepers surrounded the men and dragged them away in a no-nonsense manner.

It had all happened in a split second. Amelia could only blink blankly at the sudden series of events.

The female shopkeeper sighed. “Sorry about that. I thought you’d be fine because it was only for a while, and other people are around, but well… Sure enough, cute girls like you stand out quite a bit.”

She sounded apologetic, but Amelia’s focus was elsewhere. People had been using the words “cute” and “adorable”—were they possibly referring to Amelia? The male customer earlier had said the same thing, which meant she probably wasn’t too unbearable to look at. Even if she removed apologetic sentiments and flattery from the equation, she probably counted as relatively easy on the eyes.

If that’s true… Then maybe even Luke might think I’m at least a little cute.

At this unexpected discovery, she almost cracked a merry smile, but she caught herself and hurriedly covered her mouth. The shopkeeper was apologizing to her—grinning herself silly in reply would be unimaginably rude.

Trying to gloss over things, she cleared her throat and smiled gently at the shopkeeper. “It’s all right, ma’am. This person saved me before anything could happen.” Her gaze shifted to the young man with ashen hair. If she wasn’t imagining things, a tint of red seemed to appear on his cheeks.

The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow. “Are you this young miss’s boyfriend?”

“Ah, no, I’m…” Looking awkward, he shook his head. His silky, ashen locks waved with the movement.

Now that she took a good look at him, Amelia noted that he had rather well-defined features and a relatively dignified attire. Perhaps he was from an affluent merchant family.

“In any case, you were a great help, thanks.” The shopkeeper grinned. “I haven’t got much around, but here’s a token of my gratitude.” She placed bags with aromatic bread into Amelia’s and the young man’s hands, respectively. “Well then, come again anytime.”

The shopkeeper waved before walking away, but for some reason, the young man trailed after Amelia.

Oh, right. Belatedly realizing she hadn’t thanked him directly yet, Amelia stopped in her tracks in front of a fountain with few people around before fixing her gaze on him. “Thank you very much for saving me earlier.” She bowed.

A faint smile tugged at his lips. “It was nothing. More importantly, let’s take a seat.”

Under his ushering, Amelia was about to settle on a bench before she recalled the bag of bread in her hand. She held it out to him. To be honest…I want to eat it. Soft, fluffy bread with such a delectable aroma and plenty of butter was a rare treat for her. Now that she knew she could also summon strawberry products, she should also be able to summon jam without having to use up precious sugar.

As Amelia imagined bread with sweet strawberry jam, drool threatened to spill from the corner of her mouth. She hurriedly wiped it with her hand. “I want to thank you in some way, but I haven’t got anything—no, I mean, I’m afraid I don’t have anything else on me, sorry.”

“It’s okay. You being safe and sound is more than enough for me. Don’t worry about talking formally to me either. More importantly, there’s one thing I want to ask.” He pushed the bag of bread back into her hand, and she felt a little relieved. He then gazed at her with a serious look in his eyes. “I…want to know your name.”

“My name? I’m Amelia.” Just as those words left her lips, she realized it would have been safer to use an alias. Alas, there was no use crying over spilled milk.

It wasn’t a particularly rare name. Plus, in her current get-up, there was no chance anyone would discover that she was a princess.

However, when she looked at the boy, his eyes widened for some reason, and he froze.

Amelia blinked. “Umm… If you don’t need bread, then have this.” She summoned a strawberry while hiding her hand behind her back before offering it to him. “I guarantee it’s sweet, and I’m sure that it’ll cheer you up.”

He stared unblinkingly at the large, glossy strawberry. Ever so slowly, he reached out and accepted it. He carefully admired his prize as if it were a precious gem. If she wasn’t imagining things, his golden eyes seemed somewhat moist—did he like strawberries that much?

After a moment of hesitation, he asked, “Would you…be willing to see me again?”

“Huh? I mean, I plan on delivering sweets to that shop again, so we might bump into each other.”

“Okay, thanks.” He nodded. “Oh, do you want this?” He held out his bag of bread as an offering, and Amelia’s strawberry eyes lit up like the sun.

Her silent cheer of delight must have reached him even without her voicing it, because he smiled and placed the bag in Amelia’s hand. “…See you again.”

Amelia saw the young man off while waving. For a while, she basked in the heavenly fragrance of bread until suddenly, she realized something. “Oh. I forgot to ask for his name. Oh well…” She could simply ask him if she saw him again. “That aside, his eyes were such a pretty shade of gold.”

Well-defined features, beautiful eyes, as well as refined clothing. He must be from a household of a relatively high standing. Which meant he must be, of course, popular with the ladies.

“Speaking of which, Lord Luke’s eyes were gold too, I think,” she muttered. “Maybe he’s a ladykiller after all.”

She couldn’t recall his face or the color of his hair, but she had the impression that he had fine looks, too. On top of that, he was the son of a ducal house, which meant that, naturally, women should flock to him like bees to honey.

“Maybe that’s why he won’t write replies to my letters. Am I…just a nuisance to him?”

Amelia was a princess at the end of the day—even if it was just in name—so calling off the betrothal from House Klein’s side was a challenge. Was that why he wouldn’t respond to her, even though she was still his fiancée? Maybe he wanted Amelia to voluntarily dissolve the betrothal and say that she’d gotten fed up with him.

A touch of loneliness made Amelia’s heart sink. She opened one bag of bread, shoved her face into it, and breathed in as hard as she could. The rich aroma of butter filled her lungs and gently enveloped her slightly aching heart.

She’d lost her composure because of her hunger. Her emotions would calm down if she enjoyed bread on her way back home.

Satisfied, Amelia raised her face, took out one bread, then shoved the rest into her bag. She climbed to her feet and took a step forward.

Amelia loved Luke to bits.

Even if this sentiment was a mere obsession, it didn’t change the fact that his existence had given her hope to live on when she had nothing else. Her wish was to protect his free will from Prisca and for him to find happiness.

So if it’s his wish… I’ll even gladly accept calling off our betrothal.

“It’s okay,” Amelia told herself. “You can do anything if you have strawberries.” As she muttered under her breath, she nibbled on her bread—it tasted notably salty.

🍓🍓🍓

THE fateful encounter had happened when she was twelve.

Amelia wasn’t allowed out of the Fifth Palace after the fifth consort’s passing, but all members of the royal family were required to participate in the ball on that day under the king’s decree. Thus, Amelia was able to leave the premises of the Fifth Palace for the first time in a long time.

The fourth consort had prepared a dress for her, with an outdated design, subdued colors, and a far cry from cute. Amelia could still remember how Prisca had thoroughly made fun of her.

She had been allowed into a formal setting wearing such attire prepared by her guardian, the fourth consort, which meant that even the king didn’t have any objections to this treatment. Amelia had barely interacted with the king to begin with, but learning that even her own father shunned her made her heart sink. She snuck out of the venue and sat down miserably in one corner of the garden, as if to hide from everyone else.

“If I’m that much of a nuisance, you could just not let me into the ball,” she muttered as she plucked the nearby grass.

Two years had passed since the death of the fifth consort. The servants at her palace decreased in succession. The garments and accessories of the fifth consort vanished. Even items such as furnishings disappeared. As if that wasn’t enough, even meals stopped being delivered to her residence.

At times, ingredients such as potatoes, wheat flour, and sugar were delivered as if the senders had whimsically remembered that Amelia existed, but it was far from enough for a growing child like her. If the elderly female attendant—who’d said that she was from a farming family—hadn’t cultivated a field and grown vegetables, Amelia and the very few servants present might have starved to death.

Thanks to the fact that she assisted with chores, Amelia had gotten proficient at weeding, and she’d also learned how to cook.

“I could keep going at it and become an almighty girl. It’d be nice if they could throw me out of the royal court when that happens.”

She was practically a prisoner, but it wasn’t that difficult if she only wished to leave the Fifth Palace—she could simply scale the walls. However, on one such venture, the fourth consort had discovered her when she’d been wandering around the royal court. For a good while after that, barely any food was delivered to her palace, and she’d also seen her servants receiving harsh reprimands. She wasn’t inclined to test her luck again.

Considering her dress today, as well as the fact that she’d almost never seen the man until now, the king must have absolutely no interest in Amelia. If she remained in the Fifth Palace, she’d probably marry into some unknown family for political reasons and lead the rest of her life there. Or, she might be killed when the appropriate time arrived. Either way, her future didn’t seem like it would be a fun one.

“Is there…really any point in being alive?” she muttered as she cast her eyes down.

Not a moment later, a shadowy silhouette leaped out from the thicket right before her eyes. “Y-You can’t die!”

Amelia’s eyes widened.

It was a boy about her age wearing a vivid azure jacket. His golden eyes were gazing at Amelia. Given that they were in the royal court’s garden and his attire, he must’ve been a noble’s son.

But what she didn’t get was why he was here, or wrap her head around what he’d just shouted.

Stunned speechless, she could only stare at him with wide eyes. The boy, who didn’t pay any mind to the numerous leaves stuck to his clothes, approached her. “H-Here.” His voice faltered as he held out a white handkerchief.

There seemed to be some kind of embroidery on it—was it perhaps a family crest?

The next second, the boy gingerly pressed the handkerchief against Amelia’s cheek. “I’ll give you this, so… Don’t cry. You…mustn’t die.”

It wasn’t that Amelia had wanted to end her own life. But those golden eyes gazed right into her soul, and he sounded serious, almost desperate. She nodded on reflex, and the boy breathed out as if relieved.

When she saw that the handkerchief was damp, she finally realized that tears had been rolling down her cheeks.

“Hey.” The boy sat down beside Amelia and cocked his head. “Just wondering, why is a cute girl like you crying in a place like this?”

The boy’s features were well-defined, and hearing him call her cute made her heart skip a beat. But his question sent her heart plummeting into gloominess in an instant. “It seems like I’m a nuisance. All I’m good for is summoning strawberries, so maybe it’s only natural.”

“Strawberries?”

Amelia reached out her hand, and in the blink of an eye, one petite strawberry appeared and rolled over on her palm. She offered the glossy and shining red fruit to the boy. “Here’s my thanks for your handkerchief. This is the only thing I can do. Sorry.”

At the very least, she’d willed it to be sweet and delicious. But if he found randomly appearing strawberries creepy, he probably would never touch them.

The fourth consort and Prisca had smacked her strawberries onto the ground and crushed them underneath their feet. She wouldn’t be surprised if the boy reacted similarly.

Amelia’s unease, however, came to nothing, for the boy’s golden eyes lit up. He accepted the strawberry and admired it as if it were a treasure. “Wow, it’s my first time seeing someone summoning strawberries out of nowhere. Is this magic?”

She was taken aback. “Ah, yeah. Probably.” The fifth consort had summoned watermelons, and the servants hadn’t seemed to pay it much mind, so Amelia had never thought too much about the phenomenon.

“You’re amazing,” he said in awe. “It’s really pretty.”

For the first time, someone other than the fifth consort and her servants praised her. Warmth spread in her heart, as if someone had lit a hearth.

Without hesitation, the boy tossed the strawberry into his mouth. “It’s sweet, tasty, and it cheers me up. I see now, you’re a strawberry princess. I have the feeling that as long as someone has your strawberries, they can do anything.” His golden eyes were bright as he smiled at her.

This time, her heart thumped wildly in her chest, almost suffocating her, but somehow, she felt content.

She’d never felt this way before.

The boy briefly cast his gaze down with slight sorrow. “I…can’t do anything, so I’m a bit jealous.”

Amelia tightly grasped the handkerchief and sprang to her feet. “That’s not true! You gave me this handkerchief, you were willing to eat my strawberry, you’re kind, and you’re handsome. I…I like you. I like the person in front of me.”

The boy stared up at Amelia with his mouth wide open. It was then that the meaning of her words finally sank in.

I yelled that he’s handsome and that I like him, even though we just met. I’m going to die of embarrassment, Amelia thought feverishly. He must be appalled. Maybe he thinks I’m improper and shameful.

She clenched the handkerchief and hung her head.

The boy stood up. He scooped up her hand and held it gently.

Startled, she looked up, wondering what was going on. Golden eyes shone in front of her. “I like you too.” The boy smiled warmly and pressed his lips against the back of her hand. “I’m Luke. What’s your name?”

She swallowed. “Amelia.”

Hearing that name, Luke’s golden eyes glimmered like a sea of stars.

At that precise time, a servant came searching for them. Amelia parted ways with Luke and returned to the hall in a daze, as if she were dreaming.

Amelia finally snapped out of it when the fourth consort snatched up her handkerchief and muttered with disdain, “To think that the young Lord Klein would…” Unfortunately, the fourth consort refused to return it to her.

Even after that ball, the fourth consort didn’t permit Amelia to leave the Fifth Palace, which meant that, naturally, she had no opportunities to see Luke. For days on end, she wept while grasping the necklace that was the memento of her mother and whispered, “I want to go back to the past…” That is, until one day, she received a notice that she would be betrothed to Luke Klein, the son of a ducal house.

Just knowing that Luke wanted Amelia in his life gave her hope to live on.

For four entire years following the betrothal, not only was Amelia prohibited from attending official functions, but she was barely even allowed out of the Fifth Palace. Even when she sent letters to Luke, she received no replies, nor had she gotten a single present. But it still didn’t faze her.

Prisca had scoffed at Amelia time and time again by saying, “It’s a betrothal in name only because you’re a princess, even if you barely qualify as one.” But ultimately, he had never called off the betrothal.

Perhaps Prisca was right. Maybe he needed a betrothal with a princess on paper. There was also a chance that he liked another woman now.

Nevertheless, her precious memory of Luke and the fact that they were betrothed to each other were what supported Amelia through her dark times of imprisonment and abuse.

That, and the strawberries that Luke had once praised with a smile.

Chapter 2: Coincidence

Chapter 2: Coincidence

“I am afraid your request for a meeting wasn’t granted.” Helt bowed apologetically. “We haven’t received any replies to your letters either.”

Amelia nodded readily. “Welp, I guessed as much.”

Four years had passed since her betrothal, and if you counted the time loops that spanned over three years, seven years had elapsed in total. During these seven years, she hadn’t been granted a single response.

“Still, there’s no time to waste by moping around,” she said. “But hmm, we don’t have any more envelopes or writing paper, right?”

She reminded herself that she had to purchase some next time she went into the city. Though there was an abysmally low chance of receiving replies, there wouldn’t even be that one in a million possibility she could bet on if she didn’t act.

Helt hesitated. “Please don’t do anything reckless in the city.”

“Um, I’ll be fine,” she hurriedly replied with a big smile. “I sold those strawberry daifuku without any problems.”

After narrowing his eyes just a tad, Helt nodded. “Well, please do things in moderation, all right?”

Huh. Amelia blinked. She wasn’t sure how to interpret that. Had he possibly discovered that men had harassed her last time? No, that doesn’t make sense. Helt stayed behind in the Fifth Palace. He’d even welcomed her back home when she’d returned. He couldn’t know what had happened, so he was probably speaking out of pure concern.

While evading Helt’s meaningful smile, Amelia busied herself with making strawberry daifuku before leaving for the city. Her merchandise would be the same as on her previous trip. This time, her fatigue was more intense because she refused to compromise on quality, but thanks to that, the redness of the strawberries seeping through the mochi was mesmerizing.

The customers who’d watched over her exchange with the shopkeeper last time had gathered right away when she showed up, serving as a good advertisement for her sweets. Thanks to that, they sold out in the blink of an eye today, too.

“Your strawberry daifuku is selling like there’s no tomorrow,” the shopkeeper said as she handed payment to Amelia. “It’d be great if you could prepare more next time.”

Amelia replied with a big smile. Her strawberry daifuku didn’t have any material costs, but creating them used up her mana. Because she’d been fussy about how see-through the strawberry’s redness was, even making a single one tired her out to some extent. If she considered other factors, such as the stamina required to sneak into town and go home, roughly ten strawberry daifuku was her limit.

Plus, it’d help if her sweets were rare and made people think they were hard to come across. Thoughtlessly mass-producing stock and lowering their quality would mean that all her hard-earned customers would lose confidence in her. For the time being, the best plan was probably maintaining the same number of daifuku while also selling sweets that were less draining to manifest, such as cookies.

Waving at the shopkeeper, Amelia left the stall. Not long after, she came across a beautiful boy with ashen hair and golden eyes.

She recognized him. “Ah, hello there. Thanks for your help last time.”

“Hello.” He paused. “A-Amelia.”

“Mmhmm.”

She responded because he called her name, but for some reason unknown to her, the boy’s face reddened.

Amelia tilted her head quizzically. “Oh, right. Was the strawberry sweet?” She’d willed her gratitude into the fruit to make it sweet, but she wasn’t sure about the results. It had been a long time since someone other than Helt had eaten her raw strawberries, and she was curious about his opinion.

“Huh? I mean, um…” The young man was at a loss for words, looking flustered.

Seeing that, her high spirits gradually wilted. “Yeah, I should’ve known. Having a strawberry suddenly shoved in your face must be creepy.”

He’d seen with his own eyes that Amelia hadn’t had any strawberries on her, so he must have assumed that she’d taken them out of her pocket or something. Assuming that he was from a rich merchant family, he’d probably been unwilling to eat such a thing.

Recalling Prisca and the fourth consort smacking her strawberries to the ground, saying they were disturbing, Amelia’s strawberry eyes took on a melancholic note and darkened.

“N-No, that’s not the problem.” He shook his head. “Um, I thought it would be a waste, and…I haven’t eaten it yet.”

Startled, Amelia turned to him. He sported an awkward smile. “Do you…like strawberries?” she faltered.

“Yeah.”

His clipped reply sent Amelia’s heart over the moon. She was so happy that she grinned at him. “That makes two of us. I love them too! We’re fellow strawberry lovers.”

The boy’s face grew even redder. Hmm, was it that hot today?

She continued, “Strawberries are the best, aren’t they? As long as you have strawberries, you can do anything!”

“R-Really?”

Amelia nodded. After a brief delay, the boy also nodded and returned her smile.

“Okay, then,” Amelia began, “it’s about time I get going.” She waved and began walking off, but for some reason, he trailed after her.

Confused, she asked, “Can I help you in some way? Do you want strawberries?” That said, she couldn’t secretly summon one while she was walking, so it would be a challenge.

The young man shook his head. “That’s not it. Um… You don’t look like a commoner, Amelia. Why are you selling strawberry sweets?”

Stunned by his statement, Amelia’s feet ground to a halt, which startled him into stopping in his tracks as well. “I don’t look like a commoner?” It was a most unexpected judgment. Amelia’s dress wasn’t just outdated in design—even the fabric was worn from long-term use.

The clothing in her wardrobe, which she suspected was the secondhand clothes of servants, was one of the necessities delivered to the Fifth Palace. That said, she was well aware they weren’t outfits fit for a princess. She was already used to this get-up, though, so she didn’t mind it. Furthermore, she’d thought they were brilliant options to pass off as an innocuous commoner when she wanted to head into the city. But…was I wrong?

“Well, it’s rare to see such pretty silver hair among commoners,” he explained. “They say that mana is infused within one’s hair and eyes, and among commoners—who rarely possess magic—brownish colors are what you see most of the time.”

Now that he pointed it out, most of the people she came across in the streets had brown hair and brown eyes. She’d barely ever looked at herself, so it had never crossed her mind that silver hair was rare.

That discovery blindsided her.

Taking her future business into consideration, on top of her circumstances, standing out like a sore thumb wasn’t a good idea. Amelia wanted everyone to pay attention to her strawberry daifuku, not herself.

She frowned before coming up with a solution. “In that case, I guess my only choice is to cut my hair and dye it blackish.”

Color drained from the boy’s face. “Y-You can’t do that!” he exclaimed.

“Why not?”

“I mean… Your hair is so beautiful. That would be such a shame. It shines as if someone has woven stars into it. Just looking at it makes me happy…”

Amelia couldn’t quite comprehend his words, but it seemed he cherished her hair. Is he praising it more than needed because he sees commercial value in it?

“Then, do you want me to give it to you after I cut it?” she ventured.

“No, don’t cut it,” he emphasized. “I’m begging you here.”

There was a desperate plea in his golden eyes, and somehow, feeling that she didn’t want to go against it, she relented and nodded.

At the same time, he dragged out a long sigh. “Okay, back to my first question. Why are you selling strawberry sweets?”

“Because I need money.”

He furrowed his brows, as if he couldn’t decipher her statement.

Amelia harrumphed and puffed out her chest proudly. “Strawberries are terrific. They’re sweet and tasty, and they even helped me pull through when I nearly starved to death one time. You can always count on them.”

She meant to boast about her wonderful companion, but the young man’s face clouded in the blink of an eye. “Wait… Starve to death? What?”

Hearing his solemn tone, she wavered about whether she should tell him. Then again, even if she didn’t look like a commoner, it wasn’t like he’d find out she was a princess. He likely assumed she was a humble member of a poverty-stricken noble household, so there probably wasn’t any point in trying too hard to cover up the truth.

“Well, the thing is… I’m a disgrace to the family, so they won’t let me go out in public. That’s fine and all, but I do wish they’d give me just a little more food, at least. Thanks to their treatment, though, I’ve gotten better at cooking, which is nice!”

Halfway into her explanation, the young man’s expression turned alarmingly gloomy, so she hurriedly ended things on a bright note, but it didn’t seem all that effective.

“Also, I think I’ve gotten skilled at working in the fields. Weeding’s a specialty of mine, too.”

Amelia meant it to be another cheerful statement to patch things up, but the creases between his brows were so deep that they carved into his forehead. “It…wasn’t because of a weak constitution?”

Faced with that sudden and puzzling question, Amelia stared at him quizzically and tilted her head. “Who’re you talking about?”

“You, Amelia.”

“No way. I’m the picture of health, and thanks to my work in the fields, I’m also pretty strong.” Amelia raised a fist to make a display of her muscles, but the boy’s expression was still clouded. She didn’t know why, but she could tell that he was in a sour mood. Wanting to somehow brighten the mood, she switched the topic. “Th-That aside, what’s your name?”

The boy’s shoulders jumped. “I-I’m…Luke.”

“Wow! You have the same name as my fiancé. What a coincidence!” Delighted, Amelia clapped her hands together.

Hearing that, Luke looked chagrined, as if he’d swallowed a lemon.

Cheerfully, she continued, “As a matter of fact, my fiancé also has golden eyes like you do. Now you don’t feel like much of a stranger. I’m so happy.”

“…You have a fiancé, huh?” For some reason, Luke seemed utterly drained.

Amelia nodded animatedly. “I do. Kind of. Technically.” She paused. “More importantly, I want to buy envelopes and writing paper for letters. Do you know any shops that sell them?”

His mood soured out of nowhere. “Oh. You’re going to write a letter.”

What’s up with him? Amelia wondered. “Yeah. I want to write to my fiancé.”

“…Now, after all this time?” he practically spat out those frosty words.

Amelia was taken aback. Her eyes widened.

Luke must have noticed, because he hung his head while looking somewhat put on the spot. “Ignore me, sorry. I didn’t choose my words properly. So you…decided to suddenly send letters to him?”

“It’s not sudden.” She shook her head. “I’ve been sending him letter after letter nonstop for four years, ever since our betrothal.”

Without a moment’s delay, he retorted, “That’s… You must be joking.”

Amelia sported a small smile. “Yep. I sound silly, don’t I? For four years, I haven’t received a single reply, and he’s dismissed all my requests for meetings. He probably couldn’t care less about me, but well… There’s still something I want to talk about with him in person.”

For a while, Luke was frozen in place. Eventually, he spoke up, as if he’d realized something. “Well then, why do you need to buy envelopes and paper?”

Amelia blinked. “I mean, I won’t have any if I don’t buy some.”

“Ah… I mean, if you’re a noble, can’t your servants fetch them for you?”

He had a point there, but it didn’t apply in Amelia’s case. “There’s no chance of that. I’ve only got a single servant, and he can’t fetch what we don’t have.”

“A single servant?!” he exclaimed. “And you don’t have any envelopes and paper?!”

His surprise was understandable, but it was already the norm for Amelia. “Plus, I can’t leave my residence as I please, so I can’t even head out to meet him formally.”

Luke looked at her with bewilderment. “But right now, you’re…”

“I snuck out through a hole in the wall. Keep that a secret, will you?” She doubted anyone would guess a princess was sneaking out of the royal court, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

“Okay. So you’re selling strawberry sweets to earn money. You want the money to buy envelopes and paper. In other words, are you doing all this to write letters?”

Amelia nodded before adding, “Oh, I’ve also got plans to make a formal dress.”

Luke looked thrown off. “Why’s that?”

She shrugged. “Well, I don’t know where my fiancé’s estate is. Marching up to him and confronting him directly during an evening party is the most realistic in terms of time and distance.”

“Ah, I guess… But you must have received plenty of dresses up until now.”

She tilted her head. “Received?”

“Uh, from your fiancé, I mean. He must have gifted you dresses, right?”

True, a normal fiancé would probably send such gifts. Without realizing it, a dry smile pulled at Amelia’s lips. “Never. He didn’t even send me a single reply to my letters for four entire years, you know? Presents…? That’s unthinkable,” she muttered self-deprecatingly.

For some reason, Luke froze with an astonished expression. “They wouldn’t give you food. You were locked up. The letters and present weren’t delivered to you, and you aren’t even sickly…”

She didn’t know what the “sickly” part was about, but now that he listed it out, her life was rather brutal. In contrast to Amelia, who considered it impassively as if it were someone else’s story, Luke furrowed his brows and clenched his trembling fists.

Frowning worriedly, she looked over him. “What’s wrong? You look kind of pale.”

“Amelia… Do you dislike your fiancé?” Luke asked with an imploring gaze.

Slowly, she shook her head. “Isn’t it the other way round? He’s the one who hates me.”

He fixed his earnest eyes on her. “I want to know your honest feelings.”

After taking a moment to mull it over, Amelia sighed. “Promise me you won’t laugh.”

“I won’t.” Luke nodded. He didn’t seem like he was teasing her.

Standing around while talking wasn’t the best idea, so Amelia took a seat on a wooden crate in a nearby alley. Luke settled down next to her.

“I’ve only met my fiancé once,” she began. “It was four years ago, so I don’t even remember his face now, but he had golden eyes just like you, Luke.”

The crate was tall, leaving Amelia’s legs dangling. In contrast, Luke’s shoes were firmly planted on the ground. Now that she had some perspective, she belatedly realized there was quite a difference in their heights.

Luke smiled at her, and she hurriedly averted her gaze. She continued, “To tell you the truth, I can summon strawberries with magic. He showered me with lots of praise about it, and I was overjoyed. I…like him.”

Even though she was talking about someone who wasn’t present, it was still embarrassing to admit how she felt to someone else. She stole a glance at the young man beside her. Luke’s cheeks were flushed bright red, just like hers. It appeared that listening to her was also embarrassing—she felt somewhat remorseful. That said, the sweet and fuzzy part ended there, so she hoped that he would be able to put up with it for now.

She sighed. “I know. He hasn’t been willing to see me even once in four years, nor has he replied to my letters. He’s not interested in me. I know that much.”

If it had happened once or twice, she would have accepted it with resignation, thinking that he must be busy. But when it was four whole years and multiple loops, it’d be clear as day to anyone that he had no intentions of sparing any of his time for Amelia in the first place.

“Still, there’s something I want to talk about in person,” Amelia said. “That’s why I’m selling strawberries.”

“By that, do you mean that you’re manifesting strawberries with magic, making sweets with them, and selling the end results?”

“Nope. I’m summoning strawberry desserts with magic.”

It was, of course, possible to start with strawberries and use them as ingredients. That, however, required both effort and material costs. In the Fifth Palace, where food and ingredients were meager, it was out of the question.

Luke hesitated. “I’ve never heard of such magic before. I can understand summoning fire or water, but just summoning strawberries is rare. And you can even summon finished food products, huh?”

“Only finished food products involving strawberries,” she corrected. “Strawberries are the best!”

“I have to wonder where your absolute trust in strawberries came from.”

Luke looked exasperated, but strawberries were amazing, and that was a fact. And facts are facts.

Amelia shrugged. “Anyway, I need money. And envelopes and paper, but I’m also going to make a dress. Dresses are expensive, you know? When I heard the market price for them, it gave me a good scare. Even an entire pile of strawberry daifuku wouldn’t be enough.” She spread out her arms to emphasize the “pile” part, earning a wry smile from him.

Sighing, she continued, “But I can’t attend a formal evening party in this outfit, so I need one. Not to mention…” She cut off her sentence and cast down her eyes.

Puzzled, Luke peered into her face. “Not to mention?”

“It’s been four years, you know.” Shyness welled up, and she pouted. “Of course I want him to think that I’m at least a little cute.”

Luke jerked his head forward and then hung it.

Amelia looked at him with concern. “Wh-What’s wrong? Sorry, did I say something that made you uncomfortable?”

Her fiancé had ignored her for four years—wanting him to think that she was cute could make her sound like quite the stalker or utterly vain. She hadn’t expected him to be so grossed out that he couldn’t maintain his posture. I feel bad now.

“That’s not it; everything’s okay. I just…received a bit of a critical hit. Don’t take it to heart.”

“Hm?”

If her stalker-like statement had been a critical blow, then he found her disturbing after all. She wasn’t sure whether everything was truly okay, like he said.

Luke was covering his face with his hands, but he kept insisting that everything was fine. Hounding him would only affirm his opinion that Amelia was creepy, so she pretended nothing had happened and moved on.

“Anyway, I need quite a large sum, so I’m working hard and selling my stuff,” she said. “Plus, even if I do make a dress, there’s another problem.”

“What is it?” Though he still buried his face in his hands, he was listening and responding to her. She noted that he was a rather sincere person.

“I can’t leave from the front entrance of my residence. But even if I sneak out, they might not let me into the venue. Barely anyone recognizes my face, so they might chuck me out as a suspicious intruder.”

Considering that it was the royal court, she might even be thrown into prison. She needed to carefully analyze and prepare measures to deal with that.

“Then, are you saying that you’re able to see your fiancé as long as you have a dress?” Luke moved his hands away from his face at last, but his cheeks held a hint of crimson. Maybe blood had rushed to his head because he was too repulsed.

“That’s the bare minimum requirement, yeah. But I’m not sure how long it’s going to take at the rate I’m going. Plus, I don’t know which evening party my fiancé will attend either…” She trailed off.

“Is something bothering you?”

Amelia hesitated. “He might not want to see me. He probably hates my guts, after all.” Her shoulders slumped, and she hung her head.

She could persevere to the end of time for Luke’s sake, whether it be selling strawberries or working hard to get her hands on a dress. However, her wish to see him was one-sided. Perhaps he shunned the idea of even facing her.

Amelia could—no, she would—endure anything he threw at her, whether it be hatred, aversion, or curses. But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t feel miserable.

Luke took a deep breath. “All right then.”

“What?”

As if the flush of his cheeks earlier had been her imagination, Luke stared at Amelia solemnly. After giving her a radiant smile, he stood up from the wooden crate and held out a hand to her. “You wanted to buy envelopes and paper, right?”

Eyes wide, she nodded. “Ah. Yeah.” It appeared that he was going to lead the way to a corresponding shop.

Taking his hand, Amelia stood up. She began walking with Luke.

A nearby shop sold envelopes and writing paper, but wares with lovely designs fetched steep prices. Since she had to send a number of letters, she had to prioritize quantity over quality.

“You’ve taken a fancy to those ones, right?” Luke asked. “How about I buy them for you?”

She was thankful for his generosity, but she shook her head. “These are letters to express my feelings. I want to buy them with my own money.”

“…I see.” An enigmatic smile, somewhere between wistful and delighted, played on his lips. For some reason, he stroked Amelia’s head. “Let’s talk again. Tell me more about you.”

“Huh? Sure. I should go to the shop to sell sweets again, so let’s chat if we bump into each other on another day.”

For Amelia, opportunities to interact with her peers were scarce. And she enjoyed talking with Luke. She planned to continue her confectionery business for a while anyway, so surely there was no harm in taking a breather once in a while, or so she thought.

Seeing Amelia’s smile, Luke gently lifted her hand. In the blink of an eye, he pressed his lips against the back of it.

“Eep?!” Startled, Amelia pulled her hand away, but Luke didn’t seem bothered.

Was this some kind of greeting among nobles? Maybe he thought that Amelia was a member of the aristocracy, even if she didn’t seem like it. Or perhaps he was also a noble.

Amelia’s eyes were wide with astonishment, and seeing that, Luke’s golden eyes glimmered with the hint of a smile. “See you again, Amelia.”

“Y-Yeah.”

As she watched his retreating figure, she pressed hard on her erratically pounding heart. “Th-They might have the same eye color and name, yeah, and it’s true that he’s a bit handsome, but no, stop right there, Amelia. Your heart already belongs to Lord Luke!”

Flustered, she lightly slapped her cheeks before she began walking.

“I know,” she muttered to herself. “I’m not used to things like kisses on the hand, so my heart’s going berserk because he took me by surprise. That’s got to be it.”

Assuming it was truly a normal greeting between nobles, Luke Klein might do the same thing when they reunited. Now that she thought back, he’d also kissed her hand during their one and only meeting when she’d been twelve, so it was definitely within the realm of possibility.

Anxiety crept into her heart. At the same time, she worried a little. “I can’t afford to act in an unseemly manner in front of Lord Luke. I should prepare myself mentally…and hmm, should I also practice too?”

In that case, she should go to Helt for his assistance after she returned to the Fifth Palace.

Fanning her flushed cheeks, Amelia hurried back to the royal court.

