Right now I was tearing through the night-quiet school building.
A long-limbed Karen curled up against me, lifted in my arms.
“Eh, eh…… why am I being carried princess-style…… is this a dream? Yeah, it must be a dream. A convenient one my brain is showing me as an escape from reality.”
Karen, muttering rapidly under her breath.
Her face was flushed, her breathing rough.
Maybe the bouncing is rough on her.
Can’t be helped. I’ll tighten my hold to cut down the jostling.
”——!?”
For some reason, Karen made a soundless sound.
Her complexion had turned crimson enough that I’d have suspected a fever.
She may have built up some body heat shut in and crying like she used to do as a child.
Even without that, stress piling up can wreck your health.
The shaking from running can’t be ruled out as the trigger.
“Sorry, but stay still.”
”……! ……!”
She nodded rapidly and slipped her arms around my neck.
“Without anyone spotting you, please bring her to the Student Council room.”
That was the mission Reina Milfonti had handed me.
In that case, leaving through the dorm openly wasn’t an option.
After making sure no eyes were watching, I’d leapt from the window — and here we are.
“Lord Ouga. This way.”
“Got it.”
I followed Alice, who’d scouted the route in advance.
“O-Ouga…… where are you taking me, exactly……?”
“The Council room.”
“Eh!?”
Deliver Karen safely to the Council room.
That was the deal with the Council President.
“I was waiting for you, Miss Lebetsenka.”
In the center of the room, lit only by streaming moonlight, Milfonti smiled brightly.
That same shady, manufactured smile as ever.
When I set the now-completely-pale Karen on the floor, she looked to me with her eyes, begging for help.
…… Which I, naturally, ignored.
Whatever the circumstances, abandoning your duties without notice cannot be allowed.
And from what I’d heard, Milfonti is trying to help Karen.
In this moment, even pushing her away to make her apologize sincerely will lead to better outcomes.
“I-I am terribly, terribly sorry……!”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
”…… Eh?”
“I’m not angry. I haven’t built this organization to be one that breaks down because a single Council officer happens to be absent.”
More importantly, she continued.
“I’m pleased that you apologized honestly and came out before us properly. Right, Veret-kun?”
“Right. Without Karen, the discussion can’t move forward.”
I stepped in front of Karen, grabbed her shoulders, and met her eyes.
“Eh? Wh-what?”
“Karen…… I’ve been briefed on your situation with the Crown Prince.”
“Th-that’s……”
It was a topic Karen wouldn’t have wanted heard — but for me, it was useful information.
I’d been assuming the two of them were simply on bad terms.
The actual state of affairs is darker, and Karen has been hurt by it.
Which brings me to a thing I’d like you to recall.
The things I’ve been doing. The string of sweet words I’ve been laying on Karen.
Tie them together and there’s only one conclusion to draw.
…… Huh? Has Karen — possibly — actually fallen for me?
That would be terrible. Genuinely terrible.
So I needed, first, to check Karen’s feelings.
“What do you want, Karen?”
“I-I……”
“Don’t think about ties and obligations. Tell me what you truthfully feel.”
When I said that, the trembling left her body.
She gripped the hem of her uniform tight.
”…… I want to be with Ouga. …… Together, the way we used to be.”
See? Just like I thought! I’d earned way too much affection.
This was the terrifying possibility that had crossed my mind after hearing the situation from Milfonti.
I want to build a harem.
But if word gets around that the daughter of Ducal House Lebetsenka is in love with me, no woman will dare reach for my hand.
The pressure of the ducal house is too much.
So I need Karen to continue, exactly as before, as the Crown Prince’s fiancée.
The way things stand, though, that future is impossible. Which is where I and Milfonti step in.
”…… I see.”
The whistle hasn’t blown on the game yet.
There’s plenty of recovery still available.
I’d already come up with the plan.
Milfonti’s goal must be the same.
If it weren’t, she wouldn’t have come knocking on the door of an infamous villain like me.
“Things may not work out the way you want. But I’ll do my utmost.”
”…… Sorry. I’m still the weak one from back then.”
“Don’t worry about it. Relying on someone isn’t a bad thing. Leave the rest to me.”
”…… Mm.”
I’d be in trouble if you started running around on your own!
Leave it all to me. It’s fine! I won’t let things go badly!
Milfonti will, she says, shoulder all the responsibility.
She’ll deal with Karen’s trash father personally, as Headmistress.
That being so — the role I’m to play is, as always, the heel.
“Council President Milfonti.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“I request a duel with Crown Prince Arnia.”
I, the worthless degenerate womanizer, will beat the snot out of him — break him — reform him.
And then have that reformed Crown Prince settle his accounts and start his life with Karen from zero.
I dub it [Operation: Crown Prince New Game]……!