The Talentless Wicked Prince Wants To Survive ~ The Only Way For Me, Reincarnated As The Punching Bag Third Prince In A Romance Smartphone RPG, To Live Is To Not Break Off My Engagement With The Duke’s Yandere Daughter Who’s Stronger Than The Heroine~

“Sigh… I really don’t feel like doing it…”

The morning after the reception party welcoming the delegation, I changed into my training clothes and let out a deep sigh.

I mean, even if I planned to lose on purpose, I still had to duel Carla. That was a total landmine no matter how you looked at it.

And seriously, there were still over two years left until the main story started, yet I’d already encountered three of the main heroines! What happened to my original goal of not getting involved with the protagonist or any of the heroines?

“Haru… are you sure it’s okay for it to not be me?”

“Yeah. It’s just a mock battle with my opponent using a wooden sword while I’ll be using a wooden shield.”

Cass rubbed her cheek against mine, looking worried, but if I brought out the Shadow Shield Casparieg, we’d risk drawing the kingdom’s attention and having her confiscated.

There was no way I was letting those people take my precious partner away from me.

“Cass-san, that’s how it is, so please make sure you don’t speak today, all right?”

“Fiiine…”

Monica gave her a pointed reminder, and Cass drooped her shoulders.

Really… she didn’t need to look that sad. Her feelings, how she worried for me and wanted to cheer me on got through to me just fine…

“What is it, Cass?”

“Ehehe… you really are a bit absent-minded sometimes, Haru.”

“Your Highness Harold, you just said that part out loud. ‘Your feelings, how you worry for me and want to cheer me on get through to me just fine’.”

“Guh!?”

I couldn’t believe my inner thoughts had slipped out… so embarrassing. I wanted to crawl into a hole. No, I should just dig one myself.

Still, Cass looked absolutely delighted, smiling from ear to ear, so maybe it was fine. Monica would probably tease me about it for weeks, though.

“Your Highness Harold, it’s almost time for the young lady to arrive.”

“Right.”

We went to the entrance to greet Sandra. Just in case anyone was watching, I reminded Cass to stay quiet.

And then…

“Good morning, Haru-sama.”

Gracefully stepping down from her carriage with my hand as support, Sandra gave a refined curtsy.

My beloved fiancée was as lovely as ever today.

“Shall we head to the training grounds right away? We should warm up before your match with Lady Carla.”

“Good idea.”

So I took her hand, and together we walked to the training grounds… but…

“Hm… Your Highness Harold.”

“Lady Carla.”

Carla was already there. It seemed she had the same idea, doing some warm-ups beforehand.

“Fufu, I look forward to our match today.”

“As do I.”

“Though of course, I plan to win.”

“A-haha… please go easy on me.”

We smiled and shook hands.

Her palm was rough with calluses, evidence of countless hours spent wielding a sword. It spoke of how sincerely she had devoted herself to her blade.

Sigh… I was planning to lose on purpose today, but I could already tell that wouldn’t be possible.

I glanced at Sandra beside me and gave a wry smile. She seemed to understand and nodded back with a gentle smile.

I knew Carla was a heroine overflowing with chivalric spirit, pure and righteous, someone truly worthy of respect.

And yet, holding her hand now, remembering that, even after all those hours I’d spent obsessed with Engage Hazard, I realized what a lousy fan I’d been.

So…

“I’ve changed my mind. I think I’ll be the one to win today.”

“Oh? I look forward to it.”

She tightened her grip, a joyful smile curving her lips.

Oops, maybe I shouldn’t have said that.

But it was exactly because she was that kind of person that I felt like I had to fight her seriously. Otherwise, it would be disrespectful to her.

We thus spent the time before the match thoroughly warming up,
preparing ourselves to fight in top condition.

“Oh my… you two are already here, I see.”

Just before the match was to begin, Christia appeared, escorted by Wilfred. Behind them were Lorenzo and the rest of the delegation, along with Cardis and Raphael.

Honestly, those two had been whispering to each other even while dancing yesterday. Maybe, like Marion, they were already in a romantic state before the main story had even begun.

This protagonist sure moved fast on the heroines.

“For today’s match, the honor and pride of both the Dehaubarz Kingdom and the Holy Kingdom of Baltian are at stake. Therefore, I shall preside as the representative of our kingdom, while His Eminence Salvatori shall do so for the Holy Kingdom.”

Sigh… I didn’t remember staking the kingdom’s honor or pride on this match.

And now Cardis, the one who called me useless, was dumping that burden on me? What was his game…? Oh, I get it.

He wanted me to humiliate myself here, right in front of the Holy Kingdom’s delegation, to brand me once and for all as the “good-for-nothing disgrace of a prince”.

So it was Cardis’s plot… or maybe Wilfred’s doing. Either way, they’d sure put some petty cunning into trapping me.

“Hm… it doesn’t matter to me what the circumstances are. I will simply fight His Highness Harold with all my strength.”

Carla raised her wooden sword.

Exactly. The rest didn’t matter.

All I had to do was answer her blade with everything I had.

“Hmm? Harold, where’s your weapon?”

“I don’t need one. This shield alone is enough.”

Cardis frowned, and I replied evenly.

“Ufufufufu! Don’t tell me His Highness Harold plans to just receive Carla’s strikes with that shield!”

“Hahahahahaha!”

Following Christia’s mocking laugh, the delegation members and even Wilfred and Cardis burst into roaring laughter.

The only ones not laughing were Carla before me, Raphael who was watching with interest, and Sandra, Monica, and Cass.

Actually, Sandra and Monica were glaring daggers colder than absolute zero, and Cass’s fur and tail were bristling so much she looked about ready to pounce.

“Your Highness Harold, pay no mind to the spectators. Let’s fight with all our strength.”

“Yes!”

“Hahaha… then begin!”

Cardis barely suppressed his laughter long enough to give the signal, and my match with Carla began.