I, reincarnate as the leader of the villainous knight order

Chapter 103: A Sudden Love [Royal Castle Side]

One day, after the commotion with the monsters had settled and the Third Knight Order was enjoying their day off, Ernest was in his father’s office, the king’s study.

“Then, you are saying your feelings remain unchanged. I believe there is still plenty of room for you to recover from this, though…”

“No, someone like me who cannot accurately grasp even the matters before my eyes will likely face many disadvantages in future foreign diplomacy. Fortunately, my younger brother, the Second Prince Lancelot, though not exactly kind-hearted, is reliable because of his somewhat shrewd nature.”

“Indeed… You are the type to take the lead and pull others along, while Lancelot has the qualities of a king who guides and moves people. Then, in due course, I shall officially accept your renunciation of your right to the throne and appoint you to the First Knight Order. Is that acceptable, César, Léonard?”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

César de Noailles, the Commander of the Knights, and Léonard de Gansbourg, the Captain of the First Knight Order, saluted in unison. This had been a matter discussed among the four of them ever since Ernest expressed his desire to join the Third Knight Order.

Just as with Justin when he joined the Third Knight Order, it was considered that Ernest would first live as a knight for a year, and if no issues arose, he would be appointed Vice-Captain. Upon Gansbourg’s retirement, he would then take over as Captain. Although the Commander was slightly older than the Captain, the Commander rarely went into battle, allowing for a thorough search for a successor.

After leaving the king’s study, Ernest, with a serious expression, went to visit his fiancée, Diane. Diane was chosen as Ernest’s fiancée because she was deemed suitable for the future queen. If that premise was undermined, the engagement might be annulled.

At one point, Ernest had been captivated by the saint’s charm, and such thoughts had crossed his mind. However, it was a fact that Diane, who had been away from her parents receiving queen training and continuously striving, was someone he should protect.

When the attendant announced Ernest’s visit, the door opened after a short while.

“Lord Ernest, welcome. I wasn’t expecting your visit today; what brings you here?”

“Sorry for the sudden visit… I need to talk… just the two of us.”

When Diane signaled to her maid with a glance, everyone left the room after preparing tea. The scent of the flowers decorating Diane’s room gently filled the air, reflecting her delicate attentiveness.

After each took a sip of their tea, Diane quietly waited for Ernest to begin speaking. With a clearly tense expression, Ernest took a deep breath before he started to talk.

“…Diane, I have asked my father to renounce my claim to the throne. I have joined the First Knight Order and plan to become the Captain in the future. I’m sorry for deciding this on my own. It is an act of betrayal to you, who have worked hard to become the queen, but I painfully realized that I am not fit to be a king. I never thought I was such a pathetic person until now. I didn’t want to show you such a shameful side of myself…”

At that moment, for the first time, Diane saw tears falling from Ernest’s eyes, dripping onto the fists clenched on his knees.

Seeing Ernest, who had always protected her and shown only his strong side, crying awakened an unfamiliar feeling in Diane’s chest.

(Oh? What is this feeling… When I see Ernest’s tears…)

Unconsciously, Diane stood up and found herself holding Ernest, who was sitting across from her, to her chest.

Seeing the weak side of her fiancé, who had always protected her and shown his strong back, ignited a maternal instinct in Diane.

“Ernest, I am here for you.”

Those words naturally came from Diane’s mouth.

On the other hand, Ernest, who was held with his face buried in her soft chest, couldn’t stop his tears, the first time he felt such a gentle embrace since childhood.

(There is no one but Diane who would hold such a pathetic person like me. If it were any other noble lady, they would have ruthlessly cut me off for the sake of their family.)

“Diane… Thank you. If you are willing to accept my selfish request, could you continue to be my fiancée? I may no longer be the crown prince, but I promise to keep trying to make you happy.”

Zukkyun!

Seeing his tear-filled, pleading eyes, Diane’s heart thumped louder than ever before.

(Oh, my! For me to find Ernest adorable, how disrespectful. But… the current Ernest is somehow… someone I want to spoil…)

“Ernest? Marriage is not a one-sided act of giving happiness. I will also make you happy. Originally, we planned to have the second child as the heir, but why not come as a husband to the Margraviate of Taleraan?”

“Diane…! Thank you.”

Diane’s soft lips touched Ernest’s forehead.

At that moment, the roles of protector and protected between the two changed, and the path to their happiness… no, their destiny, opened up.