Chapter 2: The Commander's Son Hears an Answer

After walking for a while, I confirmed that there were no pursuers and slowly stopped walking. The current location is the road leading to the courtyard of the castle. In the view of the courtyard from there, the flowers shine beautifully in the moonlight. It would be the perfect setting for a conversation.

Just to make sure, I bowed my head to Alice first and said that I would come to a place that was moderately open considering the possibility of a surprise attack.

"First of all, please allow me to apologize for this situation."

"I-no... I'm sorry for getting Lost-sama involved."

"Alice-sama. Please call me by my name like you used to."

"B-but..."

"Please, I want you to call me by name, and please allow me to call you by name."

I've already called her by name many times, but when I said that just to confirm, Alice thought for a while and then slowly bowed her head.

"I understand, Arth-sama. Also, please let me apologize again. I'm really sorry――"

Without letting her say that, I put my index finger to Alice's lips and forcibly shut her up.

"I will not accept an apology from Alice. You did nothing wrong."

"B-but--I couldn't get close to His Highness's heart, so it became such a big deal."

"No, in the first place, it was caused by His Highness neglecting his precious fiancée and letting other women get carried away.

categorically affirm. In the first place, I don't understand the nerve to fall in love with another woman while having such a cute fiancée. It's true that he's a prince, so he might be easily attracted to a common woman, but even so, he should at least have a peaceful dissolution of the engagement and make the heroine her concubine.

I think while I went ahead and said to Alice, who seemed to be still arguing against my words.

"Rather than that... I want to know your true feelings."

"Oh, do you really feel like that?"

"Yes. I love you. I love you."

At those words, Alice's face turned bright red. Her reaction was too naive, but I said that while thinking that she loved me.

"So, I want Alice to be happy. Of course, it would be best for Alice to answer my proposal, but... I'm not going to force you."

I guess this is where I should forcefully go, but I don't want to steal Alice's feelings with just momentum, so I'll show you the options for the time being.

"If you like someone else, I will hold back my tears and support you with all my might. I intend to be on your side, if only I could――――」"

After saying that, I took Alice's hand and looked her straight in the eye and said.

"Give me the rest of your life. Give me everything about you. And - please allow me to love and protect you for the rest of my life."

I'm aware that I'm making a pretty painful confession myself[tn:cringe], but I'm serious, so I'll ignore it. There was surprise and hesitation in her Alice eyes, but she felt no rejection. In fact, she still shows no sign of letting go of her hand. Her gaze sways from side to side and her eyes are getting moist, but her face is bright red and it stimulates the sadist in me. Yeah calm down It wouldn't hurt if I got rejected because of this. There is no doubt that she will die in a big explosion, but in that case, I sincerely hope that in that case it will turn into a joke about her.

"Ah, um... I..."

Alice was at a loss for words for a while, but eventually muttered.

"Is it okay… for someone like me to be loved by Arth-sama?"

"I like you"

"I... I'm a defective product in the world because my engagement was broken off, right?"

"Defective product? Rather, it's almost like a new product. Besides, the engagement breakup was all done by His Highness, and it's not your fault."

"Arth-sama is kind enough to say that, but… I can't see it from the perspective of everyone else. I am a useless woman who was abandoned by His Highness."

Alice bites her lips tightly. There's no need for her to push herself to such an extent.

"I don't care how other people see me. To me, Alice-sama is Alice-sama."

"really...?"

Alice is dumbfounded. Such an expression is cute, but I said with a gentle smile.

"You are you no matter how the world sees you. To me, Alice is number one. Even if the whole world were my enemy, even if you didn't like me, I would still love you. I love you so much, and if other humans despise you and look down on you, I will slash them with my sword."

"You didn't have to go that far..."

"It's decided. Because I love Alice-sama."

When I said that there was no other reason, Alice stared at me with her face blushing. Is it okay to see this as a sign that she liked me more than a little? No, not enough.

Thinking that, I held Alice's hand again and said like a knight who put one knee on the ground and made an oath.

"I am applying again. Miss Alice Misty. Please be my wife. I love you."

When I said that, Alice showed a hesitant gesture for a while before finally nodding.

"...Yes"

It took me a while to realize that my first big confession had succeeded. I confessed in such a forceful way. It can't be helped that she hates herself, but Alice accepted such a forced confession. Maybe from that moment on... no, ever since I regained consciousness, I've fallen in love with Alice at first sight, from love for her as a character to love for her as a human being.

Well, there are times when I feel like I'm too easy and rash, but I can assure you that this feeling will never change in the future. I'm single-minded even if it's just a little. I swore in my heart to love and protect Alice forever.