Reincarnated as a Farmer Gamer: Rising to the Top with the Evolution of the Weakest Job that Only I Know About!? - 68.1

“—I see. So, because something like that happened in such a short time, you want me to tell you what it means to like someone… right?”

“Yes! Al-sama!”

Al crosses his arms and looks down at me with a small smile.

“What does it mean to have feelings of love… that’s a difficult question.”

“Y-yeah! If someone suddenly says they like me… it’s really troubling…”

“Then, can I ask you one thing?”

“Y-yeah.”

“Isn’t Beryl currently engaged to Lady Chloe?”

I nod in response.

“If so, what does Lady Chloe mean to Beryl? I understand that she might fall in love with someone else and break off the engagement in the future. However, Beryl is turning away from the most important thing.”

“The most… important thing…?”

“Yeah. What would happen if Lady Chloe fell in love with Beryl?”

“…Huh?”

Lady… likes me?

“Pwahahaha! No way! Lady likes me? That’s impossible!”

Al sighs and places a hand on my shoulder.

“It’s not impossible that it’s impossible. Besides, while the two of them may not have mutual feelings right now, they are engaged. If time passes, they will definitely have to marry. Didn’t you understand that when you accepted the engagement?”

“W-well…”

“You didn’t think that Lady Chloe would definitely hate Beryl and fall for another man, did you?”

“…That’s why I’m troubled! M-my parents, you see… they got married because they liked each other… but nobles aren’t necessarily like that, right?”

“Yeah. It’s quite rare for all marriages to be based on mutual love. But conversely, not all marriages are devoid of it either. Many couples enter into marriage with a clear understanding. I don’t know what Lady Chloe thinks, but at least at the point of the engagement with Count Emblam—”

Al points at me.

“—Beryl should seriously face Lady Chloe.”

“Y-yes…”

“Speaking of which, you’re also flustered because your childhood friend is asking for an engagement, right?”

“That’s right… Al… help me!”

“Understood. So, make some time this week.”

“This week, got it! I’ll rely on you!”

“B-by the way, can I also go to the village?”

“To our village?”

“Yeah. I’d like to be treated to dinner too, if possible.”

“Eh!? It’s a pretty substandard meal for commoners…”

“That’s exactly why. I think I should know more about commoner life. Plus, I want to keep the fact that I’m a prince a secret. I want to go as one of Beryl’s friends.”

“…Hah. Al, you have some strange interests. Got it.”

“That helps.”

With all that settled, Al decided to go to the village with us starting today.

Normally, we would finish class and have dinner at the cafeteria, but from now on, we’ll head straight to the village.

In the carriage headed to the village are me, Al, the lady, Diana, and Lisa. Adding one more guy doesn’t make it feel cramped since it’s an eight-person carriage.

“By the way, I haven’t properly introduced everyone yet. This is Lisa, the daughter of a baron.”

“I’m Alphonse. Since we’re in the same class, feel free to call me that.”

Lisa clings to Diana and nods slightly.

“Haha… she’s quite shy, but she talks normally once you get to know her.”

“Hmm. So, Beryl is childhood friends with her. That’s enviable.”

“Enviable?”

“Yeah. More importantly, Beryl, I’ve been wondering about something.”

“O-oh?”

“You haven’t seen Lady Chloe at all. Is something up?”

At Al’s voice, both the lady and I flinch.

“Ah, haha… it’s nothing! Just your imagination!”

You little! You did that on purpose, knowing full well!

Al laughs with a smug expression.