🍓🍓🍓

A kneeling man took Amelia’s hand and kissed the back of it. Amelia stared unblinkingly at him until he lifted his face. She tilted her head. “It sorta…feels strange?”

“Have you prepared yourself mentally like you mentioned?” Helt rose onto his feet. For some reason, he took out a handkerchief and wiped her hand.

“Is it standard practice to wipe my hand after you’re done?”

“Not quite.” Helt shook his head. “It is simply because it is unacceptable for my princess’s hand to be sullied.”

“If a woman did it, I might end up with lipstick on my hand, but it should be fine in your case, shouldn’t it?”

“It is a matter of my personal attitude.” He paused. “Now then, how was it?” After gingerly wiping her hand, Helt gave her a wide smile.

Amelia had asked him to help her practice being kissed on the hand, but it was different from what she’d imagined. “Hmm… I think I should be fine with how that went.”

Possibly because it was the second time, her heart didn’t make a racket. If she kept this up, she should be able to avoid getting flustered during the possible third experience with Lord Luke.

That said, to her, Helt was like her one and only precious family who’d remained in the Fifth Palace. She couldn’t compare him with other men in general.

She shrugged. “Well, it’s not like Lord Luke is going to do this for sure or anything. Not to mention that I can’t even see him to begin with…”

“I am afraid I cannot make any sense of that practice, but your positive mindset is a good shift,” Helt said. “In the past, you were more fainthearted. You even shed tears because he wouldn’t send replies to your letters, didn’t you?”

Now that he mentioned it, she did remember something along those lines. But seven years had gone by, and she’d also recollected her memories from her life in Japan. As you would expect, her perspective had changed.

In fact, she even found it unbelievable that she’d acted so subservient to the fourth consort and Prisca up until now. Then again, to be fair, they’d imprinted it into her over many years, and she’d likely held herself back out of a sense of remorse toward Helt, the only person who’d stayed by her.

“I’ve caused you nothing but trouble over the years,” she muttered. “I’ve already grown up, so you can head out and enjoy freedom, you know?”

Amelia mustered up a lot of courage to make that proposal, but to her surprise, Helt burst into laughter. “Grown up, hm…? I am afraid I still can’t leave you on your own, my princess. Not for a long time.”

“That’s not true. I can manage on my own,” she announced, puffing out her chest triumphantly. “I’ve mastered cooking, cleaning, and working in the field. If push comes to shove, I’ll run away and live in the city.”

Helt, however, only maintained his smile. “I am not quite sure what you are referring to by ‘push comes to shove,’ but I suggest you only make such statements after you are capable of noticing me when I shadow you.”

Amelia blinked. “Wait. You followed me into the city?”

She’d vaguely suspected it, but by the looks of it, he’d known her every movement out in the streets.

“But of course. I am your guard in the first place, my princess, remember? How am I supposed to defend you if we are separated?”

He did have a point there.

Following the death of the fifth consort, all the servants had left the palace. Helt had to take care of all sorts of work in their stead, reducing him to a simple retainer, but his official duty was her guardian knight. Having a flawless understanding of Amelia’s area of activity was only natural to him, and there was no chance he’d leave her be when he learned that she’d leave for the city.

“Hold on a hot minute…” Realization dawned on her. “Does that mean you saw everything?”

“Though it was from afar, I watched most of the proceedings, yes. I considered heading to your side when those hoodlums surrounded you, but that boy was one step ahead of me. You came up to me abruptly about practice because he kissed your hand; am I right?”

“You’ve got to be kidding me. That’s so embarrassing…”

It should have been a standard greeting between nobles—she hadn’t done anything bad. Yet, when she heard that Helt had witnessed the event, her heart was restless.

He continued, “For a moment, I even thought of cutting him down slightly because he dared to touch my princess, but well… Your heart exclusively belongs to the young Lord Klein, and there is no chance of it wavering. I decided to consider it merely as a greeting between children and let it pass.”

“Wait…” Amelia’s eyes widened. “Is it just me, or did you just throw some pretty unsettling words into that speech?”

“It must have been a trick of the wind,” he replied with a benign smile. Seeing that, she couldn’t bring herself to press him further on the matter. “That said, judging by that boy’s mannerisms, he is likely the son of a distinguished noble household. It is regrettable that I wasn’t able to get a clear look at his face. Since he is a noble, it would be wise to use an alias when you interact with him, but…” He trailed off and glanced in her direction.

Amelia felt just a tad guilty. “I, uh, I told him.”

“I suspected as much.” His attitude practically said that he hadn’t had much hope in her.

“B-But!” she objected. “I didn’t say I’m a Glaisharle!”

Helt sighed deeply. “That would be common sense. It is the name of this kingdom that only royalty can claim. Using it is no different from declaring that you are a princess.”

His argument was sound. Amelia couldn’t come up with any rebuttals.

After a pause, he asked, “And? Have you heard that boy’s name? Well, there is a high chance that he was prudent enough to use an alias.”

The fact that he had more trust in Luke than Amelia made her somewhat miffed. “He’s Luke,” she begrudgingly replied while stifling her displeasure.

Helt blinked several times. “I know that your head is crammed to the brim with the young Lord Klein, but it appears that your ears are affected to the point of mishearing things as well.”

“I-I’m telling you the truth!” Amelia insisted. “He’s called Luke. It’s an incredible coincidence, isn’t it? His eyes are gold, too. The world is seriously a big place.”

She’d assumed that he’d be amazed and share the same opinion, but Helt placed his hand over his mouth and contemplated something.

Amelia inclined her head quizzically. “Something wrong?”

“No.” He paused. “You said that the fourth consort and Princess Prisca remained near the Fifth Palace for a while the other day, correct?”

“Yeah, I did, now that you mention it.”

“You also brought up that someone other than the gatekeeper saw you walking on top of the wall.”

Amelia nodded. “Right. Thinking back, other than them, there were also men there.”

Not only had there been the fourth consort, Prisca, and their female attendants, but Amelia had also witnessed a shadowy, youth-like silhouette with ashen hair, as well as a handful of other men. The youth had seemed to look in her direction, so she wouldn’t be surprised if other people had caught sight of her, too.

Helt frowned. “It would be trouble if the fourth consort pesters you and sets her mind on giving you trouble, so please take utmost caution.”

“Got it.”

“That, and…I shall also head out into the city. I ask that you give me notice of your departures. I will follow you at a slight distance, and I will not interfere with your business.”

Amelia knew that he was probably going to follow her whether she agreed or not, so she didn’t mind informing him, but there was one problem in that scenario. “But without anyone around, we might get in big trouble if the fourth consort pops over, you know?”

Though the woman’s visits were few and far between, it wasn’t guaranteed that she wouldn’t come. Wouldn’t the fourth consort discover that Amelia was sneaking out if neither she nor Helt were present?

“That is quite all right,” Helt replied. “I can talk the gatekeepers into believing that we are unable to receive her with a random, appropriate excuse, such as that we are feverish with a severe cold.”

“You can do that? Then, do you think you could get them to let me out from the front gate if you asked them to?”

The gatekeepers had always stood next to the gate while wearing stern faces, so Amelia had been convinced that they hated her, but were they surprisingly reasonable?

Helt frowned. “No, I am afraid that would be too difficult… That said, they are only obeying the fourth consort’s orders because it is their job. They don’t resent you, my princess—in fact, they even feel affection toward you when they see you coming to fetch me at the gate.”

Seeing Amelia’s surprise, Helt wore a conflicted smile and continued, “They would also be in a bind if you asked them to treat you kindly and permit you to leave. For if they do, not only would they be punished, but also their families—and even you, my princess. That is why they are deliberately putting on that sort of cold attitude.”

It was a fact she’d been unaware of until now, and Amelia could only blink, dumbfounded.

Helt ended his speech with this statement. “My princess, many people are willing to protect you, even if it is difficult to see with the eye. Please do not forget that.”

After a lengthy moment of silence, Amelia finally said, “Yeah. Thanks for always protecting me, Helt.”

The corners of Helt’s eyes softened, and he gave her a reverent bow.

🍓🍓🍓

“HELLO there, Amelia. Looks like you sold lots today, too.”

Amelia was startled by Luke calling out to her as she left the shop. She observed him for a moment—he held himself with his usual attitude. Just like she’d thought, the kiss on her hand was a greeting between nobles. It didn’t hold any special meeting.

Slightly reassured, Amelia settled down on the bench next to the fountain.

Luke reported, “There’s a rumor going around town that a girl with silver hair, who’s as cute as a fairy, is selling tasty confections.”

Amelia was so shaken that she froze in place. She was delighted that her strawberry daifuku had gained the interest of rumors, but she had trouble processing the other part. “You mean that my hair stands out?” She frowned. “Maybe I should cut it after all…”

“Like I said, it’s out of the question for you to cut it. Your hair is incredibly beautiful. Not to mention that even if you have a short haircut, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re cute, so the rumors would stay that way.”

Judging from the reaction of the city, Amelia’s physical appearance wasn’t bad. That in itself was a happy discovery.

Still, he was clearly exaggerating. She couldn’t help but pity him. Noblemen certainly had it rough—they had to kiss hands and flatter others while laying it on thick.

Amelia took out a relatively large handkerchief from her bag, which she’d used to wrap her strawberry daifuku. She put it over her head to cover her hair and tied the corners beneath her chin. It was, in essence, a makeshift headscarf. “I can hide my hair with this, and it’s not cute either, right?”

“Ah, uh.” Luke paused. “That’s not exactly the problem, but… Oh well, whatever. More importantly, how’s it going with your fiancé?”

Amelia couldn’t make sense of his question that came out of nowhere, but maybe he was curious since he’d been nice enough to accompany her when she bought envelopes and writing paper last time.

“It’s the same old.” She shrugged. “No replies, no reaction, no nothing.”

“…I see.”

Hearing that subdued reply, Amelia gave Luke a hard stare on reflex. She’d understand disappointment—he’d gone out of his way to accompany her on her shopping, so it’d be natural for him to hope for some kind of change. She’d also understand if he got angry, thinking that her fiancé was a heartless man, or if he was appalled at Amelia, who still wasn’t going to give up after all these attempts.

However, Luke’s voice and expression didn’t fit any of those scenarios. If she had to describe it…he seemed to be smiling slyly to himself as if everything had gone according to his plan.

He noticed her bewildered gaze, and, with a benign smile this time, he placed a paper bag on Amelia’s hand.

She blinked. “What’s this?”

“Bread. You looked like you were fond of it, so if it’s all right with you, I hope you’ll enjoy it.”

“Ah, got it.” Though baffled by the sudden present, she still voiced her gratitude. “Thanks.”

Luke’s smile widened. “Let’s see each other again, Amelia.”

🍓🍓🍓

THE next day, she attempted to make strawberry-flavored churros since having only one item in her inventory was a little desolate. This new dessert, as it turned out, had a favorable reception as well. There were similar confections in this world, yes, but the long stick shape was novel to everyone, which was part of the reason for its popularity.

She didn’t need to be as particular about the appearance of churros compared to strawberry daifuku, meaning that she wasn’t as tired after making them, which was another advantage. Thanks to having more stock to sell, her total sales increased as well.

However, Amelia’s expression was clouded.

Just as she left the vicinity of the store, Luke appeared out of nowhere and called out to her. “I heard you’re selling new sweets? It’s already a hot topic in town. Well, I suppose it’s only natural since anyone would be interested in a cute girl selling tasty desserts.”

Amelia frowned. “I hid my hair, but I’m still standing out?”

Today, she covered her head with a larger piece of cloth than yesterday, even tying the knot just underneath her nose—basically, she was pulling off the good old Japanese burglar fashion style. She’d also tied up her hair into a bun, so the customers could only see her bangs at most. Accordingly, she was surprised by Luke’s report.

“Like I said, it isn’t just your hair that’s the issue,” Luke replied. “I can’t say I approve of the way you’re wearing that cloth, but you’re still cute like this, Amelia.”

“I see. That means this headscarf style isn’t good enough as a measure.” She nodded. “Got it, I’ll give it a think.”

“That aside, are there any updates about your fiancé?”

Judging by that question, Luke must still be curious about what happened after the day they went shopping. If possible, she wanted to delight him with good news, but she couldn’t exactly twist the truth.

She sighed. “There’s been no change. He’s super cold to me. No reaction, no nothing.”

“…Yeah. Seems like it.”

Though he’d been the one who’d asked, Amelia noted that he looked as if he’d known the answer even before she opened her mouth. Why in the world did he ask me then?

She changed the topic. “The way I cover my head aside, my sweets business is going smoothly. I might be able to become independent as a strawberry confectionery shop at this rate.”

“Strawberry confectionery shop?” Luke repeated incredulously. “Hold on, Amelia, your goal is to earn money and meet your fiancé, right?”

That much was true, but she had a long way to go before she could earn enough for a dress. It might even be faster if she took the leap and started her own store.

As Amelia fell into contemplative silence, Luke placed a paper bag in her hand.

She blinked. “What’s this?”

“Meat pies. You can summon things to do with strawberries, but that doesn’t apply to meat, right?”

“I mean, yeah, but… Why’re you doing this?”

There were these meat pies, then the bread from yesterday. Amelia was baffled. Why in the world was Luke giving food to her? She was grateful, of course, but she couldn’t make any sense of his actions.

Amelia stared at the paper bag while tilting her head, puzzled.

The next moment, Luke chuckled. “Well then, Amelia. See you again tomorrow.”

“But I’m not coming to the city tomorrow.”

She’d been manifesting strawberry daifuku without rest for the past few days, and exhaustion had been building up little by little. Even Helt had warned her about it, so she’d planned on resting at her leisure in the Fifth Palace tomorrow.

Amelia couldn’t tell if Luke had been listening to her or not, but he narrowed his eyes. Mirth danced in his golden orbs. “Yeah, that’s why I said that. Plus, I’ve gathered evidence to some extent.” After a meaningful pause, he continued, “Let’s see each other again tomorrow, Amelia.”

She didn’t know what was going on, but she watched Luke, who waved and left the area. In an attempt to calm her chaotic heart, she opened the paper bag and shoved her face into it. The delectable aroma of meat pies enveloped her.

“For now, I should focus on coming up with a way to wear a headscarf that’ll hide my hair and won’t stand out,” she muttered to herself.

Helt would probably meet her when she approached the royal court, so she figured she could ask him for a bit of advice.

Fishing out one meat pie and nibbling at it, Amelia made her way home.

Chapter 3: We See Each Other at Last

Chapter 3: We See Each Other at Last

THE next day, after sleeping in late for the first time in a long time, Amelia finished her work in the fields and was relaxing as she enjoyed a cup of tea.

Though she called it tea, there naturally wasn’t anything like normal black tea available in her palace—it was a blend made from drying leaves from peach trees growing in the Fifth Palace. Her life in imprisonment had grown substantially lengthy, and now, she could even discern edible vegetation. Secretly, she thought that she might survive even if someone abandoned her on a mountain in the middle of nowhere.

She frowned. “He’s taking a long time…”

After Helt had finished working the fields with her, he went over to the gate, saying that he had heard some kind of commotion. She secretly thought that he might be a bat with his ridiculous hearing—there was a significant amount of distance from the fields to the gate. She couldn’t imagine anyone being able to hear from that far away.

Amelia sighed. “What a shame. I just made the kusa mochi version of strawberry daifuku.”

She’d been experimenting with her magic, wondering how far she could go with her imagination and mana when it came to strawberries. As a result, she’d successfully singled out and transformed the rice cake component of the strawberry daifuku. The red strawberry faintly showed through the mugwort rice cake that had an invigorating shade of green, and Amelia was as pleased as she could be.

“It’s pretty exhausting, so I can’t sell it for profit, but it’s just right as a snack. I wanted to share it with him since I managed to pull it off. Oh well…”

At this rate, the tea was going to grow cold, too.

Amelia rose from her chair and walked outside. She advanced down a path with cobblestone paving—which was a chore to walk on because it was bumpy and full of holes—until she saw the gate. There, Helt and the gatekeepers were frowning sternly as they gazed at the closed gate.

“Helt, what happened?” she asked.

“My princess.” Helt turned to face her. “There appears to be some sort of dispute taking place on the other side of the gate…”

The second Helt replied, the gates flung open. Ten or so men and women—likely gatekeepers and servants—stood outside. When they noticed Amelia’s presence, all of them bowed humbly.

The man standing at the front of the crowd addressed her. “Pardon me if I am mistaken, but I believe you are Amelia Glaisharle, the fourth princess of this kingdom, yes?”

Amelia blinked in surprise. Judging by his attire, he was likely the group’s representative, but she couldn’t figure out what this was all about. “Y-Yeah, you have the right person.”

Not a moment after she affirmed his statement, women surrounded her in the blink of an eye. Before she knew it, they had brought her outside the gates.

“Um?” Amelia was disconcerted. “What? What’s going on?”

One gatekeeper raised his voice and bellowed, “You cannot take the fourth princess outside without the fourth consort’s permission! This is out of the question!”

The representative stepped in front of the gatekeeper. For some odd reason, he smiled broadly. “Our lord has endured and waited patiently for the past four years despite his requests being rejected time and time again for one lone reason, and that is his consideration for Her Highness’s health. That concern is no longer necessary, yet all his messengers who have come to request an audience with the princess have been turned away.”

“Four years…” The gatekeeper’s eyes widened with shock. “By messengers, you can’t mean…”

The representative nodded slowly. “We have come to fetch Her Highness under the orders of our lord and Princess Amelia’s official fiancé: Lord Luke Klein.” He paused. “If you have any objections, please raise them directly to House Klein.”

After shutting out all rebuttals, the representative turned around and bowed deeply at Amelia. “I am Hans, Lord Luke’s retainer. I have come with the order to bring you back with me, Your Highness. My apologies, you must be rather surprised by our sudden visit.”

“By Lord Luke, you mean the Lord Luke, right?” Amelia asked for confirmation. “As in, the young Lord Klein?”

“Indeed, I am referring to Lord Luke Klein.”

Amelia’s mind raced. Luke, who’d maintained a subzero frosty attitude to an impressive extent for the past four years, was determined to bring her out of this place to the point of going against the fourth consort’s decree. There was no way he was doing this because he had too much spare time on his hands. Which means there’s only one possibility.

She pressed her lips into a tight line. “Prisca sure works fast, huh?”

Hans cocked his head in puzzlement. “Pardon?”

Amelia, however, wasn’t in the frame of mind to pay attention to him. Did this mean Prisca had already won Luke over, even though the timeline had just reset?

This meeting was likely taking place because he wanted to negotiate directly with Amelia, who would be an obstacle to his love life, about calling off their betrothal. Or, Luke and Prisca might intend to announce that they were forcefully breaking off the betrothal to her face.

It wasn’t a simple matter to annul a betrothal with a princess, but assuming that his new partner was indeed Prisca, she was also a royal. From the country’s perspective, it didn’t matter which one was his fiancée—in fact, since Prisca had proper political backing, it might even be more desirable for her to form a connection with House Klein.

“All that effort selling strawberries is going to come to nothing, huh…” Amelia muttered to herself, dejected.

“Strawberries?” Hans repeated quizzically.

She’d been too naive—she’d thought that she’d manage one way or another as long as she could meet him at some point before the coerced proposal one year later. But she’d forgotten that the current time loop was Luke’s route—of course, things wouldn’t go the same way as before.

Trying to find even a glimpse of hope, she asked, “Where am I going, and what am I going to do there?”

Hans curled his lips into a radiant smile. “After a change of clothes, we would like you to attend the evening party tonight.”

“Alone?”

“Certainly not. Lord Luke will be your escort.”

That one statement was as if someone had poured an endless stream of muddy water over her heart. Luke must intend to publicly announce their broken betrothal.

Amelia hadn’t made any public appearances for the past four years, but her betrothal with the young Lord Klein must be common knowledge. If the betrothal had been dissolved before anyone was aware, then Luke announced his betrothal to Prisca, she could already imagine the rumor mill gleefully taking the ball and running with it. They likely planned on announcing the falling out in full view of the public to emphasize their unshakable bond.

Even in the scenario that Prisca was forcefully controlling Luke’s affections, considering how she was able to make such a bold move this soon, Amelia felt like things had already progressed to the point of no return.

She could resign herself to the fact that she couldn’t have a future with Luke. But becoming a spectacle for a couple’s relationship fodder was a different matter—she was shaken.

Amelia held back the tears that threatened to moisten her eyes. “Do I…really have to go?”

Hans, who’d been smiling, seemed taken aback. “I-It is your own choice, Your Highness. That said, Lord Luke is looking forward to being able to meet you from the bottom of his heart.”

“Oh…”

True, he couldn’t break off their betrothal in public if the other party wasn’t around. It should be possible to accomplish the same thing in a peaceful manner by reporting to the king or finishing the necessary paperwork to make it official, but he’d chosen to summon Amelia, which meant that right now, Luke wanted it to be a demonstration.

Helt seemed to have noticed Amelia’s spirit shriveling up by the second. He rushed up to her and knelt by her side. “My princess, are you all right?”

Seeing the concern and kindness in his eyes, the tears she should have suppressed threatened to spill over again. “Looks like my strawberries didn’t make it in time.”

Now that things had come to this, she’d at least be useful to Luke one last time before she left it all behind her. It was the best she could do to repay everything that her first love had done for her.

Forcing her tears back down, she replied to Helt with a smile. “I’ll go with them. I’ll go see Lord Luke and get properly rejected by him.”

“My princess, that is—” Helt opened his mouth to say something, but she raised her hand and stopped him.

Without hesitation, she broke into a vigorous sprint. At the very least, she had the chance to see Luke for the first time in four years, and he was going to escort her to boot, even if it was just the beginning. Wasn’t that alone more than enough happiness for her?

“Right,” she muttered to herself. “Compared to being ignored altogether, breaking off our betrothal in public is actually more like a reward.”

The person standing by his side might be Prisca, but in that very moment, Luke’s gaze would be reserved for Amelia alone. She’d practically been a prisoner anyway, so she was only going to return to her original life, nothing more. Yeah. I’ll enjoy the last of Luke I can see, after being unable to meet him these four years, to my heart’s content.

Amelia clenched her hand into a fist. She tossed the small strawberry that manifested in her grasp into her mouth.

“Everything’s all right,” she told herself. “You can do anything if you have strawberries.”

🍓🍓🍓

THE servants talked one after another in excitement that only grew with time.

“Goodness, I cannot begin to describe how beautiful your hair is.”

“It is lustrous and smooth—just like silk.”

“Uh-huh…” Amelia muttered. In contrast to their expressions, her face was grim.

After being guided to a room within the royal court, Amelia had a bath right away—or more like, the servants made her take a bath. They were so invested that her resistance had all been in vain, and they polished her body and beauty to the extreme. In the blink of an eye, they put a fancy dress on her and arranged her hair.

The jade-green dress featured embroidery in silver threads on her chest, and blue beads modeled after fruits sparkled beside the intricate design. The skirt was made from several layers of fabric in pastel colors, and the colors shifted little by little from one layer to another. The drape was graceful like flowing water.

A ribbon of turquoise and silver that wound around her waist like a belt, and the ends that hung down also glimmered with silver embroidery. The same kind of ribbon was used in her hair, and it spilled down her shoulders with her braided hair, swaying gently with her every movement. The part of her hair that wasn’t braided was left to flow freely down her back, but it was decorated with tiny flowers made from silver thread, as well as beads that were scattered here and there.

Amelia’s reflection in the mirror was just like a princess from some unknown kingdom, but it felt so absurdly unfamiliar to her that she was somewhat restless. She’d expected a change of attire because Hans had announced it beforehand, but never in her life had she imagined that she’d be given a spa treatment before being adorned in such a gorgeous dress.

She had an idea about why—if she looked too unseemly during the dismissal of the betrothal, people might start taking her side out of pity. The new couple likely wanted the masses to give their blessings, so Amelia mustn’t be a pitiful princess, but a woman who deserved to be thrown away.

Or, perhaps this was a gesture of consideration toward Amelia, who was technically a fellow princess at the end of the day.

After a moment of hesitation, she spoke up. “Excuse me. Who does this dress belong to? Is it really okay to borrow it?”

Amelia doubted Prisca would do something like chucking juice at her in front of prying eyes, but you never know what might happen. She’d feel guilty if she got it dirty.

Just as she thought that, a female servant smiled broadly at her. “This dress was tailored especially for you, Your Highness.”

Amelia blinked. “Tailored? By whom?”

“It was under the direction of Lord Luke Klein.”

“I see… That makes sense. No one would want to lend me a dress since it’d probably bring bad luck.”

If so, a slightly more half-hearted dress would be enough in her opinion, but she interpreted it as Luke’s kindness and accepted it with a grateful heart. In contrast to Amelia, who looked convinced, the servants’ expressions turned puzzled.

The next moment, there was a knock on the door. “Lord Luke has arrived,” someone reported.

Amelia had heard that Luke would be her escort, but she hadn’t thought he’d come this early, almost immediately after she’d gotten dressed. Somewhat nervous, she stared at the door, which opened to reveal a lone young man standing behind it.

He wore a navy jacket, adorned with a jade-green floral ornament. Amelia wondered whether he was matching colors with Amelia’s dress because they were, strictly speaking, still betrothed. Even if he’d done it begrudgingly, she was overjoyed that they had matching outfits.

Gradually, she lifted her gaze. Wait. His face was familiar.

The beautiful young man with ashen hair and golden eyes curled his lips into a cheery smile when his gaze locked with Amelia’s. “Amelia. We see each other at last.”

Her eyes widened. “Luke…?”

He had a familiar voice and face—he was the “Luke” she’d met in the city.

“Yep. I’m Luke Klein.” He paused. “Your fiancé.”

Walking up to her, Luke gave her a polite bow, but that was the last thing on her mind right now. Does this mean that the “Luke” in the city is the same person as Lord Luke? Or are they strangers that resemble each other by pure coincidence?

Though her thoughts were in a mess, she still had enough composure to open her mouth. But before she could say anything, there was an abrupt stir in the direction of the door.

There was a shout. “Amelia is here, isn’t she?!”

With that sharp question, the fourth consort and Prisca entered the room. Both of them were clad in more extravagant dresses than usual for their visits to the Fifth Palace. Prisca’s dress was especially stunning—intricate silver embroidery had been sewn into the deep crimson fabric.

Like Amelia, Luke also stared intently at Prisca’s dress. But was it just her imagination, or was he furrowing his brows?

Amelia was floored by the brilliance of a princess and heroine whose appearance lived up to those titles. Paying no heed to Amelia’s reaction, the mother and daughter looked in the pair’s direction. Their expressions clouded in an instant.

“What is the meaning of this?” the fourth consort asked.

With a smile, Luke bowed in greeting. “I am merely assisting my fiancée with her preparations, Fourth Consort.”

Prisca and the fourth consort traded glances.

The fourth consort was the first to speak up. “Amelia has a weak constitution, and I’m afraid she is far from a girl of discipline that I can present in public. Rather than choosing such an unseemly girl, how about you take Prisca as your partner?”

While Amelia tilted her head quizzically, wondering what the “weak constitution” part was about, Luke stepped forward until he was by Amelia’s side. “Unseemly, you say? Do you truly believe that after seeing Amelia? Her hair looks as if someone had spun her strands from stars, and her eyes shine like jewels. Without a doubt, she would be the most beautiful of them all, even in the evening party venue.” He narrowed his eyes slightly. “My partner can only be Amelia, my fiancé.”

The fourth consort’s and Prisca’s expressions darkened even more, but a wide smile still played at Luke’s lips.

He continued, “I haven’t received even a single response from her for the past four years, and I was worried that she might have scorned me…but it appears that the truth is quite the opposite.”

Letting out a sigh, he stared unblinkingly at the mother and daughter. “Now then. You have lied that she is sickly, refused to inform her of my requests for visits, and absolutely none of my presents and letters have been delivered to her. I believe you owe me an explanation, yes?”

The fourth consort was struck speechless.

Prisca gazed at her mother before schooling her expression into a meek one as she stared at Luke. “Calling her sickly was perhaps exaggerated. That said, my sister is far from sophisticated enough to be presentable in public, I’m afraid, and she isn’t worthy of House Klein either. We only wanted the best for you, Lord Luke.”

“P-Precisely.” The fourth consort nodded. “Amelia has no grace, and she hasn’t been educated to an acceptable extent. Considering their respective births and backgrounds, Prisca is much more suitable. The two of you are a match made in heaven.”

Though their wording was brutal, Amelia agreed that they did have a point.

Luke, who’d been all smiles as he watched the two women, tightened his curling lips into a displeased line. “Are you insinuating that you have objections toward the betrothal between the royal family and House Klein, which was recognized by His Majesty himself?”

Prisca’s smile stiffened slightly. “O-Oh, I would never…” She was still cute that way, though. Perhaps Amelia shouldn’t have expected anything less from the heroine.

“As Amelia’s official fiancé, it is only natural that I have the right to see her and send her gifts,” Luke spat. “If you intend on interfering in the future, I shall respond as I see fit.” He took Amelia’s hand, his tone gentler. “Let’s go, Amelia.”

There were many—no, there were only questions in Amelia’s head, but she’d rather not be left behind in this room. She nodded awkwardly.

Smiling softly as he watched her, Luke guided her by the hand, led her outside the room, and advanced down the corridor. He was likely heading to the party venue, but Amelia wanted to confirm a few things first.

“Lu—” She caught herself. “Lord Luke. Excuse me, there is something I wish to ask…”

Luke’s steps ground to a halt. His golden eyes turned in her direction. “Just Luke is fine. That’s what you’ve been calling me, isn’t it?”

“So…you really are the Luke I met in the city?”

He nodded with a calm expression. At that, the confusion surging within Amelia’s heart only accelerated. She should have asked him something, but she lost track of what she’d wanted to say. With a sigh, she tore her gaze from him.

“I’ve wanted to see you all this time,” Luke said in a subdued voice.

Amelia turned toward him.

A smile tugged at Luke’s lips. He enveloped Amelia’s hand in both of his own. “Since the day of our betrothal four years ago, I have never received any response from you, no matter what I tried. I was convinced that you didn’t want to be my fiancée—that you hated me.”

“I…” Amelia hesitated. “I thought the same thing, Lord Luke—no, Luke. I assumed that you weren’t interested in me at all.”

The letters she’d sent received no replies. Her requests for meetings had been ignored. And yet, even if it was only a betrothal on paper, it was still a precious bond to her.That was why Amelia was stunned—Luke had thought the same thing?

He gazed earnestly into her eyes. “Ever since the moment I met you, Amelia, there hasn’t been a day that you’ve left my mind. I secured our betrothal by going up and appealing directly to the king.”

“You…did that?”

She’d been under the impression that it was a connection of convenience for political reasons or something similar. Still, when she’d thought that Luke had been willing to accept this bond, that alone had been enough to send her over the moon.

“I thought that I might be able to see you at your debutante ball, and I made preparations, but even all of that came to nothing. I wanted to catch at least a glimpse of you, and I headed to the Fifth Palace, but the fourth consort and the fifth princess stopped me. That was when I saw a shadowy silhouette run across the top of the Fifth Palace’s wall.”

Amelia’s eyes widened. “Wha…”

The debutante ball. To Amelia, it was also the start of each time loop.

Now that he mentioned it, she did remember seeing people other than the fourth consort and Prisca from on top of the wall. So that means Luke was among them?

The first time he’d seen Amelia in four years was when she sprinted on top of a wall. She honestly wasn’t sure how she should feel about it.

He continued, “It was from afar, but I could never mistake your enchanting silver hair for anyone else. I arranged for people to stand watch around the Fifth Palace in secret, and I received a report that a girl with silver hair went out into the city.”

“Then… You were in the city that day because…”

“When I thought that it might be you, Amelia, I couldn’t just sit around. I went to see you.” He paused. “But you looked like you were full of energy, even though I heard you were sickly. If anything, it sounded like you were treated unjustly in all kinds of ways. I was stunned, and I regretted that I wasn’t able to help you at all until now.” He cast down his eyes with sorrow.

Amelia, however, was more concerned about something else. “You could tell it was me, Luke?”

“Of course. You are an adorable and precious lady with silver hair and strawberry eyes. I could never forget you.”

Luke smiled, as if to say it was only natural, but Amelia hadn’t remembered anything about him other than the color of his eyes—she’d even admitted that to his face. Actually, speaking of things she’d blurted, she had the vague memory of letting her tongue slip that she liked him right in front of him.

Amelia was stuck on what she should say. She was overwhelmed with both remorse and shyness. She hung her head to hide her feverish cheeks, and a small chuckle reached her ears.

“I was somewhat shaken when I realized you forgot about me, but that doesn’t matter, because I can see you now. Not to mention…even though you forgot my face, I learned that you’ve always had me in your heart.”

“I, well—!” She whipped her head up to see a warm smile on his face. Her pulse skyrocketed.

Luke released her hand. He knelt before her and gingerly lifted her hand again. “Amelia Glaisharle. My heart has been yours since the moment I met you. Will you please marry me?”

Under his earnest gaze, Amelia’s throat felt parched for seemingly no reason. She couldn’t find her voice right away. Her pounding heart was making such a racket that she feared even Luke might hear it.

“I-If you’re willing to have me, then yes.” She somehow stammered as her heart threatened to leap out of her mouth with nervousness. “Luke Klein, I adore you.”

Luke’s face softened into a big smile at her answer. If she wasn’t imagining things, his golden eyes began growing moist.

She tilted her head. “Luke, are you crying?”

“I’m not.”

That was what he claimed, but she could clearly see his eyes wavering with something that threatened to spill over. It intrigued her more than her elation from her feelings being returned, and she stared at him intently.

