Chapter 5 - A Spoonful of The Original, A Truckload of Transmigration
Chapter 5 – A spoonful of the original, a truckload of transmigration
Quite a long time had passed since Rachel was consecrated as a saint and Rubellian was attacked. During this time, Rubellian spent his days practically sealed to his bed by me, and thanks to that, his wounds healed much faster than expected.
However, that didn’t make the circumstances of his attack any more understandable, so for several days I found myself agonizing over it for days..
Was this really something the Crown Prince did? How is he involved? And why did his nature suddenly change like this? Of course, I thought about it, but no answers came.
Eventually, I decided to shift focus away from the Emperor’s faction—at least until right before the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet. After all, there was nothing I could do until Rubellian fully recovered.
And on the day of the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet.
“Mirror, mirror—who’s the prettiest in the world?”
“Of course it’s you, my lady. There’s no one prettier than you in this world.”
“That’s right, isn’t it? Ah, I really am a beauty that topples nations.”
“…You’re having fun.”
Mrs. Jena spoke dryly, breaking the sweet conversation between Lilith and me in front of the mirror.
Feeling quite hurt by her coldness, I deliberately distorted my face, but Mrs. Jena, as if she had no interest in my feelings whatsoever, held out the ledger in her hand.
“The dress set you ordered has arrived.”
“Ah, really?”
I immediately took the ledger and scanned it.
“Good. Now our sister won’t have to receive a dress from that despicable bastard because she has no clothes to wear.”
“What does that mean?”
“There’s one despicable bastard. Ah, to be precise, one who might be.”
At my blunt answer, Mrs. Jena raised an eyebrow.
Then, instead of Lilith who was touching my hair, she took a hair ornament and placed it in my beautifully curled hair.
“When you go to His Highness the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet, you must conduct yourself properly. Above all, there are many eyes targeting the Florence Duchy.”
“I know that too.”
“Everyone is interested in your every move. Even if something displeases you, please bear with it a little.”
“For Rubellian’s honor?”
“For your survival.”
At Mrs. Jena’s words, I raised an eyebrow. However, Mrs. Jena continued staring at me expressionlessly and continued speaking.
“His Grace has built up honor and status, so he won’t be easily attacked. But you’re a commoner, and moreover, your reputation isn’t particularly good, is it?”
“That’s true.”
“Of course, from my position, it doesn’t matter much if your honor falls to the ground—”
“What?”
“But His Grace would be sad if something happened to you.”
I stared at Mrs. Jena through the mirror. There was no trace of falsehood on her calm face. That coldness felt unfamiliar, and I gave a wry smile.
“Don’t worry.”
“High society and the imperial court are much more cruel places than you think. You won’t be able to brush things off vaguely like before marriage.”
I know that too. I nodded.
Mrs. Jena looked at me somewhat doubtfully, but soon she stepped back and curtsied elegantly.
“Then I pray you return safely to the ducal mansion.”
* * *
The Crown Prince’s birthday banquet was an important starting point in the original work ‘Nights of Ihaya’ where the Crown Prince would show great interest in Rachel.
‘Could that catalyst really be Rachel calmly enduring the nobles’ assaults?’
Holding Rubellian’s hand and entering the imperial palace, I nodded while retracing the original work.
Whether the Crown Prince suddenly became a bad bastard or had some reason, there was no need to twist his relationship with Rachel too.
‘Besides, Rachel has the power to control the Crown Prince.’
Perhaps worried about me being silent for so long while pondering internally, Rubellian spoke affectionately.
“You don’t need to be so nervous.”
“I do need to be.”
“Why?”
“Because Rachel is coming.”
“…I’ve thought this before, but you seem quite conscious of that person. Is there something going on?”
Hmm, because she’s the original female protagonist?
Swallowing my answer, I shrugged my shoulders. But Rachel is someone destined to be the world’s greatest overpowered character. She can see the truth of past, present, and future, see through lies, and even revive the dead—what if I make a mistake not knowing such a person?
Simply by not groveling at Rachel’s feet, I’ve already preserved enough of my pride.
Thinking that, I smiled brightly at Rubellian. You don’t need to know. Just handle the Emperor well. I’ll take care of Sister Rachel’s side by buttering her up properly.
Whether he knew the meaning of my bright smile or not, Rubellian looked at me with an ambiguous expression. Then he slightly lowered his head, touched my forehead with his, and said.
“You must have your own thoughts too.”
“Hmm, isn’t that natural? What exactly is my status in your heart?”
“My lovely, pretty, troublemaker wife?”
“……”
The lovely and pretty parts were good, but that troublemaker—that troublemaker is the problem. I stuck out my lips like a duck and shook off his arm.
