Why Won’t You Let Me Dote on You?! – The Arrogant Supporting Prince Falls for the Reincarnated Villainess and Loses His Mind - Chapter 1.2

“So, you’re saying you’ve been watching this world from the outside, and this morning you somehow ended up inside Eliza’s body?”

Reincarnation into another world.

Eliza had just said something utterly outrageous.

After escaping from the balcony into the garden, we took shelter in the shade of a tree. The castle had gardens scattered throughout, each tailored with different plants according to the tastes of their patrons. We were far enough now that the servants wouldn’t catch up anytime soon. At the very least, we could talk in peace.

“It seems that way,” she replied.

“How did it happen?”

“I don’t know… I’m sorry.”

“Huh? Don’t start spouting nonsense!”

“Oh dear… what a predicament…”

I couldn’t help raising my voice.
Eliza, on the other hand, looked apologetic but showed no fear at my reaction.
In fact, her calm tone—and the way she spoke as if I were a child—only served to irritate me further.
She was the complete opposite of the girl who used to wear that wicked grin so well, but she was still infuriating all the same.

“You’re just acting to cover up what you did yesterday, aren’t you? You’re seriously annoying.”

“Yesterday? Did something happen yesterday?”

“The pit trap! And you even went out of your way to fill it with catgrass!”

“Ufufu, so this world has catgrass too, huh?”

“Damn it—you’re mocking me!”

While I was being completely serious, Eliza giggled as if something were terribly funny. Even though she was the one who’d set it all up, she acted like she’d never even heard of it before. The catgrass growing near the tree swayed gently in the breeze, as if trying to calm me down.

“Still, I didn’t know you were scared of bugs, Clow—er, I mean, Clovis,” she said.

“Don’t call me that. It’s creepy.”

“Sorry. Then what should I call you?”

“Clow-sama, obviously! I’m a prince, you know! A duke’s daughter like you has no right to call me by name!”

“Oh my, so nicknames are fine then, Clow-sama?”

“Shut up already!”

Eliza and I are distant relatives of sorts, and because we’ve known each other since we were little, we’ve gotten into the habit of using nicknames. I used to hate it with a passion…
At least, I thought I did.
But now? It didn’t feel so bad.

“Whatever. Why did you jump from the balcony anyway? I was this close to being crushed under your butt.”

“I’m really sorry! I woke up in this unfamiliar world and panicked, and then the maids started making a fuss…”

Ah, that explains it.
The servants must have been crowding the annex because of her strange behavior.
But would that alone really cause such a commotion?

“Even so, it was pretty chaotic. What exactly did you do?”

“There was someone in the room I didn’t recognize… so I attacked them from behind.”

“That kind of boldness is definitely Eliza. No doubt about it.”

“No, but I’m not…”

If what Eliza was saying was all true, then right after waking up in an unfamiliar place, she remained calm even upon noticing a stranger in her room—and then managed to attack a full-grown adult at the right moment.
If there are two girls in the world with that kind of nerve, I’m not sure the world could handle it.
Well… it is another world, I suppose.

“Anyway, I don’t believe a word you’re saying. Another world? Ridiculous.”

“Yes, I suppose you’re right… Oh dear, what should I do…”

I said the obvious, and Eliza’s shoulders slumped in defeat.
Apparently, she thought her wild delusion would actually convince someone.
She stood there, looking small and pitiful—no, insufferable.

“……”

But…
Why does it feel like I’m the bad guy for pushing her away?

“F-Fine! Forget the whole other world thing—if you really need help, I guess I could help you out a little bit!”

“Really? Thank you so much! Ufufu, Clow-sama, you’re such a kind boy.”

Eliza’s smile blossomed at my words.
It was the first time she’d ever thanked me, and—surprisingly—it didn’t feel half bad.
In fact, the way she softly took my hand and thanked me made my heart pound…!

