Chapter 4: Unexpected Proposal
During the magic practical exam, I was able to get my first ever perfect score. Up until now, I’ve only been getting passing grades, so this was quite an accomplishment for me.
I was extremely happy. I should report this to Camilo-sama and thank him.
I was walking down the Academy hallway with light steps when I noticed something and stopped in my tracks.
(But…I wonder if it would be a bother for someone like me to talk to him in public.)
As the Black Rose, I wouldn’t mind, but as I am now, a plain and unremarkable nerd with glasses at the bottom of the Academy hierarchy, it might start some unfounded rumors if I talked to a superstar.
It’s a shame, but maybe I should just give up. Hmm, but that would go against proper etiquette…
“Hey, you’re Marquis Benito’s daughter, right?”
I froze as I was standing still in the hallway and was called out by a familiar voice from behind me.
It couldn’t be, there’s no way. But this voice…
I pressed my heart that was making an unpleasant sound with my hand and slowly turned around.
First, my view was filled with golden hair and sapphire blue eyes. Adorning the properly-worn uniform was a red tie that indicated their status as a third-year student.
As expected, Prince Agustin was standing there.
His eyes devoid of warmth and his gaze met mine, but he probably couldn’t tell that my eyes were trembling because of my glasses. This was the first time in my second life that someone had gotten this close to me.
I don’t want to have anything to do with him anymore, so why did he approach me?
“Um…y-yes. My name is Leticia Benito.”
My voice trembled and I struggled to speak. Prince Agustin looked down at me, who had bowed, with his cold eyes and gave me a cruel smile.
“For an unremarkable girl like you to refuse the honor of being my fiancée.”
His words made me even more paralyzed.
He’s just angry that his engagement was refused. He’s going to protest, thinking that a girl like me from the bottom ranks humiliated him.
“You, I can’t see your face because of those glasses. It’s disrespectful.”
“Eh…”
“Take off your glasses. And tell me the reason you refused me, without lying.”
Prince Agustin spoke in a tone accustomed to giving orders, as if it were natural. I used to think that his behavior was dignified and charming in my previous life, but now I only feel disgusted.
No, I don’t want to take off my glasses.
I’ve decided to become a plain and nerdy glasses-wearing person. I’ve decided not to have anything to do with this man.
But why do I have to try to please him for the rest of my life?
“Agustin, please don’t bully my Leticia too much.”
It was at that moment. Just as I thought I heard a voice full of heavy anger, I was suddenly wrapped in warm arms.
I couldn’t understand what had just happened all of a sudden, but somehow I knew who was standing before me as I looked up.
“Camilo-sama…”
I called out his name with a hoarse voice.
Did he come to rescue me? No, but…I feel like I said something outrageous.
“Camilo. Did you just say “my”?”
Yes, that’s right. Good observation, Your Highness.
“Yeah. Leticia became my fiancée since yesterday.”
…What did you say?
Huh, fiancé? His fiancé? No way, no way, no way, it couldn’t be.
Ah, it must be a joke. Yeah, that’s right, he must have told a white lie to help me. Yes, because Camilo-sama is a good person.
“You mean to tell me that you were the reason she turned down the engagement?”
Prince Agustin’s gaze became even more severe as he spoke. Camilo-sama held me tightly in his arms and responded with an unwavering determination.
“That’s right. Leticia belongs to me, so I won’t give her to Agustin…absolutely not.”
No, I don’t think I’m anyone’s possession.
I wanted to retort, but the tension between the two was so thick that I remained silent.
“…Hmph. How ridiculous.”
Eventually, Prince Agustin left the scene looking displeased. I was overcome with relief and let out a deep breath.
“Leticia, are you okay?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Finally released from Camilo-sama’s embrace, I remembered that we were in the hallway and paled.
A large amount of curious gazes from the students were directed at us.
It’s only natural. After all, two of the most popular male students at the Academy were standing face to face, an unusual sight indeed.
I’ve been living my life trying not to stand out, and yet how did I end up like this in just a few minutes!
“C-Camilo-sama…! Anyway, we should leave this place!”
I pushed Camilo-sama’s back and forcefully started walking.
When we arrived at an empty backyard and I stopped my feet, I turned to face Camilo-sama, who was still standing, and asked him the first question that came to my mind.
“Why did you do something like that? Bad rumors about Camilo-sama will spread!”
Mainly, rumors about his bad taste in women or his bad relationship with Prince Agustin, things like that.
I felt so apologetic no matter how much I tried to justify myself. However, despite my desperation, Camilo-sama remained calm and composed.
“There are no bad rumors. The fact is, you and I are engaged.”
“Excuse me?”
“I got permission from Marquis Benito yesterday. He was really happy about it, you know?”
In shock at the stunning fact he just told me with a bright smile, I froze once again.
What is it?
…What is it?!
“W-Why…?! Yesterday was our first meeting, right?!”
“It wasn’t our first meeting. I’ve always liked you.”
He said another unbelievable thing. But as he took my hand and pressed a kiss on it, and looked at me with his young grass-colored eyes, there didn’t seem to be any lies anywhere.
“The Black Rose Queen. The previous you was someone out of reach, but it seems like I don’t have to hold back with Leticia now.”
In the midst of all the shock, I was hit with the biggest surprise of my life.
My throat was dry and I couldn’t speak. My head was throbbing with pain, and I felt like I wanted to faint.
Even so, I took a shallow breath and summoned all the courage I had left.
“Camilo, do you…remember me?”
“Yeah, I remember all the time we spent together in my past life. Leticia was clearly dressed differently from before, so I thought you must have memories of your past life too.”
It seems that he had some proof and brought up the topic of our past lives.
That’s right, Camilo was smart. He had said that he wasn’t good at studying, but he excelled in reading situations, judgement, and intuition.
But when did he remember our past lives?
Camilo seemed to have read my mind and smiled faintly.
“I remembered when Leticia shifted up her glasses yesterday.”
“Glasses…?”
——Are you kidding me?!
So, what about it?
Was it not because he was surprised that I was a beauty when I took off my glasses, but that he regained his memories and was stunned?!
“Leticia, I love you. Let’s get married this time.”
“Eh, no, um…? I still don’t quite understand the situation.”
“There’s nothing complicated about it. I will work hard to make you love me, and you just have to be by my side. That’s all.”
Camilo approached me slowly. I thought I had backed away the same distance, but his arm quickly reached around my waist and he pulled me close.
When Agustin Prince hugged me earlier, I was too surprised to feel anything, but now I’m blushing so much it’s pathetic.
Beyond my glasses, his young green eyes are filled with dark passion.
My cheeks are so hot that my whole body is trembling. Camilo touches my glasses like handling fragile objects, removing the last barrier.
He meets my rose-colored eyes and a serene smile spreads across his handsome face.
“I’ll go crazy without you. Please, give up and live with me.”
It was only a short time that I could see his earnest plea through my unobstructed view.
Before I could say anything, his hot lips covered mine.
It’s my first kiss, even when considering my first life.
Camilo showed no mercy, and I had to protest by hitting his broad chest in the middle.
“Leticia, what’s your answer?”
Camilo asks me with a gleam in his eye as I struggle to catch my breath.
I don’t know what’s going on anymore. There are too many things to worry about, but first, I want to confirm this!
“…No, what engagement?!”
I pushed both my hands against Camilo’s body with all my strength.
To my surprise, I was released from my hold quite easily, and I stumbled back a step or two. When our eyes met, Camilo smiled as if he was enjoying being rejected.
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