“Lady.”

Lloyd approached Melissa’s side.

After briefly praying before the coffin in front of her, he opened his eyes.

“Your words were correct. I extend my thanks.”

“It’s nothing.”

When she smiled slightly, Lloyd smiled back.

“So, I want to repay you as I said earlier.”

“Is anything acceptable?”

“If it’s something I can grant.”

Hearing his clear answer, Melissa spoke.

This was the moment she had been waiting for since choosing him.

“Then please become my friend, Your Highness.”

“Friend?”

Lloyd looked quite surprised by the unexpected answer. His green eyes widened.

Melissa spoke, feeling various gazes glancing her way. It would be strange not to say anything to the Crown Prince who had come to the funeral, so this much should be fine.

“Is that too difficult a request?”

“No, that’s not it……”

Lloyd, who had been momentarily dazed, hurriedly waved his hand.

“It’s just such a sudden request.”

His face showed genuine bewilderment, suggesting his words weren’t a lie. Still, judging by how quickly his expression straightened, he didn’t seem to dislike the proposal.

Melissa let out a small sigh of relief.

“As you know, my only friend will soon leave for the Magic Tower. Now that my mother is also gone…… I think I’ll be a bit lonely.”

“You mean the young lord of Shortiras.”

When she conveniently used Edgar as an excuse, Lloyd immediately nodded with an understanding expression. Meanwhile, Melissa glanced around subtly.

Fortunately, Edgar was nowhere to be seen in the funeral hall.

He seemed particularly sensitive about Lloyd, so she had worried he might come and interfere, but surprisingly he hadn’t.

With a more relaxed mind, Melissa continued.

“Your Highness, I haven’t been able to freely make friends until now. And I probably won’t be able to in the future either.”

“I imagine so. You are from the Lucid family after all.”

“Yes, I always have to be careful.”

Even without Edgar, many people had approached Melissa. The problem was they were all busy satisfying their own greed while pretending to be kind.

“But lady……”

“But that doesn’t mean I can’t make any friends at all, right?”

When she spoke the words Lloyd might have said, he opened his eyes wide and then chuckled softly.

“So you’re asking me to be your friend? Because you need to maintain some level of interaction with the imperial family anyway?”

“You told me to make sure I received compensation. You’ll do it, won’t you?”

Melissa’s heart pounded loudly.

If only Lloyd would become her ally, escaping from Lionel wouldn’t be entirely impossible. Perhaps this time she could live a different life than before.

But contrary to her racing heart, Lloyd was unusually quiet, seeming to be thinking about something.

His tightly closed lips opened just as Melissa was about to speak first out of anxiety.

“No, that won’t do.”

“What?”

Ah, was her reaction too incredulous?

Melissa immediately regretted it.

But wasn’t it justified? After creating an atmosphere suggesting he would grant any request, to say such a thing……

Melissa looked at Lloyd with a tense face.

He had a very serious expression. Of course, not long after, he burst into laughter as if he couldn’t hold it in.

“……Are you mocking me right now?”

“Sorry. I just wanted to make you smile a little.”

Lloyd cleared his throat softly.

“But I’m serious about it not being possible. That can’t be considered compensation. Being just a friend is hardly anything significant.”

The corners of his mouth turned up nicely.

Melissa quietly observed the clear emotion emanating from Lloyd and thought.

‘So this is the kind of person he is.’

He’s too pure and bright to be the Crown Prince of the Artzen Empire.

Looking back, it really seemed she had chosen the right person. Though it was a bit unfair to Lloyd, who had approached her with nothing but goodwill.

‘With such a nature, surely he will……’

Surely he would save her from this hell.

Melissa smiled, hiding her selfish and gloomy thoughts.

“Your Highness is truly kind.”

But she needed to be careful nonetheless.

She might get swept away by that kindness without even realizing it. The human heart is so fickle; even when firmly closed, if the smallest gap appears, light quickly seeps in.

And that gap would later fail to block even a small rain and wind. Just as Melissa had collapsed before.

I won’t let that happen again.

“Only Your Highness would speak of the position of the Crown Prince’s close friend in such a way.”

“But becoming friends with someone from the Lucid family is good for me too. And I……”

Lloyd paused briefly, seeming to be thinking about something.

He smiled brightly at Melissa.

