Chapter 48: A Princess Must Counter Another Princess’ Tyranny part 2
“No, I truly admire it. In fact, I discussed this matter with Sir Kassel, and he offered an interesting suggestion. If the idea of escorting Lady Klein was unappealing, he would look into whether she had done anything to warrant house arrest on the day of the ball.”
“…Excuse me?”
Fay’s eyes widened.
Could a meticulous schemer like Dott really make such a mistake?
Even if she had noticed, the Morgana of the past would have been too dull to understand. And even if she did, she would have refused to believe it and erased it from her memory on purpose.
The people of Klein Duchy’s household wouldn’t reprimand a noble lady just for slipping up a little, would they? More than anything, there was no chance she would give up attending the spring debutante ball.
Even if she had to sit the whole time because of her injured leg, it was still better to attend. More than that… Kassel siding with the Crown Prince instead of Dott was both surprising and a relief.
Had Kassel also noticed something? The strange aspects of Eina Dorothea, whom they had brought back, and the Klein lady, whom they had recovered?
Please, let that be the case.
“Of course, that wasn’t an option. I accepted their sentiments but sent them back for now.”
“I see….”
“Haha, but since you’ve come up with such a good plan, we must push forward with it.”
The gentle smile forming on Sillas’s lips was pleasant to see.
Even after three years of seclusion, was this the reason he had always wanted to hear how the world judged the Crown Prince? That he missed it?
The Arkan Empire under his reign would prosper for a long time.
“Will you proceed with it?”
“Hmm, yes. And Miss Fay?”
“Yes?”
“In addition to the invitation I sent, arrange for you to make your debut at this year’s spring ball under the name ‘Lady Morgana.’ I heard that’s another name of yours. Is that correct?”
“What?! It is… Yes, it is.”
Fay was startled. She wasn’t afraid of attending a ball at the imperial palace. She had done it countless times before, pretending to be Eina without a noble lady’s title. She wasn’t as perfect as Dott, but she danced well enough, knew etiquette, and always met the bare minimum standards and beyond.
Still, she had assumed the Crown Prince had invited her as one of his subordinates.
Lady Morgana?!
Sillas looked at her, impressed by the ingenious plan she had proposed, and spoke.
“You belong to both the Magic Tower and the Imperial Court, which makes it difficult to assign you a fixed position. Being a Drakan Rider is just one of your abilities, but if others address you as ‘Lady Morgana,’ wouldn’t that be more convenient?”
“I…”
It was such an unexpected offer that she felt a little dazed.
“It would also create less distance between you and others. If you were always called a Drakan Rider, people would picture that dragon subspecies before they thought of your face or name, wouldn’t they?”
“…Your Highness is right.”
Whenever Fay passed by, people who saw her light pink hair whispered from a distance.
‘Drakan Rider.’
‘Ice Mage.’
‘The Prodigy of the Magic Tower.’
She never really minded those titles, but now she was going to make her debut under the name Lady Morgana?
For a moment, Fay was lost in thought.
Morgana. The time and hardships she had endured, all tied to that single name.
She had thought she left it behind along with the name Fay, but she was both Fay and Morgana. It was an unerasable scar, a testament to the years she had withstood pain and loneliness.
A past as thorny as a briar path….
I can overcome it. Gladly.
She nodded.
“I never expected such an offer. Thank you very much.”
“Hmm. Since I’ve been entrusted with escorting the Lady Klein, why don’t you enter with Astein? Discuss it with the Empress.”
“With Prince Astein? Ah…! Understood.”
“Good. Then you may go.”
“Yes.”
‘Astein…’
Murmuring his name to herself, Fay’s eyes widened.
The Crown Prince wouldn’t have casually chosen his half-brother as her partner. He hadn’t mentioned it outright, but this was also a signal that she could discuss Manuela’s situation.
Realizing his intention, Fay didn’t waste any time and immediately went to see Astein and Queen Rania.
Astein, upon seeing Lucius for the first time, curiously observed him. The usually arrogant Lucius, instead of brushing off a human’s gaze, quietly accepted it.
“Miss Fay, the Mage. How have you been?”
“I greet Her Majesty Queen Rania and His Highness Prince Astein. This is my companion, Lucius.”
The benevolent Queen Rania smiled and accepted the greeting.
“Is that so? Please, sit. I was told to bring tea, but I’ll just have them bring water instead.”
“Thank you.”
So, they had been informed in advance.
Since nothing special was prepared, only a water pitcher and cups were placed before them, and all the maids withdrew.
The kind and gentle Queen Rania’s gaze quickly sharpened, filled with wisdom and caution.
“I hear the Crown Prince has entrusted you with something for the spring ball?”
“Yes. Actually….”
Fay recounted the conversation she had just had with Sillas, and the Queen, after contemplating for a moment, nodded.
“That sounds acceptable.”
“Your Majesty, have you ever met Lady Lâtel in person? I don’t know her character well, so I’m worried I may have acted too hastily.”
“No, that’s not an issue. Miss Fay, you know the name Astein and I share, don’t you?”
“Delphior… Yes.”
That name signified Queen Rania’s fallen homeland – the Kingdom of Delphior.
……
T/N: I’m curious to Queen Rania’s story, aside from what has been said so far
