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Chapter 44.
“The Crown Princess?”
“Yes. It’s about time His Highness the Crown Prince started thinking about marriage.”
Has the Crown Prince already fallen completely for Merina?
That’s strange—Stella or Pony, who are always sharp about rumors like this, should’ve known something.
Besides, whenever Merina and the male lead get involved, I—the villainess—am always supposed to hear about it. That’s how I end up shouting, ‘Merina Ikel, I won’t let you get away with this!’
Just in case, I should have Ted confirm the Crown Prince’s and Merina’s movements, even if it’s a bit of a stretch.
“Has His Majesty already chosen a family, or will each house decide voluntarily whether to participate in the Crown Princess selection?”
“That part hasn’t been clearly decided yet. Since it’s never been forced before, participation will likely be voluntary.”
There are two ways to choose a Crown Princess.
Either gather a few daughters from powerful families and hold a test, or conduct multiple rounds of selection.
In the latter case, there are technically no class restrictions, so even commoners can participate—but since the early tests involve noble etiquette and musical performance, it’s practically impossible for a commoner to pass.
And usually, there’s already a semi-decided candidate.
That candidate was me in most of my lives. I almost became the Crown Princess several times—until the Crown Prince accused me of treason or faked my death as an accident.
After that, I did everything I could not to become Crown Princess again.
“Roa, even if you want to, our family will absolutely not participate. Understood?”
“Yes, Father. I have no desire to, either.”
Unless I want to die quickly and reset again, I have no reason to want to be Crown Princess.
“Good, that’s my girl.”
Father smiled warmly and began cutting the entrée that had just arrived.
I smiled too—but then froze at what he said next.
“Roa, you’ll be the heir to House Levian.”
“Father, the heir is Calvin.”
“What are you talking about, Sister? How could I run the family?”
Calvin, who used to insist he’d become a Sword Master Marquis to marry Merina, was suddenly backing out? He even glanced sideways at Rexion. Strange.
“Sis, you’re the future Marchioness of Levian, so don’t even think of going anywhere. Got it?”
“Ha ha, Cal, for once you’re saying something right.”
“Father, I know very well how important my sister is to this family.”
Father and son exchanged words while slicing their meat.
“If Roa has to stay here, then I’ll just visit often. That’s fine, right?”
Silla suddenly looked at me and smiled with narrowed eyes.
“Please do, Silla. You’re always welcome here.”
“I’m honored that the lady of the house welcomes me.”
It was my mother who answered for me, and Father and Calvin immediately shot Silla a glare.
Silla met both their gazes calmly, still smiling.
I clapped my hands, worried that the crazy Tower Master might decide their stares were insolent and kill them.
“Well, dessert has arrived. The Levian family is famous for its desserts—please, try some.”
“Gladly.”
Fortunately, Silla turned his attention to the mille-feuille with a smile.
Just in case, I should make sure he understands that if I ever do something reckless, I’ll need my family alive.
* * *
After the chaotic dinner ended, I went up to my room.
As soon as I pulled out a copy of an old manuscript I didn’t recognize, a voice spoke from behind me.
“What’s that?”
I snatched up the manuscript and quickly moved away from the direction of the voice.
“Roa, studying something? You move fast.”
“Why are you here?”
He’d definitely left through the front gate earlier.
“I wanted to spend some time with you after dinner, but there were too many eyes watching. Especially your father and brother—they looked like they wanted to kill me.”
“Well, don’t kill them. If they die, my crazy plans fall apart.”
“Really? Then I’ll be careful.”
Judging by his tone, if I hadn’t warned him, he might actually have killed them. Good thing I did.
“Kyuuu!”
Ris, who had been lying down after dinner, suddenly dashed over and stood protectively in front of me.
“So that’s where the holy energy was coming from.”
When I picked up Ris, Silla fluttered his long robe sleeves and said he meant no harm.
