Chapter 3: The One He Could Never Forget

The future me would say this.

If only I had tried to truly understand the man named Walter Via Sweberia even after being reincarnated, then perhaps what lay ahead would have been different.

And I would come to deeply regret why I never even tried to understand him.

At that time, I had no way of knowing that I would one day regret it so profoundly.

I never knew that the existence once known as **** Meseldia in my previous life had engraved such a cruelly vivid memory into Walter’s heart.

I never knew that there had been a boy who cried himself hoarse, casting aside all dignity and appearances over my death.

Perhaps that was my sin—mine, Flora Waybeia’s.

To me, it may have been nothing more than an impulsive act.

But I never realized just how much that moment had saved that boy’s heart.

Surely, this was my own doing.

The fact that I had mistaken Walter’s feelings—thinking he was simply angry at me—was entirely my own fault.

It had been seventeen years since I last saw him.

Though his height, his features—everything about him had changed, the man walking forward in lavish attire from the depths of the hall—

I immediately knew he was the current king, Walter Via Sweberia.

His gaze was a little sharper, almost villainous.

But his silver-thread-like hair, his unique presence, and those ice-blue eyes framed by long lashes—

They vividly brought back the image of that young boy in my memories.

Before I knew it, I was smiling.

‘You’ve truly grown into someone remarkable.’

We had only spent a few days together.

Yet, the impression of Walter as fragile and unreliable had taken deep root within me.

But the composed way he walked now, and the expression on his face that showed not a trace of fear—

It was more than enough to shatter that old impression.

“Hmm? You look awfully happy, Laura.”

Beside me, Feel cast me a suspicious glance.

She wore a knowing grin.

“Do I?”

“Yes. You were smiling very happily just now.”

Hearing that, I unconsciously reached for my cheek, and just as she said, the corners of my lips were raised.

“What is it? Do you like men like that, Laura?”

“That’s not it at all.”

I denied it gently.

The feelings I held toward Walter went no further than seeing him as someone I couldn’t leave alone.

It wasn’t that I looked down on him, but rather, I knew that harboring romantic feelings toward a member of the royal family like him would be far too presumptuous.

“You don’t have to be embarrassed. Everyone admires someone out of their reach at least once.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Right after saying that, a faint pain pricked deep within my chest.

The reason I had been staring at His Majesty wasn’t because I was drawn to him or because my feelings had grown.

It was simply because he felt nostalgic.

And yet, Flora Waybeia had never once met His Majesty before.

If I told Feel the truth, it would create an obvious contradiction.

Since I still hadn’t revealed that I had been reincarnated, I had no choice but to lie in this moment.

“I see. From the looks of it, I misunderstood. But, well, that’s a relief.”

“A relief?”

“Yes. After all, His Majesty hasn’t taken even a single woman by his side—not a fiancée, not even a lady-in-waiting.”

What she meant was clear.

Even if it was an impossible difference in status, there wasn’t even a path available to become his fiancée or serve him as a lady-in-waiting.

“I wonder if he’s not good with women.”

Back in my previous life, I had grabbed his hand and fled without thinking much of it.

But perhaps that had been something very difficult for him.

That thought surfaced, and I was filled with guilt.

“Well… I haven’t even heard of him keeping male attendants close either. Maybe he simply decided he doesn’t need anyone.”

“I see… Yeah… let’s go with that.”

She tilted her head at my last muttered words, but I pretended not to notice.

While Feel and I were talking, His Majesty had already approached Duke Michel, who was surrounded by many young ladies, and spoke to him.

Though there was some distance, I could still hear their conversation.

“Have you found a bride?”

“Yes. Thanks to Your Majesty’s kindness in allowing this party to be held, I have been fortunate enough to encounter a good match.”

“I see. That is good.”

A brief exchange.

The reason he didn’t name the bride here was likely due to Duke Michel’s position.

Because of his high status, he would proceed carefully and take his time with the marriage arrangements.

Thinking that way, it made perfect sense.

“By the way, what brings Your Majesty here…?”

“I sensed a familiar magic. That is all.”

At those words, something came back to me.

In my previous life as a knight, I was by no means exceptionally strong.

And yet, I had managed to protect Walter until just before reaching my family home while being pursued.

The reason for that—

Was his extraordinary sensitivity to magic.

Every human possesses magic.

Some have vast amounts, others only a little.

Though there are differences, it is something everyone has without exception.

Among them, Walter was especially adept at sensing magic.

That was why we had managed to evade those sent after us.

“Familiar magic, you say?”

“Yeah. It’s something I can’t forget, no matter how much I might want to.”

Saying that, Walter’s gaze moved restlessly around the room.

He was probably searching for an old acquaintance or someone from his past.

Fortunately, since I had been reincarnated, my magic was different from before.

There was no way the “familiar magic” he spoke of could be mine.

That was what I optimistically believed—

But that illusion shattered far more easily than I expected.

“Ah… so it’s you.”

It seemed Walter had found the person he was looking for.

He spoke roughly now, using words like “you” and “I,” whereas he used to call himself “boku” and address me politely.

Thinking that, I followed his gaze out of curiosity, trying to see who he had found.

“…Hm?”

For some reason, our eyes met.

His eyes were still as beautiful as ever.

…No, that’s not it.

Shaking my head, I forced myself back to reality.

“Huh?”

Our eyes had met.

For some reason, Walter was looking straight at me.

Which meant—

Was I the one he had been searching for?

No, no, no, that couldn’t be.

I desperately denied it in my mind, but reality refused to agree with me.

And then—

My mind went completely blank.

…Huh?

What is going on here?