Luke stood up and hugged her tight. “Amelia. I’ve wanted to see you for so, so long. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to save you until now.”

The sound of something dripped down little by little, like the first rain after a long drought. Subconsciously, even Amelia’s eyes grew teary. “That’s not true. Thank you, Luke.”

She’d be lying if she said that her past four years and all the time loops hadn’t been excruciating. But her affections had been mutual, and Luke had cared so much about her that he’d never forgotten her. That alone was enough to make her the happiest woman in the world.

Under the guidance of Luke’s hand, Amelia entered the party venue. Almost immediately, numerous gazes converged on her. It was to be expected—she was a princess who hadn’t shown up in public for four years.

Other than her, only Prisca and the fourth consort were attending from the royal family. One noble after another greeted Amelia, and she’d even been invited to dance. Luke had declined in her stead every time, which she was eternally grateful for.

After the first wave of people was more or less gone, Amelia sighed. Luke sported a wry smile at her reaction. Compared to him, who was likely accustomed to such occasions as the young Lord Klein, she sorely lacked experience. Perhaps she couldn’t be blamed because she’d pretty much been in confinement, but she still felt a tad remorseful.

“Sorry, Luke,” she apologized. “You’ve been looking after me this whole time.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for—I’m the one who wants to stay by your side. More importantly, do you know how to dance?”

“Probably…?”

Not a moment after she responded, he tugged on her hand, and in the blink of an eye, they began dancing together at the heart of the hall. Their hands were joined, and he placed his free hand around her waist. Honestly, the dance itself was the last thing on her mind, but her body somehow managed to move on its own. She earnestly wanted to thank the female attendants and Helt, who’d continued her education as a princess even while she was imprisoned.

She was wearing an enchanting dress. She was dancing with Luke. She’d even received a marriage proposal from the man she loved. It was as if the past four years had been a fever dream.

When the party was over, Luke escorted Amelia, who felt flighty, to the Fifth Palace. He clasped her hand and smiled tenderly at her. “I’ll be honest. I want to carry you away with me instead of saying goodbye here, but that won’t do.” He paused. “Tell me if anything happens. This time, I’ll protect you without fail.”

“O-Okay.” Amelia nodded awkwardly.

His smile widened. Pressing his lips against the back of her hand, Luke then made his way back.

Amelia practiced this greeting with Helt, but she couldn’t fight the redness in her cheeks.

Helt, who’d come to welcome her home, curled his lips with joy. “I am very happy for you, my princess.”

She pressed on her flushed cheeks and nodded. “Yeah…”

It’s really as if I’m dreaming, she thought.

Abruptly, she heard a commotion at the gates. She traded glances with Helt, wondering what had happened.

During her confusion, a gown of deep crimson and gold embroidery glided up to her—it was Prisca. Her expression was the picture of gloom, which didn’t match her lovely dress. With three lady attendants trailing behind her, she stood before Amelia, placed a hand on her hip, and puffed out her chest.

“What kind of underhanded tricks did you use, you sly fox?!”

Following those aggressive words was a raised palm that swung in Amelia’s direction. Amelia evaded on reflex.

Prisca’s expression morphed from shock to fury. She attempted to smack Amelia several times, but Amelia didn’t owe it to the other princess to receive these blows on her face, so she flung Prisca’s hand away each time.

Unlike Prisca, who’d led a life as a princess through and through, Amelia even tended to fields, meaning that the difference between their stamina was apparent. Prisca quickly exhausted herself. Her breathing grew erratic, and her shoulders heaved with exertion.

Catching her breath, Prisca looked down and muttered, “Well, it doesn’t matter. The villainess of Luke’s route will be abandoned after she’s doted on for a while. I suppose you could say it’s all according to the plot.”

“What?” Amelia’s heart skipped a beat.

Prisca raised her face. She directed a smile brimming with confidence at Amelia before placing a hand on her hip and puffing out her chest once again. “In any case, I’m the one who is worthy of Lord Luke, not you!”

“H-Hold on a minute!” Amelia called out, wanting to confirm the meaning of the words that she had to get to the bottom of. Alas, Prisca turned on her heel to leave without sparing Amelia a glance.

If I miss this chance, I won’t ever get to ask her again. Amelia chewed on her bottom lip. Her mind went into a frenzy, trying to figure out a way to detain the other girl. That was when a red, glossy fruit floated to the surface of her thoughts. Right! I can do anything if I have strawberries!

She reached out her hand. Her silver strands fluttered in the air with her movement. Simultaneously, a great amount of strawberry jam manifested near Prisca and her attendants’ feet.

“Huh?! Eeeep?!” The group’s shrieks echoed in the night, and a second later, they tripped all at once before landing on their hands on the ground.

They struggled and writhed to somehow climb onto their feet, but it appeared that the jam tenaciously clung to their hands and shoes. They could only flail about on the ground. Amelia observed that the jam, which had responded to her wish of detaining Prisca, had rather high viscosity.

She vaguely recalled a similar glue device in Japan used to capture a certain lustrous black insect, which had been considered the epitome of negative charisma in any household. Ah, no, this isn’t the time to leisurely watch Prisca stuck in the strawberry jam version of a bait station, she reminded herself.

Skirting around the jam, Amelia rushed up to Prisca’s side. “Prisca, what did you mean earlier?”

“What in the world is this?! It’s all sticky!” Prisca yelled hysterically. She and her attendants were fully focused on the strawberry jam—Amelia was the least of their worries.

Amelia had to attract their attention somehow. Thinking that, she manifested a small strawberry and stuffed it into Prisca’s mouth.

“Wh-What are you—?!”

“It should be sweet and tasty,” Amelia said. “So come on, tell me more about what you just said in exchange for this offering!”

Amelia didn’t know whether the strawberry had moved Prisca with its delectable taste, but the other princess hurriedly chewed on the fruit. After swallowing it, she tossed her hair and glared at Amelia.

“Don’t make fun of me!” Prisca spat angrily as she finally escaped from the strawberry jam. “Someone like you is fated to die at Lord Luke’s hands in the end. It’s a miserable ending, and that’s exactly what you deserve!”

Leaving behind those words, she marched off furiously with her attendants, whose clothes were dyed red with jam.

Helt stepped forward. “Are you all right, my princess?”

“Yep. She didn’t manage to slap me, and I haven’t gotten any jam on my clothes either.”

Most of the jam had clung to Prisca and her attendants’ clothing and had been taken home by the group, so it likely wouldn’t take much effort to clean what was left on the ground.

After a moment’s hesitation, Helt said, “She mentioned something about a route. Is it the same thing as what you previously described?”

Calling his attitude half-doubtful would be giving him too much credit—in fact, he’d pretty much let it all go in one ear and out the other when she’d told him this was likely the world of an otome game. However, he probably couldn’t leave things as they were after hearing Prisca’s sinister words.

He frowned. “She said that the young Lord Klein would kill you…” Like Amelia had suspected, that was the part Helt was bothered by.

Amelia was more fixated on the statement before that. “She also stated that the villainess of Luke’s route will be abandoned after she’s doted on for a while. Just like I thought, this is either the world of an otome game or something along the same lines.”

She’d always had the suspicion, but Prisca’s words confirmed it.

This world had branching futures—called routes—depending on the partner that the heroine, Prisca, chose. It was currently Luke’s route, which meant that the heroine’s rival in love—no, the villainess who served as the canonical relationship fodder—was Amelia.

“Is that why…Luke’s paying attention to me now?” Amelia muttered to herself.

In addition to the four years after their betrothal, Luke hadn’t responded to her in any way during the three time loops when Prisca had been conquering other men as her trophies. He’d been so unresponsive that calling his attitude cold didn’t cut it—he’d been glacial.

Yet, for the very first time—in this time loop where Prisca entered Luke’s route—he’d chosen to approach Amelia. If Prisca had been telling the truth about her being dumped after being doted on… Luke’s kindness might be the groundwork for his love story with Prisca, whom he’d ultimately end up with.

“In that case, I can just hole up in the Fifth Palace like always and keep him at a wide berth. Then…” When she thought that far, Luke’s earlier smile floated to the surface of her mind.

He was the person who’d been in her heart for seven years. Amelia could vividly recall his warm golden eyes and his tender voice when he’d declared he’d protect her. Just remembering him made her heart swell with happiness. She couldn’t even bear the thought of losing everything he’d given her now.

She closed her eyes briefly. “Not to mention that if I don’t do anything, he’ll be compelled to propose to Prisca, whether he likes it or not.”

If he cast Amelia aside because his affection for her faded, she’d feel despondent, but she could accept that outcome. What she couldn’t tolerate was someone bending his will to their whims by force. Right, she told herself. Protecting Luke’s will was the reason she made a stand to begin with.

“I know! It’s times like these when I need strawberries!” Amelia abruptly raised her fist. “You can do anything as long as you have strawberries!”

Helt gazed at her with fond exasperation. “In short, the young Lord Klein’s affections will shift toward Princess Prisca at this rate, and you might be murdered. Do I have that right? How in the world are you going to resolve this situation with strawberries, of all things?”

“Luke likes strawberries,” Amelia announced. “I’ll feed him strawberries, get him to warm up to me, and earn a moderate amount of goodwill from him while maintaining a natural distance to prevent the doting part. I just need to keep that up and weather the storm until the turning point of the loops, which is the ball on the king’s birthday! Yeah, I think that might work!”

If the plot demanded that she was going to be dumped after she was doted on, she could just prevent the latter. There was no need for her and Luke to become enemies overnight. She would lead her life as his fiancée while keeping a certain distance that was both chaste and proper. It was indeed a simple matter when she looked at it like that.

Helt was skeptical. “Is that really where the issue lies?”

“If I don’t maneuver skillfully now, Luke will be forced to propose to her, and I…might get killed.”

At that last sentence, Helt’s brows twitched. “My princess, I am your knight. If the young Lord Klein truly intends to harm you, I will protect you even if it means risking my life.” He bowed with a serious expression she’d never seen before.

Amelia frantically waved her hand. “Y-You really don’t have to. We’re up against a princess and the son of a duke, you know? I can’t drag even you into danger.”

“Like I have said, the role of a guardian knight is to protect you from such perils, my princess.”

He might be right there, but Amelia had already caused Helt lots of trouble. She didn’t want to burden him even more.

“If that’s what you say, then I’ll run for the hills at the last moment when I’m driven into a corner! Luckily, I have merchandise I can sell—namely, my strawberries—so I should be able to manage one way or another. I’ll work on amassing escape funds just in case push comes to shove.”

If Luke were to be ensnared by Prisca’s charms, it would be dangerous to openly fight back. Considering Helt’s safety as well, the best option was probably sneaking out of the royal court and living as a commoner somewhere out there in the great big world.

Helt gazed solemnly into her eyes. “Assuming such a day comes around, please take me with you.”

Amelia nodded. “But of course. If I leave you behind, they might accuse you of helping me get away and punish you.”

The knight responded with a smile. It was a most mystifying smile, somewhere between sorrowful and happy. “My princess,” he began, “you take after the fifth consort very much.”

“You think so?”

Amelia didn’t have many memories of the fifth consort. They’d been separated by death when she was ten, but she still felt delighted hearing that she resembled her mother.

“I do.” He nodded. “The two of you are strikingly similar. The manner you summon fruits all of a sudden without warning, the manner you have an almost blind faith in fruits…and the manner of your evaluation standard for decisions and views on loss and gain are both outlandish.”

Amelia raised an eyebrow. “Is that really meant to be praise?”

“From the bottom of my heart, yes.”

He bowed profoundly to her, and she couldn’t work up the motivation to get mad at him. Shrugging, she said, “Well, anyhow, I just have to prevent him from doting on me.” She paused. “Actually, he probably wouldn’t dote on me in the first place, don’t you think? Yeah, I’ll be fine. It’s all under control!” She energetically raised a fist to psych herself up.

A troubled smile tugged at Helt’s lips. “I forgot yet another trait on that list. Being overly optimistic is something you share too.”

Amelia’s shout of self-encouragement drowned out his whisper, which never reached her ears.

Chapter 4: Tell Me, What’s the Source of Your Distress?

Chapter 4: Tell Me, What’s the Source of Your Distress?

THE gates of the Fifth Palace opened, revealing an enchanting young man with ashen hair, golden eyes, and a smile playing at his lips. Servants stood deferentially behind him.

“Good morning, Amelia,” he greeted.

“M-Morning, Luke.”

It was morning, so such greetings were the norm. Amelia could understand that much. What she couldn’t make heads or tails of was everything else.

When you’re confused…strawberries are your savior, she told herself. You could do anything with strawberries, so she should be able to resolve the situation somehow by summoning them.

Amelia manifested a handful of small strawberries on her palm and presented them directly to Luke. “Here, have these. So… Did something happen?”

Luke was slightly taken aback, but he immediately plopped one strawberry into his mouth while looking overjoyed. “That’s a strange question. I only came here to see my fiancée.”

“O-Oh.”

When he put it like that, it sounded like an ordinary event, but the standard she’d gotten used to over four years was exceedingly cold treatment. No matter how hard she tried to compose herself, she still felt restless.

“Honestly, I’d love to sit down and have a long chat with you, but I’ve also got other business. For now, I’d like your help with a little something.”

Amelia nodded. “Sure, but with what?”

The moment those words left her mouth, two women standing behind Luke approached her. As soon as they said, “Please excuse us,” they began touching her arms and back.

Amelia’s eyes widened. “Wh-What? What’s going on?”

The women bowed at the flustered princess and stepped back in the blink of an eye. However, they never explained their actions.

Stumped, Amelia gazed at Luke. Luke’s retainer, Hans, placed the bag he’d been holding upon Amelia’s hand.

Luke said, “I’ll head back for today, but I’ll come to see you as often as I can, and if I can’t, I’ll write. See you again, Amelia.” He picked up Amelia’s free hand and gently pressed his lips against it.

“Eeep?!” Subconsciously, Amelia yelped in surprise—they were in public, and he’d done it without warning.

For some reason, Luke grinned with amusement at her reaction.

After seeing off Luke and his entourage, who’d left as suddenly as they’d come, like a tempest, Amelia returned to her residence. She sat down weakly on the sofa before flopping over with a light thump.

“What was that about…? What’s going on first thing in the morning…?”

She was elated that Luke had come to see her, but she’d never expected him to march straight in the entrance on the second morning. Furthermore, he’d even kissed her hand in front of a relatively large audience.

When she remembered, Amelia’s cheeks flushed bright red. Even pressing on them with both hands didn’t cool them down. Last time, she’d been overwhelmed and had stopped at blushing, but this time, she’d even yelped in surprise. Her practice with Helt hadn’t helped at all.

The man in question looked exasperated. “Well, well. He is doting on you splendidly.” He put the paper bag on a table.

“That’s the one thing I can’t let him do.”

“Shall we decline his requests to meet you then?”

Amelia sat up vigorously. “No! I don’t want that!”

“However, if the young Lord Klein fusses over you, there is a chance you might be murdered, right?”

“I know. But I just can’t do it. Anyone would be happy if the person they like cherishes them. Distancing myself from him is… I could never do that.” She shook her head.

Last night, she’d thought that it wasn’t an issue, but when Luke was right in front of her eyes, her longtime crush rampaged despite her efforts to rein it in. She could never bear to voluntarily estrange Luke.

“In fact,” she declared, following her heart’s desire, “I want to throw everything out the window and get closer to him instead!”

Helt sighed. “You will be killed at this rate.”

That one sentence dropped Amelia’s spirit to rock bottom. The paper bag on the table caught her eye, and she reached out. It rustled as she opened it and peered inside—there was a large block of ham.

She was speechless for a moment. “What in the world is Luke’s impression of me?”

He’d given her bread in the beginning and gifted her meat pies after that. Does he think I’m that much of a glutton? She liked tasty things, so she appreciated the presents, but she felt somewhat conflicted because she was technically a young maiden in love.

“He is aware that meals aren’t being delivered to the Fifth Palace, correct?” Helt asked. “Perhaps he is trying to supplement your lack of nourishment.”

Luke knew that Amelia could manifest strawberries and was managing a personal farm, so Helt did have a point. If Luke was going to deliver supplies, meat would have the highest nutritional value for Amelia’s diet.

“He’s even going as far as to think about my health and nutrition… He’s so kind.” Amelia tightly hugged the ham against her chest. “I’m so grateful. He’s so precious. I love him to bits.” Then, she frowned slightly. “But…there’s a chance that his doting on me is an adjustment put in place by Luke’s route, right? His true feelings might actually be different.”

Even if she went up to Luke and asked him, assuming that he was truly under the influence of the route, he’d probably say that he wholeheartedly liked Amelia anyway, which wouldn’t help clear up her doubts.

She hummed thoughtfully. “If he’s supposed to kill me after doting on me, I should start seeming like a nuisance to him midway. In that case, how about I beat him to the punch and make the first move?”

Helt confiscated the ham that Amelia had been hugging and scrunched up his brows. “Make the first move?”

“Yep. I can tell him that I’ll step aside the moment he ends up liking someone else. In that scenario, I don’t think he’d go as far as to kill me.”

“Are you…going to say that to the young Lord Klein?”

Amelia nodded. Helt’s expression grew more conflicted by the second.

Huh. I thought it was a good idea, though. Is there a problem with it?

Helt explained, “Whether there is truly this ‘adjustment’ you speak of, it is indisputable that the current young Lord Klein has special feelings for you. And I believe his affections are remarkably profound.” He paused. “Frankly speaking, I suspect that proposal might put you at risk as well, my princess.”

“Like I said, I’m doing this to avoid danger.”

That’s what I just explained to him. Was he not listening to me?

Still firmly grasping the ham, Helt dragged out a long sigh. “I must say, the way you charge in the most peculiar directions without hesitation is identical to the fifth consort.”

Amelia narrowed her eyes. “What’s with that? Is that really meant to be praise?”

“From the bottom of my heart, yes.”

She doubted it was praise, no matter how she looked at it, but it was difficult to reproach the man when he bowed respectfully.

Crossing her arms, she said, “Moving on. I’ve got to thoroughly appeal to Luke when I meet him next time that I won’t get in the way of his love life.”

“What are you going to do if he proposes that you call off the betrothal after hearing it?” he muttered in a low voice.

Amelia froze. Naturally, that could happen. If anything, calling off the engagement would make the events derail from the route, which would help protect Luke’s mind and safety.

“I’ll accept it. What else am I going to do? Protecting his free will is what I set out to do, after all. If it gets in the way of my goal, it doesn’t matter whether I’m betrothed to him…or not…” Her voice gradually tapered off.

The next thing she knew, her vision swayed and shook. Tears had built up without her knowledge—and she wasn’t going to let them spill over. She bit hard on her lip and looked up at the ceiling.

Helt’s deep sigh reached her ears. “If you dislike the idea of calling off the betrothal to the point of crying—if that is how much you love the young Lord Klein, then you simply don’t have to say such things.”

“I’m not…crying.” She sniffled.

“Yes, yes. If that is what you say.” Smiling with exasperation, Helt offered her a handkerchief.

“I’m not crying,” she insisted. “This is just my heart sweating.”

“Yes, yes. If that is what you say.”

She puffed out her cheeks in displeasure at his offhanded reply, but she still accepted the handkerchief and wiped away the heart’s sweat overflowing from her eyes.

Helt looked her over. “Goodness. You are such a handful, my princess. I am single, but I feel as if I am looking at my own daughter.”

Amelia took the cup that Helt had fetched at some point and chugged down all the water in one go. Possibly because she’d moistened her throat, her heart settled down just a little. “Helt. In the scenario I mess up, you’ll also be in danger. If I release you from your duty as my guard, you’ll be able to leave this place. It’s not too late to run away if I do that now.”

Helt accepted the empty cup from Amelia. “I was wondering what you might say, but this was not what I expected.” After letting out an exaggerated sigh, he knelt before his princess. “The fifth consort has directly assigned me the duty of your protection, Your Highness. No matter what you say—even if you end up living as a commoner on the streets—I will always stay by your side and defend you.”

“You’re a stubborn one.” Amelia’s tone was half-exasperated, half-relieved.

It appeared that Helt had also deciphered the emotions in her voice, because he flashed her a tender smile as he stood up with the ham and cup in his hands. “I would be worried sick if I left a strawberry-crazed princess like you loose to act as you please. The young Lord Klein ought to take responsibility and take good care of you—it would be egregious otherwise.”

“Hey, who’re you calling strawberry-crazed?” Amelia raised her voice in objection. “Strawberries are amazing.”

Helt only grinned as he left the room.

To Amelia, this man was her only family that had been willing to stay behind for her sake since she’d lost the fifth consort when she was ten. She didn’t want to put him in danger.

“I’ve got to work hard for his sake, too.”

Chucking the strawberry that manifested on her palm into her mouth, Amelia’s strawberry eyes glinted with fiery determination.

🍓🍓🍓

THE next day, Luke easily overthrew Amelia’s expectation that there was no chance of his visiting in succession.

Today, he was visiting with only his retainer, Hans, but regrettably, there wasn’t anything in the Fifth Palace. Amelia led them to a room with only simple sofas and a table, but naturally, she couldn’t prepare tea and snacks to entertain them.

There was one silver lining, however—Amelia had a heartening ally called strawberries. As long as it was strawberry-related, she could manifest most things as long as her imagination and mana were sufficient. The spirit of a challenger quietly burned within her heart. I’ve got to try out the strawberry-type liquids that I’ve been putting on hold!

Before she could get anywhere, though, she saw Hans handing something to Helt. Intrigued, she addressed Luke, who was sitting across from her. “What’s that?”

He smiled sunnily at her. “Tea leaves, chocolate, and meatloaves.”

“Th-Thanks…”

He was giving her meat again. Maybe, as Helt had theorized, Luke was considering Amelia’s nourishment. She didn’t find it disagreeable—in fact, she was touched by his thoughtfulness—but she still felt somewhat conflicted as a lovestruck maiden.

In the corner of her vision, Helt was preparing tea with practiced ease, but he was meant to be a guardian knight by all rights. Yet, he’d gotten thoroughly proficient at household chores, and he’d even mastered sewing to an extent.

Now that she thought about it, it was rather unusual considering his duties, and she felt apologetic. Wanting to help him at least a little, Amelia stood up, fetched small plates, and arranged them on the table.

“Luke, do you have any preferences when it comes to food?” she asked. “What kind of strawberries would you like?”

His golden eyes softened. “If you’re the one preparing it for me, I’m fine with anything.”

Her chest suddenly felt tight for some reason. She was giddy with happiness.

All righty then. I’ve got to serve him a kind of strawberry that I invest lots of effort into, she told herself.

She placed her hand over a plate and concentrated. Instantly, a dessert appeared out of thin air. It featured two flat, disk-shaped cakes with red bean paste and strawberries sandwiched in the middle.

Basically, it was what you’d call a dorayaki back in Japan. It didn’t just have fresh strawberries—there was even whipped cream. Possibly because she’d pictured a lot of delicate details, she was dizzy for a moment, but the dessert was of remarkable quality.

Satisfied, Amelia triumphantly held out the plate of strawberries and whipped cream dorayaki to Luke.

He blinked curiously at it. “What’s this?”

“Dorayaki.” She paused, realizing it wasn’t much of an explanation. “Um… You eat it with your hands, and you could say it’s a type of cake?”

“You eat it with your hands?” Luke scrutinized the dessert, looking mystified.

Seeing his reaction, she realized that a normal princess would never grab a cake with her hand, but considering everything that she’d already done, it was too late to be picky about that. Amelia wasn’t a standard princess to begin with, and he’d seen her selling strawberries in the streets. Even if she tried to keep up appearances and act all sophisticated, he’d probably expose her true nature in an instant, so there was no point minding it.

She nodded. “Yep. You bite into it like this.” She used gestures to aid her explanation.

Luke stared at her in puzzlement. “Where’s yours, Amelia?”

“Ah, well…” she muttered sheepishly. “It’s a bit tiring, so I’m fine with just strawberries and tea.”

It wasn’t that she couldn’t summon more, but she couldn’t afford to faint and collapse in front of Luke, even if the chances were slim.

Holding the plate, Luke stood up. For some reason, he settled down next to Amelia.

“Luke?” She tilted her head.

He smiled at her, picked out a strawberry wedged between the two small pancakes, and plopped it into Amelia’s mouth. She’d opened her mouth on reflex. Wait. Could this be what I think it is? She had the feeling that it was one of those “say ‘aaah’” feeding scenes, which often featured lovers getting affectionate with each other.

The moment that realization struck her, heat gathered in her cheeks. She hurriedly pressed down on her cheeks with both hands and hung her head.

Amelia fervently swallowed the strawberry, heart pounding erratically, face burning. Were his doting tendencies something imposed on him by the route? Or was Luke someone who’d naturally do such embarrassing things?

Hang on. Amelia had said she was fine with strawberries and tea. Maybe he was merely sharing a strawberry with her because of that. Yeah, that’s probably why. It has to be. Luke is a kind person. Nothing more, nothing less.

Somehow managing to convince herself, she raised her face. In front of her, Luke was frozen in place while covering his mouth with his hand.

“Luke?” she prompted tentatively.

She didn’t know why he was covering his mouth, but if she wasn’t mistaken, his golden eyes were moist. In fact, some kind of clear liquid was trembling, as if it were about to spill over at any time.

“Are you…crying?” she asked.

“I’m not!” His vigorous reply caused the tears to brim over and flow down his face.

The heat in Amelia’s cheeks had died out altogether at the sudden turn of events. She gently offered her handkerchief. “Then did you get something in your eye? Are you okay?”

While Amelia was flustered, Luke pressed the handkerchief against his eyes as he shook his head. That was when muffled laughter rang out from behind her. She turned around—Hans, noticing her gaze, cleared his throat exaggeratedly.

“With all due respect, I would like to offer my opinion,” he said. “Lord Luke is so deeply moved by a lover’s meeting with his first crush, whom he wasn’t able to interact with for many years, even through letters, that he can’t hold back his tears.”

“Hans!” Luke barked, scandalized. However, his eyes were still glistening with tears as he tightly gripped the handkerchief.

Seeing that, Amelia started finding the situation comical.

“I-I’m not crying, I swear,” Luke protested.

“Yep, I know.”

The Amelia in the past would have never imagined that she’d be able to see and talk with Luke like this one day. She was overjoyed and blissful, but she mustn’t forget that this might be the influence of the plot spurred on by Prisca entering Luke’s route.

“Hey, Luke,” she began. “There’s something I want to tell you.”

“What is it?”

Gazing at Luke, whose tears had finally dried up, Amelia steeled her resolve. “If you ever find yourself liking someone else, I’ll step aside, so I want you to tell me right away.”

As soon as those words left her mouth, her handkerchief fluttered down from Luke’s hand and fell onto his lap. His eyes widened to the point that she feared they might almost fall out, and he froze.

The next thing she knew, his golden eyes moistened again. Actually, his tears had already built up to the point of almost bursting out. If she wasn’t imagining things, he was even trembling.

Startled, Amelia stammered, “U-Um, Luke?”

“I finally… After four entire years, I finally have the chance to meet you properly, but you…” He gave her an imploring look and carefully placed his hand over hers. “Do you hate me? Am I a bother?”

“Y-You’re not!”

“Did those two say nonsense to you again?”

He was likely referring to the fourth consort and Prisca, but the actual problem was slightly different. Amelia shook her head. “Nothing like that. It’s just that I want to respect your will.”

Watching Amelia, Luke picked up the handkerchief, wiped his tears, and sighed deeply. “I see… In other words, my feelings aren’t coming across to you clearly enough,” he said in such a low voice that it was hard to imagine he’d been weeping until moments earlier.

Amelia’s shoulders jolted. “Huh? No, that’s not what I mean.” For some reason, she felt intimidated, and she tried to lean back a little. But Luke grasped her hand tightly, practically pinning her in place.

“I understand the situation perfectly. From now on, I’ll profess my feelings to you without holding anything back, Amelia.”

His golden eyes gleamed bewitchingly. Amelia realized that she’d made some sort of mistake at long last. While she was flustered and speechless, Luke gently pressed his lips to her hand.

🍓🍓🍓

SINCE that interaction, Luke had been true to his word—he thoroughly expressed his affections for Amelia. Whenever he found even the slightest opening in his schedule, he came to see her. When he couldn’t, she’d receive letters, accompanied by gifts like flowers and meat.

Not only did he shower her with physical presents, but he also showed pure kindness, and he’d kiss her hand whenever he had to part ways with her. Every time, Amelia’s face would turn bright red, earning a soft smile from Luke, as well as a warm grin from Helt, as if he were watching something heartwarming. That had become somewhat of a set pattern recently.

Helt held out a cup of tea to Amelia, who was clutching her head as she sat on the sofa. “You are being very much doted on,” he muttered.

“This won’t do. At this rate, it’s all going to follow the original Luke route.” Amelia frowned.

“You were the one who dug your own grave and lay in it, my princess. There is little you can do about that.”

Only after the fact did Amelia understand that saying she’d step aside if he fell in love with someone else had worked against her favor, but if she didn’t make that statement, she might be doted on before being murdered. She couldn’t figure out for the life of her what the correct choice had been.

“This is bad,” she muttered gloomily. “Real bad. The problem is that it makes me happy, and I’m struggling to find the motivation to stop him.”

Amelia had liked Luke even before their reunion. Of course, she’d be giddy if she could interact with him, especially after he’d been ice cold to her for years—and he had affections for her and treated her kindly to boot.

She couldn’t deny that she had a few qualms about the situation. Maybe he was doing this under the influence of the route. She might be killed if she stopped resisting and accepted his sweet flood of affection. But in the end, whenever she saw Luke smiling at her, all of those thoughts went out the window.

“I can’t let this go on,” Amelia announced, determined. “I’m considering heading out into the city to get a change of pace and to amass escape funds in case the worst happens.”

Helt looked skeptical. “I can’t say that I agree with that plan.”

Not caring for his unfavorable reaction, Amelia wasted no time creating strawberry confections that would serve as her wares. First were strawberry daifuku, which were a staple of her business. Next were the strawberry churros, which received an unexpectedly favorable reception. Finally, she manifested strawberry cookies.

She transferred her sweets into paper bags before packing them all in her bag. Her strawberry eyes glimmering with anticipation, Amelia headed out into town.

🍓🍓🍓

THOUGH it had been a while since her last visit, the shopkeeper was kind, and her strawberry products flew off the shelves.

The phrase “the silver fairy’s confections” reached Amelia’s ears at one point, reminding her about how conspicuous her hair was. She took out a relatively large handkerchief, threw it over her head, and tied the corners beneath her nose. It was the same well-loved traditional Japanese burglar style as last time, but she wasn’t sure how effective it was. That said, it was better than leaving her silver hair out in the open.

“I’ll have this cookie,” a young man said.

“Right away. Thank you for your patronage.” Amelia handed over the last cookie in stock.

The customer gripped Amelia’s hand and didn’t let go. As Amelia wondered why, he smiled broadly at her. “Hey, what’s your name? If it’s okay with you, do you want to enjoy a cup of tea after this?”

Amelia blinked reflexively. Is this what they call “hitting on women in the streets?” she wondered. Though she’d been a half-prisoner for much of her life, she’d still been born and raised as a princess. It was her first time meeting such a blatant playboy.

Huh. So, playboys who pick up girls they find are even willing to talk to women pulling off the traditional burglar style? His untiring spirit of challenge was worthy of admiration.

Amelia felt somewhat moved as she listened to him prattle on. That was when a shadowy silhouette appeared by her side and shook off his hand—it was a familiar, charming nobleman with ashen hair.

Luke curled his lips into a smile. “Could you keep your grubby hands off my fiancée? Thank you.”

The other young man looked startled. Following a displeased click of his tongue, he strutted off.

Luke’s golden orbs were fixed on his retreating figure for a while. But then, they shifted onto Amelia.

“L-Luke,” Amelia stammered.

Why was he here? Before she could even consider that, Luke called out to the shopkeeper and led Amelia away in the blink of an eye. He guided her by the hand until they reached a bench near the fountain. She took a seat, and Luke settled down next to her.

He sent a piercing gaze in her direction. “You don’t need money to buy dresses or envelopes anymore, yes? Why are you here all by yourself?”

Without thinking, Amelia straightened her spine. “I’m not alone. Helt’s tailing me and keeping watch.”

“It’s meaningless if he’s at a distance. Look at what happened earlier—he wasn’t able to prevent that man from touching you.”

“I requested him to do that. And hey, that person was just a customer, nothing more.”

No words from that boy would make any ripples in her heart, so there was nothing Luke had to be concerned about. Amelia was about to voice those thoughts, but she was interrupted by Luke’s sigh.

“Amelia,” he began, “you don’t understand the extent of your cuteness. You don’t have the necessary sense of danger to protect yourself.” Sighing again, he rose to his feet and tugged Amelia’s hand as he walked. “I’ll escort you to the royal court. Follow me to my carriage, okay?”

“Huh? But Helt’s still…”

“I’ll send someone to give him the news, so don’t worry.”

Amelia surrendered in the face of Luke’s attitude that didn’t take “no” for an answer and climbed into the carriage. Then she finally noticed a problem.

“Um, Luke. Sorry, but you have to let me down after all.”

“Why’s that?” Luke frowned slightly.

“Entering the Fifth Palace from the front entrance isn’t the best idea. It’d be bothersome if the fourth consort finds out.”

The gatekeepers would open the gates whenever Luke visited, but they remained firmly shut at all other times, just like before. If she returned from the official entrance, they’d likely ask her how she’d gotten out. That was why she wanted Luke to let her down from the carriage before she snuck back.

Luke narrowed his eyes. “I see… In other words, the fourth consort is still imprisoning you.”

