0&1 Ch 2.3

I asked Edward, “What was your original plan?”
“To sneak out of the castle by hiding in the carriage Grey rode in, then switch to a horse outside.”

So sneaking out of the castle was the base requirement. I guess just staying in Grey’s carriage wasn’t an option either.

“It’s a good plan.”

“It’s a plan that could go wrong,” Grey said.

“Then, what’s your plan?”
“I ride my carriage out of the castle, switch carriages in the town, and go with my bodyguards.”
“That’s safe?”
“Safer than Prince Edward’s plan.”

Well, any plan is safer than three kids traveling alone.

“Then why do you even need me for this plan?”

“Well… Your Highness’s presence alone is helpful,” Grey said reluctantly.

“That’s nice of you to say.”

I’m not a Buddha statue or anything; how could my presence alone be helpful? Is it because if we get caught later, they’ll blame me instead of you, and you’ll get in less trouble with the Queen?

“Alright. Then Grey will have to stay in the castle until after lunch, after class.”

Grey nodded. “Seems like it.”

“Want to have lunch with me?”
“Huh? Ah… sure.”

Grey didn’t look all that happy.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
“I don’t mind.”

There’s no need to feel burdened.

“No, it’s fine if you want to stay with Edward.”

“Do you not want to eat with me?” Grey shot back.

“Of course that’s not it.”
“When should we go?”

This time, it was Edward who answered. “Tomorrow.”

After Grey went home, Edward and I were left feeling awkward. We could just go our separate ways and eat lunch, but I didn’t want to.

Edward’s blond hair gleamed in the sunlight. A glowing ring of light hovered around the crown of his head.

It really was some incredibly blond hair. Even his eyelashes were gold, almost invisible in the light.

He didn’t seem human. Like if I pressed his head, he’d nod like a doll.

Instead of acting on the impulse, I looked into his eyes.

This kid, when he grows up, will kill the heroine and Joffrey. That was the only ending I’d seen.

Joffrey’s death wasn’t that significant. Edward, holding the female protagonist’s body, took center stage in the illustration, while Joffrey’s body was drawn small in the corner.

It wasn’t even fully drawn; only part of his body was shown. It must have been his hand or foot. In any case, it wasn’t his face.

Back then, I’d been too shocked by the heroine’s death to care much about Joffrey’s. If I’d known it would come to this, maybe I would’ve paid more attention.

I knew romance sims had multiple endings, some good, some bad.

What I saw was definitely a bad end. Joffrey’s death was just one of the many possibilities.

Maybe it only happens if you raise Edward’s affection past a certain point, and then raise Joffrey’s too.

Even when I tried to think rationally, I couldn’t stay calm knowing that one of my futures involved being killed by Edward.

I’m not the type to dwell on things. I can fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow, and I don’t lose sleep just because I’m in a new bed.

But here, I often couldn’t fall asleep until late. My mind kept spinning with thoughts.

I’m not even a gaming addict like Yoo Yeon-ho, so why is this happening to me? Is this punishment for lacking romance?

Maybe Yoo Yeon-ho is a wizard and saw me and thought, ‘this guy won’t make it in this life,’ so he killed me and reincarnated me in a romantic world? I’m not grateful at all.

No matter how much I thought, there was no answer. Eventually, I started wondering if I really had died. If I could ever go back.

Those thoughts weren’t good for my mental health, so I tried to just recall the game’s plot. Figure out where things had gone wrong.

The heroine and Edward meet at the start of the new semester, on the way to the Academy. Her carriage breaks down and blocks the road. Edward kindly offers her a ride in his carriage.

That’s their first event. In it, Edward asks her:
[Haven’t we met before?]

If the player selects [Are you working on something?], Edward’s affection goes up. Why? I have no idea.

Anyway, the female protagonist decides to join the student council to find a suitable husband at the academy. She says it’s because having a decent title makes it easier to attend various school parties, but the real reason is that there are five love interests in the student council.

She goes to the professor and volunteers to be the student council secretary, even though she’s busy. And so begins the whirlwind of love…

Since it’s a dating game, it’s only natural that all the characters in the student council have a crush on the female protagonist. Except for Grey.

You’d think four guys all liking one girl in the same room would create a nightmare atmosphere, but the game stays light-hearted.

The heroine has to attend several school events. The player can choose a love interest to accompany her.

As long as affection is high enough, the capture target accepts the heroine’s request.

The first two events, I went with Edward. For the rest, I picked Joffrey. Neither ever turned her down.

Still, I don’t know where it went wrong. Edward and Joffrey were always hostile around each other, but there was nothing the heroine could do about it.

It was clear that Joffrey felt inferior to Edward, but the reason why Edward hated Joffrey was never revealed.

That’s what mattered. Why did Edward hate Joffrey enough to kill him?

If it was just because he lost the person he loved, then he’s just a madman. Plus, he even killed the person he loved along with him.

Is it okay for a character in a romance simulation game to be crazy? I don’t know where the romance and love went.

The Edward in front of me seemed like someone from a world unrelated to blood or violence. If I had to pick someone who best fits the description of an angelic child, I would choose Edward without hesitation.

I’d never seen a child as beautiful as him.

There had to be a reason.

Emotions don’t form overnight. Even someone who makes a bad first impression can turn out differently after getting to know them.

If Edward doesn’t hate Joffrey yet…

The past month of living as Joffrey has been easy. A typical eleven-year-old doesn’t have a past that would hold them back.

Even now, Edward was talking to Joffrey. The atmosphere wasn’t exactly warm and fuzzy, but they could at least make promises to help each other out. It wasn’t as bad as in the main game.

Could they become friends?

“Why did you agree to come with me?” Edward asked, eyes on the ground. He seemed to think my behavior was strange.

This from the guy who grabbed me by the collar.

“I made a promise.”
“If we get caught, the Queen will scold us.”
“Are we going to get caught?”
“No.”
“Then why would we get scolded?”

I shrugged, and Edward blinked. “Right. As long as we don’t get caught.”

Edward doesn’t hate Joffrey. They only become enemies later. So maybe I can stop that.

“Want to eat lunch together?” I asked.

Edward’s eyes widened. “Is that okay?”

What a weird question.

“Of course.”

When Edward and I entered the dining hall, the attendants looked surprised. They’d been watching us since the hallway. Why are you two together? But no one asked aloud, since our status was too high.

Dot, who had come out to serve lunch, was startled to see us.

“Your Highness?”

“Dot, did you have any of the cookies left from yesterday’s snack? Bring them here. Edward, do you like sandwiches?”
“Huh?”
“Great. Then ham sandwiches, some cut chocolate, juice, salad, and fruit. Anything else you want, Edward?”

Edward just stared blankly. Was he shocked? Or was he just not thinking? It was hard to read his expression.

“If anything comes to mind, just say so. Dot, go ahead and get started.”

“Yes, Your Highness!” Dot ran off, even though I told him not to run.

I pulled out Edward’s chair and said, “Sit whatever’s comfortable.”

Edward sat stiffly across from me.