Chapter 22

Regret it Yourself ~Be Happy with the Saint you Chose~ Translation

By Antoinette Vanessa January 21, 2023

“I hereby accept all the orders of His Majesty the King.”

I couldn’t believe it—

—Lula accepted that post-graduation, she’d marry me and embark on a journey to help the sick!

…Why, even though I begged her not to, why—?

After my annulment, everything went downhill.

…If only I hadn’t annulled my engagement with Daisy!

Everything was going my way, too!

For the first time in my life, I felt regret.

I had always wanted to speak with Daisy after she awoke, but under the pretext that I needed to amass knowledge about the kingdom’s territories for the journey, I was forced to undertake a strict education. Those daily lessons and assignments robbed me of even the opportunity to attend classes.

At this rate, I won’t make it…

As it was, I’d be sent on a journey and Daisy would marry Ryan.

Therefore, I had to do something before the graduation. If Daisy were to declare her intention of marrying me in front of other nobles, then her engagement with Ryan should be annulled by the Duke of Somerset. Then, once my engagement was annulled, Daisy—a damaged product—would naturally fall into my lap.

Afterwards, I’d be enroute to succeeding the Marquis Astor family.

…It’s not the best, but also not the worst.

My reluctance to embark on a journey had gotten to the point where I was willingly part with the status of a crown prince.

★☆★

Just before graduation, I finally succeeded in escaping from the royal palace.

As it was the place where the most people would gather, I went to the courtyard and waited for Daisy. Perhaps because I hadn’t attended class in months, the students gawked at me. Still, it was convenient for me.

I had to get Daisy to confess in front of as many people as possible.

“What a pity! Daisy, you only got engaged with Ryan because of the royal decree, right?! Be honest, you want to be with me!”

I waited impatiently and called out to Daisy the moment I spotted her.

Upon seeing that I had come all the way there to meet her, I expected Daisy to cry with joy. But in reality, Daisy only stared at me, her eyes were full of disbelief.

…No, I was sure that she was merely processing her joy. For the happiness she’d given up to suddenly arrive, she must’ve been overjoyed. After all, Daisy truly loved me.

Surely, now and forever, Daisy would only live for my sake—

—just like how she’d always been.

As I reveled in gratification, Daisy said something unexpected.

“Your Highness Freddie, I must thank you, but your witty jokes are wasted on someone like me.”

“…Jokes, you say?”

“That’s right. Your Highness Freddie, you should know better than anyone else that I don’t have the slightest desire to be with you.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Even now, I can still recall your previous words in the student council room.”

What? What did I say before?

“Then, I shall humbly remind you.”

Daisy, in an emotionless yet vivid voice, uttered.

“—I chose Lula over you! With the power of the saint, she saved me from the brink of death! Compared to her, what IS it that you can offer? This is my choice, and my decisions are never mistaken! As if I’d regret it! That’s just foolish!”

…Those were unmistakably the words I said to protect Lula.

“—To which I replied: ‘I’ll always believe in the judgment of Your Highness Freddie and support him. Therefore, I’ll also believe in your decision to be engaged to the saint, Lady Lula.’”

…Certainly, to the furious me at the time, that was her exact reply.

“But it’s different—!”

“How is it so? You declared in front of not only me, but also the members of the student council that you’d never regret choosing Lady Lula. That should be enough.”

“But I—!”

Towards the impatient me, Daisy showed a magnificent smile—one that I had never seen before.

“Your Highness Freddie, thank you for annulling our engagement. As expected, your judgment is sound.”

“…What?”

“If not for Your Highness annulling our engagement, I wouldn’t be surrounded with so much happiness. For the first time in my life, I’m happy.”

“For… the first time…?”

“Yes, it’s a first for me, and getting engaged to Lord Ryan made that happen. Your Highness Freddie, these feelings of mine shouldn’t be too unfamiliar with you, yes? After all, did you not choose Lady Lula for saving your life?”

“…No, I—”

No, I didn’t mean it. I was just furious at the time. I merely said those words to protect Lula. Who would’ve thought that Daisy remembered every single word? Not only that, she also repeated them in public…

The gazes of the surrounding students pierced me.

…I recognized those stares well.

After all, they were the same cold stares I had been receiving since I annulled my engagement with Daisy.

…Daisy, in her own words, implied that she’d never once been happy as my fiancée.

…You’re lying.

No way, why would she have been unhappy when she was engaged with me? This is Daisy we’re talking about! She had to be in love with me—so why…?

“Your Highness Freddie, as the first prince, I believe you won’t just retract those words? Furthermore, I—who believes in your judgement—never wish to marry you.”

Daisy emphatically spoke to me.

Daisy, who should’ve been my fiancée for 5 years now, seemed like a total stranger.

While her appearance hadn’t changed, it was as if she was a different person at heart.

I stared at her whilst she stared at me dispassionately.

…Is this the same Daisy who’s used to be so in love with me?

“Everything is the result of Your Highness’s choice. It can’t be flawed, for it’s the first prince’s judgment—so be happy with the saint you chose.”

I was rendered speechless.

No matter how much I wanted to argue, the fact remained that Daisy was merely repeating my previous words.

“—As if I’d regret it! That’s just foolish!”

I couldn’t even regret the words I said without thinking.

…The “regret”, which had nowhere to go, overshadowed my heart.

***T/N: Freddie is so kind to set his own stage to downfall…