“Weeell… I can’t say that for sure because I’ve never tried leaving from the entrance before, but…probably?”

“Assuming that’s true, going there now would help us confirm the situation. We should stick to our original plan.” Luke nodded. “You can just give them the story that I brought you out to visit my place.”

His usual wording was mild, but now, even his tone took on a slightly chilly note. Amelia had the feeling that he’d been in a somewhat stormy mood since earlier.

“Luke, have this.” She held out a strawberry in her palm to Luke, who sat across from her. Confused, Luke looked back and forth between the strawberry and Amelia. “You’re angry, aren’t you? Sorry. Though they aren’t much, the only things I can offer as an apology are my strawberries.” She stared at him nervously.

Luke’s head jerked forward, and he hung his head. “That’s not how I want you to take this. I’m angry but not angry. How do I put this…?” He sighed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to give you a fright, Amelia.” Picking up the strawberry with his fingers, he plopped it into his mouth without hesitation. “It’s nice and sweet.”

His bright smile relieved Amelia, and a smile of her own tugged at her lips.

Still smiling, Luke moved until he sat next to Amelia. “I was worried that you might get into danger in the city, and I was sad that you didn’t tell me first, you see. That, and I didn’t like the idea of other men touching you, Amelia.”

He tenderly stroked her head. The next thing she knew, he untied the handkerchief’s knot under her nose. “You have enchanting hair of silver and jewel-like eyes of strawberry. You can’t find such an adorable lady in all the world, even if you tried. It’s dangerous if you don’t have a little self-awareness.”

As he spoke, his hand continued to slowly stroke her head. Faced with his smile and tenderness, Amelia’s cheeks heated up in an instant. “Th-That’s not true. You’re more charming than I am.”

“Hearing that makes my day.”

His golden eyes were soft with delight—there was no other way to describe him other than a dazzlingly enthralling young man. Coupled with his overflowing fondness, he was so incredibly handsome that she had trouble keeping her gaze on him.

“But,” he said, “it’s also a fact that you’re pretty, Amelia. If you want to head into the city, call me over first. All right?”

She was happy that he called her pretty and didn’t exactly want to worry Luke. It appeared he didn’t plan to stop her from venturing into the city, so he wasn’t going to obstruct her from procuring escape funds in preparation for the worst-case scenario. Considering that, heading outside with Luke would only benefit her in every way possible.

Amelia nodded. “Okay, I will. But…” She hesitated. “No one would believe me if I said I went to House Klein in this getup, so please let me down this time.” She was always clad in a dress that was the definition of plain and dreary. No matter how you looked at her, she didn’t seem like a young noblewoman from some noble household, much less a princess.

“You have a point there. Since we’re here already, I suppose we can make a detour to my place.”

“Uh, why?”

Amelia somehow had the feeling that at times, they weren’t on the same wavelength. Seeing the quizzical tilt of her head, Luke softened his golden eyes just a tad.

🍓🍓🍓

“WHAT…even is this?” Amelia muttered in a daze.

After their arrival at the Klein estate, she was led to a room overflowing with fancy and simple dresses in every color. She’d only worn unobtrusive colors until now. Her eyes almost ached just from looking at the collection.

“Can’t you tell?” Luke gestured. “These are your clothes, Amelia. Choose an outfit that you like.”

“Choose? That’s easier said than done…” She hesitated. “Wait, these are my clothes?”

She could understand if he was lending her clothes because visiting the Klein estate in a rustic outfit didn’t make sense. But what did he mean by “your clothes”?

His reply didn’t offer much of an explanation. “They’re clothes tailored based on the basic measurements we took a few days ago, so they should be your size.”

“Measurements?” She was taken aback—she didn’t remember anything like that.

Luke kept his warm smile as he gazed at her.

It dawned on her. “Are you talking about the people who touched my arms and body a while back?”

A pair of female servants, who’d accompanied Luke, had touched Amelia’s arms and back for some bizarre reason before swiftly taking their leave. Was he referring to that?

“That’s right.” He nodded. “The clothes are ready, and I was just considering sending them to the Fifth Palace soon. You have good timing. Give me a chance to thoroughly take your measurements on another day, all right?”

Amelia’s eyes widened. “Huh? Are you saying that you ordered everything here after that day?”

She didn’t know how long it took to tailor a single outfit, but evidently more than a dozen were lined up before her eyes. The time didn’t add up, no matter how she calculated it.

“Not quite. I arranged most of them for you beforehand. We didn’t know your precise measurements, so the tailors made them in a way that left room for adjustment.”

Would that mean they were already nearly finished products before he took my basic measurements?

Luke continued, “I’ve been sending you all kinds of dresses for four years—since you became my fiancée after our first meeting. I wrote letters as well, of course, and I also sent flowers and confectionery.”

A slightly sorrowful smile curled Luke’s lips. He gently pulled Amelia along by her hand, ushered her to sit on a sofa, and settled down next to her. “They told me that you were sickly,” he whispered. “I thought you were either feeble to the point that you can’t even see me, or that you hated every bone of my body. No matter what I sent or how many times I requested to meet, there was no response, and it was agonizing. But…that was the same for you too, wasn’t it?”

Ever so slowly, she placed her hand over his. Her loneliness and misery over the past four years revived in her heart at once.

There had been happiness—they were betrothed to each other.

There had been sadness—he might despise her.

There had been nurturing resignation—however she tried to garner a reaction, it had been fruitless, like shouting at a wall.

Even though she’d wanted to deny that Luke hated her, she didn’t have any foundation to stand on. Those years had been a period of pain and wistfulness, where she’d been left dangling on the single fact that he was her fiancé.

Luke gazed into her eyes. “But I can see your face now, Amelia. I can talk to you; I can touch you… I really can’t express how overjoyed I am.”

He tightly grasped her hand as he spoke, and feeling his warmth, tears prickled at Amelia’s eyes. She chewed on her bottom lip, determined to hold them in.

The corners of Luke’s golden eyes softened tenderly. “Even I thought that what I had for you was nothing but an unhealthy obsession… But when I saw you in the city—when I saw your smile and your strawberries—I fell for you for a second time. I love you, Amelia.”

Amelia swallowed. Her heart was overwrought with emotion. “M-Me too.”

His warm smile. His moving words. Tears threatened to overflow from her eyes. Perhaps his statement stemmed from the predetermined doting in Luke’s route—perhaps his true feelings lay elsewhere. Nevertheless, it didn’t change the fact that Luke was the love of Amelia’s life.

Anyone would be over the moon when their beloved professed love for them.

“So tell me, please,” Luke said in a serene tone and with an encouraging smile. “Why are you selling strawberries in the city? You don’t need money anymore, right?”

Her tears, which had been on the verge of spilling out, stopped immediately. Was it her imagination, or was this conversation heading in a wayward direction?

“Well, I…” She hesitated. “It’s because I really enjoy summoning strawberry desserts…?”

“If that’s the case, I will eat them all. You don’t have to go out of your way to sell them outside.”

Sensing an odd pressure from the young lord, she argued, “But I won’t be able to earn money like that.”

Luke slowly nodded. “What do you need it for?”

She quietly gasped. He had her cornered.

“If you want dresses, shoes, or accessories, I’ll gift them to you. If it’s because you’re in the middle of requesting an improvement to your meals, I’ll deliver various ingredients and food until it goes through.”

“Umm…” She felt a conflicting mix of remorse, gratefulness, and joy.

He inclined his head. “Is it something you can’t tell me?”

“No, it’s not that big of a deal…”

“It’s a big deal if it’s about you, Amelia. Remember what I said? I’ll protect you.”

She did remember—it was a fond memory. However, for some reason, she was a little intimidated.

Luke leaned forward slightly. “For the past four years, I have lacked the necessary power and clout to protect you. I was up against one of the king’s consorts, and I made a mistake in assuming a willowy attitude, thinking that taking action might earn your scorn. I won’t hold myself back from now on. If being in the Fifth Palace disadvantages you in any way, you can stay here in my residence.”

“No, I could never do that.” She shook her head.

Being under the care of House Klein before her marriage was improper, and more than anything, she doubted that her guardian—the fourth consort—would approve of it.

“But I’m your official fiancé with the recognition of His Majesty, you know?” He paused. “I can’t say it’s the most ideal scenario, but there is a way around it.”

Amelia blinked. “A way?”

Luke reached for Amelia’s cheek and caressed it. His fingers glided down to lift her chin. “I can simply convince them that I can’t let you go.”

His fingertips brushed over her lips, and her heart rampaged, threatening to burst. She told herself that she had to say something, anything, but just opening and closing her mouth took everything out of her in the rush of embarrassment, delight, and surprise.

As Luke watched Amelia, who acted just like a fish out of water, he curled his lips with amusement for some odd reason. “We can also go with the story that you can’t move because you fell ill. That’s the pretense she used to imprison you in the Fifth Palace—she wouldn’t be able to object. Even if she does, it’s our chance to make all her deeds public and diminish the fourth consort’s influence.”

This time, he started proposing a somewhat harrowing plan. She could hardly think of him as the same young man who’d wept a while back. Coupled with the fluttering of her heart from earlier, she was so overwhelmed that she didn’t know what she should do.

Then it hit her. It’s times like these when strawberries are here to save the day. You could do anything with strawberries. Therefore, it should be possible to defuse this situation with strawberries, too.

Amelia hurriedly summoned a strawberry on her palm before pushing it directly into Luke’s mouth. Startled, Luke chewed on the fruit before swallowing. Oddly enough, a warm smile played at the corners of his lips.

Yes! I knew I could count on strawberries. It had brought Luke out of his slightly unsettling atmosphere and reclaimed his smile. The results were stunning.

Amelia was in awe over the might of strawberries when Luke extended a hand to her. She immediately caught on—he was requesting more! Swiftly, she handed him another fruit.

Luke grinned. “I didn’t think that you’d hand-feed me, but I’m very happy you did. I’ll feed you back in return.”

“Huh? You don’t have to— Mmph!”

As Amelia chewed on the strawberry he’d stuffed into her mouth, she analyzed the situation. She had summoned a strawberry and shoved it into Luke’s mouth. Basically, hand-feeding him. Which meant that she’d basically done what a lovey-dovey couple would do during a meal. Luke had returned the favor by hand-feeding her as well. Wait. Hold on.

Unfortunately for her, she arrived at that conclusion the moment she swallowed the strawberry. She choked on both embarrassment and the strawberry, resulting in a grand coughing session.

“Are you all right?” Luke asked with concern. “You must be careful.”

If you’re worried, then don’t hand-feed me! That was what she wanted to say, but she’d been the one to feed him first, meaning that all objections wilted in her throat.

He stroked her back, and she gradually steadied her breathing. Her wayward emotions spilled out from her mouth in the form of a sigh.

“Amelia,” Luke began, “personally, I’d be overjoyed if I could have you by my side. But I don’t intend on forcing anything upon you, so please don’t worry.”

“G-Got it.” Amelia nodded. Her heart was still pounding.

Luke flashed a tender smile at her. “So please, tell me. What’s the source of your distress?”

Under the earnest gaze of those golden eyes, Amelia couldn’t bring herself to look away. Something was telling her that her struggles were futile. Trying to hide her situation from him wasn’t going to work.

Luke’s feelings might have been arranged by his route’s plot, or they might be genuine. But no matter which it was, she probably wouldn’t have any luck trying to run away from him—especially when she didn’t want to. If the alternative was causing a disastrous misunderstanding, confiding in him about everything seemed preferable.

Sucking in a deep breath, Amelia steeled her resolve. “Luke, there’s something I want to tell you.”

His golden eyes softened with satisfaction.

Chapter 5: The Power Source of the Time Loops

Chapter 5: The Power Source of the Time Loops

I gave Luke a rundown of my entire situation.

Prisca had dragged me into her time loops, and I was repeating the same year over and over again. There were things called “routes,” and each corresponded to the respective man whose affection she was trying to win over. So far, it had been a given that her love interests would propose to her at the end of every route.

In this timeline, her target and love interest was Luke Klein, the son of Duke Klein. Apparently, this was the last time loop.

After hearing my explanation, Luke crossed his arms and fell into contemplative silence. “I don’t mean to doubt your words, but how is the fifth princess capable of turning back time?”

Amelia was actually surprised that he wasn’t going to doubt her, but she was delighted that he was willing to hear her out and take her seriously. A small smile wormed onto her lips.

“In the previous time loops, Prisca was given the title of Saint. That might be the reason,” she said. “Unfortunately, I can’t pinpoint one clear reason.”

“Amelia, you are the only one who has noticed the time loops and is going back in time with her. That might be because your mother, the fifth consort, was also a Saint,” he speculated. “Assuming that the cause is the fifth princess’s Saint powers, it makes sense that you’re the only one who isn’t affected because you have close ties with it.”

Saint powers… If her mother’s powers were indeed involved in Amelia’s resistance against the resets in some way, what kind of role did they even play? Of course, part of it was probably her bloodline, since Amelia could summon strawberries like how her mother had summoned watermelons. But was that all?

An idea sprang up in her mind. “That reminds me. Prisca snatched away my necklace, my mother’s memento. The time loops start from that exact scene, but I can’t do anything because I’m in a daze. She ends up taking it away from me every time.”

If she could recover it, Amelia would in a heartbeat, but her current priorities were protecting Luke and trying to prevent her own death, so she had to put the necklace lower on the list.

Luke frowned. “If we count the four years starting from our betrothal, as well as the four timeline resets, a total of seven years have passed. I wasn’t able to see you for four years, Amelia, but you had to endure almost twice as much as I did, I see.”

“Pretty much, yeah.”

She felt a sense of loss without it, naturally, but a sense of resigned enlightenment had been thrown into the mix during the later timelines, so saying that she’d endured and persevered didn’t seem quite right.

“Amelia,” Luke began, “do you think that I’ll propose to the fifth princess in due time because you can’t believe me when I say that I like you after seven years of absolute silence?”

“That’s not it.” She shook her head. “The issue is that you’re Prisca’s target this time. Apparently, in this case, you’ll dote on me first, then…th-throw me away.”

Like anyone else would in her shoes, Amelia had reservations about bluntly telling him that he was going to murder her. If Luke truly cherished her wholeheartedly, it would be rude to him. Furthermore, if everything was proceeding according to the route’s plot, such a statement might backfire on her and become the catalyst for him to make that choice.

“Even so, I don’t see how you’d need money,” Luke pointed out.

“Huh? Well, uh…”

Yikes. Did I mess up somewhere? The conversation seemed to be going in a wayward direction once more.

Possibly because her thoughts showed on her face, Luke stared at her intensely before smiling widely at her. “Looks like you still have a secret or two.” He reached out, took her into his arms, then leaned into her ear. “Tell me, please, Amelia.”

Luke’s breath tickled her ear, and Amelia shuddered on instinct. At the same time, he pressed his lips against her ear. There was the faint smack of his lips, the sensation of something soft, and more than anything… He’s way too close!

Turning bright red with embarrassment and panic, she raised the white flag of surrender. “She said that! You’ll kill me, Luke! That’s why!”

Luke’s movements stilled abruptly. “I’ll kill you? That’s ridiculous. Why would I?”

Amelia’s heart was beating so fast that tears prickled at her eyes, but she scrambled to answer him. “The plot dictates that you’ll kill me after doting on me. Maybe I’ll become a thorn in your side once you get to know Prisca.”

Frankly, Amelia couldn’t wrap her head around the violent shift from doting to murder either. “That’s why I thought I’d be safe if I prevented the doting part, but you keep coming to me, and being with you makes me happy, too. Choosing to seclude myself in the palace is exactly what I’ve done until now, so that probably won’t move me out of the route either. At this point, I figured that when push comes to shove, selling strawberries and living as a commoner isn’t too bad, so I’ve been gathering funds…”

During her explanation, Luke had been listening to Amelia with a clouded expression, and gradually, he furrowed his brows. The next thing she knew, his eyes grew misty in a flash.

Startled, Amelia stammered, “Wh-What’s wrong?”

“You weren’t even given proper meals, you were imprisoned in the Fifth Palace, and your fiancé didn’t respond to you for seven years… But as if that wasn’t enough, you’ll be murdered after being doted on, so you want to live as a commoner? No, that can’t happen.” He fervently shook his head. “There can’t just be painful things in your life, Amelia.”

“Huh? Uh. Please don’t cry.” Frantically, she moved to take out her handkerchief, but Luke gathered her into his arms and hugged her tight before she could find it.

After taking in a breath, he whispered, as if making a vow. “I’ll protect you. The Saint’s powers or whatnot don’t matter—I won’t lose. I’ll make you a happy woman, Amelia. So trust me. Let’s fight side-by-side.”

There was a moment of hesitation before Amelia nodded. “Yeah.”

Luke’s hand gently stroked her head before he hugged her close to his chest again. Her heart was making a racket, and so was her pulse, but oddly enough, she felt as if she were in the safest place in the world.

Even if his overflowing adoration stemmed from Prisca entering Luke’s route, it didn’t change the fact that Amelia loved him. If Luke truly returned her feelings, then perhaps…choosing to rise up against their adversities hand in hand was also an option.

Finding her resolve, Amelia nodded firmly again. “Yeah. I’ll also give it all I’ve got. You can do anything as long as you have strawberries, after all.”

As she raised her face within his embrace, the golden eyes right in front of her slowly softened with fondness. “Strawberries, huh?” He paused. “Amelia, could you give me one?”

“Sure.”

Hearing that reply, Luke’s hold on her loosened, and Amelia held out her palm. This strawberry was going to be special—the embodiment of her determination to fight and stay by Luke’s side after finally meeting him and learning that her feelings were returned.

The fruit that she poured her heart and soul into glimmered dazzlingly as it reflected the light.

“What a beautiful strawberry,” Luke commented. “It’s so pretty that I can’t bear to eat it.”

“No, you’ve got to eat it.” Amelia pouted. “That reminds me, you said something similar a while ago… Did you eat the strawberry I gave you back then?”

“Honestly, I wanted to put it on display, but I ate it because it’d be a disaster if it spoiled.” Luke’s smile was radiant, but his words were far from it.

“Don’t live on the edge like that. You’ll get an upset stomach!” She’d manifested that strawberry for him to enjoy—not to give him a stomachache. Sighing, she muttered, “Seriously, eat this one too. Eat it right now. You’ve got me worried!”

“Yes, yes.” Accepting the strawberry, Luke nibbled at it, but then he stilled and intently inspected the fruit. “There’s something inside. It’s a stone… No, a jewel.”

“Whaaat?!” Wondering what in the world was going on, Amelia peered at the strawberry in Luke’s hand. Just like he said, something akin to a sparkling jewel was within the fruit.

“There are shining, pale red inclusions that resemble seeds within the crystal,” he observed. “This is probably…strawberry quartz?”

It was the first time Amelia had ever heard that term, but her eyes lit up at the extremely familiar word. “You can seriously always count on strawberries. I’ve always thought they can do anything, but I honestly didn’t expect them to even summon jewels.”

“Sometimes, I really don’t know where you get your blind faith in strawberries from,” Luke said with a hint of exasperation before schooling his face into a solemn one. “Have you ever created any jewels before?”

Amelia gave it a think, but as far as she could remember, she’d only manifested ordinary strawberries in the past. The only change had been the strawberry sweets and drinks after she’d recovered her memories of Japan.

“It’s likely the first time,” she concluded.

“I see.” He pulled out the gem from the strawberry. “Could I have this?”

Within the clear crystal, something pastel red glimmered. It was captivating. It lived up to its cute name of strawberry quartz.

“Go ahead.” She nodded. “It’s a part of the strawberry I gave you.”

“Thanks.” Taking out his handkerchief, Luke wrapped the strawberry quartz in it and placed it in his pocket. “Now then. Considering what you’ve told me about our future, there are two big problems ahead of us.”

Amelia sat up straight and stared squarely into Luke’s eyes.

“The first is whether the routes are enforced in some way,” he said with a solemn expression. “The second is the cause of the time loops.” Seeing Amelia nod in response, a small smile played at the corners of his lips. “I’m doting on you because I have affection for you. But you’ve witnessed the compulsion of the plot with your own eyes, yes?”

Amelia hummed thoughtfully. “During the first loop with the viscount’s son, he seemed like he was madly in love with Prisca. Her second target, the knight commander’s son, didn’t seem to be that smitten with her, though, and the third target, the high priest’s son, wasn’t too enthusiastic. In fact, with her fourth target, the minister’s son, he looked repulsed by her, but she clung to him.”

Now that she had listed it out, it almost felt as if the affection of Prisca’s targets was decreasing step by step compared to the beginning.

With a frown, she concluded, “But ultimately, even the people who were reluctant proposed to her.”

“Did she do something to them?”

“She seemed to lean her face close to them, but I couldn’t really see what she was doing.”

They’d been physically intimate to the point of maybe exchanging a kiss or two, but Amelia hadn’t seen anything for certain except that Prisca and her target had been close.

Luke analyzed the information she’d given him. “Even by the king’s birthday celebration, which is the key event where the timelines reset, some people didn’t display romantic affection toward the fifth princess. The influence of the plot, evidently, isn’t that strong. In contrast, if she approaches her target at that venue and takes some kind of action, they will fall for her without fail, at least from what you’ve seen so far. It looks like that’s the point we should be careful about.”

His logic was sound. In a couple of cases, her past love interests hadn’t expressed any romantic liking for Prisca until the very last minute. Furthermore, if the level of affection was diminishing with each timeline reset, there was a very real possibility that the compelling force of the routes was waning in tandem.

Amelia caught a glimpse of hope, even if a tiny one. Her heart lightened a tad.

Luke continued to theorize. “If that’s all there is to it, it’s simple. We only have to promptly marry before the year ends, but the second issue is the real challenge. Assuming that the cause of the loops and their power source is the fifth princess, she might reset the timeline again if we marry each other.”

Prisca had said that Luke was going to be the last one, but Amelia didn’t know whether she meant it in the sense that it was the last time Prisca could reset the timeline or if she was going to choose to make it the last time loop. In the latter case, there was a possibility that Prisca could reset the timeline again if she put her mind to it.

Luke gazed earnestly at her. “No matter how many times the timeline resets, it doesn’t change my affection for you, Amelia. But there’s no guarantee that I’d be able to express my feelings successfully to you like this time. Unless we pin down the cause and seal it away once and for all, time might repeat over and over again with no end in sight.”

“Yeah.” Amelia hesitated. “Since she mentioned you’re the last one, I think Prisca intends to marry you for real, Luke.”

“While ignoring what I want and feel, yes.”

Prisca was also a princess—and from what Amelia could remember, soon to be a Saint. On top of that, her looks easily qualified for the label of “stunning maiden,” but Luke’s attitude toward her was brusque. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that this world revolved around Prisca, but Luke had chosen Amelia over her. That fact lit up a gentle, cozy hearth within Amelia’s heart.

Luke nodded. “We should proactively attend the evening parties from now on. Naturally, I’ll accompany you as your partner. The fourth consort and the fifth princess make appearances in such gatherings without exception, meaning that we can monitor them.” He narrowed his eyes. “You mustn’t do anything reckless on your own, Amelia.”

Amelia just happened to be thinking about whether she could sneak into the Fourth Palace when he said that, and her shoulders jumped. She replied with a stiff nod.

He must have inferred that she’d been up to no good, because he languidly stroked her head with a wry smile. Just that simple action was enough to send her over the moon—she couldn’t describe how amazed she was at this man.

“Don’t worry,” he reassured her. “I’m sure that everything will turn out well. The strawberry princess is backing me up, after all.”

She tilted her head. “…What are you even talking about?”

“The strawberry princess—an enchanting princess with glistening silver hair and strawberry eyes. Remember the evening party you attended with me a while ago? Those who took the rumor that you’re sickly and disgraceful at face value must have gotten a shock. After all, the rumored fourth princess is, in truth, a dazzlingly beautiful young maiden.”

Luke’s praise delighted her, but she still felt he was laying it on thick. “You…somehow look like you’re having fun.”

“But of course. Anyone in my shoes would want to show off an adorable fiancé like you, Amelia.”

Seeing his sweet smile, Amelia’s heart skipped a beat. “They would? You don’t have to flatter me like that, Luke. Just receiving your compliments makes me more than overjoyed.”

“Now that’s ridiculous. You are cute. You’re cuter than anyone in the world. You’re my precious strawberry princess.” With a smile, he picked up Amelia’s hand and pressed his lips against it in one fluid motion. “Let’s do this together.”

“Eep!” Even though he’d kissed her hand countless times by now, she still couldn’t get used to it, and a yelp slipped out on its own.

Embarrassed and remorseful, she looked up at Luke to see that his golden eyes were softened with contentment. Ugh, sheesh! He’s so handsome, like always! I love him to bits!

Clenching her jaw and forcing down her overflowing affection, Amelia let out a small exhale.

🍓🍓🍓

UNDER Luke’s escort, Amelia returned to the Fifth Palace. Not a moment later, Prisca marched in, as if she’d been waiting.

“You seem to be on rather good terms with Lord Luke,” she said curtly.

Although the fourth consort wasn’t with her, the princess came with an entourage of five female attendants, and they all glared at Amelia as if she were their mortal enemy. Amelia felt put on the spot.

Helt, who’d returned to the Fifth Palace ahead of her, was standing behind her and offering his silent support. However, they were up against a fellow princess—he couldn’t carelessly interrupt the conversation, meaning that Amelia was the only one who could deal with her.

“That’s because he’s my fiancé,” Amelia said.

“Says someone with uncanny looks like you? Don’t you know that you have gray hair and eyes of blood?”

It was hard to imagine that such scathing words came from a beautiful girl’s mouth, but such a jab was barely effective on Amelia right now. “Luke said that I have silver hair and strawberry eyes. He said that I’m…cute.”

By all rights, it was likely safer if she didn’t make any rebuttals against Prisca. However, pent-up frustration over many years, as well as her elation over Luke returning her feelings, made her retort on impulse.

Before her eyes, creases formed between Prisca’s brows. “You may be full of yourself now, but that won’t last!” she spat before vigorously turning on her heel. With that movement, the necklace around her neck swayed, and the light pea-green stone attached to it sparkled under the light.

While Amelia was absorbed in the memento that she hadn’t seen in a long time, Prisca and her female attendants rapidly faded away into the distance. Amelia could march up to Prisca and demand that the girl return it, but she’d be in a bind if thoughtless provocation motivated Prisca to bring the fourth consort to the Fifth Palace. Imprisonment wasn’t anything new, so she could accept that. However, it would be troubling if the woman went as far as to intercept Luke’s letters. Furthermore, the necklace had been with Prisca since she’d snatched it from Amelia, and not having it on hand was already becoming her new norm.

“That brings back memories…” Amelia muttered.

The fifth consort had handed it over to Amelia before passing away, saying that it would protect her. For a good while after her mother’s passing, Amelia had wept in bed while grasping that necklace tightly, wishing out loud that she could return to the past.

As she recalled those days with nostalgia, Helt, who’d been standing behind her, stepped forward to her side and inclined his head, puzzled. “Was the color of that necklace always that pale?”

Amelia’s eyes widened. “Now that you mention it…”

Originally, it should have been a deep green stone with a striped pattern, but the stone she spotted earlier was a pale pea green. The timeline should have reset very recently—not that much time had passed since Prisca had snatched away the necklace. In that case, it didn’t make sense for it to be a different color from what Helt remembered.

“Huh? Wait…” Amelia muttered as realization dawned on her. Now that she thought back, she vaguely remembered it to be light green when she’d caught sight of it before the most recent timeline reset. “Its color…is gradually turning lighter?”

It was merely a color change—that wasn’t anything significant. Still, the stone belonged to the fifth consort, a Saint. Perhaps it was meaningful in some way. She wanted to investigate it, but Prisca had already left the bounds of the Fifth Palace.

Amelia frowned. “If I knew I’d start having doubts, I should’ve taken it back earlier. Hmm… Maybe I should pop over to the Fourth Palace with strawberries as offerings.”

“Please reconsider,” Helt said firmly. “What are you going to do if they frame you for attempting to poison them? You mustn’t concern yourself with those people.”

“Okaaay, I won’t.”

Helt’s wording was overblown, but he had a point. Both the fourth consort and Prisca disliked her, meaning that anything was possible. For now, perhaps the correct choice was to observe the pair at evening parties, just like Luke had said. That said, there was no guarantee that Prisca would wear that necklace to such venues.

A thought occurred to Amelia. “Come to think of it, I’ve never given it that much thought until now, but why are the fourth consort and Prisca treating my mother and me like we’re the bane of their existence to begin with?”

The pair had ostensibly displayed their animosity since her early childhood, so she’d known of their scorn, but she wasn’t too sure of the cause.

“To put it briefly, it stems from the fourth consort’s envy.” Seeing Amelia blink in surprise, Helt gave her a troubled smile. “Until the third consort, the consorts have wedded the king at almost the same time. After a short interval, the fourth consort settled into her current position. Following that, it was discovered that the fifth consort was a Saint, and she entered the royal court as a consort. In contrast to the fourth consort, who hails from an earl’s household, the fifth consort was a former orphan. She was aggravated by the fifth consort’s background from the beginning—on top of that, your mother even gave birth to a child—you, my princess—before her, much to her disgruntlement.”

Helt let out a small sigh. “That, and…I believe I also played a part in her animosity to some degree.”

“You did?”

Resentment over the fifth consort entering the royal court, as well as the order of childbirth, were both unwarranted grudges. But how does a guardian knight like Helt come into all this?

“I originated from the same orphanage as the fifth consort,” Helt explained. “I was adopted into a viscount household, and I served as a knight. I owe the fifth consort a great debt of gratitude, and when she entered the royal court, I took up the position of her guardian knight. And…the fourth consort has come to me several times after that, asking me to serve under her.”

Helt being an orphan was startling news to Amelia, but above that, the fact that the fourth consort had attempted to headhunt him was even more shocking. “But… Why didn’t you go with her? I understand staying while Mother was alive, but after her death, you’d have better working conditions serving under the fourth consort, right?”

Compared to being dragged into confinement and being stuck in that environment where even sufficient meals weren’t delivered, the work environment in the Fourth Palace should have been much more plentiful.

He shook his head. “You were here, my princess—the precious daughter of the fifth consort. To me, you are the lady I serve. At the same time, you are somewhat of a little sister or daughter in my eyes. How could I ever leave you behind? That said, my refusal to abide by the fourth consort might have contributed to part of her displeasure. I am remorseful about that.”

“That’s not true at all. If you weren’t with me, Helt, I would’ve been all alone. Thanks for always being there for me. Love you.” She threw her arms around Helt and hugged him tight.

A troubled sigh spilled out from above her head. “I can’t say that your actions are befitting of your status as a princess. However…” His large, encompassing hand reached out to pat Amelia’s head. “I adore you as well, my little princess. It is my dearest wish that you find happiness in your life.”

When Amelia raised her face, Helt pulled his lips into a broad smile. It was contagious, and Amelia felt her lips loosening up too.

Then she realized something. “Huh? Now that I think about it, it’s pretty impressive for an orphan to become one of the king’s consorts.”

She’d never questioned it before, but possibly because of her newly resurrected memories from back in Japan, something didn’t seem right about that. Based on what she knew, one’s birth status was highly regarded in an aristocracy.

“That is because the fifth consort was a Saint.”

“Does being a Saint mean that you’ll become a consort?” Amelia tilted her head. “What do Saints do in the first place?”

The fifth consort had barely ever left the Fifth Palace. The most she’d done was look after Amelia and manifest watermelons. As far as Amelia could remember, her mother hadn’t done anything too special.

“Right, the fifth consort never brought up such topics around you, now that I think back.” He paused. “Well, we can’t exactly stand around and talk here forever. Shall we head inside?”

Under Helt’s ushering, Amelia entered the room and took a seat on the sofa. The knight adeptly prepared some tea and offered it to her.

Thanks to the provisions that Luke had given, Amelia’s meals had improved significantly. This tea was also one such offering—it had a subtle floral aroma and was delightful.

“The Saint is a sacred being who can bring forth a special stone, which we call the orison stone. These stones are enshrined within the royal court and churches as relics that can ward off evil and protect this nation. It is a power that solely emerges within women, and I hear that in some cases, this power would awaken without warning and disappear just as abruptly, regardless of one’s age or marital status.”

The word “Saint” had arbitrarily given Amelia the impression that it referred to unmarried, youthful maidens, but it appeared that wasn’t the case.

“Orison stones are invaluable, and generally speaking, all of them fall under the ownership of the kingdom. However, the Saint is permitted to keep a single one at hand and wear it.”

Hearing the word “wear,” Amelia gave Helt a hard stare. “Don’t tell me…”

“Precisely. The necklace that Princess Prisca has snatched away is one of the fifth consort’s orison stones. It was a captivating malachite of profound verdant, decorated with a striped pattern.”

Amelia had never known that the necklace she’d been wearing as a memento was actually that precious. Belatedly, she thought that she should have taken it back from Prisca by force after all.

Held furrowed his brows minutely. “The stone we saw earlier was a pale pea green, almost certainly the result of losing mana. That necklace was an item the fifth consort entrusted to you for your protection, but that princess snatched it from you. I honestly find that infuriating.”

“Mana?” Amelia echoed. “That stone has mana?”

Nodding, Helt placed a plate of cookies on the table. These were also gifts from Luke—chocolate and oranges had been worked into the dough, and they were delicious.

“They are stones used for the protection of the country, so naturally, they are filled to the brim with mana,” he answered. “Not to mention that the fifth consort, the Saint herself, wore this particular necklace at all times.”

“You mentioned that it’s lost mana just now, right? Does mana fade from these stones over time?”

