Cain already understood very well that Princess Vita, like the second prince in the original story, was not someone to be underestimated.
Therefore, he appreciated her for it, but that was as far as it went.
After another bout of meaningless small talk and pleasantries — mostly her asking about the “her” from his side, the second prince — Cain felt the conversation had run its course and that it was time to leave.
There were still several places in the royal palace he hadn’t visited yet.
He felt that if he didn’t take the initiative to mention he had other things to do, Vita would keep dragging him into further conversation.
“Speaking of which, Princess Vita, I’m sure someone in your position still has important matters to attend to. I won’t disturb you any further.”
Even so, she was still the King’s sister. Cain felt awkward telling her directly that she was getting in his way, so he gave a polite smile, hinting that she should get back to work while he went about his own business.
“Oh, not at all! Most of the work is handled by professionals. I’m actually quite free~”
However, it was unclear whether Vita simply hadn’t caught Cain’s meaning or if she had noticed and was pretending otherwise.
Regardless, she merely explained her idle status with a relaxed, cheerful voice and a laugh, showing no intention of saying goodbye to Cain.
“… Is that so? However, even if there are no ‘important’ matters, surely there are less vital things to handle.”
Whether she was truly oblivious or just playing the part, Cain’s hint this time was much more obvious, signaling that she should get busy.
“There are, I suppose. I am a member of the royal family, after all. It’s just that since they aren’t that important, it’s perfectly fine if I don’t handle them today. On the other hand, what were you doing until just now? Wandering the palace alone?”
In truth, Cain hadn’t expected the seemingly carefree yet meticulous Vita to miss his subtext.
Her move to turn the tables, smiling as she pointed out Cain’s own actions, proved that she had not only understood him but was also rejecting his request to be left alone.
Though she didn’t state it explicitly, the underlying message was clear — she was very interested in Cain, and if he didn’t mind, she wanted to be his guide through the palace.
Cain could understand her curiosity about him, but he didn’t particularly want to walk with Vita. It would be much more comfortable to wander around by himself.
“Yes, I was indeed exploring the palace of this world. Although it should be a familiar place, it still feels a bit foreign because I don’t know a single person walking around. Besides, the layout might be different. Having someone else present makes it difficult for me to concentrate, so I declined the maid’s offer to lead the way. It was just a coincidence that I ran into you while I was wandering alone, Vita.”
Knowing she could understand his subtext, Cain continued to politely express his desire to be “alone.”
He had gone to such lengths; surely Vita wouldn’t cling to him now?
… Wait! She actually would!
“Exactly! It’s practically a fated encounter! To think I’d meet His Majesty from another world here — I guess my daily good deeds have finally paid off! Oh, speaking of which, are you really going to wander alone? Don’t you think it would be better to have someone lead the way?”
The cheerful, black-haired princess suddenly clapped her hands, looking lively and deeply moved.
Then, she took a few steps closer to Cain with an air of intimacy.
“You have someone right in front of you who is actually very free, you know? Don’t you think letting her accompany you on your palace tour is an excellent choice?”
Along with a faint, indistinguishable fragrance came Vita’s beautiful face, which was filled with sincerity and longing. Her transparent, blood-red eyes seemed to sparkle under the sunlight.
If her sister, Corellia, was a cold beauty with an arrogant temperament and world-toppling looks…
Then Vita, the younger sister, was a bright, proactive beauty.
One was as biting as winter, while the other was as warm as spring.
Most people would have felt their hearts racing at such close proximity.
However, Cain remained composed. The moment he remembered that Vita was the equivalent of the frivolous second prince from the original story, his excitement evaporated.
He simply looked at the princess, who had just issued a direct invitation, and declined with the same polite smile as before.
“… It’s a great suggestion, but I’d like to make a small modification. It’s better if you go do what you truly ought to be doing. I can handle such minor things myself. Or do you plan on following me regardless? If that’s the case, then that’s a different story.”
