As expected, Lloyd didn’t look surprised at all.

Just as Melissa was about to feel relieved, he said,

“I don’t mind if people misunderstand.”

‘What?’

Melissa tilted her head and looked at Lloyd.

Perhaps she had misheard.

She quietly tried to recall what he’d said. But replaying it in her mind didn’t change what she’d heard.

[I don’t mind if people misunderstand.]

Then what did he mean by that?

Melissa couldn’t say anything and just stared at Lloyd. She was so shocked that she momentarily forgot even to blink.

After awkwardly rolling his eyes for a moment, Lloyd slightly ruffled his hair and answered.

She thought she heard a faint sigh.

“That…… lady, it was a joke. I didn’t expect you to be so surprised. I’m sorry.”

“Ah, of course, right?”

Melissa promptly replied.

She desperately wanted to escape this awkward atmosphere.

The thought that Lloyd’s words might be sincere never even entered her mind. Someone as radiant as him couldn’t possibly like someone like her, who had nothing to offer except precognition.

‘Yes, that’s right.’

Melissa had realized through her regression that this unbelievable and cruel fact was all too natural.

Her shoulders slumped slightly as her mood sank.

Seeing this, Lloyd seemed about to say something, but it was naturally drowned out by Melissa’s words.

“Anyway, please be more careful from now on, Your Highness. Although you meant well, there will certainly be people who might interpret it strangely.”

“I understand. I’ll be mindful of that.”

“And you look too unwell. I saw before that you study an enormous amount. Being diligent is good, but health is most important. Please take care of your body while you work.”

“Haha.”

“I’m saying this sincerely.”

“I know, I know.”

Lloyd laughed as if he had never been dejected.

“When you talk like that, you sound like a grown adult. Anyone would think there’s quite an age difference between us.”

Melissa flinched slightly.

Perhaps because of her memories of being older, she had unconsciously treated Lloyd like a child.

Fortunately, Lloyd didn’t seem to mind. She would need to be more careful in the future.

“……I’m just worried about Your Highness. Can’t you adjust your schedule? It seems you could cut back on your lessons for a while.”

“Actually, I’m not busy because of lessons lately.”

“Then what’s making you so busy?”

“You probably know about it too? The monster problem in the north.”

Melissa let out a small exclamation of “Ah.”

Of course she knew.

Wasn’t that also why the Emperor had collapsed this time?

While not the fundamental reason, the monster attacks were also why Melissa had suffered so much in her previous life.

‘Haven’t they recruited more personnel yet?’

She couldn’t remember exactly what the situation in the north was like at this time in her previous life, as she hadn’t been in her right mind then. But the northern wall had collapsed around the time Melissa came of age, so things should still be fine for now.

“Aren’t the mages from the Magic Tower going to manage the wall now? There shouldn’t be as many dangerous situations as before.”

“Not necessarily. They’ve agreed to help, but that doesn’t mean the Magic Tower’s mages will be stationed in the north permanently. Everyone’s worried about what will happen if something occurs when the Magic Tower’s mages aren’t around. The Empire’s mages have their limitations.”

Lloyd added with a sigh.

“They say it should be fine since the young duke of Shortiras is at the Magic Tower, but we never know when the Magic Tower might withdraw their support.”

Melissa sharply inhaled at Lloyd’s words.

It wasn’t because Edgar was suddenly mentioned.

It was because what Lloyd was worried about had actually happened in her previous life.

The northern wall, which had been holding up relatively well, collapsed because the Magic Tower withdrew its support. But the Magic Tower couldn’t be blamed for this.

By that time, the number of monsters had already increased exponentially, beyond statistical measurement. The Magic Tower was too busy protecting itself to support other places.

Lionel and the Emperor demanded that the Magic Tower return Edgar to them, claiming breach of conditions, but it was useless.

‘What can they do if he himself doesn’t want to return?’

The Magic Tower also seemed puzzled, but since Edgar himself insisted, they let it pass. Edgar was an essential person at the Magic Tower, so it was natural.

Because of this, everyone in the Empire ended up pleading and begging Melissa. While precognition couldn’t completely prevent monster attacks, it could help them respond optimally.

That was how she had suffered in her previous life.

