Chapter 126
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A villainess locked away in a desolate tower—I had possessed her body.
Chapter 126
After a brief silence, the Blaire Grand Duke was the first to speak.
"It's been a while, Young Lady."
Unlike the other party's affectionate use of "brother," the Grand Duke's tone toward her was utterly formal.
Camellia's face twisted slightly before recovering, but the Grand Duke spoke first.
"This is April Salt. And April, this is the youngest Young Lady of the Solid Marquis House."
I, who had been avoiding those sharp, dagger-like eyes, belatedly came to my senses and forced my lips upward into a smile.
As the saying goes, one cannot spit at a smiling face—I hoped she would accept my greeting graciously.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm April Salt."
"Ah... yes."
But as expected.
Though I thought I had treated her with goodwill, her response was nothing but prickly.
"I'm Camellia Solid. But which house are you from? This is the first time we've met."
To the outside world, I was a very distant collateral relative of the Grand Duke, and my status was that of a commoner, not a noble.
In truth, word of me had likely spread through those who attended the Embrose Marquise's gathering, so Camellia surely knew of me to some degree.
So when Camellia asked which house I belonged to, it was essentially her way of trying to crush me first through the difference in status.
"Well, my surname is 'Pepper'... but I doubt you've heard of it."
"My goodness!"
The moment my words left my lips, Camellia let out an exaggerated exclamation.
"I suspected as much... Could you possibly be a commoner?"
There it was. That was her goal.
I had been about to let it slide in resignation when a sudden thought made me pause.
'Wait. Couldn't this actually be a good opportunity?'
Now that I thought about it, Lemeia would be present here as well, and if she made even a single slip of the tongue, I could be branded a spy without recourse.
So now that Salt was subjugated, wouldn't it be more advantageous to claim myself as a commoner rather than as an illegitimate princess?
Deciding it would be better to solidify my status once and for all, I quickly nodded.
"Yes, that's right. I'm a commoner!"
I felt all eyes turn toward me, as if everyone around us had heard clearly.
Camellia, seemingly flustered that I had admitted it so readily, blinked her large eyes and soon let out a hollow laugh.
"Ha. A commoner, you say?"
"Yes, that's correct."
That's right—this was an opportunity.
With newfound confidence, I answered all the more boldly.
"I am a commoner loyal to Cletan!"
My world had changed, so what did nationality matter?
In truth, during the year I had spent in Salt after possessing this body, I had only memories of working like a dog under Lemeia, so saying such things didn't even prick my conscience.
Yes. I was someone who could change my nationality and the object of my loyalty without a second thought.
'Now my status is firmly established...'
I resolved to live from this moment on as a true citizen of The Empire, loyal to The Empire.
Loyalty, loyalty!
"Ha, really. Ha...!"
Camellia glared at me in exasperation, then spun around to look up at the Grand Duke.
"Brother Kaian, I understand you're concerned about a distant relative, but surely you could have contacted me first. You're the Grand Duke of this nation in both name and reality—how could you consider a commoner as a partner?"
After working so diligently under Lemeia, I had no trouble understanding what Camellia was saying.
In other words, she was now insinuating that I was beneath the Grand Duke's station.
Well, she wasn't entirely wrong. My status was indeed trivial compared to his, so was he truly comfortable with this?
I glanced cautiously at the Grand Duke and noticed his expression had darkened.
"Brother, if something like this happens again, please tell me. I'll find a partner more suited to April's standing."
Yet Camellia pressed her offer confidently, paying no mind to the Grand Duke's stern expression.
But then.
"I decline."
The Grand Duke's response was remarkably brief.
"...."
"...."
Was that really all?
As I stood bewildered, I suddenly realized he wasn't typically a man of many words.
Now that I thought about it, he spoke at length only in front of me; before others, the Grand Duke was the very definition of taciturn.
It must feel terribly embarrassing to have one's well-intentioned offer rejected so curtly.
"Ah...."
Sure enough, Camellia's face had flushed crimson.
