Chapter 5.1
“Everyone, please rise.”
At his words, I let go of my dress and raised my face. However, I couldn’t help but frown when I realized that the person in the center of the hall wasn’t Rachel, nor even Melina, but an unfamiliar blonde woman.
Who is that woman now?
“Oh my, Arinne?”
Arinne?
I frowned at Lilith’s voice, which murmured from behind with a somewhat welcoming tone. Who is she? She wasn’t even in the original work.
After pondering for a moment, I looked at Rubellian to see if I could get an answer, but he was just holding me in his arms with a frown.
That’s when it happened. The Crown Prince and the mysterious woman slowly approached me, while I was left puzzled. Soon the Crown Prince looked at me and smiled.
“Duchess, it’s been a while.”
“I greet His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Last time when Rubellian was attacked, it was too urgent to properly ask about your well-being. You seemed quite shocked too.”
“I’m grateful for your concern, Your Highness.”
I smiled broadly while stepping back slightly behind Rubellian. Since I didn’t know whether the Crown Prince would use his heart kindly or not, it was better to step back.
Thinking that while glancing at him and the woman called Arinne, the woman who met my eyes smiled brightly and said.
“It’s my first time meeting you, Duchess. I’m Arinne Delrun, daughter of Marquess Delrun.”
“Ah, it’s my first time meeting you, Lady Delrun.”
“I’m so honored to meet you, who is famous for your beauty. Hearing news of my older broth— ah, sorry. His Grace the Duke’s marriage from afar, I’ve always wanted to meet you someday.”
Older brother?
Why is she calling you older brother? Husband?
At the words that came out in Arinne’s soft voice that swayed like a spring breeze, I looked up at Rubellian.
Meanwhile, without showing any interest in Arinne’s warm words, Rubellian spoke coldly.
“I never thought you’d bring Lady Delrun, who’s studying abroad. Orca Academy must make absences difficult.”
“Lady Delrun often spent time with us when we were young, didn’t she? She seemed greatly regretful about not being able to attend the Duke’s wedding, so I specially granted her permission to be absent.”
So, the Crown Prince is the one who called her here? Ah, I’m somehow getting a serious hunch right now, but it must be my imagination, right? Could it be that thing? The two most annoying existences in the world. My boyfriend’s “She’s just a friend” and “She’s just a younger sister I know”?
Of course, I don’t think Rubellian would laugh heartily with Arinne and raise my blood pressure. Still, with my senses on high alert from the sudden appearance of this strange person, I glanced back and forth between the two.
Then Arinne smiled sweetly and said.
“Older brother, I never thought you’d suddenly get married like this.”
“It’s not older brother, but Duke, Lady Delrun.”
“Ah…”
At Rubellian’s stiff voice, Arinne smiled awkwardly as if troubled. Seeing that, the Crown Prince smiled slightly and spoke.
“She’s a friend from childhood, isn’t it too stiff, Duke?”
“Excessive contact with the opposite sex when one has a family seems rude to my wife.”
“She’s just a friend, what’s wrong with that? The Duchess doesn’t seem narrow-minded enough to worry about such things.”
But I am, I’m completely narrow-minded. I’m dying of annoyance right now.
That Crown Prince bastard with his leading questions. Isn’t it obvious what I should say here?
I felt like I’d been struck by lightning out of nowhere while just standing there. Now we’ve reached all sorts of developments.
While I was lightly sighing internally, Rubellian stepped in front of me and answered instead.
“It has nothing to do with my wife’s intentions.”
“Duke.”
“This is my problem.”
Perhaps not expecting Rubellian to protect me to this extent, the Crown Prince narrowed his eyes briefly.Though his expression seemed gentle, was I deliberately misreading it because I believed he supported the Emperor?
As slight silence lingered, Arinne smiled brightly and said.
“There’s no need to act like this, Your Highness, Your Grace.”
At her words, the Crown Prince nodded. He judged there was no reason to cause a disturbance and draw attention when people’s gazes were directed at us.
“I just wanted to arrange a gathering among friends for my birthday, I never thought it would turn out like this.”
Isn’t that a line exclusive to troublemaker characters? I never dreamed it would turn out like this.
“Still, seeing that the Duke and Duchess have a good relationship puts my mind at ease.”
Why would you care?
“Actually, I was quite worried. After all, the Duchess has such a strong personality.”
…What? My personality is what now?
“You said the Duchess has a strong personality?”
“No. It’s just gossip from busybodies, so there’s no need to worry about it. The Duke doesn’t need to worry about it either, of course.”
…After bringing it up first?
Was this bastard always the type to smile like that while poisoning people in the original story too?
Or did the male protagonist’s shield make everything look cool no matter what he did?
Suddenly I remembered the day I decided on my engagement with Rubellian, when he suddenly called me to a tea party and told Duchess Colica to teach me this and that. I didn’t think much of it then, but now I somehow wondered if he did it on purpose.
