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Chapter 34
Poor(?) Berenice (2)
Poor Berenice.
This was the name Kaiden had given to the current plan. Berenice had protested that such a grand plan didn’t need a name, but Kaiden insisted that a grand plan deserved a fitting title.
Hearing that deliberately teasing name, Berenice felt a headache for the first time since her return through reincarnation and greeted the morning of the “grand plan” with a long sigh.
Even though she was the one who had taken the lead in devising the plan, the thought that Kaiden had interfered made sighs escape her involuntarily.
But at this point, there was no way to undo what had already begun.
“Once I said I’d accept help, there’s no turning back.”
The news that the Second Prince was returning to the royal castle after a long time had already spread throughout the capital.
Would Kaiden know that the nobles and commoners were already buzzing with speculation about his official movements since the Crown Prince’s funeral? Even if he did, he probably wouldn’t care much.
Berenice began her morning preparations with the help of Nadia, who looked a little gloomy.
Nadia’s melancholy was because of Marien. Having stayed by Berenice’s side for several years and handled various tasks together, Nadia was still bothered by Marien’s betrayal.
It was understandable.
Nadia had joined the marquis’s household after receiving favor from him, even turning her back on her own family, while Marien had entered the household for her own purposes. Their positions were completely different.
Unless something extraordinary happened, Nadia would probably never understand Marien, not even until her death.
“Miss, did you hear? Marien has been struck with divine punishment.”
“Divine punishment?”
“Yes, apparently she can’t speak anymore.”
Berenice tilted her head as if she didn’t know, listening to Nadia’s answer.
“At first, everyone thought Marien was pretending, but now they say she really can’t speak. According to the physician, her vocal cords were damaged…”
It wasn’t divine punishment—it was the poison Berenice had prepared.
The previous night, Berenice had secretly found the underground storage where Marien was confined, restrained her struggling limbs, and fed her the poison.
Unfortunately, Marien was a noble who could read and write, so Berenice had also had to deal with her hands a bit.
No one would be able to reveal that Berenice was the one who destroyed Marien’s vocal cords and ruined her hands anytime soon. In fact, by the time Marien’s hands healed, some other misfortune would strike, and Berenice would never have to confess.
Finishing her morning preparations while thinking of the next misfortune she would bring upon Marien, Berenice checked her reflection in the mirror.
She was pleased with her own appearance—her beautiful face accented by white hair gave her a mysterious aura.
At this look, today’s “performance” was bound to be a great success.
“Come to think of it, I am supposed to be an actress, right?”
When she first heard that he went to the theater at least once a week to watch a play, she had thought he enjoyed the arts. But in reality, it was an excuse to enjoy private meetings with his lover.
It was absurd that she only realized this after returning to the past, even though she could have figured it out with a little attention.
Without the help of the White Raven, she probably wouldn’t have known even after the engagement was broken off.
“I really didn’t care that much, huh.”
Would things have been different if, like Lowell, they had fallen in love at first sight and willingly accepted an arranged marriage?
Ah, if that had been the case, she might have stormed into the Count’s house in a fit of betrayal and strangled him on the spot.
Shaking her head while thinking of Nayen, who looked perfectly normal outwardly, Berenice got up.
She had been given permission to go out today under the pretext of finding a ribbon to tie around her wrist.
According to the original plan, she would have dragged Lowell by the scruff of his neck while he grumbled, “Why do I have to go pick out your ribbon with you?”
But the plan changed when she decided to enlist Kaiden’s help.
“Will this work out?”
Even if things didn’t go according to plan, the engagement would end anyway, so she didn’t care much about the outcome.
It was the process that worried her…
Thinking of Kaiden, the biggest variable, Berenice shook her head to brush off her worries. He wouldn’t act according to her concerns anyway, so it was better to focus on what she could control.
“Miss, the carriage is ready.”
“Who will escort me?”
“Sir Walker said he would personally accompany you.”
“Sir Walker?”
It was probably because of Marien.
Louis, the captain of the marquis’s knights, had been sent personally to support her, hoping to lift Berenice’s spirits after being betrayed by someone she trusted. The marquis likely approved the arrangement for the same reason.
“I’ll keep having to lie, won’t I.”
Even if the lies were meant to protect her family, a lie was still a lie. The invisible debt in her heart continued to grow.
“…Let’s just think about ending the engagement first.”
Ignoring the heaviness in her heart, Berenice focused on what she had to do today.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, Miss.”
After wrapping a scarf Nadia handed her, Berenice left the room and headed straight outside.
Though the spring banquet was imminent, the wind was still chilly. Feeling the cold breeze brush her cheek for a moment, Berenice looked around at the scenery and then got into the carriage.
Seeing Louis mount his horse and move ahead of the carriage reassured her. No matter what happened today, nothing would endanger her.
After riding for a while over the bumpy roads, they arrived at a shopping alley. Berenice got out of the carriage and took a seat at a café terrace where the fountain in the square was visible.
“Miss, it’s still cold. Wouldn’t you rather go inside?”
“I’m just having a cup of tea. Besides, Sir Walker doesn’t like being cooped up, right?”
“If it’s because of me, I’d say go inside…”
“You’re taking over this place anyway. Once the weather warms up, seating will be fiercely competitive. Let me enjoy it while I can.”
Berenice playfully laughed and picked up the menu, glancing at a clothing store directly across the square.
It was the location she had designated as the stage, where Nayen’s lover was carefully buying a dress from a designer.
The store was notorious for being extremely selective with customers, but merely obtaining a dress there would be considered an accomplishment.
It made sense—after all, this was the designer who had created the current Empress’s wedding dress, known for crafting the finest of the finest.
“I think Mother had a few of these dresses too…”
The shop didn’t take requests from young nobles who weren’t of age, so Berenice couldn’t obtain a dress there yet.
Yet, a mere commoner and actress from a theater troupe coveted a dress from this shop…
“Nayen must be putting a lot of effort into this.”
And by “effort,” she meant money.
After ordering warm tea from the café staff, Berenice leisurely waited for the “main actor” to appear.
Finally, the actors she had been waiting for appeared.
A man with shoulder-length, light reddish-brown hair repeatedly brushed his hair back as he smiled at a woman with bright red hair beside him.
It was Nayen Blaze.
The way he kept meeting the eyes of the red-haired woman and fondling her waist, appearing rather impatient, was probably not just Berenice’s imagination.
“Today, I will definitely get the dress.”
“Don’t worry, Lizzy. The designer will see your face and beg you to buy it.”
“Only if I can see them. I’ve visited several times and never met them. How high-handed!”
“Trust me. I’ll make them crawl on their knees.”
“Really? You’re the best, sub-count!”
Louis was the first to react to the clearly audible conversation as they got closer.
He immediately recognized Nayen, walking toward the shop as if glued to his lover.
“Sir Walker? Why such a terrifying expression…?”
Berenice, pretending not to notice the couple, turned her gaze where Louis was looking, dropping her teacup.
“Miss, are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
Seeing her pale face and trembling fingers, Louis’s expression twisted into something even more terrifying than before.
As a knight of the marquis, he had watched over the birth and growth of the marquis’s children up close.
And now Nayen, who was clearly having an affair, appeared before Berenice?
Was Nayen indirectly telling her that he wished she would just die and go to God’s arms immediately?
“Nadia, protect Miss.”
Louis, having decided to honor Nayen’s wish, clenched his fists.
