~(Chloe's POV)~
"Chloe, if you find meeting him unbearable, don't hesitate to speak up. We fulfilled our duty in front of King Eival, but remember, engagements can be dissolved at any time," my father repeated these words multiple times on the carriage ride back to the mansion after meeting Prince Yannis.
From the beginning, I knew my father wasn't thrilled about the engagement with Prince Yannis.
And it's no wonder.
In the Eldoria Kingdom, everyone, especially the nobility, knew the reputation of Prince Yannis, mockingly referred to as the "Incompetent Trash Prince." Given my father's leniency towards me, it's not surprising that he wouldn't approve of such a character being my fiancé.
However...
"Father, have you forgotten? The engagement with Prince Yannis is something I...desired. I truly want to accept it."
"What...!? So, that's how it is. If you say so, there's nothing more to be done..."
At my response, Father wore an expression hinting at something unsaid. Leaning forward, he perched on the edge of his seat, desperately trying to compose himself. It's rare to see Father, who usually maintains a composed demeanor, revealing his emotions.
But now... finally, my long-cherished wish is about to come true.
Since that day... I've been harboring feelings for Prince Yannis, and now I can be with him.
"However, Prince Yannis mustn't continue his previous behavior if he's to be your husband. I'll make sure to emphasize this to King Eival as well."
"Yes."
In other words, if he continues the way he has been, the engagement will be annulled, as promised by King Eival. However, I doubt that will happen.
Because... Prince Yannis made a promise.
"Three years... Give me three years! In that time, I'll become a man worthy of you!"
In the palace courtyard, Prince Yannis presented himself. His actions, completely unprincely, kneeling unabashedly before someone of lower status, pleading.
Heh... Truly fitting for his straightforward personality.
And that's precisely why I don't understand.
Why has Prince Yannis behaved so recklessly until now?
Even with the intelligence network of the Chevalier Dukedom, I couldn't find the reason. All I could gather is that three years ago, he suddenly transformed into the rumored figure. He must have had reasons to play a false version of himself, but I desperately want to know those reasons.
Because I know that the real Prince Yannis is the most wonderful person, kinder and more diligent than anyone else.
"Chloe?"
"Ah... no, it's nothing."
I shouldn't let my thoughts wander. Father is looking at me with a puzzled expression, likely because of my absent-mindedness.
"Anyway... Remember, you are the cherished daughter of the Chevalier Duke. Depending on how things unfold, there might be repercussions."
"Yes, I understand."
Father seems ready to wage war against the kingdom with this attitude. It would make sense if it were about the rumored figure, but there's absolutely nothing to be concerned about regarding Prince Yannis...
"Haa... Perhaps at that time... Should I have progressed the engagement with 'Cardis,' who is called the 'Wise,' or 'Raphael,' instead of stubbornly sticking to Prince Yannis?"
"Father, it's fine, but please refrain from mentioning the names of 'Cardis' and 'Raphael,' the two are not worthy to be my fiancé, not over Prince Yannis, my betrothed."
"Uh... I apologize..."
Lord Cardis, the first prince, and Lord Raphael, the second prince, who are both older brothers of Prince Yannis.
Lord Cardis, who has achieved excellent grades at the Royal Academy and is actively serving as the student council president.
Similarly, Lord Raphael, also attending the academy, has impressive grades, and despite most individuals having an affinity for only one magical attribute, he can use three. This is exceptionally rare.
There is already an intense struggle for the succession to the throne within the kingdom.
"...But, Father, you haven't said anything about 'Wilfred'?"
"Of course not. Even if King Eival wishes Chloe to be engaged to him, I would absolutely prevent it, even if it means starting a rebellion."
The fourth prince, 'Wilfred von Eldoria.'
The most despicable 'Talented Prince' in the history of the Eldoria kingdom.
Considering his background, it is impossible for the Duke of Chevalier, the most significant noble family in the kingdom, to acknowledge such an existence.
...Even without that, I would absolutely refuse someone like him, the lowest scum, under any circumstances.
