As the plot dictated, I would someday break my engagement with my fiancee lady Shaina De Brause, the daughter of a prominent duke. If my fiancee wasn't a reincarnator, she would die and I would end up being tortured and killed by her childhood friend Gideon Clayden. If she was, she would gladly accept the breaking of our engagement, found her true love with Gideon, while I would have a bad ending with the heroine.

Only bad end was left for me. A story needed a spice to make it more entertaining and I'm supposed to be that factor. What a prized luck.

I don't blame the story since the idiot crown prince, unfortunately me, was not able to see his doomed. They praised him to be highly intelligent and his grades were on top, but due to falling in love blindly with the said heroine, whom wasn't Shaina De Brause, his judgement must have been clouded.

It was true about the saying 'a man could be intelligent but at the same time, be truly an idiot.' And I could say that a man of his caliber, supposed to be me, was intelligent but stupid in common sense.

If I weight the options, its possible I could have a good ending if I don't dissolve my engagement with the lady Shaina and marry her. Hmm... But then, when I had read the story from my past life, lady Shaina was best for Gideon and Gideon to lady Shaina. How did I end up reading that story, anyway?

Lady Shaina De Brause's personality was kind of obsessed with success and I could see why her eyes were focused on the throne. The reason for that was of her background and the expectations of the people around her.

Unfortunately, I was standing in that road of ambition. It was me, the crown prince, who could give the golden ticket for a woman to become queen.

Lady Shaina grew up in a land in which most soil was infertile. Their dukedom had difficulty with crops but then they were wealthy due to their gold mines counteracting their disadvantage to agriculture.

In response to poor crops in their fief, the young lady Shaina went here to the capital in search for knowledge and research on agriculture to improve the farming practice in their land while learning in the academy.

Upon hearing the brilliant mind of a young lady and her heartfelt consideration to her family, land and people, the king had taken an interest on her. Not only was she brilliant, beautiful, wealthy and thinks of her people but she was also a duke's daughter making her the perfect match for the crown prince.

Actually it was the king, my father who had taken an interest to lady Shaina De Brause and not me. The choice was the best for the future of the kingdom. As one can see, my fate was just decided by the world, if not by the author or me myself.

It was also foolish of me to have taken a liking to the heroine named lady Leena Enfield, daughter of a viscount. Though I don't blame her since she was a charmer in all angles, a little angel she was and innocently charming. Girls like her were magnets of trouble. I should have known. It was not of my best interest to involve myself with her in a romantic way.

Urghhh. Those cheesy lines that escaped my mouth for her to hear.

While sitting in my chair thinking deeply, sipping my tea out in the open garden of the academy, I wanted to bang my head to this huge tree standing as our shade against the sun.

"His highness is so cool and handsome."

Cool and handsome, as if. By the way, I could hear you all.

"He looks like a painting while sipping his tea."

"Lady Shaina is so lucky to have him as her fiancee."

"I could feel his imperial dignity even in this distance."

"He is so royal."

Because I am a royal myself. As I put down my tea, I smiled pleasantly at the passing ladies and they went 'kyaa kyaaa' while others blushed red.

I should talk to lady Shaina, enlighten her about her relationship and love to Gideon. Though it would be suspicious since I never knew or met Gideon personally. Oh well, I could always talk it out in a roundabout ways.

Wait. If that happened, the plot may fall into ruins. I mean it might go the wrong way. As the story goes, I would be despised by lady Shaina after breaking the engagement since I became stupid. If I suddenly became wise and told her about her feelings towards her best friend, it could backfire.

Worse, she might fall in love with me. In the first place, she did love me but its not me that she loved but the me that stands next to her when she would become a queen. It was my outer appearance, my outer attitude and personality.

Though I do assumed she was the type of person who would be loyal to the person she took promised with. And when she saw my ugliness upon breaking her engagement and so on, she had despised me. It was a natural outcome.