“I thought we already had enough interaction to be called ‘friends’.”

There was no wavering in his green eyes.

When will I become strong enough to have such a gaze?

Melissa thought this as she smiled slightly.

“Your Highness, you must have made many ladies cry already.”

“Huh?”

“I mean you should be careful if you don’t want to have trouble with the issue of a crown princess.”

Lloyd’s cheeks turned red as he understood her meaning.

A vivid color like flowers blooming in the warm spring.

Melissa too had once made such a face. In childhood, she had only truly joyful memories. So happy that she wished such days would last forever.

“Anyway, you don’t need to specifically request that. I actually like you more than you might think. If it’s okay with you, you can call me Lloyd.”

So that’s why that child comes to mind even in this moment.

[Edgar, it’s strange. Everyone calls me the heir of Lucid. No one calls me by my name except my mother and you.]

When she was young, she had harbored such doubts.

Everyone acted kindly toward her, but perhaps it wasn’t because she was “Melissa”—that kind of thought.

[Don’t worry, Melissa.]

Edgar smiled with an indecipherable expression at her sudden comment.

What did he answer after that?

[I’ll make sure no one can call my name either, except for you.]

Perhaps because of this suddenly surfacing memory.

One thought circled in Melissa’s mind.

Had Edgar allowed the Tower Master, Everden Armus, to call him by his name?

“……No. I couldn’t possibly address Your Highness so casually.”

“I really don’t mind.”

“Later. When Your Highness and I become closer than we are now.”

Lloyd shrugged as if he had no choice after her words drew a line.

“Alright then. Do as you’re comfortable. But I think you should tell me what compensation you want. Something other than becoming friends.”

Lloyd seemed determined to give her something in return for saving his life. Melissa was a bit taken aback since she hadn’t expected him to go this far, but it was actually fortunate for her.

“Then, Your Highness, I have one request.”

“Tell me.”

“Would you come to the duke’s mansion once, whenever I want you to?”

“That also seems like nothing special.”

“How can you say it’s nothing, Your Highness? This is tremendous.”

Melissa spoke in a somewhat higher voice than before.

Lloyd nodded as if he would at least hear her out. She continued with a slight smile.

“If you accept this, Your Highness would have to come to me whenever I call.”

“……”

“No matter what happens, without exception.”

When she emphasized the last words, Lloyd’s face, which had been smiling, became more serious than before. He seemed to be weighing the significance of her words.

Meanwhile, Melissa glanced around from the corner of her eye.

Seeing people tilting their heads in confusion, she felt it was time to wrap up the conversation.

“You don’t have to come alone. If this mansion makes you uncomfortable, come with your knight guards.”

“What if I bring the entire imperial knight order with me?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Melissa bowed slightly and then straightened up.

It was a kind of signal that she was ending the conversation.

“No matter how many people you bring, it’s fine as long as Your Highness is among them. Right now, you are what matters to me.”

Lloyd flinched. His pupils trembled slightly, creating faint ripples.

After staying like that for a moment, Lloyd lowered his head slightly. His straight arm lifted, and his hand, large for his age, covered his mouth.

She could see his ears turning red.

Lloyd hesitated a bit before speaking.

“……I think it’s not me but the lady who should be careful about not getting into trouble.”

That’s not possible.

You don’t know how shabby and insignificant I am.

Melissa swallowed the words that were about to burst out and smiled.

Then, Lloyd, who seemed to have composed himself, lowered his hand and spoke with a laugh mixed with a sigh.

“I’ll do that. I’ll come without exception no matter what happens when the lady calls.”

Small magical power swirled around Lloyd’s hand, barely visible to others. It was a magical contract.

Melissa unconsciously let out a hollow laugh. When she tried to do it, he stopped her, but now……

Lloyd, who didn’t miss that, smiled brightly.

“Because I need to compensate the lady.”

“Thank you.”

“I hope that opportunity comes soon.”

Lloyd, who left a brief greeting, turned and left.

A sigh escaped between Melissa’s lips at the thought that one worry had been resolved.

She didn’t know at that time.

That in her previous life, that opportunity had come right away.

* * *

“Lucid, here’s your first task.”

Lionel, who came as soon as the funeral procedures were finished, threw a bundle of documents in front of Melissa.