After returning from the tea party, Father let out a sigh, his face looking as if he had aged ten years.
“Espin. Why on earth did you act so recklessly?”
It was only now that I properly faced Father, Benjamin Samuel, and he didn’t have the image of a knightly, robust figure at all.
Since I’d been possessed into a romance fantasy novel, I’d half-expected to gain a swordmaster dad, but Espin’s father was utterly ordinary.
If there was anything special about him, it was that he was somewhat handsome.
He gave off the vibe of a scholarly young man who’d done nothing but study. It was hard to believe he had an eight-year-old daughter—he looked so youthful.
“My dear, Mother was shocked by your behavior today.”
Espin’s mother, Lily Samuel, was also so young and beautiful that it was difficult to believe she had a child.
Her deep brown eyes with a slight reddish tint and her sky-blue hair were soft hues that seemed to reflect her sensitive personality.
And Espin resembled her mother’s appearance exactly.
Which meant that in the future, I’d become a beauty too.
I’d accepted the possession, but these suddenly acquired parents felt incredibly unfamiliar.
‘I don’t know how to react.’
In typical romance fantasy possession novels, it was rare for both parents to be alive.
If they were both living, the environment was often harsh, with them being utterly terrible parents, but Espin’s parents were perfectly normal.
Their relationship with each other was excellent, and they were the type to do anything for their beloved daughter.
So, for a brief moment, I wondered if I wasn’t the female lead after all.
But I decided to trust the rules of romance fantasy.
If not me, the possessed one, then who could be the protagonist!
‘It’s probably just starting in a blessed environment.’
“Espin, do you really want to become friends with Prince Luciano?”
Father asked with a pallid complexion.
“Yes. I do. Is that not allowed? Did I do something wrong?”
I didn’t regret standing up to Empress Isabel.
But their faces looked so unwell that I had no choice but to ask.
For me, I could brush it off as not knowing any better because I was young, but it was different for them.
I belatedly realized they could suffer direct repercussions from Empress Isabel, and that made me worry.
Had I charged ahead too impulsively right after being possessed?
Even if things would work out in the end thanks to the protagonist buff, it was hard to ignore the immediate hardships.
When I grew dejected, Father’s hand touched my head.
And as he gently stroked it, I lifted my gaze.
“No, what could you have done wrong? It’s just that Prince Luciano’s situation isn’t good.”
I was about to feel relieved that he wasn’t blindly blaming me, but his last words left me a bit disappointed.
“Does that mean it’s a problem for me to become his friend? Are you saying I shouldn’t get close if the other person’s circumstances are bad? Didn’t you sense something was off about the situation earlier?”
The words came out more challengingly than I intended, and Father widened his eyes as if he’d been struck.
His expression showed he’d realized my choice hadn’t been some innocent, clueless decision.
“I’m sorry. I made a mistake. That wasn’t my intention.”
“Mother’s sorry too. My dear, we were just worried you’d go through something difficult.”
I hadn’t expected them to apologize to me.
And it felt unfamiliar to have them worry about Espin’s safety more than their own interests.
My mood felt strangely off.
“The situation earlier was too cruel to just overlook.”
“We know.”
Father and Mother wore anguished expressions. They seemed to regret their own inaction, knowing full well yet doing nothing.
“I can’t just leave Prince Luciano like that.”
This wasn’t because I was the protagonist.
It was hard to keep watching a child being bullied right in front of me.
Perhaps they sensed my firm resolve?
Father and Mother exchanged glances. After a brief moment of eye contact, Father spoke resolutely.
“Our Espin has grown up so well. Yes, if that’s what you want, you can do as you please.”
“My dear, Mother supports your choice.”
Mother, far from scolding me, gently encouraged me instead.
I hadn’t expected them to agree so readily.
Their reaction was so different from the other nobles I’d seen there that I stared in bewilderment.
Having been stubborn only to feel flustered when permission was granted, I watched as they burst into laughter.
“I’ll help you with whatever you want to do. That’s what a father does.”
“Mother will always be on your side.”
These were the same people whose faces had turned ashen in front of Empress Isabel.
Even while inwardly worrying about confronting those in power, they supported me without wavering.
So, to ease their concerns, I comforted them.
“We might face some unfair things for now, but it’ll definitely be fine later.”
Because I’m the protagonist!
I’ll get the buffs!
At my words, they widened their eyes and let out even bigger laughs.
Then they reached out and hugged me tightly.
