Title: Royal Rebirth

Summary: As I patiently waited in the garden for my sweet Olivia to speak to me, Bartfort's damnable whore marched up to me.

I distinctly did not recall this interaction ever occurring. Despite having occurred three years ago, my memory of the event was as fresh as ever. After all, how could I ever misremember the day I met the love of my life.

Not wanting to miss my reunion with my beloved, I hastily told the Lafan girl to leave me be.

My face soon smarted. Gingerly touching my face in confusion, I soon realized what had happened.

"... You... you slapped me," I said stunned.

She soon began to speak.

"I care not for who you are. I'll not tolerate such rudeness," the girl said with a defiant look.

How? The exact same words Olivia spoke this day. How dare this wench taint my memories of my precious Olivia?! How dare she try to supplant my goddess?! How dare she even think she could even compare?!

Standing up from my sitting position, I stumbled towards her. She had a satisfied look on her face that looked as though she had won something.

Oh, I see what was happening now. I was not the only one to have come back. The little witch had as well, and she had just tried to usurp my love's place. No doubt a ploy by the likes of Angelica or Bartfort

... or perhaps even my friends.

No, it must have been my friends' plan. Only they were aware of what should have transpired. Jilk no doubt would have found such a tactic acceptable.

Grasping the Lafan girl's shoulders, I saw her light up in emotional ecstasy.

"What did you do to my Olivia?" I asked.

A look of horror grew on her face.

"You reincarnated?!" she hissed in surprise.

"As apparently you have," I said as my grip tightened.

"You're... agh... you're hurting me," she wheezed.

"... Good," I said as I shifted my grip to cover her mouth and began to drag her away.

After an enlightening discussion with the girl, I learned of a few notable things.

For one thing, the girl was not aware who Bartfort was, which ruled out her being from the future. While Jilk had told me before that those under enhanced interrogation techniques could and would say anything to escape the pain, her lack of knowledge of who Bartfort was or even his features told me enough that she was not from my timeline.

No, she was just another viper with delusions of grandeur. Perhaps even just delusions. Claiming to be from a civilization from even before the Lost Age was simply ridiculous, and to claim that our lives were merely a play to entertain the masses? The sheer audacity to view our struggles and suffering as entertainment.

Though... she did catch onto the fact that I was reborn.

Perhaps her delusions were merely a cover to hide her fact that others were like us. I wouldn't put it past others to try to get between Olivia and me. Not even my so called friends.

In any case, I must find out what has happened to my beloved.

"Your Highness, there you are!" a familiar voice sounded.

Slowly turning, I saw her. The harpy who would rather see the world burn than to let me be with Olivia. All for the sake of sitting on the throne.

"Angelica," I said frostily.

"Where have you been? You missed the entrance ceremony and your welcoming address. Everyone's been in an uproar thinking you'd been kidnapped."

"No doubt, but alas, I fear the gossip may have almost been proven true."

"There was an attempt?"

"Alas, a girl accosted me prior to the welcoming ceremony and tried to drag me off somewhere. Of course, rather than acquiesce, I went searching for some staff members or security personnel. Suspiciously, the area I was in was completely devoid of such individuals," I said while hiding the fact I had deliberately sought out a place to be left alone. Only someone hopelessly lost would have found me... or someone who was told where I had hidden myself.

"What does this girl look like?" Angelica seethed as her chance for the throne had been threatened.

"Almost like a child in stature, but she wore our uniform. She had hair almost as long as her body," I said simply as I had no fear of the girl talking.

After all, the dead don't speak.

Plus, I wanted to see if Angelica would react. Give me a sign that she was hiding her memories from me.

"Understood, let's look for a professor. It shouldn't take long since everyone is looking for you," Angelica said with nary a moment of hesitation. No reactions of recognition. It looks like she had not returned.

Easier for me I suppose since Angelica having knowledge of future events would have been problematic.

With little resistance, we sought out a professor.

Later that night, they would find the body of the witch brutalized. The incident was written off as the witch being punished for failing her duties in luring me. While some commended my level headedness and vocally stated their relief that I would be a fine king, a few more contemptuous voices whispered how cold I must have been to not have immediately assisted a woman in need.

I did not care for nor felt the need to correct such whispers, which I suppose only added to the rumors.

I had more important things to focus on. Who amongst the masses became frightened? If anyone became frightened of the fate the whore faced, they could have been in on her plan.

Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, no one gave any overt sign of fear beyond the expected. Instead, many of the lower noblewomen found it amusing. Proof that Olivia was the only virtuous woman here.

The school had delayed the first day of class for almost a week due to the attempted kidnapping and grisly murder. During that time, I had been under house arrest in the palace for my safety. I steamed at the thought that my precious Olivia had been separated from me for another week.

At least my friends had been locked up in my gilded cage with me. They would not be able to woo my love during my absence.

Angelica had also been holed up in the palace, and despite having to put up with her constant hounding, it made it terribly easy to see to it that she not command her followers to torment Olivia. Knowing that my actions were protecting Olivia made this ordeal bearable.

Now the only other people of concern that had been out of my reach had been both Stephanie and Bartfort. Stephanie because I knew the cruelty she was capable of, and Bartfort because he had been so desperate and the most successful at separating me from my love.

It was because of him that I had died. It was because of him that I found Olivia broken on the floor. It was because of him that Olivia became so confused in the end.

Curse my lack of foresight. I should have mentioned something about Bartfort when I was questioned about my failed kidnapping. It would have been so simple to frame him. After all, he was just some backwater baron. No one would have taken his word over mine.

If I were to mention it now, it would have raised too many questions that I did not have an answer for.

However, the next time the opportunity arose, I would not miss it.

"Your Highness," my fiancée greeted cheerfully when I walked into Olivia's classroom.

