Chapter 124
---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------
I'm a homebody who ended up possessing the body of a villainess locked away in a desolate tower.
Chapter 124
"No matter how much I think about it, there's no way Lemeia used dark magic. The Tower Master said the same thing, after all."
Fortunately, the mages of the Magic Tower also seemed to think the possibility of Lemeia being a Black Mage was slim.
In fact, anyone who had ever laid eyes on Lemeia would think the same.
"...Were you close to Princess Lemeia? Come to think of it, you've never mentioned your family once."
"Well, that's..."
There wasn't really a particular reason for it—I simply had nothing to say.
Why? How could I possibly explain that I'd been treated like a slave to my half-sister, no matter how illegitimate I was?
It wasn't for nothing that I'd felt grateful when I was kidnapped to the Blaire Grand Duchy and immediately locked away, able to do nothing but sleep.
Lemeia's side had been such a toxic work environment—no meals, no rest, nothing but endless tasks, and forced education in the virtues of a noblewoman on top of it all.
And the irony was that Lemeia, who was actually treating me like a slave, didn't even realize it. She simply thought she was bestowing kindness upon her pitiful half-sister.
Was this what they meant by pure cruelty?
"Mmm..."
After deliberating for a while, I finally opened my mouth.
"The truth is, despite the physical proximity, the emotional distance between us wasn't particularly close."
"Why is that? Did Princess Lemeia oppress you?"
"Oppress... would be one way to put it."
From my perspective alone, it was definitely oppression. Nearly abuse, even.
But every situation has its full context, and now that I'd escaped that harsh life and my perspective had broadened, those times didn't feel entirely negative anymore.
And despite how difficult life was back then, I didn't gain nothing from it, did I?
'Just look at Lady Golbro—even though I'm illegitimate, she wouldn't have given me the time of day if I didn't have the background of being a princess of Salt.'
After taking a moment to gather my thoughts, I simply laid bare my honest feelings.
"Lemeia and I simply didn't get along well. So we were rather distant, but... even so, hearing that she's involved in dark magic doesn't sit right with me."
"...I see."
Seeing the Grand Duke lost in thought, I belatedly realized that he too shared a similar relationship with someone.
Crown Prince Lyden and the Grand Duke. They were in a relationship like mine and Lemeia's... but the nature of their relationship was vastly different.
The fact that Lemeia had taken a patronizing attitude toward me meant she'd wanted to care for me (though it didn't quite resonate), and because of that, I was now worried about her.
But the Grand Duke and the Crown Prince didn't seem to have a relationship where they worried about each other, no matter how I looked at it.
'Why does he look so pitiful?'
The situation was confusing for me right now, but I found myself oddly concerned about the Grand Duke's complicated expression.
It seemed like he wasn't in a good mood, and I felt worried.
I was wondering how to change the mood when the Grand Duke spoke first.
"If you're concerned, it wouldn't be a bad idea to check on Princess Lemeia's condition at the New Year's Ball being held in the Imperial Capital this time."
"Really? How?"
"It's unofficial, but there are rumors that Princess Lemeia will become the Crown Prince's consort. I imagine they've determined it necessary to bring Salt completely under the Empire's control."
So Lyden was getting married for political reasons, not because he'd fallen in love?
I'd naturally assumed that if Lyden and Lemeia met, they'd fall into a passionate love... but apparently not.
"If there are no particular issues, Princess Lemeia will appear at the ball as the Crown Prince's partner."
"But what if she recognizes me and causes a scene?"
At those words, Blaire Grand Duke lifted the corners of his mouth in an amused smile.
"I doubt she lacks the discretion to cause a scene at such a formal gathering."
A flicker of doubt crossed my mind, but I decided to trust Lemeia instead.
When I thought about it, Lemeia had no business sense and occasionally said truly ridiculous things, but her mastery of high society etiquette was unparalleled.
With her meticulous image management, Lemeia had never caused a scandal in high society.
Even Amber, my Head Maid and one of the few who knew Lemeia's true nature, often remarked to me how remarkable that was.
In any case, I decided to trust Lemeia's judgment on this matter...
"Yes, that would be best."
I answered briefly while gauging Blaire Grand Duke's reaction.
Though he appeared to brush past it without concern, perhaps because I'd known him so long, his discomfort was somehow visible.
