The Reincarnated Villainess Whose Romantic Trauma From Her Past Life Is Too Strong Is Sweetly and Painfully Doted On by the Prince of the Neighboring Country - Chapter 43

After Ryuto confessed his feelings to Chieri, he began visiting her house frequently.

He would eat the dinner she prepared, and upon leaving, he would give her a hug at the front door.

It was a simple relationship, yet Chieri found herself feeling restless and fluttery whenever he was around.

Then came a certain day.

“…A game console?”

While waiting for Chieri to finish cooking dinner, Ryuto happened to notice a game console tucked away in the corner of the TV stand and spoke up curiously.

“Oh, that? A girl at work lent it to me.”

The “girl at work” Chieri referred to was the junior colleague who had thoughtfully told her, “I’ll handle the rest, so you can head home early!” just the other day.

That junior, who was bright and cheerful to everyone without distinction, had been deeply concerned when Chieri was haggard from caring for her grandmother. Out of worry, she had lent Chieri the entire console, saying, “You should do something to take your mind off things!”

“Hmm… The Flower-Sowing Maiden?”

“It’s a girl’s game. The girl who lent it to me said it was her top recommendation.”

Chieri explained while her hands stayed busy with the cooking. Truly, just as her colleague had said even as a first-time gamer, Chieri found it incredibly interesting. The story was solid, and the flower-based magic was directed in a way that truly tickled one’s girlish heart. Before she knew it, she had become quite engrossed in it, looking up various guides along the way.

Part of it was simply that she had been so physically and mentally exhausted by the nursing care at the time; the game served as a perfect escape.

In the midst of a hopeless daily grind, the sparkling world of boys and girls in that game, played in a dark room had provided significant healing for Chieri’s soul.

“Is it meat and potatoes today?”

While Chieri was preparing dinner and reminiscing, Ryuto suddenly appeared behind her and peeked over her shoulder.

—He was close.

(…This sense of distance. I didn’t think anything of it back when I had no feelings for him.)

Or was Ryuto intentionally changing something? The presence radiating from behind her made Chieri strangely nervous.

“…Yes, it is.”

When Chieri answered with feigned casualness to hide her nerves, Ryuto brightened up. “Yes! I love meat and potatoes.”

“Ryuto-kun, you said the exact same thing when I made Salisbury steak.”

“I love Salisbury steak too.”

“But you like the Salisbury steak better, don’t you?”

“…You caught me.”

How could I not? Chieri thought. Since they were young, he had asked for Salisbury steak every time something happened. She had long ago mastered exactly what he liked and disliked.

Once dinner was ready, they ate together across the low table, just like old times. Having eaten alone so often lately, Chieri felt from the bottom of her heart how grateful she was to have someone to share a meal with, thanks to Ryuto.

“Chieri, do you not drink alcohol?”

“I can, but I don’t usually.”

“I see. So, when are we registering our marriage?”

“…………Eh?”

She stopped her chopsticks mid-air at the sudden question that completely derailed the conversation.

How serious is he—? When Chieri timidly looked up, she saw Ryuto wearing a wry grin. Realizing she was being teased, she felt a flash of annoyance.

“…Ryuto-kun.”

“Sorry, sorry. But I wasn’t saying it as a joke.”

Not a joke—then how much of it is real? She wanted to ask, but Chieri was too afraid to pursue it.

(…If it’s with Ryuto-kun, I’d be happy to be together forever, too.)

But was it really okay? Deep down, Chieri still felt a lingering hesitation over the fact that she was six years older. Furthermore, could she truly make this boy happy, the one she had always cherished and wanted the best for? As if to brush away her doubts, Ryuto always approached her with such innocence.

Humans are creatures that, once they grow accustomed to an environment, gradually begin to think, Maybe this is okay. Chieri was no exception. As she continued this life with Ryuto, her heart was slowly won over. The peaceful days passed—one month, then two. Chieri had finally grown used to being with him and had started to feel secure—and that was when it happened.

The words that would overturn Chieri’s happiness came from Ryuto’s mouth.

◇◆◇

“…Chieri, I’m sorry. I’ve found someone else I like.”

—With a dark expression, looking as if the words were incredibly difficult to say, Ryuto delivered the news.

“…Eh?”

“…I’m really sorry. It’s not your fault. It’s all my fault.”

At that moment, Chieri didn’t clearly remember what else he said or what kind of expression he wore when he left.

She only remembered saying:

“…I see. I understand. Of course.”

She was desperate to act casual so as not to make Ryuto worry. She was desperate not to let a single tear show. Without showing a hint of how wounded she was, she replied with a slightly troubled smile.

—I think I played the part well.

It was the performance of a lifetime; she almost thought she could have been an actress.

Even after Ryuto left, she thought he might open the door and come back. Because she couldn’t be crying if he did, she just stayed in that abandoned room, trembling, desperately fighting the urge to sob.

Only after a significant amount of time had passed, when she felt certain that Ryuto wouldn’t be coming back—did the dam finally break, and Chieri began to weep uncontrollably.

“Heh… hic…”

At first, she thought she was pathetic. So, laughter mixed in with her tears.

—Why did I ever think things would work out with such a young boy—?

Why did I get so carried away and fall so deeply in love?

After her face was a mess of tears and trembling laughter, she was hit by a wave of deep sorrow and despair.

I shouldn’t have fallen in love.

I should have kept him as a brother figure.

If I had, then even if he told me he liked someone else, I could have celebrated for him and laughed from the bottom of my heart.

“Hic… ugh……”

Unable to remain sitting, she collapsed, bracing her hands against the floor. Large tears fell onto the tatami mats, leaving dark spots behind.

“Ah… Aaaahhhhhh…. ”

The sound of her own pathetic sobbing echoed through the room, making her feel even more miserable.

See! I told you so, another part of Chieri whispered in her heart. There was no way it would work out with someone six years younger. You knew that from the start.

No matter how many times she told herself that, the sorrow overflowing from within wouldn’t stop.

———Ah.

Along with the sadness, a feeling surged up that made her chest so tight she could hardly breathe.

———I want to be loved.

Her chest ached with deep sorrow and sobbing, and she gripped the front of her shirt tightly.

————I just wanted to be loved by someone, too—.

She wanted to be loved by someone more than anything. And for as much as she felt loved, she wanted to return that love even more. That was all.

———Why.

Why does nothing ever go right for me…?

She cried as much as she could, until she couldn’t even remember how long she had been crying. At one point, lying on the tatami and staring at the ceiling, she even thought it would be better if she just died.

(…If I died, would Ryuto-kun be even a little bit sad…?)

She had enough reason left to know that was a foolish thought. Everyone else in the world seemed so happy. Why was it that nothing went right for her?

After that, she vaguely remembered having cried herself out, feeling thirsty, and wandering outside.

—A rolling ball.

—A small boy chasing after that ball.

—So, focused on the ball that he didn’t notice the car coming.

The boy’s silhouette reminded her of Ryuto when he was young.

She thought, I have to save him.

After that, there was only the impact of her entire body being slammed into something.

(Ah but maybe. Maybe my life existed just to save Ryuto-kun.)

When he first arrived, he was so thin and scrawny.

Now he had grown so much.

He had become a handsome young man.

He even said he found a girl he liked.

Isn’t that enough?

Shouldn’t I be happy with that?

I was able to lead the boy I loved toward a happy future.

A single tear fell down Chieri’s cheek as she lay on the ground.

Somehow, she felt a small sense of being rewarded.

Without realizing it, the corners of her mouth slowly curled upward.

With that memory as the last, Chieri’s consciousness sank into darkness.