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Chapter 35
“Are you tired?”
Shina, the maid, asked as she dried my hair with a towel.
“I’m fine. I actually feel younger.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Shina burst out laughing.
But I was serious. Ever since I regained my soul and divine power from Chase, my body had felt light and refreshed.
“While you were out, a letter arrived from the Duke of Redmond’s household. Would you like to check it now?”
My shoulders, which had been relaxed while leaning back, flinched and stiffened.
Artif… did he really dabble in black magic and commit cruel deeds just to break his curse?
That could be the reason behind those terrible rumors.
“Milady? If you’re tired, would you like to check it tomorrow?”
“No. I’ll look at it now.”
“I placed it on your desk. Please don’t overdo it.”
As I rose, Shina draped a white lace shawl over my light-blue negligee.
I sat at the desk and looked down at the letter.
The Redmond duke’s seal. Artif always kept his seal on the upper right side of his desk.
So I used to sit on the left, reading my books.
As the memory—now just nostalgia—flooded back, I cut the seal with a knife and unfolded the letter.
The content was gentlemanly and concise. It almost didn’t feel like the Artif I had lived with.
He said the favor he mentioned would be discussed after the next full moon.
It must be because he’d soon be transforming into an animal.
“Hmm… I wonder if Artif turns into a cat like me.”
Since I was a silver cat, Artif would be a black one, wouldn’t he? Cute.
As I kept reading, I froze at the last line. Then my eyes went back to the top.
To. Lady Charlize Retel
⋮
From. Butler Shasha
Staring blankly, I folded the letter and slipped it back into the envelope.
“Sigh…”
I was confused.
The gentlemanly duke of the letter. The cold-blooded duke of the rumors. The playful, caring Artif who treated Shasha kindly. And the cursed duke Chase had described, who’d turned to black magic.
Which of these was the real him?
“Still, he did help me…”
I pulled out a fresh sheet of stationery.
I didn’t know what kind of man Artif truly was or how I should treat him, but I decided to write back with the polite tone of a noble lady.
“The full moon… that’s still a while away.”
I frowned as I checked the calendar.
Tomorrow, I had to visit the imperial palace to meet Chase.
When I arrived at the crown prince’s palace, I began climbing the steps.
Under the bright blue sky, the resplendent palace only looked suffocating and dreadful to me.
“Well, if it isn’t the young lady.”
Dragging my feet as much as possible, reluctant to go, I ran into a man coming out of the palace. He greeted me politely.
“Hello.”
I returned the greeting automatically and looked up at him. A handsome man with dazzling blond hair and green-blue eyes.
He looked familiar somehow.
Perhaps realizing I didn’t remember, he introduced himself with a smooth gesture.
“I am Caius, head of the Borghese Marquisate.”
Ah, that’s it.
He was the man adopted into the Borghese family from a branch line.
Despite the marquis having legitimate children, Caius excelled in every field and had recently inherited the title.
“A pleasure to meet you. I am Charlize of House Retel.”
“Mm~”
Caius wore a curious little smile.
Handsome, indeed. Now I understood why high society was in an uproar over him.
“What is it?”
“It saddens me that you don’t remember meeting me before.”
I thought to myself.
So his popularity wasn’t just because of his looks or status, but that flirtatious, slick demeanor?
“I may have seen you from afar, but this is the first time we’ve exchanged greetings.”
“Really?”
Somehow, his tone rubbed me the wrong way.
I had a strong feeling I shouldn’t get too close to him.
“Yes.”
“Hmm. Did you come to see His Highness the Crown Prince?”
Caius changed the subject.
“Yes. We had an appointment. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
“Milady. One moment, please.”
As I began to climb again, Caius stopped me.
“His Highness is in a meeting right now. I just met him as I was leaving.”
“Thank you for letting me know. I’ll wait in the reception room.”
From a step above, I looked down at Caius. Yet oddly, I still felt overpowered.
“It may take quite a while. Would you care for a stroll in the garden instead?”
“No, I’m a little tired. I’ll wait with some tea.”
“Then perhaps you might invite me to your tea time? I’ve been hoping for a chance to converse with you.”
Caius stepped up one stair, closing the distance.
I instinctively stepped back, climbing one more.
“You must be busy managing your new marquisate. I wouldn’t want to take your time.”
“I don’t mind…”
“Charlize.”
At that moment, Chase strode down from the crown prince’s palace.
Coming up close, he grabbed my hand possessively and glared at Caius.
“Marquis. What exactly were you saying to my fiancée?”
“I merely asked to join her for tea.”
Despite Chase’s obvious hostility, Caius replied with a fresh smile.
“I’m quite jealous, you see. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t approach my fiancée.”
“Your Highness, men who are overly possessive aren’t very popular.”
“Marquis.”
Chase’s grip on my hand tightened.
“Understood. Then, Lady Charlize, I shall pray we cross paths at a soirée.”
Caius, still needling Chase, turned and descended the steps.
Chase ground his teeth as he watched him leave.
“Your Highness, my hand…”
I tried to free my poor hand, which was turning numb.
“If that man speaks to you again, just ignore him. Don’t even bother with polite refusals.”
I didn’t ask how that was possible. He would’ve just insisted it was fine to be rude.
Chase loosened his grip but didn’t let go as he led me inside.
“Why not move your residence here?”
In his bedchamber, Chase sat on the sofa and made the suggestion.
“Here?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
I sat on the opposite sofa and gave my 3,294th rejection.
“If you lived in my room, pests like that wouldn’t bother you.”
Moving into the biggest pest’s den just to avoid the smaller ones? Absolutely not.
“Still no.”
Just three hours. I only needed to endure three more hours.
Whenever I came to fetch my mother’s medicine, Chase imposed the wretched condition that I spend at least three hours with him.
“Do you not realize how anxious I am? Because of your divine power verification at the temple, I almost lost you again.”
He sounded irritated.
Just yesterday, during the temple’s examination, the light that burst forth from me had shone so brightly it was visible even at midday. Thanks to that, everyone now knew about me.
And this morning, piles of letters had already arrived.
All filled with flattery, each trying to win me over. But I knew if I became their enemy, they’d switch masks and threaten me without hesitation.
“Even if I join the Azdel Order, I can still marry.”
“But you were once the Saintess. I didn’t expect your divine power to shine so brightly even after returning only half.”
“As far as I know, Saintesses can marry.”
Which was why Eluna and Calix could… No, I mustn’t think of that.
I glanced at Chase. The thought of him being Calix made me shudder.
“A Saintess may not wield the pope’s authority, but she holds more symbolic power. Do you know how many people would oppose an alliance with the imperial family?”
Ah, so that’s how it is.
Just wait until I recover my strength with the Rica leaf recipe.
“Since when have you cared about such things?”
For some reason, my retort made Chase chuckle.
“There’s a new opera opening this weekend. Would you perhaps—”
Just as he was about to ruin my day with yet another dreadful suggestion, someone knocked on the bedchamber door.
“Come in.”
Chase’s voice dropped low as his attendant entered.
“Didn’t I tell you not to disturb me when I’m with the lady?”
“My apologies. A summons has come from His Majesty the Emperor.”
Tilting his head, Chase asked,
“Right now?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Do you know why?”
“I was only told to bring you at once.”
Chase cracked his neck, looking weary.
“Fine.”
Rising to his feet, he came over to me.
“I’ll be back soon. Wait here.”
He pressed a kiss to my hair and left.
The moment I was alone, I shot up to my feet.
I wanted to chop my hair off right then and there, but I didn’t even want to waste the time it would take to feel disgusted.
