Chapter 1: Ike Axus (part 2)

As I considered various possibilities, the perfect answer suddenly crossed my mind.  

I recalled Reina’s feelings from the side story. What she truly desired was to live happily with the person she loved. And the person Reina loved was the crown prince.  

Though their marriage had been arranged by fate, Reina’s love for the crown prince was genuine.  

That meant there was a simple solution.  

While the relationship between the crown prince and the heroine was an important aspect of the story, it had little to do with how they became heroes. In other words, if I could prevent Reina’s engagement from breaking and ensure her connection with the prince remained intact, things would work out.  

And with the knowledge I had, it wouldn’t be difficult.  

After all, I knew exactly why the crown prince fell for the heroine.

***

“The Prince, he’ll be making his social debut at the imperial palace ball next week, correct?”  

“Yes. Some say it’s long overdue, but most understand there was a good reason for the delay.”  

This was my third meeting with Reina.  

We met every Monday at 8:30, talked for about two hours, and then went our separate ways. There was no specific agenda—just casual conversations about anything and everything.  

“A good reason?” I asked.  

“His Highness has been suffering from demon fever for a long time.”  

Now that she mentioned it, I remembered that detail.  

The crown prince, one of the greatest geniuses in the empire, had been born with an overwhelming amount of innate magical power. Because of this, he suffered from persistent high fevers for years, unable to do much of anything until his body fully adapted to magic.  

“A direct engagement declaration at his social debut,” I mused.  

“It’s likely meant to put an end to the lingering doubts and distrust surrounding him,” Reina said as she slowly sipped her tea.  

As I watched her, I carefully chose my next words.  

“… Now that you’re engaged, wouldn’t it be a good time for you to change a little as well?”  

“Hmm?”  

Reina set her teacup down and narrowed her eyes at me.  

“What do you mean by that?”  

Her gaze carried a sharp intensity, demanding an explanation. She truly lived up to her title—the so-called Ice Princess.  

“That’s exactly what I mean,” I replied, unfazed.  

“You’re aware of what people call you, aren’t you?”  

“… Ice Princess?”  

“Yes. And you know the nickname doesn’t carry the best connotations. You’re going to be the crown princess—don’t you think it would be better to shed that image?”  

Reina frowned slightly at my words, but the expression did nothing to diminish her beauty. If anything, the sight of her thoughtful expression felt like a painting brought to life.  

They say beauty remains beautiful no matter what.  

“Hmm.”  

Reina’s presence was so cold and intimidating that one wrong move could send shivers down anyone’s spine.  

But I wasn’t afraid.  

Because I knew there was more to her than just that icy exterior.  

“If you are to become the crown princess, a more approachable image would benefit you,” I continued.  

“Honestly, I don’t think that’s necessary,” she said, her voice calm and composed. “The imperial family knew exactly what kind of person I was when they arranged this engagement. There’s no reason for me to change.”  

She had clearly thought this through, but after a moment of reflection, she sighed.  

“… But I assume you have a reason for saying this?”  

A success.  

Everything was going according to plan. 

It had been three weeks since I arrived in this world, a place based on “She Heals a Wounded World”.  

During that time, I had been researching and preparing for what lay ahead.  

And in doing so, I learned something crucial—Reina had a particular softness for Ike.  

Even when discussing the same topics, she paid more attention to Ike’s words.  

Even if multiple people made the same suggestion, Ike’s opinion always took precedence.  

Above all, Ike was the only person she spoke about outside of her family.  

In other words, if I worked hard enough, I could guide Reina toward the best possible future.  

“How, exactly, do you suggest I change?” she finally asked.  

“Well, for starters… maybe smile a little more? You don’t always have to keep a blank expression. Laughing once in a while wouldn’t hurt.”  

“This is just my natural personality…” she muttered before pausing. “… But I suppose I can try.”  

Reina’s icy demeanor was the result of both her innate personality and the noble upbringing she had received from a young age.  

And I believed that the loneliness she was fated to experience in the future stemmed largely from that very character.  

If I could change even a small part of it, perhaps the worst could be avoided.  

That was the thought behind my suggestion.

“Well, I suppose we should wrap things up for today,” I said, glancing at the clock. The hour hand had already reached eleven.  

I was reluctant to part ways, but I couldn’t keep Reina any longer.  

Unlike me, a relatively carefree second son of a duchy, she was the eldest daughter. Her responsibilities were far greater than mine.  

“I’ll see you next week at the imperial palace.”  

“Yes.”  

***

After leaving, I immediately immersed myself in training.  

Swordsmanship and magic had become familiar to me, though I had initially struggled. In my previous life, I had nothing to do with sports, but this body was more than capable—it was strong enough to erase my concerns.  

“Phew.”  

Once training was done, I opened a book.  

Even with knowledge of the future, understanding the world was essential.  

I knew the story, but I was still a stranger here.  

From the empire’s founding history to its current territorial divisions, from the Duke of Axus’s legacy to various noble customs—I studied everything I deemed necessary.  

So that, no matter what happened to Reina, I would be ready to help.  

That had always been my mindset.

If my memory was correct, an incident would occur at the ball where the crown prince made his debut.  

And through that event, Reina would fall in love with him.  

Of course, things would resolve themselves if I simply stayed out of it. But I wanted to eliminate any potential threats completely.  

I needed to become stronger.  

I needed to know more.  

Because my presence in this world could have already altered the future in unpredictable ways.

And just like that, time flew by.  

The day of the imperial ball was now upon us.

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Check out my other projects: 

Rehabilitating the Villainess (complete)

Pushover Extra Trains the Villainesses (complete) 

I Picked Up an Amnesiac Witch, 

My Wife is the Devil (recommended) 

Transmigrated as the Butler of a Defeated Heroine