How to Survive as a Princess in a Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 81
I was trying to suppress the creeping unease when—
“But, Your Highness, did you put on perfume by any chance?”
“I didn’t today…… Why?”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Normally, I didn’t mind when the maids sprayed perfume on me when I was getting dressed up. But since today’s outing was a rare event, I had simplified everything to ease my discomfort.
That included skipping perfume.
“That’s strange. I’m sure it’s your scent.”
“What kind of scent?”
“It’s hard to describe…… but it’s really sweet. I feel like I’ve smelled it somewhere before, but I can’t recall exactly where.”
A scent like that?
I sniffed my shoulder and wrist, trying to detect the fragrance. But there was nothing—no scent at all.
‘There’s a faint scent of oil, but…….’
It didn’t seem sweet enough to warrant such a remark. Besides, I hadn’t switched oils recently, so it should have been the same fragrance I always used. There was no real reason for him to suddenly ask about perfume.
“I don’t really notice anything.”
“It’s right around here.”
Reno bent his head, and a sudden shadow fell over me. While I flinched, unfamiliar breaths brushed against the nape of my neck, followed by the soft tickle of his golden hair against my chin.
“……!”
Then, he pressed his face into the curve of my neck. A strange sensation, like the tiny hairs on my skin standing on end, washed over me. Though Reno and I had been casual with one another before, this kind of proximity was entirely new.
Unlike my frozen self, Reno moved naturally, taking a deep inhale as if nothing were amiss.
He seemed almost entranced, his focus fixed on the scent as his head dipped further into the hollow of my neckline. Slowly, his breath trailed downward, brushing over my collarbone. Without realizing it, I placed my hand against his chest.
“Ah, wait a minute…….”
“……Ah.”
Reno let out a low sigh, almost like a groan, and lifted his head. Almost simultaneously, he quickly pulled away from me.
I was startled, but Reno seemed equally shocked, his face stiff with tension.
“I apologize, Your Highness. That must have made you uncomfortable.”
“No, it’s not that.”
I was just a little surprised. I didn’t feel any sense of displeasure. Even as I shook my head to deny it, Reno’s expression didn’t soften.
“You might think this is just an excuse, but the scent……. No, it’s all just excuses. It’s my actions, after all.”
“It’s fine. Really, I wasn’t upset.”
“How can you forgive me so easily? What if I had ulterior motives?”
“I know you didn’t.”
If it were truly an attempt at seduction, he would have smiled mischievously like usual and brushed it off with a joke. He wouldn’t be flustered and apologizing like this.
Reno hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond, before finally letting out a familiar, teasing smile.
“Do you trust me too much, Your Highness?”
“I have to trust you. If I can’t trust my Guardian, who else could I trust?”
“…….”
“Isn’t that right?”
I phrased it like a question, but I wasn’t even looking at Reno as I said it. It felt too awkward and cheesy to make eye contact.
Without waiting for a response, I quickly walked ahead, almost as if fleeing. I still didn’t know what scent Reno had mentioned, but every word I said to him had been the absolute truth.
* * *
After returning the books to the library, we headed to the temporary barracks. The atmosphere there was markedly different from our first visit. Back then, the mood had been somber and weary, but now there was a noticeable sense of vitality.
Even the children seemed to have grown more comfortable with one another, running around and playing in small groups.
“Greetings to Her Highness, the First Princess. May the light of Lublin be with you.”
The royal attendants who spotted me immediately offered their respects. Since these people were sent directly by Evgenia, they still showed me proper courtesy.
Just earlier, when I visited the library, the librarian still gave me a look that seemed to ignore me.
“You’ve been working hard. I came by to check on how the validation process is going.”
“So far, it’s been smooth. All the participants are highly motivated and follow orders well, so we should be able to achieve good results.”
Seeing their confident attitudes put my mind at ease. I was curious about how they were calculating the samples and deriving results, but I refrained from asking too many questions, as the stares around me were becoming uncomfortable.
It seemed like people were more cautious around me since I was a princess. Deciding it was best to leave, I turned to leave the area.
Ding!
[<System> Mana accumulation has entered a ‘Danger’ level.]
[<System> Mana in your body is becoming unstable. Mana is accumulating at a much faster rate. The risk of mana overload is at its maximum.]
[—Current Mana Accumulation: 90% (Danger)
(※Warning※) If the character dies, you will also die in reality.]
—
(t/n)
Oh no, where’s Isaac when you need him! My girl is having the worst cramp imaginable sooo badd.
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