Walking forward briskly as if advertising ‘I’m sulking,’ I heard faint laughter from behind, and soon, within just a few steps, I was in his embrace.
“I’ll correct that. My lovely, pretty, genius wife.”
“……”
“My lovely, pretty, goddess wife?”
“That’s good. From now on, treat me like a goddess.”
“I don’t have a religion though. Do I need to worship you like a religion now?”
That would be even better. When I whispered softly, Rubellian kissed my lips. The soft texture was so nice that my heart, which hadn’t been sulking to begin with, seemed to melt sweetly.
I briefly thought whether this was okay in the middle of the imperial palace, but well, whatever. Let them see.
Right when I was thinking that,
“You two look wonderful together.”
At the voice suddenly heard from the side, I opened my eyes. And seeing the person standing next to us, I paused for a moment.
“I greet His Grace.”
“It’s been a while, Viscount Tools.”
Viscount Tools was the Crown Prince’s closest aide and served as his chamberlain.
As someone who assisted him by the Crown Prince’s side, he received the Crown Prince’s trust more than anyone, so seeing him here was perfectly natural, but—
He appeared at the palace designated as mine and Rubellian’s bedchamber, and moreover, approached us who were obviously having a sweet time, so there must be some reason.
Sure enough, Viscount Tools laughed heartily and spoke.
“His Highness the Crown Prince says he would like to see Your Grace.”
* * *
“What are they talking about that’s taking so long?”
Since I had to enter early before the party started, I eventually had no choice but to go to the hall first.
As a result, I was leaning slightly against the second-floor terrace, holding a wine glass alone.
And while waiting for Rubellian, who still hadn’t returned as their conversation apparently wasn’t over, I scanned the party venue below.
“Really, it’s no different from a battlefield.”
Normally, the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet doesn’t include the Emperor and Empress since the Crown Prince is the main character. Nevertheless, countless nobles were seated due to their desire to look good to the future Emperor, and among them was the Duchy of Colica, the Empress’s family.
Recalling the cold gazes of Duke and Duchess Colica who scanned me with chilly eyes as soon as I entered the hall, I chuckled.
Seeing Melina Barnes next to them, along with the crowd dying to devour me all gathered together, I realized anew how vulnerable humans are to communities of shared interest.
But what did that matter? After today’s party, all those gazes would turn to Rachel anyway. And Rachel would defeat them all.
While thinking that and curling up the corners of my mouth, it happened.
“My lady.”
A fairly low and soft man’s voice echoed from behind. Since I was apart from others, when I turned my head at the voice clearly calling me, there was an unfamiliar man smiling gently at me.
“My lady, it’s my first time meeting you.”
He was a man with light brown hair swept up and attractive olive-colored eyes.
Objectively speaking, he was quite handsome, upright, and even neat enough that every wrinkle in the formal wear on his body was properly pressed.
However, with Rubellian gone and even Lilith no longer by my side, a strange man approaching me could hardly mean anything good.
Moreover, among this crowd of nobles, there was no young man who would approach me speaking so kindly, and as a peerless beauty who had received various advances from countless men, I instinctively felt that this man’s sudden appearance was somehow strange.
Sure enough, as soon as he spoke to me, the gazes of nobles who had been glancing at me from below sparkled.
“Who are you?”
“I’m Blaze Earson.”
“From which family?”
“I’m the third son of Baron Earson’s family.”
“Ah.”
The third son of Baron Earson’s family.
I narrowed my eyes. Without any thought of taking the hand extended to me, I stared at him blankly. He seemed somewhat troubled but soon smiled gently and bowed.
“I was so entranced by the Duchess’s beauty from afar that I unconsciously found my feet moving.”
“For someone entranced, your eyes are too clear.”
“How could I lose my focus when I have the opportunity to see such a beautiful person up close? I must treasure each moment and engrave your beauty into my eyes.”
“Beauty is engraved, not driven in. What you drive in are nails.”
Even at my cold response, Blaze’s face was full of affection as if he had expected me to react this way.
I chuckled at his skillfulness.
“Why are you standing here alone, my lady?”
“His Grace went to meet His Highness, so I was waiting.”
I offered a delicate smile in response. Since I couldn’t read his intentions, I didn’t feel comfortable brushing him off.
However, my caution was shattered along with Blaze’s light sigh. Blaze sighed as if he had encountered the most pitiful thing in the world and spoke to me.
“His Grace is truly inconsiderate. To leave such a flower-like lady alone. Beautiful flowers naturally attract bees.”
Beautiful flowers attract bees…
Having gone this far, shouldn’t I realize by now that this man didn’t approach me thinking ‘Let me just greet Duchess Florence in passing’?
First of all, it went against common sense for an unmarried man to shower a married noble lady with compliments about her beauty, especially comments bordering on flirtation.
