"I used to see him as a cute little rascal, but even when I scolded him, it was only temporary, so one day I asked Emma to chase Fred away."
"Hoho, that's right! I remember that too!"
Emma, having taken off her apron and sat down, spoke up.
"When I tried to chase Fred away, Miss Vania sobbed and shielded him. And was that the only time? Before that, when he was being scolded, she rushed over immediately to stop me as well. Because that boy..."
"He was tiny but incredibly handsome. He was totally Bunny's type."
Aaaaaaaah!
I was shocked by Christa's words that drove the nail in the coffin.
"What? You let a guy off the hook who pinched, pulled hair, and lifted skirts off?"
Ryan was dumbfounded.
"Ah. No. Why did I do that? It's not that... Fred was handsome... Yeah. Right. Because he was still young. I thought it would be too cruel to kick him out."
As I tried to gloss over it, Christa and Richard looked at me with narrowed eyes.
"Didn't you let it slide because he was really handsome?" It was asking with its eyes.
That moment. Why?
The reason I recalled the precious memories of Windsor Castle that I had forgotten was...
"Bunny, is it okay for you if they're handsome? Even if they have a bad personality and are scary? Even if they bully you?"
"Yes."
“Nonsense!”
"If he has a bad personality, I can fix it. And why is he scary when he's handsome? Besides, I can handle being tormented moderately."
...I have nothing to say. My childhood self.
However, since I didn't know much back then, I hope you will be understanding.
I glanced back and saw Nike staring at me intently.
Ryan grinned as he saw the tense atmosphere between us.
"Your Highness, your face has done a great job. If Your Highness had been someone whose features ran wild as you pleased, we would not be able to be here together today."
“No?”
To what extent!
Why is this so extreme!
"Yeah. You're right. If the two of you hadn't met, wouldn't we all have been ruined? But if His Highness had an ugly face, you wouldn't have had a reason to go see flowers with him, right?"
Alex annoyingly butted in.
"So, brother, have hope. There must be at least one woman in the world like Bunny. Someone who doesn't care about anything else as long as his face is to her liking."
Christa comforted Ryan.
I, who had been listening, quickly spoke to Nike.
"This is all just a joke. You're not getting hurt by these words, are you? I would have loved you no matter what you looked like."
"..."
Nike is silent. He doesn't seem to believe me at all.
“Oh, really!”
I felt so wronged that I suddenly stood up.
And I spoke to Christa, the very person who started digging up my past—my sister whom I love but now detest.
"Aren't you being really too much?"
“Huh? What am I?”
"But you're picky too!"
“I don’t really?”
Christa shrugged her shoulders.
"I haven't really met anyone so far, so I don't know, but looks aren't an important factor for me."
"Wow!"
"I don't care about a guy's looks at all. Even if he's ugly, as long as he's kind and sweet, that's all that matters."
"You, you..."
Absurd!
You say you don't care about looks? I know everything!
I, I can't say it right now, but...!
***
The next day, the hiring guild.
This is the largest manpower guild within the capital, where you can hire a wide variety of personnel for short-term use, from coachmen to mercenaries. I came here today to hire an escort.
"Why do you need another escort?!"
I felt awkward explaining the whole situation to Ryan, so in the end, I just told him to follow me and brought him along.
"Hey, let's pick one more! You're a wealthy prospective Duke, after all!"
“This is ridiculous.”
Anyway, Ryan, then and now, would grumble but obediently follow along whenever I suggested it.
"No, but why on earth do I have to bundle up like this?"
Ryan and I are out wearing hooded robes.
"Dad, I'm a member of the royal family now. Every single one of my actions reflects the image of the royal family, so I have to be careful. It's the same for you, Dad. You're family, and now you're a hero who saved the nation. We can't let any useless rumors spread."
Actually, rather than that, it is because I do not want to reveal my identity to the mercenary I am going to find right now.
You must grant freedom of choice; you should not create a situation where one accepts employment even if they are displeased, simply by asserting their status as a member of the royal family.
"You're not going to do something wrong, are you...?"
Ryan asked about the suspicious wealth.
What can't you do?
No. As a time traveler, I merely intend to take responsibility for mending our intertwined fates!
We entered the guild building.
The inside was bustling with waiting personnel.
"Wow!"
Just then, the guild leader recognized my face, ran over in surprise, and bowed so low that his head touched the ground.
Whispering quietly, as I had given a heads-up beforehand.
"Your Highness, if you had contacted me, I would have come to escort you."
The reason I am acquainted with the Guild Master is that I visited once before to track down the whereabouts of the mercenary I came to meet today.
"It must be difficult for you to make such a precious journey..."
"No. By any chance, could I meet Daniel today?"
"He's actually been out since this morning. But... of all days, today. I brought a sick family member along."
"Oh my, is that so? I actually like it!"
"Yes?"
"Could you please give me a tour?"
“Yes, yes!”
The Guild Leader quietly exchanged names with Ryan as well, then quickly headed somewhere.
As I followed, Ryan whispered.
"What kind of remark is that, saying it's actually good to talk about a sick family member? Rumors are going to spread that the Princess's character has hit rock bottom. Didn't you say you didn't want useless rumors to spread?"
...Come to think of it, you're right. But actually, it's a good thing. Because I plan to make you completely cured.
“Daniel.”
