It's Not Like I Want to Play the Role of a Misunderstood, Good-for-Nothing Prince in a Villainess Story! - Chapter 3 – They Call Me "That," But I'm a Prince

I mistook her for an angel, but she was Misty Claudia.

The protagonist of PriLove.

I’d seen her golden hair and blue eyes countless times in the game, but seeing them in person—they were truly breathtaking.

She looked like a terrifyingly exquisite French doll. Yet unlike the game’s character design, her eyes alone felt softer somehow. Warmer.

First time seeing her youthful appearance, but this is great!

Also, in the game she’d spoken in a clear, crisp tone and would scold you without hesitation. She’d always seemed to be glaring. So this was… refreshing.

Even so…

She really is cute. That white dress suits her perfectly.

And she’ll only get more beautiful as she grows older from here? Is that a cheat?

“N-nice to meet you, I’m Tigos.”

Tigos greeted her with his face blazing red.

His voice came out strained. Nerves, probably.

Yeah, I get it. I’m nervous too—if anything, I’m ready to support her all over again.

Misty bowed once, then glanced in my direction as well.

What was the noble greeting like again? I remembered laughing a bit, thinking it resembled a certain manga.

For now, I made a fist with my right hand and lightly struck my left chest.

“I’m his older brother, Zeke. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

I made sure to bow properly.

Unlike the flustered Tigos, perhaps because I’d bowed politely, Lord Red let out a slight breath—as if impressed. Quite different from his reaction to Tigos.

“Hmm… this is different from what I’d heard.”

Huh, what did you hear? I thought, but I understood when I saw my parents’ faces.

Both were staring at me with open surprise.

They definitely didn’t paint me in a good light, did they?

Well, they’d said at breakfast this morning that I apparently skip studying, swordsmanship, and even dance practice. That I oversleep constantly, right?

So I guess it’s natural they’d think I’m no good.

But this is strange.

The me in the game… or rather, Zeke wasn’t like that, I thought.

As I pondered internally, the conversation turned to studying and such.

“I hear Lady Misty is excellent in her studies, etiquette, the fine manners befitting a noble lady, and even magic?”

“My teachers are simply good. I still have much to learn…”

That’s a lie. I know the truth.

Zeke was amazing too, but Misty was an all-around genius who surpasses even him.

Whether it’s protagonist correction or not, her magic’s final stats become the strongest in the game.

Actually, how do you even view stats?

You can’t see them when you’re actually in the game world, can you?

Select button, where art thou?

“Nii-san, what are you doing…?”

As I moved my hands around searching for it somewhere in the air, I received looks like people watching something disgusting.

“No, nothing…”

“You’re… normally like ‘that,’ but today you’ve been especially so since this morning… hmm.”

Your Majesty, please stop calling me “that”—I don’t think it’s good to criticize someone so indirectly like that.

Looking over, Misty was staring at me with wide eyes.

I’m not a rare animal. I’m a prince.

“S-speaking of which, I hear you two are also excellent, but what is your daily life like?”

Lord Red brought the conversation back on track.

Thank you, future father-in-law.

“Yes, as a candidate to succeed as king, I run through the gardens early in the morning, and after meals I study with tutors and work hard daily on both academics and swordsmanship.”

“Oh, as expected of Lord Tigos. To discipline yourself from such a young age—isn’t it difficult?”

“Not at all. I love both, and besides, it’s expected as royalty.”

“I see. Splendid.”

Lord Red nodded repeatedly.

Wow, he’s getting praised so much. Way to go, Tigos.

“How about you, Zeke-sama?”

“Yes, I…”

“Nii-san runs away from his dance, study, and sword teachers, and he oversleeps a lot. Right, Nii-sanr?”

Damn you, Tigos.

What a thing to say from the side.

“No, well, I also… right? Father, Mother?”

“Hmm? Mmm…”

“Zeke is, at his own pace. He doesn’t like studying very much… he’s at his own pace.”

When I looked at my parents beside me, Father was just groaning. Mother defended me, but…

Did you need to say “at his own pace” twice?

“W-well… haha…”

Hey hey hey, Lord Red looks troubled now.

What am I supposed to do about this?

My reputation was plummeting, and I only became the prince this morning.

“Hey, don’t you think he’s slovenly too, Lady Misty?”

Tigos even turned the conversation to Misty, of all people.

This guy… he’s trying to expose my flaws even to Misty… he really has taken a liking to her.

I bet that malicious phrasing earlier was intentional too!

“Does Zeke-sama dislike studying?”

Misty asked me while tilting her head.

“I’m not very fond of studying.”

Well, but it’s true that I hated studying even in my previous life.

But I know I can’t keep saying that now that I’m a prince.

“However, just because I dislike it doesn’t mean I want to become a foolish king ignorant of mathematics, culture, swordsmanship, magic… and politics too. These are necessary things, so I will definitely learn them.”

“…I see.”

Misty said just that and took a step back.

And so my first encounter with Misty ended.

After the party, Tigos kept praising Misty with his face bright red.

Is this guy smitten, without a doubt?

Actually, I just realized something.

At this rate, won’t Tigos steal my position as Misty’s fiancé from me?