What should I do? Should I scold him and send him away? Or should I just send him away forever?
I fell into brief contemplation. He didn’t seem like he’d leave even if scolded, and the location wasn’t suitable for sending him away forever.
Eventually, I decided to bring out the black dragon within me. Eyes gently folded, smiling innocently and naively.
“Are you saying my beauty is like a flower?”
“That’s right, my lady. Though I’d heard of your beauty, after seeing you for the first time today, I can’t forget your beauty.”
“Oh my, but what should we do? It’s a flower with an owner.”
“Even if something has an owner, if you desire it enough, you can claim it. Nothing in this world lasts forever.”
“……”
“Especially since I’m someone who covets owned flowers even more. Originally, isn’t it better when things have a challenge to them?”
Blaze blinked as if bewitched by my smile. But soon he rattled off his lines like flowing water.
Wow, he speaks well. Well, someone without eloquence wouldn’t come to a married woman talking about flowers and owners while trying to seduce her.
However, unfortunately for Blaze, he had chosen the wrong opponent. As soon as he finished speaking, I stepped back with a shocked face, not forgetting to place my hands on both cheeks.
“My goodness, how can you say such cruel things… Are you saying you’ll steal my beauty from me?”
“…What?”
Blaze furrowed his brow briefly before smoothing his face again. He was pondering how to respond when he opened his mouth—or tried to. If only I hadn’t interrupted him.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t give you my beauty.”
“My lady, what do you mean by that…”
“You said my beauty was like a flower.”
“…Yes, you are as beautiful as a flower, but…”
“Exactly. Since I’m the one who possesses my beauty, I would be the owner of that flower too, right?”
“…?”
“But to steal the flower from its owner, how can you be so cruel… If you steal my beauty from me, what should I do? Are you perhaps jealous of my beauty?”
Moisture gathered in my eyes as I blinked innocently. Trembling like a pitiful kitten—by my standards—I stepped back timidly.
“M-my lady! I think there’s some misunderstanding, but that’s not what I meant—”
“Oh my, don’t come closer! I’m scared!”
Soon, at my tears flowing down my cheeks, Blaze’s eyes were completely colored with bewilderment.
Who told him to come and act like that? Glancing down at the hall, people were murmuring while looking at Blaze and me.
It was clearly a situation where I was the victim. Even though they couldn’t hear our conversation, a sturdy man had spoken to the duchess and suddenly the duchess burst into tears.
I scanned the hall with eyes full of pleas for help. Not that anyone would come to help, but what did that matter? The important thing was that I had asked for help.
Eventually, Blaze hesitated, unable to do this or that. At his attitude, I became even more convinced that he had come with some purpose.
Normally, an ordinary person would apologize and withdraw in this situation.
While staring at the flustered Blaze, I suddenly spotted a figure hovering behind him and paused. Then I turned my gaze back to Blaze and asked again.
“You really didn’t mean that?”
“Of course not, my lady. Your beauty would be most beautiful when possessed by you.”
Look at that comment in the midst of all this.
“Then what did you mean earlier?”
Only then, thinking my ‘misunderstanding’ was resolved, Blaze let out a sigh of relief. Soon he smiled warmly again and spoke to me in an affectionate tone.
“The flower I mentioned was you, my lady. It wasn’t referring only to your beauty but to you as a whole.”
“You mean I’m not even human? How could you say such a thing…!”
“No, that’s not it!”
“Why, why are you shouting?”
Finally, when his blood pressure seemed to rise and Blaze Earson raised his voice, I cowered and stepped back again.
Yes, I know too. It’s really hard to seduce a woman these days, isn’t it? But you chose the wrong opponent. When it comes to catching onto someone’s words and dragging them out, no one in this world can beat me.
Looking at Blaze Earson who was desperately trying to control his blood pressure, I sighed lightly. Well, it’s about time to end this.
“So what you’re saying is that you want to have me?”
“Exactly that, my lady.”
Perhaps pleased that I had finally grasped the point, Blaze answered with a bright smile.
As soon as he finished speaking, I clicked my tongue as if I had caught him red-handed.
“I see. What do you think, Lilith?”
“L-Lilith?”
At my words, Blaze Earson frowned. Soon, following my gaze and slowly turning his head, he flinched and gulped.
I spoke softly to her, who resembled a pale ghost emerging from a well.
“Lilith, please do something about this person. Since I’m from a commoner background, he’s carelessly insulting my honor, and even insulting His Grace’s honor.”
“Since you are delicate and beautiful, please step back first. I’ll handle this insolent one who dares to covet Duke Florence’s position.”
…Huh? Covet Duke Florence’s position? When?
While I tilted my head at Lilith’s words, Blaze Earson stepped back with an awkward smile toward Lilith.
