A patriot who is too stupid beyond salvation.

I am sure that those who knew the last days of my previous life would have used such words to describe me as a human being.

The third prince, who is the son of a concubine and has no claim to the throne, was the first to be shunned by the n.o.bles and lords on the battle for the throne.

How else can you characterize a person who followed him to the very end?

What's more, there was no other word to describe the fool who risked her life simply because she couldn't leave him alone.

"…..Why are you protecting me?"

Those were the exact same words the third prince Valter that I was guarding directed at me sometime in the past, albeit afraid.

I think the reason for this was simply because I was scared too.

He must have been wondering about the reality of my protection because at that time, he had no ally. 

"Your Highness can really ask strange questions."

I laughed in amus.e.m.e.nt.

Valter was dissatisfied and pursed his lips, but even when I saw it, I continued spinning words without stopping, the corners of my eyes crinkling.

"In the first place, there's no such thing as n.o.bles and commoners for me. The one we are to serve is only the royal family. Even if Your Highness is born of a concubine, the blood of the royal family still flows in your veins. Is there no better reason to protect Your Highness?"

"…. My uncle Lester and that old geezer Bornelia are trying to kill me."

"It's because he is an ugly aristocrat who is only caught up in short-term profits. I don't want you to lump me in with those lowly people."

Lord Lester, Lord Bornelia.

Both are members of the aristocracy who have been granted dukedom.

But because of their high ranks, they thought that they could not allow anyone other than the heir to the throne that they support – that is to say, potential threats – to run amok.

Hence, the killing spree.

Because I was aware of this fact, though I was ranked lower than them, I didn't care. I branded them “lowly” and kicked them out.

But, of course, that extent wouldn't wash away Valter's suspicions, and so he still looked at me skeptically.

"… What guarantee can you give that you won't betray me like Uncle Lester and protect me to the end?"

"……"

In a word, my mouth was tied.

Indeed, I didn't have enough Nanika to convince him.

Valter responded to my prolonged silence with something like: "I thought so.

After all, you're just like them, one day you will betray me too. You're plotting about killing me, aren't you?"

The cloudy eyes that accompanied his certainty were stabbing daggers at me without mercy.

I stared right back at Valter. Though he was a prince, he was just a 7-year-old boy.

Not only did I have to look straight into the ferocious eyes of such a child, but I also wondered whether to dispel it.

Guilt erupted and spread within me.

In my heart, I screamed, "No, no!"

A member of the royal family was to be served and honored. Regardless of this, as an adult, I felt it my responsibility to overthrow this belief that a boy who has only lived a few years has learned to accept.

So, I guess that's why. 

Without hesitation, I brought my thumb in front of my mouth, biting into my skin till the faint gurgle could be heard.

With my thumb dripping with blood.

I rested  it on Valter's right hand.

"…. A brand, my true intention."

It was magic. 

A unique magic called the "Contract Magic."

A magic that allows making a contract with another party as wished.

When the other party accepts the contract, the contract is concluded and a mark will appear somewhere in the body as evidence of the contract.

"……Wha?!"

Valter's eyes were wide open in astonishment. Of course, he should be.

The content of the compact I just pledged myself to?

— A lifetime oath of loyalty to Valter Vere Sceveria.

That must have been the first he has seen something of the kind.

Thus, after a few seconds, a tingling pain crept down my neck. The contract was completed.

The pain was the same as when I made the oath myself.

"Now, I can't really betray His Highness. Can His Highness trust me now?"

I challenged triumphantly.

On the other hand, Valter frowned uncomfortably for some reason.

"Why did you sign such a contract?"

"I've already told you. The one I'm supposed to serve is the royal family. I've taken an oath of allegiance to His Highness, a man of the royal family. What's so strange about it?"

"…… It 's no different from being a slave……!! A contract such as…."

“But I was able to win your trust in this way. It is cheaper than what I've got in return, for my whole life."

He was probably blind as to who genuinely sides with him and was tormented by it. In fact, he would have accepted any kind of slavery contract so he readily agreed. Because I knew how being alone feels like, I gave him a gentle smile.

"Now, that you have my loyalty, I suggest we get out of the royal palace as soon as possible. There is no guarantee that His Highness' life will not be threatened again.

In fact, I ran into someone when I was called to work in the Royal Palace.

I happened to be at the scene when that lowlife tried to get rid of Valter in the name of eliminating an obstacle.

Thus, I saved him the first time.

“… Is there a way for us to escape?”

“Let's head to my hometown. It is a bit far, but it's our only option if we want to escape.”

And that marked the beginning of our days as fugitives.

Running away with Valter ended up with us being hunted. And although I was able to defend him and fight off the approaching deadly blades multiple times, I still lost my life shortly after we got to my birthplace.

—- I won't let anything happen to you, unless I'm dead…!!!

The demonic screams of Valter when he saw me dying still lingers in my mind, even after my reincarnation.

I'm sure it was because he was p.i.s.sed off. 

In a carriage.

I continued to stare at the pa.s.sing view through the window, reminiscing about the past while proclaiming my thoughts.

"Well, no one's going to know my ident.i.ty before."

The oath of allegiance to the Royal Family. 

That oath is still there.

However, the reason I went to such lengths was because I felt more sympathy for the boy, Valter, than loyalty.

Besides, it was too disloyal for someone who couldn't even protect herself in the end to go out and present herself in front of him.

Thereby, I'm not planning on revealing myself.

I wanted to ask him how he climbed up from the jaws of death to the throne and became His Majesty the King, but I was not in the position to do that, so the thought was kept to myself. 

"Nevertheless, I never thought that a day would come that I'll go to the Royal Palace again."

It's about 17 years.

This was the first time since I had been reincarnated as Flaura Weber, because I intentionally steered clear of anything that was related to the palace.

Under the order of my father, the patriarch,  I was forced to partic.i.p.ate in this duke's bridal selection party held at the Royal Palace. I couldn't help but sigh again with dismay.