How to Survive as a Princess in a Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 96
In a short span of time, Reno’s reaction shifted rapidly.
Just moments ago, he seemed impressed by Isaac’s unexpectedly flexible response, but now he looked as though he had sensed imminent disaster.
“Before we return from escorting Her Highness, everything must be fully disclosed.”
It was far more intimidating than any of Meliana’s threats.
I could feel Reno’s panicked gaze on me, as if pleading for help. Well, I couldn’t just leave him hanging.
“Lord Isaac, it was just a minor incident. What I said earlier was only to pressure Meliana, so there’s no need to dwell on it.”
“Your Highness need not concern yourself. However, Reno is Your Highness’s guardian. He must prioritize your safety and share any related issues with me.”
Is that so……?
Strangely persuaded, I found myself unable to argue further. Somehow, it felt like I could hear Reno’s silent screams, but all I could do was turn a blind eye.
Reno, I’m sorry.
* * *
Meliana bit her lip as she walked, unable to shake off the events at the distribution center just moments ago.
“Please tell me, have you threatened Her Highness before?”
The piercing gaze and overwhelming presence that accompanied that question had left her completely paralyzed—like a fool.
What stung even more was the humiliating realization that she had only been able to leave that situation thanks to Nepheli.
‘Isaac Harsen…….’
What exactly was it about that man that had made her so fearful?
Just a mere duke, nothing more than a stupid dog slavishly following her powerless older sister.
Meliana clenched her teeth tightly. Her sour expression prompted Cain, one of her guardians, to reach out in a gesture of comfort.
“Princess, are you all right?”
“Don’t touch me.”
Her sharp retort instantly rebuffed his attempt. The force of her slap against his hand was loud enough to echo, but Cain showed no reaction.
Cain’s blank expression might have resembled Isaac’s in that regard, but the two men were entirely different. Though they both shared the same black hair and passably handsome features, Cain fell woefully short in comparison.
His family, his skills, everything.
If Isaac was a sleek and well-trained hunting dog, then Cain was nothing more than a shepherd dog mimicking his appearance.
The mere thought of being engaged to such a man filled Meliana with uncontrollable fury. Her betrothal to Cain had not been her choice. It was entirely the will of her father, Morris Futurum.
From a young age, her father had always promised to give her the very best of everything. Yet, when Isaac and Killis became entangled with Nepheli, he had ruthlessly discarded them. Instead, he had assigned Cain Lahion and the twins of the Anke family to her.
While the arrangement held political advantages, when scrutinized individually, none of them could even come close to Isaac or Killis.
‘Why? Why did they go to her?’
To that half-wit who couldn’t even use magic, despite being a descendant of Lublin’s First Dragon.
To that woman, who had no strong backing from her maternal family.
What did they see in her to make them so fiercely loyal and devoted? Meliana simply couldn’t comprehend it.
And then…….
“She seems quite capable to me.”
“At the very least, our princess doesn’t judge people by their status.”
Even that insolent Medietas had dared to speak to her with such impertinence, articulating every word with pointed precision.
A lowly mutt like that should have been content to live quietly, yet Medietas had always been a thorn in her side.
What could the late Duke of Harsen have been thinking, going so far as to act as the boy’s godfather and granting him a surname?
If Isaac had become her guardian, she would have ordered him to drive out someone like Medietas without hesitation.
But Isaac had sworn loyalty to Nepheli, and Nepheli had even accepted Medietas into her fold.
‘She really does have a strong stomach.’
Thinking back, Nepheli had always been like that. Even in their childhood, she had treated her well…….
Meliana froze as an old memory surfaced involuntarily. Quickly regaining her composure, she shook off the thoughts.
Those memories held no meaning anymore. The Nepheli of that time was gone, and so was the girl she had been back then.
What mattered was the present, and the Nepheli of now was truly baffling.
‘No matter how much she wants to curry favor with Evgenia, how could she shamelessly covet our uncle’s possessions?’
When Morris first told her about this, Meliana couldn’t believe it. Nepheli had supposedly replicated the substitute material discovered by the Duke of Futurum to win over Evgenia’s favor?
But then came the claim that part of the blueprint, which the Duke of Futurum had taken to present to Evgenia, had been stolen.
And just yesterday, an identical product had been introduced as a royal project. Moreover, it was said to be led by Nepheli herself, who was distributing it personally.
“It must have been stolen by the First Princess’s guardian.”
