VNC 02

Chapter 02

Here is a faithful, natural English translation of the provided text. I’ve aimed to preserve tone, nuance, and narrative flow rather than doing a stiff literal rendering.

The capital was in an uproar over the news of Grand Duke Ranied’s victorious return. Schwenn suddenly found herself seized by a curiosity she’d never had before.

‘He’s the male lead, so he must be insanely handsome, right?’

From what she remembered, Esellian had been described as an extraordinary beauty. Just how handsome did someone have to be for the female lead to fall for him despite his garbage personality?

‘Let’s check for myself.’

And when she actually saw Esellian, he drew countless gazes even though he was covered in blood and sweat.

Schwenn’s eyes were no exception.

However, in truth, the two never even exchanged a look. More precisely, the moment Esellian turned his head in this direction, Schwenn hurriedly turned her back on him.

It would have been a stretch to say that single incident changed the future.

“Could it be that I offended the princess somehow?”

Was that why His Majesty had issued such an order?

Schwenn recalled Princess Titiana, whom she had seen earlier. The princess had treated Schwenn no differently than usual.

“…That’s not it, my dear. You didn’t do anything wrong. There are simply circumstances among adults that you wouldn’t know about.”

“That can’t be…”

“Things always happen suddenly, you know.”

But Father, this is a novel with a predetermined ending… even if it’s our reality…!

Swallowing the words she couldn’t say, Schwenn forcibly pushed away the image of silver hair floating before her eyes.

The more she stared at the imperial decree, the more questions arose.

Why on earth had the story taken such an utterly illogical turn?

“It may be hard to accept right now, but you’ll feel better tomorrow. Come now, Schwenn, go upstairs for today.”

“But Mother—”

“Schwenn. Let’s talk tomorrow.”

Schwenn wanted to protest, but at her mother’s firm words, she closed her mouth again.

…I’m going to the imperial palace tomorrow anyway.

She’d ask Titiana then. Worrying now wouldn’t change anything.

“…Okay.”

At their daughter’s dejected reply, the count and countess felt their hearts ache. With heavy hearts, they gently soothed their young daughter.

And the next day, Schwenn received shocking news.

***

The next day.

Like someone facing the crisis of her life, Schwenn hadn’t slept a wink.

Her head was so full of questions that she couldn’t even read the light novels she usually enjoyed.

As soon as she entered the palace, Schwenn planned to seek out the princess and ask if she knew anything.

But Titiana was a step ahead of her.

There were only a few maids attending Titiana, and it seemed the princess had overheard their conversation.

When the curious princess joined in mid-conversation, the maids immediately fell silent, carefully watching her reaction.

It was only natural that the maids avoided casual chatter with the princess.

‘Because His Majesty is so particular.’

A healer was the weakest of beings and should rightfully be under imperial protection.

Titiana was not to yearn for the outside world more than necessary.

Thus, the emperor had strictly ordered all maids except Schwenn never to speak to the princess about the outside world.

That meant it was Schwenn’s responsibility to satisfy Titiana’s curiosity—though the object of that curiosity was not exactly a good person.

“The Grand Duke’s victory parade?”

Unlike the novel, Schwenn and Titiana shared a particularly close bond. Breaking through the barrier of status had been Titiana’s insistence.

“Yes. Didn’t you go see it that day?”

The maids had been talking about Grand Duke Ranied. Suppressing the questions she wanted to ask, Schwenn nodded.

“I did.”

She recalled that day.

The victory parade of the army returning after conquering Tyban was magnificent.

Esellian, who had completely subdued the barbarian tribes that had long threatened Lucenia, became a hero once again.

Trumpet blasts split the sky.

A majestic march echoed across the plaza as knights clad in armor and helmets struck the ground in unison.

Cheers erupted.

Schwenn’s gaze was fixed on the very center.

The star of the parade—Esellian atop a black horse—slightly furrowed his brow at the deafening cheers.

“Grand Duke! Grand Duke!”

The Grand Duke of Ranied was a villain, yet also a hero who had protected the nation. The crowd both feared and yearned for him.

Oh…

Esellian was not wearing a helmet. His face was impossibly clean for someone who had rolled across battlefields.

Yet dried blood still clung to his hair and armor.

The face of a man who had ridden without rest for days was filled not with exhaustion, but with boredom.

His silver hair glittered as sunlight shattered against it.

“Oh my! Hey!”

“Grand Duke, you’re amazing!”

A young boy suddenly darted out from the crowd lining the road.

Perhaps five or six years old, his eyes shone with pure awe.

He had grown up hearing tales of the victorious grand duke’s exploits.

“How dare you!”

“Oh—s-sorry, Grand Duke! Please forgive him just this once…!”

The innocent child held out a flower. The yellow freesia didn’t even reach the duke’s feet.

When the knights sternly reprimanded him, the boy’s parents rushed out, bowing deeply over and over.