Was that why? A topic suddenly came to mind, and I voiced it.
"Actually, I had something I wanted to suggest regarding what comes next."
"What is it?"
When his dark green eyes fixed upon me, I felt an inexplicable embarrassment, but...
Oh, never mind.
"Since we're now officially lovers, shouldn't our forms of address change somewhat?"
After all, any performance must be executed flawlessly.
Moreover, both Blaire Grand Duke and I were masters of awkward, clumsy acting.
If we clumsy performers were to avoid exposure, wouldn't it be best to prepare across as many areas as possible?
Forms of address were precisely one of those preparations.
"Forms of address... how exactly...?"
Blaire Grand Duke, who had been quietly considering my words, asked in an awkward tone. Ugh, now I'm embarrassed too!
I turned my head slightly away, unable to meet his gaze directly, and mumbled.
"For example, something like... darling...?"
The moment I managed to speak and saw his face, I immediately regretted turning away.
Why? Because his expression was written so clearly with "SHOCKED!!!" that I couldn't possibly miss it.
* * *
The day of the Imperial Palace ball.
Blaire Grand Duke and I arrived at the Imperial Capital Villa the day before via Teleportation Magic Circle.
Since there had been unexpected attacks before, we brought as many guards as possible to prepare for any contingency.
'Now that I think about it, they said they're still tracking them.'
Tracking down the Assassination Guild was no easy task. Since secrecy was their lifeblood, they would desperately conceal the identity of whoever hired them.
Of course, how long it took didn't really matter. I was simply curious!
What possible reason could there be for assassins to target me? If they wanted money, it would have been faster to just raid the Merchant Guild.
'By the way, there's still no word from Ian.'
It had been quite some time since I spent my days confined to my chamber—or more precisely, my bed.
And even getting to the Imperial Capital took time, during which I heard nothing from Ian.
Could something have gone wrong with the leg injury he sustained that day?
Recalling the wound that had looked quite severe, I couldn't hide my troubled expression.
'Come to think of it, Blaire Grand Duke's leg isn't healing well either.'
Even during the simple waltz I performed under the guidance of the dance instructor invited for the 'rehearsal', I seemed to have limped slightly.
I couldn't pinpoint the exact reason, but lately whenever I found myself alone, thoughts of Blaire Grand Duke and Ian kept alternating in my mind, constantly gnawing at my nerves.
"Miss, could you lift your head just a bit higher?"
"Hmm? Yes."
Roused from my reverie by Bonita's words, I tilted my head up as much as possible to assist her as she diligently applied makeup to my face.
"Hehe, it seems you've been resting well lately—your skin is absolutely radiant."
"Really?"
With a satisfied smile, Bonita stepped back after delicately tinting my lips with a natural flower essence.
True to her words, the reflection in the mirror revealed skin as smooth as a freshly peeled egg.
Before, when I'd been pulling all-nighters working, a closer look would have shown a certain dullness, but not anymore.
"For a winter dress, it's surprisingly light."
Rising to my feet, I slowly ran my fingers along the hem of the beige velvet dress Blaire Grand Duke had gifted me.
Winter dresses typically constrained the body excessively due to their thick fabrics, or hung so heavily they felt suffocating, but the dress from Blaire Grand Duke was both substantial and remarkably light.
"It was commissioned from the Imperial Capital's finest dress designer, so such qualities are merely standard! Besides... standing like this, you truly resemble a princess from a fairy tale. I suspect His Grace the Grand Duke will find himself enchanted by you all over again."
"...Bonita, please."
As I stood flustered beneath the barrage of compliments, a servant's voice called from the doorway.
"His Grace the Grand Duke awaits you."
"Ah, let's hurry out."
"Yes!"
Just as I was about to leave with Bonita's assistance, the Head Maid came rushing down the corridor.
"One moment, Miss!"
"Yes?"
"The Tower Master sent this for you. She asked that you verify its contents as quickly as possible."
"The Tower Master?"
Taking the small box with a puzzled expression, I wondered if it might be something related to Lemeia Salt and immediately opened it to check the contents.
Then my eyes widened at the unexpected item inside.
'This is....'
Within the box lay an elegant ring adorned with a large, brilliant gemstone.
---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------