Chapter 57
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A villainess locked away in a desolate tower—I had possessed her body.
Chapter 57
Every letter exchanged within the Imperial Palace was meticulously scrutinized by the Administrators in charge.
Since I needed to connect Genevre Golbro and the Embrose Marquise as swiftly as possible, my preparations for departure proceeded at breakneck speed.
It felt like a dream that I had remained in the Imperial Palace until now—everything moved so quickly.
The morning after encountering the Crown Prince, before the sun had even risen, I found myself in the carriage, unable to suppress the waves of drowsiness that crashed over me as I released a yawn.
'Ah... I'm so tired.'
Already exhausted from losing sleep while fretting over how to manipulate the troublesome Genevre, I leaned back against the plush seat of the carriage and closed my eyes.
"Your Highness."
Had the Grand Duke not called out to me in that solemn voice, I would have fallen asleep instantly.
I shook off the encroaching slumber and stared blankly at the Grand Duke.
"...Yes?"
In his hand was what appeared to be a letter.
"You said you met with the Crown Prince yesterday, didn't you?"
"Yes, that's right."
"And you declined his proposal to remain in the Imperial Palace without incident?"
"Yes, well...."
Just yesterday, after encountering that lunatic Lyden in the garden, I had immediately sought out the Grand Duke and explained everything to him.
I thought the matter had been resolved, but why was he bringing it up again now?
Suspecting that something had gone awry, I quickly posed a question.
"Why? Is something wrong?"
The Grand Duke fell silent for a moment before responding in a puzzled tone.
"It's nothing like that. The Crown Prince sent a letter this morning, but the contents are strange."
"What does it say...?"
He tilted his head in confusion and continued.
"He's asking when I became a loan shark."
"A loan shark?"
In that instant, the events of yesterday began replaying in my mind.
"What does it mean that you're in debt to Blaire Grand Duke? He doesn't conduct financial transactions easily."
"Ah, well... it just so happened that I've been taking care of all my meals and lodging at the Blaire Grand Duke Residence."
Though the beginning was my captivity....
Since the Crown Prince couldn't possibly know the truth no matter what he fabricated, I brazenly continued with my lie.
"I, I offered to pay for the lodging out of gratitude, and he gave me a contract."
"A contract?"
"It was roughly about calculating the money spent on food and lodging at the Blaire Grand Duke Residence and billing me for it... that sort of thing."
For good measure, I even emphasized that I couldn't take a single step out of the Blaire Grand Duchy until I had repaid all that debt.
Fortunately, as my explanation grew longer, the light faded from that lunatic's eyes, and I thought he had given up....
'He reported me as a loan shark!?'
And he even took the trouble to write a letter about it?
Now that I thought about it again, there were a few details that bothered me.
...Well, quite a bit, actually.
I got a little choked up in the middle and ended up being overcharged for room and board, so I may have launched into quite the passionate tirade about how it was practically fraud?
But that was my own way of struggling to avoid the Crown Prince's talent recruitment.
As I rationalized this and looked back at Blaire Grand Duke, his eyes had filled with suspicion.
"Princess."
"Yes?"
After my pathetically trembling response, the interrogation continued as if he'd been waiting for it.
"It seems like you have more to say."
"Well, that is, so..."
I just rolled my eyes around, and eventually began making pitiful excuses while hunched over.
"He's the Crown Prince Lyden, after all. When I tried to openly reject his proposal to stay at the Imperial Palace, I needed an appropriate excuse."
Rejecting his goodwill could have hurt Lyden's pride, and his capricious nature might have led him to make another troublesome proposal.
I repeatedly emphasized that my response had been the best course of action given the circumstances.
"I see."
Blaire Grand Duke nodded quietly as he listened to my explanation.
Did it work?
I looked at him with a brightened face.
"So you slandered yourself as a ruthless loan shark who'd squeeze blood from a stone."
But I couldn't help but be startled by his calm murmur.
"Slan, slander?!"
