It Seemed My Fiancé Hated Me, So I Distanced Myself—But for Some Reason, He Complained - Chapter 27

“Alright! Then how about this? You’ll live in the castle for a while as my potential fiancée. During that time, I’ll do my best to win your heart. If you come to feel you could marry me, I’d like you to become my official fiancée.”

“Huh?”

“Of course, if during this trial period you find you simply can’t develop feelings for me, you’re free to refuse. I’ll accept it gracefully then. What do you think?”

“Th-that’s…!”

“Is it no good? Won’t you at least give me a chance?”

His Highness peered into my eyes with a face as sweet and pleading as a puppy’s. I became completely flustered.

Asking me to give him a chance – such a notion was far too presumptuous when speaking to the Crown Prince.

“To say such a thing to Your Highness, it’s far too presumptuous. ”

“Is it? I think it’s perfectly reasonable since I’m the one begging for your love. But if Clarissa dislikes the idea, you could instead become ‘someone worthy of being the First Prince’s fiancée.'”

“Huh?”

Those were words I’d never even considered.

Me becoming someone worthy of Prince Lucas.

In my current state, I couldn’t possibly imagine becoming the prince’s fiancée, let alone eventually becoming queen.

But it was something I could potentially become in the future. It was something I’d never thought about before.

“Prince Lucas…”

“Yes? Clarissa?”

“Do you think I could someday become someone worthy of being a princess?”

When I asked this, His Highness’s face lit up brightly.

“Of course! Clarissa is already wonderful enough! But you could become even more like a princess in the future!”

“Do you really think so…?”

“Yes, absolutely!”

Prince Lucas smiled and nodded.

“…Then, well though I’m quite inadequate, I’ll do my best!”

I bowed my head while flustered. Prince Lucas burst out laughing.

“Somehow that sounds like you’re already greeting me as if you’ve come to marry me.”

“Ah, that was strange of me, wasn’t it? I…”

“It wasn’t strange at all. It just made me happy.”

His Highness said this, took my hand, and pressed his lips to the back of it. The moment his lips touched my hand, I knew without looking in a mirror that my cheeks had turned bright red.

“Let’s do our best from now on, Clarissa.”

Prince Lucas said this, then smiled with narrowed eyes. I pressed a hand against my pounding heart and managed to nod.