Chapter 049
Regret, you ask?
Just a while ago, Alejandro and I were worlds apart. Even so, I loved him and cheered him on. Even though he didn’t know me.
Then, I entered this novel and met Alejandro. It was then that he came to know me.
From that moment, things changed.
Of course, I hadn’t been targeting Alejandro. I did my best to draw a line between us. I often suspected that Alejandro might want to kill me.
However, in the end, Alejandro always saved me. In dangerous and difficult moments, he was always by my side. When I looked back, Alejandro was there, watching me.
I loved him while being cautious at the same time.
Even now, I love him with a transparent and pure heart. As a fan, as a reader, and finally, as his friend.
So, do I regret my engagement with him?
“How could I regret it?”
I muttered with a sigh in my voice.
“I hope Lehan doesn’t regret it because of me.”
If the Lehan I wished happiness for became unhappy because of me, it would be the saddest thing.
“That’s all.”
Lehan smiled brightly.
“If Evelina doesn’t regret, then I won’t regret either.”
He really knows how to say the right things. Lehan held my hand tightly.
“So, don’t regret it.”
I nodded slightly. I hope that, given the circumstances, we both become so happy that others will envy us. Him, me, perhaps us together.
Guests began to arrive at the banquet hall one after another. They all had curious looks, but it seemed they couldn’t bring themselves to ask us anything.
It was a matter of who would break the ice first, but no one seemed willing to approach.
Alejandro must be intimidating.
Given that he was known to be cursed, his position as Crown Prince makes him difficult to approach. Then someone finally stepped forward.
“Brother.”
It was Prince Adrian, wearing a gentle smile.
“Prince Adrian…?”
I heard someone’s hushed whisper.
“I saw you before, but it didn’t seem like the right situation to greet you. Have you been well since then?”
“You seem to be looking better too, Adrian.”
Alejandro’s smile turned slightly crooked. Those who understood the situation would have caught the underlying meaning: Is it good to survive by leeching off others?
It felt like an automatic translator was plugged into my ears. Alejandro, you might get stabbed like that… Let’s live a bit more smoothly. We’re already engaged.
“Thanks to your concern, brother. I’ve improved enough to move around like this, so I think I’ll be able to greet you more often in the future.”
Adrian spoke cheerfully. The attention that had been focused on me shifted to Adrian.
“And Lady Regnis, this is already our second meeting. I hope we can see each other often moving forward. Congratulations on your engagement.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
I could feel the crowd holding their breath as they watched Adrian, Alejandro, and me. Um, it feels a bit like I’m being put on the spot. Is it okay if I step back a little here?
* * *
Meanwhile, the night was deepening elsewhere as well.
Casper’s eyes were shaking. He had been investigating the temple and the pope. Since Elizabeth had died in the temple, he believed there must be a connection.
But while he had felt like he was floundering before, this time he seemed to have pinpointed the target accurately.
This was all thanks to the hints given by Evelina.
Evelina hadn’t just told him to look into the pope. She had asked him to investigate the pope, black magic, and the maintenance of divine power and eternal youth.
“Hah.”
Casper let out a hollow laugh as he ran his hand through his hair. It was widely known that those with powerful divine energy could maintain their youth for a long time.
The reason Pope Rendia was especially loved by people was that no one else had maintained their youth for as long as she had. However, that was not something achievable solely through Rendia’s abilities.
Exchanging divine energy was possible. Those with healing abilities treated others in that way. However, there was no known method for “stealing divine energy.”
It could be done using Alvaro’s black magic. Taking someone else’s divine energy and making it one’s own.
Rendia had survived this way until now.
“Despicable.”
Casper muttered.
And Rendia had driven Elizabeth to her death with that black magic. During Elizabeth’s awakening process, Rendia had intruded to amplify her own power.
An accident occurred due to excessive divine energy surging from the interference of another, resulting in Elizabeth losing her life.
“Filthy…”
The paper crumpled mercilessly in Casper’s hands. His heart sank. If it hadn’t been for Pope Rendia, Elizabeth wouldn’t have died.
His Elizabeth…!
Everyone’s Elizabeth would still be alive!
A blue flame ignited in Casper’s eyes.
They had forcibly taken Elizabeth, who had never wanted to go from the very beginning!
Uncontrollable rage surged within him. Blood dripped from his mouth due to the excessive pressure.
Because of Rendia’s despicability, Elizabeth had met her death, and the temple covered it up. The reigning pope was deemed more important and terrifying than the dead saint.
The temple needed the pope to maintain power as it did now.
“Hahaha…”
Casper let out a cold laugh. He had found a perfect reason to cooperate with Evelina.
Evelina was now positioned against not only the empress but also the pope. She would strike at them to survive.
Not with weak power like Casper’s, but with immense strength.
On Casper’s table lay a newspaper featuring an article congratulating Evelina and the crown prince on their engagement.
There was also a brief mention of the emperor’s speech, who indulged in art without any interest in politics. Evelina was becoming a pillar of living power. If it were Evelina, she would accomplish what Casper could not.
“Elizabeth, I will definitely take revenge for you. I’ll make sure your death isn’t in vain.”
Casper murmured.
Even if it meant becoming a demon himself, he would willingly do it.
* * *
The banquet was gradually reaching its peak.
“I honestly thought I was going to be sick earlier,” Rebecca consoled me.
“I heard that Prince Adrian and Lehan don’t get along very well.”
I remembered that there hadn’t been such a description in the novel.
“To be more precise, Prince Adrian feels inferior to His Highness the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince finds it bothersome.”
“Ah.”
That makes sense. In the novel, Adrian gradually displayed traits of the male protagonist, and his illness was improving in the early stages.
Unlike that time when there was hope, now…
“What kind of person is Prince Adrian?”
It was too different from what I knew.
“Someone who covets what they cannot have.”
Rebecca said coldly.
“And someone who struggles to obtain what they cannot have.”
“Evelina!”
Iliana approached me with a bright smile.
“Congratulations on your engagement, Evelina.”
Iliana extended her glass. Now that I think about it, I haven’t properly drunk since coming here. The only alcohol I had was during my kidnapping, and now that I realized it, I didn’t feel the need to seek out drinks. I, who once found joy in chicken and beer, had become like a fish-shaped pastry without red bean filling. A fragrant aroma wafted up from the glass.
It’s okay to drink… right?
I didn’t know my tolerance. No, had I ever even had alcohol? I had been lying down for five years.
As I hesitated, Rebecca encouraged me.
“Just try it, miss. It’s not a very high-alcohol drink; it’s the kind often enjoyed by young ladies.”
“Really…?”
“Can’t you drink?”
“Um, I haven’t tried.”
“It’ll be a good first experience. I guarantee it.”
With Iliana and Rebecca’s encouragement, I cautiously brought the glass to my lips. It was definitely smooth going down and sweet. Was it a Moscato? I felt a slight sparkle.
Is this why people seek out expensive wine? It was definitely delicious.
“It’s really good!”
Moreover, perhaps because it had been a while since I had alcohol, I felt good.
“Shall I have another glass?”
I had forgotten an old saying: to be cautious when the drink is sweet.
