CH 4

This is a retranslation since copies of the early chapters have been lost. I'll translate as fast as possible, but please enjoy the updates for now.

When jumping off, the body should not land perpendicular to the ground. Even if the landing point was soft grass, the strain on the legs would be too great. 　

After landing first on her soles, Rishe rolled on the ground, bracing herself from her shins to her thighs. She rolled in order from her waist to her back and up again in her dress. Then she got up spryly.

(Now then, we gotta hurry!)

With leaves dangling everywhere on her coral hair, Rishe glanced down at her shoes. An idea occurred to her, and when she found a large rock nearby, she broke the heels with all her might, employing the lever principle.

This would make running easier. Satisfied, Rishe put on her shoes and started running again.

＊＊＊

Arnold, the Garkhain Crown Prince, watched the unfolding of the entire episode on the balcony.

His eyes were fixed on the back of a girl with coral hair.

At first glance, she was a mere noblewoman, but the way she carried herself as she called him the『Emperor』 characterized a highly skilled swordsman.

After jumping off the balcony, she landed with a perfect passive stance.

Also, she performed a perfect passive landing after jumping off the balcony.

「Heh…」

Arnold smirked out of character when he recalled that.

「He, hahaha…」

A squire approached from behind while his shoulders were rocking from his snicker alone.

「Your Highness, why have you come to such a place? Please return to the hall as soon as possible. I understand that you have no intention of getting married for the time being, but it’s still better if you start looking for a match…. ―― Your Highness?」

The squire’s eyes rounded in astonishment. His lord, who usually wore a frown on his face and a bored look in his eyes, was now laughing jovially.

「W-What happened?」

「Oliver, ready the carriage… No, that’s bothersome. Take one of the horses off the carriage and saddle it.」

「What exactly are you up to…」

Arnold smiled wickedly belligerent, like a wolf that had found its prey.

＊＊＊

Rishe rushed to the carriage that was waiting for her in front of the royal castle. She sped home, and then stopped the carriage when she could see the mansion just a few hundred meters away.

「Miss? I can give you a ride to the mansion… 」

「No, it’s fine right here! Thank you for everything, Daniel!」

She said goodbye to the coachman, whom she had known since childhood, and waved her hands while sprinting away.

The area in front of the house was muddy from this morning’s rain, and the carriage would most likely get stuck if it continued on its way. It did on her second loop, and she lost a lot of time because of it. Since then, she just run from this area.

「Ha-ha-ha…」

Unlike her life as a trained knight, her current body lacked stamina. Determined to get into shape to some extent in this loop, Rishe arrived at the mansion.

However, she was disappointed.

「Aaghhh…」

She could see a crowd gathered in front of the main gate.

It was a full moon tonight, so she could clearly see what was happening even from her standpoint, which was just a distance away. People with lanterns curiously turned to look at a carriage.

Visible in the center of the crowd was a carriage bearing the royal banner.

(Is it too late for me to turn back…)

The moment Rishe stopped, the knight who was controlling the crowd raised his voice

「Your Highness! Lady Rishe is here!」

「Stay out of the way! Hey, let me through!!」

A man’s yell emanated from beyond the crowd. She needn’t confirm who he was.

「You sure took your time, Rishe!」

With the knights paving the way, her former fiancé, Crown Prince Dietrich, appeared.

「I understand that you don’t wish to hear words of condemnation from your belove’s lips anymore, but I’m afraid things can’t go your way! It is my role as the next ruler to bring down the hammer of justice against a wicked woman like you! !」

「Looks like I didn’t make it in time… This has got to be the worst timing yet. If only I had gotten here as late as I did the first loop, I wouldn’t have to see His Highness’ face…」

「…? What are you mumbling about?」

Dietrich looked into Rishe’s face and chuckled.

「I knew it. You were all smiles with that innocent look on your face earlier, but I bet you’re torn up inside.」

「―― Pardon?」

「It’s too obvious that you’re grieving over our broken engagement.」

Rishe wondered what had brought him to that conclusion. She had her doubts, but Dietrich, the man in question, looked overly confident.

「You’ve been wandering about broken-hearted, I can tell at a glance! Look at your muddy dress, your broken shoes, and those scratches all over you. You must be in such a state due to your grief over our broken engagement…」

「Are you stupid?」

「Wha-?」

Disgusted by his distorted interpretation, Rishe stared at him in wonder.