“You don’t need to worry about that at your age. Espin, Father loves you.”
“My dear, Mother does too. Mother loves you so much.”
Sandwiched between them, I was enveloped in an inexplicable emotion.
This first experience of parental affection felt so reassuring that the tip of my nose tingled.
This complete love was almost too overwhelming for me.
Beyond warmth, the fervent affection made my chest tighten.
And I felt guilty.
They believed I was Espin and loved me like this, but in reality, I wasn’t Espin.
It made me even more sorry that I had to deceive such kind people.
All I could do was hug my affectionate parents tightly and hold back my tears.
* * *
With my parents’ solid support, and since some time had passed since the tea party, I decided it was appropriate and visited Prince Luciano.
“Hello, Prince Luciano.”
I greeted him with the brightest smile I could muster.
“You look wonderful today too.”
The compliment came out naturally.
I’d felt it at our first meeting, but his appearance was truly beautiful.
He was so lovely that playing dolls with Prince Luciano would be enjoyable.
This must be the dignity of a male lead.
‘Come to think of it, what should we play?’
I’d only thought as far as becoming friends with Prince Luciano; I had no idea what to do.
While I pondered that briefly, his red eyes were fixed on me without the slightest movement.
After a long silence, Prince Luciano’s lips parted.
“Who said you could come visit?”
His voice was utterly cold.
……I’d forgotten that before meeting the female lead, Prince Luciano had deep distrust toward others.
Come to think of it, in [Your Majesty, Please Don’t Obsess!], the early relationship between the female lead and Prince Luciano was close to enmity.
The female lead had initially approached Prince Luciano only for her own purposes.
And by then, Prince Luciano, growing up amid increasingly blatant assassination attempts, suspected everyone who came near him.
In such circumstances, their first meeting naturally bred no trust between them.
So, they clashed quite fiercely until they grew close.
For typical romance fantasy protagonists, their mutual loathing seemed so genuine that while reading, I’d wondered if they’d really end up together, or if Harrison was the true male lead.
Of course, as in any romance fantasy, the two leads naturally seeped into each other’s hearts, and by the story’s end, they transformed into absurdly lovesick fools that felt out of character.
Anyway, I’d completely forgotten about Prince Luciano’s early prickliness.
It was my fault for complacently thinking that as a child, even the male lead would be innocent.
‘Well, even if he’s the protagonist, not everything will go smoothly.’
I’d relied too much on the protagonist buff and taken it too lightly.
Flustered by Prince Luciano’s unexpected coldness, I steeled my resolve.
The early narrative is supposed to be a bit tough.
I’m the protagonist, so I can do this.
Prince Luciano will fall for me.
With that determination, I formed a wide smile.
“You agreed last time that we’d be close friends.”
You said you’d be friends with me back then.
I smiled brightly with an innocent face that said, ‘I don’t know the world’s ugliness.’
“……”
Instead of replying, he gazed at me steadily.
I’d felt it before, but Prince Luciano stared at people too openly.
Even now, his red eyes scrutinized me thoroughly, as if trying to discern if my smile was fake.
I pulled at the corners of my mouth so hard it felt like my cheeks might twitch.
Kindness is the best way to melt prickliness!
“That didn’t mean you could barge in without permission.”
But Prince Luciano was too formidable.
‘Th-that’s true. He didn’t say I could visit.’
It was a fair point, so my beaming skill faltered.
Still, we agreed to be close.
I hadn’t expected a welcome, but this felt excessive.
“How can we be close if we don’t meet?”
I protested fervently, but.
“Even so, intruding without permission isn’t right. I’m busy, so leave now.”
Prince Luciano’s iron wall was solid.
He turned away and left without even offering me a cup of tea.
Unable to believe I’d been left alone, I sat there dazed for a moment.
I realized that against this level of rudeness, even a kind smile was useless.
And the more I mulled it over, the more aggrieved I felt.
I’d clearly informed him by letter that I’d visit today.
Sure, I hadn’t received a reply, but since there was no separate refusal, I’d assumed it was okay to come.
‘I didn’t realize that was just ignoring me!’
I felt deflated, anger bubbling up.
Still, it wasn’t entirely without fault on my part, so I decided to head back for today.
I couldn’t just play alone in a drawing room without its owner.
Let’s not rush.
In the original story, Prince Luciano and the female lead grew close through many clashes.
With effort, we’d get closer someday.
I believed that.