It was my fault when she turned ugly, kidnapping and attempting to kill the heroine, lost her status when she was caught and the ugly scenes made her lost more than everything she have- herself, her dukedom and her family.

After the tragic event of her life that ended in her death, I was tortured and killed by her best friend Gideon who raised to ranks and had raised an army against me, the royalty. It was a fitting end of my character there. Though if she truly love Gideon, I shouldn't have to stand much as a factor between them.

The reincarnator Shaina realized everything upon remembering her past life due to an accident, accepted my dissolution of our engagement, and went with her romantic love with her best friend Gideon. As for me, it was depicted that I didn't end up happy with my marriage to the heroine lady Leena Enfield. It was just a little paragraph to how I end up in that story.

Truthfully, I did like lady Shaina in some ways. She was beautiful, smart and considerate. But it was only that. The me in the story might have been disappointed when she, a reincarnator who had seen her life, easily accepted my breaking of our engagement in front of everyone while I was holding the heroine lady Leena.

Anyway, I would not let myself end up miserably nor lady Shaina falling in love with me even if its nearly impossible. I wouldn't put myself in such an awkward or dangerous position. And now I'm also having trouble with the heroine. Lady Leena had seen my cheesy cringy side.

Lady Leena Enfield had a small frame, a cute lady that one would want to protect. She wasn't beautiful like lady Shaina but she was pretty and lovely, a genuine heroine. Someone that was kind, hardworking, smart and had a little bit of clumsiness that made her more adorable.

"What are you thinking so deeply? The ladies are even worried with this unusual behavior of yours. Did you really hit you head hard during that incident?"

Lucius, my friend, a duke's second son asked me with a worried yet wondering what in the world I am thinking so deep. This person sitting across me was also one of the heroine's followers.

It does look unusual for me to be thinking deeply long and quiet. The original me wasn't like this but after meeting an accident during my secret rendezvous outside the castle, I remembered pieces of memories from my past life.

It was a long ago memory but the important parts were there. I had lost my life at a young age but I wouldn't go much further since I don't remember much. It was like trying to remember your memories when you were still seven while being an adult.

"Oii! Do you hear me, your highness Rhyderch. I'm going to call for a doctor if you're not feeling well."

"Nonsense Lucius." I laugh it off. "I'm just thinking of recruiting a promising knight into this academy."

"Care to explain your deep thoughts, Rhys. And who might this interesting knight be?"

"Gideon." I only answered.

Unfortunately, I'm an only son to which the crown would easily passed to me. It would be nice if Gideon was my brother. I would give him the crown since in the story, he already took the kingdom by force. Should I say it was his from the beginning?

My luck only as a factor. Well, I'm not interested to my title right now. But how should I give it to him? It didn't matter to me if lady Shaina was a reincarnator or not. The main thing was I wouldn't let myself end up miserably.

Lady Shaina, the villainess who could be a reincarnator or not. Lady Leena, the heroine who wasn't a heroine. Presently, both of them were only headache to me.

Now that I thought about it, both me and lady Leena share the same fate. In the story about a villainess who was reincarnated, the said heroine which was Leena, didn't have a happy ending on both story. On the other hand, the villainess which was lady Shaina seemed to be given justice upon her death or given happy ending upon remembering her past life.

She really was loved. The author must have liked lady Shaina since she was dreadfully spoiled by the story. Would it also apply to me because I remembered some of my past life memories? Normally it should be. Even if it wasn't, I would push for it. The hell with it all.

"Ah, right, Rhys, lady Leena is coming today, right?"

I turned to look at Lucius and it was too obvious for me to see how excited he was. In the story, as someone who follow the heroine Leena and fallen in love with her, Lucius gave up his love for both of us.

I smiled at him. "This time, Lucius, I will support you."

Lucius Edevane is the second son of a Duke. He's been my friend since we were younger, as much as I remembered. Well, other than the duchy of De Brause family which lady Shaina belong to, Edevane family was also one of the greatest dukedom in the kingdom. Both of them were.

