IBYVS 43

Chapter 43

“Then the question is, how long will the one-way path continue to be designated as a restricted area…”

I lightly bit my lower lip.

In fact, contrary to what Cedric knew and what was known in the world, the path to the Sanctuary of Knowledge isn’t actually a one-way path.

In the original story, Daphne often used the teleport in the attic to get there.

That’s how she could enter the Sanctuary of Knowledge secretly, without anyone noticing, giving the readers that satisfying thrill.

It was also thanks to this that she was able to become friends with the dragon.

But this was top-secret information known only to Daphne.

If I suddenly revealed that I knew this, he would be wary, and if it got out that the Marinest family had a route to the Sanctuary of Knowledge, that family would be in danger.

It wasn’t a situation where I could casually say, “Hey, let me borrow your secret entrance!”

Sigh… I guess I’ll just have to regain my memories quickly.

But how?

And why on earth were Elia’s memories wiped clean the moment I possessed her body? I didn’t understand.

I hadn’t read much in the way of fantasy romance, but I had skimmed a few works. Usually, when someone is possessed, the story starts with: “The memories of the original owner flowed into me,” or “Thanks to the memories, I know who I am!”

And now, a question arises.

“Cedric, you said that all the knowledge in the world is stored in the Sanctuary of Knowledge, right?”

“That’s correct. From a family’s private rumors to forgotten histories, the dragon, who is the owner of the rare items and the librarian of the Sanctuary, has gathered everything.”

…Then, would it also record that the one who cast the curse was me?

“When you say the dragon has gathered it, what exactly does that mean?” I asked.

“Well… as far as I’ve heard, every story that travels by word of mouth is recorded. So even though it contains all the knowledge in the world, secrets or private matters known only to individuals are not well-documented,” Cedric explained.

He added that incidents within noble families get recorded because there are always eyes watching and ears listening.

I secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Then it was possible that the fact I was the bad fairy wasn’t recorded.

The only person who knew that I was the one who cast the curse was Elia, and the fact that she was a bad fairy was information only I had from reading the original story.

Luckily, Elia had no parents, relatives, or acquaintances.

So the wedding held today was entirely attended by guests from the Indigencia side.

I said,
“First, we should carry out the loyalty oath ceremony and then think further.”

“Yes. The water has already spilled,” Cedric replied.

No matter how much we wracked our brains, we wouldn’t find an immediate solution.

“What about the guests?”

They must feel very sympathetic toward us.

But Cedric said without concern:
“It doesn’t matter how they see us. We always have enough power to sway public opinion.”

He spoke calmly.

“Oh, right. There’s the Verbium newspaper.”

There had been a precedent where the Marinest dukedom received a hefty compensation using that newspaper.

Through that event, I learned one thing.

That was that the citizens of the empire felt sympathy for the Indigencia dukedom.

The duke had been kidnapped and returned, his trusted elder brother was cursed, and recently, even the first-ranked vassal betrayed him!

Incidents and accidents just never seemed to stop.

If this were the modern world, I might have advised them to perform some kind of ritual.

“While it’s a bit awkward to get sympathy votes, we should take advantage of them when we can,” Cedric said, judging coldly.

In fact, it was amusing that commoners would worry about nobles.

But even celebrities can’t help but worry when incidents happen.

Of course, a grand duke isn’t a celebrity, but as an analogy, that’s the point.

I stroked my chin and said,
“Then it might be better to cancel the honeymoon for a more dramatic effect.”

“…What?”

Cedric was startled by my words.

“You want to… cancel the honeymoon?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to show how despondent I am for not being able to go to the Sanctuary of Knowledge?”

Cedric looked utterly dumbfounded.

We had planned to honeymoon on an island in the southern duchy.

It was Cedric’s private property, a famous resort, and voted the number one “honeymoon destination even if remarried” by the citizens of Ifrisent.

“Are you sure about this? You were really looking forward to it,” he asked.

“Well… yes, but…”

Honestly, I was curious why it had been voted number one.

But if we were going to get sympathy votes anyway, shouldn’t we go all in?

“We can travel anytime, right?”