"Angelica," I said curtly as I scanned the room.

"Are you looking for someone?" Angelica said with a soured mood once she realized I wasn't here for her.

Not wanting to needlessly put Olivia in Angelica's crosshairs, I coolly explained, "Mother told me that a commoner is here on scholarship. Given her background and the fact that she is here by royal decree, I felt it wise to ensure she is appropriately welcomed here."

Looking around, I saw several girls look nervous. Of course these swine would take issue. With my emphasis of Olivia's right to be here, bullying should be mitigated somewhat.

Looking at Angelica, I saw she looked surprisingly calm. No doubt the fruits of her excellent education in deceit.

"That would make sense. Alas, she has departed for the day. I can deliver your warm welcome to her this evening at the girls dorm. I'm sure she will be ecstatic to know that you are here to ensure she will have a smooth experience in the Academy."

"I would much rather it give my greetings in person."

"Ah... I suppose that is understandable. If I may though?"

"What?"

"Perhaps it would be best not to be too familiar with her if your intentions are to... minimize the other's discontent. While many would see your endorsement for what it is, there are those who would take less kindly for the perceived slight."

"Like you?" I muttered under my breath.

"What?"

"Nothing. Would you kindly take note of those who would still act against her? It would be better to know those who we should not trust. After all, if the nobles can't withhold their misgivings for something small, how can we be expected to trust them with matters of the Kingdom."

Angelica nodded eagerly. She was quite a simple girl. Dangle the idea of her rule, and she would do anything necessary. Something I'm sure to use to great effect this time around until she either caught on or became useless.

"Might I inquire as to where Olivia has gone?" I pushed one last time to see if I could find her as soon as possible. Less time for any others to lay their wretched hands on her.

"Mmm, one moment," Angelica addressed me before turning to another.

"Sarah, you stayed in the dorms during the week. Did you happen to speak to the scholarship student at all or know of anyone who did?"

"No, my apologies," Sarah said hastily.

My eyes narrowed at the response. Angelica sensed it too and proceeded to berate the girl for her actions. How it negatively impacted Angelica's reputation and not because bullying was a terrible thing to do. As expected of my conniving fiancée.

The only consolation in all this was that I had laid down the law and consequences had been doled out. It would not take long for this decree to spread.

As I wandered the school and town looking through Olivia's typical haunts, I recalled the many days I spent with her. While many of them were tainted with my traitorous friends, it was the few we had alone that kept me moving through these halls.

She had not been at the cafeteria, which was somewhat surprising since she often had multiple helpings whenever we dined there.

She could not have been at the dungeon yet since first years were not allowed to enter until the spelunking class towards the middle of the first semester. I warmly chuckled. Olivia must be so restless not being able to collect and sell the treasures hidden in the dungeon.

She was not at the skewer shop that I had shown her, which I suppose made sense since I had been unable to show her it this time around. She always agreed to sample the cuisine I wanted to try.

She was not at the bazaar haggling for leftover produce. A leftover habit from her commoner upbringing no doubt. An endearing trait.

After the sky started to darken, I had to accept I would not be able to find her today. Plus, I doubted anyone would approve the crown prince wandering around so late when a murderer was on the loose after a failed kidnapping.

The next day, I saw my beloved sitting nervously in the classroom. Angelica had likely impressed on her not to overstep. An unfortunate effect of Marie's interference was that I was not able to show my true self to Olivia before my status came out. It would take time to show Olivia my love. For her to come to accept that she belonged by my side.

"Hello, Olivia. My name is Julius. It is a pleasure working on meet you," I said gently as I tried to withhold my emotions.

"Your Highness, it is a pleasure to meet you," she said while getting up and giving a stiff curtsy. Side-eyeing Angelica, I saw her subtly nod in approval.

"None of that now. I'm nothing more than a student here, just like you. Please, call me Julius."

Angelica moved to get up, but I glared at her. She submissively sat down.

"I couldn't possibly," Olivia said cutely.

"I insist. All my friends call me by name."

"Of... of course, Julius."

After spending a wonderful afternoon with Olivia only marred by Angelica's presence, she bade me farewell.

"Julius... it might be wiser to maintain a bit more distance from the scholarship student."

Rather than respond, I glared at her. It did not slip my notice her change in address.

She sheepishly tried to cover her jealousy by stammering, "It's just that Olivia seemed wary of you."

"And I wonder whose fault is that."

Angelica went silent as she knew who I was directing my ire at. She dare not speak up since she knew the truth of the matter.

AN:

1) The result of Julius from Marie-route coming back into the main timeline. I could conceivably modify Julius so that his origin timeline could be the same as my The Villainess Reincarnates. It would be interesting to see how twisted Julius must be to accept that Olivia killing him was a good thing.

2) Currently written such that no else reincarnated, but I would find it interesting trying to write with at least the five having come back. Or Leon having come back. Or Angelica. Or some combination.

3) More of a rough draft. If I were to do a serious take of this, I would like go into more details of the torture.

4) As for murdering Marie, honestly probably something Marie-Route Julius would do without second thought. All five of the love interests were certifiably insane and hoping for the death of their best friends so that they could be Olivia's sole lover.

5) Julius's mental image of his fun life with Olivia are obviously not quite accurate. None of the locations are actually Olivia's favorite spots considering she is a bookworm. Her willingness to do whatever he wants ignores her inability to deny him. Her desperate desire for money is seen as cute attributes rather than cries for help.

Review Response

Phlebiac: When you mentioned the Vader one shot, I actually scoured the fanfiction website to find out what you were talking about. I forgot about AO3 for a hot minute. Btw, it's a shame that the Vader crossover was a one shot. It felt like it would have been a great fic with a deeper dive and a bit more polish.