“I-It’s not kindness or anything! You’re just pathetic, so I have to help you, that’s all!”

“Even so, for me right now, it’s a huge help. Honestly, you’re the only one I can rely on.”

Eliza said that while gently holding my hand, smiling faintly.
Though she was a duke’s daughter who could have anything she wanted, right now she looked just like an ordinary girl.

Still, I had no idea where to start helping her.
Ideally, I’d return her to the annex—but if she was still confused, she’d probably just run off again.
We hadn’t solved anything.

“So, what exactly do you want me to do?”

“Well… before I woke up, I want to know what kind of girl the original Eliza was.”

“What for?”

“If I don’t act like her, people will think something’s wrong. No one’s going to believe I came from another world.”

So she planned to act like the old Eliza and pretend nothing happened.
Fair point.
If I, a kid, was half-doubting her, there’s no way the stiff old adults would believe it.
Her plan was actually the most realistic.

Still… something about it didn’t sit right with me.

“Why, though? I mean, sure, your story’s nonsense. But aside from that… can’t you just be yourself?”

“Huh?”

Eliza’s eyes widened at my casual question.
For a moment, I thought I saw a soft, inner glow in her large eyes.

“…No, I can’t. I have to be careful.”

When she lowered her gaze, that sparkle vanished.

“I see… whatever, do what you want.”

By the time she looked up again, her eyes had returned to their usual night-sky blue.
Still pretty, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d just lost something important—something that had started to shine because of my words.
But I didn’t know what it was, or how to get it back.

Pushing the thought aside, I decided to help her.
If we wanted to fool everyone, it made sense to start with her appearance and speech. Mannerisms could come later.

“So, the old Eliza, huh… She used to refer to herself as ‘watakushi.’”

“Watakushi! Like this?”

“Yeah. And she always ended sentences with ‘desu wa.’”

“I am Eliza desu wa! How’s that?”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re getting it!”

Eliza eagerly soaked up everything I told her.
I couldn’t remember her ever being this… cute—no, obedient.
Feeling a small sense of superiority, I came up with a little prank.

“Oh, and she was always laughing like, ‘O-ho-ho-ho!’ All the time.”

Total lie.
She was a picture-perfect villainess, but even she didn’t laugh like that.

“H-High-pitched laughter?! O-Oh-ho-ho-ho…? I can’t do it well…”

“Pfft! Not even close, Eliza!”

“S-Sorry, Clow-sama. I shall practice desu wa…!”

Watching her struggle with her first evil laugh, I barely held back my own laughter.
I didn’t think she’d actually try!
Worse, now she was motivated.
Her reincarnation story was probably bogus, but she was so pure I couldn’t help worrying.

“Well, your speech is barely passable. Alright, next up…”

Getting into the mood, I felt a thrill imagining what to make her do next.
Maybe I’d make her drink that bitter herb juice I’d prepared.
Or maybe—just like in my dream—I’d rope her into playing bride and groom.
Right now, she’d believe anything I told her.

Unless someone came to interrupt us.

“Elisabeth-sama! There you are!”

Peering at us was a scholar from the castle.
But unlike the usual stuck-up types, this man made no effort with his appearance—or his speech.
That rough commoner accent made it clear.
There was only one eccentric like this.

“Professor Hawkeye!”

“Well, if it isn’t Prince Clovis. You’re not up to no good again, are you?”

“It wasn’t me—Eliza’s the one who started it!”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll let it slide, but you two better head back now.”

Seeing right through my lie, Professor Hawkeye gave me a firm smack on the rear, shooing me off.
No one else dared treat me, a prince, with such disrespect—maybe that’s why I kind of liked the guy.

“See you later, Eliza! Come straight here after breakfast!”

“Yes, Clow-sama!”

Before she could say more, I dashed off from the shade of the tree.
Normally, I dreaded the duke’s visits to the castle.
But this time?
I had a feeling it was going to be a lot of fun.