With The Fifth Loop, The Third Prince Has Been Added To The Cast. - Chapter 6

Why… how did things end up like this?

After what happened, a few maids came into the room carrying new clothes.

They quickly helped me change into a more formal outfit, which Prince Camus had probably prepared. They fixed my hair to match the new dress and wiped away my tear-streaked face. They even put on some light makeup.

When I looked in the mirror, I saw someone completely different.

As I stared at myself in surprise, Prince Camus came back into the room. He had also changed into slightly more formal clothes. Without saying much, he gently took my hand and led me to this room.

And now, I’m standing here, trying hard not to run away from the unbelievable scene in front of me.

“Nice to meet you, Lady Cheryl Atley.”

The person who spoke to me… was none other than Her Majesty the Empress of this country.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Majesty,”

I quickly grabbed the hem of my skirt and gave a bow.

I only worried whether my voice was shaking.

“I’ve wanted to meet you for a while now. Please, have a seat. You too, Camus.”

With a kind smile, the Empress welcomed us into the room.

At least for now, I didn’t seem to have done anything wrong. I felt a little relieved.

“Mother, please allow me to be engaged to Cheryl.”

“Camus, I understand how you feel. But please, let’s take a moment.”

As soon as we sat down, Prince Camus brought up the main topic.

But the Empress gently stopped him. Still, he looked nervous and restless, like he couldn’t wait.

“I know very well how deeply you love Lady Cheryl.”

“W-What?”

“M-Mother!”

I already knew that Prince Camus cared about me, but I didn’t expect the Empress to say he loves me deeply. I was surprised she even knew that much.

When I looked at Camus, his face was bright red, and he seemed flustered. The Empress looked amused as she watched him.

“Camus is the precious son left behind by Yuri. If something would make him unhappy, I can’t just ignore it.”

Yuri… That was the name of the late Empress Consort, I think.

I remembered now. The First and Second Princes were the Empress’s children, but the Third Prince—Camus—had a different mother, the late Empress Consort.

Even though the Empress and the Empress Consort were married to the same man and were sometimes forced into political competition, they were known to be as close as sisters.

I had heard that when they went out, it was often the Emperor, the Empress, and the Empress Consort together. People often saw the two women chatting happily.

But then, the Empress Consort had a premature birth and passed away after giving birth to Prince Camus.

Because of that, the Empress treated Prince Camus—Yuri’s only child—with even more love than her own sons. That was also a well-known story.

Watching them now, I could tell those rumors were true.

“Lady Cheryl, what about you? Do you love Camus? Do you really want to be engaged to him?”

“Mother, this is something I—”

“I’m asking Lady Cheryl. Camus, please be quiet for a moment. So, how do you feel?”

I didn’t need time to think. I already knew the answer.

Even after living five lives, the only person who ever made me feel truly happy… was Prince Camus.

There’s no way I could stop myself from loving him.

But that’s exactly why I also know just how unworthy I am of someone like him.

“Do you not love him? Do you just want to use him?”

“N-No! I know that someone like me doesn’t deserve to feel this way. But even so, I truly admire Prince Camus!”

“…I see.”

The Empress looked straight at me, as if she were trying to judge my worth.

I felt frozen. I didn’t know what to do, so I just sat still and waited for it to end.

“Mother, that’s enough—”

“It doesn’t seem like she’s lying.”

Just as Camus couldn’t take the silence anymore and spoke up, the Empress gave a soft smile.

“Very well. I’ll give my approval.”

With those words, I let out a small sigh of relief.

Camus looked truly happy.

***

“Tomorrow morning, we’ll send word to the Atley family. I’ll officially say that I have chosen Lady Cheryl as the bride of the Third Prince. They must cancel the current engagement at once. We’ll also notify the Eldred family to cancel it on their side too. Within a few days, the engagement should be dissolved. Then, we can arrange the engagement between Camus and Lady Cheryl right after.”

“Thank you, Mother!”

“Th-Thank you very much, Your Majesty…”

When Prince Camus bowed and thanked her, I hurried to do the same. The Empress chuckled at our reaction.