Then, the grand duke extended his hand.

In an instant, silence fell over the area. Everyone stared in disbelief at what they were witnessing.

The Grand Duke of Ranied…?

Schwenn, who knew of his infamous reputation, thought the same.

“A freesia, huh.”

As the duke reached out, a knight lifted the boy up.

Now at nearly eye level with the duke, the child looked a little frightened.

But the duke accepted the flower and spoke gently.

“It’s my favorite flower. Thank you.”

Holding the freesia, the duke brushed his cumbersome hair back with his other hand.

Schwenn stared blankly at the unfamiliar sight. The slight curve of his eyes, briefly revealed, caught her breath.

…Gasp!

At that moment, Esellian turned his head, as if he’d sensed her gaze.

Perhaps he was simply scanning the crowd, or maybe it was an unconscious movement.

Still, Schwenn felt as though he might have noticed her.

Their eyes met—then slipped past each other. It lasted less than a second. Startled, Schwenn quickly turned away.

We didn’t really make eye contact… right? This doesn’t count. Yeah.

Calling that “eye contact” would be a stretch. Clutching her robe tightly, Schwenn slipped back into the crowd.

That was the end of it.

“How was it? Is it true the Grand Duke accepted the child’s flower and smiled?”

Titiana asked with bright curiosity. When Schwenn didn’t answer, still lost in thought, Titiana urged her on.

“That’s what the maids said. They said his smile made flowers bloom around him, no matter the season.”

Who came up with such an exaggerated line? It wasn’t that much… or was it?

“So I was surprised. The Grand Duke of Ranied smiling after receiving flowers—it doesn’t suit him.”

Everyone in the plaza had probably thought the same. Schwenn certainly hadn’t expected him to accept the flower.

Demon. Grim Reaper of the battlefield. Mad Grand Duke. Ranied the butcher.

A man with such fearsome epithets was an object of terror. To Schwenn as well. Which made it all the more unexpected.

After a brief pause, half-agreeing with herself, she answered,

“But surprisingly… it suited him well.”

“Really? Hmm.”

Titiana narrowed her eyes thoughtfully, resting her chin on her hand as her fingers traced the rim of her teacup.

“I want to see him too.”

Schwenn looked at her.

“I’m tired of only hearing your stories every day. I want to walk around freely like you do.”

“….”

“Wouldn’t it be nice if we could share eyes?”

Though Titiana said it jokingly, Schwenn’s expression darkened.

Since birth, Titiana had never left the princess’s palace.

Because of her special nature.

“Titi… I’m sorry.”

Whenever Titiana spoke like this, Schwenn felt guilty.

Schwenn carried memories of a previous life, but she couldn’t intervene in this story.

She loved Titiana. Titiana was her closest friend as well. Schwenn didn’t want to see her suffer and fall apart.

After marrying Esellian and moving to the north, Titiana was always lonely. Esellian never treated her as more than a healer.

On top of that, the maids tormented her. Wrongly accused and harassed, Titiana’s mind eventually shattered.

And yet…

There was no way to save Titiana without anyone getting hurt.

Even so, Schwenn had repeatedly wanted to sneak Titiana out of the palace and help her escape. She’d even tried to act on it.

‘Live outside the palace? What are you saying, Schwenn?’

But Titiana never followed her advice.

‘At least tell me why. Why would I leave the palace without telling Father?’

‘I had a nightmare, and you were in it. Titi… I don’t think you should stay in the palace.’

‘It must have been terrifying if it scared you this much, but dreams are just dreams. And I have nowhere to go but the palace.’

Saying this was a novel wouldn’t have been convincing.

Even her carefully worded warnings were brushed off with a laugh.

‘Titi, you could be in danger.’

‘If you sneak me out, then what? Do you have a plan?’

‘We’d go abroad first—’

‘Schwenn, we’d be caught before that.’

Schwenn knew that if Titiana disappeared, she herself would be suspected—and that her family would be put in danger as well.

That was how precious Titiana was to her. She had even prepared a hiding place.

And yet, in the end, she did nothing.

“What are you sorry for? It’s not like you’re the one keeping me here.”

Schwenn already knew why Titiana had rejected her suggestion.

After growing accustomed to a confined life, stepping outside had become frightening—just as the novel described.

But that didn’t mean she wasn’t curious about the outside world.

If only she didn’t have to stay hidden away like this…

Seeing Schwenn grow more serious, Titiana waved her hand lightly, changing the subject.

“Let’s talk about the Grand Duke of Ranied instead. That was the first time you’d seen him in person, right?”

“Huh? Oh—yeah. I’d never had a chance to meet him before.”

“What did you think? I know you said the flowers suited him. Be more specific. For example… what do you think it’d be like to live with him?”

“Hmm…”

Without any particular suspicion, Schwenn spoke the truth.