#41.
While we, ungrateful as we were, clutched our growling stomachs instead of worrying about the sick prince, it seemed that even from his bed, the prince was solely concerned for us.
Old Hilda was a guardian angel sent to us by the prince.
I don’t know how she managed it, but ever since Hilda arrived, the amount of food the people of Reutlingen brought us had increased.
Hilda, though not as generous as the prince, would sometimes toss us a few potatoes, and to help us with our role-playing, she volunteered to serve as the princess’ attendant during meals, taking turns with others.
Of course, the princess served by Hilda was sometimes me, sometimes Remy, and sometimes Renée.
Despite living in such poverty, we never starved. It was about two months later that Prince Reiner visited us again. He seemed to have been quite ill during that time, as the boyish fullness in his cheeks had disappeared, revealing a more masculine, gaunt face. However, his habit of whining hadn’t changed at all, not from two months prior nor then.
“Edwina, didn’t you miss me? Why didn’t you visit me even once?”
Just like the first time, he gently opened the door, poked his head in, and called out “Edwina,” but our princess, far from being pleased, responded as stiffly as a stone.
“Yes, Reiner. I’m free to move wherever I like, so I could’ve easily visited you. But I didn’t.”
Even when she mocked him like that, Prince Reiner just laughed sheepishly.
“That’s right. You have to stay here. It’s pitiful, isn’t it?”
Perhaps by then, the princess herself didn’t realize how much she had missed Prince Reiner. That day, she seemed unusually spiteful as she provoked him.
“Why do you talk like that?”
“Hmm?”
“How did a 17-year-old boy end up speaking that way?”
“Edwina, do you find my Windsor dialect strange? I thought I was doing pretty well…”
“It’s not the Windsor dialect that’s the problem, it’s the way you speak. You sound just like old Hilda.”
“Well, of course, that’s because Hilda taught me. Haven’t I learned well? Edwina, I—”
“You’re trying to get your head patted again, aren’t you?”
“Hmm?”
“You’re going to shove your head in and act like a dog, aren’t you? Get lost. You’re disgusting.”
Neither Prince Reiner, who was sneaking his head closer, making a gesture for a pat, nor Princess Edwina, who pushed him away in disgust, could imagine how amusing they were. No matter what the princess said, Prince Reiner, undeterred, continued to draw closer. And how adorable he was!
“Disgusting? That’s harsh, Edwina. But speaking of which, can’t you compliment me?”
“Enough. Go away.”
“Oh, come on, don’t be like that.”
Despite being laughed at, Prince Reiner had become accustomed to the princess’ scolding. I found that so admirable. He may have been frail and had a funny way of speaking, but he had a strong will.
Yes, I believe it was that day I first understood the prince’s sincerity toward the princess. No matter what she said, his heart, which slowly approached hers, seemed deep and unwavering. And the more I probed into his peculiar manner of speech, the more I realized it wasn’t just any ordinary affection.
At that time, magic, scholarship, and even mercenary skills—everything revolved around the Empire.
In Windsor, too, the children of prestigious families began learning Reutlingen letters before mastering the Windsor dialect. Our princess, having been taught from a young age, was as fluent in Reutlingen speech as any imperial subject.
So if Prince Reiner hadn’t first said, “Edwina, are you there?” in Windsor dialect, we probably would’ve responded to him in Reutlingen speech without a second thought.
Yes, that’s how it would’ve gone.
Before the 17th repetition of life, the first days of our lives must have passed in that manner.
Prince Reiner once said:
“So, you know, one time I made a mistake and went back to when I was ten?”
“You mean you rewound time to that point?”
“Yes, smart Edwina. You always understand me so well! Would you like to hear how cute I was when I was ten? If my older brother hadn’t hit me back then, my mouth wouldn’t be so crooked…”
“Forget it. Get on with your story.”
“Oh, right. So, my wet nurse had just died, and they were about to bring in a new nurse. So, instead of choosing one of those nasty women, I picked Hilda. She knew Windsor dialect, you see.”
“So you learned Windsor dialect from her?”
“Of course. You don’t know how hard it was for me.”
“Why’d you go through all that trouble?”
“Well, well… because you’re a fool who doesn’t speak Reutlingen speech, Edwina… By the way, Edwina, is Hilda’s Windsor dialect strange?”
