I Was Reincarnated as a Villain Prince’s Follower, but I Refuse to Be Ruined—Turns Out the Prince Is Surprisingly Competent - Chapter 22

When they saw Rufus and the others, the King and the high-ranking officials let out a collective gasp of shock. It was only natural, as the Second Prince appeared carrying the unconscious First Prince, followed by an attendant who was in tatters. Furthermore, the rules of the Hunting Festival strictly stated that no one was to leave the forest until sunset.

“Rufus, what on earth…”

The King rose from his throne, seemingly unable to comprehend what had happened.

“Father, there is something I must discuss with you.”

Rufus looked at Jeremy.

Jeremy nodded and gave Raven’s attendant a small nudge.

Stepping forward, the attendant confessed everything that had taken place in the forest right then and there.

At first, the King was skeptical. However, evidence quickly piled up to support the claims: the men who had attacked Rufus’s group under the unconscious Raven’s orders, the palace meals Rufus had saved (preserved by using fire magic to evaporate the moisture so they wouldn’t rot), and the assassins Rufus had ordered the knights to capture. With Raven’s misdeeds proven, the Hunting Festival was immediately canceled.

The scene moved to the palace, where a detailed hearing was held in person.

The Queen shouted that the claims were groundless, but the evidence Rufus presented spoke eloquently of Raven’s actions.

Suspicion even turned toward the Queen, as she was someone with both the motive and the ability to slip mana suppressants into Rufus’s food over a long period.

In the end, Raven was stripped of his title as Crown Prince, the Queen was removed from her position, and both were placed in confinement.

It was one month after the incident that the King declared Rufus would take Raven’s place as the new Crown Prince.

A turbulent month for the kingdom passed, and midsummer arrived.

(To think that the “Villain Prince” Rufus is now the Crown Prince…)

I never imagined that a little advice to avoid my own doom would lead to a situation that shook the entire country. Even now, I can’t help but feel like I’m dreaming.

However, even with such a massive upheaval, the impact on the overall story seemed minimal. After all, this story is ultimately about the romance between Chris and Reinhard. Whether Rufus is a villain prince or the Crown Prince, that doesn’t change.

Only my daily life changed drastically.

Everyone was suddenly looking at me. Every day, marriage proposals from high-ranking nobles flooded my house, and my father looked incredibly happy.

Of course, marriage didn’t feel real to me at all, so I spent my time running away from it, using my studies and my work as Rufus’s close aide as excuses.

Early one morning, I was cooling off in the shade of a tree in the school greenhouse. No one else was there, it was cool, and it was perfect.

As I was dozing off, I heard the faint sound of grass being stepped on and felt someone sit down next to me.

“…Good morning, Your Highness.”

I opened my eyes and spoke in a whisper.

Rufus shifted slightly and smiled.

“You were awake?”

“I had a wind magic barrier up.”

I had no choice; at school, young ladies sent by their families were constantly trying to approach me.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“I’m forcing you to deal with a lot because of me.”

“It’s not like that. It’s just that the people on the sidelines are a bit annoying. I like being with you, Rufus both in the past and now. Did you come here to cool off too?”

“That, and to avoid people.”

“Wait. Did you ditch your guards again?”

“Yes. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to be alone with you.”

It was true that we hardly had time to see each other like this. After school, Rufus was busy with his Crown Prince training, and I was busy with my training to be his aide.

While the nobles who previously supported the former Crown Prince obeyed on the surface, they hadn’t truly accepted Rufus yet. He was currently in the middle of working hard to solidify his position.

It really had been a long time since just the two of us were together.

Rufus looked around the greenhouse.

“This is where you lectured me about Chris, isn’t it?”

“L-Lectured? I meant it as advice.”

Back then, I was thinking about cutting ties with Rufus. But because he listened to me, I felt like staying by his side. You could say everything started that day.

(Back then, I never imagined I’d get this close to Rufus. Now, we even speak casually when we’re alone.)

“Thanks to that, I am who I am today. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t been there. I can’t thank you enough.”

“I just suggested that maybe you should try doing things a certain way. You were the one who had the greatness to actually listen.”

Rufus gave a graceful smile. They say a position makes the person, and Rufus’s elegance seemed to have been polished even more since he became the Crown Prince.

The bell rang to signal the start of class.

Rufus let out a small sigh.

“The time to satisfy the curiosity of the onlookers has begun.”

“Well then, see you at lunch.”

As I started to walk away, he grabbed my right hand. “Wait.”

“…Jeremy. There is no one I trust more than you.”

“You’re exaggerating. There are people in the palace far more talented than me…”

“I said you are the person I trust. So, I would be happy if you stayed by my side and continued to support me if it looks like I’m straying from the path…”

“What’s with this all of a sudden?”

“…I just start thinking about silly things. I wonder if I’m having a long dream right now.”

“Rufus…”

A look of pain crossed Rufus’s eyes.

“I wonder if the ‘real’ me is still that person who spent his days in lazy sleep, covered in worthless vanity, just pushing his ego on others. I worry that my relationship with you is actually still distant. Sometimes, it just hits me out of nowhere.”

Was it an illusion caused by the “force” of the original story, or a nightmare born from the anxiety over his rapidly changing position?

(It doesn’t matter which one it is.)

I squeezed the hand Rufus was holding and then pulled him into a hug.

“Mm…”

Rufus let out a soft sound.

In my arms, I could feel his large frame trembling slightly.

“It’s okay. This is all real, and we’ll always be together.”

Rufus exhaled, a sense of relief washing over him.

“You’re right. Maybe, I’m just a little tired. I said something stupid. Please forget it.”

“I won’t forget. So, if you ever feel anxious or want to complain, I’ll always listen. If you need help, I’ll always lend a hand.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t say ‘I’m sorry’.”

“You’re right,” Rufus said with a gentle smile. “Thank you.”

(For Rufus’s sake, I can work as hard as I need to.)

With that certain feeling in my heart, I started walking side by side with him.