While sipping my tea, I heard the breaking of a teacup. I found Lucius staring at me in astonishment.

"I think you need to be examined by a doctor now, your highness," he said seriously as he  was about to go and call for an attendant.

"Stop it Lucius." As the attendant came, I told them to clean the table from the mess Lucius had done while I continued to sip my tea, then confidently stared at Lucius. "Sir Lucius Edevane, please return to your sit right now. This is an order. Might I remind you, lady Leena is coming."

Somehow that calmed him down as we saw the figure of a familiar girl coming to our table, showing us her sweetest smile. Though, Lucius was still doubting, he composed himself as lady Leena came to sit with us, Lucius standing up to prepare the sit for the lady.

Hmm... Lady Leena Enfield. Something was wrong now that I observed her. What's happening inside the Enfield viscounty? Lady Leena is lacking mannerism and etiquette. Are they not giving her proper tutor?

"Rhys! Lucius! How are you today? I've actually baked-"

I put my hand up, making her stop mid-sentenced. Something was really wrong. My mind was processing things a lot and I remembered lady Shaina's warning days ago, on how I should maintain my distance from the female lead.

On the other hand, Lucuis wanted to retort due to my sudden unusual attitude towards the lady I suppose to be falling in love with, but right now, Lucius, you also need to shut up. I palmed up towards him to stop him from talking as I ponder.

I took a look at lady Leena. She tried smiling, awkwardly as I assessed her. Her shoes, it's not her school shoes. Did she changed it? And her socks... She might have tried to hide it but I could see the taint of dirt on her socks beneath the shoes she was wearing right now.

"Hah..." I pinched the bridge of my nose as I felt an incoming headache. "My head aches right now. Lucius, you're right, I do need to see a doctor now." I rose up from my seat and they followed but... "No need to follow me, you two. I can manage on my own. Sir Lucius. Lady Leena. I'll take my leave now."

I bid them farewell as I have things to settle for now. Its the least thing I could do.

Somehow I could understand why the me in the story stooped so low. Along my path I had lost my way and everything became unsure as I kept falling into a hole in which there was no way out.

I was infatuated with the heroine but it wasn't love. I wanted my fiancee to see me, not the me as the crown prince, but just the real me. And when I cannot seemed to reach her, I made a scene using both women. The two of them were hurt and the consequence of my selfish actions brought tragic to their life. In response, I was severely punished by fate.

I might have been seeking attention, wanted to be seen and not shadowed by my title as the crown prince. Somewhere in my life, surrounded by people, I must have thought I was truly alone. I'm restrained by my title and it slowly made me lose the real me.

I must have been jealous of the two woman who seemed independent and free despite of their status. I could only smile and put my mask while no one knew what I really do feel inside, having the notion that the two of them were laughing at me, or so I must have thought.

I was the crown prince, having taken the black as a raven's hair from my great grandfather who was known as one of the greatest king and the silver eyes that symbolizes me as a royalty. With excellent grades acquired with hardship and the position of crown prince, I was standing above everyone.

But I felt inferior when I met lady Shaina and lady Leena. Lady Shaina was someone I cannot reach, both with influence and brains. If I was compared honestly to her when it comes to dignity and academics, I would stand second to her. While lady Leena never cared about the standing of aristocrats and royalty as she humbly give respect to everyone.

They seemed free and amazing while I felt being restrained by chains of my own foolishness of blaming my position and things I am lacking. I felt inferior and the gap between us widened as it made me feel awful.

I was above 1 year level to both the villainess and heroine. Thanks to being older by 1 year, I had gotten first place in academics in my batch, because if lady Shaina was the same grade as me, I would probably be in second place, she would have taken the first place and lady Leena would take the third place.

I realized I was wrong. The me in the story was young and ignorant. Everyone have their own problems , trying to live their life just like me. I was a scumbag who used my position to trample on them.

