TPHO 176

Chapter 176……………………………………..

Today, the Imperial Princess Palace was unusually noisy.

Because Roelin insisted on preparing an engagement gift for me, all the famous designers from the capital had gathered there.

“Then, how about trying on this dress this time? It’s a brand-new design that just came out recently. It’s certain to become fashionable soon, so we’re only showing it to Lady Inferna.”

“Princess, rather than looking at trendy dresses, how about the only diamond of its kind in the world? This necklace made entirely of pink diamonds is something no one else could ever replicate. Unlike fashionable dresses, it has investment value, so it’s far more worthwhile.”

Clothes, jewelry, shoes, fans, bags—
it felt as though every designer in existence had gathered in the princess’s palace.

All of them stood around Roelin and me, eagerly promoting their own designs as the best.

“Unni, which one do you like?”

Roelin looked at me with sparkling eyes, resting her soft, mochi-like cheek in her palm.

Honestly, I would have liked anything Roelin chose for me, but I wasn’t comfortable receiving such extravagant gifts.

“Any gift Your Highness gives me would make me happy, but I believe it would be right for me to refuse such excessive generosity.”

I deliberately used the most formal honorifics with Roelin, trying to calm the commotion among the designers.

I was worried that some of them might take advantage of Roelin and try to sell her all sorts of things if they thought she was an easy mark.

But Roelin scrunched up her cute face and looked at me.

“If you’d be happy with any gift, then why are you refusing? I really wanted you to accept my present.”

“I prefer the flower bracelet Your Highness personally made for me. Dresses and accessories like these are already overflowing in my room.”

When I glanced at the designers looking at me, they all closed their mouths awkwardly.

After all, I was the only beloved daughter of Count Inferna.

Even if I didn’t buy anything myself, they would surely continue selling all the capital’s trends to my father anyway.

If they don’t want to lose another VIP customer, none of them will interrupt me.

“…I have a lot of money too, though.”

Roelin pouted as she looked at me regretfully.
I already knew the budget allotted to the princess’s palace.

The funds given by the emperor were about average, roughly the same as those given to Prince Rekanon.

But even if they were similar, that wasn’t a reason to relax.

Because I was certain Roelin wasn’t someone who should live her life merely as someone’s wife or someone’s mother.

“If you’re referring to the princess palace’s budget, then I truly cannot accept it even more.”

“Huh? But I called all these people to make you happy.”

“Then I hope they can all return now.”

At my words, Roelin reluctantly dismissed them.

As I watched the warm sunlight pouring endlessly through the large window, I quietly advised her.

“The budget given to the princess’s palace should be used to help Your Highness’s people in the future.”

“…(Used to help people? Why should I do that?)”

Seeing Roelin’s confused expression, I calmly collected my thoughts and gave her a gentle smile.

“Of course His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Crown Prince will also help the people, but if Your Highness—the empire’s only princess—steps forward to help them personally, it will be interpreted in a different way.”

“A different meaning? Are you saying I need to create a different meaning for the people of the empire?”

I slowly nodded and then closed my mouth like a clam.

If I said here and now that Princess Roelin was worthy of sitting on the imperial throne, it would clearly be rebellion.

Though I wasn’t completely certain, in the original story Refeinon did not want the throne.

Rekanon also had no intention of becoming emperor.

If that was the case, Roelin would naturally have two options:
either become the emperor herself or make her husband the emperor.

And until now, I had never once made Roelin’s husband the emperor in the game.

I believed that Roelin’s happy life meant achieving everything she wanted.

Since I had already transmigrated here, shouldn’t I at least see the beautiful ending I hoped for before leaving?

I still believed that.

“In the end, this imperial palace is maintained by the taxes collected from the people of the empire. If you lose everyone’s trust for the sake of short-term desires, what a foolish choice that would be.”

After hearing me, Roelin remained silent for a long moment before letting out a short sigh.

“Why were you born a woman, El?”

“…Pardon?”

“If you were a man, I would run to Father right now and say I want to marry you.”

