Chapter 023

I got into the carriage with Alejandro, leaving Viviana behind.

“Phew. That was quite an eventful day.”

“Hmm.”

“Do you think that man will seek revenge or something?”

“Even the most fearless person knows why the imperial family is to be feared.”

Alejandro answered lightly. I’m worried about you too. Can you really go around wielding power like that? You seem awfully relaxed these days. Isn’t that a problem?

I narrowed my eyes and stared at Alejandro.

I can’t tell what he’s thinking, just like my favorite character.

“Thank you for accompanying me today.”

It was nice to see his face up close. I really felt like I spent the entire three hours of the opera just looking at Alejandro’s face. That alone was so much fun. Sob, sob. He really is the perfect subject…

“But aren’t we at risk of a scandal?”

“Is there any reason why that shouldn’t happen?”

“Uh, um….”

Isn’t it a problem?

“Do you have anyone you’re seeing?”

“I’ve only just come to my senses.”

“So why are you worried about that?”

“I’m worried about you, Your Highness. I’m concerned that you might have someone you’re seeing.”

I know Alejandro doesn’t have anyone he’s seeing. However, I know he liked the saintess and isn’t particularly interested in marriage. 

And Alejandro ended up giving up on the heroine and settling for a suitable marriage with a woman he had known since childhood, which was none other than Lady Millane. I felt like I had heard that name somewhere before.

She was the woman who would become his wife.

In any case, a scandal with me wouldn’t benefit Alejandro. Besides, it would undermine the whole point of me cross-dressing.

“You don’t need to worry. I’m only seeing the lady right now.”

What does that mean?

Recently, Alejandro seemed to enjoy making significant-sounding statements. This was no exception. Seeing me?

This could be interpreted in many meaningful ways.

What a sly fox!

“I think you could be doing more than just seeing me.”

“I’m always doing many things. Are you worried about me?”

In reality, whether it’s the Pope or the Empress targeting me, what they want is Adrian’s return. In the original novel, Alejandro either loses or withdraws from the fight with Adrian in an unclear manner.

That was due to the curse upon Alejandro. Among the two princes, people claimed that Adrian, resurrected by divine power, should be the one to become emperor.

Back then, since Adrian was the male protagonist, I felt he had to become emperor, though I didn’t fully understand why. It just felt right.

But now? Is that truly the case?

Alejandro had legitimate qualifications too. Why should Alejandro have lost his position? Couldn’t Alejandro have maintained it?

Or what does Alejandro truly want?

Reading the novel didn’t require me to consider such things, but now I find myself thinking about them. I think Lady Millane would help Alejandro retain his position.

Certainly, after stepping down from the throne, Lady Millane continued to assist Alejandro. With the Saint dead and Adrian unable to recover, their side must be brimming with venom.

Anyway, it seemed like a situation with no room for relaxation.

“No, it’s just… I can be worried too.”

“Thanks to your concern, I’m safe. Besides, I have excellent bait.”

“What do you mean…?”

Alejandro looked at me with his red eyes. The slight smile he gave seemed to imply something…

“Is that me?”

Alejandro smiled brightly. “It seems they are overwhelmed just by focusing on you. Are you comfortable in your lodgings? How’s the food?”

“Alejandro.”

“It’s not me who’s oblivious; it’s you, Milady.”

Alejandro’s crooked smile seemed to hint at some displeasure. “You’re very defenseless. It’s not me but you who shouldn’t be out recklessly.”

“Your Highness.”

“There were assassins in the mansion last night. The night before that, we discovered something in the food.”

A chill ran down my spine. I hadn’t known anything about this. In the time I was unaware, there had been several incidents…

“It’s not good to be unaware of everything. You’re just saying things that make you feel good.”

“……”

I clasped my hands together.

“Are you scared?”

“Does it look like I’m not?”

I glared at Alejandro. He narrowed his eyes. “So, are you going to quit what you’re doing?”

“No! I’ll work hard, no matter what. I don’t want to starve to death, and I don’t want to become a sacrifice.”

I wiped away my tears resolutely. I don’t know why you’re making a fuss about me, but anyway!

“You’ll protect me, won’t you, Your Highness!”

That’s what you wanted me to say, right? You didn’t just casually appear, but came to protect me because I’m so careless and need someone to watch over me.

“So, I won’t think about it. Please continue to protect me like you are now.”

Isn’t that something you can do?

“I’m the bait, after all.”

Alejandro gave a small, amused smile. He seemed to be in a good mood again. What a troublesome guy. If only his looks weren’t my type.

I sighed and turned my head away sharply. Now, even eating and sleeping in that house might become uncomfortable.

* * *

I handed Rebecca the cake I brought.

“Congratulations on your success.”

“How did you know?”

My eyes widened. I hadn’t said anything yet.

“Your expression says it all. You’re really transparent with your feelings.”

Rebecca chuckled softly. Embarrassed, I fiddled with my face. Is everything that obvious? Hmm, I do feel good.

“I’ve decided to take a break and go back to my hometown for a while.”

“That’s wonderful.”

“Yeah! Really. Now I need to ask Sera to post the interview at the right time. Viviana promised she’d participate in the interview.”

Rebecca clapped her hands. It was a celebration of our small business sailing smoothly. Today has truly been fruitful. In many ways.

“But, Rebecca.”

“Yes?”

“Today, His Highness the Crown Prince mentioned something.”

Rebecca tensed up.

“He said that assassins had entered several times. Without me knowing.”

“…He said that himself?”

Rebecca looked incredulous. I nodded.

“Yes, he did.”

“Oh, really.”

Rebecca crumpled her face in frustration. “You didn’t need to know that.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’ll protect you anyway. That’s my job. And there aren’t just a few people in this mansion.”

“Still… I think I should know.”

After confirming the details, I felt a wave of exhaustion. Rebecca clicked her tongue.

“Relax, Miss. You should know that you’re important to His Highness. He would never allow his people to be hurt.”

“……”

“It’s just a bit of mischief. Just go about your life as usual, okay?”

I smiled awkwardly. And at that moment, I realized something. To Rebecca, I wasn’t just a business partner or a master to serve. I was someone she had to protect.

Rebecca would never fully trust me or become one of my people. There’s no one who serves a master they don’t know anything about.

“And there’s something else I need to tell you. Since we’re on the topic, I might as well.”

What now? Is there something else I need to know?

“…I’ve found out who the culprit is.”

It would be more accurate to say that I knew but pretended not to know. 

I can’t trust anyone.

“The person who wants to kidnap you and use you as a sacrifice is the Empress.”

I bit my lip. It was something I had more or less anticipated. The current Empress was not the benevolent one I remembered.

My heart raced.

The Empress of this world, someone who could do anything, was targeting my life.

“I thought it might be the Pope…”

“The pope must have her help.”

“I thought she said to protect me.”

“It turned out that the abandoned mansion was owned by the imperial family, but the pope is doing nothing.”

Wow… So I might survive this? It wasn’t one or the other; it was both?

“The Pope won’t act openly. If the Pope loses the people’s faith, she will lose her position.”

“And the Empress?”

Rebecca gave a bitter smile.