“It’s been a while, Lady Bolton. I didn’t expect to see you here…”
“Long time no see, Earson. Are you still going around seducing women? Don’t you have anything better to do?”
Ooh, what’s with Lilith? She’s completely different from usual. My eyes widened as I stared at Lilith’s reliable back.
Blaze looked back and forth between Lilith and me, then soon opened his mouth.
“I… didn’t think you’d be acquainted with the Duchess.”
“Is it strange that I, the Duchess’s maid, am by my lady’s side?”
“What? M-maid?”
“So, you want to covet Duke Florence’s position?”
“No, how could I dare!”
“My lady is Duchess Florence, and wanting to have such a lady can only be interpreted as coveting Duke Florence’s position, right?”
…What is this logic?
I hold the title of duchess because Rubellian is a duke, not because a man marrying me suddenly becomes one? Something seems off?
Blaze Earson also seemed to notice this and made a flustered face, but after seeming to ponder something, he hardened his face and stepped back.
“I was rude, Lady Bolton.”
“Today is His Highness’s birthday, so I don’t want to cause a disturbance. Get lost from beside our lady.”
“Ah, understood.”
“Your apology to my lady?”
“I’m sorry, my lady. I was presumptuous and dared to look down on you.”
I blinked my eyes. Hmm, this seems to be flowing differently from what I expected…
Soon, as Blaze hurriedly left, I tapped the shoulder of Lilith, who towered like a giant, and called her.
“Lilith?”
“Oh my, my lady. Are you alright? Where did such a bug crawl out from! From the next time you meet him, you don’t need to be polite! Just beat him until he’s almost dead!”
“…Huh?”
“Goodness, your eye makeup smeared slightly. Wait a moment, let’s go behind there and fix your makeup quickly.”
At her completely different appearance from before, I blinked once more. Come to think of it, since I had only seen Lilith sticking close to my side all this time, I had never once seen her communicate with other people.
How did she become my maid? I vaguely remember hearing on my wedding day that she beat competition of a thousand to one…
I pondered internally while obediently receiving her makeup touch-up.
“There, all done. Ah, wait. I’ll fix your lips slightly too. Oh my, my lady. Did you drink wine?”
“I just touched my lips to it.”
“You shouldn’t do that. You’re weak with alcohol, so don’t drink carelessly. What if something happens?”
I nodded obediently. Hmm, I’m definitely not intimidated by her appearance just now. Definitely not.
Anyway, after fixing my makeup, Lilith and I came out to the hall again. Scanning the much larger crowd than before, I let out a light sigh.
“By the way, when is Rubellian coming?”
“He’ll come soon. Do you miss him already?”
“It’s not that, I’m just curious where the husband went when his wife is being hit on.”
“When he comes, smack him with your hand. Your hands are small and pretty, so it won’t even hurt.”
“…Uh, um… y-yes.”
Does she perhaps think of me as a child? She’s been like this since that act she saw in the garden before marriage.
I nodded reluctantly at Lilith’s words.
Then, looking at Blaze Earson’s retreating figure going to the first floor, I was enveloped in an uncomfortable feeling.
“By the way, he came to seduce me, right?”
“Hmm, probably. How dare he try to seduce you with that face!”
“No, putting that aside, isn’t he afraid of Rubellian?”
Recalling the news that nobles had agreed not to touch me in high society due to Rubellian, who had sent Gellin to the North Pole, I tilted my head.
Something feels strangely off. If it was just some foolish noble family’s son coming to seduce me, I’d laugh it off, but—
“Well, there’s no need to cause a disturbance, so I’ll have to watch more.”
I murmured while lightly touching the wine to my lips.
Then, when the first floor suddenly became noisy, I looked down.
“Oh my, perfect timing.”
Rubellian was looking at me from the first floor. When he nodded as if telling me to come down, I smiled somewhat coyly.
Soon, watching him move with gentle steps and a smile, I went down the stairs holding my dress.
“Rubellian. Your cravat is slightly askew. Did you come in a hurry?”
After readjusting his cravat fixed with a pin, I widened my eyes.
Come to think of it, he seemed strangely rushed—is something wrong? What did he talk about with the Crown Prince? As I was thinking and raising my face, he suddenly held me in his arms.
“I walked a bit quickly.”
“No, why would you hurry over such a short distance? Just come normally.”
“But you were alone.”
“Come on, I’m not a child.”
I smiled lightly while playfully scolding Rubellian, but my mood was good anyway, so I was smiling brightly when the door area began to get noisy.
Sure enough, a knight shouted in a booming voice.
“Icarus de Arayden, His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince of the Empire, is arriving.”
Goodness, what a flashy entrance.
Soon, everyone bowed in complete reverence as the Crown Prince’s voice echoed from the center of the hall.