How funny it is. Just a memory of a story about my present self and to where it goes, I ended up reflecting deeply. In the next few days, my personality would turn 360 degree.

When one was given a glimpse to their future, it heavily affects the mentality of the subject. What more if each of the parallel of the story? I need to make a path for my survival and contentment.

All the reflections I did drained me.

My father the king had noticed the tiredness I tried to cover up with a smile. A doctor was summoned and suggested that I should take some days off from school and rest.

They had noticed the darkening shadow below my eyes and I think I got thinner.

"Lady Shaina De Brause send a letter and a gift, praying for your recovery. Also, lady Leena Enfield and sir Lucius Edevane had send a letter and asked about your well being. There are also letters from the house of- "

"Enough." I stopped the man midway. From his hands were a tray full of letters. Beside him was also an attendant holding a tray, but with only one letter. "If I'm going to rest, I prefer not to entertain anyone."

"Then we'll only leave lady Shaina De Brause letter. The others will be left in your desk, your highness."

"No." Especially those two girls. "Leave them all, not one left, to my desk."

The man was surprised but he hid it immediately. "As you wish, your highness."

"Thank you." This time they weren't able to hide their surprise as I went my way to where my father's office. There's something that needed to be arranged first.

I found out that lady Leena was being bullied at school due to my involvement with her. That's why lady Shaina had been warning me. She was trying to protect lady Leena, and since lady Leena became our friend, she tried to hide the bullying happening behind our back. She doesn't want to worry us so she always smiled as if nothing bad was happening.

Damn. This was all my fault. That's why I was punished.

From the investigation of the house of Viscount Enfield, I found out that lady Leena wasn't treated well as a daughter of a noble. She was a child from the viscount's infedility. That man, he'll gonna pay for it. He took the child in to stop the rumors growing worse while the viscountess treated her worse since lady Leena was a reminder of her husband's cheating.

They did not gave her proper tutors. One thing that this crown prince of me must have done good was that the viscountess maltreatment against lady Leena lessened as she found out I was friends with her.

Lady Leena was a good friend, truly a heroine, honest, kind and warm-hearted. It wasn't a mistake that many were drawn to her due to her good natured-will. And somehow, I will let Lucius handle this and lady Shaina will handle the bullying.

At first, lady Shaina was angry, conflicted, doubting, then after thinking more on it, she proceeded to handle the bullying in a smoothly manner way.

"If I may ask, your highness, what made you suddenly change? As far as I know, you weren't like this before," she commented when we attended a social party and I acted as her escort. It was one of her ploys to slowly lessen the bullying, by building the relationship between the crown prince and the crown princess, and I, distancing myself from lady Leena.

"Well, something might be wrong with me, as per sir Lucius had said before."

Well, it can't be help. Lady Leena might be slightly upset but I could see from her that she was trying to understand the situation. Lady Shaina must have said something to her.

On the other hand, Lucius had already done his part. Though, he must felt depressed since lady Leena became busy after she was given a tutor for her etiquette lesson. She'll be running after a lot of lesson by then.

Now, as for the next one, it would be lady Shaina and Gideon's turn. Lucius can do all his effort now regarding lady Leena. If ever they needed help, they have me on their back.

Suddenly, a thought dawned on me. And that is...  I felt like I'm turning into a matchmaker.

"Sir Gideon, you love lady Shaina. You are the only man who could really make her happy. And it won't be me since I cannot give it to her," I spoke honestly and he was caught by surprise.

It was not surprising for me anymore. I learned to be more direct to the point as time went by after my so called awakening. I found out its better to be direct than going around the bush. Life lessons, but then I wasn't expecting the collar-grabbing I received from Gideon.

I'm tall and on the leaner part but this man, Gideon was taller than me and bigger in built. I was startled when he suddenly grabbed me by the collar as if to strangle my neck with it. If he did this in public, he would not escape execution. But even though he knows I'm the crown prince, he still had the guts to do this.

