Chapter – 48
“WHAT? The Crown Prince? Why?”
“Hehe, even the great Rosia Levian would be surprised by this news!”
Stella, amused, handed me a handkerchief.
“He apparently entered the former Empress’s garden.”
The former Empress’s garden—this was the place I had sneaked into after the knights’ event. I had slipped away to rest for a while, and there I had run into Lexian.
“Seems like he didn’t know. But all the noble families were sent orders forbidding entry to the garden—does that make any sense?”
“Of course it doesn’t. Even the Emperor didn’t stop it, so it’s an implicit approval.”
“Exactly. Everyone knows how the Crown Prince felt about the new Empress being brought in after his mother’s death.”
Stella picked up a second bunch of grapes.
The Crown Prince, who loved his mother dearly, had been furious when his mother fell ill and passed away, only to see the Emperor bring in a new Empress immediately.
He even threatened to abandon his position and flee to another country.
But the Emperor, unable to give up on the politically astute and well-educated Crown Prince, had him stay at the palace.
He promised to give him time to mourn the former Empress, and the Crown Prince eventually relented—not because the Emperor persuaded him, but to honor his mother’s dying wish that he become a worthy ruler.
He knew that if the new Empress’s child ascended to the throne, his mother would suffer the most.
“In any case, it seems the Crown Prince blocked Merina Ikel from entering the palace. The Empress asked the Emperor to overturn his order, but it seems it was of no use.”
“Well, there’s nothing to be done—he has to save face.”
The Emperor wasn’t on bad terms with the former Empress and cherished the Crown Prince greatly.
The Crown Prince hadn’t mistreated the Empress, and since Merina had done nothing wrong, asking him to retract his order would undermine his position.
The Emperor liked the young Empress but was sensitive about the throne, so he would never overturn that order.
“Still, it’s surprising. I didn’t think the Crown Prince would push Ikel out.”
“Right? I thought they were on good terms,” Stella added, noting that she had thought the Crown Prince was immature.
Indeed. The Crown Prince pushing Merina away was unthinkable. He wouldn’t love her like Lexian does, nor take a fancy to any other woman.
I sipped my tea calmly, though my mind was spinning.
Merina had been the only person allowed free access to the former Empress’s garden, yet the Crown Prince got angry over this?
The shock was similar to how I felt when Lexian had treated me kindly.
“Well, in the end, that works out. By the way, Roa, have you heard about the Crown Princess selection?”
“Yes. Our family will be skipping it. We’ve all agreed.”
“It’s a pity. Levian young lady would make a wonderful future Empress,” Stein Gong joked, and Stella elbowed him sharply.
“Don’t say such unlucky things, Gades. I don’t want to lose my friend just for power. The Crown Prince will grab Roa like catching a mouse.”
“Ugh, it was a joke! A joke! Levian young lady, you know I wasn’t serious,” Stein Gong groaned, apologizing desperately.
“Pony, I’m not sure what will happen with her, but even if you skip, I doubt the Emperor would easily let it go.”
“Exactly. My family is the most senior in the Empire right now.”
“Find a good person like I did and get engaged already,” Stella nudged.
“You were lucky, Stella. I, on the other hand, have poor fortune.”
Since the Meritney Marquis family and the duchy were close business partners, we had frequent exchanges.
Thus, it was natural for Stella and Stein Gong to often meet, and their feelings grew positively toward engagement.
“What about the Duke of Liciansus? The way he looked at you wasn’t ordinary,” she asked.
“No.” I said flatly, but Stella was unconvinced.
“He doesn’t like me, and I don’t like him.”
“Clearly, Roa, you’re not interested in the Duke, but he surely likes you. I’ll bet our family’s pearl farm on it.”
Stella could assert this without knowing all the details of Lexian and me. How had she noticed our interactions so closely?
“Remember his expression at the hunting tournament? He seemed ready to smash anyone who dared harm you! And that stone-like man even defended your side at the party,” Stein Gong interjected.
“Yes. Lexian’s behavior toward me was noticeably different, enough for others to notice.”
At this rate, he would soon realize his feelings and approach me, which would also increase the chances of him dying in front of me.
The moment of choice had arrived.
“He may be interested in me, but I have no interest. More like… a dependable older brother. I’d rather…”
I meant someone else.
All my lies aside, this one statement felt like a thorn in my throat.
Lexian, my savior.
In all my countless lives, he was the only one who truly mattered, and I couldn’t break him again.
Though I said I liked someone else, my heart toward him remained unchanged.
After this silent confession, I lowered my gaze slightly, so Stella and Stein Gong wouldn’t suspect, and whispered softly:
“I like Silla more.”
“Silla?”
“Silla Bernstein, the Master of the Magic Tower.”
Stella and Stein Gong’s jaws dropped simultaneously. Stella recovered first and fired questions.
“Since when did you start calling each other by name? Did you meet outside the Imperial Ball? Master of the Magic Tower likes you? When will you get engaged?”
“Not at the engagement stage yet. We just have mutual feelings.”
He had sworn not to kill me, so he genuinely liked me. I also had some interest in him—he was useful.
“If rumors spread, it could ruin things, so keep it secret for now. Okay?”
“Of course! Can I tell Pony?”
“Yes, but ask her to keep it secret too.”
“Naturally. That’s great, Roa. If you and Master of the Magic Tower get along, His Majesty will give up on you willingly.”
Seeing Stella rejoice as if it were her own business, I felt a pang of conscience but kept smiling.
“So, will you come to the Imperial Ball with Master of the Magic Tower soon?”
“Not decided yet, but probably. Pony noticed I went alone to her party and asked why I wasn’t invited.”
“Oh my!”
Stella’s eyes sparkled, imagining a pink story in her mind.
“Master of the Magic Tower, hmm…”
“Gades, stop thinking about business,” Stella snapped at Stein Gong’s back.
I also wondered if I could use Master of the Magic Tower for business purposes, and Stein Gong getting scolded didn’t seem far-fetched.
Still, I quietly continued eating my cake.
A whole day passed as I sorted out the new events and disrupted incidents.
It felt like my life had been extended by at least a year, but the problem was how much this diverged from the original novel. Especially the male protagonists’ behavior—it was suspicious.
Knock.
Before I could answer, the door burst open.
“Sis!”
Calvin appeared and slipped the notes I had been organizing under other documents.
“What’s wrong, Cal? Isn’t it still training time?”
“I came for another reason. Sis, come to the Imperial Ball with me.”
Even one of the male protagonists, Calvin, was acting as if he had forgotten about Merina.
