Akuyaku Reijō (Kari) No Funtō

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　So, even today, His Royal Highness Ethan was being watched by hungry daughters who wanted to be his mistress.
　Incidentally, I think the reason why Mother's eyes were full of pain was because I was (tentatively) selected for such a mistress position.

　From the perspective of those around me, it was a perfect dance.
On the other hand, I, the person involved in the dance, lost my nerve in many ways.

　The song ended with a faint afterglow, and the people around us changed dance partners.
　His Highness Ethan was still holding my hand, and I was invited by him to leave the dance circle.
We were not going to repeat a dance— I was not about to play the same games as Miss Charlotte.

　His Highness Ethan asked Mother if he could take me to the terrace.

“You have ten minutes.
In the meantime, I will go and greet the Queen.”

　Mother, who had looked unimpressed, reluctantly agreed to my pleading gaze.

　At first, I just wanted to confirm that His Highness Ethan was my husband.
I even thought it would be better not to meet him, as a distant glance would suffice.
　If it turned out that he was in fact my husband, I wanted to know whether he had memories of his previous life or not, and with what intention he exposed ourselves to the public at large—that is what I wanted to know.

　I have not yet been able to confirm whether or not His Highness Ethan has memories of my husband.
However, I was certain that His Highness Ethan was fond of me.
　That is probably why he had, “The royal man who is in love with you” written on the fan.
If I had known that it was the crown prince, I would have run away, refusing to be a potential mistress, and it would have caused a rift between the royal family and the Howard family.

　I think His Highness Ethan took a gamble.
That if we met face to face again, I would fall for him.
And that if I wanted to, the relationship with the Howards would not be broken.
　He then deliberately chose a ball that he would not normally attend, a large ball hosted by the Queen, so that he could show many people that he and I were together.
Even if I didn't have a fiancée, he wanted to show that, I, Rebecca Howard could not be approached.

　Or perhaps His Highness Prince Ethan himself had memories of a previous life and realized from my sudden declaration of seclusion that I had recalled my previous life.
　If this hypothesis is correct, it could be that he decided to bridge the gap before I made any irreversible moves, such as leaving the family or emigrating to a foreign country, which is what I was about to do.

　As I walked to the terrace, I thought back to the first time I met His Highness Ethan.
　His Highness Ethan was already engaged to Princess Aaliyah.
We had greeted each other for the first time as future brother and sister-in-law, and at that moment, he had said—

“What are you thinking about?”

　I was jolted back to reality with a jerk of my laced fingers.
　His Highness Ethan had gambled to win me.
Then I will take that bet and play my cards.　

“I’m remembering the first time we met.”

　At the time, he was 17 and I was 14.
We met only once.
And more than three years have passed since then.

　At that time, I had no memory of my previous life.
But now.

“I see.
It's a little late for that, but what was your first impression of me?”

“You're going to like me.”
　If I remember correctly … His Highness Ethan, whom I met for the first time, said that to me.
Just like before.

“What a funny guy.”

　I replied.
Just like before.

　He jolted at my response.
His emerald eyes pierced mine.
We were sure of each other.
We definitely shared the same memory.

　— I decided to just catch a glimpse of him from afar.
He is engaged to the princess of a neighboring country.
　— But I will still retreat to my estate and enjoy the single life.
I don't want to see the two of them cuddling in the capital.

“ … The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?”

　He said this as if to shake off even a shred of doubt.
This is the same as before.

　It is well known that I was called the Princess of the Moon at the Royal Remus Academy.
　And tonight is a full moon.
　But he isn’t talking about either of those moons.

“I can die happy.”

　Remembering my previous life, my beloved husband is betrothed to a princess of another country… isn't that too much?