My Fiancé Fell in Love with My Older Sister. After Locking Myself in My Room for Five Days, 500 Years Had Passed. - 60 - A Womanizer...?
After getting off the carriage, I followed Prince Lian to the nearby food stalls.
I stepped down and landed by the lakeside, where we were surrounded by trees. Far beyond the branches and leaves, I could faintly see a sky-colored lake.
That was probably the famous tourist lake.
The ground was covered in soft grass.
(I wore lace-up boots that are easy to walk in, but I should still be careful walking here…)
As I was thinking that, Prince Lian reached out his hand to me.
“Felicia, here.”
“…We’re outdoors, and people might be watching. But thank you for your kind offer.”
“Oh? I see. But—”
Just as I politely declined and began to walk forward—
SPLAT!!
“!?!!”
…A sound effect like that would’ve suited the scene perfectly—I slipped that hard.
(The grass I stepped on…! The soil… it’s wet!?)
Why is it wet!? Seriously!?
My right foot shot into the air like a cheerleader’s kick—then my body spun halfway around.
Just as I was about to fall headfirst, gravity pulling me down—
“Ah…!”
A strong arm pulled me back quickly, catching me just in time.
It was Prince Lian, who had been standing next to me.
Thanks to him, I was saved from the disaster of arriving only to end up covered in mud!
“…………”
“…………”
When I looked at him, Prince Lian had this look like he wanted to say something. More like, “See? I told you so.”
He looked at me the way someone might look at a troublesome child.
(Ugh… How embarrassing…!!)
My cheeks burned as if scorched.
Even as a child, I never fell this dramatically!
As Prince Lian gave me a wry smile, the heat spread from my cheeks to my ears and neck.
As I stood there feeling the embarrassment growing, Prince Lian said with a small laugh:
“…This area is near the mountains, so the weather changes quickly. It rained just last night, so I thought you might slip if you weren’t used to walking here. I should’ve warned you earlier.”
“…Thank you for your concern.”
If I could be picky, I would’ve liked to hear that before I fell…
Prince Lian smiled again at my reply and slowly removed his hand from my back.
“Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine. Thank you for helping me. I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy this sightseeing trip otherwise.”
Then, trying to be casual, I added:
“…By the way, I wasn’t particularly wild or reckless back in Tsobellar, you know? I think I was actually more on the calm and quiet side… I was the crown prince’s fiancée, after all.”
But no matter how I put it, it just sounded like an excuse.
(Ugh, I sound like I’m desperately trying to cover something up…!)
Saying anything more would just make it worse.
Before I could embarrass myself again, I decided to stop talking.
Prince Lian simply smiled at me again.
“Felicia, you’re the kind of person I never get bored watching.”
“Eh?”
Wait a minute… Did he mean that like I’m some rare creature—like an animal at the zoo!?
In my head, I suddenly imagined a gorilla performing tricks behind bars, and a chimpanzee swinging around the top of its cage.
(I’m not putting on a show like that, am I…!?)
For the record, I don’t have any hidden talents or party tricks.
(If I were put in a zoo, I don’t think I could outshine a gorilla or a chimpanzee in drawing a crowd…)
As that silly thought crossed my mind, I looked quickly at Prince Lian.
But by then, he was already looking off into the distance.
“We should get lunch while the weather is still nice. If it rains, the stalls will close up.”
“…Right.”
He seemed to consider the incident over and done with.
I couldn’t bring it up again, so I just nodded quietly.
So I gratefully took his hand this time and began to walk—determined not to repeat my earlier mistake.
As I walked, I thought about what Prince Lian had said earlier, and I finally understood.
(Ah… he meant I’m an interesting subject to observe…!)
Prince Lian is a magic enthusiast—no, a magic maniac.
Someone like me, an unusual existence, must be fascinating to observe.
Right, right. Even if we’re from different dynasties, he wouldn’t compare a noble’s daughter to a zoo animal… would he?
Yes, yes, thank goodness.
As I quietly felt relieved, another emotion rose up inside me.
“…………”
I found myself staring at Prince Lian.
“…Is something wrong?”
He noticed my gaze and tilted his head.
His long golden hair swayed gently.
“…No. I’m just looking forward to the food stalls.”
As I answered, I became certain of something.
(Prince Lian… is kind of a… womanizer, isn’t he…??)
That line earlier—other girls could definitely take it as flirting!
(I mean… wasn’t that basically the classic “You’re an interesting girl” pickup line…!?)
Prince Lian might not mean anything by it!!
(But still!! He’s a misunderstanding machine!!)
A ‘crush-maker’!!
A phrase I used a lot in my past life popped into my head, and I found myself (in my heart) blurting it out.
Behind us, Matthew, Zachs, Welno, and Marcus followed as our guards.
I kind of wanted to ask them what they thought.
I doubt Magnolia was the first person Prince Lian accidentally made fall in love with.
(…Maybe I should secretly ask them later.)
As I was thinking that, the food stalls finally came into view.