“Being with the silver fox will help your weak self a bit. I’m not going to do anything. If you suddenly collapsed and died, that’d be boring.”
“More importantly, why are you in my room? It’s rude to just barge in like this.”
“I told you—I wanted to talk after dinner.”
“About what?”
“By the way, I get why your father and brother glare at me, but why does the Duke look like he wants to kill me too?”
So he’d noticed Rexion’s mood. As expected, he’s perceptive.
Instead of answering his question, I said what I wanted to.
“Then you should’ve come some other time.”
“I’ve already waited long enough for you to invite me. How much longer do you expect me to hold back?”
Silla grumbled and casually sat down in my chair.
“Show me that.”
With a flick of his fingers, the paper I was holding flew out of my hand.
“What are you doing—!”
“Interesting. It doesn’t have magic power, but are you studying magic?”
“Do you know how to interpret those magic symbols?”
“Yeah, I know what they are. But it’s been so long, I’d need to double-check to be sure.”
If even the Tower Master says he needs to confirm it, then Ted probably won’t be able to figure it out easily.
In that case, he’s the best person to handle it.
“Please interpret it for me.”
“Then what will you give me in return?”
“I thought things like not killing me or letting me act like a weirdo were already included in our deal.”
“Nope.”
Silla replied lightly.
“I’ll kill anything that tries to take your life—but that’s all.”
So my life isn’t in danger, but if I want something from him, I’ll have to trade for it every time.
“Then at the next party, I’ll let you escort me.”
I said it like I was doing him a favor, and he looked thoughtful.
“If you refuse, you won’t get many chances to talk to me. And if you keep showing up in my room uninvited, I’ll move into Duke Rixianus’s mansion.”
A lie—moving in with Rexion is the last thing I want. But he doesn’t need to know that.
“Fine.”
Thankfully, Silla agreed immediately.
“That man would probably do whatever you say, and he’s troublesome even for me, so I’ll back off.”
“Good. Then why did you come today?”
“I was bored.”
Silla stood up.
“I thought visiting you might be entertaining—and I was right. Not many people dare to look at me with disapproval.”
He really does live purely for amusement.
Still, the Blue Bird base in the capital had been destroyed recently—yet he looked completely unconcerned.
Then again, the Tower Master had never appeared even when multiple Blue Bird branches were taken down.
“Next time, I won’t come to your room uninvited, so you’d better visit me often, all right?”
“Sure. I’ll have to see you again anyway to hear about those magic symbols.”
Satisfied, Silla smiled, waved his hand lightly, and disappeared.
He’s troublesome, but now I know he’ll grant my requests as long as the price is right—making him much easier to handle.
There will be plenty of times I can put the Tower Master to use.
For a moment, I considered asking him about the “Center of the World,” but stopped myself.
If he found out about it and messed it up, my last hope would be gone.
Can’t risk that.
“So many things have gone off track…”
Even the timing of major events was starting to shift. I had to stay sharp.
Too many things were different this time.
Was it because this was my final chance—or because something was finally changing?
I wanted to hope—but the world had always crushed my expectations mercilessly.
All I could do was stay tense.
One wrong step, and I’d sink beneath the frozen surface for good.
* * *
“Damn it.”
As soon as he arrived at his mansion, the master cursed, startling his butler Charles. But, being a seasoned servant, Charles hid his surprise.
“Welcome home, my lord.”
He took Rexion’s coat as he greeted him.
“Don’t follow me.”
Rexion strode straight toward his study.
Recently, he had ordered flowers sent to the Levian estate, and just today, he had been excited to go there—so to see him return like this could only mean something had gone wrong.
Ever since that sudden tea party, the Levian young lady hadn’t shown up again, and Charles had begun to feel uneasy.
Had their relationship not progressed—but actually fallen apart?
“Oh dear… When will my young master ever find his match…”
The middle-aged butler sighed deeply.
Meanwhile, in the study, Rexion opened his safe and took out the family treasure.