Say, for example, if the orison stones could be likened to dry cell batteries, it would make sense that the necklace’s stone would naturally discharge on its own.

“That, I am afraid, is a question I have no answer to. I believe if you don’t use it, it should stay as it is.” He paused. “The orison stone must be emitting mana on its own because her attitude toward you is poor.”

“Can that happen?”

“No, but this is a matter of my own feelings on the subject!”

Helt was evidently in a sour mood. Exasperated, Amelia quietly reached out. When he saw the strawberry sitting on her palm, Helt’s expression eased up.

“Thank you, my princess,” Helt said as he accepted the strawberry. “I am a blessed man to be granted your strawberries… In fact, if it were possible, I would love to preserve them permanently.” After gazing at the fruit intently, he plopped it into his mouth.

“Don’t say the same things as Luke.” Amelia huffed. “That aside, it could mean…that stone is losing its powers.”

Not much time had passed since Prisca had snatched away the necklace at the beginning of the time loop, and Amelia doubted that it had practically lost its powers overnight. The only plausible scenario she could come up with was that someone had used its mana, causing there to be barely any left.

The question was, how in the world could you make a stone lose an amount of mana that was enough to protect a country? What could it even be used for?

When she thought up to that point, a chill ran down Amelia’s spine. It can’t be. Is the power source of the time loops—

That was when Helt’s voice cut into her inspiring thoughts. “Now, as for your question about whether all Saints would become the king’s consort…”

Snapping back to reality at his voice, Amelia barely replied, “Ah, right.”

“If the Saint is already married, she would be granted status befitting her title. However, if she is single, she will generally become the king’s consort. Or, she would marry into a household of corresponding status. Well, you could say it is the nobles’ method of enclosing the Saint within their reach under the pretext of protecting her. Due to this tradition, it is said that those with the potential to become a Saint are often born within the royal family.”

“O-Oh.”

Amelia replied so that her reaction wouldn’t seem unnatural, but Helt’s speech was the last thing on her mind right now. It was preoccupied with a much more dire possibility.

The fifth consort’s memento might be the power source of the time loops.

Chapter 6: The Saint’s Engagement

Chapter 6: The Saint’s Engagement

THE next day, Amelia decided to take the matter up with Luke. If the necklace caused the time loops, she might be able to resolve them somehow by reclaiming it from Prisca.

However, just as Amelia was preparing to leave the Fifth Palace, Prisca and the fourth consort marched up to her door, flanked as always by a large entourage of female attendants. Their frosty gazes converged on her like knives.

Amelia had always hated those gazes, which once terrified her. Fear had made her go along with the fourth consort and Prisca’s demands without much of a struggle, but she was a different woman now.

She knew that they were encircling her in a large crowd to overwhelm her with numbers. Amelia was in an undeniably vulnerable position, and they were flaunting their vast influence in her face to drive that point home and to secure the upper hand in a confrontation.

Helt’s explanation had cleared up some of Amelia’s questions. Prisca and the fourth consort detested her—but it wasn’t a judgment on Amelia as a person. They were foisting their loathing on her one-sidedly because she didn’t pay respect to them; she was an inconvenient obstacle in their way.

These people didn’t even recognize Amelia as an individual. Thus, she didn’t owe it to them to conform to their every whim.

Lifting her chin, Amelia stared squarely into their eyes with her strawberry orbs. There was a slight stir among the group. She slowly said, “Why are you here first thing in the morning? I’m pretty busy with fieldwork and weeding. If you have any business with me, don’t waste my time by standing around.”

For a split second, Prisca’s and the fourth consort’s expressions grew stormy, but they immediately regained their superficial smiles.

The fourth consort declared with pride, “Prisca has been recognized as a Saint.”

So? What about it? Amelia wasn’t impressed. Prisca had earned the title of Saint in a few of the previous time loops, so it wasn’t anything new. Furthermore, according to Helt, the royal family had a higher chance of producing a child with the aptitude of a Saint to begin with. Nothing about this news merited surprise.

“And?” Amelia prompted.

Before anything else, Amelia couldn’t figure out why the pair would go out of their way to announce that to her. Did they want to boast to her? Did they want to demand her reverence? Or did they want her to feel frustrated and bitter?

If that was the only thing they wished to achieve by swarming the Fifth Palace with such a great crowd… It almost led Amelia to believe they actually liked her very much. That said, if it were love, it seemed to be the pesky type steeped in envy, so she’d still rather stay away from them if possible.

But above that, Amelia was more concerned about Prisca’s necklace. Unfortunately, the other girl was wearing a dress with plenty of frills around her collar, and Amelia had trouble seeing whether Prisca was wearing it today.

“It appears you have yet to grasp the severity of the situation,” Prisca scoffed with contempt. Her expression felt more like that of a villainess than a heroine. Even without any love interests in the immediate area, Amelia thought that she could at least keep up appearances a little better.

Lifting her chin, the girl continued, smiling, “The sacred status of a Saint dictates that in most cases, she will become the king’s consort. However, I am a princess. In this situation, I would marry into a household that is only second to the royal family in prestige.”

The fourth consort took over from there with an equally wide smile. “Among the ducal houses, the lineages that are the most noble next to royalty, one household acts as their head—House Klein. Prisca, you see, is going to enter an engagement with the young lord of House Klein, Luke Klein.”

Amelia’s breathing hitched. “You’re lying… I’m the one who’s betrothed to Luke.”

“That’s currently the case, yes.” Prisca inclined her head. “But the Saint is given priority. It’s exactly how your mother secured the seat of the fifth consort, my dear sister.”

True, Amelia had heard the same story from Helt. Amelia’s mother had entered the royal palace as the fifth consort, despite being an orphan, because of her Saint status. It meant that being a Saint was regarded as more important than concepts such as birth or convention.

In a melodious voice, the fourth consort added, “In the near future, the engagement between Prisca and the young Lord Klein will become official. But you may rest assured—I will make sure to look for a suitable marriage candidate for you as well, Amelia. Oh my, perhaps becoming the second wife of a marquis, whose wife has passed away recently, might be a good idea. Now, he might be around the same age as His Majesty, but I must say that a man like him is almost too good for the daughter of the fifth consort.”

How is becoming the second wife of a man around my father’s age too good for me? Amelia retorted internally. However, a more pressing thought was occupying her mind—Luke and Prisca were going to become engaged. Was it just like she’d suspected? Was her bond with Luke going to be torn apart that easily just because Prisca wished for it?

Tears of sorrow threatened to brim over, but she clenched her jaw and held them in.

Luke had said that he’d fight fate with her. And so, she would place her faith in him. It was still too early to cry. I won’t lose. I can’t lose here!

Amelia raised her head and stared straight at the two women with her strawberry eyes. Prisca and the fourth consort faltered just a tad. “More importantly, Prisca. Give me back my necklace—my mother’s memento. If you claim that you are a noble and sacred Saint, then don’t steal other people’s possessions.”

Determined, Amelia held out her hand and made her appeal. The next moment, Prisca creased her brows. “Y-You are such a fussy woman. I shall head back with this!”

Prisca hurriedly turned on her heel. The fourth consort and the female attendants followed suit.

At this rate, she’s going to get away! Amelia’s eyes widened. She had to detain them somehow—the moment she had that thought, something red appeared beneath Prisca’s feet.

“Eeeeek?!” the younger girl yelped.

Before Amelia could register that the mystery substance was strawberry jam, Prisca slipped with a shriek and tumbled. Her bottom slammed onto the ground—no, the jam.

Amelia didn’t know whether it was because one of the female attendants had tried to help Prisca or whether Prisca had grabbed the woman on the spur of the moment, but the attendant also fell to her knees in the jam. The impact caused the necklace to sway out from Prisca’s collar for a split second, and Amelia saw that the stone’s color was a pale pea green. The color really has changed.

Seeing Prisca covered in jam, the fourth consort raised her voice. “Strawberries?! That means you must be responsible, Amelia?!” She furiously swung up her hand, ready to strike.

Without a moment’s delay, a shadowy silhouette appeared before Amelia. “If you have finished your business here, I humbly ask you to take your leave, Fourth Consort.”

Seeing Helt bow deeply to her, the fourth consort’s hand stilled. She glowered at Amelia. “Your betrothal is no more, and you cannot count on the young Lord Klein’s protection anymore. This is the last time you can act so full of yourself, Amelia.”

Like mother, like daughter—even their parting threats were similar. While Amelia was marveling at that fact, the group left the bounds of the Fifth Palace. The only things that remained were the strawberry jam splattered on the ground and a sugary fragrance.

Perhaps Amelia ought to have snatched back the necklace during the confrontation. However, being outnumbered, she’d figured that even if she’d succeeded, they’d only take it away from her again by force. If Prisca knew the necklace was the power source of the time loops, then there was even less chance that the younger girl would willingly part with it.

Besides, Amelia had a higher priority than that necklace right now.

She pressed her lips into a firm line. “I’ll go see Luke. I want to hear his side of the story from his own mouth.”

Even if everything was proceeding according to Luke’s route as dictated by the plot, she wasn’t going to surrender.

Her clenched fists trembled, and Helt, who must have noticed, gently stroked her head. “The front gates are likely locked shut, and the fourth consort will be watching it. I suggest we head from the rear exit.”

With a nod, Amelia marched away with Helt by her side.

🍓🍓🍓

AFTER slipping out from the royal court, Amelia headed straight into town. Not only was her dress in subdued colors, helping her keep a low profile, but she was even hiding her silver hair with a relatively large scarf. Helt was also adorned in a modest outfit, so to bystanders, they must seem like either siblings with a large age gap or father and child.

Amelia crossed her arms. “Well, we’re in the city now; so far, so good. The question is, how can I see Luke?”

“When you were invited to the Klein estate a while back, a servant informed me about the estate’s location, as well as the general route there. It is admittedly somewhat distant. Do you think you can manage the walk?”

“I can. Thanks.”

She’d been considering asking people for directions, so Helt’s suggestion was timely, which she was exceedingly grateful for. She was fit from her daily chores, such as working in the fields. As long as she wasn’t doing it for days on end, walking wasn’t anything agonizing to her.

As she slipped through the crowds on the streets, Amelia sighed softly. Is my betrothal with Luke going to dissolve once and for all? she wondered with a hint of unease.

The Saint was supposed to become the king’s consort or to wed into a family of similar status. She’d heard the same thing from Helt, so Prisca likely hadn’t been lying. The king had even taken an orphan as his consort, indicating that the Saint status must be considerably highly regarded.

Since the royal family wasn’t an option, Amelia could understand Luke’s name being nominated as a representative of a household with similar influence, but he was already betrothed to Amelia. Even if she didn’t seem like it, Amelia was a princess. Would even an engagement between the royal family and a ducal house be called off if it was necessary for a marriage with a Saint?

Assuming that was true, there was a high chance that they were going to proceed with the engagement regardless of Luke’s personal wishes. Perhaps there was no longer anything Amelia could do to change this fate. She’d been grasping Helt’s shirt so that she wouldn’t get lost, and she tightened her grip on the fabric.

It’s okay, Amelia, she told herself. I should trust Luke. She even had strawberries on her side. You could do anything if you had strawberries, so everything would work out somehow.

As she psyched herself up while staring down at the cobblestone paving, Helt came to an abrupt stop. It took Amelia by surprise, and she smacked her face into his back with full force.

“What? Did something happen?” She pressed down on her stinging nose and peered out from Helt’s back. Her eyes widened as an enchanting boy with golden eyes came into view. “Luke?”

The moment their eyes locked, Luke rushed up to her. “Amelia!” In no time at all, he gathered her into his arms. “Thank goodness. I received a report that you snuck out from the royal court, and I came out into the city, but… Oh, I was so worried that I might not find you.”

His tight embrace made her feel a mix of joy and bashfulness. That said, something else was more concerning to her right now. “Luke… Are you crying?”

If it wasn’t her imagination, his voice was trembling, and something was dripping onto her shoulder.

“I’m not.”

He moved his hand as if to wipe something before his hold on her finally loosened. When he pulled away, Amelia saw his misty golden eyes.

“Hey, Luke. Prisca—”

“I know. Before we do anything else, let’s get inside my carriage.”

Luke led her by the hand, weaved through the crowds, then climbed onto a carriage parked in an alley. Helt promptly got into the driver’s seat, meaning that Amelia was all alone with Luke inside the carriage.

Sitting across from her, Luke spoke up. “We received a correspondence from the royal family today. It stated that Fifth Princess Prisca Glaisharle was recognized as a Saint, and they proposed a union of marriage with the young Lord Klein according to tradition.”

Amelia widened her eyes. Prisca’s words had been true after all. It doesn’t sound like I’m going to be murdered after being doted on, but…are Luke and Prisca going to end up together either way?

Holding back the tears that threatened to blur her vision, Amelia chewed hard on her bottom lip. “Do you think…it’s better for me to step aside?” she muttered weakly.

Color drained from Luke’s face in a flash. “What are you even saying? You’re the person I love, Amelia, and I told you I’ll protect you, didn’t I?!”

“But given that the Saint’s a princess, she’ll have to marry into a household that’s only second to the royal family. No one can deny that you’re the most qualified candidate, Luke.”

Though Amelia had been a prisoner for four years, she was still technically a princess, meaning that she at least had basic knowledge about ducal houses. At the moment, the only heir of an appropriate age that had yet to marry was Luke. Even in the scenario that other choices were present, House Klein would take priority as the leading ducal house, since the requirement was “a household only second to the royal family.”

Amelia let out a shaky breath. “I like you, Luke, and I’m not saying that I doubt your feelings. But if you turn down a political marriage with Prisca, it’ll bring a lot of trouble to your family. This is at least better than being killed, so…” When she got to this point, she hesitated. “Still, it’s going to be heartbreaking for me to give you my blessings from somewhere near your side. I think…I might go back to my original plan of getting a fresh start in life as a strawberry vendor.”

“Amelia…”

“Don’t worry. I’ve also gotten really skilled at pouring strawberry-related liquids into containers. People would probably get tired of just sweet stuff, so I’ll also research savory dishes—”

“Amelia!” No sooner had Luke called her name than he rose to his feet and threw his arms around her. Amelia fell silent, unable to find her voice. After stroking her head a few times, he released her and settled down by her side. “Your fresh start in life will be as my wife, Amelia. You’ve already moved on from a strawberry vendor.”

She’d be elated if that were the case. Sadly, reality wasn’t that simple. “But Luke…”

“It’s true that it’s hard to openly declare that I love you and don’t have a smidgen of interest in the fifth princess—in fact, I despise her—since at the moment, she’s a princess and is tentatively a Saint.”

Amelia blinked in surprise. “Huh?”

“I mean, think about it. Her mother chose to imprison you, while she’s a girl who snatched away your mother’s memento. What part of her even fits the description of a saintly woman? I only have doubts and more doubts.”

“Uh, I don’t think you have to go that far…”

Even if Luke rejected Prisca, Amelia felt that only trouble awaited if he made any uncalled-for statements. Seeing her bewilderment, Luke smiled wryly before tenderly placing his hand over hers. Startled, she looked up at his face to see that his golden eyes were soft with affection.

“I thoroughly and profusely expressed my passionate feelings to His Majesty four years ago to secure a betrothal with you, Amelia. That’s likely why they brought this new engagement to me as a proposal, not as a final verdict. No one can disregard the king’s decree, after all. It gives us room to take preventative measures before we elope, which is a silver lining in this mess.”

He spoke as if he was relieved, but unless Amelia misheard, there was a word in his speech that she couldn’t overlook. “Wait, elope?”

In Amelia’s dictionary, the word “elope” meant when a pair of lovers abandoned their families after receiving opposition to their relationship and ran away to a distant place. Don’t tell me… That’s what he’s talking about?

“Of course, I don’t wish to drag you into such a harsh life, Amelia, so I won’t do that. Don’t worry.”

“Um, that’s not what I’m hung up about.” It wasn’t about the hardship—it was more a surprise that Luke would choose Amelia to the bitter end, even if it meant abandoning his status as the heir of the leading ducal house in this country.

Honestly, she was giddy at his resolve. However, robbing Luke of everything he had wasn’t what she wished for.

Seeing Amelia’s conflicted frown, Luke added, “The fifth princess’s motives aside, what matters at the moment is the condition that a princess Saint has to marry into a family only second to royalty. Which means it doesn’t have to be me.”

Still, Luke was the only one who fulfilled that requirement in reality. Unable to make sense of his statement, Amelia tilted her head quizzically, and Luke reached out toward her face. He unfastened the knot on the scarf that she’d tied beneath her chin, and her silver strands flowed down like a waterfall.

“Oh, Amelia. Your hair is truly stunning.” After patting her head a few times, Luke smiled, satisfied. “You’re admirable for hiding your hair. You’re such a beautiful and adorable girl—people might get ideas and sweep you away with them. Your guard was accompanying you this time, and it’s an emergency, so I can understand your choice. But don’t come into the city by yourself ever again. Okay?”

Under his steady gaze, Amelia’s heart raced. She nodded. “O-Okay.”

Looking content, Luke grinned before scooping up a lock of her hair and pressing his lips against it. His mannerisms held such an allure that Amelia’s pulse shot up and went out of control. “L-Luke, um, you shouldn’t do stuff like that…”

“Do you dislike it?”

His eyes gleamed brightly, and Amelia’s heart threatened to burst out of her chest. “I don’t, but my heart pounds really fast, and it’s suffocating!”

“Hmm?”

Keeping their gazes locked, Luke kissed her hair again as if to make a display before her. She realized he was doing it on purpose, aware of her embarrassment, and felt somewhat miffed—she never stood a chance in front of this man.

“S-Separate it into parts with intervals! Don’t do it all at once; divide it into fractions!”

He inclined his head. “Then, are you saying it’s okay as long as I do it in fractions?”

“I mean… I’m really happy when you touch me, so yeah…”

Amelia carelessly let her true thoughts slip, and Luke, who’d been grinning mischievously until then, turned as red as an apple before her very eyes. “Oh… You are?”

“Huh? Am I asking for too much? Is it unacceptable unless it’s in whole numbers?” Amelia chewed on her bottom lip. “If that’s the case, I’ll do my best to work with you. I’ll endure it and hold myself back. Please go ahead!” She leaned forward and offered up her face.

After blinking a few times, Luke smiled with exasperation and fondly stroked her head. “You don’t have to push yourself. Just curious though, what’re you going to hold back?”

“It’s just that…you make my heart go crazy, Luke. I don’t want my affection to brim over—I might do something that’ll bother you.”

Amelia liked Luke, so butterflies flooded her stomach with his every touch. However, the rush of her pulse also brought fatigue. She didn’t want to impose her affections on Luke and become a burden to him either.

Luke sighed deeply, his face still bright red, before he gently gathered Amelia into his arms. It wasn’t the first time he hugged her, but no matter how many times she ended up in his embrace, she still got all tense out of shyness and elation. Because of that, she stiffened slightly, and the next moment, Luke’s laughter rained down from above her head.

“It’s the same for me, Amelia. When I touch you, my heart starts pounding.”

“Really?!” Overjoyed that they felt the same way, Amelia looked up—and her gaze crashed into his golden orbs.

“Yeah. I love you, Amelia, so I want to talk to you for days and touch you. That’s why you don’t have to be worried about anything, and you don’t have to hold back.”

Amelia noticed he was specifically referring to her, and she became curious. “Then what about you, Luke?” she asked casually.

His eyes drooped slightly, as if he was at a slight loss. “I need to hold myself back a little more… I don’t want to scare you.”

Amelia tilted her head. “What do you mean?”

She doubted that Luke would do anything dreadful that would give her a scare, and she couldn’t make any sense of his words.

Giving her a wide smile, Luke released her from his hold. “The most straightforward solution is to yield my status as the Klein heir to someone else, but I don’t have any brothers. Choosing one of my more indirect relatives would be stirring a hornet’s nest, and above all, there’s one big issue with this method.”

“What is it?”

“My betrothal with you, Fourth Princess Amelia Glaisharle, was partly only possible because I’m the successor of House Klein. If I became a mere nobleman who wouldn’t inherit a peerage, our betrothal might be called off because I’d no longer be of a status worthy of you.”

“Surely that can’t be…” That can’t happen, right? was her first instinctive thought, but after some contemplation, she realized he had a point. That was a more than plausible scenario.

Being the heir of House Klein meant that Luke would be forced into an engagement with Prisca due to her Saint status, but if he lost that title, his betrothal to Amelia would be dissolved. It was as if they were cornered with no way out.

Amelia muttered, “Since it’s come to this… I can become a strawberry vendor and provide for you, and—”

“Hold on, not so fast,” Luke interrupted her. “Why do you keep going back to the idea of selling strawberries whenever something comes up?”

Clenching her hands into fists, Amelia began her passionate rant about the beautiful fruit. “Because strawberries are special. You can do anything as long as you have strawberries, so they should help us carve out a path to a bright future.”

Luke tilted his head. “Why do you have such unshakable faith in strawberries, by the way?”

Now that someone actually asked her this question, she started wondering. Why indeed? “Let’s see… The only thing I have and can summon is strawberries. But then, someone praised me, saying that as long as someone has my strawberries, they can do anything, and I was overjoyed. Wait…”

She’d heard those words when she was twelve. Which meant…

“You believe in them so much because of my praise back then?”

Amelia hesitated. “It…seems like it, yeah.”

She’d never actively thought of it that way, but now that he pointed it out, it was true that her love for strawberries had begun from Luke’s praise. It was a somewhat embarrassing realization, but above that, it made a lot of sense. That was when Amelia noticed something—if it wasn’t a trick of the light, Luke’s eyes were growing misty.

Startled, she looked at him with concern and offered her handkerchief. “Why’re you crying?”

“I’m not.” Accepting the handkerchief, Luke wiped his tears, grasped her fingertips, and planted a kiss on the back of her hand. “I won’t let you go, no matter what happens, Amelia. So have faith in me.”

Under his earnest gaze, Amelia nodded. Even if Luke’s route in the game was what defined this world—even if tradition demanded that he marry the Saint—the future wasn’t yet set in stone. She was going to place her trust in her strawberries and Luke. Instead of backing down, she would make a stand by his side.

A thought occurred to her. “Right, Luke. Remember how we were talking about the power source behind Prisca’s time loops? I think it might be the necklace that’s my mother’s memento.”

She proceeded to give him a rundown of how she’d arrived at that theory, as well as the orison stone’s color change.

When she was done, Luke nodded solemnly. “I see. That’s definitely possible. The fact that the time loops start from the point she snatches away your necklace would also fall in line with that theory.”

Amelia furrowed her brows. “But why are the timeline resets happening in that case?”

The orison stone might be infused with mana, yes, but she couldn’t grasp why that mana was starting these time loops. Was the explanation as simple as Prisca making use of the mana to achieve this phenomenon? That said, according to Helt, it was an artifact that the fifth consort had left behind to help Amelia. It was somewhat of a stretch that it would repeat time while disregarding Amelia’s wishes.

As she mulled over the matter, she suddenly remembered something. “Could it be…because I cried after my mother passed away and said that I want to return to the past?”

“I think that’s quite likely. That mana was manifested out of a Saint’s concern for her daughter. I wouldn’t be surprised if your wishes influence how it behaves.”

The pieces of the puzzle gradually clicked into place. “Until now, I just assumed that I was being dragged into Prisca’s time loops, but would that mean…she’s the one being dragged into my time loops?” Amelia blinked in a stupor at that shocking conclusion.

Luke gently clasped her hands. “You might not actually plan on turning back time, but somewhere in your heart, you do want to return to the past. Incidentally, the fifth princess also wishes to start over again. The orison stone likely reacted to both. Assuming that’s the case, it’s exceedingly unlikely that she could reset the timeline as she pleases without having you nearby. That’s a great discovery.”

He’s right. Amelia nodded. She and Luke could come up with the most ingenious plan in the world, but it would all return to square one if Prisca reset the timeline. Just knowing they should watch out for the orison stone and Prisca made it a lot easier to come up with countermeasures.

“Furthermore,” he continued, “there’s a chance that the fifth princess isn’t a Saint.”

“By that, you mean…?”

“I still don’t have any conclusive evidence, but people are likely getting the wrong idea—no, she’s likely making them believe it with the power of that necklace. If it’s possible to prove that she isn’t a Saint, she wouldn’t have the grounds to interfere with my betrothal to you. Let’s go with this plan. If it doesn’t work, we’ll use the other method available to us.”

Now that he mentioned it, Amelia recalled a couple of timelines when Prisca hadn’t been hailed as a Saint despite turning back time. She hadn’t questioned it at all, thinking that it was simply how the plot unfolded in those routes, but Luke had opened her eyes. So there’s a chance she isn’t even a Saint at all!

However, she hadn’t a clue how she would go about proving Prisca wasn’t one. She also wondered what the other method Luke mentioned was.

Curious, she waited for Luke to continue. He scrunched up his brows a little, as if troubled, and softly patted Amelia’s hand. “This has to do with a piece of information that I haven’t confirmed yet, and if possible, I don’t want to make it public, so I’ll only use it if things don’t go smoothly.”

“Got it. If that’s what you say. I trust you, Luke.”

Amelia couldn’t come up with any strategies at all. Furthermore, she knew Luke was a dependable person, which was why she declared she’d go along with whatever he decided.

To her surprise, his eyes of liquid gold grew moist in a flash. “Thank you…”

“Um… Why are you crying?”

“I’m not,” he insisted. After wiping his tears with the handkerchief, Luke raised his head and stared straight into Amelia’s eyes. “We’ll head immediately to the Klein estate. After changing clothes, let’s head to the royal court together. “

“Why the royal court?”

“I’ve been summoned,” he explained. “I’ve already gone to my father and persuaded him time and time again to entrust this matter to me. We’ll confront them directly.”

By all rights, he should have followed the directions of the duke, but he actually stood his ground and negotiated with his father? On top of that, he was prepared to resist and fight for Amelia’s sake. Just those words were enough to make Amelia’s heart feel full and warm.

She looked back to meet his gaze. “What can I do?”

“Smile by my side.”

Amelia frowned. “I can’t just stand there.” It would be horribly irresponsible to leave everything to Luke while merely watching on with a smile.

“Then give me an exceptionally delicious strawberry, will you?” He paused. “A special strawberry…that’s full of your feelings for me.”

“Of course!”

Full of vigor, Amelia summoned a strawberry onto her palm. Luke picked it up with his fingers and took a nibble. She’d assumed he might say it was a waste again and want to store it, but he’d eaten it right away, much to her surprise and delight.

The next moment, he pulled out something from the rest of the strawberry. Amelia leaned forward and muttered, “Huh? Another gemstone?”

A translucent gem with pale scarlet deposits within gleamed between his fingers.

Amelia had a flash of inspiration. “Oh, I get it now. The other method is selling my strawberry quartz to earn money and provide for you.”

“I know I’m repeating myself, but you don’t have to sell your strawberries. I’ll provide for you, Amelia.”

“But you can’t manifest strawberries, though.”

“Come on, stop trying to make a living with strawberries already.” He sounded exasperated as he stashed the strawberry quartz into his pocket.

“Ah, I almost forgot.” Amelia glanced at him. “Was the strawberry nice?”

She’d invested quite a lot of effort to meet his request for an exceptionally delicious strawberry, but she was worried that creating the gems might have taken away the fruit’s sweetness.

“Yes. It was incredibly sweet and tasty.” He paused. “Hey, Amelia.”

“Yeah?”

Before she could even ask him what it was about, Luke stuffed the strawberry into her mouth. She chewed on reflex, and a heavenly sweetness melted on her tongue, alongside a delightful aroma that filled her nose.

“See?” Luke smiled cheerily. “It’s sweet, isn’t it?”

He seemed casual, but Amelia’s mind wasn’t as composed. Was that possibly…what they call an indirect kiss? On top of that, Luke had even fed her, meaning that they’d even unlocked the achievement of a couple feeding each other romantically at the same time.

As that realization sank in, Amelia’s face rapidly reddened enough to rival a strawberry. She was overjoyed, but it was also embarrassing. That said, Luke might have simply shared the strawberry with her out of goodwill. In that case, Amelia was the one making it awkward with her indecent thoughts, getting all excited by herself over things like indirect kisses and romantic interactions. Though after hearing his feelings for her, should she still doubt that stuff?

Calm down, Amelia. You need to calm down before anything else, she told herself.

As he watched Amelia, who took furtive, deep breaths, Luke grinned with amusement for no apparent reason.

She gave him a questioning look. “What’s the smile about?”

“I love you, Amelia.” The moment those words left his mouth, he reached out and patted her head before pressing his lips against her forehead.

Excuse me, sir. I’m trying to calm down and deal with the indirect kiss right now. How could you kiss me and hit me when I’m down like that?

…You’ll make me explode with happiness!

Amelia couldn’t bring herself to get mad at him. That said, it wasn’t like she could cheer with joy either. She could only tremble minutely and flush.

“I won’t hand you over to anyone else, and that’s a promise,” Luke muttered before leaning in to kiss her forehead again.

Chapter 7: Strawberry Quartz and Malachite

Chapter 7: Strawberry Quartz and Malachite

UPON their arrival at the Klein estate, Amelia was immediately surrounded by servants, who helped her change clothes. It was a rather hectic process that tired her out slightly.

As she rested, she noticed that Helt had changed from his modest attire as well. With him dressed to the nines, she realized that his features and appearance weren’t bad at all—he’d fall under the category of what people called a “silver fox.” Usually, he gave off the atmosphere of an elder brother or a father—no, perhaps it was most accurate to compare him to a mother hen. Seeing him like this felt somewhat novel.

“You look good in that, Helt,” Amelia commented.

“That is exactly what I have to say about you, my princess. I can tell that the young Lord Klein loves you very much.”

Wondering what he was referring to, Amelia followed Helt’s gaze, which was directed at her dress. The most striking part was its gorgeous pastel yellow fabric. Petite red, white, and pink flowers were distributed all over it as ornaments. Larger flowers were arranged adorably around her collar, as if spilling out and flowing down from her chest. Combined with the cream fabric, her dress was like a field of spring flowers.

Here and there, silver threads and pale beads sparkled like morning dew down the garment. A red ribbon accented her waist, and matching ribbons, partnered with yellow floral ornaments, gracefully fluttered down from her necklace and bracelet as well. Her tied-up hair, fastened by a scarlet ribbon, was embellished with yellow and white flowers. Tinier flowers even dotted the part of her hair that flowed down freely.

When she’d first seen it, she’d merely marveled that it was a lovely dress, but now that Helt pointed it out…was this yellow the color of Luke’s eyes? As for the crimson in the ribbons and flowers, it matched Amelia’s eyes perfectly. In short, the dress was a combination of their colors.

As that realization sank in, her cheeks grew hot. “I-It might be a coincidence.”

A voice cut into their exchange. “What might be a coincidence?”

Luke had entered the room before she’d noticed. Discovering the red and yellow flowers decorating the area around his collar, even more heat gathered in Amelia’s cheeks.

Luke slowly drank in the sight of the dressed-up Amelia. “It suits you strikingly well. You’re adorable, Amelia. No wonder they call you the silver fairy in the city.”

“Th-Thanks.”

“Looks like I’ve got to emphasize to everyone that you’re mine—and that I’m yours.”

Where in the world did that come from?! Amelia was mortified, but her heart swelled. She didn’t know how to respond. She stole a glance at Luke, who replied with a smile, and her cheeks grew a level hotter.

Helt nodded. “My princess, please keep openly flirting and drive Princess Prisca into a rage. That princess is both willful and prideful; she will carelessly expose her secrets and weaknesses whenever there are strong fluctuations in her emotions.”

Helt proposed a plan Amelia would have never imagined. Though his logic was convincing, she was somewhat appalled.

Luke lightly placed a hand on her shoulder. “Amelia, make sure to fulfill your role, okay?”

“My role? Um…”

Before she could ask him what she should do, Luke narrowed his golden eyes. “Stay by my side. You only have to look at me, and no one else.”

Amelia was slightly taken aback. “You’re…kind of scary right now.”

“I’m not scary; I simply love you, Amelia. To think that they squandered four entire years of my time with you and are trying to tear you away from me again… Utterly unforgivable.” His expression was mild, but his voice was thorny.

“A-Are you…mad right now?” she nervously asked.

His response was a dazzling smile.

🍓🍓🍓

BY the time Amelia arrived at the throne room with Luke, a handful of people were already present. She recognized the king, the fourth consort, and Prisca, but the rest were unfamiliar faces to her. One man was likely related to the church in one way or another, judging by his garments, as well as a man in the prime of his life. Since they were before the king, they would be of considerably significant status.

As Luke escorted Amelia in her stunning attire, Prisca and the fourth consort’s gazes stabbed into her like knives. They must have expected Luke, who’d been summoned, but Amelia’s presence had probably taken them by surprise. She almost flinched, but she hadn’t done anything wrong, not to mention that she had Luke right there with her. When Amelia sent a fleeting glance in his direction, he responded with a warm smile—that was enough to invigorate her spirit.

The man in his prime was the first to speak. “I believe that the topic of this audience is Fifth Princess Prisca’s marriage now that she has been recognized as a Saint, but was I perhaps mistaken?” He turned to gaze at the throne.

The king nodded unhurriedly. “Is your body faring well, Amelia?”

It was the first time in years—seven, from Amelia’s perspective—that she’d heard her father’s voice. She’d barely interacted with him outside of exchanging greetings in the first place, so it didn’t invoke any emotion within her, not even nostalgia.

Seeing Amelia bow, the king’s eyes softened with delight. “It has been a while since I have seen your face. I must say that you take after the fifth consort.”