...Of course, if I put my hand on my conscience and thought about it, slander was the right word, but there was no way I could admit it now, even with a knife to my throat.
Besides, what he just said had such a lingering aftertaste to it!
"I was simply playing the role of a 'socially maladjusted person' just as Your Grace described, that's all."
Yes, the root cause of all these problems was that the first button was fastened wrong.
With the added remark and a shameless shifting of blame, I turned away from him, trying my best not to show any agitation.
"That's enough."
"Yes?"
After a brief silence, the voice that came was softened appropriately.
At this unexpected response, I shifted my gaze and met his green eyes drawing a subtle smile.
Blaire Grand Duke answered with clear, deliberate pronunciation.
"If you were able to leave safely by doing so, that's sufficient. I didn't want to lose you so meaninglessly."
"Ah..."
Huh? What does he mean?
As I tried to interpret Blaire Grand Duke's words, I couldn't hide my increasingly strange expression.
'This is almost like...'
The kind of thing a man says to a woman when he's interested in her, isn't it?
Ha, that can't be right.
There's no way the Grand Duke, who's the typical cool and composed male lead type, would ever say something like that to me.
When he said he didn't want to lose me meaninglessly, he probably just meant he didn't want to lose the room and board fees he'd entrusted to me, right?
This man really does know how to pinch pennies and scrape together money, despite how he looks.
Denying the intuition born from my idle musings as naturally as water flowing downstream, I nodded first.
"Ha-ha, yes! From now on, I'll be careful to avoid any troublesome situations!"
"Is that all?"
"Pardon?"
Was there something more I should say?
As I pondered, I cautiously added another word.
"Ah, I won't leak anything either. I'll stay firmly attached to the Grand Duchy."
After all, I had to repay my debts faithfully.
Perhaps impressed by my diligent attitude as a debtor, the Grand Duke's gaze deepened considerably.
"Good."
Indeed, a satisfactory response.
But.
"...."
Sting.
Sting, sting.
'Why, why does he keep staring at me...'
I desperately tried to ignore the piercing gaze that pricked my cheeks and struggled with all my might not to turn back toward him.
'Ah, I want to meet Genevre Golbro soon...'
Otherwise, I felt I'd burn to ash under that gaze.
* * *
A spire soaring high enough to pierce the heavens.
Arched windows that cleanly pierced through the building's outer walls.
Crossing through a labyrinthine garden, the place I arrived at was quite literally a palace that seemed to belong in a fairy tale.
'This is the first time I've come here in person.'
Since I had always exchanged correspondence through letters, I never expected to see this place with my own eyes—
'That famous Golbro Mansion...!'
Though called a mansion, it was as splendid as the Cletan Imperial Palace itself.
Just how splendid was it? Even the servants' clothing had a luxurious air about it.
"Are you April Salt?"
"Ah, yes. I've come to meet Genevre Golbro."
Given the reclusive nature of the Golbro Family, one couldn't simply see whomever they wished, so I had necessarily visited this place as "April Salt."
...Of course, since I had never been recognized as a princess before, I held the position of Administrator.
Following a maid in light, flowing attire, I moved awkwardly until I arrived before a door with geometric patterns carved in relief.
"Miss, you have a visitor."
With the maid's announcement, I found myself recalling anew the bond I shared with Genevre Golbro, which had weathered so many trials.
Now, after countless written exchanges and understanding her nature, our friendship had blossomed into fruition, but back then, adjusting to her fastidious temperament was truly agonizing.
"Come in."
The heavy-seeming door opened silently and smoothly.
My gaze was stolen by the sight of the room filled with all manner of luxuries, so I discovered Genevre Golbro approaching me only a beat too late.
"...April Salt."
Dark, rich skin; hair black as ebony.
Behind her sharp, coolly defined eyes, I found myself momentarily convinced that a halo was shining.
"Oh."
But what truly caught my attention was something else entirely.
'What are you doing there?'
Behind her, crammed densely into a bookshelf that consumed an entire wall... were comic books.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org