I Became the Replacement Fiancée for My Childhood Friend Who Went Missing, but Apparently He Has Been Found - Chapter 4

—Oct’s Memory—

“I’ve become Lord Schnaud’s fiancée.”

It was in our usual spot, during our usual idle chatter, when Selena spoke those words to me.

Perhaps because it was so sudden, I initially thought it was one of Selena’s jokes and didn’t take it seriously.

“That’s amazing. So from now on, I’ll have to call you Lady Selena?”

“That won’t do.”

“…Won’t do? Then what should I call you?”

While I played along with Selena’s words thinking it was just a joke, she responded with a somewhat solemn expression.

“I’m going to become Ellis. So from now on, I think you’ll have to call me Lady Ellis.”

“…Huh?”

Even then, I couldn’t believe Selena’s words were true.

I couldn’t help but think she was still playing some prank.

“What kind of story is that? It’s true that Ellis, who was engaged to Lord Schnaud, seems to have disappeared, but that doesn’t mean Selena could become his fiancée in her place.”

Just as I muttered those words, a certain possibility surfaced in my mind.

But it was a possibility I could hardly believe would actually happen.

This wasn’t some fairy tale, and Lord Schnaud hadn’t gone mad—it was a possibility that seemed unlikely to occur in reality.

…Yet it had indeed surfaced.

“N-no way! Is it because you look like Ellis? Are they telling you to come to him as her replacement?”

“……”

Hearing my words, Selena simply remained silent.

But her expression showed such complex shades that the answer was obvious.

“N-no way! There’s no way a man would actually do that in reality, especially not the Crown Prince.”

“……”

The resemblance between Ellis and Selena’s faces and aura had often been a topic of discussion among us and those around us.

Amid such talk, we’d often joked about how if Ellis disappeared, Selena could become the Crown Princess instead.

…But that was precisely because we never thought such a thing could actually happen.

I myself had barely ever met Ellis face-to-face, so I’d said such things half in jest.

…And now, it was actually happening.

“After Ellis disappeared, Lord Schnaud seemed quite heartbroken. Then by chance, he saw me walking through the palace and decided on the spot. To make me Ellis’s replacement…”

“Don’t be ridiculous!! Why should Selena have to do such a thing!!”

Nothing could be more unreasonable than taking my anger out on her here.

But unable to contain my feelings, I ended up voicing the emotions bubbling up inside me.

“Selena, I’ll go protest! I won’t let this happen to you!”

“It’s alright, you don’t need to do that.”

“W-why…!!”

In contrast to my emotional state, Selena appeared remarkably calm.

“Lord Schnaud told me this: From now on, you will live as Ellis. So, you don’t need past memories or recollections. Discard everything about yourself as Selena—your name and all and stand by my side as Ellis. So, Selena no longer exists.”

“Th-that’s…!! There’s no way we can accept that!! What do your parents say about this?! They cared about you so much! How could they possibly accept you suddenly discarding everything about Selena.”

“Thank you for worrying about me, Oct. But Father and Mother have already decided to accept Lord Schnaud’s request. Having the Crown Prince as their daughter’s fiancé is the greatest happiness imaginable, right? So they told me, ‘Our daughter must be happy, so go ahead.'”

“……”

“So, we might not be able to meet anymore.”

The expression on Selena’s face as she spoke those words pierced my heart.

Though she spoke with a calm demeanor and resigned tone, her face at that moment perfectly embodied the word “heartbreaking”—a look of genuine, profound sorrow.

———

Every time I risked danger to visit Selena, she would show me a softly bright expression and voice her happiness without reservation.

All I ever wanted was that, which is why I kept visiting Selena until now.

But that’s no longer enough.

A plan to put an end to this insane engagement drama has surfaced in my mind.

If only I can make that plan which is nearly within reach—a reality, then at last I’ll be able to…