The guild leader opened the door to the waiting room with a sign that read [3].
Inside, there was a young man and a gaunt, sickly old man.
Daniel, the young man who had been personally feeding the elderly man who couldn't even hold a spoon properly, suddenly stood up.
"You remember when I mentioned that a noble lady was looking for you the other day, right? You couldn't help back then because you were guarding the Count Pellen estate."
“Ahh, yes!”
“Then let’s talk.”
The guild leader, having politely bowed his head, left the waiting room, and I looked at Daniel, who was standing awkwardly.
Daniel Waschke.
A super-super-premium handsome man with attractive jet-black hair like the night sky and black eyes (important)!
Current age: 18.
He is a one-of-a-kind son who works day and night to pay for his sick, widowed father's medicine.
And he has a history of being scouted by the Wassenberg family as a winner of the Imperial Swordsmanship Tournament hosted by the Imperial Family.
Due to his skills, he was immediately assigned to the 2nd Infantry Corps. The 2nd Infantry Corps took on all sorts of crazy errands for the Wassenberg family.
If you performed your duties faithfully and proved your skills, you could be promoted to the 1st Private Corps, the highest-ranking trash group.
Daniel, who had entered without knowing anything, received an absurd request.
'Do you think I would do such a thing?'
He resisted and was beaten severely by his fellow soldiers.
Daniel was discovered by Christa, the young lady of the family, while being beaten up!
'Aaaah! What are you guys doing!'
Something like that is roughly how Christa probably stopped the beating.
Now that you think about it.
Daniel is a rare handsome man!
The young lady falls in love with him at first sight and makes him her personal bodyguard.
"I don't care about a guy's face at all. Even if he's ugly, as long as he's kind and sweet, that's all that matters."
You bitch, I know everything, yet you lie without even batting an eye!
You have the exact same history as me of falling head over heels for a handsome face!
Anyway.
This super handsome man is none other than Christa's lover from before the regression.
It was also the reason I couldn't tell Ryan, who was depressed because he couldn't find a partner, that I was on my way to help Christa find a boyfriend.
Daniel, who was originally supposed to be saved by Christa, could not meet her this time.
It seems Christa didn't save him because she was being extremely careful with her actions to blend into the family without any problems.
...Then what if something went wrong when we raided Wassenberg's main fortress?
Worried, I hurriedly investigated their whereabouts, and it turned out!
Fortunately, no matter how desperate he was for money, his personality made it impossible for him to work for a trashy family, so he submitted his resignation and left long ago.
And he was barely making ends meet by working as a mercenary to pay for his father's medicine.
"Daniel Waschke!"
I called his name and strode over.
"I have come to see you because I would like to hire you as our family's exclusive bodyguard."
“...Oh. Yes.”
Daniel asked, hiding the embarrassment that had risen on his handsome face.
"But how did you know me..."
"I heard you're a skilled fighter with a history of winning awards at the Imperial Swordsmanship Tournament."
“Oh, is that so?”
"However, I have a question before I hire you. Please feel free to answer honestly."
“Yes, I understand.”
My heart trembled with worry.
Since quite some time had passed since Daniel hadn't met Christa, there was one thing I was worried about.
Right, Daniel's current relationship status.
'Sigh. Of all things, you had to get a job as a bodyguard for a noble family.'
Usually, the people noble ladies fell in love with the most were their bodyguards.
With him watching over you 24 hours a day, how could you not fall for him?
Even if Daniel had a look that women wouldn't leave alone, and he had spent his entire life going around as a bodyguard for noble families...
'No, please! Please!'
I clutched my pounding heart tightly and asked cautiously.
"Are you currently dating anyone?"
"Yes?"
I can't tell you to meet my sister if you have a girlfriend.
It's not like I can kidnap you knowing you have a lover and encourage you to fall in love with Christa.
So please.
'No, I don't' must come out of Daniel's mouth.
"I asked if you have a lady you're seeing."
"..."
Daniel blinked his eyes, and his lips parted. He looked confused, unable to understand why I was asking such a question.
But I can't explain it to him right now.
"Is the presence of a lover a consideration when hiring a bodyguard?"
"That's right. I'll explain it slowly later, but it's quite an important matter to me. So I want you to be honest. The one you're currently seeing... Oh my!"
Just then, Ryan suddenly grabbed my shoulder and spun me around.
Startled, I looked at Ryan.
"What are you doing?"
"Why?"
"Why is it important to you whether the person you're hiring is in a relationship?"
He frowned as if he were somehow angry and quietly whispered in my ear.
"The Kingdom of Handsome Men is nice. It is, but you are a married woman. Get a grip. His Highness would be so pleased to know that?"
"...?!?"
No, what!
What misunderstanding?!
My pure devotion, having lived bravely for Nike both before and after the regression, is being questioned?
Just because of Daniel's good looks?
'Yeah. The incident with Fred at Windsor Castle yesterday was too big to be called just a little bit!'
I was silent for a moment, then quickly turned back to look at Daniel.
He also looked embarrassed, perhaps because he seemed to have misunderstood the situation, which made him hesitate to answer.
Actually, if only because of his looks, I think Daniel has probably already received a lot of impure offers from nobles...
"I am married. I am a married woman."
"...!"
However, Daniel was even more shocked by my explanation. His eyes shook as if an earthquake had struck.
Wow, no! No!
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