The Princess Who Saw the Fall of Her Homeland Strives to Change Fate by Becoming the Cold Prince's Bride! - Chapter 12

The unexpected and sudden encounter left Elze frozen, unable to even blink.

Richard stared at Elze for a moment, but then—

(…Huh?)

Without a word, Richard averted his gaze from Elze and looked back at the ruins.

As if she were nothing more than an insignificant presence.

(I-I’m safe…)

She had feared he would suddenly cut her down like in that dream. The relief was so overwhelming that her knees nearly gave out.

But she quickly snapped back to reality and steadied her footing.

(This isn’t the time to relax! This is… an incredible opportunity!)

For some reason, Richard was alone.

It was the perfect chance to speak to him.

…To be honest, she was terrified.

The hellish scene from her dream flashed in her mind—the ruthless slaughter of bandits, one after another, with merciless precision.

She could easily imagine that if she did anything to displease him, he would cut her down just as easily.

But—

(If I don’t act now, the future won’t change…!)

If she stayed frozen in fear, all that awaited her was the destruction of her homeland.

She had vowed to protect everyone waiting for her in Maglier.

There was no way she would waste this rare chance!

Clutching Chiffon tightly, Elze took a trembling step forward.

She stepped cautiously through the grass, moving closer to Richard.

“…The wind feels nice, doesn’t it?”

She put on a smile and made sure her voice didn’t waver as she spoke.

A perfect opening line.

She planned to gauge Richard’s reaction and continue the conversation from there.

But—

Richard acted as if he hadn’t heard her at all. He completely ignored her.

Even Elze was stunned to be so thoroughly disregarded at this distance.

(Wait, no way. He definitely heard that! He heard me and ignored me? What is this?!)

Her fear from earlier vanished, replaced by a surge of frustration.

(If someone spoke to me, I’d never ignore them! I could chat for hours!)

She understood that the customs of a small kingdom like Maglier, where everyone felt like family, were different from those of a great empire like Ernstahl.

But this level of coldness was just rude.

Determined, Elze tried again.

“When the weather is this nice, don’t you just feel like singing? Yodelay-ee-hoo!”

She even offered a special performance of her well-practiced yodeling, but Richard’s expression didn’t change in the slightest.

(No way! He ignored my special skill?! Just how stiff are his facial muscles?!)

Whether in her dream or in reality, she had never seen Richard show any real expression.

His face was always as blank as a mask. Even when he invaded Maglier and killed her, his doll-like beauty remained utterly emotionless.

(I’ve never met anyone like this…)

More than fear or calculation,

Pure curiosity took hold of her.

She took another step closer and asked,

“…What are you doing here?”

She wanted to know.

Why had the man who had slaughtered her and her people without a flicker of emotion come to this place alone?

What in this empty ruin had drawn him here?

For the first time, Richard reacted.

His gaze, which had been fixed on the ruins, turned toward Elze with clear intent.

In that instant, her breath caught.

His eyes were the same as when he had killed her—frozen, mercilessly cold.

“Leave.”

Just one word.

Spoken with the sharpness of a drawn blade.

The air crackled with tension, stinging her skin.

She knew.

If she made even the slightest misstep, he would unsheathe his sword and cut her down—just like in that dream.

She understood that completely.

And yet, she couldn’t stop herself from speaking.

“I see… deep sorrow in your eyes.”

Beyond the frozen gaze, she had glimpsed it—

The flickering shadow of sorrow.

—”Future Sight” is the power to stand against the world.

Once, Elze had believed in those teachings and trained diligently.

Perhaps because of that, she had become slightly better than most at reading emotions through expressions and gestures.

To an ordinary person, Richard would seem like nothing more than an overwhelming force of terror.

But Elze had seen it.

Beyond the thick ice, the grief buried deep within him.

Her words must have caught him off guard.

For the first time, a hint of surprise flickered across Richard’s usually expressionless face.

(He carries deep sorrow. That’s why he came here? What happened to him…?)

She took another step forward, about to press further—

“Tch…”

Richard clicked his tongue softly.

Elze snapped back to her senses.

“…Don’t come here again.”

With those cold words, he pushed past her and headed toward the palace.

Without thinking, Elze called out to his retreating back.

“We will definitely meet again! Next time, let’s talk more! That’s a promise!”

Richard didn’t stop.

He didn’t turn around.

(But I know he heard me.)

Believing that, Elze let out a deep breath.

“Phew, that was nerve-wracking… Chiffon, are you okay?”

When she spoke to the rabbit in her arms, its small ears twitched at last.

While Richard had been present, Chiffon had been completely still, like a stuffed toy.

He must have been overwhelmed by Richard’s aura.

“…Yeah, I’m okay.”

“I’m glad. You were scared, weren’t you?”

“Hmm… but…”

Chiffon’s round eyes gazed in the direction Richard had gone, and he murmured,

“He looked sad.”

“…Yeah.”

He had sensed it too.

(He is the reaper who will one day destroy Maglier. A coldhearted man who doesn’t hesitate to take lives. But…)

She couldn’t stop thinking about it.

The deep sorrow hidden behind those cold eyes.

(If I become his bride… will I understand?)

We will definitely meet again.

The words she had spoken to Richard were not a lie.

She couldn’t count on getting another chance like this, but once the bride selection began, she would inevitably see him again.

(Richard, will you remember me?)

Next time, she would ask him.

Maybe, just maybe, they could become closer.

With that thought, Elze turned and left, following in Richard’s footsteps.