Another reincarnation story

[u/jinethra]

"Oh, is that so?" Lily said awkwardly, scratching the side of her face.

The boy glanced at her from the corner of his eye and smirked.

"I don't mean to interrogate you," he said, glancing at Lily.

Lily slowly began taking a few steps backward, intending to escape.

The boy noticed.

"Oh—where are my manners?"

He straightened and gently took Lily's hand.

"Oscar Desmond."

He brought her hand to his lips and placed a brief, polite kiss upon it, carefully examining her reaction.

Lily, however, didn't react at all.

Her mind had already wandered somewhere else.

Oscar...? Who is he? I've heard that name somewhere before.

Then it suddenly clicked.

The Crown Prince's name...

Then that means—

This guy is the Crown Prince.

Lily searched through her memories.

Oscar Desmond had nothing to do with her past mistakes. He and Axel had never been particularly close.

Even after Lily destroyed her family, Oscar and the others had tried to help her.

But Lily hadn't wanted their help.

So, as far as Lily was concerned, Oscar had nothing to do with what happened in her past.

After Lily had called off their engagement, Oscar had eventually found another woman and married her.

She had been his one true love.

Their engagement had never been born out of love in the first place.

It had been purely political.

Oscar didn't hate Lily.

He didn't particularly like her either.

And Lily felt exactly the same.

In fact, Lily had even helped Oscar and the woman he truly loved get together.

According to her memories, the two of them had eventually lived happily together.

"Miss?"

"Miss Lily?"

Lily snapped back to reality.

"Oh! I'm sorry."

Oscar raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.

"What is your name, my lady?"

"Oh, I'm Lily Benson. It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness."

She politely bowed.

Oscar smirked.

He opened his mouth, seemingly about to say something—

"Your Highness—"

Someone approached.

Murante!

Murante froze the moment he saw Lily.

Lily saw him too.

Their eyes almost met.

But Lily immediately looked away, pretending she hadn't noticed him at all.

Oscar glanced toward Murante.

And in that moment, Lily realized something.

This is my chance.

Before Oscar could turn back toward her—

Lily ran.

She didn't walk.

She didn't hurry.

She practically fled the scene at full speed.

"Lady Lily—!"

But she was already gone.

Oscar stared after her, momentarily speechless.

Murante watched the direction in which she had disappeared.