It wasn’t strange. It was just an old southern dialect spoken by grandmothers, and Prince Reiner’s pronunciation and grammar were near perfect.
The issue was not with his speech but how odd it sounded when combined with his lovely face and sweet voice. We quickly shook our heads in response. Upon seeing that, the prince smiled brightly, like a child.
“I’m not very smart, so it took me a long time to learn Windsor dialect. But I’m glad you praised me.”
Then, Princess Edwina reacted like an owner whose dog had been scolded.
“Who said you’re not smart?”
“I can’t read very well, you see. I can’t wield a sword, and I’m not good with a bow. So it’s only natural that my father hates me since I can’t even read properly. When I open a book, the words all blur together, and I can’t read them slowly like you do. You, who always has your nose in a book, wouldn’t understand, would you?”
“Then how did you memorize things like time magic? Or Windsor speech?”
“Well, Hilda always spoke to me in Windsor dialect, so I just mimicked her and learned that way. And magic? Isn’t it just something you figure out by fiddling with it?”
We were all left speechless. We couldn’t tell whether he was incredibly dull or excessively brilliant.
“You’re insufferable. Go away.”
…As usual, it was Princess Edwina who made the situation clear.
“Huh?”
“Reiner, listen carefully. You’re too smart. Not just anyone tries to rewind time or change space. You’re so smart that’s probably why your brother hits you like that.”
“And what about our father? He likes smart people.”
“Your father’s a fool who can’t even recognize how clever you are.”
“Princess Edwina!”
Even though I tried shouting, worried she might not care who heard her, the princess didn’t bat an eye. Meanwhile, Prince Reiner laughed heartily, as if he found it delightful to hear his father insulted.
“Yes, Edwina, am I really that smart?”
Like someone hungry for praise, Prince Reiner leaned in, but Princess Edwina stepped back and responded.
“When I think about how you let us starve for 1,700 days, you seem pretty dumb. Turning time back 17 times just to learn Windsor speech? Yeah, that too.”
“Don’t be like that, just call me smart. Please?”
“Fine, you fool. You’re smart, so stop rewinding time already. How old are you supposed to be now?”
“I don’t knowww.”
“You’re not sickly because you’ve lived too long, are you?”
“I don’t knooow.”
Faced with his helpless answer, Princess Edwina sighed deeply and asked,
“Reiner, let me ask you just one thing. Do you remember everything from your 17 lives? From the beginning until now?”
“Of course. That’s why I know you like white grapes, and I remember how you enjoyed the Arthur Gillen storybook I gave you, even though I hated reading it.”
“Then, Reiner, let’s make a promise.”
“What?”
“I don’t want to lose my memories. So don’t rewind time again.”
When our princess spoke in a serious tone, Prince Reiner pointed at me and smiled.
“Edwina, you and that one over there will probably remember too. Anyone who knows about me turning back time, anyone who’s seen this clock even once, will remember everything if they start suspecting I’ve done it again. Their old memories will come back.”
That meant that if Prince Reiner ever rewound time again, both Princess Edwina and I would know. Though it took me a while to understand the implications of his words, Princess Edwina, ever sharp, paused for a moment to digest it, then replied:
“Then all the more reason not to do it. I don’t want that. Having two sets of memories will just confuse me. I want to live my life as it is.”
“Alright, I won’t rewind time. But even without doing that, I can still save you.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Prince Reiner nodded. Princess Edwina, clicking her tongue like someone who had just adopted a hopeless troublemaker, sighed again.
“Save me? Take care of yourself first. Don’t get sick.”
“Okay, Edwina. If you worry about me, I’ll live to be a hundred.”
“Just live without the burden you’re carrying.”
“When did you ever say something like that to me?”
Prince Reiner smiled innocently as he left behind the bundle he had carried on his back. Inside were enough potatoes to keep us from starving, even if he didn’t return for another month or two.
———= Afterword =———
Dear Readers,
The next person I hate after Beder: The annoyingly chatty Madame Josephine…
Ugh. But please don’t hate Madame Josephine too much, and read until the next chapter!
The next one is even more fun than this one. (Though, it might not be… but I’m insisting anyway. Why else would I bring three chapters?)
<– –>
Please read the afterword as well
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