The Princess Who Saw the Fall of Her Homeland Strives to Change Fate by Becoming the Cold Prince's Bride! - Chapter 16

(Ugh… I don’t like that he’s so cold and ruthless on the inside, but just by looks alone, he really is perfect.)

Even if Elze didn’t have the power of foresight and hadn’t seen Maglier’s future downfall, she might have fallen in love at first sight with Richard’s appearance alone.

That’s just how attractive he was—Prince Richard.

Even though so many bride candidates had gathered from across the nations, Richard didn’t bother to show even a hint of friendliness.

With his usual sullen expression, he didn’t seem interested in any of them. It was like they didn’t even exist to him.

(Is he just pretending? …No, this must be how he really feels.)

Even when Elze, a bride candidate, was attacked by bandits, he hadn’t so much as checked if she was safe.

He might have agreed to the selection process to formally choose a bride, but it seemed he didn’t care at all about the participants.

(Ugh, this is going to be tough…)

As a princess from a small, weak country with neither great beauty nor exceptional education, Elze’s only chance of winning this selection was to somehow gain Richard’s love and pull off a big upset.

But the Richard in question clearly didn’t care who became his bride and didn’t even try to hide it.

Would she really be able to open his heart…? Elze began to feel uncertain but quickly shook it off.

(The selection has only just begun. What am I doing giving up now!)

For now, Elze decided to watch Richard closely. Her eyes followed him as he sat down at the first table.

“One thousand thanks to you, Prince Richard, for taking the time to be with us today,”

One of the bride candidates suddenly spoke.

At that moment, the other candidates at the table looked surprised, as if thinking, “Oh no, she beat us to it!”

(I see. She went for a bold first move.)

“I am Patricia, first princess of the Kingdom of Olsen. I’ve loved you ever since I first saw you as a child, Prince Richard. I’ve longed for this day for so long…”

(That’s way too strong for an opening move! I didn’t even know who Richard was until I received the official letter!)

Seeing such an overwhelming advantage, Elze clenched her teeth.

The Kingdom of Olsen is a small but lively country neighboring Ernstahl. It wouldn’t be strange for its princess to have known Richard since childhood.

Who wouldn’t be moved by someone saying, “I’ve loved you since we were little”?

Elze began to worry that the outcome had already been decided… but Richard simply gave Patricia a cold, annoyed look.

“…Is that all you wanted to say?”

“P-Prince Richard…?”

What he gave her was not a kind or romantic response, but a freezing glare and cutting words.

Even Patricia must not have expected that kind of reaction. The color drained from her face, and she trembled, unable to speak further.

Turning away from her, Richard muttered with disinterest:

“…Next.”

He likely meant for the next candidate to speak.

That was it for Patricia. Her heartfelt confession hadn’t moved Richard at all. It was such a harsh response, he hadn’t even offered her the courtesy of polite conversation.

Elze shivered at his coldness.

(How could anyone trample over that kind of confession like that? What kind of mind does he have…?)

The other bride candidates at the table seemed just as intimidated by Richard’s attitude as Elze was.

“…Is that all?”

Richard spat the words out at them with complete boredom.

If none of them said anything now, he might really just get up and leave.

Sensing that, one brave candidate squeezed out a trembling voice.

“…Then, I will go next.”

Richard turned his eyes toward her without a word.

But it wasn’t a warm gaze—it was cold, like he was saying, “Hurry up.”

“I am Romilda of the House of Marquis Clental, from the western region of the Ernstahl Kingdom.”

The young lady who introduced herself as Romilda opened her mouth to continue—but no further words came out.

Watching her closely, Elze could easily guess how she felt.

In Romilda’s eyes were fear, worry, and hesitation.

(I can’t blame her. After seeing someone get rejected like that in front of everyone… it’s hard to recover from that.)

Patricia still had her head down and hadn’t said a word since.

Romilda was probably so scared of being rejected like Patricia that she couldn’t say what she really wanted to.

“…As a loyal subject of the royal family of Ernstahl, I will continue to serve Prince Richard.”

After a brief silence, that was all Romilda could say—something safe and inoffensive.

But surely, if Richard weren’t so cold-hearted, she would have wanted to say more about herself and what she could offer.

Seeing Romilda tightly press her lips together with frustration, Elze couldn’t help but feel for her.