Maybe it was because I had spent days preparing and now saw the wedding crumble before my eyes.

Even the jewelry and honeymoon were perfectly planned.

Now, I felt like nothing really mattered.

“I think it would be more dramatic. What do you think, Cedric?”

“…Hiding away in the castle without going on a honeymoon would indeed earn sympathy, as you said. But, Elia, that doesn’t give you a reason to actually forgo the honeymoon,” he said.

He spoke as if the honeymoon were something extremely special.

Well, it was indeed something special.

“I actually think that’s exactly why we should forgo it,” I said.

“What…?”

“Think about it. Half of the empire’s citizens are women, and many are married. They understand how important a honeymoon is.”

This world was a bit—or rather, extremely—conservative.

So for the women of this world, a honeymoon might be the same as a “legitimate excuse to travel” as in our world.

“Also, Calib says that the Commoners’ Council sees me as the starting point to break down the wall between nobles and commoners,” I continued.

“Oh, I see,” Cedric said affirmatively.

“But then there’s interference from Her Majesty the Empress…”

I glanced around lightly.

There was no one, but just in case.

“Anyway, if the wedding fails because of that, leaving us despondent and unable to go on the honeymoon…”

“Hm.”

“…won’t that make people sympathize with us more and complain to the royal family?”

Maybe not anger, but sympathy.

Cedric fell into thought at my words.

Personally, I didn’t understand why he was agonizing so much.

What better way is there to gain sympathy votes than this?

Come to think of it, he had apologized for how the final wedding procession had been a mess.

Perhaps Cedric was worried that I wouldn’t have a “perfect wedding.”

I decided to check.

“Cedric, may I ask why you’re worrying? Is there something troubling you…?”

After a long pause, Cedric finally shook his head.

“No, nothing. You are right.”

“See?”

I smiled at him triumphantly.

But Cedric’s expression remained somber.

He said,
“Then make me a promise.”

“A promise?”

“After you visit the Sanctuary of Knowledge, you will go on a trip with me.”

“You mean a belated honeymoon?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Was it necessary?

We didn’t know how long the royal family would block the one-way path to the Sanctuary of Knowledge.

However, that ‘for a while’ would probably be quite long.

Also, even if we didn’t go to the Sanctuary, if I regained my memories and lifted his curse, we would get divorced immediately.

So there really wasn’t much need.

“If we do that… then,” Cedric’s eyes flickered as if searching for words.

After a moment, he continued:
“It would make swaying public opinion easier.”

“What…?”

“Think about it. I’m not bragging, but I’m fairly famous,” he said, mimicking me a moment ago.

“I was an orphan but was formally adopted into a grand noble family. While receiving heir training, I knew my place and gave my spot to the legitimate heir.”

I listened quietly as Cedric continued his self-introduction.

“But then I got cursed and received no compensation. Yet, rather than protesting, I humbly accepted my situation and worked to help my younger brother, the true duke, ascend to dukedom.”

I noticed his cheeks slightly reddening, embarrassed even as he spoke.

“Now, I’ve finally found love… and I’m getting married. And thanks to this, my curse may finally be lifted.”

He bit his lower lip slightly and continued:
“If, after being denied the honeymoon, when the curse is lifted, I travel freely with the woman I love…”

“I see.”

“It would be a perfect story to restore the image of the Indigencia dukedom, tarnished by countless incidents, and enhance our reputation.”

It did make sense.

The Indigencia dukedom was already famous just for being the empire’s sole grand dukedom.

But with fame came bad rumors spreading fast.

As a result, the dukedom’s image had plummeted unusually low.

In short, when Calib becomes duke, running the household may face many difficulties.

Restoring the dukedom’s image would indeed help in leading the family.

“If we depart immediately after visiting the Sanctuary of Knowledge, it would show us positively, unshaken by any threats,” he said, pleading for the promise.

Well, honestly, we didn’t need to worry about the dukedom’s image, but if it made Calib a little more comfortable…

“Alright,” I said.

That was doable.

I nodded.

Cedric visibly relaxed, as if saying, “Thank goodness, at least we can still go on the trip.” But that was only a guess.