“Thank you for your kind words, Your Majesty,” she said politely. “As for your question… I have never been ill in the past, not even once, and I am in good health.”

After Amelia reported that fact, the king let out a flabbergasted “Huh?”

“I was imprisoned within the bounds of the Fifth Palace at your direction, for I am a disgraceful daughter who would only bring embarrassment to our royal family. That is what I have heard my entire life, but is that possibly wrong?”

She couldn’t care less about the fourth consort’s opinion of her, but she’d been rattled at the fact that the king, her father, had judged her as such an eyesore in the past. In the present, she had enough knowledge to deduce that the fourth consort had likely lied, but it was still undeniably true that the king hadn’t reacted to Amelia’s complete lack of presence in his life. Then again, maybe she couldn’t blame him because she was the daughter of the fifth consort, who’d only joined the ranks of his wives because she was a Saint.

The king narrowed his eyes by a margin. “I have never heard anything more absurd. The report I received was that you were often down with ailments that prohibited you from performing your formal duties and that it is difficult to even visit you since you are resting and recovering.”

“Do I seem that way?” Amelia asked steadily. “I have been working in the fields for many years to survive my imprisonment. I believe my skin is much more tanned than most young noblewomen, and my complexion should be rather rosy.”

Perhaps it was preposterous for a princess to have tanned skin, but it was a testament to how she’d persevered at her palace while pouring in all her heart and soul, as well as a proud symbol that she’d clung to survival despite the odds.

The king examined her face. “That is true.” He paused as her words sank in. “Pardon me. Fields?”

“I would starve with a delivery of merely grains once every month, which is why I am growing vegetables in the fields.”

“Wait.” He furrowed his brows. “What is the meaning of this? Every meal should be delivered to her palace, shouldn’t it?” He shifted his gaze to the man by his side, but the man in his prime shook his head.

Amelia explained, “When my mother was alive, meals—though frugal—were indeed delivered. However, after her passing, the only thing I received was a package of grains once every month. The situation is similar with my clothes—used servant’s clothes would be delivered to me. Due to that, I have gained quite some expertise in cultivating crops, cooking, and needlework.”

The king’s expression clouded. “Fourth Consort. What is the meaning of this?”

Ever so slowly, the woman replied with a graceful smile. “She is making false accusations, Your Majesty. It appears that she has grown somewhat brazen because she has recently been in good health by pure chance.”

The conflicted expression didn’t leave the king’s face. “What about her report on her meals and clothes?”

“Why, I’ve never heard anything more ludicrous. I have poured my heart and soul into her for many years. I even see her as my real daughter… I am heartbroken at her cruel words. I can understand that she is upset because Prisca was recognized as a Saint and that the young Lord Klein is going to abandon her, but surely she didn’t have to go this far.”

She dabbed a handkerchief against the corners of her eyes, painting the picture of grief. Any bystander would immediately assume that Amelia was the wicked one between the two.

As Amelia marveled at the woman’s acting skills, Prisca huddled over to support the fourth consort’s frame. “Mother is right,” the younger girl said before looking at Amelia. “How could you be so heartless, my dear sister?”

Amelia’s voice grew firm. “Give me back my mother’s memento.”

Possibly because they hadn’t been able to process Amelia’s abrupt words, Prisca and the fourth consort both let out a startled “Huh?” in reaction.

“On the day of the ball that was supposed to be my debut in high society, you snatched away a necklace from me while saying that I didn’t have a fitting dress for the event and that you weren’t going to let me debut to begin with. After Mother’s death, most of the articles within the Fifth Palace were taken away. That was the only memento I have left of her. Hurry up and give it back to me.”

Seeing Amelia hold out her hand in a silent demand, Prisca looked like she was on the verge of tears. “I-I haven’t a clue about what you are talking about. How could you accuse me of being a thief?! That’s awful!”

The mother-daughter pair excelled at weeping crocodile tears—to an awe-inspiring degree. Is this how they’ve been deceiving those around them until now? Amelia should have felt enraged, but more than that, she found it laughable.

As the king watched the pair burst into tears and Amelia gazed at them with frigid eyes, he appeared rather thrown off. “What…exactly is the situation here?” Judging by how he didn’t jump to the fourth consort’s defense, he probably wasn’t completely on the fourth consort’s side.

Luke’s crisp voice cut into the chaos. “With all due respect, Your Majesty. May I offer my opinion?” He bowed humbly.

The king slowly nodded in response.

The future duke continued, “I came across Princess Amelia when I was fourteen, fell in love with her at first sight, and entered a betrothal with her. I believe you are aware of the circumstances as well, Your Majesty, as I made a direct appeal to you.”

Prisca should have been sobbing her heart out, but her expression grew stormy in an instant. If she’s going to pretend to cry, at least follow it through to the end, Amelia thought with exasperation.

“However, I couldn’t see Her Highness in person even a single time for the subsequent four years,” Luke reported. “The letters I sent received no replies, and I received a similar silence to my presents as well. In addition, my requests for meetings were also turned down. I have told myself to endure patiently for a long time—it all happened because Princess Amelia had a weak constitution, and her reaction, or lack thereof, was understandable. Alas, the reality is before your very eyes.”

Everyone’s gazes converged on Amelia. Taken aback, she stood straighter on reflex.

Luke’s tone lowered. “The princess is the picture of health. As if that wasn’t enough, she hasn’t seen hide nor hair of any of my letters or presents. She was a prisoner in the Fifth Palace in a brutal situation where she had to work on a farm to put food on her table every day. Your Majesty…were those your instructions?”

His word choice and attitude could only be described as courteous, but his gaze clearly sent a different message: If that’s true, I will never forgive you.

At last, he finished with, “In that scenario, my plan is to welcome the princess into our residence at once and to take her as my wife. I could never leave her behind in the royal court after learning such truths.”

It was no different from picking a fight with the king himself, and anxiety crept into Amelia’s heart. But a second later, she realized that Luke was declaring to her father that he was going to marry her. She wasn’t sure how she should feel as she watched, a mix of nervousness and embarrassment dancing within her chest.

“I could never.” The king shook his head before shifting his gaze to his consort. “Fourth Consort, I believe you owe me an explanation. The claims they are making are considerably in conflict with yours.”

“I suspect it is a misunderstanding on the young Lord Klein’s part due to mistaken assumptions and misleading circumstances. It is true that I prepared a field in the Fifth Palace, hoping that it would serve as a diversion from her illness, but never in my life could I have predicted that she would see it in such a way…” She dabbed her handkerchief against the corners of her eyes once again.

Both the king’s and Luke’s expressions were grim as they watched her.

Luke asked, “By that, are you stating that everything is simply a misunderstanding on Princess Amelia’s and my part?”

“I am at fault for causing such a misunderstanding, but I have performed my duties as Amelia’s guardian to the best of my ability. I will continue to do so, so please rest assured. More importantly, I believe we should move on to the matter of your engagement with Prisca. That is why we are assembled here today, after all.”

The fourth consort meekly made her case, and anyone watching would assume that Amelia and Luke were the ones in the wrong. She’d likely tricked countless people around her until now, but Amelia couldn’t find fault with her victims—after all, when one of the king’s consorts was appealing to your emotions like this, it would be difficult not to be swayed by her.

That said, backing down now would be a repeat of the past, and it’d also mean that Luke and Prisca’s engagement would become reality. She had to say something.

Amelia moved to step forward, but a hand reached out from her side and gently stopped her. Luke smiled brightly at her before turning back to the king and the fourth consort with a solemn expression. “The presents I have prepared for Princess Amelia weren’t merely flowers and food. Accessories and dresses were also on the list. I have also sent her fine-quality fabric since I didn’t know her measurements after a few years.”

Amelia had heard that Luke had sent her presents, but it was the first time she’d ever learned of the details. Luke’s gifts were more extensive than she thought, and her heart felt full from both remorse and happiness.

Luke continued, “I noticed that during the evening party a few days ago, the fifth princess was wearing a deep crimson dress featuring rather distinct golden embroidery. How curious, for it was identical to the custom-made article I requested tailors to make for Amelia. May I ask why you were wearing it, Your Highness?”

Prisca replied with a smile, but she couldn’t fully conceal her discomposure. “I-It must have been a coincidence.”

That reaction… Did she really make a dress out of the fabric Luke gifted me? Amelia had never heard anything more shameless, but then again, Prisca had never shown even a hint of respect toward her, so it likely hadn’t even crossed the younger princess’s mind that the fabric belonged to someone else.

Now that Amelia reflected back on that night, Luke had acted strangely when he’d caught sight of Prisca. So it was because she was wearing a dress made from fabric he was supposed to have gifted me.

“I have made a written record of everything I have gifted Princess Amelia up until the present,” Luke said. “I also possess a part of the fabrics as samples. The truth, I believe, would be revealed at once if I am given permission to compare the two.”

Prisca looked evidently panicked at the mention of a record, and she yelled, “M-My sister gave it to me!”

Luke furrowed his brows. “She did? Despite the fact that none of these goods have been delivered to Princess Amelia? When I met her for the first time in four years, she was wearing a rustic dress no different from a commoner’s clothing. After that, I launched an investigation and have confirmed that many of the fourth consort’s and the fifth princess’s accessories were either identical to my gifts or appeared to be my gifts with isolated parts that were remade. Now then… Are you claiming that you received all of those from her as well?”

“I, well…”

Amelia was stunned. They didn’t just snatch up the dresses; they even appropriated the accessories? On top of that, the fact that they’d remade parts of the accessories could be taken as an underhanded maneuver to prevent discovery.

Not even Prisca or the fourth consort could find a skillful way to dodge the accusation, for they were at a loss for words. Seeing that, Luke let out an exaggerated sigh. “I have no intention of marrying a woman who would trick the king with deceitful reports, thoroughly isolate her older sister from the outside world as a prisoner, and embezzle presents meant for someone else. The one and only person who will become my wife is Princess Amelia Glaisharle, and no one else.”

Frantically, Prisca raised her voice. “Th-This is a misunderstanding! My sister is lying to you! Not to mention that since I am a Saint, the rules dictate that you must marry me, Lord Luke!”

But as one would expect, Luke—and even the king—wore austere expressions. After a long pause, the king said, “In any case, I shall arrange an investigation into these matters.”

“My goodness!” The fourth consort gave him an imploring look. “My king, please believe us!”

The king heaved a heavy sigh in reply. “If you are telling the truth, I suggest you assist us in uncovering the facts. If your claims are correct, it would mean that Amelia is a compulsive liar. If young Lord Klein’s claims are correct, it would mean that not only have you abandoned your duties as her guardian, but you have even imprisoned a princess, disrespected her rights and status, embezzled her personal possessions…and depending on the severity of the situation, your actions could even be taken as attempts on her life. No matter which it is, we will have a dire problem on our hands. I shall put this case on hold until after the investigation is complete.”

The fourth consort’s and Prisca’s faces overflowed with displeasure, but since the king had decided, no one could overrule it. They must’ve thought that being too tenacious at this point would leave them in an unfavorable position, so both nodded and tentatively displayed their agreement.

With the dispute settled for now, the king moved on. “That said, the matter of Prisca’s spouse is a separate case. The young lord of House Klein, you must comprehend that you are the primary candidate to be her husband, yes?”

Hearing that statement, Prisca’s expression lit up instantly. Her gaze shifted to Amelia, and she triumphantly quirked up the corners of her lips. Though she hadn’t spoken a single word, the statement “Serves you right” was practically written on her face, and Amelia marveled at the younger girl’s talent with expressions.

“I do,” Luke replied. “However, as I have stated earlier, I wholeheartedly cherish Princess Amelia, and I have nothing but suspicion toward the fifth princess.”

To everyone’s shock, Luke made that brazen declaration with a smile. Even the dignified king was somewhat appalled. “Well, yes, I have heard about your sentiments on the topic. Nevertheless, you must also be aware that the issue lies elsewhere.”

“You are referring to the fact that a princess Saint must marry into a household only second to the royal family, am I correct?” Luke replied without hesitation.

Looking a little reassured, the king slowly exhaled. “Indeed.”

The next moment, Luke curled his lips into a wide smile. “There is actually something I wish to ask about that decision.” He paused for emphasis. “Is the fifth princess truly a Saint, I wonder?”

Immediately, a stir took over the throne room. The Saints were pillars that supported the kingdom, not to mention that Prisca was also a princess. Since she’d been recognized as a Saint, the church should have naturally been involved as well. However, Luke was now challenging all of that.

Amelia could tell that tension was skyrocketing within the chamber.

“The Saint is a sacred person who can produce orison stones, yes?” Luke asked. “Your Highness, may I ask where your orison stone is?”

“This is a matter that concerns both the Saint and the church.” Prisca shook her head as if that was the obvious response. “I have no reason to show it to you, my lord.”

Luke’s scrutinizing gaze fell upon her. “Not only was my fiancée, whom I have adored for many years, maltreated, but you are even attempting to snatch her away from me in an unreasonable manner. Anyone in my shoes would want proof that you are a Saint, which is the basis of your claims. Or…do you not possess an orison stone despite being a Saint?”

His wording was clearly meant to be a taunt, and it must have agitated the man who appeared to be a priest, for he ushered Prisca to display the item. Prisca resisted at first, but she likely suspected Luke would accuse her of not being a Saint if she didn’t show it, because she reluctantly pulled out the necklace she was wearing. Dangling from the chain was a pale pea-green stone.

Without thinking, Amelia yelled, “That necklace is my mother’s memento!”

The king glanced back and forth between Amelia and the necklace. “Wasn’t the fifth consort’s orison stone a dark green?”

His point was sound—by all rights, it should have remained a dark green. That said, Amelia couldn’t exactly explain the reason for the color change to him, and she struggled to answer.

Prisca, slightly relieved, smiled sweetly. “Oh my, are you that envious of my status? I am certain that it is clear to everyone now—I am a Saint.” She puffed out her chest with overflowing confidence.

Luke interrupted her. “What about the others?”

A silly “Heh?” spilled out from Prisca’s mouth.

“The Saint’s duty is to produce orison stones and to serve as the cornerstone of our kingdom’s defenses. As a matter of course, they wouldn’t merely produce one stone. I have heard that they are only permitted to keep one of them, correct?”

Under Luke’s questioning gaze, the priest nodded.

Luke continued, “Assuming that necklace is the orison stone you keep on hand…where are the others?”

“I-I only have one so far,” Prisca stammered. “Making them isn’t that simple.”

Luke inclined his head. “I hear that each Saint produces one specific type of stone, and that the previous Saint, the fifth consort, created dark green malachite. What type of stone is yours, Your Highness?”

“This is, well…”

Seeing Prisca fumble for a reply, the priest took a step forward. “Though the color is pale, it has a banded pattern. I believe it is a malachite.”

Luke put on an astonished expression that seemed deliberate. “Oh? That is the same type as the previous Saint.”

“What about it?” Prisca muttered. “The color is different, so it must be a coincidence.”

Not choosing to answer her, Luke simply nodded. “In the end, as long as someone possesses an orison stone, she will be recognized as a Saint; is that correct?”

Prisca chewed hard on her bottom lip. “Are you trying to imply something with that?”

Disregarding the girl again, Luke walked forward until he was before the king. He knelt in respect and presented his hand. Something small sat on his palm.

Under the king’s summons, the priest took it into his hand and observed it—his expression morphed in the blink of an eye. “This is…an orison stone. I have not seen one infused with this much mana in a long, long time.” The priest, unable to fully suppress his wonder and excitement, reverently offered it to the king.

The item that the king picked up with his fingers was a clear crystal with red inclusions. “What is this?”

The priest bowed. “It is a strawberry quartz. Without a doubt, it must be an orison stone. One of remarkable quality, at that. I suspect its innate mana rivals the previous Saint’s orison stones, which are currently enshrined in the church and serve as the linchpins of our national defense.”

Like the priest, the king couldn’t fully mask his bewilderment. “Luke Klein. Where in the world did you obtain this?”

“Before answering that question, I would like to confirm one thing. If you conclude that stone is an orison stone without doubt, it would mean that the person who produced it is a Saint, yes?”

“True, that would be the case.”

After nodding, Luke fixed his gaze on Amelia. Intrigued, everyone followed suit.

Luke said, “Princess Amelia manifested that stone for my sake. The priest has identified it as an orison stone. And as long as someone has even one orison stone in their possession, they would be recognized as a Saint. Do I have that right?”

“I-Indeed.”

Not sparing as much as a glance at the fourth consort and Prisca, whose eyes were so wide that Amelia feared they might pop out, Luke trained his gaze on the king alone. “In that case, it would mean that Princess Amelia is likewise a Saint. A princess Saint must wed into a family only second to royalty in prestige. In other words…there wouldn’t be any issues with Her Highness becoming my wife. The wife of House Klein’s heir possesses such a status. Am I wrong?” Luke’s golden eyes gleamed as he wore a bright smile.

“Th-They have to be lying!” Livid, Prisca marched forward in Amelia’s direction. “Do you even have proof?!”

Luke stepped before Amelia to defend her. “An orison stone is in His Majesty’s very hands.”

“How can something like that be proof?! You might have stolen it from somewhere!”

“Like you did?”

Color drained from Prisca’s face. At the same time, she glared daggers at Amelia.

Luke addressed the king again. “If orison stones are difficult to produce at a moment’s notice, like the fifth princess said, it must be a challenge to make the final verdict now. However, at the very least, I believe that the betrothal between Princess Amelia and me is worthy of remaining as it is.”

“A fair point,” the king muttered as he gazed at the strawberry quartz. “If the requirement to be recognized as a Saint is a single orison stone, they are on equal standing. In that case, it is more sensible for Amelia to wed into House Klein as she is the older sister and already has a long-standing betrothal to Luke Klein.”

The moment she heard that, Prisca gasped. “No, Father! Surely not!”

After her, the fourth consort raised her voice. “Your Majesty, please reconsider!”

To their dismay, the king raised his hand to silence their objections before rising to his feet from the throne. “We shall postpone the conclusion until a second orison stone is produced. Until then, I shall investigate whether the accusations related to Amelia’s forced imprisonment, alongside other abuse, are true or false. I will organize an occasion on a later date to announce my findings. The audience today will end here!”

Following that declaration in a majestic voice, the king left the throne room behind him. Everyone else present, who bowed as they watched his exit, proceeded to individually leave the chamber.

When Prisca strutted past Amelia, she whispered, “I won’t take this lying down. Just you wait.”

Those words oddly lingered in Amelia’s ears for a long while, even after their parting.

🍓🍓🍓

AS Luke escorted Amelia to the Fifth Palace, she voiced the question that had been swirling in her mind. “Luke… Did you know that stone was an orison stone and that I was a Saint from the start?”

The first half of Luke’s speech had consisted of information that even Amelia was aware of, but he’d then evidently brought up things that weren’t common knowledge, such as the fact that each Saint produced a different kind of stone. His actions wouldn’t add up unless he’d already known that Amelia’s strawberry quartz was an orison stone, but if that was true, when in the world had he realized?

As he watched Amelia raise her questions solemnly, Luke smiled, exasperated. “Think about it. The fact that you can manifest strawberries already makes you rather special. As if that wasn’t enough, you aren’t just able to create strawberries—you can even make strawberry dishes. Part of it is probably because you’re royalty and the daughter of a Saint, but anyone would catch on immediately that you’re gifted with incredible magical powers.”

“R-Really?”

Amelia had been able to summon strawberries since she was a child, and the fourth consort had casually manifested watermelons as if it wasn’t anything worthy of attention. Helt and the servants hadn’t displayed any particular surprise either, so she hadn’t perceived her abilities as all that rare. After she’d regained her memories of her life in Japan, she had thought that being able to create strawberries out of thin air was rather surreal, but it still hadn’t crossed her mind that she might be special in some way.

“When I received the first strawberry quartz, I looked into it right away,” Luke explained. “At that point, I knew that there was a high chance that it might be an orison stone, but for confirmation, I needed a high-ranking priest in the church to examine it. The problem is, I didn’t have any guarantee that the people affiliated with the church would stay neutral and properly appraise it, so I felt stuck about how to move forward.”

She could understand where he was coming from—Amelia had reported to Luke that in some of the previous timelines, Prisca had been hailed as a Saint. In fact, the son of the high priest had even asked for her hand in marriage at one point. Though this timeline followed Luke’s route, she couldn’t fully rule out the possibility that Prisca might have some influence on the church’s affiliates.

Luke continued, “If it were possible to reliably certify that the fifth princess’s orison stone belongs to the previous Saint and that she isn’t a Saint, I could have avoided showing them the strawberry quartz, but sadly, that was wishful thinking. I know I didn’t have any other choice since there was a chance you might be snatched away from me, but you must have been startled after hearing that news without any warning. I’m so sorry I couldn’t tell you beforehand.”

Amelia shook her head. “I-I don’t mind that part at all. You were taking action for my sake, Luke. For us.”

More than that, she was astonished to learn that her strawberry quartzes were orison stones. Though reality was diverging from the original plot, Amelia should have been assigned the role of a villainess in Luke’s route—she couldn’t comprehend why she’d gain the title of Saint. Was Prisca going to gain an even more astounding title to make up for it? The thought of her evolving into something like a Super Saint sent chills down Amelia’s spine.

Brushing those thoughts away, Amelia spoke up. “That aside, you looked like you didn’t really want to bring up the topic to the king, though.”

“If I could have avoided it, I would have.” He shrugged. “I didn’t have confirmation that it’s an orison stone, and carelessly announcing that you’re a Saint might needlessly provoke the fourth consort and the fifth princess. That’s why originally, I wanted to report it slightly later.”

Amelia was thoroughly convinced by his remark about provoking the pair. Considering their scorn for her, learning that Amelia was a Saint must be a most upsetting piece of news. They’d obviously start to harass her in even worse ways.

She nodded gratefully. “Got it. Thank you.”

“I ended up making use of your Saint status to preserve our betrothal, but whether you’re a Saint or not, Amelia, you are the only girl I want to ever cherish and love.”

“…Thanks.” As joy overtook her heart, Amelia beamed.

Luke tenderly stroked her hair. “I doubt they’d do anything foolish within the premises of the royal court, but they’re thoughtless fools. Honestly, I want to sweep you away with me right now. Unfortunately, I can’t afford to bring you out with me as I please since you’re a Saint and a princess.”

“Helt’s with me, too. I’ll be fine.”

Luke’s hand glided down from her head before reaching to pick up her hand. He leaned over and pressed his lips against the back of her hand. It had been one fluid motion, and Amelia could only watch him in a daze. It was far from the first time he kissed her hand, but she couldn’t get used to it, no matter how many times he did it—in fact, her heart only pounded even more as time passed. It was rather mystifying.

“You must be tired,” he said gently. “Take a good rest today.”

With a dust of pink on her cheeks, Amelia replied, “I-I will. Good night.”

Smiling at her, Luke stood in place and watched over his princess until she disappeared into the Fifth Palace.

🍓🍓🍓

HELT had returned to the Fifth Palace a step ahead of her, and he welcomed her back. Amelia sat down, took a sip of tea, and sighed. “Hey, Helt. Turns out that I might be a Saint.”

“Is that so?” Helt muttered curtly before placing a plate of cookies on the table. These were, of course, deliveries from Luke—tea leaves had been kneaded into the dough, granting it a mouthwatering aroma.

Amelia gave him an unimpressed glance. “What’s with that reply? Shouldn’t you be, like, a bit more shocked?”

“That is easier said than done, my princess. Allow me to remind you that I served under the fifth consort, the previous Saint. I witnessed her manifesting watermelons in bulk and picking out orison stones from them. You might not be aware, but manifesting strawberries is remarkably peculiar magic. I have always thought that I wouldn’t be surprised if you eventually turned out to be a Saint.”

Her eyes widened. “I’ve never heard anything about my mother picking out orison stones from watermelons, though.”

“It is technically confidential information regarding the Saint. We wouldn’t exactly advertise it in public.”

It made sense now that he explained it. The Saints and their orison stones were so vital that even an orphan from the slums could become the king’s consort. Spreading information recklessly might cause phonies to appear, which would be a whole lot of trouble.

“That said,” Helt began, “although the fifth consort was able to manifest watermelons, she never created watermelon cuisine.”

His sentence took a moment to register. “Uh, hold on. Is watermelon cuisine even a thing?”

“From that standpoint, there is even a chance that you might have stronger magical powers as a Saint, my princess.”

Amelia suspected that her abilities stemmed from her memories of Japanese sweets, but as she reflected on the day’s events, she noted that the priest mentioned something similar at one point.

“If you are a Saint, the fourth consort and Prisca won’t be able to object to your marriage with the young Lord Klein,” he said. “You can have peace of mind on that front for the time being.”

She didn’t care about the title of Saint, and she didn’t mind being strong or weak, but she was grateful for the betrothal part. And so, she nodded.

As he watched her, Helt’s eyes softened. “He is the man whom you have yearned after for four years—no, if you include the time loops, I suppose it would be seven years. I am happy for you, my princess.”

Amelia returned his smile with a grateful one. “Yeah. Thanks, Helt.” She couldn’t fully express how much she appreciated the older man. To her, he was the lone servant who stayed behind for her sake, her guard, her brother figure, and her father figure.

After finishing her tea, Amelia took off her gorgeous gown and changed into a simple everyday dress. White lace and frills were scattered across the subdued pink fabric, while burnt umber lines served as accents around the collar and sleeves, and a ribbon of the same brown adorned her chest. The dress was cute but modest in decoration and dignified—it felt like exactly what a princess’s casual wear was supposed to be.

This dress was also one of Luke’s gifts, and there was a world of difference between it and the dull, scratchy dresses she’d worn until now. The comfy fabric felt so pleasant against her skin that its softness even tickled a bit.

Frankly, this attire wasn’t suitable for working in the fields, but it was a present from Luke. Not wearing it wasn’t an option.

She muttered to herself, “It’s been a long day… Prisca and the fourth consort visited first thing in the morning, I went into the city before going to the Klein estate, and finally, I came right back to the royal court and even attended an audience with the king. Sheesh, I’m exhausted.”

Helt was heading toward the gates, and Amelia figured she’d finish watering the fields before he came back.

However, the moment she reached for the door, a black, shadowy object dove in from the window. Assuming it was a bug, she nonchalantly turned around to look at it. Something round had fallen onto the ground. Not a moment later, it spewed out stark white smoke.

I don’t know what’s going on, but this can’t be good. Reflexively, she covered her nose and mouth with her hand before opening the door and evacuating outside. Her head felt slightly faint, likely from the white smoke earlier.

The only residents of the Fifth Palace were Amelia and Helt. And Helt would never do something like this.

Which means…it can only be an intruder. Amelia chewed on her bottom lip. She didn’t know what their goals were, but she couldn’t afford to be caught. In any case, I’ve got to hurry to the gates and find Helt!

Sprinting down the corridor, she flung open the door that led outside. Instantly, something shot toward her face.

She squatted, avoided the unknown object, and tried to slip past the shadowy silhouette, but a hand grabbed her arm.

“Let me go!” she yelled.

At the same time, there was the sound of roundish things tumbling onto the ground, and the hold on her arm loosened.

“Whoa?!” someone exclaimed in surprise.

She turned around to see an unfamiliar man being gradually buried under a mountain of strawberries. She immediately attempted to get away from him, but another man closed in on her from the front, cutting off all her escape routes. Amelia whipped her head back and forth, looking for something that might serve as a weapon, but she could only see a giant pile of strawberries.

Her shoulders tense with anxiety, Amelia raised her voice. “I don’t know who you are, but there’s nothing here that’s worth stealing!”

Judging by how they’d come prepared with the round gadget that produced unusual smoke, Amelia knew that they probably weren’t just simple thieves. But she had no choice other than to catch them off guard and run for the hills, so she snatched up every strawberry she could and threw it at the still-standing man.

The man didn’t even attempt to avoid the strawberries, only smirking at her. She shouldn’t have expected anything less—throwing strawberries with a woman’s strength was less destructive than a pebble.

Normal strawberries won’t do. I need specific strawberries that can ground him here!

For a moment, she felt as if warm air ballooned out and engulfed her. Not a second later, one of the strawberries she hurled at the intruder turned green. At first, she thought a ripe strawberry had regressed to an unripe one, but upon closer inspection, it had a bushy green silhouette—it appeared to be wrapped in leaves.

The small grains on strawberries were seeds, meaning that if they all sprouted at once, a strawberry would transform into a bundle of leaves. It made theoretical sense, but it was a most uncanny sight in person.

The green strawberry, which struck the man before bouncing off him, wrapped him in a flurry of green vines as if that had been its cue. Trapped in the net of vines, the intruder shouted as he tumbled to the ground and writhed in an attempt to get out.

Admittedly, it was a surreal sight that she couldn’t make sense of, but this was her chance. I should go find Helt!

Amelia broke into a sprint, but suddenly, something tugged hard on her arm. Right. How could I have forgotten? There’s one more intruder inside the strawberries!

As realization sank in, something that felt like a piece of cloth smothered her face, not even giving her time to cry for help.

That was the last thing Amelia remembered before her vision went black.

Chapter 8: The Rightful Path

Chapter 8: The Rightful Path

WHEN Amelia opened her eyes, a stone floor filled her vision. At a loss, she tried to sit up, but someone had tied her hands behind her back. They’d even bound her feet to be safe, making it challenging for her to move.

She scanned her surroundings to try to glean her situation—plates and pots were lined up along a shelf. It was an unfamiliar place to her.

“It’s a storage room… Or maybe a kitchen?” she muttered to herself.

Before anything else, she tried to shuffle around and sit up, but a dizzy spell struck her. Simply lifting her head took everything out of her protesting body. Even if she managed to sit up by some miracle, she wouldn’t be able to move.

For now, her only choice was to rest. Though she’d love to run away or hide, neither was possible in her condition.

Remaining on the ground, she stared at the door. Soon, someone opened it—Prisca.

“You are finally awake, I see,” the younger girl said in a disgruntled tone. Shutting the door, she approached Amelia.

Amelia had assumed that the fourth consort, or female attendants, would be accompanying the girl like always, but to her surprise, the younger girl turned out to be on her own. Now that’s rare, Amelia thought. The next thing she knew, Prisca was glowering at her.

At last, Amelia broke the silence. “Where am I? What exactly is going on here?”

“Did you receive those clothes from Lord Luke?”

Amelia frowned. She hadn’t expected a proper answer, but she also hadn’t predicted that Prisca would disregard her to this degree and respond with a different question. It appeared that, just like usual, Prisca’s world revolved around herself.

Well… To be fair, she’s the heroine that this world revolves around, so I guess that’s not exactly wrong.

Shrugging, Amelia said, “Yeah, pretty much.”

“This makes no sense. Lord Luke was supposed to become my fiancé, and you were supposed to be killed. I’m the Saint. I’m supposed to be the centerpiece of this world. How can this even happen?” Prisca muttered resentfully.

This conversation wasn’t getting anywhere. Amelia changed the topic. “Hey, where are we?”

“I didn’t factor in the possibility that you would be recognized as a Saint; that ruined everything…but the fact that you can produce orison stones is a rather convenient discovery.”

Sure enough, Prisca wasn’t paying a lick of attention to Amelia’s words, but she finally met Amelia’s gaze before smiling widely. Frankly, Amelia only had bad premonitions in her gut—this girl was up to no good.

Prisca continued, “The magic in this stone has been fading. I shall accept your offering of a new orison stone.” She reached toward her collar and pulled out the necklace. The stone, which should have been a pale pea green, had faded to a point that even the formerly distinct banded pattern was on the verge of disappearing.

Hot anger blazed in Amelia’s heart. She’d thought that she’d finally reached this girl, but she shouldn’t have had hopes to begin with. Prisca was beyond salvation. “That was originally my mother’s memento. It’s mine, not yours. Plus, if you’re a Saint, then you can just make a new one by yourself.”

“You probably wouldn’t understand, my dear sister, but I am the heroine of this world and a Saint. My status is undeniable—it isn’t even necessary for me to produce a stone to prove it. I shall put your orison stones to good use, so you should feel honored.” She paused. “Oh, right. I wouldn’t mind giving you permission to attend my wedding with Lord Luke at the furthest seat in the venue; how about that?”

Although her smile was as lovely as an angel’s, her words were vile poison. Still lying on the ground, Amelia sighed. “If you can’t produce orison stones, then you aren’t a Saint. And if you aren’t a Saint, you can’t marry Luke.”

She’d merely stated cold, hard facts, but Prisca’s expression grew stormy the moment those words reached her ears. The girl snatched a plate from the shelf and hurled it at Amelia.

Amelia didn’t know whether Prisca hadn’t planned on striking her or whether the younger girl simply couldn’t fully control her aim, but the plate swerved far away from Amelia. It smashed against something behind her back, and the sound echoed within the room.

Prisca demanded in a low hiss, “Don’t make me waste my breath. Manifest an orison stone already. My sister, have you forgotten that you have creepy blood-colored eyes and are the definition of worthless? Well, I have great news. At long last, a role that even the likes of you can fulfill has come around.” She sneered, as if to say, You should be jumping for joy.

Furrowing her brows, Amelia gazed up at her. “Not blood. Strawberries.”

“Pardon?”

“Luke said that my eyes are the color of strawberries.”

From the ground, Amelia stared into Prisca’s eyes without blinking. The other girl’s cute face contorted with contempt before she grabbed another plate and threw it at her older sister.

This time, a fragment grazed Amelia’s cheek. She wouldn’t say it was painful—it was more as if a stroke of heat had flitted across her skin.

“I’d like to see how long you can keep up such ungrounded confidence. If you refuse to produce orison stones, I can’t promise that your retainer will stay alive and healthy as he is.”

