I Possessed The Villain’s Childhood Friend

49 – Before and After

“Is Saturday the birthday of Prince Ike?”

“Yes. So I originally intended to order the finest refreshments.”

“I don’t know if it will be all right with me making it on a day like that.”

“Is what I just said not enough?”

“That’s not it, I don’t know if I can satisfy your taste buds with the sweets I made.”

Sofia was honestly not confident.

Born in a local inn house, she literally learned baking as a hobby.

To ask you to prepare sweets of that level for Ike’s birthday.

Raina. Ike. Leon. Helen. Attal.

All of them held high positions in the empire.

You must be accustomed to the best refreshments, but is it okay to have sweets at the level of your hobby?

That worry won’t go away.

“Ms. Sophia. I hate the sound of putting on my mouth. No matter how much a friend he is, he won’t ask for something even while lying.”

But Reina had a different idea.

It’s not something I’m proud of, but my taste buds have been tempered with the finest refreshments since I was a child.

When Reina looked at it objectively, Sophia’s baking skills were outstanding.

It wasn’t just Madeleine.

Mont Blanc. Scone. Canele et al.

Among the sweets Sophia made, none of them were inferior.

“So, if you have any ingredients you need, tell me.”

“Oh, I see. I will try my best!”

In that way, Sofia was determined to believe in Reina.

“Ms. Sophia. Would it be all right if I ask you one more favor?”

Two days before Ike’s birthday.

Reina made up her mind and spoke to Sophia.

Sofia was concentrating on her pastry dough, but she stopped her hand for a moment at Reina’s words and turned around behind her.

“Yes, Lady Reina?”

“That….”

For some reason, Reina couldn’t get her words out easily.

She was so embarrassed that a light blush appeared on her face.

“Can I take Madeleine separately?”

“Ah, if you want something to eat, you can eat as much as you like.”

“It’s not like that.”

Reina frowned in an instant and was serious.

Sophia smiled softly at the sight she was used to by now and continued her story.

“Then can you tell me why?”

“I wanted to give it to Prince Ike as a present….”

“Yes?”

Sofia was taken aback by Reina’s words.

She said that Raina would pick out the presents for everyone.

She wondered if that was the Madeleine she made herself.

It was a happy yet complicated feeling.

“Oh, no. It’s not like that….”

Reina also noticed Sophia’s thoughts and corrected her words.

“I want to give a special gift to Prince Ike.”

“Ah.”

“That request she gave when Miss Sophia returned to Arcana. Actually, I asked Prince Ike separately.”

“Yes? Really?”

“Prince Ike refused this time too. But she has no intention of giving up. Because I don’t want to run away anymore.”

Sophia, who properly understood Reina’s words, opened her mouth with a serious expression.

“Raina-sama.”

“Yes?”

“For that reason, I cannot give you my madeleine separately.”

“Uh, why?”

Of course, Reina knew Ike wasn’t particularly fond of sweets.

But among Sofia’s sweets, Madeleine was really delicious, so I thought Ike would be delighted.

That’s why I risked such an embarrassing thing to ask.

“Can’t I do something?”

It was a resolute refusal to return despite the earnest request.

“Absolutely not.”

Reina slightly bit her lip in her pity.

But when she heard Sophia’s words, she stopped thinking for a moment.

“For such a gift, it would be better for Reina-sama to make it herself.”

Impossible, she couldn’t stand in front of Sophia, who was smiling broadly.

★

“Is this okay?”

When she saw the wrapping paper on her desk, she sighed naturally.

In the end, the personal gift I would give to Ike was a madeleine I made myself.

Miss Sophia said it was worth it, and she never gave up on that opinion.

I’m not proud of it, but I’ve never tried confectionery or simple cooking.

I was only worried about whether Ike would be happy with the Madeleine I made.

No matter how much Miss Sophia helped, of course the taste was inferior to hers.

It would be better if this gift didn’t work in a bad way.

“Ha ha.”

Ike has been avoiding me since that day.

It looked like he was frightened by something.

If there is anything fortunate about it, is it that I did not decline the invitation tomorrow?