“Camus, you look so happy. Lady Cheryl, Camus lost his mother right after he was born. He was always a lonely child. Please make him happy.”

“M-Mother! That’s my job—to make her happy! ”

“Yes. I promise I will make him happy.”

“Thank you.”

I still don’t know what I can do.

But I want to return all the kindness Prince Camus has shown me. I want to make him happy, too. That’s what I will work for from now on.

“Hey, was that true—what you said earlier? ”

After we left the Empress’s room, Prince Camus asked me that, nervously.

“Eh…?”

“No, no! I don’t mean I doubt you! It’s just… it felt like a dream. I couldn’t believe it…”

That’s when I realized—he meant when I said I cared for him.

I remembered when he confessed to me; I thought it was just a dream, too.

Maybe we are more alike than I thought.

“It’s true. I care about you, Your Highness—”

Before I could finish, he pulled me into a tight hug. I couldn’t move at all.

“I feel so happy… I might die.”

“Y-You can’t say that! ”

I knew it was silly for me, who once tried to die, to say that. But I really didn’t want him to die.

“Yeah. I’m this happy now. I won’t die easily.”

I didn’t need him to say it. The way he held me tighter said everything.

“Hey, Cheryl… want to stay over tonight?”

“Eh!?”

“It’s already dark outside, and it’s still raining. It’s dangerous to go home now.”

I was surprised—but he was just worried about me.

We weren’t even engaged yet, so I knew there was no strange meaning behind his words.

I felt a little embarrassed for thinking something else for a moment.

The palace had many rooms. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to stay one night.

“Then… I’ll accept your offer.”

“Yay! That means I get to be with you all night! Let’s sleep together!”

“Eh? Eeeh!?”

That part… no way…

I thought we’d sleep in separate rooms. But I guess I misunderstood.

In the end, all we did was hold hands and sleep peacefully. For two young people sharing a bed, it was very pure and innocent.

I thought I’d never fall asleep next to Prince Camus, but that didn’t happen.

He fell asleep right away, holding my hand. While I watched his calm face, I slowly fell asleep too.

When I opened my eyes, it was already morning.

He was still sleeping quietly next to me.

Long eyelashes, soft hair, beautiful face…

As I stared, his eyes suddenly opened. I quickly looked away.

“Was my sleeping face that funny? ”

“No! I just thought… you looked beautiful…”

“You’re the beautiful one, Cheryl.”

He said that so naturally, then stretched and got out of bed.

“I’ll call the maids to help you change. Please wait a moment.”

As soon as he left the room, the maids came in and helped me change into my school uniform.

“I-Is this really okay…?”

I thought we’d go home first before going to school, but instead, I had breakfast at the palace. Then, I rode in the royal carriage with Prince Camus.

He smiled the whole way and sat very close to me.

But we weren’t officially engaged yet.

I was worried—wouldn’t people start strange rumors?

“It’s fine. Don’t worry.”

I still didn’t understand what was “fine,” but he just smiled.

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

As we stepped down from the carriage, Lord Franz appeared in front of me. He didn’t even try to hide his anger.

“I only came here with Prince Camus’s carriage.”

Camus was still holding my hand. That gave me strength. Even if Lord Franz was angry, I wasn’t scared anymore.

“I told you—I’m your fiancé!”

“How much longer will that last, I wonder? ”

Prince Camus gave him a cold, sharp glare.

Lord Franz froze in place.

***

“Let’s go, Cheryl.”

“Yes!”

“W-Wait!”

Lord Franz came back to his senses and stood in front of us, trying to block our way.

Prince Camus narrowed his eyes and glared sharply.

“Are you seriously trying to block a royal prince’s path? The palace guards came with me. I could have you arrested for disrespect.”

“M-My deepest apologies! ”

Even though Lord Franz had acted so strong with me, he backed down right away in front of power.

Just hearing the words “arrest” and “disrespect” made him step back.

“Ahh, I can’t wait to tell the world Cheryl is my fiancée…”

Prince Camus whispered softly—just enough for me to hear.

My face grew hot, and I covered my cheeks with both hands.