How to Survive as a Princess in a Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 246

“Do you recognize it?”

“It’s the portrait from inside the pendant. How did you……?”

Only then did Reno’s reaction alleviate my tension. I was confident I had copied it as identically as possible, given my pride in my drawing skills.

Still, despite that confidence, I was bothered by the fact that I had only used charcoal. Since color was completely excluded, there was always a possibility he wouldn’t recognize it.

“I drew it.”

“Your Highness did?”

“Yeah. I wanted to color it too, but I didn’t have enough time.”

“Your Highness drew this……?”

Reno couldn’t easily continue speaking.

‘That’s not a happy face.’

Instead, he looked like he was about to cry. Did I needlessly stir up old wounds?

The thought that I had been thoughtless crossed my mind belatedly. I had simply wanted to make Reno happy, and I hadn’t thought about how he would receive this.

If I had wanted him to know, I would have told him long ago. But I came to someone who kept things to himself and presented a drawing as if I knew everything…

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think it through.”

“…….”

“You probably wished we didn’t know…….”

“That’s not it. On the contrary, I’m happy.”

Happy?

While I was puzzled, Reno took my right hand and asked,

“This hand, is it because of the drawing?”

“Ah…….”

It was clearly visible: from the joint of my pinky finger to the lower part of my palm, stained black.

As the part most intimately and frequently in contact with the paper, it was particularly stained compared to other areas.

“Yeah. It got stained with charcoal……. I washed my hands hard, but it didn’t come off completely.”

I was embarrassed by the edge of my hand, which still showed black marks. I tried to pull my hand away in embarrassment, but Reno didn’t let go; instead, he pulled me into a hug.

His firm arms wrapped around my back and waist. Only after being enveloped in his embrace did I realize Reno was holding me tightly.

“Reno?”

“……I feel like I’m going crazy.”

Huh? What?

“I’m so happy, so…… I feel like I’m going crazy.”

It was when I, too, smiled happily at his positive reaction.

“Your Highness.”

Reno tightened his embracing arms even more, then leaned his forehead gently against my shoulder and murmured,

“I love you.”

Huh?

My heart sank.

“It seems I…… I love Your Highness.”

“…….”

“Your kindness to me is so warm, I can’t help but love Your Highness for trying so hard.”

Ding!

[<System> Afffection with ‘Reno Harsen’ has significantly increased.]

Beyond Reno’s head, as he embraced me, a message window briefly appeared with a notification.

I didn’t even need to check the affection window to know. Reno’s stage had reached the final level, ‘Love,’ just like Killis before him.

‘I’m happy. I’m happy, but…….’

Why do I feel so suffocated?

When Killis’s affection reached ‘Love,’ I felt nothing, but now my chest felt heavy, as if being crushed.

It was partly because Isaac was watching nearby, but it felt like there was a more fundamental problem.

Usually, in a situation like this, I would reciprocate and say “I love you” back…….

‘Ah.’

That’s why. I was suffocated because I couldn’t return Reno’s feelings.

I found the cause, but it brought no joy. Knowing the cause without a solution was useless.

My chest and throat pricked, as if a thorn was lodged there.

In truth, I could have said it easily, even if it were just empty words.

After all, this was within a game, and being with them was necessary if I wanted to return to reality.

But,

‘I just can’t say it.’

At some point, they had already become more than just game characters. I was genuinely treating them.

“I can’t breathe…….”

“Ah, I apologize. I was too happy and acted inappropriately.”

“It’s okay.”

In the end, what I chose was avoidance. I smoothly changed the subject and managed to slip out of Reno’s embrace.

“Do you like the drawing?”

“Yes. I like it very much.”

Reno smiled, looking like he was about to cry. Tears welled up slightly in his reddened eyes.

I had thought he was angry earlier, but now I saw that he had been moved from the beginning. Guilt washed over me at his expression.

He was so happy with just the drawing; how much happier would he have been if I had gotten him the pendant?

