The Reason for the Change in the Apathetic Duke’s Son

Linntia has been reincarnated as the villainess of an otome game. While she has yet to become engaged to the prince, avoiding marriage entirely isn’t an option due to her noble obligations. Reluctantly, she continues to participate in matchmaking tea parties. In the otome game’s storyline, her engagement to the prince was supposed to occur after she fell in love with him during one of these gatherings. She had then begged her father to arrange the match, which the royal family accepted. Now, Linntia considers the possibility of choosing someone other than the prince as her fiancé. It all depends on compatibility, after all. Today’s tea party introduces her to Isaac, the lethargic son of a duke. His lazy and unmotivated personality seems to have been present even as a child. “Teach me the joy of living,” the boy declares bluntly. Linntia wonders what could have led him to such a state—his character didn’t have a dark past, as far as she remembered. “I don’t know you well, so I’ll share the things that I’ve found enjoyable,” she responds. When she lists her joys, the once-weary duke’s son lights up, his eyes sparkling. Their engagement is soon finalized, and Isaac undergoes a transformation. When he stands by Linntia’s side, his smile is bright and full of life. At the academy, the otome game’s heroine suddenly confronts Linntia. “You’re a reincarnator too, aren’t you?! You’ve ruined the game’s storyline! You’re the worst!! Since you’re not engaged to the prince, none of the flags are triggering!!” Linntia, entirely uninterested, tries to ignore her, but the heroine grabs her arm. “Don’t ignore me!” “It’s only natural to want to avoid someone screaming nonsense like they’ve lost their mind.” “What did you say?! I don’t care what you think, but why has that lethargic duke’s son changed so much?! I don’t care—just break off your engagement and become the prince’s fiancée! Fix the storyline!!” There’s no way she’s going to “fix” anything at this point. The heroine’s demands are ridiculous, and her behavior is frightening. “Break off the engagement? Don’t be absurd. Demanding I become the prince’s fiancée is also borderline treason.” Before Linntia can say more, Isaac sweeps her up into his arms.