If that was the case, the whole schedule would have been messed up, so that part was really fortunate.

“I hope it goes well.”

If you think about time, it won’t be that long for the two of you to have a conversation.

At that time, let’s talk again while handing over this cookie.

I hope Ike understands my sincerity.

While praying so sincerely, I slowly closed my eyes.

★

“Is that the conclusion between you and Miss Reina?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After Sunday’s supplementary class, I met with the prince and conveyed my thoughts.

To accept Reina’s story.

When a problem arises because of that, I will try my best if there is anything I can do to help.

After hearing the whole story, the prince answered with a slightly raised corner of his mouth.

“I don’t think there is anything you can do to help. Even if it happens, I’ll be able to sort it out on my own.”

Why did the crown prince talk so far?

I couldn’t figure out the intention.

If it had been me up until now, I would have thought that there was no need to understand the crown prince anyway.

But not anymore.

He’s changed, and I’ve sorted out my thoughts too.

“Your Highness said you knew how much I value Reina.”

“Yes.”

“I will probably work for her in her future.”

“I will cheer you on.”

“But I don’t move because I think of her as her doll.”

“… Did you simply want to refute what I said? Isn’t that why you accepted Reina-san’s request?”

“Of course not.”

“What if?”

“For me, Reina is a really important relationship.”

In a previous life, it was a support for convalescent life.

The milestones that show the way after coming to this world.

And now I have become a friend who understands me and believes in me no matter what.

For her sake, I would be able to run even if I had to sacrifice my life for her.

“Yes.”

Upon hearing my answer, the prince nodded his head.

“If that is your sincere conclusion, then I think that is the correct answer.”

“Thank you.”

“Of course, I didn’t mean what I said then.”

“… Yes?”

I stopped thinking for a moment at the words the prince threw as if nothing was wrong.

“Isn’t it obvious? So I said I know how much you value Miss Reina.”

“Didn’t that mean that I seemed to care about Reina as a doll?”

“Certainly I could have heard it that way. But I didn’t mean it that way.”

“Then why did you say that….”

“I think you are worrying too much about useless things. I was just trying to motivate you. It is said that he was half sincere, but he wasn’t even half sincere.”

I was thinking wrong.

I was a fool for trying to understand the prince.

Really sincerely.

“Anyway, Ike. You won’t have anything to worry about.

The prince’s words overflowed with confidence.

Did you have something in mind?

To be honest, my worries haven’t completely disappeared, but I have to believe it when he says that.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Yes. So take good care of Miss Reina.”

The prince who said that was smiling.

★

Late night.

“Hmm.”

In the dormitory room, Leon sighed quietly.

A letter was lifted from his hand.

The sender’s name was blank.

But Leon didn’t care at all and read the letter.

“I didn’t expect this.”

There was sincerity in that voice.

Even Leon, who moves by calculating most things, the events written in the letter are difficult to understand.

“Certainly, if this had happened, I could understand her behavior at that time.”

Leon talked a lot to himself in order to organize his many thoughts.

But I didn’t say it all to myself one by one.

It was a part where you could see how flustered he was now.

“Ha ha.”

What should I do?

Falling into such trouble, Leon scratched the back of his head slightly.

It was not my taste to move hastily.

“… I think it would be okay if I just prepared.”

But if everything written in the letter is true, there will be no problem if we move as quickly as possible.

Even if the plan goes through, there won’t be any damage to Ike and Raina.

Unbeknownst to the two of them, Leon carried out numerous behind-the-scenes actions.

Of course, nothing was illegal.

Everything was legal.

Of course she used some shortcuts, such as using her own position.

When Ike said he would help if there was a problem, that’s why he could confidently say that he would be fine.

“As expected, it would be better to end this time.”

Leon originally intended to take more time.

But since he knew this was the case, he didn’t have to sit back and wait.

Because there were not many problems caused by the difference in time in the first place.

It was just Leon’s idea that he wanted to prepare for sure.

“Less than two months left?”

The corner of Leon’s mouth went up as he said that.

How will Ike and Raina react if they hear this news?

Leon was so curious about it that he couldn’t help laughing.