Is It Easier If You Give Up? (6)

After the long 30 minutes had passed, Ariel finally completed her order. A short while later, she was looking at the numerous desserts placed on the table with shining eyes.

Although her outward expression remained as emotionless as usual, to Reinhardt, who had spent some time observing her, her inner feelings were clearly visible. Right now, she had eyes full of anticipation, like a dog with a treat in front of it.

At this unfamiliar sight, Reinhardt inwardly chuckled.

‘This is another first.’

For Reinhardt, there had been many occasions when someone offered him tea. When you have the status of Crown Prince, you’re bound to receive all sorts of requests as soon as you’re noticed.

But those were all calculated actions. The offer of tea was just an excuse; in reality, they were the type who wanted to gain some advantage by conversing with him somehow.

It was a bit nauseating. Why do people always see him as the ‘Crown Prince’ when they look at him? Is that title so appealing?

He knows intellectually. If asked about the benefits of becoming close to the Crown Prince, Reinhardt would be the person who knows better than anyone in the world. But seeing people clinging to that extent made him feel somewhat ridiculous.

The Crown Prince is the future of the empire. He has no intention of denying that fact and is working hard to become a better future. But what they see and what Reinhardt himself sees are different. Reinhardt is just working hard with responsibility, but they try to cling to his side and pick up whatever they can.

Even something as simple as offering to have a cup of tea became a kind of solicitation for them, and Reinhardt, who was tired of dealing with such things, didn’t want to accept it.

But his time with Ariel was unusual in many ways. She probably doesn’t know. What it means for Reinhardt to take the lead and bring her to a cafe at the simple suggestion of having tea.

Why? Why did he readily agree to that suggestion and even take the lead? Reinhardt still couldn’t answer that. The only thing he could say was that Ariel saw having tea with him literally as ‘time for drinking tea’.

That trivial and natural thing somehow felt very unfamiliar to Reinhardt.

“Lord Reinhardt, aren’t you going to eat?”

Ariel asked with cookie crumbs on her lips. A considerable number of the snacks in front of her had already disappeared. How did she eat so much already… Surely it hadn’t been long since he was lost in thought. She spent 30 minutes deciding, but her eating speed is no joke.

When he met her gaze silently, a questioning look came back as if asking if there was a problem. It was truly a strange feeling. The fact that this time of having tea with someone could pass simply by just drinking tea.

Ariel didn’t want anything from him. She didn’t ask him to do anything, nor did she try to gauge his reactions. At first glance, one might think it’s because she’s already his fiancée and has everything, but looking closely, she seemed to have little interest in power itself.

Is it because she’s the daughter of a well-known high noble? No. Is it because she’s the Crown Prince’s fiancée? Not that either. She had none of the typical air of those who possess power.

Yes. To put it in perspective, she gave off a feeling similar to her roommate, Mari. As if she were a commoner, she cries and laughs at trivial things. Despite being in such a high position that it would be faster to count from the top, her attitude was utterly unpretentious.

“Ariel. Is there anything you want?”

“Pardon?”

That’s why he became curious. What exactly does she want? He became curious about what she, who has many things but lives as if she doesn’t, truly desires.

The position of Empress? Or the position of Duchess? Or perhaps a dream of becoming the continent’s greatest magician? All of these were things she could consider.

But what came out of Ariel’s mouth was beyond imagination.

“If I had to say, it would be living comfortably without any particular worries.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Well, living quietly without any trouble… It’s nothing. Please forget it.”

Reinhardt was puzzled by her suddenly stopping mid-sentence, but decided not to ask further. He had heard all the necessary information anyway.

A comfortable life without any particular worries… If other noble ladies said such things, one might think they were talking nonsense, or if not, that they were aiming for the position of Empress. As the highest position a woman could reach, it would allow for a comfortable life.

But looking at Ariel, that doesn’t seem to be the case. Reinhardt couldn’t understand what kind of life she envisions as comfortable, but he could guess that it’s somewhat different from what ordinary nobles imagine.

Reinhardt decided to change the subject.

“Ariel.”

“Yes?”

“What you said yesterday… is it alright?”

As soon as he mentioned “what you said yesterday,” Ariel visibly became agitated. Although her expression didn’t change, her hands trembled as if she was having a seizure, and cold sweat ran down her face, indicating she was quite nervous.

“I-It’s nothing. Yes. It’s nothing at all.”

“Then let me ask again. Why did you say that I would kill you?”

“D-Did I say such a thing…?”

Her blatant attempt to avoid eye contact was so clumsy it was almost laughable. For a moment, he wondered if she was deliberately acting naive, but unfortunately, Ariel wasn’t the type to put on such an act. She was excessively honest. Then, is this really her best attempt at making an excuse?

“You definitely mentioned fate. Did you consult a fortune-teller without my knowledge?”

“T-That’s not it…”

“Then why did you say such a thing?”

As Reinhardt continued to question her, Ariel’s eyes began to lose focus.

“I-I-I don’t know anything! Really, I don’t know!”

“I’m not trying to press you or anything. I’m just curious. If it’s really such a fate, we need to investigate.”

Ariel’s mind was in a state of glorious destruction.

‘It’s over. It’s all over. What should I do? How should I fix this? Is this his final interrogation before sending me off? No, more importantly, how can I get past this?’

While maintaining an expressionless face on the outside, internally she was beyond confused, verging on chaos. How should she handle this to be considered as having successfully overcome it? Ariel’s brain worked rapidly.

“W-Well… It might have been nonsense I spoke while drunk… I think it’s best not to take it seriously.”

“Is that so.”

An answer that anyone would see as nothing but an excuse. Reinhardt noticed this too, but decided not to press further. It seemed unlikely that he would get a proper answer if he kept asking in this situation, and…

‘There’s no need to force her to say something she doesn’t want to.’

He doesn’t know what Ariel is hiding. But unless it’s an extremely serious matter, she’ll tell him on her own.

However, it seems necessary to make something clear here.

“Ariel.”

“Y-Yes?”

“I have no particular intention of killing you.”

Ariel’s eyes began to shake as if an earthquake had hit.

“And for now, I have no intention of breaking off our engagement.”

“W-What?”

Ariel’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s, seemingly genuinely surprised. Why is she so surprised? This was a part Reinhardt couldn’t understand.

Sometimes, Ariel’s actions and thought processes were beyond Reinhardt’s ability to follow. This was one of those situations. He couldn’t understand what she had heard to be so surprised.

“And I have no intention of taking concubines or anything like that. Unless there’s an unavoidable situation, the position by my side won’t increase.”

“Uh, um… This isn’t right.”

Her muttering to herself with a serious expression seemed somewhat pitiful, but for Reinhardt, this was a necessary procedure. He doesn’t know what Ariel is thinking. But he can roughly guess the future being painted in her mind.

For some reason, it seems that in that future, Reinhardt kills Ariel and marries Mari, something unimaginable at present.

But at least the current Reinhardt has no such intentions at all. This point needs to be made clear.

Additionally, by saying this now, there’s also a plan to make Ariel reveal even a little of what she’s thinking.

“T-Then, Lord Reinhardt. May I ask just one thing?”

“I don’t mind. Ask freely.”

Has she finally decided to say something? Reinhardt wasn’t so oblivious as to not notice that this question is related to Ariel’s thoughts.

Well then, let’s hear what she’s heard to have such strange thoughts.

“U-Um, how should I… No, that’s not it! What kind of person do you… dislike?”

“What did you say?”

Reinhardt seriously considered giving up on understanding his fiancée.