SPWHC 48

Chapter 48  

In the original story, she didn’t have much importance—her last scene was just being executed alongside Anton.

“If she’s ambitious enough to become the crown princess, then I have to push her, pull her up, and make her the queen of high society.”

Since I couldn’t openly support Anton, my strategy was to empower Adelina instead.

Of course, I had to be clever. A simple, obvious approach would raise suspicion.

“I’ll just play the thoughtless, simple extra villain so Adelina shines even more.”

Previously, I had tried to protect René’s image—but now, there wasn’t time.

“Friedrich seemed so disappointed.”

I remembered his expression when he turned into a child at midnight recently.

It was a look of despair so deep, it was impossible to believe a child could show it.

He looked as if he’d had high expectations, and it hurt my heart to see him like that.

I had tried to comfort him, but he noticed, and his gaze only sank deeper into self-loathing.

“I need to get this divorce over with quickly and let him reunite with his first love.”

Once I retired from being a princess, everyone would forget me anyway. Who cared about my image then?

“Will you be accepting other invitations as well?”

“No, just this one.”

Of course, it would look more natural to accept more invitations… but…

“I have a feeling Miss Weiss will become the crown princess.”

Looking at the pile of invitations, the thought was overwhelming.

Even though I didn’t socialize, being a princess meant that nobles worried about accidentally offending me. The invitations were a reflection of that caution.

“I’m just focusing my attention. If she’s going to be family, it can’t hurt to get to know her beforehand, right?”

“…But you don’t even get along with the Empress, who is already family?”

Elza asked, clearly puzzled. I shrugged.

“That’s different—we’re from different generations.”

“What about Prince Anton?”

“That’s different too—gender makes it awkward.”

I gave a somewhat logical answer, and Elza seemed to accept it.

“Understood. The social world will be buzzing.”

“Why?”

Elza’s eyes asked as if I should know.

“You last attended a social gathering ten years ago.”

“Oh… right. It was Countess Rübbendorf’s tea party, wasn’t it?”

I briefly recalled it and then shut my mouth.

Countess Rübbendorf was the name people used to slander Empress Gisela back when she was the Emperor’s mistress.

Right after René’s mother passed away, Gisela invited René to a tea party announcing her marriage to the Emperor.

…That shouldn’t have happened. René ended up being humiliated there.

The resulting scandal between a stepdaughter and prospective stepmother shook high society for some time.

René later joined the military and built her own career, so she didn’t face punishment.

Of course, even if René had given up her princess status, she wouldn’t have apologized to Gisela.

“…They won’t misunderstand, right? I really mean to go with good intentions.”

“Well… eventually, you can’t avoid social events forever.”

Elza stayed silent for a moment, then bowed and withdrew.

Seeing the honest reaction of a servant who couldn’t lie, I worried.

Hmm… how can I remove suspicion? Should I prepare a gift?

But such worries would prove utterly useless just a few days later.

I sent a reply to Adelina accepting her tea invitation, and less than a day later, I received her reply.

She had written politely, stretching ten sentences to express how delighted and honored she was and how well she would prepare.

“Good. She doesn’t seem reluctant at all.”

For a week after that, it rained constantly. The dreary weather made my mood gloomy—until finally, a bright, sunny day arrived.

At last, it was time for an outdoor tea gathering.

Normally, I didn’t particularly enjoy such events, but being cooped up indoors for a week made me eager to go.

-You are cordially invited: René Stade’s Tea Time. Today at 3 PM, in the rose section of René Palace’s gardens.

I had even sent brief invitations to Friedrich and Marie, which already felt festive.

The weather was sunny but not too hot—perfect for 3 PM.

A round table with a canopy stood ready, where Friedrich, Joachim, and I sat.

“Is it too hot?”

“It’s fine. How about you?”

“I’m fine as well, Your Highness.”

“…I wasn’t asking you, Duke.”

I answered in bewilderment to Joachim, who had jumped in.

“Isn’t it time for the Ministry of Finance meeting?”

“I postponed it until tomorrow. Everyone understood—they’re worried Your Highness’s husband might steal your attention.”

Huh, didn’t they just pretend to understand because they wanted a break?

…But I stopped myself from asking further—I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.

“You seem to know all my movements.”

“I know the schedule of every administrative meeting.”

“I don’t know how happy it makes me to see Your Highness so informed about me.”

…Better not say anything more.

“Where’s Marie? Is she taking a nap?”

“That’s unlikely. If she has an appointment with Your Highness, she’s been ready two hours in advance…”

Joachim suddenly trailed off mid-sentence. Why stop talking?

“…She seemed to be looking forward to it, haha.”

“Well, she could fall asleep while waiting.”

“Princess Marie was seen going out earlier.”

Friedrich, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke. I widened my eyes.

“Really? Do you know where?”

“Hmm…”

Friedrich seemed to ponder briefly before answering.

“She seemed to be heading toward the central garden.”

The central garden—the vast, main part of the palace grounds.

She must have gone with a maid, but since she was unusually late, I worried something might have happened.

“I’ll go find Marie. Could you two wait here for a moment?”

“…With the prince? I can come along, Your Highness…”

“Understood, Princess. Go ahead.”

“I’m sorry, both of you. Have some tea while I’m gone.”

“Not at all. Take your time.”

Friedrich glanced at Joachim, who looked a little dumbfounded, then smiled once our eyes met.

“Don’t worry. I’ll enjoy my time with the prince here.”

“Thank you. Don’t fight, okay?”

I hurried toward the central garden, hoping to run into Marie on the way.

“There she is!”

Soon, I saw Marie running desperately toward René Palace.

She was running so fast that I worried she’d fall and called out for her to slow down.

“Ah!”

Suddenly, a carriage cut in front of her. Startled, Marie fell backward, landing hard on her rear.

The horse neighed loudly, as if surprised too. Luckily, the driver braked sharply, preventing serious injury.

“Ma—!”

I ran toward Marie, but someone stepped off the carriage. Squinting, I tried to see who it was.

A young woman with light, soft, almost blonde-brown hair approached Marie.

I assumed she had gotten out to check on Marie or help her up.

But she simply stood and watched Marie being helped up by the maid.

Then Marie, flustered, bowed awkwardly to the carriage owner. The next moment shocked me.

The woman suddenly slapped Marie’s cheek. It happened so fast.

At once, memories of the abuse marks on Marie’s body flashed in my mind.

I ran at full speed toward her.

“…I almost got hurt because of you—ugh!”

I spun the brown-haired woman around and slapped her back.

Marie, about to cry, looked at me with wide eyes. The woman who had been slapped stared at me in shock.

“Prin—”

When she realized who I was, her eyes widened further. I glared at her and asked:

“Do you regret it now?”

Adelina Weiss. I finally realized the woman’s identity and exhaled sharply.

“I need to revise the entire plan.”

Be the thoughtless, simple extra villain…

“I must make sure this woman never becomes the crown princess.”

Yes, after all, this was René’s specialty. When a person does something they normally wouldn’t, trouble always follows.