"Rest assured. Even if it's the end of the world, there's no possibility of me desiring anyone other than Prince Yannis as my fiancé."
"...I may not like that, though."
Father, having his mood soured, turned his face away.
Thanks to that, I was satisfied with thinking about my beloved Prince until we arrived at the mansion.
I looked at the receding palace through the carriage window, gently suppressing the excitement for the fulfillment of my long-cherished desire and the anticipation for Prince Yannis's future efforts.
Holding the handkerchief with dragon embroidery that I received from him that day, I squeezed it gently.
...
"Now... what should I do next?"
The morning after meeting Chloe, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. In this world of "Eternal Heart," the romantic comedy with heroines unfolds through chat boxes, while the main story, including battle parts, progresses in an RPG format with card battles.
Inevitably, I'll have to become stronger because once I'm involved in the game's scenario; combat situations with enemies, ranging from thieves, assassins, enemy nations, armies, to legendary magical beasts and heroes, arise.
If I were to encounter such opponents, the current me would be helpless and meet a quick death.
I don't want that… So, how do I become stronger?
In "Eternal Heart," each character has unique skills and attributes, but the protagonist, Yannis, is the only one without fixed attributes or skills, allowing players to customize him. Additionally, equipping weapon cards boosts attack and defense and grants access to special skills.
However...
"Well, male characters don't appear as cards in the game."
I can't forget that "Eternal Heart" is primarily a chat-based romance RPG, and there's no demand for male characters. Even if there were a male heroine, unfortunately, the game doesn't implement them.
Despite the official release of Yannis's abilities during events, he seems to be quite inconsistent.
Yannis, a character like a sacrificial lamb, has confusingly set stats, making him quite challenging to handle.
The creators might have neglected him, resulting in confusing ability settings.
Yannis's affinity is darkness, unlike the royal family with light attributes, and he has exceptionally high magic attack and magic defense. However, his defense is pitiful, making him a fragile character.
But, at least, I have the highest SP skill points. Potential-wise, I'm pretty solid.
Although his skill points are capped at the maximum value of 999, Yannis can't use any skills due to his light affinity. Yet, his SP bar doesn't deplete, making him unique among characters.
No matter what, I need to check everything.
Before the main story begins in three years, I need to prepare as much as possible to face whatever challenges lie ahead. My goal is to live peacefully with Chloe, regardless of the game's events. I have no interest in the succession war or anything similar.
But, if it comes down to it, I'll be ready to face whatever happens.
Determined, I decided to wake up early to find a suitable weapon.
If this world follows "Eternal Heart" rules, there should be Ultra Rare (UR) weapons, even higher than SSR.
In the game, these might be available through gacha, but I'll have to search for them manually in this reality.
"The worst-case scenario is that they treat UR-class weapons as national treasures or legendary items."
If common sense prevails, it's highly likely that god-class weapons are under strict national control. In that case, acquiring them would be impossible. I need to gather information and confirm the whereabouts of every weapon, as well as learn about the heroines.
"Most importantly, I need to find an alternative to Yannis's Death Scythe."
Despite its name, Yannis's weapon is light-affiliated rather than darkness. This limits its effectiveness.
However, in "Eternal Heart" players could freely choose their weapons, so I hope this holds true for me.
"Now, let's get up and start searching."
If this world aligns with my knowledge of "Eternal Heart" then there might be a chance for me to obtain weapons of the highest rarity.
One year from now, I'll need to confirm that information somehow and prepare for whatever challenges await in the game's main story—I'll be enrolling in the Royal Academy, the main setting of the game.
If I want to live, then I must avoid contact as much as possible, quietly navigate through without causing any disturbances…
Even though the odds were stacked against me, I felt somewhat confident.
Alright, let's do this!
Suddenly, there was a knock.
"Excuse me." The door clicked open, and a maid made her way in
...!?
"As of today, I am in charge of taking care of Prince Yannis's affairs. My name is Marion Ciara."
She bowed politely and introduced herself—a maid unmistakably, one of the main heroines from "Eternal Heart."