As the saying goes, the tide of the battle had turned. This time, it was Cain’s turn to be blunt.
He was essentially saying that unless she planned to act like a spoiled child, she should give up.
“… Sigh, I get it. To keep being thick-skinned after you’ve said all that would be quite rude. I’ll go take care of my own business.”
In the end, the direct approach worked best. Having been explicitly rejected, a disappointed and lonely Vita stepped back, looking very much like a younger sister who wanted to slack off but was being chased back to work by her brother.
“I’m glad you understand. I’m sure His Majesty would be relieved as well. Well then, I’ll take my leave. Good luck with your work, Vita.”
Cain, an ordinary person with no office or responsibilities, left with a polite smile that was arguably a bit irritating.
He went back to wandering the palace alone.
He left behind a princess who seemed somewhat dejected that her little scheme to slack off had been exposed by her “brother,” standing alone in the garden as she watched him go.
No matter how one looked at it, it appeared to be a rather harmonious and friendly scene.
However, as Cain’s figure gradually disappeared, a sneering laugh filled with negative emotions began to echo through the garden.
“… Ha… Hahaha. ‘A different story if I followed you regardless,’ he says. He definitely would have rejected me with an even colder attitude when the time came. He really is exactly like that woman. Never considering anyone else, not even me. He hasn’t looked at me properly even once. Ah… that’s why I hate you, Sister.”
Gone was the bright and charming girl who had stood before Cain. The princess standing alone in the courtyard now looked like a completely different person. Her gorgeous face was etched with loathing and gloom, and her voice was no longer sunny but filled with hatred.
Indeed, Vita was not as cheerful as she appeared. On the contrary, she was quite dark.
She wasn’t the “frivolous on the surface but reliable deep down” type; rather, she was the type who acted frivolous and cheerful while harboring a deep-seated darkness.
She actually detested her sister, Corellia, who was superior to her in every way, and only feigned respect.
Given the chance, she would undoubtedly give Corellia a taste of her own medicine, forcing that arrogant expression that looked down on everyone to shift into one of shock or even pain.
She just hadn’t found the opportunity yet, which she found quite frustrating.
What she never expected was that the opportunity would arrive so suddenly.
To think she would one day encounter the “Corellia from another world.” Although he was male and had a completely different name, she couldn’t mistake that innate coldness.
Cain and Corellia were definitely the same kind of existence — they were the sister she loathed most.
Having two objects of hatred instead of one should have been a bad thing, yet it was also an opportunity.
The moment she saw Cain, a plan had already formed in her mind — a plan that could humiliate both Corellia and Cain at once.
She would make this male queen fall head over heels for her, and then she would humiliate him ruthlessly every single time they were intimate. Finally, she would disappear the moment he became most obsessed with her.
It would be even better if she could vanish while carrying his child; surely, he would completely break then.
As for why this plan would humiliate Corellia as well?
Naturally, she would make Corellia fall in love with Cain too, and then she would steal her man and mock her!
She couldn’t wait to see what kind of delightful expression that woman would make when she heard Cain say that staying by her side was merely his duty to his master, Lady Vita.
Even though the difficulty of this plan was immense…
Even if Corellia and Cain both seemed cold, she didn’t believe these two had no human emotions at all.
The only reason they were cold was because they had never been warmed.
“… Heh… Hehehe. Don’t worry, my pathetic and hateful Sister, you who have never received love. I will love you well. However, as the price, it wouldn’t be excessive for you to hand over all your dignity, right~?”
At the thought of her plan succeeding and both Corellia and Cain kneeling at her feet in disgrace, Vita couldn’t help but lick her crimson lips. A twisted, excited, and sadistic smile crept onto the corners of her mouth.
And as she finished speaking, this top-tier, scheming princess returned to her usual bright and cheerful smile.
— That said, she probably never imagined that she wasn’t the only one targeting Cain. In fact, there were more than two or three people watching him.
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