It's Not Like I Want to Play the Role of a Misunderstood, Good-for-Nothing Prince in a Villainess Story! - Chapter 16 – Welcome Party, Second Half

Seeing me suddenly appear, Toprak narrowed his eyes.

“Good grief… who is it this time?”

“Pardon me. I am Carlaan Kingdom’s First Prince, Zeke Carlaan.”

“Zeke, ah…”

He instantly looked at me with contemptuous eyes.

My reputation is too bad! At this point someone’s maliciously spreading rumors, right?

The way this hate is gathering—I’ve been vaguely thinking this lately, but could the game production team, my biggest antis, have their invisible hand of god activated?

It feels like there’s a correction on favorability.

“I’m currently talking with her. Outsiders shouldn’t interfere.”

Toprak instantly lost interest in me and returned his gaze to Misty.

In that moment, my eyes met Misty’s.

The eyes speak as much as the mouth.

“…”

A high-pitched sound rang out.

That sound was from me forcefully flicking away Toprak’s hand that was holding Misty’s.

“Please don’t touch her so casually.”

“You, do you understand who you’re doing this to?”

Toprak glared with a flash.

“N-Nii-san.”

Tigos told me to stop in a small voice.

This morning, Father said not to be rude.

So Tigos was trying to stop me.

I don’t care.

“I’m a prince of the great nation Seiran Kingdom, you know?”

“So what? You should understand where this is and who you’re speaking so arrogantly to?”

“A place like Carlaan…”

I protected Misty behind me with my body while glaring back at Toprak.

But then, something strange happened.

The nobles’ murmuring voices suddenly became quiet.

And noticing the changed atmosphere, Toprak looked flustered and moved his gaze around.

Not at me but around me.

Hm? What is it? Is something there?

Just as I was about to look around too, the strength of Misty gripping my arm from behind increased.

Perhaps noticing that change, Toprak glared at me again.

“Acting like a knight despite being an outsider. Or are you Lady Misty’s partner?”

“No, I’m…”

“Yes! He is my fiancé, Prince Zeke.”

Huh?

I almost turned around.

I was Misty’s fiancé?!

I didn’t know despite being the person involved.

“Right, Zeke-sama?”

“Ahh… r-right. …I’m Misty’s fiancé.”

At this point I had no choice but to say yes.

Though it was what I wished for, was it okay to push Tigos aside?

“What’s all this commotion?”

My father Halt and Seiran Kingdom’s king Rudolf walked over with guards.

Rudolf had the same brown skin as Toprak, silver hair and eyes, and deeply carved features.

Even his beard was white, giving him dignity.

While subordinates went to explain to each of them,

“Father!”

When Toprak knelt and bowed his head, Rudolf looked at Toprak with narrowed eyes before bowing to King Halt beside him.

“My foolish son was rude.”

Receiving that, Halt also bowed.

“We’re mutual in that regard… however.”

Halt looked at Toprak as if glaring down.

“Prince Toprak, she is Zeke’s fiancée. I understand your feelings, but please give up. Right?”

“Yes, sir.”

Looking over, Marquis Red Claudia stood off to the side.

I thought he wasn’t near Misty, but he was with Father.

“Yes, my apologies.”

Being told this much, Toprak could only apologize while backing down.

“Well, now that it’s resolved…”

When Halt clapped his hands, music started playing from somewhere.

“Shall we go?”

“Mm.”

Halt and Rudolf passed beside us heading to the high position.

“Well then, until later, Prince Zeke.”

As we passed, Rudolf looked at me and smiled before going.

When the music started playing, after a while nobles gradually began walking to the empty space in the center.

In this flow, I had to go too.

I immediately took Misty’s hand and headed to the center.

I just had to do the dance as practiced.

With what happened earlier, I’d forgotten about being nervous.

While dancing, I met eyes with Misty.

Misty had a cheerful smile.

“Zeke-sama, thank you for earlier.”

“No, I couldn’t not step in. But I’m surprised—I thought Lady Misty would firmly refuse.”

“The other party is a prince of the Seiran Kingdom. I couldn’t be so rude.”

Well yeah, even Tigos was being considerate.

…Hm?

“Did I mess up, maybe?”

I feel like I was pretty rude.

“It’s fine. We’re probably mutual… no, rather…”

“Huh?”

What does “rather” mean?

No answer came.

When I raised my arm, Misty spun around.

“More importantly, I said you were my fiancé.”

Right, that!

“Was I okay? I heard you hadn’t replied to Father’s proposal.”

“Honestly, I thought I was still too young for a fiancé… so I intended to refuse. But to think it would turn out like this.”

Well, that’s certainly true.

Then it’s fine to annul it afterward. After the Seiran Kingdom people leave.

“However… if I were to have a fiancé, I thought Zeke-sama would be good.”

“Huh…”

Misty smiled.

“I’m inexperienced, but please treat me well.”

The music just ended.

Before I knew it, the nobles who’d been dancing around had disappeared, and apparently we were the only ones dancing until the end.

We walked from the center amidst grand applause.

“By the way, will Zeke-sama dance with anyone after this?”

“No? I have no such plans, and I’d refuse even if invited. Obviously though.”

I mean, I’m not confident in dancing, so if it’s not Misty who practiced with me, I’d definitely step on their feet.

That’d be too bad for my partner.

“…I see.”

When we returned, our hands separated.

Having held hands the whole time, my palm felt strangely hot.

Feeling the oddness, I opened and closed my hand when,

“Lady Misty, please dance with me next.”

Tigos was inviting Misty to dance.

Toprak wisely didn’t come, but was Tigos okay?

He was originally a fiancé candidate, so maybe a dance is fine.

That’s what I thought, but Misty smiled while shaking her head.

“I’m sorry, but like Zeke-sama, I’ll only dance with one person.”

Tigos stood dumbfounded watching Misty pass by.

“Like Zeke-sama”… does that mean that?

No wait, I didn’t say it with that intent.

I simply declined out of consideration to not trouble my partner with my immature dancing…

“Zeke-sama, His Majesty and the others are calling.”

“Ah, yeah.”

Led by Sebastian, I went to His Majesty and King Rudolf and managed the greetings safely.

Despite my mess-up, for some reason I didn’t get scolded.

Rather, I was praised by King Rudolf.

It’s a complete mystery.

Anyway, with various upheavals, my time as an 8-year-old passed like this.