TCMGF 76

Chapter 76

Her flushed cheeks and slightly excited expression.

Every little action from Monica was proof of her affection for that person.

“Even though it was my first time meeting them, they were so beautiful.”

I hesitated before asking,

“Were they your type?”
“Absolutely perfect.”

Who would have thought I’d live to see the day I listened to someone else’s love troubles. I’m not exactly a master counselor, but fine, let’s hear her out.

“Who is it? Is it hard to say?”
“Well…”

Monica, who always had such a calm expression, looked shy for once. That was refreshing to see.

“It’s someone who taught me a lot. But… is it alright to say this in front of the Duchess?”
“It’s fine. There’s no reason you can’t tell me just because I’m a duchess. People’s feelings are universal.”
“You won’t dislike it, will you?”

I couldn’t understand why she kept gauging my reaction. I was about to reassure her again when something struck me as odd.

“Why would I dislike it?”
“…”
“Is this someone connected to me?”
“The person I like… is the Duchess’s partner.”
“…What?”

For a moment, all sorts of thoughts rushed through my mind. No matter how twisted the original story had become, were the main characters still destined to be drawn to each other?

No, even so—how could Monica be so shameless when I was standing right here?

“The one who entered with you tonight. That’s who I’ve fallen for.”
“If you mean the person I came in with—”
“Yes!”
“And their name is…?”
“Sir Lorenzo Spinelli!”
“Oh… him?”

Thank goodness. My heart immediately cooled. For a second, I thought my struggle to twist the plot had been undone in a full 360°.

Still, this was no small issue either.

“You’re saying you’ve fallen for Spinelli?”

Being a Saintess doesn’t mean marriage is impossible. It’s just that her marriage would draw as much attention as a royal wedding.

Even after marriage, the Saintess’s husband would be expected to do volunteer work and donate generously alongside her.

Some even joked that if a man could endure that pressure and stay by the Saintess’s side for life, he should be called a saint himself.

“When I first saw Sir Spinelli, I was struck by his beauty.”

Was he beautiful? Maybe my standards had risen too much, because I didn’t quite feel it.

“His pink hair that seemed to carry the scent of dried roses, that peach-like blush, and his delicate, fragile look with no hint of dominance… That’s exactly my type. Perfect!”

Monica’s eyes sparkled. Her passion was obvious. I realized our tastes were quite different.

“So, Monica, you prefer delicate and frail men?”

With graceful poise, her hands resting on the piano, the Saintess replied gently,

“To be precise, I like proud, high-born men who have been broken and crushed, brought low by despair. A wounded handsome man. Isn’t that beautiful?”

Well, everyone has their own ideal type. I respected hers.

“Sir Lorenzo is of imperial blood, you know. Yet when he so timidly asked me to dance, I could still feel his pride and conviction. And his face—so cute.”
“…I hope things work out between you and Lorenzo Spinelli.”
“Thank you for your support. I only worried you’d be upset since he was your escort partner tonight.”
“Not at all. Besides, I’m already a married woman, remember?”

At that moment, I finally understood how Monica and Ezekiel ended up together in the original story.

Back then, after Michele’s kidnapping, he had lost so much and was deeply wounded.

Though hurt and struggling, he clung to his convictions and tried to lead the Betra territory. Around that same time, Monica had awakened as a Saintess in a nearby region, and naturally, they became entangled like fate.

And with the formal order of precedence, at the Winter Palace ball, the Saintess would inevitably be escorted by Ezekiel. The rest was history.

Yes. What seemed like a random escort arrangement tonight was originally a romance event meant to bring Monica and Ezekiel together.

It wasn’t just a trial meant to drive a wedge between me and my contract husband.

But Ezekiel Betra now isn’t living the life foretold in the novel.

Michele’s kidnapping? It never happened. He hadn’t lost everything to the Emperor. He wasn’t broken or crushed.

“Viola. It’s late.”

See? Just look at him coming in with that dignified stride. Hardly the image of a fallen man. Monica barely even spared him a glance.

“Did your conversation end well, Duke Betra?”
“Yes. And Saintess Monica, you’ve worked hard today.”
“Thanks to your consideration, I learned so much. I’m deeply grateful.”

Even in conversation, her shyness showed.

…So I really did change the flow, huh.

Here they were, the so-called “original male lead” and “original female lead,” in the same room, and yet they didn’t even glance at each other.

The weight of what I’d done finally sank in. I’d wanted this outcome, but… was it really okay?

At the same time, somewhere in the distance, a voice seemed to whisper, It’s fine. I blinked slowly.

“Viola?”
“Oh. If you’re done mingling with the priests, shall we head back?”

I shook my head.

At this hour, Michele was probably already bathed and fast asleep.

I was relaxed, but Ezekiel seemed like he had something more to say.

“The steward managing the capital residence just sent word. Zenobio is there.”
“At this hour?”

Was he insane? That’s what I almost blurted out. His next words were even harder to believe.

“He was kneeling at the doorstep, so the steward brought him into the parlor.”

That arrogant fool—kneeling? The world could end tomorrow and it would still be less shocking.

“We’d better go. I need to know what on earth Zenobio has eaten wrong tonight.”
“Let’s hurry then.”

After bidding farewell to the Saintess, we rushed through the cool night air to the residence. As the carriage stopped, the steward came out.

“He’s waiting inside.”

The sight was ridiculous. Hearing our arrival, Zenobio had straightened himself into a more proper posture—still kneeling on one leg in the parlor.

“You couldn’t manage both knees?”
“N-no, that’s not… I mean…”

So yes, he couldn’t.

“Why’d you come alone? Sneaking off to meet us behind your family’s back?”
“They’ll come tomorrow morning. I came ahead.”
“If it’s not urgent, talk tomorrow. After some rest.”

I was already longing for a bath and bed.

“It’s not urgent, right? No need to discuss things while half-asleep.”
“Well, that’s true, but—”
“Whatever it is, if it made you kneel at dawn, it’s bound to be troublesome. Let’s discuss it when we’re clear-headed.”

I pulled Ezekiel with me to our chambers. Out of charity, we lent him the smallest guest room.

And so the next day—just a few hours later.

After a refreshing sleep, I dressed in the outfit Anna had prepared and went downstairs.

“When will the rest of your family arrive?”
“In an hour. But wait! I need to talk first. Camilla and Father don’t know I kneeled last night!”

So he had come boasting all the way here, huh. A bit irritating. I deliberately sprawled lazily, crossing my legs as I looked down on Zenobio still kneeling.

“What do you want?”

Zenobio grit his teeth.

“Our house is on the verge of bankruptcy. I managed with the information guild I’ve been running, but I’ve hit my limit.”
“And so?”
“Take me in. I want to sell my guild to Duke Betra’s guild.”

I hadn’t expected that request.

Since becoming vice guildmaster, I learned there were indeed people in Duke Betra’s guild who had once belonged to other guilds.

Some had even sold their guilds. It was no secret in the Empire that the Duke ran an information guild.

But outsiders could never hold high office. At best, they served as low-level couriers.

The guild had been built to protect Betra, after all. Outsiders or former rivals were never trusted with authority.

“…But I don’t care. I just need money. If my brother-in-law accepts me, I’ll start from the bottom. Just give me a chance to start over!”