「Grief neither stained my dress nor broke my shoes. Also, it may come as a surprise to you, but I’m not the least bit saddened because you called our engagement off.」

「W-W-What?!」

Rishe’s retort garnered snickers all around.

「Hey, that’s the Crown Prince, right? Has Lady Rishe dump him?」

「Er, I don’t know, but did Lady Rishe say that their engagement has been called off?」

「That’s a good question. That aside, the lady seems totally fine with it, though, but the prince looks more hurt than her.」

「Y-You there!! Don’t you dare disrespect me, lowly commoners!!」

Dietrich was a rather handsome man, despite his screaming. He had a youthful appearance with picture-perfect blond hair and blue eyes, and perhaps because of his position as Crown Prince, women constantly flocked to him.

Pampered since childhood, he brimmed with confidence and always treated those around him with arrogance.

For example, it was a common occurrence for him to scold a butler when he was in a foul mood and seriously say,『Aren’t I awesome for giving my subjects proper reprimands?』

No matter how many times Rishe tried to correct him, his attitude never changed.

(Seriously, I’m glad I’ve never had to spend my life married to this man.)

In the first loop, my broken engagement came as a shock to me. Nevertheless, I told myself, 「It is in the best interest of this country to reform him. That is my role and my mission.」

But after going out into the outside world and discovering that in fact that was not the case, I have never been more grateful or saddened by the breakup of our engagement.

「Your Highness, the people are yours to protect and care for. That was uncalled for.」

They are no longer important to me, but let me point that out in passing. Not so much for Dietrich’s sake, but for the sake of the people and knights present.

「If we’re speaking about attitude, then it’s yours that needs changing. Aren’t you going to hound me to apologize and ask for forgiveness?」

「No, not at all. If anything, I’m more grateful to you for breaking off our engagement…」

「What?!」

The bystanders as well as the knights around them burst out laughing. In the knights’ case, they could not laugh openly, so they tightly covered their mouths while their shoulders quivered.

Seeing this, Dietrich’s face turned bright red.

「D-Don’t laugh at me!」

「That’s right. You’re terrible of you, Lady Rishe…」

The sweet voice that joined the party made Rishe sigh.

A delicate, petite and lovely girl stepped out of the crowd. With teary large eyes, she stepped forward as if to protect Dietrich.

「No matter how hurt you are, you shouldn’t say such words to His Highness Dietrich! Please don’t hurt my beloved any more!」

「Lady Marie, so you’re here as well.」

Dietrich’s sweetheart, Marie, stared at Rishe with tearful eyes.

Why would he bring his current girlfriend when he was chasing after the woman he was previously engaged with? I can’t believe his nerve, but Dietrich continues to rant and rave behind Marie’s back.

「Rishe, you’ve made my precious Marie cry again! I’ve heard everything from Marie.; hat you bullied her at school, poked fun at her, laughed at her, and sometimes locked her in the classroom at night! Do you think a twisted woman like you is fit to be Queen?!」

(Come now, I’ve never done anything of the like…)

I glanced at Marie and she averted her gaze somewhat awkwardly.

「Forget about that, Your Highness. Have you already told my parents about our broken engagement?」

「Forget about that?! ―― Of course, I told them! The Duke and Duchess are furious and have sworn to disown you!」

「Uh-oh… Sure enough, I’m too late…」

My parents valued appearances above anything else. I guess taking my belongings out of my room is no longer an option.

「What’s with your reaction?! Your mood has changed drastically from earlier, you know?! You must still be in shock over our broken engagement… 」

「If I may, Mister Dietrich…」

Rishe was tired of calling him, Your Highness, and so she addressed him with his name directly.

「I accept your decree to break off our engagement. Please rest assured that I’ll never appear before you ever again.」

「Huh?! W-What…?」

「Since I was a child, I have always thought that my position as the ‘Crown Prince’s fiancée’ was the only value and meaning of my life. But I was wrong. I can find my own worth. I understand that now, so I’ll be fine.」

Rishe looked Dietrich in the eye and declared loud and clear.

「I don’t need you in my life.」

「Wh――…」

Dietrich staggered a few steps backward and fell to the ground with a thud.

The comical impact of this picture was too unbearable that the knights and the spectators chortled, no longer able to stifle their laughter.