Chapter 39
If It’s a Trap, Then It’s a Trap
Was Rachel really nothing more than an utterly arrogant person? How far could I trust her?
“Please don’t look for Daisy again.”
Diamond made a request to Rachel—one that was hardly just a request.
Rachel moved only her eyes and looked at me. Her brown eyes were clearly fixed on me, but it was difficult to read what was reflected in them.
“Well. That’s a hard promise to make.”
Diamond didn’t raise his voice.
“I really don’t understand you, Rachel. But I do know this much—Daisy doesn’t need to be dragged around by you like a hostage.”
Diamond turned his body toward me.
“Daisy, let’s go back to the Kingdom of Rundra. If the Emperor of Owen truly knows nothing, then that works in our favor. There’s no reason for you to stay here.”
That could be an option. We could return and verify whether Rachel’s words were true.
If it were true that Rachel had lied and made the agreement without the Owen imperial family’s knowledge, then she herself wouldn’t be able to report this matter to the imperial family either.
But even if the Emperor of Owen didn’t know about the agreement, would all of this simply become something that never happened?
The contents of the agreement were that the Owen imperial family—including Rachel—would remain silent about what occurred in the Kingdom of Rundra, and that the kingdom’s treasure would remain in Owen for three years.
Rachel already knew that my true name was Leatria, and if everything Rachel experienced in Rundra—and my true name—were to be revealed to the world, the side in greater trouble would be Rundra.
Even if the Emperor didn’t know yet, once he did, Rundra’s situation would ultimately remain the same. In that case, wasn’t it more advantageous for us to maintain this state of ignorance and endure three years?
I shook my head at Diamond.
Diamond likely knew this as well. The agreement had already been made, and whether the counterparty was Owen itself or just one imperial princess wasn’t the most critical issue.
What mattered was that Rachel—an imperial princess of Owen—knew far too much.
If this too was a trap, could it be called one?
Why did Rachel need the Dragon’s Tear?
Anyone other than the Rundra royal family didn’t know what role that gemstone truly played. Beyond our kingdom’s borders, it was nothing more than a shiny jewel—special only because it appeared in old legends.
“If I hadn’t run into you by chance in the park that day, Daisy wouldn’t have been left alone in the middle of the lake, soaking in the rain. Nothing that’s tied to you has brought Daisy anything good.”
Please don’t meet Daisy. Diamond once again asked Rachel not to see me.
“I came to visit her,”
Rachel said slowly.
“I don’t want to trouble Daisy any further. I’ll leave for today. Daisy, I hope you recover from your cold soon.”
Her gentle tone didn’t match the sharp tension in the room.
Rachel stood up. Holding her hat in both hands, she headed toward the drawing room door. Then she stopped and turned halfway back.
Her brown eyes, seen in profile, were still impossible to read.
“If you want to go back, then go back, Daisy. I promise to keep what happened in the Kingdom of Rundra a secret.”
She always had too much emotion. Yes—Rachel’s eyes were always so full of emotion that they were difficult to read.
I once thought that was warmth.
Rachel left, and the door closed.
In the drawing room she’d swept through, Diamond remained bent over for a long time. His golden hair spilled forward.
Then Diamond spoke.
“That day, I ran into Rachel while I was coming back after buying snacks. We talked, and I got a bit emotional.”
What had Diamond thought when he saw Rachel again? No—perhaps even before that, before we arrived in Owen, he’d been turning the same thoughts over and over.
“So I ended up raising my voice at her and got back to you late. I knew you were waiting… If I’d gone earlier, I don’t think you would’ve ended up stranded alone at the lake. I’m sorry.”
Smiling, I hugged Diamond. He didn’t hug me back and just let his arms hang at his sides.
“So that’s been weighing on you this whole time, hasn’t it, Brother Diamond?”
“You came to Owen because of me, and then you suffered again because of me.”
“Why is that all your fault? You just happened to be closer to the incident. Even if you’d been there, the outcome wouldn’t have changed. Adding one more prince to a princess doesn’t stop the rain.”
As I spoke, part of me realized that Cedric and Rachel hadn’t been together that day.
Rachel’s presence there had been a coincidence.
I was surprised at myself for thinking this at such a moment. I lightly shook my head to clear my thoughts. Diamond’s next words pulled me back.
“Going to the artificial lake was my suggestion.”
“Brother.”
Diamond let out a small sigh, then crooked one corner of his mouth into a faint smile.
“People are allowed to want to blame themselves.”
“I don’t think it’s a very admirable look.”
Diamond placed his hand gently on my head.
“I want you to stop seeing Rachel now. Daisy, let’s go back. If what Rachel said is true, then Rundra has gained some leverage. I wasn’t just speaking out of anger earlier. I know it’s not my place to say this, but every time you get involved with her, you end up suffering.”
This was likely what Diamond had wanted to say the most. Since arriving in Owen, he’d often watched over me. Thinking about how my reason for coming to Owen, and my mentions of Rachel in magical communications, must have troubled him made my heart ache.
“We need to find out whether what Rachel said is true. If we don’t know what she’s thinking, we might be struck by another disaster. That’s why I have to stay in Owen—and meet Rachel.”
“Daisy. I know you’re an adult and that I should trust your judgment, but I can’t help worrying.”
His desire to treat me as an adult clashed with his instinct to protect the youngest member of the family.
“I’m usually fine. This time was just bad luck.”
“I know…”
Diamond replied weakly.
“Could you speak a little more brightly—for me? Say that you trust me.”
I deliberately smiled brightly as well.
“I always trust my one and only princess.”
“What about your future wife?”
“Well?”
“You’ll have to change your words then. I’ll understand.”
Diamond let out a small laugh.
The two of us leaned against each other like that for quite some time—
Until the sharp air finally softened again, trading nothing more than silly jokes.
* * *
The Grace Count family’s ball was held.
I didn’t suffer from my cold for long. Thankfully, before the ball, the doctor told me I was fully recovered. I wouldn’t have to let the beautiful dress prepared for the event go to waste.
Mary, who claimed to love Rundra’s culture, had officially invited Diamond’s group. She said my name had been included among the bundle of invitations sent to the Rundra delegation.
Contrary to my earlier worries that I might not receive Mary’s invitation, she may have intended from the start to make sure one reached me.
The Grace family’s ballroom was as dignified and classical as its long-established reputation in Owen. A grand chandelier hung from the ceiling.
Light shattered through the chandelier’s crystals, enriching the atmosphere of the hall. Musicians played dance after dance, while guests danced or conversed.
At a ball, it was proper etiquette not to dance before the hosts greeted their guests. Our group stood near the dessert table, waiting for the Grace sisters.
I looked up at Cedric, who was known for rarely attending social gatherings. When he noticed my gaze, he naturally lowered his head to meet my eyes. There was no sign of discomfort on his face. I had been the one to ask him to attend the Grace family’s ball, so I was relieved he didn’t seem troubled by it.
I picked up a small macaron from the dessert table. Though labor-intensive and rare at banquets, the Grace family’s ball featured them stacked in layers.
I often ate them in childhood, and only when I reached the academy’s middle division did I learn how rare they actually were.
I popped the thumb-sized macaron into my mouth in one bite. The shell cracked lightly, the filling was pleasantly sweet, and the shell had just the right chewiness—perfectly balanced.
As I reached for another, Mary and Mia pushed through the crowd and came over to greet us. We exchanged greetings in turn.
“Greetings to the two sisters of the strongest land.”
As Diamond’s group performed the most impeccable Rundra-style greeting, Mary’s eyes sparkled. She then returned the greeting in the Owen style.