Those words struck her like a punch, and blood drained from Amelia’s face. Helt was a guardian knight—he was likely strong in a fight. However, during Amelia’s kidnapping, at least two people had infiltrated the Fifth Palace. Did they come in numbers that Helt couldn’t fully deal with? Or did he lose to one of them?

“What did you do to him?!” she hissed.

Seeing that Amelia couldn’t fully conceal her agitation, Prisca nodded, satisfied, before smirking. “Oh, I haven’t done anything to that man. Not for now, at least. Buuut… You are technically a princess, and if someone found out that you were kidnapped and missing, at least part of the blame would fall on your guardian knight’s shoulders.”

Amelia had to agree that she had a point there. Since Helt’s role was a guard, it was evident that he would have to take responsibility.

Frustrated, Amelia chewed on her bottom lip. “Even if I agree to produce orison stones, each Saint has a specific stone designated to her, don’t they? My orison stone is different from my mother’s. How are you going to even explain that?”

Prisca had claimed that the fifth consort’s malachite was her own orison stone. Therefore, her assigned stone had to be malachite; otherwise, it wouldn’t add up.

Yet, Prisca didn’t seem fazed in the least. In fact, she shrugged, as if to say that it wasn’t worthy of her attention. “That is but a trifling detail. I can just claim that I am a special Saint, and therefore, I have two types of designated stones.”

Amelia had to wonder where her enigmatic, groundless confidence came from. But what was more terrifying than anything else was the fact that since Prisca was the heroine, there was a high chance that things might play out as she said.

Prisca curled her lips with an amused smile when she saw that Amelia had gone quiet. “I suggest you stop wasting time and get started on those stones.” Turning on her heel, she left the room behind her.

As Amelia listened to the girl’s fading footsteps, she analyzed what she could. Prisca had come alone despite usually going around with a procession of female attendants, meaning that this was a place where that was possible. This room was, in all likelihood, within the royal court, and she suspected it was specifically within the Fourth Palace that belonged to the fourth consort. As long as she was able to escape from the bounds of this building, it should be possible to return to the Fifth Palace or even leave the royal court altogether.

“I’ve got to get these ropes off me before anything else,” she muttered.

Managing to sit up, Amelia picked up one of the fragments from the plates. Since her hands were tied behind her back, she couldn’t see what she was reaching for, and she struggled to grasp the shards—stinging pain ran through her fingers several times. But now wasn’t the time to care about such minor wounds.

After cutting into the ropes to a certain extent, she mustered up all her strength and tore her bindings apart with sheer force. She wasn’t sure whether the person responsible had gone easy on her because she was a princess, but for now, she was grateful for that fact.

Her hands freed at last, she stared down at them. Blood oozed out from several long gashes, but these were nothing to sweat about. She could leave them be for now.

Her top priority was getting out of the building. Though she didn’t know the layout of the Fourth Palace, as long as she headed in a straight line, she was bound to bump into an outer wall eventually. She should be able to escape somehow or another by clambering up to the top.

Helt had talked her ears off countless times about how unladylike it was, but as it turned out, her many years of wall climbing experience were going to come in useful.

Brushing those thoughts aside, she gripped a plate fragment with her bleeding hand and prepared to sever the ropes around her feet next. But suddenly, someone’s voice reached her ears.

It sounded like a man’s voice—perhaps it was a guard. Just having him stationed in front of the door was an obstacle, but if he came inside, he’d discover that she’d cut her ropes. In her current state, she couldn’t exactly pretend that she was still tied up. She had to hurry.

In her fluster, Amelia grasped tightly onto the shard, and blood trickled down from her hand, but her priorities were elsewhere. After cutting the ropes around her feet, she stood up.

Not a second later, the door vigorously swung open. On the spur of the moment, she lifted her hand to brandish the shard at the shadowy silhouette as a threat, but before she was ready to put up a fight, a giant cluster of strawberries rained down like a monsoon.

“Whoa!” someone yelped.

Amelia’s eyes widened. She knew that voice. She knew that ashen hair.

The moment realization sank in, the rain of strawberries stopped, revealing the amber orbs of the intruder who’d been covering his head with his hands.

Amelia grasped. “Lu—”

“Amelia!” Sooner than she could call out his name, Luke’s arms reached out and trapped her within his embrace. Her nose picked up a faint, sweet aroma—was it possibly from the strawberries?

Her heart bursting with elation and reassurance, Amelia snuggled her head up against Luke’s chest. She felt the arms around her tightening.

“I’m so glad I found you. Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?” Luke whispered, finally loosening his hold and peering into Amelia’s face. In the blink of an eye, his expression turned grave. “You’re bleeding.”

Oh, right. One of the plate fragments grazed my cheek at some point or something. Did that cut deeply enough to bleed?

Amelia hurriedly shook her head. “I-I’m okay! Really!” It was true—she hadn’t even realized it until he pointed it out. Frantically, she waved her hand to emphasize her point.

But this time, he grasped her hand. Blood trickled down her right palm, where she’d gripped the plate shard without caring about the consequences.

“Your hand’s bleeding, too.”

Amelia averted her gaze. “I, well, just got scratched when I cut the ropes.”

“Ropes?! Is that why your wrist is all red?”

She’d meant to reassure him with her explanation, but instead, Luke only deepened the creases between his brows. If she wasn’t imagining things, even his eyes seemed to be moist.

Amelia peered into his eyes. “Are you crying?”

“I’m not!” Luke wiped away his tears with his hand before taking out a handkerchief and gingerly pressing it against Amelia’s cheek. Then, he skillfully wound it around her right hand. “I’ll bandage it with this for now. Let’s leave this place at once.”

“You don’t have to ask me twice.”

Luke clasped her left hand, and they walked out the door together. Amelia noticed someone resembling a female attendant approaching from the other end of the corridor.

It’d be troublesome if an attendant at the Fourth Palace discovered her escape. Just as Amelia was about to break into a run, a familiar voice echoed down the corridor. “My princess!”

In the blink of an eye, the female attendant—or at least, someone disguised as one—rushed up to Amelia’s side and gazed at her with delight.

For a moment, Amelia was rendered speechless. “Helt… What in the name of the Saint are you wearing?”

Her guardian knight, who’d been with her for years on end, was clad in a maid outfit and was even wearing a wig. The frightening part was that, although he was a man far past his youth, the outfit suited him just a little. Gone was the seasoned warrior. Now, she could only describe him as a veteran female attendant. When he bashfully hung his head, he even gave off a most peculiar sense of allure.

“This is, well, a lot has happened,” he muttered. “I understand it is discourteous to wear this outfit before you, but I am afraid this is an emergency.” He sounded so remorseful that Amelia feared he might not stop at bowing in apology and even start prostrating himself before her. Somehow, she also started feeling apologetic.

“Ah, okay. Sorry, it’s probably my fault, isn’t it? But I’m glad that you’re safe.” She paused. “Don’t worry, Helt! It suits you rather well! I think you’re sexy!”

After a moment of hesitation, Luke spoke up. “Amelia, I hate to break it to you, but…that isn’t really going to make him feel better.”

Helt shook his head. “Her Highness is a kind soul, I understand. In any case, we should vacate this palace as soon as possible.”

Instead of cheering him up, she made him comfort her instead. Amelia felt a tad disappointed in herself.

Leading her by the hand, Luke broke into a run, and Helt moved forward to run at the vanguard. From behind, he looked exactly like a tall female attendant, and Amelia’s mind stuttered as it struggled to process the discrepancy.

Putting those thoughts aside, she got back to business. “So I really am in the Fourth Palace. But how did you know, Helt?”

“The scene of your kidnapping was littered with strawberries and covered with juice, allowing me to clearly see the intruders’ footprints. Furthermore, strawberry vines were growing rampantly in one direction, and I followed their trail. I discovered that they were growing toward the wall separating the Fourth Palace and the Fifth Palace. It seems that those fiends infiltrated by scaling that wall.”

Amelia certainly hadn’t expected to hear that she owed it all to strawberries. I knew it. Strawberries are the best! she marveled.

“That makes sense. But why is Luke here with you?”

This time, Luke explained, “I knew well that we were up against a pair of brash fools. For caution’s sake, I appointed lookouts outside the Fifth Palace, and I was actually in the middle of making preparations that would allow me to stay the night within the royal court. A guardian knight would be turned away at the gates at best if he went to the Fourth Palace alone—and depending on the fourth consort’s actions, he might be seized for insolence against royalty at worst. That’s why I arranged for him to enter the Fourth Palace as my female attendant.”

Amelia had heard about the lookouts before, but she’d never thought that Luke had planned on staying over in the royal court. “How did you even convince them to let you in?”

“I simply said that there’s someone I’d like to see.” He narrowed his eyes. “They looked like they had a most bizarre misunderstanding, though. The servants told me to wait because ‘she’ has to get ready, and I took that chance to slip away.”

Luke had come to visit the Fourth Palace—it was certainly plausible for people to mistakenly assume that he’d come to see Prisca. Actually… he probably worded it ambiguously on purpose.

“Your kidnapping is my blunder. I shouldn’t have only been vigilant of the gates,” Helt said remorsefully. “You have my most sincere apologies.”

“That’s not true.” Amelia shook her head. “You’re doing everything you can, even though you’re only one person, and no one would have predicted that they’d brazenly crawl over the walls. So…that means the Fourth Palace is our neighbor, huh? That’s news to me.”

When you looked at how they were numbered, it indeed made sense that the two palaces would be next to each other, but the entrances—the gates—of the two buildings were distant. She’d never imagined that they were separated by a single wall.

“Your surprise is understandable. The positions of the gates and the layout of the outer walls are notably complex, partly for security reasons,” Helt told her. “In fact, there are perhaps more people who aren’t aware of this fact than those who are. At any rate, we should focus on escaping right now. The mistress here is the fourth consort—even the king would have difficulty openly interfering with events that take place in her territory. We would land in a thorny situation if anything undesirable happens.”

Following Helt, Amelia rushed out into the garden. Not a second later, Luke stepped forward before her like a shield.

Wondering what was going on, Amelia peered out from behind his back. Helt stood protectively in front of Luke, and further ahead of him was a row of men who were likely guards.

“Our orders are to seize the intruders,” one soldier barked. “Resistance is futile.”

A chill ran down Amelia’s back. She was here because she’d been kidnapped under the command of either Prisca or the fourth consort, and Luke and Helt had come to rescue her.

Alas, this was the Fourth Palace. If Prisca and her mother claimed that they didn’t know any of that, their words would be taken as the truth, meaning that Amelia and her companions would be treated as trespassers.

Perhaps Amelia, who was technically a princess, and Luke, the son of a duke, could worm out of the sticky situation. Helt, however, would likely face severe punishment. After all, a guardian knight cross-dressing and infiltrating a palace was the very definition of suspicious.

Possibly noticing Amelia’s concerned gaze, Helt fleetingly glanced over his shoulder at her with a warm smile. “It is all right, my princess. I shall stop them here, so the two of you, please go ahead of me.”

“I could never,” Amelia muttered in a low voice.

Helt was empty-handed and cross-dressing. In contrast, his opponents outnumbered him and were armed. Leaving him behind wasn’t an option. She had to ground those men here one way or another and escape from the Fourth Palace without losing a single person.

The men taunted, “Well, well. What a strong-headed maid we have here. We’ll all come together and enjoy you thoroughly, little girl. How about that?”

Helt’s temple twitched with irritation.

Amelia placed a hand on her hip. “Helt might be sexy, but it’s not a valid excuse for you to do that. I’m the one who’ll enjoy him thoroughly!”

Helt froze. “My princess, I wouldn’t recommend using such wording…”

Meanwhile, Luke seemed exasperated. “Amelia, do you even understand what you’re talking about?”

She’d meant it as a display of anger at the men, so she couldn’t figure out why her two companions were appalled at her instead. She declared, “Putting different outfits on Helt and having a good time is my exclusive right!”

Sighing, Helt muttered, “I suppose I should have expected nothing else. It is Princess Amelia we are talking about.”

Luke shook his head. “I can’t say that’s the most sensible thing to say either. In any case, we can’t get anything done unless we leave this palace.”

He was right. Their top priority was to escape, so she had to leave Helt’s sexy and alluring fashion show for later on.

“Something that will stop them…” Amelia muttered. “Something that can neutralize them…”

The moment she whispered that, strawberries rained down from above the guards. The fruits fell and struck the men’s heads with springy plops.

As one would expect, they were bewildered. “What in the world is happening?”

“Amelia…” Luke sent a baffled gaze in her direction.

“My princess.” Helt seemed equally taken aback.

Unfortunately, Amelia was just as thrown off. “It isn’t what I was aiming for. This is just sharing fruits with them. No, what I wanted was something that’ll actually ground them in some—”

Before she could even finish her sentence, this time, a gigantic clump of jam poured down onto the guards’ heads.

Even these soldiers couldn’t conceal how shaken they were at the abrupt assault of strawberry jam. “Aaaargh?!” They yelled in alarm, wildly flailing their hands.

At this point, Amelia’s actions were practically childish harassment. Helt and Luke looked conflicted.

“Amelia.”

“My princess.”

“W-Wait!” She stammered. “I’ll, uh, summon something that’s a bit more useful.”

You could do anything if you had strawberries. She knew that for a fact, so she had to rack her brain for ways to detain them or to stop them from moving.

Amelia analyzed the situation. At the moment, the swords attached to the guards’ hips were the biggest threats. She wanted to take them out of the equation before anything else.

“I’ll treat the sheaths as containers and fill them right up with molten strawberry candy! The type with less water and that isn’t too runny!” she exclaimed.

Unfortunately, nothing seemed to happen. Even the guards, who’d been relatively wary due to the strawberries and jam, sighed as they pushed up their jam-slicked hair with their fingers.

“I can’t quite figure out what’s going on, but stay right there. If you resist…” A guard placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Helt and Luke’s faces tensed up. Without delay, they put themselves between the enemies and Amelia.

To everyone’s surprise, what followed wasn’t the sound of the guard pulling out his sword, but his dumbfounded yelp. “H-Huh?!”

Amelia blinked. He seemed to be trying to unsheathe his sword, but it wouldn’t budge. Upon closer inspection, a sticky liquid candy—the type you’d use in Japanese amezaiku—was oozing out from his scabbard and had partly hardened, fixing the sword in place.

“Oh, the mizuame’s unexpectedly pretty effective?” Now that was great news to Amelia. “Okay then, let’s go with a bigger candied strawberry that’s even more solid!”

Immediately after her command, red semi-liquid candy crawled up from beneath the guards’ feet before hardening all at once.

“Amelia…”

“My princess…”

In contrast to the pair’s slightly appalled reaction, Amelia was impressed. “I knew it. Strawberries are the best. They live up to their reputation as being able to do anything.”

“How were strawberries even involved?” Luke muttered.

That got Amelia’s attention, and she hummed thoughtfully. “Now that you mention it, candied strawberries are called that because there’re strawberries in the middle. Which means this would be…candied men?”

It sounded like the furthest thing from appetizing. As soon as she had that thought, the candy covering the guards’ abdomens and legs began cracking.

Startled, Amelia yelped. “Wha?! Hold your horses! There might be strawberry juice added to the candy part! No, there is strawberry juice in it. It’s got an incredible amount of juice! It’s one hundred percent strawberry juice!”

As if responding to her cry, this time, a flood of semi-solid candy covered all the cracks in the blink of an eye. When she stopped to think about what she’d said, though, one-hundred percent juice was pure juice—none of it was candy. Which meant that the actual percentage of the juice didn’t matter, but her own thoughts did.

She nodded to herself. “I get it now. Your imagination is what’s important when it comes to magic.”

Helt hesitated. “You could say that, yes, but I am getting the impression that something is different in your case…”

Without warning, a shrill, grating voice resounded, shrouded in a sweet aroma. “What is even going on here?!”

Someone marched up from behind the candied men—Prisca, trailed by female attendants. The moment she spotted Amelia, she creased her brows. Ignoring the candied men trying to report something to her, her gaze shifted directly onto Luke.

“Lord Luke. I hear that you have come to see me,” she said with narrowed eyes.

“I am here to see Amelia. I’m afraid I have never stated your name, Your Highness—my sole purpose here is to bring Amelia back with me.”

With that statement, the younger girl scrunched up her eyebrows even more. Her outfit was a separate one from when Amelia had last seen her, meaning that she had changed for Luke’s visit.

Ever so slowly, she whispered, “Do you think I will allow you to leave?”

Luke inclined his head. “It is still not too late—you can still smooth over the situation by stating that Amelia and I have come to greet you. After all, even a princess like you wouldn’t be let off without any repercussions if someone discovered that you kidnapped and confined Amelia, a princess and a Saint. Am I wrong?”

His statement could be taken as a threat, and Prisca’s attendants were astir with indignation. Gesturing for them to settle down with her hand, Prisca pulled the corners of her lips into a superficial smile. “I am the Saint, I’m afraid. My sister has deceived you, Lord Luke. My goodness, what a travesty… Don’t worry, I shall steer everything back onto the rightful path again.”

Prisca likely meant that she intended to restore the events of the original Luke route. It was a most ruthless declaration from the heroine herself, and Amelia’s shoulders shivered minutely with apprehension.

Luke wore an unimpressed smile. “The rightful path, hmm? Were you planning on kidnapping Amelia and forcing us to break our betrothal? Or was your strategy to make her produce orison stones in your stead?”

His words must have taken her off guard, because Prisca’s expression, which had been brimming with confidence, clouded over a tad.

“Your Highness, the orison stone in your possession belongs to the previous Saint, the fifth consort,” Luke stated. “You may attempt to weave a web of excuses to convince others, but it is only a matter of time before someone finds out.”

“What nonsense are you saying? I am the Saint! That is my orison stone!”

Wow. She has guts, making such a brazen statement after stealing it. Amelia was almost impressed by the girl’s shamelessness, but perhaps such assertiveness was necessary if you wanted to be fit for the role of a heroine.

“I can’t say I share your confidence,” Luke replied. “Your Highness, you are a prideful and arrogant princess—I highly doubt that you would miss any chances to flaunt your orison stone to others. However, that is exactly what you are doing. I suspect your aversion stems from your inability to produce your own orison stones. Am I wrong?”

Though his wording was polite, Luke wasn’t pulling his punches.

A moment of silence.

With a sigh, Prisca relented. “You have made your case clear. If you are going to go that far, I shall show you this stone, Lord Luke.” She fished out the necklace from the base of her neck, unclasped it, placed it in her hand, and held it out to him. “I am certain that you will understand it is my stone after examining it up close.”

Luke wasn’t a priest. He probably couldn’t properly determine whether it was even an orison stone, much less one crafted by Prisca. He hadn’t been able to make a final call about Amelia’s jewel. What in the world could he glean from just looking at it?

Amelia frowned. Prisca had been reluctant to show it in front of the king—why the change of heart?

Luke took a step toward the younger girl. Seeing that, Prisca sneered.

Then a scene Amelia had witnessed many times over revived vividly in her mind—a young man reluctantly approached Prisca. The girl leaned her face toward him. The next moment, he asked for her hand in marriage.

Right! All the men who approached Prisca during the ball to celebrate the king’s birthday proposed to her. Amelia’s eyes widened. It wasn’t the ball in question, but the events had already heavily derailed from Luke’s route, and anything could happen. Not to mention that Prisca herself had declared that she’d steer things back onto the rightful path.

“Luke!” Amelia shouted his name without thinking.

The enchanting boy with ashen hair turned around. His golden eyes were slightly narrowed, and something about his smile didn’t allow for objections. Amelia shut her mouth again.

She’d already reported all of Prisca’s behavior to him. He knew that when she leaned her face closer to her targets, their demeanor would drastically transform before they proposed to her, so he should take care to avoid that. So why am I feeling so uneasy?

No… Hold on. Amelia’s thoughts churned feverishly. The power source of the time loops is that orison stone. Which means the phenomenon that bends the will of others to her whims might be powered by the same thing. Until now, I’ve assumed that she’s been kissing her targets when she leans her face into them, but what if the culprit behind the men’s transformation wasn’t the approaching Prisca, but the approaching orison stone?

Two things happened almost at once. Amelia raised her voice and shouted, “Luke!” Simultaneously, the orison stone on Prisca’s hand made contact with his body.

Amelia was rattled at the sight. In contrast, Prisca sent her a triumphant smile. “With this, Lord Luke is mine once and for all.”

Once again, she placed the necklace around her neck. Amelia could only watch on numbly.

Luke hung his head motionlessly. Silently.

Prisca widened her smile into a sneer. “What a shame, my dear sister. It’s your loss.”

Until now, no man had avoided falling for Prisca at the very end despite how hard they’d resisted. Which means that Luke must also be…

Amelia’s heart was on the verge of being crushed into pieces. Possibly influenced by her despair, large cracks formed in the candy that had been firmly holding the lower halves of the guards in place.

“Oh, could you stand by right here, guards?” Prisca ordered. “Something wonderful is about to happen—having a bigger audience would be more delightful.”

Having received this order from one of the Fourth Palace’s mistresses, the guards straightened themselves; their heads were still smothered with strawberry jam.

Turning back to face Luke, Prisca sweetly said, “Now then, Lord Luke. Please profess your love for the person you cherish in front of everyone here.”

Raising one hand to press down on his chest, Luke replied with a clipped “…Yes” as he drooped his head.

Amelia’s heart sank. I persevered this far, but is it impossible to go against the heroine and the laws of this world in the end? She was frustrated that she hadn’t managed to protect Luke’s free will. She was terrified that she might be killed soon. But above all else, she was miserable that she no longer existed within Luke’s heart, and her vision blurred with tears.

Luke raised his face. He took a deep breath before directing his golden eyes straight at Amelia. Within the pin-drop silence, his voice rang out crisp and clear: “I, Luke Klein, will dedicate my love until the day I breathe last…to Amelia Glaisharle.”

Amelia’s breathing hitched.

“Ex…cuse me?” Prisca muttered.

Everyone was frozen in place—no one could have predicted his words.

Luke walked in front of Amelia and tenderly picked up her hand. “I love you, Amelia.” He pressed his lips against the back of her hand and flashed her a radiant smile.

It was a smile Amelia knew well. He was still the Luke she knew and loved. Her vision became even more watery.

“Don’t cry…” he whispered to comfort her.

“I’m not crying.” She chewed hard on her bottom lip. Luke reached for her face and whisked away her tears with the stroke of his fingers. “Are you really…Luke?”

“I am.” He hesitated. “Honestly, it was a close call, but I snapped out of it thanks to you.”

Perhaps that meant her calling his name had been the necessary stimulus to shake him out of the stone’s influence. Relief gradually washed over her heart. “I’m so glad.”

“Me too. Thank you.”

The hand that stroked Amelia’s head was so tender and comfortable that even more tears threatened to build up in her eyes, but she held them in.

Dumbfounded, Prisca looked at her necklace. “What? How can that even be possible? What is going on? I did everything properly…” Just like Amelia had suspected, contact with the orison stone must have been the reason behind the love interests’ abrupt transformation.

As if it were the finishing touch, Luke ruffled Amelia’s hair affectionately before letting her go reluctantly. He then turned his gaze onto Prisca. “Well then. The judgment of whether Your Highness is the Saint should be left in the more capable hands of the king and the church… But even with that out of the equation, I can’t turn a blind eye to the fact that you attempted to harm Amelia. I shall report this directly to His Majesty and invite Amelia to join us in the Klein estate.”

Though she’d already heard this before, it had never crossed Amelia’s mind that he’d actually do it. She croaked out, “Whaaat?!”

He glanced at her. “History will only repeat itself if you return to the Fifth Palace. Even if Helt is the most capable guard in the world, it’s unreasonable to cover such an extensive area with a single person. Not to mention that increasing the number of guards would be tedious since we’ll have to check whether each is trustworthy. It’s a lot faster and less effort for you to come to my place.”

“B-But…” He made a convincing case, but Amelia’s overwhelmed emotions were struggling to keep up.

“Oh, Helt, you can come directly to our estate, too. What do you think?”

The knight gave his answer without a moment’s delay. “I shall humbly take you up on your kind offer, my lord.”

Wait. Pause. Give me a moment here! Amelia finally found her voice. “But Helt, this is your once-in-a-lifetime chance to become a free man.”

“The fifth consort had requested me to look after you, my princess. Until the day you kick me out of your door as unnecessary, I shall stay by your side.”

While looking like none other than a maid, the man impeccably bowed in the manner of a knight, and Amelia somehow felt disoriented. At the same time, she inferred that even if she attempted to free him by claiming that he was no longer needed, her knight would never accept that outcome. She could only smile wryly to herself.

Luke nodded. “It sounds like we’ve reached an agreement. First of all, we should report to the king—”

A cutting voice interrupted Luke’s words. “This is unacceptable.”

Amelia turned to face the source of the voice—face contorted with resentment, Prisca glowered in her older sister’s direction.

“You’re getting married to Lord Luke? Even though I’m the one who was generous enough to choose Lord Luke as my partner? That’s unacceptable. This isn’t right.”

After spitting out those words, she practically tore the necklace from her neck. “If I’m not going to be showered with love at the center of this world, then this route is a mistake. I’ll start over from the beginning again.”

Start over… She’s talking about the time loops! Amelia’s eyes widened.

Luke reached the same conclusion. He rushed toward Prisca and reached out—but he was too late.

Prisca quirked up the corners of her lips. Together with her wicked sister’s face, Amelia’s vision was soon painted over with stark white.

Epilogue: The Villainess Rises up Against the Saint’s Time Loops with Strawberries!

Epilogue: The Villainess Rises up Against the Saint’s Time Loops with Strawberries!

THE blinding white light, which closed eyelids didn’t offer any protection against, gradually lost its brilliance. As Amelia finally regained her blurry field of vision, the first thing that jumped into her eyes was Prisca and the fourth consort standing in front of her.

She’d witnessed the scene many times—just like she’d suspected, Prisca had reset the timeline for the fifth time.

“—You aren’t worthy of this!”

With those words, the raven-haired girl reached out for Amelia’s neck. Just like the previous time loops, she was going to snatch away Amelia’s keepsake.

Amelia wanted to stop her. But as she’d expected, her body refused to budge like all the previous times, and she couldn’t find her voice either.

However, this timeline was drastically different from the previous ones. Amelia knew that Luke didn’t despise her. She knew that he had affections for her.

This time, I’ll go see him right away, she swore to herself. Whether she was in the most extravagant gown or clad in a rustic dress that made her look no different from a commoner, she knew that Luke wouldn’t pay it any mind. So it’s okay. I’m okay. I’ll put my faith in Luke.

But mere moments before Prisca’s hands could reach Amelia’s neck, a hand extended out from Amelia’s back and slapped it away.

Startled, Amelia widened her eyes. “What…?”

All the previous timelines followed the exact same sequence: Prisca would successfully snatch away Amelia’s necklace without exception. She was blindsided by this turn of events. Her brain couldn’t process what had just happened. Even her astonishment, which had brought on a confused murmur, slipped from her mind, and she froze.

A strikingly familiar voice rang out. “I’m afraid this belongs to Princess Amelia.” Arms stretched out from behind Amelia and wrapped around her frame before giving her a firm, reassuring squeeze.

Nervously, Amelia turned her head in tiny increments until she finally saw an enchanting boy with golden eyes and a radiant smile.

Why is Luke here? That was the first thought that sprang into her mind. Today should be the day Amelia turned sixteen and was scheduled to attend a ball to make her debut in high society. At this point, Luke and Amelia hadn’t successfully exchanged even a single letter—there had been thorough radio silence between the pair for the entire four years after their first encounter. In other words, it made absolutely no sense for Luke to be in the Fifth Palace.

Struck speechless with bewilderment, Amelia remained silent. Luke’s hand unfastened the necklace at the nape of her neck. She could only stare wide-eyed at him, still unable to move—the mind-boggling chain of events wasn’t helping.

“Sorry…” Luke whispered.

Why is he apologizing? Just as that thought crossed her mind, Luke hurled the necklace onto the cobblestone paving beneath his feet. The light-green stone smashed into tiny fragments.

Amelia was stunned. Meanwhile, a horrified shriek tore out from Prisca’s throat.

The younger girl sounded so devastated that the fourth consort lost her composure. “Is something the matter, Prisca?!”

There was no response. All color had drained from Prisca’s face, and she couldn’t find her voice either.

Looking remorseful, Luke leaned forward and peered into Amelia’s face. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Your Highness, my hand slipped. Will you forgive me?”

Overwhelmed by his vigor, Amelia nodded reflexively. For a split second, she suspected he might be the Luke she’d grown to know in the previous timeline. Alas, until now, there hadn’t been any signs of anyone other than herself and Prisca carrying memories over to the next time loops. Furthermore, his polite demeanor toward Amelia reinforced that conclusion.

Even so, she couldn’t make heads or tails of why in the world he was present at this scene.

Amelia swallowed nervously. “I-It’s all right, my lord.”

“Do you even know what you have done?!” Prisca screamed, looking like the definition of wrath itself.

Luke tilted his head quizzically. “I’m afraid you will have to enlighten me about the reason for your indignation, Fifth Princess. I believe that necklace was a memento of the fifth consort, Princess Amelia’s mother, was it not?” He paused. “More importantly, Fourth Consort. Princess Amelia and I must get ready for the ball tonight, so I’m afraid we will have to take our leave here.”

With that statement—an announcement that left no room for objections—Luke led Amelia by the hand and strutted away.

Helt was stationed at the Fifth Palace’s gates, and when he caught sight of Amelia, his expression turned perplexed. “My princess, may I ask what is going on here?”

“I have simply come here to fetch my fiancée for her ball preparations,” Luke said. “There’s no need to fret.”

“Fian—” Helt broke off there. Cautiously, he asked, “Are you perhaps the young lord of House Klein?”

Luke nodded. Though Helt looked thrown off, he bowed with respect.

The future duke marched right out of the Fifth Palace with Amelia in tow. As she left, she hurriedly said to Helt, “I-It’s okay, I’m fine. I’ll be off then.” Though she was the one reassuring him, she honestly didn’t know what was okay about all this.

She peered at Luke. “U-Um, Lu— Lord Luke…?” She couldn’t exactly forgo the formalities before they’d even gotten to know each other in this timeline, so she corrected herself.

Golden eyes glanced fleetingly in her direction. “Just Luke is fine. There are many prying eyes here. Let us talk after we finish getting ready.”

He led the bewildered Amelia into a room inside another building. Awaiting her were a great number of women who appeared to be servants. The moment they caught sight of her, they cheered with joy.

They began talking all at once.

“Thank goodness, you were able to see her!”

“Please leave the rest in our hands.”

“Now, Young Master, you must prepare as well.”

Before she knew it, Amelia was separated from Luke. She was guided into the baths, and the servants polished every inch of her to the extreme.

When they were done, she changed into a pure white dress. Even her gloves and hair ornaments were white, a color meant for debutantes.

She’d never worn this color even once on this specific day throughout all the time loops she’d experienced. Am I possibly…dreaming? she wondered.

An attendant sighed with admiration. “Goodness, no words can describe how beautiful you are. Your silver strands look magnificent against the snow-white dress, as if someone spun them from moonlight. I almost thought you were a fairy that can only exist in stories.”

Another servant nodded. “Your features are lovely as well, not to mention your mesmerizing eyes that shine like rubies.”

One after another, they showered Amelia with praise, and she was unsure how to respond. The best she could do was plaster a polite smile on her face.

This continued until a young man’s voice rang out. “To think that all of you had the chance to praise her before your lord and received her smile as a reward… I must admit that I’m jealous.”

Hearing Luke’s statement, the servants stepped back and bowed.

“With all due respect, Young Master,” one servant began, “demanding us to refrain from waxing poetic about her beauty is a rather tall order in the presence of such an adorable princess.”

Luke shrugged. “I suppose I have to agree with that. I want to have a short conversation with my fiancée, so give us some privacy for a while.”

After the servants vacated the room, Luke and Amelia had each other all to themselves. The princess looked over her fiancé, dressed in his formal attire. Golden embroidery created a stunning contrast against the black of his jacket, giving him a dignified and mature look. It was as if he were a stranger, and Amelia’s heart thumped nervously.

“You’re truly adorable. This gown matches you wonderfully, Amelia,” he whispered before reaching out. “Here, follow me.”

Guiding her by the hand, he made his way outside into the courtyard. The sun had begun to set before she knew it, and the scarlet hues of the evening glow had painted over the entire canvas of the sky. The flowers dyed crimson by the sunset were also breathtaking, and the playful wind carried a sweet floral scent to her nose.

At the Fifth Palace, Amelia had her hands full simply maintaining the fields. She wasn’t accustomed to gardens meant for admiring. Still, anyone would feel happy at the sight of lovely flowers—she was smiling before she realized. “It’s so pretty.”

“You’re prettier, Amelia.”

Receiving the most outlandish response to her self-muttering, a silly noise tore out of her throat. “Hweh?!”

As he watched the flustered Amelia, Luke smiled before schooling his expression into a serious one and bowing. “Please let me apologize before anything else. I’m so sorry I wrecked your precious memento, Amelia.”

“Huh? Oh, right, you did…” Frankly, she’d been so overwhelmed by everything else that it had slipped her mind. “It’s strange, though. That necklace was supposed to have been a jewel. Why did it smash into pieces like glass?”

Gems could be softer or harder than each other; that much was true. Still, could jewels truly smash spectacularly and effortlessly like that?

Luke inclined his head. “Either it already had cracks before the timeline reset, or it was no longer a jewel because it exhausted all its powers. As long as that necklace exists, the fifth princess will come after you to turn back time. That’s why I wanted to destroy it right before her eyes.”

