I Became the Replacement Fiancée for My Childhood Friend Who Went Missing, but Apparently He Has Been Found - Chapter 13

“Ellis, answer me! Are you saying I’m wrong?”

“Lord Schnaud…”

Ever since that day, Lord Schnaud standing before me had completely lost his mind.

Just when I thought he’d started calling me the real Ellis, he began questioning which of us was the real Ellis, and ultimately started asking which one cared for him more.

“(Oct… Perhaps because you’ve been investigating various matters, all sorts of rumors reach me daily too. Among them, the story about Ellis being related to the prince of the neighboring country has particularly captured the interest of the people living here. …I don’t know if it’s true or not, but if it were, it would be terrible.)”

I suspect those rumors have reached Lord Schnaud’s ears to some extent as well.

Perhaps that’s why he’s become so unstable now?

“I am undoubtedly loved by Ellis. Therefore, I must love Ellis in return. Yet the people around me go on gossiping about what good could come from loving a replacement Ellis. Why can’t they understand that my feelings are true love?”

Um, Lord Schnaud, I think what the people around you are saying is actually correct?

Even though I’m still in this position as a replacement, I believe there’s nothing more futile than trying to fill the hole in your heart by loving a substitute, and getting angry at those who tell you this directly seems like you’re disregarding their concern.

If the Crown Prince, who should be setting an example for everyone, acts like this, I’m certain you’ll only lose even more trust.

“…Ellis, you’ll stay on my side until the end, won’t you? Then you are the real Ellis. I don’t know what the others are saying, but I alone recognize you. I truly love you.”

“(…Isn’t it the Ellis who disappeared that you love, not me? Do you really think such shallow words would make me happy?)”

“Consider being loved by me as the greatest joy for any woman living in this country. See? You understand, don’t you? You’re no longer an ordinary person. You’re the only one I’ve acknowledged.”

Lord Schnaud spoke these words with passionate intensity while looking at me.

There didn’t seem to be any falsehood in his feelings, but the very fact that he’s keeping me here is itself a deception.

Therefore, his feelings for me cannot possibly be true love.

What you truly desire must be something else entirely, right?

“…If, if you betray me, then I’ll have you follow after the Ellis who disappeared, understand? So, don’t think unnecessary thoughts? You just need to do the work I tell you to do, that’s all.”

…See, the moment you feel slightly uncertain, you say things like that to bind me.

That ultimately shows you lack confidence in your own feelings.

If you truly possessed genuine love, you wouldn’t need to say such things.

“Lord Schnaud, perhaps you should rest for today? You’ve had a lot of work recently, so you must be tired.”

“Y-yes… Indeed, that might be true.”

…Oct, please come get me out of here soon.