Indeed, he was the man who took over the kingdom by force for the woman he love. How amusing.

"What are you smiling at, your highness?" He threatened while glaring down at me. He was just an inch taller than me, though. "Do please take your words back, your dear highness. I could assasinate you, right here, right now."

"You are right. And everyone will know," I casually retorted at him. So this was how he was able to take over the kingdom. He would be a good subject, then.

"I don't care," he hissed, totally annoyed.

"Really?" Well, I won't back down either. This was presumptuous of him. I haven't done anything against lady Shaina yet, as what the story would have led to, nor I have the right to recieve this, because no matter what, I'm still the crown prince, and I won't let him tarnish it as long as I still wore the title, may it be childish or not on my part.

"If I say everyone, who woud be the most affected?" Reaziling the answer to it, he harshly removed his hold on me.

"Fair enough."

I arranged my collar. "Think through it. I am serious. This is for lady Shaina's happiness. She is a dear friend and I don't want her to be disappointed. I'll be the one to break the engagement if need be. The mockery of the aftermaths should be left only to me." I left with those words.

And before I got out from the door, "..and one more thing. Sir Gideon Claydon, you are a great knight of the kingdom, far enough to take my own head if I become king. As a crown prince, you and lady Shaina are a great asset for the kingdom. But more than that, I, simply only as Rhyderch, it woud be nice if we could be friends." I grinned at him since it was the truth, then left him to ponder everything I had said.

After conflicts and happenings between each other, finally, Gideon with his tough patience, was able to confess his feelings to lady Shaina. We became close friend throughout the happening as he tried pursuing the love of his life and sometimes, or more than I could remember, asked advices from me. I sometimes, or more than, passed the troubles to Lucius and Leena.

Lucius and Leena became a couple after officially accepted by the crown prince. My status should be used as efficiently as it should, not the other way around. They became the talk of the academy as they became sweet to each other that tempted me to give them trouble, so I presented Gideon to them.

I don't have good experience to romance and I'm far to be expert on such field so I present the sweet couple of the campus to the damsel in love. Enough trouble is enough for me. Well, but somehow, it turned out well. Lucius was so encouraging and lady Leena was such a sweet girl as she was able to listen to the man's love trouble.

I ended up having tea with them every now and then to see how everything will unfold. It became a regular consultation session. The one who actually bridged the two together was lady Leena as she also became lady Shaina's consultant in love.

Not that it matters to me but I can't seem to get used seeing lady Shaina, who was to be the villainess, and lady Leena, the heroine, being so close. I didn't forseen that this could actually happen.

Furthermore, since I'm the one who initiated things, I wasn't able to escaped from lady Shaina's earful remarks for the aftermaths of my, and of course, he won't escape, Gideon's doing. And that bastard Gideon didn't even help me, instead he was standing at the side cowering in fear and trying to be quiet as much as possible.

How could he cower in fear when he was the one who took the kingdom by force from the story?

"Your highness, are you listening?"

"Yes. Yes, my lady. My ears are all open and might be bleeding by now," I responded.

Shaina sighed in resignation. "And you Gideon..."

Gideon gulped.

"I can't believe you could do this." Suddenly, lady Shaina's voice became soft and took us by surprised, especially Gideon. He really do become a sheep in front of lady Shaina.

Tear fell from lady Shaina's eyes. It stunned me as I saw her cry. I'm not fond of seeing a woman cry. From what had happened and supposed to happen in the story, I must admit, a woman's genuine tears became my weakness.

Gideon began to panic.

"How could you? Even his highness the crown prince. How could you do this for me? The consequences wouldn't be easy," she cried, her both hands covering her face.

I pushed Gideon towards lady Shaina and this was a step for him to remove his hesitation to hug the lady she loved. Gideon, as innocent as he was, was awkward and shy at the action but then, as she felt the lady in her arms, his hand wrap around her as he comforted her.

As I watched the two, I felt relief and happiness for the both of them. I stepped out of the room and now, it was time to be the bad guy.