The maids who heard Roelin’s words burst into quiet laughter.

They probably thought it was just a child’s cute imagination.

But I couldn’t laugh.

(Of course, it doesn’t matter even if you’re a woman. You’ll belong to me for the rest of your life.)

Because I could hear every bit of the feelings hidden beneath Roelin’s cute voice…

* * *

When I came out of Roelin’s bedroom, I received a letter saying Count Inferna was waiting for me.

Honestly, I thought he would appear before the engagement ceremony and try to ruin it.

But surprisingly, he showed his face only several days after the ceremony had already taken place—much later than I expected.

“Thank you for coming such a long way, Father.”

One thing that changed after getting engaged to Kyle was that I now had my own private reception room.

Before, because my position as the princess’s companion was vague, it was difficult to borrow a reception room.

But now, perhaps because I was the Grand Duke’s fiancée, they readily provided one.

I didn’t realize the Oberlen Grand Duke’s family held this much power.

To be honest, I didn’t know much about Kyle, the hidden character.

If I had actually played the game, I would have known his weaknesses or the influence of his family.

But since I came to this world before even playing it, it was quite regrettable.

“You look happy.”

Grinding his teeth as he looked at me, the count seemed extremely displeased.

I felt completely relieved after resolving the engagement issue with Rekanon.

But it seemed the count hadn’t been sleeping well since his plans had fallen apart.

The dark circles under his eyes made him look very tired.

“I was just thinking how nice it is that I can borrow such a lovely reception room thanks to having a fiancé.”

When I answered like an innocent young lady, the count stared at me in disbelief before loosening his collar as if he were suffocating.

“Haa… Do you think I sent you into the imperial palace just so you could receive a reception room like this?”

“You didn’t send me here, Father. It was His Majesty who personally selected me, which is why I was able to live such a luxurious palace life.”

“You’re not seriously planning to be satisfied with merely becoming a grand duchess, are you?”

The count still seemed reluctant to accept my engagement.

Even though the engagement ceremony had been celebrated so loudly throughout the empire, he still seemed to believe there was hope.

His eyes were cold—as if he would break the engagement immediately if it meant I could become empress.

“If it’s the Oberlen Grand Duke’s family, wouldn’t that be a good match for our house?”

“What I want is not some grand duke’s family full of nothing but rumors. I want a position that can control the empire itself. The position you should give me is not the father-in-law of a grand duke, but the father-in-law of an emperor. Surely you understand what I mean.”

Looking quietly at Count Inferna as he ground his teeth, I met his gaze—and tears began rolling down my face.

Right now, the best thing I could do wasn’t provoke him but pretend to be powerless and buy time.

“Sob… I also want to do anything for you, Father, but as you can see, there isn’t much I can do. I’m already the Grand Duke of Oberlen’s fiancée. Even if His Majesty favors me, would the imperial family accept someone already engaged as a member of their family?”

“……”

Judging by the fact that he couldn’t immediately get angry at my words, it seemed the imperial family wasn’t something even the count could easily challenge.

For now, it would be best to deceive him and send him back, then devise a plan so the crown prince and the prince could marry one after the other.

If there are no unmarried men left in the imperial family, he won’t be able to pressure me anymore.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t be of help to the family…”

“You don’t need to be sorry. I will actively look into ways to break off your engagement with the Grand Duke of Oberlen.”

At the count’s words, I nodded weakly like a fragile woman.

Then I dabbed my eyes with a handkerchief, pretending to wipe away tears that wouldn’t come anymore.

Perhaps uncomfortable watching me, Count Inferna quickly stood up.

“Oh, right. I heard Her Highness the Princess called all kinds of merchants for you. What do you plan to do with the gifts you received?”

It sounded like he meant that if I had received gifts, I shouldn’t hide them but bring them back to the family.

I looked at him with a tearful expression and shook my head.

“Her Highness didn’t find anything she liked, so she sent them all away.”

“Haa… That way of probing people is exactly like His Majesty.”