I’m Really Not Trying to Be Chased by the Heroine as the Villainous Playboy! – Chapter 865

Chapter 78: Not Qualified

Roy was a bit surprised and glanced at her.

As if to say, “You can be this straightforward?”

Feeling a bit awkward under his gaze, Charlotte huffed, “What’s with that look? I’m not some foolish king who ignores the achievements of my subjects.”

“I’ve seen your contributions, okay?”

Prodding Roy’s chest, Charlotte began recounting his impressive assists.

“If you hadn’t rushed over at that moment, I would’ve been in trouble. Even after I ranked up to Sequence 4, I couldn’t have gained the upper hand so easily without your Vital assist.”

“And the main reason I ranked up to Sequence 4…”

At this point, Charlotte suddenly fell silent, her gaze locking onto the young boy in front of her, her crimson eyes hinting at words left unspoken.

By this stage, Charlotte was clear about her feelings, but admitting it to him was still a bit difficult.

“I-I ranked up…”

“It’s because of Uncle Robert’s hint, right?”

Charlotte sighed in relief, though there was a hint of regret and some resentment.

But seeing Roy’s clueless expression, as if realizing the truth for the first time, she felt inexplicably irritated.

Roy remembered something about the vague term “kindling heart” from the original story, but just as his curiosity heightened, a loud shout came from his embrace.

“It’s all because of you that I ranked up!”

Charlotte lowered her head, eyes closed, her voice rising and then falling, “So, when I said ‘hint’, I meant you…”

“Are you talking about blood resonance?” Roy blinked.

Charlotte suddenly looked a bit worn out.

“Yeah, blood resonance can temporarily boost blood power, serving perfectly as a promotion trigger…”

“Idiot.”

Accompanied by an immensely frustrated grunt, the red-haired princess turned away, dragging the blankets with her, leaving Roy in the darkness, all flustered.

Her beautiful red hair was now in disarray from this rough action, and Charlotte exuded an aura of discontent, clearly sulking.

The situation was even more exasperating than when a sickly girl directly reprimanded you to drink hot water. Gritting her teeth, Charlotte muttered, “Idiot, idiot, idiot… I hinted so clearly…”

Little did she know, the young boy was quietly chuckling at her back.

Roy didn’t understand the secret to the Lionheart’s ascension to a higher level, but he knew Charlotte well enough.

Some things didn’t need to be spelled out.

And it wasn’t just girls who could feel shy.

The moment he grasped the answer, his heart raced too fast, and he instinctively brushed it off.

Calming down the sulking little red cat wasn’t difficult.

But since the opportunity was rare, why not take good advantage of it?

With that thought, he quickly got out of bed and pulled out something he had prepared.

“Charlotte, there’s something I want to tell you too.”

“Even though I haven’t broken into a higher level yet, my progress so far wouldn’t be possible without you.”

Hearing the noise, the girl turned around.

What greeted her was the clear glow of moonlight, along with a scene more dreamlike and hazy than the moonlight itself.

The black-haired boy knelt on one knee, presenting the magic ring embedded with a ruby.

This action conveyed only one meaning.

Charlotte’s heart raced so fast it felt like it might burst, and all her previous grievances evaporated in an instant.

“Roy? You’re not joking, right…”

“If I said it was a joke, you’d tear me apart, right?”

She was surprised for a moment but then questioned, “You didn’t ask any of them? I’m the first?”

“Because you are my first, isn’t that fair?”

After the banter, Roy revealed a serious expression and sincerely asked, “Charlotte Reinhardt, will you marry me?”

“I actually wanted to ask you on your birthday, but the opportunity was ruined. I don’t want to leave any regrets this time.”

Proposing right before a major battle felt like setting a bad omen.

But now Roy understood how those who set flags felt.

No one knew what would happen tomorrow; if you didn’t seize the moment, you might miss that last chance.

The royal guards had already reached their limit, and the two waves of reinforcements were only a temporary relief.

It was uncertain when the main reinforcements from the Academy City and White Harbor would arrive. Before that, the dragon race might launch their final assault.

At that time, someone would have to face that fallen black dragon.

The hope for victory was clouded and unpredictable.

To be honest, after several brushes with death, Roy’s fear of it had diminished considerably.

No matter the fate’s outcome, all he could do was give it his all.

However, he didn’t want to have regrets until the very end.

“Charlotte, what’s your answer?”

After a stretch of silence, the joy on Charlotte’s face faded, her crimson gaze piercing through quietly.

“Do you want to die?”

Roy didn’t shy away from her gaze: “I haven’t had enough life yet. But who knows what might happen.”

“…You’ve changed. You’re now afraid of dying.”

Roy froze for a moment.

Whether charging into a vicious blood dragon or recklessly diving into the abyss, he truly hadn’t been afraid of death before.

Or rather, he hadn’t had time to even think about it.

The fate of “Roy the Bad Boy,” the fate of the False King’s blood, the impending points of reversal—that bitter struggle to break free from destiny, left him no room to contemplate what death felt like.

But at some point… he had gained so much. His once solitary life had turned far too beautiful.

With the summer starry skies she had shown him, with the autumn maple forests she had shown him, with the winter warm suns she had shown him, with the golden dawns she had seen with him…

And the starting point of all this, the pivot in his fate, surely began with the pink sunset he witnessed with the girl in front of him.

Charlotte smiled softly: “The reason you fear death is certainly because there are things you can’t let go of?”

Taking a deep breath, Charlotte deliberately raised her head, holding up a finger, and criticized, “As a proposal, this isn’t good enough.”

“Time, place, outfit—if you want me to say yes, at least put in a bit more effort!”

“After all this is over, and once you’ve sorted it, I’ll consider giving you an answer.”

The red-haired princess wore a stern face, poking Roy’s forehead, unreasonably commanding, “Until then, I won’t allow anything to happen to you!”

“…Understood.”

Roy smiled knowingly.

His fear of death hadn’t vanished; it merely transformed into a command from the princess, and as a knight, he must obey.

Just as he had followed every command and promise before.

“By the way, was that ring the legendary platinum magic ring? Is it a pair with the one you’re wearing?”

“Yeah.”

“…Let me see it again.” Charlotte’s eyes sparkled with desire.

Roy turned his head: “We’ll talk about it after you say yes.”

“Hey!”

That said, not successfully proposing still left a sour taste, and Roy couldn’t sleep without giving her a little teasing.