It wasn't a bad idea if I would be gifted by such a sight. Its as if I became the older brother for them and it wasn't a bad feeling. I felt lighthearted. Breaking the engagement and planning to receive the mockery of the general public was a small price to see them this happy and contented.

But it woudn't also be easy for Gideon because of his status. Well, I'll use my status. My name is not only a title. As I said, it should be used efficiently. If its not enough, I must pursuade my father. On the noble's part, I have lady Shaina De Brause and Lucius Edevane's family on my side. Two great dukedoms and other more. Who would dare?

And from the story itself, even in this lifetime, I could foresee that Gideon will rise into ranks. It wouldn't even be a question if he would dare to take the throne.

On the other hand, Viscount Enfield, lady Leena's father, hold a grudge against Duke Edevane's family since Lucius Edevane intervene on their family matters for lady Leena but as I said, they have me on their back. It was also surprising how the Edevane's dukedom family took side and protected their future daughter-in-law, and heard that they treated her like she was already their daughter.

And I swore, viscount Enfeild will meet his doom while I have to play it well. At least, I need to maintain their name for lady Leena's sake.

Putting him in his place is as easy as pie after digging matters in their family business and history. They should be glad that lady Leena was their daughter and a dear friend of us, otherwise, I would have erased their title.

Now the matters are all settled, I felt genuine happiness for the two couple. Shaina and Gideon was the bickering couple while Lucuis and Leena became the sweet couple.

Many things happened. There were setbacks and questions but it didn't last long. I thought I would end up receiving a lot of mockery, but then, the general public somehow accepted the breaking of the engagement wholeheartedly.

Is it because Gideon was a good charmer and Shaina an excellent lady? But I should have at least been bashed. But they accepted it openly and they were welcoming that I blessed the famous couple. Hmmm... People of the kingdom are not narrow-minded as I presumed them to be. Though, everything was kind of baffling.

I heard they talk about me as a wise and loving person. They shouldn't be praising me too much. I actually did all this not solely for them but for the peace of my future, but now, I kind of doubt it.

"Your highness, who do you believe more, Gideon or me?"

I never thought lady Shaina would have this kind of personality. She never revealed this to me when she was the crown princess.

Its nice seeing her this uncompose and comfortable. She felt stuffy before and I felt insecure around her, but now, this true color of her that she only reveal to her closed ones was much more accepting and comfortable.

"Your highness, Shaina will insist to want to have her own way. Though I do believe her but this time I must adhere to my own decision of her not coming with me. Its too dangerous for a lady to take part in this mission. Your highness, you should prevent her," Gideon retorted in his strict voice.

"I can protect myself!"

"No, you can't against men with larger built than yours."

"I won't involve myself directly! I just have to take part in this mission of yours," Shaina stubbornly reacted.

Why am I always involved when they fight? Don't they know that being a crown prince is already a workload for me. Right now, I'm being pressured by the kingdom to find a new crown princess. I don't plan on marrying but somehow, when I see these annoying bickering couples, especially the lovebirds Lucuis and Leena, I felt envious.

Now, how do I get over this?

"Your highness!" Both of their voice rang on my ears.

"Just play rock, paper and scissor. The winner would have their way," I suggested, giving up.

"Okay, I'll be the witness!" Leena raised her hand in excitement.

"Then, we'll be the judge." Lucius also took part on the somehow rock, paper, scissor that turned into a competition.

"Not you too, Lucius," I commented to him dryly but none of them were listening. Both Gideon and Shaina was in a fighting mode, preparing their hands for the rock, paper and scissor.

"This is kind of fun," Lucius said beside me as he was enjoying the scene.

They won't really leave me in peace. But... this isn't bad. Unconsciously, my lips curved up. This is so peaceful and fun.

"See, you're also enjoying this Rhys." Its been a long time since he last called my nickname. He only called this name of mine in private or when its only the two of us.

"Yeah."

~~~~~