How to Survive as a Princess in a Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 168

“But that’s impossible. Because I’m a Medietas.”

“I don’t care if you’re a Medietas.”

“I know. Your Highness always says that. You’ve told me many times. But others don’t feel the same way.”

Reno gave a bitter smile. I couldn’t offer any hasty comfort. While I had some idea, I didn’t really know what words he’d heard or how he’d been treated. So how could I comfort him?

“I thought I was fine with it now, but I wasn’t. It became even more apparent when Your Highness welcomed Duke Yelpen. Isaac is helpful to Your Highness, and Duke Yelpen is helpful too…….”

“…….”

“But I only cause trouble. For the first time in a while, I felt ashamed of being a Medietas. After that, I couldn’t bear to stay there…….”

Reno finally turned his face away from me. Even though he knew I couldn’t see well in the dark, he seemed to want to hide his face.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. For such a pathetic reason, even though I knew you were looking for me, I pretended not to notice……. I’m unqualified to be Your Highness’s guardian.”

Principally, that might be true. But in this moment, I didn’t want to scold him. How could I?

“Reno.”

I carefully placed my hand on top of his, which was gripping the tree branch. I felt his hand twitch slightly.

He cautiously looked up at me. I met his pale green eyes directly as I spoke.

“You’re not pathetic.”

“But as a guardian…….”

“Maybe as a guardian, as you say. But how could I think you’re pathetic? Even I, as a princess, have shown weakness and cried.”

“Your Highness did? When did you…….”

“Don’t you remember? Before, on the balcony, you comforted me. Public opinion about the iron supplements was terrible, and I was worried because I couldn’t understand why such rumors had started.”

“…….”

“And you say you only cause trouble? That’s nonsense. You’ve helped me so much.”

“I don’t remember, did I really help Your Highness?”

“Of course. Thanks to you getting close to that man, you brought back all sorts of information. You were the one who brought things back saying they were suspicious.”

“…….”

“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have even known that man was suffering from ergot poisoning. I probably wouldn’t have made it this far.”

That’s right. It was all thanks to Reno. Even if I had tried to lower that man’s guard and approach him back then, that would have been all.

No matter how friendly I acted, being a young woman meant there would inevitably be limitations in forming connections and clear boundaries.

But because Reno approached the man instead, he was able to do so much. He went to the man’s house, built up familiarity, learned about various circumstances, and even brought back rye from there. Thanks to that, we found the cause and succeeded in the quest.

“I’m here because of you.”

At my words, Reno’s lips trembled before he hung his head low. His face, which was already hard to see, became even more obscured.

However…….

Ding!

[<System> Affection with ‘Reno Harsen’ has greatly increased.]

Thanks to the message window, I could somewhat guess what expression he was making. While being able to understand emotions this way was usually convenient, at this moment it was quite bothersome.

I quickly dismissed the window with a shake of my head. Then Reno’s voice reached me.

“That couldn’t have been because of me. It’s all because Your Highness is amazing.”

“Either way, it’s true that you helped me, isn’t it?”

I interlaced my fingers with Reno’s hand. Though it still felt strange to hold a man’s hand so casually, I wanted to comfort him somehow.

“I’m glad you’re here. Thank you for staying by my side. I mean every word.”

“Ha…….”

Reno let out a heavy sigh and dropped his head onto my shoulder.

Not only did the distance between us suddenly close, but his warm breath on my neck made me unconsciously tense my shoulders. Even though he must have noticed how tense I was, Reno murmured without lifting his face.