Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Episode 2: Anna the Maid

Afterwards, I checked my appearance.

Seeing it, I reaffirmed that I am Leon-Freyja.

「Silky silver hair, blue eyes, sharp and well-formed features, a slender build… no doubt about it.」

No matter how you look at it, I resemble the figure my sister had. She often said it was cool, and indeed, it’s quite a handsome appearance. I’m about 175 cm tall, so I guess I would be popular.

「Well, it doesn’t mean anything to me now. I just want to live quietly.」

So, what should I do from now on? Why was I reincarnated in the first place? And when did I die?

「…My last memory is of eating something sweet, I think.」

That’s right, despite having diabetes, I ate too many sweets. I remember being taken to the hospital because of it.

「So, that’s the cause? …How pathetic of me.」

Even though I’m in my thirties, to die like that… I must have troubled my sister. Our parents have already passed away, and since I’m not married, she must have handled the arrangements.

「Well, knowing my sister, she probably laughed and said ‘idiot’… I hope that’s the case.」

Speaking of which, I have a sister in this life too. Let’s sort that out. My father is the king, and I have an older brother, three years my senior, who is the first prince from a different mother. The first queen has a daughter, Princess Lara, who is five years younger than me.

「And I am Leon, the second prince of the Kingdom of Freyja. The only son of the second queen, with an older sister, seven years my senior, from the same mother. My mother passed away a few years after giving birth to me.」

That’s why my sister, Celica, is like both a sister and a mother to me. Leon must have found that annoying. She supported me until the end, yet in the end, I killed her with my own hands.

「…I won’t let that happen in this life.」

I won’t make my sister sad twice. Then, I suddenly realized something. Whose emotions are these?

「…I reincarnated, but I have Leon’s memories and feelings. Complex feelings towards my father and brother, and my feelings towards my sister too. It feels like my past life’s memories are layered on top of that.」

Putting it into words, it makes sense. It seems I’m not possessed or a different personality, but rather a mix. Some people might feel discomfort, so I’ll have to gradually get used to it.

「Alright, that’s enough for now.」

「What have you been muttering about for a while?」

「Whoa!? Hey, don’t scare me like that.」

Turning around, there was a beautiful girl in a maid outfit with black hair cut at shoulder length. She was petite, with a doll-like pretty face. That was Anna, my personal maid. By the way, let me clarify, there’s no inappropriate relationship. Leon was apparently strict about that.

「…Master, has your atmosphere changed?」

「Hm? Really? …Well, I’ve had a lot on my mind.」

「Is it related to being summoned by His Majesty the King?」

At those words, I thought for a moment. This girl is a former assassin who attacked me. I saved her on a whim, and now she pledges her loyalty to me. Even in the original story, she followed me to the end. So, I can trust her.

「Ah… Actually, it seems my brother Yuris has been chosen as the crown prince.」

「—I will go and kill Prince Yuris now.」

「Excuse me?」

「Do not worry, I will not cause trouble for you, Master.」

「Wait, wait!」

I grabbed Anna’s waist as she tried to move and managed to stop her. Oh no, this girl is scary! Right, she was like this! She’s blindly loyal to me, practically a Leon supremacist.

「Hey, your face is practically on my butt… Please save that kind of thing for when we’re in bed!」

「That’s not what I meant! Why is your face turning red!?」

Then she shook me off and faced me. Phew, that was close.

「Well, putting the jokes aside…」

「It didn’t look like a joke.」

When I said that, she turned her face away. I need to be careful with my words. Then she suddenly put on a serious expression.

「Rather, have you changed? Haven’t you always wanted to ascend the throne?」

「Ah…」

How should I explain this? I have just mixed with Leon, and I can’t act very well yet. The old Leon would have been arrogant and furious by now. However, because of the impending ruin and the mix of personalities from my past life, I’ve changed.

「Could it be… an impostor?」

「Ah…」

Hearing that, I couldn’t deny it. I’m not sure of my current state either. If you call me Leon, I’m Leon; if you call me my past self, I’m me. The next moment, while I was thinking that—I drew my sword from its sheath.

Anna’s dagger attack, I barely managed to block it.

「…What are you doing?」

「My apologies.」

Then Anna launched one slash after another. I ran around the spacious room, dealing with her attacks. After a few minutes… Anna’s movements stopped.

「…It seems you are the real one.」

「Did you slash at me just for that… scary.」

What a terrifying girl! If it weren’t me, I’d be dead! …Anyone who understands this joke is from the Hunter generation.

「It’s important to me.」

「In that case, isn’t this enough?」

I activated ice from my palm. This proves that I am Leon-Freyja. Because in this world, only Leon can use ice magic.

「Ah, you’re the real one.」

「Seriously, you jumped the gun too quickly.」

「I apologize. As an apology, I shall serve you tonight.」

「You don’t need to… don’t take off your clothes!」

「Just kidding.」

It didn’t look like a joke though? And if I couldn’t block it, I would’ve been slashed. There was a death flag hidden here too… Scary.

「Anyway, I am who I am.」

「But still, it seems you’ve changed too much… is it perhaps, that?」

「Hm?」

「Could it be that your previous behavior was a facade, and this is the real you? After all, you saved my life out of kindness. But for what purpose?」

「Hey?」

「Perhaps to avoid a struggle for the throne? Deliberately raising a bad reputation…」

She’s muttering to herself about something. It’s just loud enough that I can’t quite make it out.

「Hey? I can’t hear you very well.」

「I apologize. But I understand now.」

「I haven’t said anything though?」

「I’ve realized that the one I’ve chosen is a fine person.」

「…I see.」

I’m not sure, but it seems she’s convinced herself.

That’s a relief, but… why do I have a bad feeling about this?