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~

“My, my! So Prince Harold, you’re the one who commands the legendary calamity beast, Casparieg!”

“Ah, w-well, I suppose so…”

Hello, Harold here.

At the moment, I was being bombarded with questions from Lady Norma. For two hours straight.

It had all started when Monica had brought up the topic of the Hen Wen subjugation, so now I was in the middle of explaining what had happened back then.

Thanks to that, Cass, who was sitting proudly on my lap, was wearing the most self-satisfied grin imaginable.

Meanwhile…

“…”

Both Duke Chevalier and Cedric had both gone completely expressionless, their eyes glazed over. Poor guys, I guess my story wasn’t exactly thrilling for them.

“But still, to think you not only defeated Hen Wen but also played a major role in resolving the ‘Saint’s Abduction Incident’, it just shows how unreliable rumors can be.”

“Haha… y-yeah…”

Oh, no, those rumors about me being the ‘talentless wicked prince’ weren’t exactly wrong. At least, they weren’t before I’d regained my memories from my previous life.

“That’s right, Mother. It makes me furious to think how blind people are… how they fail to see how truly wonderful Haru-sama is.”

“…”

Sandra clenched her fists, brow furrowed as she spoke passionately.

In contrast, the Duke and Cedric looked away awkwardly, embarrassment written all over their faces.

Honestly, I didn’t think they were really at fault, though.

“And that wretch… Wilfred! During the ‘Saint’s Abduction Incident’, he even stole Haru-sama’s credit! Thanks to His Majesty’s orders, he’s been praised as a hero. Utterly unforgivable!”

Sandra’s little fists swung through the air as she fumed, and it was way too adorable. I was this close to dying of heart palpitations.

“Alexandra, dear. There are always people who notice those things, you know. And besides, as his fiancée, it’s your duty to see him for who he truly is. That alone gives Prince Harold a million allies.”

“Mother… yes.”

I’d thought Lady Norma was the gentle, easygoing type, but she had this calm strength too. She really was… the perfect image of what a mother should be.

At that moment…

“…Norma is my wife.”

Um. Why did you have to glare at me while saying that, Duke Chevalier? I swear I wasn’t trying to flirt with your wife! I’m utterly devoted to your daughter, okay!?

But…

“Hehe…”

Sandra just smiled happily beside me.

Yeah… the Chevaliers really were an amazing family. The most powerful nobles in the kingdom, and yet they were all so close and so warm.

Surrounded by that warmth, I couldn’t help but smile too.

Back in the royal palace, I was nothing but a spare for Cardis, ignored no matter how hard I tried to please anyone, branded useless, unwanted.

My father, King Eival, never once acknowledged me. My mother, Queen Margaret, never even looked my way.

In the end, I’d been reduced to nothing but the pathetic ‘talentless wicked prince’.

This kind of warmth… was something I could never have. Or so I thought.

“Ah… L-Lady Norma…?”

“Hehe… Prince Harold, you’ve worked so very hard, haven’t you?
You’ve kept going and going, even without ever knowing a family’s warmth… Believing that someday, someone would turn and see you.”

Without warning, she pulled me into a gentle embrace.

I froze, completely at a loss for what to do. Lady Norma leaned close, whispering softly in my ear.

“Prince Harold, you are to be the husband of my dear daughter, Alexandra. That makes you my precious son as well, so from now on, please let yourself lean on me. As a mother, I’ll always be watching over the boy who tries so hard.”

I-I wondered if that was really okay…

I mean, I’d never even been shown kindness by my real mother, so how could I possibly let myself depend on Sandra’s?

“Here we go.”

“Wh-whoa!?”

Lady Norma tightened her arms around me, pulling me even closer until my face was pressed against her chest.

She was soft and warm, smelled so gentle, so comforting. I didn’t want to let go. I just wanted to stay like that forever.

“My sweet, sweet boy… your mother will always be watching over you.”

“Mmh… yeah…”

Before I knew it, I was hugging her back as if trying to fill the emptiness left by fourteen years of loneliness, and even the lifetime before that.

For the first time in both my lives… I felt a mother’s warmth.

And in that moment, I was so glad, so truly glad… that I was Harold.

That I was Sandra’s fiancé.