(Lancelot’s POV)

“...What is this...?”

I glanced towards the pair of handcuffs—that were put on me by the prince a few minutes ago—with confused eyes.

“This is a magic handcuff. Whenever you try to escape from this mansion, it will immediately transmit electrical magic and zapped you on the spot.”

The prince explained nonchalantly. Also, without me realizing, he also put the cuffs on my neck.

“Do you really think that I would escape from here? You’re the one who told me that we are now in your family’s mansion at the southern part of the continent. That’s too far from my estate!”

          What I said is true. A journey from the south back to my estate which was located in the northeast part of the continent without the help of teleportation magic is very far, and I have to somewhat revise a plan before I could escape and gather up enough strength to be able to even escape from this place.

“I just put this on you in case you planned to escape.”

My eyes twitched.

“...I won’t escape.”

“Yeah, that doesn’t sound convincing to me.”

“Wha-?!”

          This brat...! He is younger than me yet he got that really cocky attitude. I wonder which part of him that I like?

“...By the way, will you be staying here longer? Don’t you have to go back to the central capital?”

          I asked. Well, it’s been a few days since I woke up from my two weeks coma(?), yet he doesn’t seem to be leaving anytime soon. The matters in the palace should be very busy now that the Ronan family will clash with the royal family because of the annulment, and in the original plot, the first prince wasn’t shown much, so I thought that he was busy handling the state affairs with his father.

“...Well...” He dithered a bit. “If I were to be frank, I’m actually containing you here to interrogate you about your crimes.”

“...!”

Finally it comes, the questions!

“Wait.” I stared at him. “If I tell you the truth, will you protect me?”

The room turned quiet. The prince raised an eyebrow as he gazed at me confusingly.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Ah, I mean, could you protect me and my fief? Because, after I tell you the truth, I don’t think the other party will go easy on me.”

He crossed his legs and caned his chin as if he was thinking about something. “Are you saying that your mastermind is of higher status of you?”

He started asking. Marquis is of higher status than Baron so that counts, right?

“...Yes...”

“...I see.”

          The room fell silent again as he started to ponder with his thoughts. While waiting for him to say anything, I shifted my sitting position to a more comfortable one. After resting on the bed for a long time, I felt my legs getting numb. Will I be able to walk properly, I wonder? I hope I won’t become disabled again just like in my past life.

“I do remember you asking me to protect your fief before you died.”

I looked at him, surprised.

“Y-You... You catch what I said last time?” I stammered.

“Of course, I was the only one there, and the night is very quiet that time so even if you whisper, I could still hear you.”

Suddenly I blushed. Darn, this is so embarrassing. Why am I being brought back to life after I said those embarrassing words? Now that I think about it, Won’t it be weird to ask for protection from the enemy who tried to ruin you?

“Well, yes.”

I covered my eye with the back of my palm as I calm myself down. Now what should I say to him for him to be able to protect me? Because there is no house that is more powerful than the Ronan household other than the royal family, and I doubt any other house would want to protect me as most of Lancelot’s friends were either a bastard like him or the type to backstab people, so he is the only option that I got left.

“I... you do know that I am a troublesome noble and some even want me dead, right?” I said and glanced at him. I noticed the corner of his eye twitched as he fell silent for a moment.

“...Yeah, that’s right.”

He answered while glancing down, not meeting eyes with me. Maybe it was only me, but I noticed that he slightly disliked it when I talk bad about myself, or was it just my mind playing with me, because I liked him?

But thinking about feelings are useless right now, I have to somewhat convince the royal family to protect my fief!

“You see, I know news about me being brought back to life will spread soon because these nobles are very good at seeking information. By that time, many people will aim for me, and some might even try to harm my people back in my town. So that’s why...”

“...Why go to such lengths of wanting me to protect your fief? You know you are a criminal, right? What make you think that you have the right to ask for help from me?”

          He glared at me coldly and I flinched. I know very well that Lancelot was one hefty bastard, and I was never deserved to be protected, but the people in my fief doesn’t deserve to be treated like me. Even if I have to beg, I will, for the sake of them.

“I know... But, if you want to punish someone, punish me! My people don’t deserve to be punished!”

Look, I have begged to him.

          Man, a middle-aged man doing this kind of thing. If I were to be in his position, even I would be put off. I stared at the prince while he still sat silent.

“...Alright then.” He said.

Instantly, my face lightened up. I know that he is one of the cold princes in the novel, but I’m glad that he is kind enough to give protection. I’m so grateful!

“...T-Thank you!...” I replied.

Suddenly, I feel tears fell down my cheeks. I scrunched my face, trying to hold back my tears as I reminisced of all the things that I have done, as Sakamaki Yuu and as Lancelot Ral Constance.

Just right after I reincarnated, I have been running around settling problems that the former Lancelot started. I did say that I want to live my life as I wanted, but seeing the servants and the people, in addition to my fussy attitude, I couldn’t just left them continue living like that.

So, I have been busy in that whole one month settling tasks, training swords, researching the antidote for the poison, and even helping my townsfolk. To be honest, I felt slightly relieved to be able to die but also slightly regretted that I couldn’t see all the results from all the hard work that I had done back in my fief.

But now that I have been brought back to life again, I felt very happy, but also burdened by Lancelot’s past sin and wondered why all of this happened to me.

Suddenly, I felt something warm on my head. I looked up to see the prince patting my head while gently brushing my hair. His expression is as rigid as ever, but strangely, they calmed me down.

“Thank you...” I said weakly as I wiped my tears with the end of my shirt, which is too big on me. Was this the prince’s clothes?

“For what?” He asked and I smiled.

“For many things, I guess...?” I chuckled in response.

          He continued on stroking my head, but I saw his expression softened as he smiled a bit at me.

“Wait here for a moment. I’ll ask them to bring in our lunches.”

After wiping my tears and consoling me until I stopped crying, The prince stood up and walked towards the door, saying that he’ll bring in our lunches. Guess we’re eating in the room again.

          After he had left, I laid down on the bed and sighed. Now that the prince was gone, I suddenly came back to my sense and realized how embarrassingly I have acted towards the prince. I even cried in front of him~!

I tried to move my limbs but they still feel very heavy. I should have been fully healthy now, but I guess returning back to life after death make your body weak, huh?

I nodded off and quickly fast asleep.