Waging war and killing people is harder than I expected.
Standing on a battlefield soaked in blood, surrounded by bodies, while cutting down more enemies until my hands go numb—it's not something you can prepare for. The screams, the war cries, the stench of death—those stay with you. And I don't plan on forgetting them.
I'll see more of this as I grow. That's the reality of being a ruler. My first battle was against a foolish man—that's the only reason I survived without paying a heavier price. Next time, I won't have that luxury. I'll have to adapt, improvise, and maintain a cool head even when everything around me is falling apart.
But war isn't the hardest part.
The aftermath is.
Politics. Economics.
Two subjects I've always hated—but I have to master them. Winning battles alone won't build a kingdom or sustain an empire.
I can't waver. I can't break.
I have a kingdom to protect—and a future to secure.
I was thinking about all of this as I stood in the garden, the cool night air brushing against my skin. The moonlight cast pale shadows across the marble path beneath my feet. The silence was a fragile thing—one I rarely got to experience.
Then I heard a voice. Soft, melodic.
"Prince Rhydher, fancy seeing you out here all alone. Mind if I join you?"
I knew that voice instantly.
Princess Diana.
Daughter of the Saint Queen of the Sapphire Empire.
She had come to visit me in Verdune after hearing about my exploits—suspecting, correctly, that I was a reincarnated soul. I didn't confirm it, of course. I couldn't afford to. Not in front of all those people. But I knew she was the same as me. A reincarnated soul.
That made her dangerous.
But also… someone who might understand.
I'll be honest—when I saw her today, I was mesmerized.
It wasn't just her beauty—though that was undeniable. Silver hair that shimmered beneath the light, eyes sharp with quiet intelligence—but something deeper.
It reminded me of her.
My first love. The one I admired for years in my past life.
I thought my heart had grown cold, numb from the weight of war and responsibility. I tried to forget her—to bury those feelings in this new life. But I couldn't.
And now Diana stands before me—a reincarnated soul like me, with the same hair color, the same personality.
My heart is torn between two lives.
Two loves.
But for now… I'll keep that to myself.
Because whatever happens next—she could be a powerful ally.
Diana approached with quiet grace, her silver hair catching the moonlight.
She stopped a few steps away from me, her gaze soft yet searching.
"It's beautiful out here," she said, her voice low.
I glanced toward the moonlit garden—the way the pale light kissed the marble, the faint rustle of leaves in the cool night breeze.
"It is," I replied. "Quiet."
Her eyes flicked toward the dark horizon. "The moon's brighter here than in the Sapphire Empire."
"Maybe it's the altitude."
She smiled faintly. "Or maybe it's just you."
I raised an eyebrow. "Careful, Princess. That almost sounded like a compliment."
She laughed softly, the sound light but edged with something deeper. "Perhaps it was."
We stood there for a moment, letting the silence settle between us.
Her gaze drifted toward the stars. "Do you ever wonder what's out there?"
"No," I answered. "I'm too busy trying to keep my kingdom from falling apart."
Her expression softened. "You carry too much weight on your shoulders."
"It's necessary."
"Is it?"
I turned toward her, meeting her eyes.
"Yes."
She held my gaze for a moment longer before smiling. "I think you've forgotten how to breathe."
My lips curled faintly. "And you think you can remind me?"
Her smile widened. "I could try."
For once, the silence between us didn't feel heavy. It felt… easy.
The moonlight stretched across the garden, and for the first time in a while, I didn't feel the weight of the battlefield on my back.
"Perhaps I should step up and be honest with myself," she said, her voice low and quiet.
I frowned, puzzled. "What are you talking about?"
She turned toward me, her silver eyes steady and bright beneath the moonlight. Her cheeks were red— soft as the glow of the moon.
Then she said it.
"Tsuki ga Kirei."
My breath hitched.
My mind raced.
What?
Why?
Does she like me?
Is she trying to tie me down with love? Is it because I'm a prince?
No—it wasn't any of those.
Her eyes… they had that same look. The same quiet vulnerability. The same sincerity.
Just like her in my previous world.
I forced my expression to remain calm. "What does that mean?" I feigned ignorance.
Her gaze sharpened. "You're really going to pretend?"
"Pretend what?" I replied, maintaining my composure—barely.
She stepped closer. Close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating off her skin.
"Allow me to explain." Her voice softened. "Come closer."
I hesitated for half a second—then leaned in.
Closer.
And then—
She kissed me.
Soft. Warm. Brief.
I could feel her warm breath. And she smelled nice.
Her lips brushed mine like a whisper, but the impact was devastating.
When she pulled back, her eyes shone with quiet determination.
"I love you, Rhydher H. Drakseid. Not because you're a prince. Not because of our shared circumstances. I love you as a person."
My thoughts scattered, my chest tightening under the weight of her words.
My mouth opened—
Nothing came out.
I have to respond.
I have to say something.
I have to give her an answer.
No more running. No more pretending.
I lowered one knee before her, taking her right hand gently in mine. My heart was pounding, but I forced my voice to stay steady. Calm.
"I'm sorry, Princess Diana… but I need time to figure out myself—and my heart."
Her eyes widened, lips parting slightly in surprise.
"I want to match your sincerity and love with my own," I continued. "So when I've figured everything out, I promise I'll come for you… even if you don't love me anymore."
The silence stretched between us—fragile and heavy.
It wasn't the answer she was expecting. But…
Her lips trembled into a soft smile. A tear clung to the corner of her eye.
"You mean it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I nodded. "I'm a man of my word. I don't make promises lightly."
She held back her tears as she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me. Her warmth seeped through my coat, soft and steady. I let myself breathe her in for a moment, closing my eyes.
We spent the rest of the night beneath the stars.
No words. Just quiet. Just peace.
She fell asleep against my shoulder, her breathing soft and even.
Carefully, I stood and carried her back to her room, laying her down gently beneath the silk covers.
I watched her for a moment—her silver hair shimmering in the moonlight, her lips parted in sleep.
Then I turned and walked away, the cool night air brushing against my skin as I stepped into the hall.
Only the stars and moon know what happened that night.
Good night, Diana S. Sapphire,Isekai de no Hajimete no Koi (My First Love in Another World).