Chapter 15
In the center of the artificial pond was a statue of a child holding a water jar.
Water trickled from it, striking the aquatic plants. The greenhouse was home to both small and larger parrots, and the sound of their chirping created a peaceful atmosphere.
However, the mood at the tea party table was far from peaceful.
I took a seat, and Princess Florence sipped her tea elegantly without a word. The other young ladies present only glanced around nervously, their eyes following mine.
Despite the delicious desserts laid out before me, I couldn’t bring myself to reach for them.
I was only sipping tea, trying to moisten my throat.
Is it possible to choke just by drinking tea?
My chest felt tight, and even the tea I was drinking refused to go down. Quietly setting down my teacup, Princess Florence finally spoke.
“How are the wedding preparations going?”
Her words drew the attention of every young lady at the table.
“Ah… yes… well…”
I forced a smile as naturally as I could.
“It must have been quite a shock. Suddenly, Prince Kaylen is getting married…”
I was just as surprised, but that was natural. I nodded.
“And to someone not even from a high-ranking noble family, just… a baronial house hardly anyone’s heard of.”
She emphasized “hardly anyone’s heard of” as she looked at me, her crystal-clear blue eyes coldly piercing me.
Though her gaze was ice-cold, her voice was dry.
Caught off guard by the sudden attack, I blinked rapidly.
“I wasn’t able to attend the last banquet due to poor health, so I was curious how someone could have stolen Prince Kaylen’s heart…”
A faint, deflating laugh escaped Princess Florence’s crimson lips.
She was judging my appearance, wasn’t she?
I had resolved several times on the way here to behave quietly and not make her my enemy.
But that resolution snapped with her single comment.
I wasn’t a dazzling beauty, but I wasn’t exactly someone who should be underestimated.
Of course, Princess Florence was considered a beauty in the empire, but still… this was too much.
“Hoho. Prince says my eyes are the prettiest, but I don’t quite agree. He says they’re like the golden waves of a fall field. Do you see it that way, Princess?”
Clang!
The pink-haired young lady next to me dropped her teacup. It shattered on the floor, the tea soaking the floor dark.
A servant rushed over to clean it up, but Princess Florence’s eyes never left me.
Once the servant retreated, the tea table was filled only with the sounds of nature again.
A small parrot flapped its wings and flew, and Princess Florence spoke again.
“Everyone, please give us some space.”
The other young ladies exchanged glances and hurriedly got up.
Wait… where are you all going? Leaving me alone!
The pink-haired girl gave me a sympathetic look before joining the others.
Surely, she wouldn’t… attack me?
I remembered how cruel Princess Florence had been to the original heroine, but it was too late—events had already started.
Left alone with her, I glanced toward the exit.
“Surely, you wouldn’t do anything to a bride-to-be marrying into the royal family?”
Quick on the uptake, she.
Click. The sound of a chair sliding echoed. Princess Florence rose and approached me.
Her thin blue dress shimmered in the sunlight streaming through the greenhouse windows.
She was incredibly beautiful. They had said the original heroine wouldn’t be outshone, but… how beautiful must the original heroine have been?
Tap, tap. Her footsteps stopped.
“Say you can’t do it. I’ll handle the aftermath.”
“What…?”
“You don’t belong in that position. Even beggars on the street would know Prince Kaylen’s standing. Do you understand?”
Her blue eyes seemed ready to devour me.
“You could never provide what the prince lacks. Our Hernia family, the imperial founders and high-ranking nobles, can.”
Even though she was only the empress, she understood exactly what Kaylen needed.
Marrying me would be of no real benefit to him.
“I know how big an opportunity this marriage is for you, but it’s greedy. Selfish greed.”
This wasn’t the marriage I had wanted, but I had no other choice.
I thought it was a necessary marriage, but her words tightened my chest.
“I can help.”
Should I accept her help?
My goal was to leave the protagonist’s life, so I could let her handle the aftermath and disappear, but for some reason, I couldn’t voice an answer.
The right words wouldn’t form in my throat. My mouth tasted bitter.
Princess Florence stepped closer, towering two heads above me. I swallowed nervously.
I could feel my Adam’s apple move as I tried to speak.
“I don’t think you’ll need my help.”
A low, familiar voice spoke.
“P-Prince Kaylen…”
I followed her trembling gaze. The male protagonist of this world, Kaylen, stood on the small bridge crossing the pond.
He removed his gloves, one by one, and strode forward.
“I heard my bride-to-be would attend the tea party hosted by the princess today, so I stopped by on my way…”
His green eyes briefly met mine.
He quickly averted them and walked to the tea table. Lifting a seemingly expensive teapot, he poured tea into my cup.
Princess Florence’s eyes widened as I naturally brought the cup to my lips.
Sip. He drank and then set the cup down.
“Even though I’m only half-blooded, Princess…”
His icy voice made her shoulders flinch.
Externally, Kaylen was always kind and gentle. The coldness and sharpness in his voice now clearly startled her.
Still staring at the tea in his cup, he continued.
“Are you daring to pity a royal?”
“I-I didn’t mean to—”
“If not, then what were those words I just heard?”
The teacup clinked sharply as he set it down, cutting through the greenhouse air.
Princess Florence pressed her hands together over her chest and shook her head frantically.
“I-I didn’t mean that, I—”
“Princess.”
Kaylen tilted his head slightly, lifting an eyebrow.
“I’ll let it slide now because of the Duke of Hernia, but if you act this rude again, I won’t hold back.”
Seeing her nod reluctantly, Kaylen strode toward me. His hand, veins prominent, grasped my arm.
“Go.”
“W-Wait.”
I was practically dragged out of the greenhouse. Glancing back, I saw Princess Florence sitting on the floor.
Thump… thump… my heart raced wildly.
Was it because of his sudden appearance? Or because I had made Princess Florence an enemy?
Watching Kaylen’s neatly organized back, I shook my head vigorously.
A week after visiting the Hernia estate, I now stood in the hallway of the empress’s palace.
“Are you nervous?” Kaylen asked.
I turned my head to survey the surroundings. Palace attendants scurried busily in the distance.
As expected.
Kaylen always used formal speech in front of others.
He usually spoke formally in front of other nobles or attendants, and I was always surprised when he did.
“Yes.”
His eyebrows rose slightly, as if surprised by my answer.
Not nervous at all?
It was the empress calling. Not as unhinged as the crown prince, but someone who would freely send assassins after Kaylen.
Moreover, she would be my mother-in-law, even if not my biological one.
“No need to be nervous.”
As the attendants disappeared, Kaylen immediately spoke informally. Rolling up his left sleeve to check his watch, he stretched his neck stiffly.
“We’ll probably be standing here for two hours. No need to waste energy already.”
Two… hours? What is this?
My mouth dropped open in shock.
