🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 7
“…Could it be that His Highness my brother called Lady Celestine because of something related to me?”
“Pardon?”
“Is that why… you were forced to come out?”
Ah, so that’s what she meant.
Celestine looked at Asha silently for a moment, then slowly spoke.
“It’s true that His Highness called me because of you, Princess. To be exact, he asked if I could keep you company—and I said I would.”
Asha’s face darkened. She couldn’t even meet Celestine’s eyes properly, her lips trembling as she spoke in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz.
“Because of me… you have to do something you don’t even want to…”
“Pardon?”
“And after already owing you once… now I’m even taking up your time…”
Seeing Asha flustered and apologetic, Celestine felt a pang in her chest.
Asha, timid and introverted. Asha, who had no close companions either inside or outside the imperial palace, except for Devaltin. Asha, who had always been alone.
Kind, gentle, and warm-hearted… yet always lonely and isolated.
“I’m truly sorry, Cel—”
“No? I accepted because I wanted to become closer to you, Your Highness.”
“…What?”
Asha looked at Celestine with a face that clearly said she couldn’t believe it.
“I’m the type of person who wouldn’t do something I dislike even if a blade were held to my throat.”
Well… aside from things she absolutely had to do.
“I chose to do this because I wanted to. So please don’t say things like that. It makes me sad.”
“Lady Celestine…”
“Or is it that I seem too lacking as a companion? I thought you didn’t dislike me, Your Highness.”
“N-no! That’s not it at all!”
Startled, Asha waved her hands frantically.
“It’s just that I like you so much… but your feelings might be different…”
“Then there’s nothing for you to worry about anymore.”
Celestine deliberately smiled.
“I like it too. Being able to keep you company. From now on, I’ll come visit the princess palace once a day—so you won’t chase me away, right?”
It was meant as a joke, but Asha’s expression turned subtly complicated again.
She hesitated for a moment, then clenched her fists as if gathering great courage and looked straight at Celestine.
“Th-then… instead of just being companions… could we be friends?”
“…”
“I think… that word sounds better…”
“Okay.”
Celestine gently took Asha’s hand.
“Let’s start today. Friends.”
Asha’s face turned even redder than before—like a perfectly ripened strawberry.
“You’re… much nicer than I thought, Lady Celestine…”
At Asha’s innocent murmur, Celestine didn’t know how to respond.
“Forgive me, Your Highness, but His Highness the Crown Prince is waiting.”
The one who interrupted them was Asha’s maid, who had been standing behind them.
“Ah, actually, I was on my way to see my brother.”
Asha looked apologetically at Celestine, but Celestine simply shrugged.
“You should go. We’ll be seeing each other often anyway, so for now I’ll yield you to His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Asha smiled shyly, and Celestine returned the smile.
“Then I’ll see you again soon, Lady Celestine.”
“Yes.”
As Celestine waved at her, Asha timidly waved back.
Then she turned and began walking toward the reception room where Devaltin was waiting.
“….”
With her back turned, Asha wore an expression Celestine had never seen before.
Cold. Completely devoid of warmth.
Even more so than Devaltin.
But unfortunately, there was no way for Celestine to know that.
The sunlight was bright.
Completely unaware of the rot festering underneath.
“….”
As Celestine walked away from the Crown Prince’s palace, her face was as gloomy as a rainy season sky.
“Anyway, I still have some time… I should find somewhere inconspicuous and think this through…”
The plan had to change. Since she couldn’t pass information to Devaltin, she needed a new target.
The second prince—an extra.
“How do I keep him from attending the banquet?”
As Celestine pondered deeply,—
“Miss!”
From afar, near the entrance of the imperial palace, a familiar face stepped out of a carriage and called her loudly.
“…Huh? Melsi?”
It was Melsi, a maid from the Winsel household—someone who always took care of Celestine.
But why was she here?
“The master sent me.”
As if anticipating her question, Melsi quickly approached and explained.
“He said… since you might run off somewhere again like last time, I should stay by your side and keep an eye on you.”
That damned old man. Useless when it matters, yet overly suspicious.
Celestine felt slightly annoyed, but it wasn’t Melsi’s fault. She could only follow orders from above.
“Thankfully, they said I could accompany you even in the Crown Prince’s palace. I never imagined I’d get to come to a place like this…”
Melsi’s eyes sparkled like jewels as she looked around the grand imperial palace, even more magnificent than those of other empires.
After a brief hesitation, Celestine carefully asked:
“Melsi, do you know anything about the princes?”
“The princes?”
“Yes. Since they’ll all be at the banquet, I should at least know their names.”
It was a reasonable point. Still, it was strange—her lady, who used to be so interested in the imperial family, now didn’t even know their names?
Melsi tilted her head but answered sincerely.
“As far as I know… including Crown Prince Devaltin, there are seven princes. Or rather, there were.”
“Mm. And?”
“The youngest prince passed away from illness last year, so now there are six.”
The youngest—only about eight years old—had unexpectedly been favored by the Emperor.
And Helena, noticing that quickly, had secretly poisoned him to eliminate a future threat.
Yes, this matches what I know from the original story.
“The sixth prince is currently traveling but is expected to return today. The third prince has gone abroad to study and won’t attend. The first prince became a priest and left Yeshua long ago.”
They were all extras—barely mentioned in the original.
They’re not important right now.
“What about the second prince?”
“He’ll definitely attend today’s banquet. Though… I’ve heard he really envies the Crown Prince, so their relationship is quite bad. Still, family is family, I suppose.”
Melsi lowered her voice and whispered.
No, Melsi. He’s not coming because of family—he’s coming to mess with Devaltin.
“What’s his name?”
“George.”
A very fitting name, considering what she planned to do.
“But didn’t you dislike Prince George a lot, my lady? You used to avoid any gathering he attended.”
So he doesn’t know my face. That’s good news.
“Oh, right! I saw him earlier on my way here. Just briefly, but I recognized him from past events like the founding festival.”
“Really? Where?”
Celestine’s face brightened.
“Near the palace entrance—he was getting out of a carriage… oh—there he is.”
Turning quickly, she saw George walking ahead with his escort knights.
Just as his name suggested, he had the look of a typical extra.
An overly hooked nose, sharp narrow eyes like a snake… well—
He was simply ugly.
Very ugly.
‘I need to stop him from entering the banquet.’
Growing anxious, Celestine turned to Melsi.
“Melsi, just in case… do you have something like a laxative?”
“…What?”
Of course not.
“Then what about some extremely strong alcohol? Like, something that could knock someone out in one drink?”
Also impossible.
‘What do I do… should I just approach him?’
“Oh! And Prince George has a bit of a bad rumor.”
Melsi whispered.
“They say he’s quite… fond of women.”
“…”
“But as you can see… he’s rather unfortunate in appearance, so things don’t go as he’d like…”
Fond of women?
Then should I go now?
As Celestine hesitated—
George, who had been passing by, suddenly turned his gaze toward her.
‘W-what? Why is he looking at me?’
Well… it would be helpful if he showed interest, but…
‘Ugh… whatever. It’s do or die now.’
Resolving herself, Celestine stared straight at George and slowly parted her lips—
Smiling brightly, like an angel.