“I’m sorry. I wanted you to have the pendant too…… but the negotiation didn’t go well.”

“It’s alright. It’s not like I particularly wanted it.”

“But it’s your father’s memento?”

“I’ve lived my whole life as if it didn’t exist. I didn’t even know such a thing existed. I don’t covet it.”

“I thought you wanted the pendant. You seemed unhappy since then.”

“That was just……. I was disturbed that the person—no, the elf—I thought had abandoned us had a reason.”

Reno gave an awkward laugh. His smile was still unnatural, as if he was still confused.

“It’s a shame about my mother’s portrait, but Your Highness gave it to me. So it’s fine.”

Still, his face was much more at ease than before.

I was relieved that he seemed comforted, but the emotions Reno must be feeling were beyond my imagination. As he said, he must have resented being abandoned his whole life, only to find out it wasn’t true.

“Isaac, you too……. Thank you for your efforts.”

“It’s nothing.”

Isaac replied indifferently.

After that, we parted ways with Reno. Reno had asked us to leave because he was embarrassed to show his tears in front of me.

‘It’s okay if he cries.’

But I understood his feeling of embarrassment and gave him space. Returning to my residence under Isaac’s escort, I looked up at him.

“Thank you for staying so late, Sir.”

“Not at all.”

Isaac replied with a poker face. But was it my imagination? He felt somehow stiffer than usual.

Looking at his face, I recalled Reno embracing me and confessing his love earlier. Isaac had seen all of it, so…….

‘Was he bothered?’

Even though everyone supposedly knew, I couldn’t help but be self-conscious. I was about to quickly part ways with him when.

“It was a splendid drawing.”

“Are you talking about the portrait earlier?”

“Yes.”

His sudden compliment was perplexing, but it made me feel good nonetheless. Even though it was just a copy, still.

Isaac gazed at me silently.

‘Is he waiting for my reaction?’

His face, stiffer than usual, must have been because of this. He hadn’t said a word the whole time, and only now, right before parting, did he manage to speak.

I wasn’t particularly eloquent myself, but Isaac was even worse, so I could only understand.

“Thank you. My hard work paid off.”

For such a short compliment, I didn’t know why this man, who was much taller than me, felt endearing.

Unbeknownst to me, a smile escaped my lips as I looked at Isaac. He was still staring intently at me.

My heart pounded nervously under the persistent gaze that felt almost overwhelmingly intense.

‘He’s truly handsome.’

I had always known, but perhaps because I rarely met his gaze so directly lately, it felt like a fresh realization.

Isaac’s lips parted. But in the end, he uttered no words. I tilted my head at his silently closing mouth.

“Lord? If you have something to say, feel free.”

“……No.”

Not ‘nothing,’ but ‘no.’

‘Meaning he does have something to say.’

My curiosity grew. I wanted to pry, but it was late. He was someone who had followed me all day under the guise of escort and duty, for something he didn’t even need to be present for.

‘I can’t torment such a person.’

While suppressing the urge, Isaac bowed his head.

“Sleep well. I will see you tomorrow.”

“You rest too.”

After a brief farewell, I turned away with a lingering sense of regret.

* * *

The memorial service began later than expected, in the afternoon, at the temple. Not only the elves but also Meliana’s group participated in the mourning.

While it was natural for the elves, I was surprised that even Meliana attended. I had clearly thought she would ignore it, claiming it had nothing to do with her.

‘Come to think of it, she subtly does what needs to be done.’

Even though she was arrogant, it was a relief that she seemed to have at least a sense of responsibility or ceremony as royalty.

The Guardian called out the names of the sacrificed elves one by one, recited words of condolence, and then tossed their mementos into holes in the tree trunk.

Then, from the branches protruding from the tree trunk above, twigs instantly grew, blossomed with leaves and flowers, and quickly withered to form fruit.

Of course, the pulp of the fruit was not ordinary fruit. The mementos were visible inside the transparent, hard crystal pulp.

‘Ah, so that’s why…….’