After Starting a Thread as a Reincarnated in an Unknown Otome Game, I Got Caught in a Battlefield of Beauties - Chapter 18: Shuraba☆

Chapter 18: Shuraba☆

I-I said it…!

I executed a full bow in front of the king and Princess Lara, feeling a sense of pride inside. I didn’t know why or to whom I felt proud, but I guess I was just overly tense.

I should really avoid giving brainless responses… Next time, I’ll listen carefully and think before I speak.

Phew… At least now, I might avoid Leticia getting mad at me—

“—It doesn’t matter to me. Though, we do need to decide who the main wife will be.”

—I’d love to punch the me from a few seconds ago who was thinking so naively.

I glanced at Princess Lara, who spoke as if it was no big deal. Her expression really did seem like she didn’t mind at all.

I then looked hopefully at the king, who adored Lara, thinking he might say something… but he was just smiling, so that seemed unlikely.

Oh, right. This world is based on an otome game… Reverse harem endings and harems are normal here.

What should I do…? I’m in serious trouble.

I looked around for advice from Hecate… but she had completely vanished.

Not just shrunk, but gone without a trace.

That damn witch… when did she…!?

Sigh… At this point, I’ll just push through with honesty.

Still in a bowing position, I began to speak.

“I-I’m sorry, but… I can’t marry two women.”

“Oh…? And why is that? I believe Lara is impeccable in both appearance and character… or do you find Lara unsatisfactory?”

The voice from above carried a hint of anger, so I hurriedly corrected myself.

“N-No, that’s not it! I think Princess Lara is wonderful. But… I can’t skillfully make two women happy! I’m anxious about making even one woman happy, and with two, either Lady Leticia or Princess Lara would undoubtedly end up unhappy. That’s why I think Princess Lara would be a thousand times better off marrying someone kinder and more capable than me!”

Hmm… I’m sounding pretty pathetic. 

But I’m being honest about not being able to make two women happy… Surely, they’ll give up on this idea now.

Just as I was feeling confident in my reasoning, something touched my cheek.

It took me a few seconds to realize it was Princess Lara’s hand.

Huh?

What’s going on?

What is this??

Stunned by the suddenness of it all, I stayed frozen in my bowing position. Above me, I heard a calm, soothing voice, like that of a saint.

“Please, lift your head. You have no need to bow.”

Without even realizing it, I raised my head at her words. In front of me, I saw Princess Lara’s gentle smile.

“Fufu… You are so kind, Sir Alto.”

“N-No, that’s not…”

A truly kind person wouldn’t confess to someone they don’t love. 

Compared to that, I’m just… 

Wait? Suddenly, I feel like a horrible person. 

As I recalled all my past mistakes and seriously considered that I might be a terrible person, Princess Lara slowly shook her head.

“No, you are kind. There are very few men who think this much about us women.”

“That’s just because those guys are irredeemable trash.”

When I stated that firmly, Princess Lara’s eyes widened in surprise, and the room fell silent again.

“—Pfft. Hahaha!”

“P-Princess Lara…?”

Suddenly, Princess Lara started laughing, holding her stomach. She wiped the tears from her eyes and spoke to me, who was still confused by her sudden change.

“Sorry… It’s just that you spoke so frankly… haha.”

“If we’re getting married, it would be best for both of us to be happy, right?”

I had a feeling this might not be the right mindset for a noble.

However, it seemed like the right answer for Princess Lara. 

After laughing for a while, she turned to the king, who had been silent until now.

“Father, it seems you’re being called trash.”

“Ehh??”

… Did I mess up again? Do I never learn?

Panicking, I started to bow to the king, dripping with cold sweat.

“I-I didn’t mean to insult His Majesty the King…! Uh…”

As I struggled to come up with an excuse with my barely functioning brain, the king spoke before I could.

“…There’s no need to bow. You’re right. I may indeed be trash for having many wives but not making them happy. Hah… to be made aware of that by someone so much younger…”

The king finished speaking and gave me a small smile.

“You said you couldn’t make two women happy… but I don’t believe that. I feel you could make Lara very happy.”

“That’s… you’re overestimating me…”

I wasn’t being modest, I genuinely meant it. But Princess Lara took my hand, shook her head, and smiled.

“That’s not true, Sir Alto. I want to marry a man like—”

She probably intended to continue with “I want to marry a man like you.”

However, those words never left her mouth.

“—Alto, I’m here to save you!! Are you okay… huh?”

Leticia burst into the room, hair and breath disheveled as if she had sprinted here. 

In the background, I could hear someone shouting, “Wait, Lady Leticia!!” but that didn’t matter right now.

Leticia looked at me and then at Princess Lara, who was holding my hand and smiling. Her expression instantly turned blank.

The next moment, her face turned bright red with anger, and she spoke with a twitching eyebrow.

“Heh… I came here ready to abandon my family to save you… and here you are, flirting with Princess Lara…”

“Ha, haha… I’m done for.”

Under Leticia’s cold stare, I seriously braced myself for death.

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