The sixth prince, who had been executed in the kingdom after being betrayed by the trusted saint, was reincarnated and, in order to seek revenge, became engaged once again to the neighboring kingdom’s “Guillotine Princess.” As a result, he was adored and lived happily.

“…Until I heard that lie from Lady Bridget, I had completely forgotten about that.”

I decided to play it off lightly, as the atmosphere had become somewhat heavy. After all, I remembered how I ended up with bruises all over and a high fever from that incident, thanks to the whipping.

“However, why does that matter now?”

“…I seemed to have idealized my memories too much.”

“Huh…?”

Princess Abigail, who rarely showed any change in her expression, now displayed an angry look I had never seen before. Well, except once.

On the day of my execution… when she looked at Louis and the Saint.

“Wait a minute!”

I couldn’t help but raise my voice at Princess Abigail, who was biting her lip in frustration. Her words seemed to imply that we had met before, but I had no recollection of such an encounter.

But now, I understood. That girl from back then must have been Princess Abigail herself.

“…Back then, the Kingdom was at a disadvantage in the war against the Empire due to the difference in military strength. So, the Empire proposed a ceasefire agreement, biding their time for a counteroffensive.”

“Abigail, Your Highness…?”

“As part of the ceasefire agreement, in addition to gaining control of the Les Gallia Strait, the Empire intended to offer either me or Bridget as hostages, referred to as ‘engagement.’ As an Imperial princess, I was prepared for such things. However, my mother was seriously ill at the time, and it was difficult for me to leave her side…”

“…And that’s why you ran away?”

“Yes. I was tormented by the thought of my mother’s condition and didn’t want to be there. So, I took the opportunity to escape.”

“And… we met.”

Princess Abigail nodded slowly and opened a drawer in the room, retrieving a jewelry box. Inside it…

“This… When you were taken away by the knights, it fell from your clothes. Your name and this button have been my source of comfort.”

I recognized the button as one from the coat I had been wearing.

Her words made it clear that everything she had told me was true.

“You did everything you could to help me when I was suffering. You showed me more kindness than those five princes ever did. I wished that I could be with you.”

“Oh…”

“Do you understand? How much your kindness saved me back then… How much I longed for you.”

I was moved to tears. In my first life… when I had felt nothing but coldness from her, I had never imagined that her eyes could be filled with so much emotion.

“That’s why… That’s why I can’t forgive them. I can’t forgive everyone in the Kingdom who treated you with disdain, hurt you, and discarded you like a pawn. And… I can’t forgive myself for not realizing how much you were suffering eight years ago.”

Her words, her emotions, they shook my heart.

I had believed that I had no allies, no one on my side. But to think that the one who had distanced herself from me more than anyone else in my first life… was the one who truly saw me.

I… I…

“Ugh… Uuu…”

“Wait, Your Highness Gustave!”

Tears flowed uncontrollably from my eyes, and I embraced her tightly.

How much she had unknowingly saved my heart…

“Princess Abigail… Princess Abigail…”

Feeling overwhelmed, I sobbed while she gently stroked my back.