Chapter 163 - 2-45
The Prince sat across from me, his gaze cold and suspicious. It felt like my heart would break. But I was the one who had caused this. I forced myself to explain the situation.
“So, this is a parallel world, and I've swapped with the version of myself here?”
“Yes...”
He sighed, rubbing his temples. The tea the spirit girl had brought was already cold. He was the one who should be confused—waking up in a strange place with his former fiancée, whom he hated.
I gripped my hands in my lap, wondering if I should leave. When I looked up, our eyes met, and I flinched.
“What is this act?”
“Act? I don't understand.”
“You were never the type to care for others. You're like a Rachel Marcel I've never met.”
He narrowed his eyes. To him, I was a dead woman. A ghost. Yet he was listening to me instead of lashing out. That was so like him.
“I've wanted to apologize to you for so long. I was blind back then. I didn't understand why you chose me as your fiancée or what you wanted from me.”
“And you think you do now?”
He shifted his weight. I could see him holding back a retort. Before, I wouldn't have known. But my time with Louis-sama had changed me.
“Yes. You wanted an ally. Someone to help you ensure no part of this kingdom was left in the dark.”
His eyes widened in genuine surprise.
“Are you truly the Rachel I knew? I find it hard to believe. It's more likely you're some magical double.”
“I am the Rachel Marcel you knew. Born into privilege, arrogant because of my mana, ignorant of the world. I feared for my position and became a puppet, eventually harming the Saint. I chose that life. It is a past I can never erase.”
“It's like I'm talking to a different person.”
He put a thumb to his lip, thinking. “I'm sorry, but I can only see this as a vivid dream. I just want to wake up. I can't believe a fairy tale about a dead fiancée repenting in a parallel world. Who are you, really?”
I didn't know what to say. How could I make him believe? He was Louis-sama, yet he wasn't. I wanted to reach out, but I felt a strange urge to run away. Then, a hand touched my head.
“How heartless. No affection for your fiancée?”
“Who's there!?”
Nel-sama stood behind me, pouting. The Prince jumped up and stood between us.
“Careful now. Normally, humans can't even speak to someone like me. Show some respect.”
“Nel-sama, he's confused. He doesn't know who you are.”
“I know. I'm just teasing.”
Nel-sama laughed and leaned in to look at the Prince's face. “Oh, I see! This Prince has never seen a dark spirit before! And the first one he sees is me, the Spirit King! Isn't that amazing?”
He turned to the Prince. “And in the Spirit Land, no less! This has to be a historical first!”
The Prince turned pale. “Dark... spirit? Spirit King...?”
He looked weaker than I'd ever seen him. If I were in his shoes, my legs would have given out.