“……It will be fine.”

But Melissa could only say this.

After all, she couldn’t tell the Empire’s Crown Prince that his worries were justified and that the future Empire would be in a state virtually indistinguishable from destruction.

‘Other countries face the same situation, so emigrating would be pointless. I need to find a solution somehow.’

Melissa’s mind suddenly became complicated.

What could she do?

A way to break the magical contract and solve the monster problem.

‘Even if the Magic Tower withdraws support, the north needs to hold. We need a skilled person stationed in the north to watch over the wall……’

Melissa, who had been thinking calmly, suddenly opened her eyes wide.

That’s right, the north!

‘Come to think of it, I could go to the north myself.’

If Melissa, who could use precognition, said she wanted to go there, the north would welcome her with open arms. With her power, they could predict monster invasions in advance and prepare accordingly.

Moreover, the north was such an important place that everything entering and leaving, whether people or goods, underwent strict inspection. This meant Lionel couldn’t come and go freely.

The Duke of Shortiras, who held an important position in the Empire, couldn’t stay in the north just because of Melissa.

‘It’s perfect for researching how to break the magical contract too.’

Probably no other place would allow her to worry less about others’ gazes.

Melissa’s face gradually brightened as she found a place that met all her conditions perfectly.

“Your Highness, I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about where I’ll stay. My body has fully recovered now, and the royal physician said I barely need any more treatment, so I’d like to leave the imperial palace soon and live……”

“You cannot return to the Shortiras ducal family, lady.”

Lloyd cut her off firmly.

Understanding his intentions, Melissa smiled slightly and replied,

“I don’t want to return to the ducal family. After what happened there, I don’t want to go back.”

“Then where are you thinking of going?”

“The north.”

Lloyd’s eyes widened, seemingly surprised by her unexpected answer.

Seeing him unable to respond immediately, Melissa emphasized once more:

“I want to go to the north, Your Highness.”

“……Did what I said earlier sound like I was forcing you to go to the north? That’s absolutely not the case. You don’t need to go to the north, lady.”

Lloyd spoke with an urgent tone.

He seemed to have misunderstood the situation somehow.

Seeing Lloyd’s face growing increasingly serious, Melissa quickly answered before he could misunderstand further,

“That’s not why I’m saying this. I truly want to go there myself.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

Lloyd exhaled with an expression full of disbelief.

Understandably so.

A young girl who hadn’t even come of age was suddenly asking to go to a dangerous place that even most adults avoided. And this was a child who had been abused until recently.

Anyone would think it was an impulsive decision.

In fact, it was a decision she had just made moments ago, so they might be right. But…

“Your Highness, I’ve rarely lived according to my own will until now. No, probably never.”

This was solely her own decision.

This wasn’t like when she naively believed Lionel was a kind sponsor, nor like when she helplessly endured after learning everything.

Now that she had gained some freedom, Melissa wanted to do what she wanted as much as possible.

“As you know, it’s difficult to find a place within the Empire where the Shortiras ducal family’s influence doesn’t reach. I believe the north is where I can be relatively free.”

“……”

“When I can also be helpful there, why should I hesitate?”

Melissa smiled slightly, lifting the corners of her mouth.

Lloyd said nothing and stared at her face. He only spoke again after some time had passed.

“Sometimes, lady… you make a strange face. Like someone who’s far away in some distant place.”

Melissa responded by slightly shrugging her shoulders without answering.

Seeing this, Lloyd let out a small sigh.

“I’ll speak to His Majesty about allowing you to go to the north.”

“Really?”

“I can’t stop you when you want to go so badly. As you said, the north is perfect for keeping the duke away. The north won’t be careless about protecting you, a Lucid. However……”

However?

When she tilted her head in question, Lloyd lowered his eyebrows.

“I feel a bit sad that you look so lighthearted about going to the north. I thought we had become quite close during this time.”

“Ah.”

“Would it be alright if I visit you in the north occasionally or write letters?”

Lloyd smiled brightly as if he had never been dejected.

Only then did Melissa, who had been dazed, crinkle her eyes.

“Of course, Your Highness. We’re friends after all.”

A warm breeze flowed through the open window.

It was a bright spring day.