As a Second Reincarnation Bonus, I Kept Rerolling and Ended Up Reincarnating as the Character Who Should’ve Had the Easiest Life... or So I Thought - Episode 3: The Prince Encounter

Episode 3: The Prince Encounter

After that, for a while, he forgot everything that had happened up until then.

As the angel had said, he was reincarnated and spent some time growing up normally—as Atlas of the Marquis House Lothian.

Around five years passed since he became a baby. And one day, he finally remembered.

His conversations with the angel, his memories of his previous and second past life. It all returned while he was attending a noble’s party. He was playing in the garden with children his age.

“This is torture.”

He had once imagined how fun it would be to return to childhood while keeping his current intelligence.

It was probably a daydream anyone might have—but in reality, it was full of hardships.

To him, the other children’s chatter was just nonsense. And he had to go along with boring games.

He hadn’t experienced these struggles during his last reincarnation. That time, he’d been reincarnated by possession. He was suddenly thrown into a new life.

“Atra-kun, what’s wrong? Aren’t you playing house?”

“Ah… sure, I’ll play.”

A few days after the party, while zoning out at the town park, a girl friend holding a doll spoke to him.

Though he thought, “Give me a break,” he joined in with the girly play.

By the way, people usually shortened his name to “Atra.”

She seemed oddly satisfied. So he figured it was fine—but he never really got used to it.

“Atra! Let’s play ball-kicking. You’re in my army!”

“Got it.”

At times, he was invited to play games like soccer. Those were fun—but boys would often get into fights over trivial things. When scuffles broke out, it was a pain to break them up.

“Young master, it’s time for your studies.”

“I’ve already memorized the history.”

By the time he turned six, tutors started coming to the house. In this world, children enter school at fifteen. And until then, they study on their own.

Compared to the Japan he once lived in, this world still had many underdeveloped areas.

Moreover, he knew almost nothing about it.

But learning the world’s customs didn’t trouble him much.

The language and culture of another world were rare things. But having experienced it once in his previous life, he picked it up quickly.

Atlas mastered reading and writing in no time.

(This six-year-old body really has great memory—and recovery too. I guess that’s what it’s like.)

For someone mentally in his forties, a child’s body was full of fresh discoveries.

He made friends normally. And the people around him were very kind.

This wouldn’t have been possible for the original Atlas.

Despite being the eldest son, he would have been overtaken by his more capable younger brother. He would then develop an inferiority complex and grow up twisted.

But to a man who had reincarnated twice, such things didn’t matter.

Still, he was careful not to stand out too much. In his last life, he’d been hailed as a hero—but he wanted no part of such a difficult life again.

In this life, maybe he really could live an easier existence.

With each passing year, that hope in his heart grew.

But around the time he turned seven, the people around him clearly began acting differently.

One day, the entire Lothian family—parents and siblings—headed to the royal castle.

Everyone wore formal noble attire. Even young Atlas was no exception.

They rode a white-and-gold-decorated carriage to a castle located at the heart of the continent of Ireina.

It was the center of the kingdom of Glowarth. And from Atlas’ eyes, it was a fairly impressive place.

Still, he had a bad feeling.

He quietly sighed in the carriage as he watched the overwhelming crowds of the royal capital.

Memories of his first life in Japan vaguely resurfaced.

Even as they stepped into the castle, he felt little awe.

He had seen plenty of castles in his past life—enough to get sick of them.

It was certainly a fine castle, but not beyond his expectations.

However, when he entered the audience hall and saw the king and ministers, he did sense that they had the dignity to rule a powerful nation.

Apparently, a “Founding Festival” was to be held three months later.

And the Lothian family had been appointed to organize it.

He remembered now that the role rotated annually among the top noble families. And his parents had been especially fired up for it.

(They probably trust them—and are testing their loyalty at the same time.)

Currently, the kingdom of Glowarth had ten dukes and twenty marquises.

Each was entrusted by the royal family with land, people, and even military forces.

Outwardly, the royal family and the thirty great nobles stood united. But rebellion or revolution could happen at any time.

Glowarth constantly kept watch for signs of betrayal.

Even a seemingly innocent festival could serve as a trap to expose traitors.

As he watched the audience between the king and his father, Atlas just wanted to go home.

(Ugh, the world of the elite really is such a pain. I want no part of this.)

He resolved to retire early once he became an adult.

As he had such thoughts, meetings and preparations for the festival began.

The children, including Atlas, were sent outside.

While waiting in one of the castle’s grand halls, the other children ran wild. They were annoying the guards—but Atlas just sat still.

Perhaps intrigued by this, a boy descended from the royal living quarters and walked straight toward him.

“You. Why are you just sitting there? Why aren’t you playing with the others?”

The boy was the same age as Atlas.

He wore a white jacket with gold trim and fine leather shoes.

Given that he’d come from the royal quarters, he had to be the king’s son.

Even a small offense could bring trouble to his household.

Though annoyed, Atlas smiled and replied:

“No particular reason. People often say I’m just spacing out.”

“You think you can survive in these turbulent times like that? What’s your name?”

“Atlas von Lothian.”

“Ah, the marquis family handling this year’s festival. Are you the heir?”

“No. I probably won’t inherit. My younger brother will.”

The boy’s face twisted in anger at those words. It was an unexpected reaction for Atlas.

“You’re the eldest son, and yet you’d give up on inheriting? You’re fine being called a weakling?”

“I believe there are other paths besides inheriting the house. Or rather, I haven’t really thought about it that much.”

What a pain, Atlas wanted to mutter.

But since he looked like a child, he tried to pass himself off as a carefree airhead.

“So you have no ambition?”

“Never thought about it.”

“Weak! Your half-hearted thinking—I, Regnas, will correct it! Come with me!”

And with that, chaos erupted around them.

The boy’s name was Regnas II Glowarth.

He would later become the King of Glowarth.

In fact, during the reincarnation gacha, he was the very first candidate presented—

—but Atlas no longer remembered that.