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chapter 26
“Does my fortune this year have a lot of marriage signs or something? Every fortune-teller I meet tells me I’m going to get married.”
By now, Iva wasn’t even surprised. She pulled her hand away, the one Brigitte’s lips had just brushed, with an expression that said this was all getting stale.
“I’m against marriage, actually.”
Brigitte smiled, as if he’d expected that answer.
“Haha. I was only joking, but rejecting me so quickly does sting a little.”
“You’re smiling right now.”
“You’re really adorable, Iva. Every expression shows on your face.”
“I’m more beautiful than cute, though.”
She answered his compliment with even more shamelessness, making Brigitte laugh louder.
“Hahaha, you’re right. You really are beautiful—beautiful enough that anyone would fall for you at first sight.”
“Well, I hear that often enough.”
“If you were to marry someone from Fene, you’d be given the chance to choose citizenship. You could come to Fene then.”
Brigitte raised his hand and pointed to the left.
At the end of Iva’s gaze, following his gesture, was a lilac-colored carriage adorned with Fene’s emblem, the snow leopard.
“That’s my carriage.”
“…Excuse me? Am I about to be kidnapped?”
“That doesn’t sound like a bad idea either.”
Brigitte was smiling, but Iva was serious.
She had thought it was just a stroll. Now that there was a carriage waiting, it was unsettling.
She edged a little farther away from him.
But noticing her movement, he closed the distance again in a single long stride.
“I’m not saying you have to leave right this moment. I depart the Begen Agei Empire tomorrow. I’ll wait here until midnight.”
From inside his clothes, Brigitte pulled out a wooden pocket watch and showed her the time.
“Think it over carefully. Where will your abilities shine brighter? Surely, there’s a place that suits you far better than here.”
His tone carried absolute confidence. That confidence kindled a small spark of belief in Iva as well.
Perhaps this really was a chance to escape the suffocating flow of the story she had been trapped in.
But… would leaving like this solve everything? If only she could guarantee the survival of her parents, Jane, and the household servants—those who had all been dragged into death in her previous life because of her—then she would leave without a single glance back.
Yet in this uncertain situation, she feared that leaving for Fene might twist the story and bring harm to her loved ones.
Iva stared intently at Brigitte’s lilac carriage in the distance.
The final duty of the delegation party remained: submitting her closing report to Claude. Iva headed toward the western palace.
Brigitte’s proposal of emigration had left her heart unsettled, her steps heavy.
She was walking with her head down, lost in thought, when a voice called out:
“Hey, keep that up and you’ll smash your nose.”
She looked up at the familiar voice and found Chase waiting for her in front of the western palace.
“If you trip and bust your nose, your face will swell again.”
“Want to try breaking your own nose first?”
She clenched her fist, and Chase dropped the subject. But he immediately noticed that her expression wasn’t good.
“What are you thinking so hard about? You always stare at the ground when something’s weighing on you.”
“…I’ve just had a lot on my mind.”
“Because the party’s over? If you regret it that much, why not become His Highness’s personal attendant? This is a good chance.”
“You think I don’t see right through your plan to work me to the bone?”
“You’re good at what you do. It’d strengthen your family’s standing too. And honestly, I think His Highness wants you to take on more work in the future.”
“What? Did you forget I only agreed to this one job? Leave me alone now.”
Her tone came out harsher than she intended, sharpened by her tangled emotions. She realized it too late, seeing Chase’s surprise, and quickly apologized.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap like that.”
“It’s fine. You’ve been working hard—being on edge is only natural.”
Chase patted her shoulder gently, and she, softening, asked him a tentative question.
“Chase… if I said I was going to leave this place—go far away—what would you think?”
“Far away? You mean like a trip?”
“No. Not a trip. I mean leaving for good.”
“With your parents?”
“No. Alone. Not even with Jane.”
“…Have things been that hard for you?”
Worried that this might be because of the work he’d asked her to do, Chase cupped her cheeks in both hands and looked her over closely. Then he teasingly pinched the soft skin of her cheek.
“I said if, didn’t I? Just if!”
She pulled his hands away, but he caught her fingers again.
“Don’t go.”
“…What?”
“I said, don’t go.”
His eyes, grave now, fixed on her.
“If you’re gone… who am I supposed to tease every day?”
“You little—are you kidding me?! All you think about is teasing me?”
Her seriousness flipped into indignation. She shoved his hand off and smacked him on the shoulder. He laughed, but there was a tinge of bitterness in it.
“So why the sudden thought of leaving?”
“I just thought… maybe if I left, no one would get hurt. If I disappeared—Ow!”
Chase flicked her forehead lightly.
“What was that for?!”
“And what are you saying? If your parents or Jane heard that, how hurt would they be?”
