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 5

“I have come today not only to offer my greetings, but also to request that Lady Cherie Mercury, who stands beside me, be taken into my country’s care.”

As Salute spoke to the crowd with an unfathomable smile, Reiss and Lily standing among the royal procession watched with their mouths agape in utter shock.

In the midst of this, Cherie kept her face expressionless, though internally she was panicking while trying to gauge the situation from her spot beside Salute.

“P-Prince Salute, what do you mean by ‘taking her into your care’? Surel, Lady Mercury is the fiancé of our nation’s First Prince.”

“I happened to witness that very First Prince declaring the annulment of their engagement the other day, which is why I am making this proposal now.”

“What…?”

Upon hearing Salute’s words, the King of Dortmund turned his head toward Reiss so sharply it looked like it might actually make a creak-creak-creak sound. He looked as if he were witnessing something impossible.

“If you have any doubts, I have prepared evidence.”

“Evidence…? You say…?”

“Yes.”

With a polite smile, Salute reached into his coat and produced a small, lovely light-purple flower.

『Cherie Mercury, daughter of a Marquis! I am breaking my engagement with a woman like you!』

“Wha—!?”

“F-Flower Magic…!?”

Reiss and Lily let out cries of horror as a familiar voice flowed out from the light-purple flower in Salute’s hand. It was a voice that anyone would recognize—the voice of the nation’s First Prince, Reiss.

『What is it? Do you have a complaint? For a woman who tormented Lily, a punishment like this is almost too lenient!』

『Lady Cherie, please apologize! If you just apologize, I will forgive you!』

Following Reiss’s words, the bell-like voice of a woman followed. There was no need for further explanation; it was, of course, Lily’s voice. Soon, the flower in Salute’s hand produced more than just sound. It projected a faint image into the empty air. It clearly showed Reiss and Lily ganging up on Cherie.

“This is a flower that was blooming at the site where she received the declaration of annulment. There is no need for me to explain who is shown here, is there?”

Salute smiled brightly. The flower he held was an Aster. Its flower language is “Reminiscence.”

Those who wield Flower Magic can draw out specific abilities from flowers based on their meanings. Salute was the premier Flower Mage of the Kingdom of Trigea. He had just replayed the memories that the flower itself had “seen.”

The King glared at Reiss with terrifying intensity. Panicked, Reiss began to scramble for an excuse.

“Th-this… this is some kind of mistake…!”

“A mistake? Does that mean you doubt my abilities or are you suggesting that I am lying?”

Salute’s calm, leisurely tone caused Reiss to choke on his words. Compared to Dortmund, Trigea was an overwhelmingly more powerful nation. Cornered by Prince Salute, Reiss was exactly like a frog stared down by a snake.

“If you doubt my power, feel free to call another Flower Mage to verify it. Any high-ranking mage should be able to do at least this much, wouldn’t you agree?”

It was clear that Salute was inviting them to verify the evidence only to make his position even more unshakeable. However, the King of Dortmund let out a pained voice.

“…No, that is quite enough.”

“Though I was unaware of this, to think my foolish son would do such a thing to Lady Mercury. I shall speak very sternly to him myself.”

“I would prefer it if he apologized to her right here and now, rather than just receiving a stern talking-to.”

At Salute’s words, Cherie gave the arm she was holding a firm squeeze. Salute seemed to read that small gesture, realizing that Cherie didn’t actually want an apology from Reiss.

“—However, it seems she herself does not wish for that, so I shall let it go for now. More importantly, as I requested earlier, I wish to know if I may have her.”

At those words, Cherie’s heart gave a small, sudden throb.

(Was it just my imagination, or did he put a lot of emphasis on the words ‘have her’ just now…?)

Cherie immediately suppressed the thought. She told herself that Salute only meant he wanted her as his exclusive Floral Apothecary. Not as a woman. After all, it was Cherie herself who had turned him down when it came to following him as a romantic partner.

And yet—

(How pathetic of me. Why am I getting my hopes up after I was the one who cut him off?)

Was it because Salute was so kind? Or because he was her “absolute favorite” from her past life?

Cherie quietly pushed down the part of herself that felt foolishly happy to be wanted.

“When Your Highness says you ‘want’ Lady Mercury, does that mean you intend to welcome her as your wife?”

“No. What I desire from her is something else entirely.”

Salute answered the King’s question with a firm “something else.”

“I want her to accompany me as my exclusive Florist and as my trusted aide.”