The stark contrast between her confident entrance and the current situation made me feel sorry for her.
The Grand Duke was refusing a political marriage, but from what I could see, Camellia seemed quite interested in him.
At this rate, the excuse that he was rejecting the engagement to preserve our relationship might not even hold water...
"Um, Kaian."
Perhaps we should stop here for today. You said we can't afford to damage relations with the Solid Marquis House!
I called out to the Grand Duke with that intention, but the reaction came from somewhere else entirely.
"Wait, you!"
...The corners of Camellia's eyes, which had been watching me carefully, suddenly turned sharp and venomous.
Could she have misunderstood that I was egging the Grand Duke on?
'Oh no, I think she did.'
But before I could even offer an explanation, Camellia struck first.
"Brother, I'm saying this for your sake. In this world, appearances matter, don't they?"
Though her tone carried barbs, there was nothing wrong with what she said.
Objectively speaking, it might indeed be wise for the Grand Duke to keep his distance for a while, for the sake of his reputation in High Society.
Having finished my deliberation, I quietly released the Grand Duke's hand that I had been holding.
"Um, while the two of you talk, would it be alright if I went elsewhere?"
I gestured toward the Knight from Blaire House who had accompanied us to the banquet, as if to say I had no need for the Grand Duke's concern.
If playing the role of his lover here was overreaching, then accepting another man's escort for a while was acceptable.
But then.
"I don't want to."
Blaire Grand Duke rejected not only Camellia's suggestion but mine as well with the finality of a cleaver, grasping the hand I had offered.
He even deliberately interlaced our fingers again, as if to make a point.
"Oh..."
Was he saying he'd commit fully to playing the role of a lover today?
Though I couldn't discern his true intentions with certainty, it seemed to suggest as much, so I pivoted my stance like a reed bending in the wind.
"Ah, haha. Well... yes, of course?"
After all, if we were truly lovers, I should naturally be thrilled by such a gesture....
"I'm, I'm so embarrassed. Hohoho."
As I laughed awkwardly, Camellia's eyes blazed with an intensity that could have cut through steel, and she opened her mouth with a voice tight with barely restrained fury.
"Fine. I see. How wonderful."
"...Pardon?"
"Miss April Salt. Are you aware of what relationship exists between myself and Kaian Blaire?"
"Oh, of course. I've heard your families have known each other for quite some time...."
There was no need for me to mention the verbal betrothal myself, was there?
What would be the best way to phrase this? Surely speaking favorably would help maintain good relations with Solid Marquis House going forward?
As my social energy drained away, I forcibly relaxed my stiffened facial muscles.
"And I've heard many kind things about you—that you're a wonderful younger sister. Hahaha."
"...."
Contrary to my desperate hopes, Camellia's face flushed crimson with rage.
Her expression twisted into something demonic as she began to glare at me with murderous intensity.
I had no idea where things had gone wrong, but it seemed I needed to salvage the situation immediately.
"Y-Young Lady, you're truly kind and bright... and that's why you're such a comfortable and wonderful sister to be around...."
As I desperately added more explanations, Camellia seemed unable to bear the sight of me any longer—she crossed her arms and let out a derisive laugh.
"Ha! This is absurd!"
"...Yes?"
"Excuse me."
Unable to contain herself any longer, she turned and left.
Tap, tap, tap.
I watched her retreating figure without so much as a backward glance, my gaze hollow with bewilderment as I looked up at Blaire Grand Duke.
It felt as though some tremendous storm had just passed through.
"Um, Your Grace."
Worry seized me, and I whispered softly.
"Is it really alright to leave the Young Lady of Solid Marquis House like that?"
"What's the problem?"
Ah, right. He didn't care at all.
Faced with his serene composure, I found myself at a loss for words and simply shook my head.
"No, it's nothing. Shall we move to another location..."
"Crown Prince Lyden Cletan has arrived!"
As I grasped at Blaire Grand Duke's collar to escape his focused gaze, the Attendant's voice reached my ears.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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