While I was looking at the Crown Prince with suspicious eyes, Arinne smiled brightly at me.
“Duchess.”
“Yes, please speak, Lady Delrun.”
“I’d love to spend time together sometime. If you married His Gr— no, His Grace the Duke, you’re like an older sister to me too, and I’m curious about what kind of person you are. Would it be alright if I visited the ducal mansion sometime?”
I’d prefer if you didn’t come, but naturally saying that would be a big problem.
“Yes, of course.”
I forced a smile while recalling all the education I received in my previous life and all the education I received in this life.
Then, with perfect timing, the door opened.
There were only two types that could arrive later than the Crown Prince at the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet. One was the imperial couple, the other was the temple group who always arrived late with the excuse of “having to show they don’t submit to the imperial family”—
“It’s the Saint.”
The temple group.
With the appearance of the Saint and priests, the ballroom began to buzz in a different sense. After scanning the people who focused all attention on Rachel, I slightly pulled Rubellian toward me.
“Eve?”
What did you talk about with the Crown Prince? And what’s with that woman?—Unable to voice this, I spoke intensely to him with my eyes.
Whether he understood my gaze or not, Rubellian embraced my shoulder and whispered softly.
“Let’s talk after the party ends.”
I nodded at Rubellian’s words.
“The Saint is arriving late as expected.”
At the Crown Prince’s low murmur, I turned my attention to the temple side. They were approaching the Crown Prince.
Ah, it’s finally starting. The original content.
Alfred, who had somehow appeared before the Crown Prince, slowly bowed.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, to celebrate your birthday, His Holiness the Pope and the Saint promise to bestow blessings upon the imperial family.”
At Alfred’s words, who never left Rachel’s side, the Crown Prince nodded slightly.
Among the priests who bowed their heads slightly, only Rachel held her head up straight.
She must have been ordered to do so. Rachel, dressed perfectly in saint’s ceremonial robes, wasn’t the weak and fragile appearance I knew.
Unlike when I saw her at the temple last time, her atmosphere seemed mysteriously different too—I was thinking that when Rachel opened her mouth expressionlessly.
“I pray that Liscache’s blessing given to His Highness the Crown Prince will be with you.”
‘Hmm, but was Rachel so stiff in front of the Crown Prince in the early part of the work?’
Even so, I smiled at Rachel. Rachel, who spotted me, also curled up the corners of her mouth slightly. It was completely different from how she looked at the Crown Prince.
Then the Crown Prince’s voice was heard.
“For the Saint to bestow blessings, what an honor. Anyway, since you’re guests from the temple, I’ll treat you preciously.”
“I’m grateful, Your Highness.”
“Don’t run your mouth carelessly like at the last party.”
Huh? Last party?
I rolled my eyes. What last party?Ah—was it that party where I faked being sick to stop Rubellian from going no matter what? Did something happen back then?
Judging from the Crown Prince’s expression, it definitely wasn’t anything good. But in my memory, there wasn’t any particularly unpleasant incident between the two at that party. Wasn’t it just them talking and the Crown Prince feeling pity for Rachel’s pitiful situation?
I frowned slightly. Things were going strangely.
After finishing his words, the Crown Prince turned his feet. Arinne also moved with him.
Looking at their retreating figures, I turned my head toward Rachel.
“Saint, you look so beautiful today.”
“Eve, you don’t need to call me that. Please call me comfortably.”
“Is that okay at an official occasion?”
“Of course. We’re… friends, aren’t we?”
At Rachel’s words, I widened my eyes. Soon, when I smiled broadly at her, Rachel blushed slightly.
Ah, good. This atmosphere.
Feeling like my plan to butter up Rachel was going quite smoothly, I asked with a shy smile.
“Ah, but do you have any acquaintance with His Highness the Crown Prince?”
I deliberately pretended to know nothing and blinked innocently. But Rachel, who should have just calmly said yes, somehow made an unpleasant face.
“Ah… I met him briefly at a party last time.”
“Was there some unpleasant incident?”
“It’s not that…”
Rachel slightly lowered her eyes then smiled brightly again and answered.
“I made a small mistake.”
“A small mistake?”
At my question, Rachel trailed off ambiguously.
What, was there really something I don’t know about? This is troublesome… I really hate things that go beyond my expectations. Especially when the current Crown Prince is treating Rubellian differently, and if his relationship with Rachel also gets twisted… what’s the point of me transmigrating?
What should I do in this situation? While pondering, I thought finding out what that unpleasant incident was should be the top priority and opened my mouth.
But Rachel was faster in asking a question.
“Come to think of it, you didn’t come to the last party, did you?”
“Ah, I was a bit sick.”
“I see. No wonder…”
“Did you perhaps look for me?”
“Yes. I was looking for Eve and met His Highness the Crown Prince. And…”
“And?”
“…Eve, do you have a deep connection with His Highness the Crown Prince?”
At Rachel’s unexpected words, I blinked.