“I see…” As his words sank in, she did a double-take at him. “Wait… ‘Timeline reset’?”

At this point, Luke and Amelia should have had no communication with each other. Accordingly, he shouldn’t know about the time loops or the orison stones. Which means…

Her eyes widened as she exclaimed, “Luke, you came back to the past, too?!”

Luke affectionately picked up her hand, and his eyes softened fondly. “I certainly did—I returned to the start of the timeline with you. I’m the Luke Klein who witnessed Amelia, the strawberry vendor.” Reverently, he pressed his lips against the back of her hand.

Shyness, elation, and confusion blended into one chaotic mix that threatened to explode her brain. “B-But how?”

Prisca and Amelia had been the only ones who’d kept their memories after the timeline resets, not to mention that there had been plenty of other people in the vicinity when Prisca had turned back time.

“I think I know what I have to thank,” Luke said as he pulled up a necklace from his collar. Attached at the very end was a jewel. Pastel red inclusions glimmered within the translucent crystal.

Amelia’s eyes widened. “Is that a strawberry quartz?”

“Yep. It’s your orison stone, Amelia. I’m here because I had this—I’m here because I wished to never be torn apart from you. I’m certain that’s what helped me leap back in time with you.”

Since the fifth consort’s orison stone had powered the time loops, it would make sense that Amelia’s orison stone had a similar ability. On top of that, Luke had wished to never let Amelia go, meaning that it was only natural that it would heed his will and help him out.

One question popped up in Amelia’s mind. “Wait, didn’t you hand it in to the king?”

“There were two orison stones. The second one was the stone I presented to His Majesty. This is the first orison stone you created, Amelia. Remember when you chose to trust me and declared that you’d make a stand together with me?”

Oh, right. That rang a bell. Now that he mentioned it, she had created two orison stones. She’d given both to Luke, and their existence had faded from her mind.

Luke smiled. “You were right, Amelia. You can do anything as long as you have strawberries.” Holding the strawberry quartz between his fingers, Luke lifted it up against the sky. Under the evening glow, the crystal gleamed a dark crimson. “Thanks to this strawberry, I avoided the bitter fate of being separated. From what we know, the fifth princess can’t produce orison stones, and the single orison stone that she knows exists at this point has been destroyed. She no longer has the power to drive a wedge between our relationship with her time loops.”

Since Prisca was a fellow princess and a heroine, she might truly have the aptitude to become a Saint. However, Luke was likely right that the younger girl couldn’t bring forth orison stones. Otherwise, a girl who’d been brimming with confidence and constantly looked down upon Amelia wouldn’t have resorted to making the target of her belittlement produce them by force.

“Currently, no one knows you’re a Saint,” Luke whispered. “We might announce it publicly one day, but let’s save that for after we get married and move into the same home. That way, even the fifth princess would struggle to make any moves on us.”

“G-Get married?” Amelia squawked.

It was true that becoming a member of House Klein and moving there would make it infinitely more difficult for the fourth consort and Prisca to pull off anything unsavory.

Prisca likely didn’t know whether Amelia’s orison stones had the power to turn back time, and Amelia doubted the younger princess would go as far as to steal the orison stones under the church’s management in order to test her luck. After all, in the worst-case scenario, she’d be condemned as a heinous criminal who’d pilfered one of the cornerstones of the kingdom’s defenses—even her status as a princess wouldn’t spare her from severe punishment.

Luke’s devilish smile broadened. “That, and we should also take back everything they’ve snatched away during these past four years. Even if we can’t reclaim the physical articles, we can publicize their embezzlement, and that news would reach the king. We’ve learned your confinement wasn’t under his instructions, and if we take my interaction with him before the timeline reset into account, he should deal them a fitting punishment.”

Amelia frowned. “But are you going to restart your investigation from scratch?”

She had no plans of forgiving and forgetting, but it wasn’t like she had a burning hatred for the pair either. As long as Luke and Helt were safe and that mother and daughter stayed out of her life from now on, it was more than enough.

“I already collected most of the necessary evidence from that audience, and I prepared documents to deliver to the king in the form of a report. Don’t worry—I’ve got it all memorized, so I can take care of them at once.”

Amelia’s eyes widened. “You memorized everything? But this has been going on for four entire years, hasn’t it?”

He spoke of it casually as if it were a trivial matter, but memorizing the contents of finished documents was already a rather impressive feat, or so Amelia thought.

Luke nodded. “Yeah, it has. This has been going on for four years—for the four years that I should have spent with you by all rights, and for the four years that you should have lived in comfort without struggling to procure the necessities of life.” He narrowed his eyes. “Some debts, like theirs, ought to be paid in full.”

His radiant smile was enchanting. But was it Amelia’s imagination, or was he a little scary?

“Not to mention that if we don’t give them a memorable warning, people like them tend to repeat the same atrocious mistakes,” he stressed. “Driving our point home just a tad harshly and menacingly is the exact lesson they need.”

I get where he’s coming from, but how do I put this…? Amelia had a hunch that the degree of “just a tad” far exceeded what she imagined. That said, he was up against a king’s consort and a princess, so he had his work cut out for him.

Moving on from that unsettling topic, she asked, “By the way, where did this dress come from?”

If Luke had leaped through time with her, it should have been impossible to arrange these attending servants and this dress within such a brief frame of time. It was evidently new—it didn’t seem like second-hand clothes from someone else. So how in the world did he even prepare it?

“Even before the timeline reset, I originally tailored a dress for you for this occasion, Amelia,” Luke answered.

“You did?”

“The fourth consort reported to me that you almost certainly wouldn’t be able to attend because of your sickly constitution and that a dress is unnecessary. But I couldn’t bring myself to give up, and after arranging an outfit for you, I went to the Fifth Palace to fetch you.” He smiled wryly. “Unfortunately, I was turned away at the gates.”

“I…I never knew.”

Since their betrothal, Luke had been colder than subzero—for the longest time, she’d assumed that he held no interest in her. Now she knew that it had been a misunderstanding based on misleading circumstances, but she could never have imagined that behind the scenes, he’d gone so far for her.

“Remember what I said, Amelia? I’ve loved you for the longest time.”

His bright and warm smile filled her chest to the brim with joy. It started to feel suffocating. Without thinking, she lifted her hand to press it against her chest, but she noticed that a single strawberry had manifested on her palm at some point.

“We’ve narrowly missed each other for four years—for seven years from your perspective—due to outside interference.” Luke pressed his lips into a tight line. “It wasn’t a short time in the least, but we can do things over from here. Together.” Picking up the strawberry from Amelia’s hand, Luke plopped it into his mouth before grinning. “This is our second chance. Let’s reclaim our time together, starting with this ball.”

Amelia vehemently nodded. “I would love nothing more!”

Luke gingerly picked up Amelia’s hand before getting down on one knee. “I, Luke Klein, will dedicate my love until the day I breathe my last to Amelia Glaisharle.” His breathtaking golden eyes gazed squarely into hers—and if it wasn’t Amelia’s imagination, they were somewhat misty.

She gazed back. “Are you…crying?”

“I’m not.”

As she watched him rub at his eyes with his free hand, a smile wormed onto Amelia’s lips. She wasn’t the only one who’d endured years of devastating loneliness—Luke had too. Now, at long last, they would be rewarded for their hardships.

After a lengthy exhale, Luke asked, “Will you marry me?”

“Gladly!”

No sooner had she given her answer than Amelia threw her arms around Luke as passionately as she could. She could have a future by the side of the person she’d been hopelessly in love with for years on end. She was overwhelmed with euphoria. She couldn’t believe this was real. She wanted confirmation—she wanted to know this wasn’t a wishful dream.

Luke caught her in his arms while staggering a little at her vigor, and his fingertips gently glided across her cheek with affection.

Soon, Amelia received her confirmation.

The lovestruck princess’s first kiss tasted like a sweet and sour strawberry.

Side Story: The Mistreated Princess and Her Loyal Knight

Side Story: The Mistreated Princess and Her Loyal Knight

MORNINGS began early for Helt, the guardian knight. After finishing his cleaning duties and drawing water from a well, he made a beeline for the gates. Having all the chores and menial tasks on one man’s shoulders meant that he was always short on time.

The mistress of the Fifth Palace, one of the palaces granted to the king’s consort within the royal court, was Fourth Princess Amelia Glaisharle. Helt was the only other resident.

Despite its grand name, the garden barely had any blossoms, and the building suffered leaks from time to time. It was a desolate place—it was hard to fathom that royalty resided within it.

Naturally, there was a reason why the palace of the fifth consort—who had also been a Saint—received such treatment alongside the fifth consort’s daughter. To put it bluntly, it was brought on by the fourth consort’s envy.

The king had a total of five consorts, numbered in the order they’d married him. The fourth consort, who should’ve been the youngest and final consort, had been exceedingly disgruntled that the unforeseen fifth consort was a noble Saint, a former orphan, and had even given birth to a princess ahead of her. Of course, when the fifth consort was alive, she had enough tact to only make snide remarks at most. After she gained custody of Amelia following the Saint’s death, however, she immediately revealed her true colors.

First, she added new members to the roster of guards at the Fifth Palace’s gates, making it a rule that Amelia couldn’t leave without permission. The official excuse she used was that it was for young Amelia’s safety, but in reality, it was nothing but enforced confinement by these “guards,” who were actually wardens. The numerous servants vanished in the blink of an eye, and with them, countless garments, jewelry, and even furnishings had been carried away.

On top of that, even the food that should have been delivered from the royal court’s kitchen during every meal had vanished. In its place, Amelia was handed a pitiful amount of grains once a month as if to keep up appearances. Clothing hadn’t been spared from the fourth consort’s tyranny either. Worn-out clothing was delivered, and Helt had no choice but to put those garments, which were practically no different from what commoners would wear, on Amelia.

Such treatment was outrageous. Helt had raised his objections before the fourth consort several times. However, she always answered, “What I am providing her is already too good for the daughter of a lowly former orphan.” The woman had stubbornly stuck to that stance and shown no signs of improvement.

Reasoning with her was futile. At this rate, her actions would negatively impact Amelia’s growth. In the worst-case scenario, it might even endanger the princess’s life. Helt had to do something.

He’d even attempted to look for an opening to sneak out and directly appeal to the king, but that was a challenge within the royal court, where a great number of servants—not just the guards—were under the influence of the fourth consort.

When he’d been captured for the umpteenth time after yet another failed attempt, the fourth consort appeared before him, took a good look at the knight, then smiled. “You can abandon that filthy little girl and serve under me.” She spoke as if she were some kind of benevolent goddess bringing about salvation.

Scalding fury surged up within Helt, then a wave of disdain toward the woman from the bottom of his heart. The next thing he knew, a smirk quirked up at the corners of his lips. “My princess is a compassionate and charming girl with silky tresses like strands of silver and shining eyes like strawberries. I can already tell that she will grow into a stunning woman that no one can hope to rival, and she possesses an equally beautiful heart to match. I’m afraid that from the day she was born, she was on a whole other level from someone who would vent her spite and jealousy on a girl of tender years.”

Because he recklessly allowed his true opinion to spill out, he not only earned a whipping session, but the food packages delivered were also mercilessly reduced. And so the man opened a hole in the outer walls of the Fifth Palace, creating an exit to head into the city. Working in tandem with the handful of servants that were left, they took turns to procure food.

Thanks to the knowledge and perseverance of an elderly female attendant from a farming family, they eventually started harvesting vegetables in the garden’s fields. That was a breakthrough, and the food shortage emergency within the palace stabilized considerably.

Helt had even considered navigating the city to find the viscount household that had adopted him and seek their help. However, the fourth consort’s influence was so great that he couldn’t even move as he pleased within the royal court, much less report to the king, who was within the same general area. A viscount household trying to make any noise would likely be easily hushed by the woman, and the news would never reach the hearing range of the king. Instead of improving the situation, they might make an enemy of the fourth consort—and Helt couldn’t afford to land his family in hot water like that.

In the end, he decided that he would prioritize Amelia’s protection until he could either diminish the fourth consort’s authority or secure an ally with power to oppose the woman.

Alas, the fourth consort’s sabotage continued. Just the other day, the last remaining female attendant at the Fifth Palace resigned due to her old age. She proposed to bring the matter to the king’s attention by putting her life on the line, stating that she didn’t have long to live anyway, but Helt had persuaded her against the idea.

If an elderly female attendant from a commoner family could achieve such a thing, then Helt’s appeals would have reached the king long ago. He couldn’t sit and watch the woman march into her death while knowing her efforts were in vain, not to mention that this attendant had also served under the fifth consort and doted on Amelia as if the girl were her own granddaughter. Helt didn’t want to lose a kindred spirit fighting for the same cause. Even if the incident wouldn’t reach Amelia’s ears, he didn’t want to make any choices that would cause her sorrow.

With her departure, Helt became the last remaining servant within the Fifth Palace, and he began taking every task onto his own shoulders. The fourth consort untiringly attempted to persuade him to serve under her, but he had only one answer for the woman—his mistress was the fifth consort, and the fifth consort’s orders were to protect his new mistress, Amelia. Whenever he brought Amelia up, he would always accidentally start making a speech about the princess’s cuteness, earning him a whipping session every time, but physical punishment could never shake his resolve.

🍓🍓🍓

UPON arriving at the gates, Helt greeted, “Good morning, everyone. How are things today?”

The two gatekeepers raised their hands in response.

One of them reported, “It’s the same old. The last time food was delivered was around two months ago, was it? You might seriously starve to death in your situation—what is the fourth consort even thinking?”

Helt shrugged. “It actually works out in my favor that she is a fool who doesn’t question the fact that my princess grew up normally and energetically even in these circumstances.”

“That’s true.”

The other gatekeeper laughed before placing a small wooden box next to Helt’s feet. On it was a label that read “cleaning tools,” and Helt opened the lid to reveal a chaotic clutter of rags and brushes. He pushed aside the greasy, oily rags and fished out a cloth package from the bottom.

“The contents today are apparently salt-cured meat and pepper. That, and envelopes, as well as writing paper,” the gatekeeper reported.

“Those are very welcome additions.” Helt nodded. “The princess will be delighted by the stationery.”

The earnest and dedicated Amelia still persistently wrote letters to her fiancé, who’d cut off all communications with her ever since their betrothal. No matter how many letters she sent, he’d never responded, but she had yet to show any signs of giving up. Helt didn’t have any means to check whether the fourth consort was meddling or whether her fiancé wasn’t bothering to write back, but it was Amelia’s wish. He wanted to do as much as he could to realize it.

As one of the gatekeepers closed the wooden box again, he grinned with some exasperation. “That aside, I’ve got to say it’s pretty impressive. They know that if someone finds out, the fourth consort would punish them, but they’re still sneaking in supplies for you two.”

Servants in the royal court prepared this package. These servants came from various backgrounds. Some were originally employed in the Fifth Palace before they were forced to leave, and they went on to work at other palaces in the vicinity. Some had heard of the Fifth Palace’s situation through rumors and were lending a helping hand. Regardless of whatever reasons they had, though, they wouldn’t be let off the hook that easily if the fourth consort discovered them.

“Well, it is all thanks to my princess’s virtuous character and her mesmerizing cuteness,” Helt boasted.

The guards shook their heads, looking slightly appalled, as they put away the wooden box. That said, they were both smirking. “I can’t say that isn’t one of the reasons, but hey, most of them are women who’ve set their sights on you, aren’t they?”

Although Helt was a guardian knight, he was originally an orphan before his adoption. However—and yes, I know this sounds pretentious when I say it myself—he was blessed with relatively pleasing looks. One could say that his appearance was the exact reason that he had been adopted into a viscount’s household. His features, which hadn’t been particularly useful in any way in the past, were undeniably helping him now.

One gatekeeper commented, “I’d love to show you how those ladies celebrate and cheer when they’re lucky enough to chance upon you anytime they come to bring supplies. They all whisper feverishly to each other that you’re practically storybook characters—a mistreated princess and her loyal knight. You might not know this, but you two are somewhat like celebrities.”

Helt shrugged. “If it means that we can gain supplies without the fourth consort finding out, they may gossip as much as they wish.”

Now that Helt was the last servant within the palace, it was a challenge for him to sneak into town like before. Though the royal court should be a safe place in theory, he was worried about leaving Amelia to fend for herself. Furthermore, if the fourth consort ever noticed his absence, not only would it stir the hornet’s nest, but he’d lose their escape route in an emergency, which he wanted to avoid.

A cute, sonorous voice cut into his thoughts. “Helt!” The knight turned around to see his mistress rushing over with her silver hair fluttering in the air. “I finished watering the fields. How about we have some breakfast now?”

Even though a rustic dress with stiff fabric was wrapped around her frame, her sunny, bubbly smile never darkened. Their life in this palace was far from leisurely, but whenever he looked at Amelia’s smile, he felt as if it was all worth it. It was a rather intriguing thought.

Helt bowed. “That sounds like an excellent idea. We just happened to receive some salt-cured meat, so shall we have some soup?”

Her face fell slightly. “I’ve already made our breakfast. Carrot potage’s on the menu. I chose it because you mentioned you like it.”

Dejection darkened her face, but though the world was a big place, you probably wouldn’t find a princess who would make soup according to the taste of her guardian knight anywhere else. The girl, who should have been waited upon by a great crowd of servants and brought up without any hardship by all rights, had hands that were marred with scars from working in the fields, sewing, and cooking. However, even when she was wrapped in timeworn fabric and had rough hands, she was the most brilliant star in Helt’s eyes.

“Your potage soup is delicious, my princess, and I am delighted. I shall gladly savor every spoonful,” Helt reassured her. “That, and I have also procured envelopes and writing paper. You will be able to write more letters now.”

“Really?! Oh, I’m the happiest girl in the world, thank you!” Beaming at him, she clapped her hands together and jumped with joy. She was so adorable that even the gatekeepers were desperately suppressing the urge to grin themselves silly.

The next moment, Amelia noticed the gatekeepers’ peculiar expressions—they were furrowing their brows and biting hard on their bottom lips—and she awkwardly hung her head a little.

“U-Um, if it’s all right with you… Please have these.” Nervously, she held out her hands toward the guards with an almost overflowing batch of strawberries in her palms. “You haven’t had breakfast yet, have you? I don’t have enough soup for everyone, but there are always strawberries.”

With taut expressions, the gatekeepers accepted her offering. “Th-Thank you, Your Highness.”

Amelia sighed with relief. “Okay then, Helt. I’ll head back first.”

After watching Amelia run off while waving her hands, the guards let out a grand sigh in tandem.

“I have to say, she’s such a charming girl every single day,” one muttered.

“She was even concerned about our breakfast? Is she a literal angel?” the other whispered.

“Princess Amelia was adorable from the beginning, but it feels like her radiance has only grown stronger recently.” The first gatekeeper paused. “It’s somewhat understandable that the fourth consort and Princess Prisca would be jealous of her.”

As they spoke, they blissfully filled their mouths with strawberries. To be frank, Helt didn’t want them to have the opportunity to enjoy Amelia’s strawberries so effortlessly and lightheartedly, but he had no choice but to turn a blind eye because his princess’s consideration for the likely hungry guards was all too precious.

One gatekeeper commented, “Princess Amelia is a remarkably good girl, but it’s too bad that her guardian and her guardian’s daughter treat her as their mortal enemy. Even the female attendant who stayed behind to the very end is gone now, and you’re all alone here with her, aren’t you? Your situation is starting to get harsh.”

Originally, these guards were stationed here to prevent the residents of the Fifth Palace from coming into contact with the outside world. Out of concern for Amelia and Helt, they were quite flexible with all kinds of things, but they still couldn’t go against the fourth consort’s orders.

If Amelia’s poor excuse of a guardian could eliminate Helt, Amelia would be left all alone in the Fifth Palace. He didn’t know whether the fourth consort planned on dragging her into the Fourth Palace or abandoning the princess here, but it was clear that Amelia would be in danger no matter what scenario came to pass.

“Rain or shine, I will protect my princess from right by her side,” Helt declared his unwavering resolve.

Hearing that, the gatekeepers, who’d been eating the strawberries, stilled.

“The part about the loyal knight isn’t too far off, huh?” one said.

Helt shook his head. “I am not anything that awe-inspiring. I am merely…upholding a very precious promise.”

🍓🍓🍓

HELT was raised in an orphanage. Contrary to what some might assume, however, life in the orphanage wasn’t unpleasant. He could even declare that, other than the fact that he hadn’t been able to eat to his heart’s content, he had been a satisfied child.

His best friend in the orphanage had been a girl called Johanna. With ashen hair and emerald eyes, she had insistently acted as his big sister, often treating him like a child because she was a year older, saying that he wasn’t dependable.

Vexed by her demeanor, Helt announced to her at every opportunity, “One day, I’ll grow up into a dependable adult man and make you eat your words!”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever you say.” She shrugged. “I’ll wait, but I won’t keep my hopes up.”

They repeated that exchange time and time again as they went about their lives, until one day, an adoption offer abruptly and unexpectedly landed in Helt’s lap. He readily agreed and became a member of a viscount’s household.

Under the encouraging gazes of his kindhearted family, he took his first step onto the path of knighthood. Soon after becoming an established knight, he was offered the role of the Saint’s guardian knight. Apparently, the Saint was going to be welcomed into the royal court as one of the king’s consorts, and his duty would be guarding her within her dedicated palace.

Helt had dreamed of serving and protecting the king as a royal knight, and at first, he’d attempted to turn it down, but he hadn’t had the final say in this matter. Without any other choice, he headed to a greeting session alongside a handful of other knights—when in reality, it was a job interview—and to his astonishment, the person who appeared before him was none other than Johanna, whom he hadn’t seen since their farewell at the orphanage.

As Johanna looked over the lined-up knights, her eyes landed on Helt and widened. A conflicted smile curled her lips. “So, yeah. I somehow ended up becoming the Saint.”

Helt gazed at her ashen hair and her green eyes. These colors should have been familiar to him, but oddly enough, they seemed distant. Was it because she was adorned in a beautiful dress he’d never seen in the orphanage before? Or was it due to her sacred status as a Saint?

For some reason he couldn’t explain, Helt wasn’t eager to leave her safety in the hands of other knights, and so, he took on this new role.

After her marriage, Johanna promptly gave birth to a princess, but she became prone to illness since that day. She was sent get-well gifts like flowers, fruit, confectionery, and books—but the king rarely visited her in person.

When Helt happened to have some privacy with her once, he grumbled, “Fifth Consort, you are technically one of his partners. Surely he could afford to come and visit you once in a while.”

Johanna, sitting in a chair while cradling her baby in her arms, gave him a troubled smile. “The king has a total of five consorts. Not to mention that I’m a former orphan that was only tacked onto the list because I’m a Saint. We haven’t got ardent, passionate love between us, but it’s not like he’s treating me coldly, and it’s only natural for him to prioritize his official business. Not to mention that I’m a happy woman because my girl is with me.”

With that, Johanna affectionately stroked Amelia’s head. Her smile was peaceful—Helt couldn’t make sense of it.

Unable to conceal his displeasure, Helt creased his forehead. “I…can’t say I understand.”

Johanna chuckled for a long time after seeing his frown. “Well, a little kid wouldn’t understand, that’s true.”

“Please don’t treat me like a child.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever you say. Our resident toddler doesn’t like it when he’s being coddled, hmm? You’re quite a handful, Sir Knight. Right, Amelia?” Smilingly, she caressed Amelia’s cheeks, and the baby squealed in delight before laughing merrily.

Unfortunately, Johanna’s health only spiraled downward as the years went by. By the time Amelia turned nine, she was practically a prisoner in her own bed.

When Johanna sat up in bed, Amelia held out strawberries that were enough to fill both hands. “Mother, I was able to make strawberries.”

Possibly because she took after Johanna, who wielded the most peculiar magic of summoning watermelons, Amelia had the ability to summon strawberries. Though Helt didn’t have a good understanding of the inner workings and systems within magic, this mother and daughter were likely extraordinary.

Logic and theory aside, the servants felt all warm and fuzzy inside when they watched Amelia putting forward every effort she could for her mother’s sake.

Regrettably, Johanna was not long for this world. It was plain as day, even if no one said it out loud. Helt could tell that even the young Amelia could sense her mother’s life declining.

“You made lots and lots. You’re amazing, Amelia,” Johanna marveled. “I shall have some later.” The pile of strawberries was transferred onto a plate, which was placed on Johanna’s bedside table.

Amelia smiled blissfully and adorably as her mother stroked her head. Though everyone would love for life in the palace to go on forever and ever like this, Johanna herself seemed to know best about how difficult that wish was.

She requested the other servants leave until only Helt and herself were in the room and stared steadily at her knight. “It’s probably best for you to step down from your position of guardian knight and return to a normal knight.”

A moment of silence. “May I ask why?” Though he’d already expected her statement to some extent, he couldn’t just nod and go along with it.

“She may be a princess, but Amelia’s in a vulnerable position because she lacks a powerful backer,” Johanna explained. “You have a better chance at a successful career as a normal knight. If you make that change right now, I can also give you my support as a Saint.”

Johanna picked up one of Amelia’s strawberries and admired it. The glossy fruit, overflowing with vitality, glittered dazzlingly as it reflected the light.

Helt shook his head. “I have been blessed with a younger brother and the viscount household, so my family isn’t troubled for an heir. Since I have accepted this role, I fully intend to carry out my duty to the end as your guardian knight.”

“You will? Even if I try to persuade you in every way I can?”

Helt nodded.

With a sigh, Johanna put the strawberry back on the plate. “Just so you know, I’m accumulating mana within an orison stone.” She fumbled for the chain around her neck before pulling it up to display a shining, deep, verdant gem with a banded pattern. “The Saint is permitted to keep a single orison stone with her. That’s why I’m going to infuse this thing with as much magic as I can. So that…it can protect Amelia even if I’m not with her.”

After grasping the gem tightly, Johanna tucked it into her clothes again. “If I could have it my way, I would stay by her side forever. I want to watch her grow up. I want to protect her. But well…it looks like life isn’t very nice to me.” She cast her eyes downward.

A moment later, she raised her face and stared squarely into Helt’s eyes. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from the gleam of her emerald orbs.

In a shaky voice, she pleaded, “Take care of Amelia for me.” Her eyes were just a little misty.

For a long while, he watched her. Eventually, he let out a small sigh. “Well. This is the first time you have ever turned to me for help.”

“That’s true. I was the one who looked after you back in the orphanage.”

That statement earned a grin from Johanna, and tears trickled down her cheeks with the movement.

Helt offered her a handkerchief. “I understand, my lady. I shall take on that responsibility. No matter what might be waiting for me down the line, I will always stay by my princess’s side and defend her.”

Relief must have washed over Johanna, because even more tears spilled out. “Thanks, Helt.”

Deliberately putting on a pompous smile, Helt declared, “I am a dependable adult man, after all. It is only natural that I agree.”

Johanna widened her eyes with a mix of exasperation and astonishment. “You still remember that?”

It was a phrase they’d tossed between each other countless times back in the orphanage, but it had been quite a while ago.

Helt cast down his eyes briefly. “One’s first love during their childhood, as it turns out, influences them quite a lot.”

He didn’t know whether Johanna had grasped the meaning behind his words. But after a brief pause, her sigh resounded within the room. “It…does?”

“It does,” the knight replied without a shred of hesitation.

Johanna tightened her grip on the handkerchief. “Hey… Could you call me by my name? You’ve been calling me the fifth consort since our reunion.”

“That is only natural. You are undeniably the fifth consort. Furthermore, you are a Saint and my mistress—it is preposterous for a mere guardian knight to address you by your name.”

“…Please. Come on, I’ll give you a watermelon.”

As soon as those words left her lips, a watermelon appeared out of thin air in Johanna’s hands, but it could easily be held with one hand. Considering how she used to manifest watermelons as large as a human head, it was evident that Johanna’s health was deteriorating.

With a stifled sigh, Helt relented. “I can see how serious you are, so please don’t summon any more watermelons. It will exhaust your energy.”

“But if I have watermelons, you’ll be more willing to listen to me, right?”

She made her case earnestly, but Helt couldn’t understand her logic at all. This woman had gained the ability to summon watermelons and the title of Saint without his knowledge, and she’d apparently also gained an inexplicable faith in this fruit.

“Lady Johanna—”

She firmly cut him off. “Don’t go ‘lady’ on me.”

Helt hesitated. “Johanna.”

He hadn’t called her name this plainly, without any decorations, since their time in the orphanage. At that thought, his entire life vividly flashed through his mind, and his chest felt somewhat tight.

“Sorry, Helt. And thank you.” While she smiled, tears slid down Johanna’s cheeks. “I’m so glad that you’re here with me.”

“Those words…are all the reward I ever needed,” Helt replied with a clumsy smile of his own.

Johanna nodded in silence.

Soon after his promise, the year Amelia turned ten, Johanna peacefully ascended to heaven.

🍓🍓🍓

ONCE Helt returned from the gates, Amelia greeted him. “Welcome back, Helt. Just wondering, did those guards eat the strawberries? Do you think I was a bother? Should I stop giving them from now on?”

Her strawberry eyes stared intently at him. She must’ve gotten concerned because the gatekeepers had accepted the strawberries with stern faces. It was already clear as day that she was a kind soul just because she was willing to give refreshments to servants despite being a princess, but on top of that, she even had the consideration to question whether her actions would be an inconvenience.

Meanwhile, the fourth consort and her daughter embellished themselves gaudily with dresses and cosmetics—they even forced unreasonable demands on their servants. If Amelia even gave a hundredth of her virtue to them, they would be at least decent human beings.

No. Correction. That’s out of the question. They weren’t even worthy of a hundredth of Amelia’s anything, so that plan was rejected. Making them drink muddy water from the recently fertilized fields was sufficient.

“It is all right,” he replied, wanting to report that there was no need to be nervous. “They ate your offerings, not to mention that your strawberries are forever heavenly.”

For some reason, Amelia creased her forehead. “But that’s by your standards, isn’t it? That said…they weren’t uncomfortable with it, gotcha. I’m so glad.”

They hadn’t been uncomfortable—in fact, they’d eagerly enjoyed the fruits, but telling her the truth wasn’t an option. Thoughtlessly becoming familiar with the guards would displease the fourth consort, and her situation might worsen, not to mention that the gatekeepers and their respective families would also be in danger.

“They could never be repulsed by your offerings,” Helt said. “However, your strawberries are precious and sacred items that are too good for them. Giving them some fruit once in a while should be sufficient.”

Stopping Amelia from giving them refreshments would make her dejected, not to mention that it would incur the guards’ resentment. Therefore, he decided to go for a balanced option and gave her an innocuous explanation, but after hearing it, Amelia nodded several times.

“Huuuh, I see. That makes sense; they’d get bored if they only ate strawberries all the time.”

“Now that is preposterous. My princess, your strawberries are delectable to the point that I could eat them for every meal.”

“Like I mentioned earlier, Helt, your standards are a bit off.”

Helt frowned slightly. He’d stated his opinion honestly, and he couldn’t make sense of what she meant by “off.”

That was when Amelia schooled her face into a serious expression. “Hey, Helt… You know it’s fine for you to quit your job as a guardian knight and go back to being a normal knight, yeah?”

Helt blinked in surprise at the unexpected line—Johanna had said the same words to him once upon a time. However, in Amelia’s case, it was practically written on her face that she didn’t want him to go.

My princess is such a handful, Helt thought before sighing. “The fifth consort has ordered me to be your protector, so I cannot leave your side.”

Amelia’s eyes lit up like the sun, and she grinned with joy. “Sorry, Helt. And thank you. You’re really kind, so I keep relying on you.”

There was something exasperated about her smile, but he could also feel the robust trust she had in him—for a moment, he was reminded of Johanna, and he unknowingly quirked up the corners of his lips. “That is right. I am a dependable adult man, after all.”

Afterword

Afterword

HELLO, Hanami Nishine here. I’m delighted that I was able to deliver Strawberry Princess: The Time Loop Defying Villainess to all of you, my dear readers.

The protagonist, Amelia, has a history of misfortune—despite being a princess, she’s mistreated by the consort who serves as her guardian. For some reason, she has been reliving the same year over and over, and time rewinds whenever men propose to her half-sister, Prisca.

The fourth timeline reset is the turning point when Amelia realizes some significant truths: she’s a reincarnator, and this world resembles an otome game. To protect her first crush and fiancé, Luke, from Prisca’s evil clutches, she steels her resolve to make a stand against Prisca.

But her situation isn’t what you’d call ideal. She only has a single servant. She doesn’t have any money, isn’t granted sufficient meals or food, and she’s even been locked up for several years. It all seems hopeless, but there is one weapon available to Amelia—strawberries, believe it or not!

That’s the gist of it! I hope you will enjoy the story of a world where strawberries appear out of thin air, as well as a princess who valiantly tries to protect her fiancé by making full use of her mysterious strawberry magic!

The side story focuses on the handsome knight in his prime, who protects Amelia from right by her side, and Amelia’s mother. It features a slightly mature first crush, loyalty, and a glimpse of the hidden circumstances of the main story.

While you’re here, the Japanese manga adaptation of Strawberry Princess is currently serializing. You can enjoy Amelia, who moves about energetically and adorably, Luke, who’s handsome but a crybaby, as well as Helt, the handsome older knight who loves Amelia way too much, in manga format, too!

Lastly, I would like to thank all my wonderful readers who have read this far; Renta-sensei, who depicted the characters and strawberries with gorgeous art; all the people involved in the publication of this work; and my family, who supported my writing process. Strawberry Princess wouldn’t have been possible without all your support. I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Well then, I hope that I will be able to see you again somewhere.

Hanami Nishine