“I was thinking about them when I said it.”
“Then you should be thinking about staying with them. You know they feel happiest when they’re with you.”
She couldn’t argue back. In her mind, she saw Jane, who found pride in serving alongside her, and her parents’ ever-supportive smiles.
“So what’s weighing on you all of a sudden, huh?”
His firm tone softened. He tilted his head slightly to meet her gaze.
“…I was just talking. Forget it.”
“How could I ever not worry about you?”
She lowered her eyes in silence. He watched her for a moment, then mussed her hair roughly.
“Hey! What was that for?”
“Do you remember what you always told me when we were kids?”
“When we were kids?”
Since she’d entered this story already an adult, she tilted her head, not knowing.
“I was a coward back then. You always told me: if you worry in advance and let fear control you, misfortune will only cling harder. That I should always face things boldly, and then even my worries might turn into joys.”
“…I said that?”
“You did. Face things head-on. That’s who you are. Running away in fear doesn’t suit you.”
For a moment, Chase’s voice overlapped with what she imagined the “original Iva” might have sounded like.
A voice she’d never heard before, yet it felt like encouragement from the real heroine whose life she’d taken over.
“Running away isn’t like me, huh…”
Her expression brightened, the shadows lifting into a determined smile.
Seeing her return to her usual self, Chase laughed too.
“Now that you’re better, shall we go report to His Highness? He’s waiting in his office.”
“Yeah. Let’s go.”
The two entered the palace.
Knock, knock.
“Your Highness, Lady Blanche is here with the final report.”
“Come in.”
Chase opened the door, and Iva stepped inside, bowing formally.
“Greetings to Your Highness the Prince.”
Claude, seated at his desk, set aside his pen and acknowledged her.
“Welcome. It seems this is the first time you’ve given me a report in person.”
“I thought the last report should be delivered directly.”
She handed him the documents she had prepared.
“The western hall garden has been restored to its original state. The fountain couldn’t be dismantled, so I simply had the water turned off.”
“It’s better for water to flow than to stagnate. Keep it running.”
“I also handed over the surplus of prepared gifts to your aide.”
As Claude looked through the documents, he came across a list of names.
“And this list?”
“Those who helped with the party.”
“I see. But usually such names aren’t included in official reports.”
Never before had a report been submitted with the names of all the workers listed. After all, serving the palace was considered both an honor and a duty.
“I’m not including their names to ask Your Highness to reward them.”
“Then why?”
“Just… please remember them.”
Claude’s blue eyes lifted from the paper to her.
“They’re already satisfied with just the knowledge that they helped with your party. That’s enough for them.”
Iva still felt fear whenever she faced him, but she forced herself to speak without trembling now.
“But if Your Highness remembers even one of their names, they may devote their entire lives to you. They may not be from great families, but they are many. Having them on your side would benefit you.”
Claude looked back at the list, reading each name.
“You might actually be more suited to royalty than I am.”
“Your Highness… someone might accuse me of treason if they heard that.”
She shrank her shoulders and lowered her voice.
“Haha, I’m only joking. But I truly think it was fortunate you took charge of this party.”
Claude’s smile carried both gentleness and gratitude.
“I’ll issue small rewards to both the Blanche family and those on this list. I hope you’ll accept them.”
“…Rewards, too?”
“You taught me how to win hearts. Now I must put it into practice.”
He lifted the list slightly.
“I don’t need anything. Please just take care of those on the list.”
“But I want to win your heart the most.”
“…Excuse me?”
Iva blinked rapidly.
“The party was a success, but my marriage proposal—does it still stand? I’d like you to accept it.”
“No! That deadline has long since expired. Completely!”
“Haha. That’s a shame.”
Claude’s relentless teasing left Iva forcing a polite smile.
“You’ve done well. I’ll see you again soon.”
“…Again?”
“Do you dislike the idea?”
“No, not at all. Ha… ha. I look forward to next time.”
“Good. You may go.”
Before he could change his mind and tease her further, she bowed quickly and hurried out of the office.
“Ugh! Talking to him takes ten years off my life every time. But at least I’ll never have to come back to the palace again. I’m free now!”
She walked with a light step, already imagining a resignation party at her estate.
“Iva.”
Her name called out from behind startled her.
“Wh-who’s there?”
It was a maid she didn’t recognize.
“Please, come with me for a moment.”
“I just clocked out—no, actually, I quit just now.”
“…Pardon?”
She had just finished her report—why was she being called again? Iva stayed put, clearly unwilling.
“It’ll only take a moment.”
“Who asked for me? If you don’t tell me, I’m not moving.”
At her insistent gaze, the maid finally spoke a name.
“Her Highness, Princess Julian, has summoned you.”
Iva’s expression froze.