This sister, looking closely, she’s quite talented at deflecting conversations. Thinking that, I shook my head. The connection is deep, but it’s closer to a bad relationship. I can never say with my own mouth that I proposed to steal your position and got rejected.
“I merely serve His Highness the Crown Prince as a subject.”
At my answer, Rachel smiled as if relieved.
“That’s fortunate. Actually, I had a bad feeling.”
“A bad… feeling?”
“Yes. After my power awakened, my intuition has become mysteriously sharp… Though I’m not certain, of course.”
“How does this intuition…”
“Hmm… I keep remembering and seeing things. Periodically too… very, very clearly.”
I couldn’t laugh at her words.
It’s not strange for Rachel’s intuition to improve as a saint. Actually, she often sees things even in the early part of the work, and her power was slightly revealed at the last party, connecting her with the Crown Prince.
But that was only a glimpse of power she couldn’t control due to overflowing strength, but “seeing something periodically and clearly” like this was…
‘Isn’t this the state when she completes her awakening at the end of the original work?’
The power to see through past, truth, and future and control everything.
But there are already signs of that manifesting?
Inwardly shocked, I asked Rachel, trying to remain calm.
“Could I ask what happened that day?”
Something I don’t know definitely happened. Rather than guessing alone, it would be faster to hear it from Rachel’s mouth.
But then suddenly Rachel took something out from her bosom.
“Eve, take this.”
“…?”
“It’s holy water.”
“…?”
Suddenly holy water in this atmosphere? I blinked while looking at the small glass bottle that came out of Rachel’s bosom. Why is she suddenly giving this to me? While I was pondering, Rachel smiled gently.
“I’ve been receiving education as a saint lately and made this as a test, it’s the first holy water I successfully made.”
“Ah.”
“I was wondering who to give it to, and I thought it would be good to give it to Eve, so I brought it.”
“To me?”
“Yes, Eve is my benefactor. And just in case, just in case… it won’t happen, but if you ever face danger, use it.”
Rachel speaking gently looked like an angel.
First of all, I don’t know about anything else. But if the Crown Prince and this sister had a fight, then that Crown Prince bastard is definitely in the wrong—no question.
I nodded while looking at Rachel smiling like an angel.
My goodness, holy water. Holy water that can even revive the dead if used well. Holy water that can heal all wounds and diseases, break curses, and even breathe life.
Of course, Rachel’s power hasn’t fully awakened yet, so it wouldn’t be to that extent, but it would definitely have tremendous effects.
Eventually giving up on interrogating about the incident between the Crown Prince and her, I handed the holy water to Lilith.
It felt awkward to keep asking someone who gave me holy water while smiling, and above all, I knew it wasn’t good to have a long conversation with Rachel, who was from the temple side.
Nevertheless, feeling somehow uncomfortable, I narrowed my eyes while watching Rachel move away.
* * *
The Crown Prince’s birthday banquet began quickly. Looking at the Crown Prince speaking to nobles from the high platform, I pressed my throbbing forehead.
The original work was twisted.
Rachel’s power manifestation had accelerated, and the relationship between Rachel and the Crown Prince was much colder than expected.
This wasn’t particularly good news. Not for me, who planned to use the relationship between the Crown Prince and Rachel to move the Crown Prince.
But when did worldly affairs ever go as planned? It was stranger that the original work had been flowing as it was in the first place.
I decided to just abandon useless thoughts about why the original work was twisted. Instead, I pondered how to completely get Rachel in my hands.
How can I get that ability and use it so effectively that people praise me for it?
“What are you thinking about so much?”
At Rubellian’s question, I slightly raised my head and narrowed my eyes.
Yes. There’s a method.
“Rubellian. Rachel, she’d be a reliable ally, right?”
“She’s a saint, so naturally.”
“Just asking, but if your secret was needed to bring Rachel to our side, could you give it up?”
Rubellian raised an eyebrow. He didn’t ask what secret, but we would all know what that secret was.
As soon as I spoke, I immediately regretted it. No, this is too cruel. It was cruel to Rachel, and even more cruel to Rubellian.
“Is that necessary?”
“What?”
“I’m asking if that’s absolutely necessary.”
“No. Never mind. I can find another method.”
“Do it if you want.”
“……”
“I’m saying do whatever you want if you want to. You doing what you want is what I want.”
Rubellian’s low voice resonated quietly in my ear, and the thought that came at that moment was—
What, what? Why are you being scary like this? I looked up and down Rubellian’s face in shock.
The corners of his mouth holding a gentle smile were slightly curled up, and his eyes looking at me were seductively folded.
“Why are you like this? Suddenly?”
“What do you mean?”
“Your treatment is getting too good, so I’m a bit flustered right now. Why are you suddenly treating me so preciously like a princess? Am I going to die? Come to think of it, I’m a wife with nothing except being pretty, so are you trying to kill me?”
Does seeing your beautiful and intelligent childhood friend make you dislike your wife who’s just stupid and pretty? So you’re treating me well to stab me in the back later…?
