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Chapter 49.
“Where’s Merina?”
“I came because I wanted to be with you more, so I came to ask if I could escort you.”
Calvin, you shouldn’t be doing this to me.
“More than that, sister — thank you.”
His sudden words caught me off guard, but I gestured for Calvin to take a seat.
“I went to the Red Foot Club and heard about what happened at the Pink Count’s estate.”
The Red Foot Club was a social gathering only for men — mostly unmarried young nobles. Married men had their own club called the Blue Bridge or something like that.
“You only told me that the boat Merina was on capsized.”
“Yes, why?”
“You didn’t tell me that Merina was seeing several men at once and that she wanted to keep meeting them.”
Well, that’s because even if I told you, you wouldn’t listen. You’d think I was trying to slander Merina.
“You did all that because you were worried about me, right? Because you were afraid I’d get hurt since I liked Merina?”
“Cal, I—”
“I used to think you just hated Merina and were trying to make her miserable,” he said in a voice that sounded like he was confessing a sin.
“But it was all my misunderstanding, and what’s more…”
His face twisted as if he were in pain.
“It was Merina who did wrong. And yet you never once blamed her.”
This reaction from Calvin was so unfamiliar that it felt almost disorienting.
Every time something happened, I made sure to tell Calvin that whatever conflict existed between Merina and me was just a misunderstanding — because it made it easier to win his favor for my plans.
But Calvin was always on Merina’s side. He had never once admitted she’d done anything wrong.
“After hearing what happened at the Pink Count’s estate, I realized it. Merina never had even a sliver of interest in me.”
But you always chased after her anyway, didn’t you, Calvin?
That was your role, after all.
“I thought about why I even liked Merina in the first place. I saw her countless times at the academy, but I didn’t feel anything back then. So why did those feelings suddenly appear one day?”
“So why did you fall for her?”
“There’s no reason,” he said, his red eyes — the same color as mine — utterly sincere.
“It’s just… other people liked her, so I got swept up and started liking her too.”
“And now? How do you feel about her now?”
“When I see her face, I think my heart might flutter… but I don’t like her as much as before. Instead, I feel angry at her — for hurting someone as kind as you.”
Thud.
It felt like my heart dropped.
When Lexian confessed that he loved me, I’d doubted him over and over again. I thought the world was mocking me and couldn’t easily accept his feelings.
And now Calvin?
Even though he’d never shown the slightest hint of this before, now the “male lead” was breaking out of his role. It made my head spin.
“The foolish me from before is gone now.”
“If Merina asked you to be her partner again, what would you do?”
When Lexian shows interest in me — when he and I start becoming serious — Merina always goes to greater lengths to claim him for herself, like a predator sensing one of her followers straying away.
“Hmm…”
Calvin still seemed to have some lingering feelings for her, but soon he shook his head firmly.
“I’d refuse.”
He looked utterly resolute.
“If Merina truly loved me, I’d consider it seriously. But now that I know what kind of person she really is, even a late confession wouldn’t move me.”
When Lexian broke out of his role, he met a horrific end.
Calvin had already been executed several times in past loops for treason — what did this deviation mean now?
I’d long wished for the story to fall apart,
but of all times, why now — in what might be my final round?
Could it mean I’d be able to drag Calvin or Lexian into something even more dreadful?
If you asked whether things could possibly get any worse, the answer would, of course, be yes.
This damned world always waited until I started to feel a little relief — only to corner me in some new and creative way.
Should I push Calvin toward Merina again?
— “So don’t waver. Don’t give up. Keep going. The path you’re on is the right one, my lady.”
Those words I’d heard not long ago suddenly echoed in my head —
spoken by an old man who shouldn’t have known my situation, but somehow had answered as if he understood everything.
This might be my last chance to earn a perfect death, so I had to act carefully…
And yet, the warmth my brother was showing — the brother who’d always clashed with me — felt awkward but strangely touching.
“Sister, can I be your escort then?”
Looking at his bright, hopeful face, I shook my head.
“I appreciate the offer, Cal, but I already have someone else.”
“The commander?”
“No, someone else.”
Calvin’s light brown eyebrows twitched.
“Someone strong?”
“Yes. Sorry to say it, but he’s much stronger than you.”
“Could it be… the Tower Master?”
“Yes. The Tower Master, Sir Silla.”
I could answer confidently since I’d already promised to attend the imperial ball with him.
I needed the Tower Master’s presence to keep the Emperor from adding me to the list of crown princess candidates — and to keep my distance from Lexian.
“The Tower Master… well, even a Sword Master can’t just pick a fight with someone like that.”
“Right. A Sword Master is said to be on par with an 8th-class mage — the strongest class.”
“Good.”
Calvin clenched his fist, as if steeling his resolve.
“I’ll become stronger — strong enough to get rid of anyone who bothers you.”
“What did you say, Cal?”
“I know you’re popular in high society. Most men can’t approach because of our family’s status, but people like the Tower Master or the commander — they can crush our family with power alone…”
Muttering something darkly, Calvin suddenly stood up.
“Sister, I’m going to train. Don’t forget tonight’s practice!”
With that, he left the room like the wind.
“Liss, what on earth is wrong with him?”
“Kyuu?”
The silver fox that had been circling me tilted its head too.
* * *
In the provinces, two branches of Blue Bird had been discovered, all the Blue Diamond jewelry reservations were filled for a year,
and there were reports that Merina Ikel had been meeting men without pause.
“That young lady Merina is quite something. She met three different men in a single day.”
“You saw her yourself, Teed?”
“Yes, by coincidence.”
He shrugged, looking entirely indifferent toward Merina.
“You’re far more beautiful than she is, my lady. I can’t understand why she’s so popular. Maybe it’s because your beauty feels a bit… cold?”
In the novel, Ted never entered Merina’s “fishpond,” but since she was the kind of heroine who bewitched all men, I’d been worried.
Thankfully, it seemed I didn’t have to be.
If Ted ever fell for Merina and tried to leak information about me to her, I’d have to silence him — and losing a useful subordinate would be a waste.
“Thanks for the compliment, Teed.”
“Haha, just stating facts. Oh, and here — a report on the crown prince’s recent movements.”
Ever since I’d run into the crown prince in the slums, I’d ordered an investigation into him.
Normally, he stayed in the imperial palace but occasionally toured outside to observe the lives of the citizens — about twice a week.
That was how I’d had the bad luck to encounter him.
It was unusual behavior for the prince, but I didn’t let my surprise show.
“As expected of a former top member of the best information guild. Thorough work.”
“Of course, my lady.”
“Kyuu!”
Liss sat beside Ted and chirped in agreement.
The fox was affectionate toward my mother and Cassie, but especially fond of Ted.
Maybe because he was half-fae — though he’d never admitted it, so I pretended not to know.
“Good work, Teed.”
I handed him a heavy pouch, which made him pause.
“It’s your incentive for the Red Diamond case. Take it.”
“In that case, I’ll gladly accept.”
As he tucked it away, I added quietly:
“I’ll be attending the imperial ball with the Tower Master. He’s coming here to escort me, so you should be aware.”
“Yes, understood.”
“And besides the ball, I’ll be meeting with him often.”
“Have you taken a liking to that man? Personally, I’d recommend Duke Lexion rather than the Tower Master. Not only because the Tower Master wrecked our guild once, but also because he’s dangerous.”
“He promised to protect me and those close to me. And since I mustn’t get any closer to the Duke, I need the Tower Master.”
He looked puzzled, so I smiled.
A few days later,
the day of the imperial ball arrived.
