Chapter 07
Rubelia fell into a new worry after Zerden’s answer.
‘Still, maybe that’s better.’
At least he wasn’t motivated by greed for power, so persuading him might be easier. Convincing a greedy person is always much harder.
She would gradually learn the real reason he wanted to rebel.
“Stayed longer than I thought, huh.”
Zerden spoke quietly, watching Rubelia lost in thought.
“Then we should pack up the leftovers.”
He couldn’t hold her back; as someone who might become her friend, he had to continue with his busy day.
“Unexpected.”
“Huh?”
Rubelia looked puzzled, but Zerden didn’t answer. Normally, nobles didn’t care about leftover food. Throwing it away was natural; packing it wasn’t even considered. But Rubelia had boldly asked to take the leftovers home—a move that surprised him.
“Go.”
“Yes.”
Following Zerden, Rubelia asked the staff to pack the remaining desserts and carefully took them.
“See you again.”
“…If there’s a chance.”
Zerden’s reply was ambiguous—neither a clear yes nor no.
Even though he had lent her money today, he didn’t plan to take it back. It was such a small amount to him that it didn’t matter.
Still, he wanted to meet Rubelia again. Being with her felt comfortable.
He didn’t have to guess why she approached him or what she wanted.
For someone always on guard like Zerden, Rubelia was the only one who gave him that feeling of ease.
Back at the marquis’ house, Rubelia flinched at the unusual expression on the marquis’ face.
“Father?”
“My child…”
“Huh?”
Was something wrong at home? Rubelia tensed. Peaceful days could change in an instant, especially since nothing had been normal ever since meeting that god.
“Have I done anything wrong to you?”
‘Huh? Suddenly?’
Rubelia tilted her head in confusion.
“Lately, I hardly see your face, and you go out every day.”
The marquis’ face looked gloomy, as if saddened by this.
“Well, recently I found someone I want to be friends with.”
She could have said it was because she avoided dukes and duchesses, but she didn’t. Even though she disliked the duke and his daughter, she didn’t want the marquis’ household to be endangered.
“That’s good news.”
Rubelia hadn’t been attending social gatherings, which had worried the marquis. Normally, she enjoyed society events, so her sudden absence concerned him.
“Well, I guess that’s the reason.”
Though a bit sad, she answered lightly to ease his worry.
“Have you eaten?”
“I ate lots of delicious things instead!”
Thinking of the desserts from earlier, Rubelia answered cheerfully.
“Good. I was worried you were getting too thin.”
‘It’s not because of what I ate…’ she thought quietly.
“Still, you must eat properly. Have a meal with me.”
“Yes.”
Even though she had eaten dessert, she had separate meals for dessert and main courses. Rubelia nodded brightly.
“But… the friend you want to make isn’t a boy, right?”
Rubelia flinched. She couldn’t say yes, and she couldn’t lie either, so she changed the subject.
“Wow, I’m so hungry.”
“What are you doing? Hurry and prepare your meal.”
The marquis scolded her for letting his precious daughter go hungry. Rubelia breathed a sigh of relief, knowing she had avoided trouble.
The next day, Rubelia prepared to meet Zerden, carefully taking two silver coins.
‘I knew I’d need a reason to meet him, so I didn’t bring my purse and borrowed money instead.’
She praised her past self.
But a commotion outside made her frown.
It was Aria and Hasedian.
‘They just came yesterday, why again?’
‘They said twice or three times a week…’
‘Running away again today?’
Fortunately, they weren’t fleeing aimlessly—they had somewhere to go.
Yet hearing their cries, Rubelia abandoned any thought of escaping. Their voices sounded serious, not their usual over-the-top antics. Especially Aria, wet and desperate—it couldn’t be ignored.
Aria and Hasedian were blessings for her, arranged by the god. Something happening to them would be bad. Their selection by the god must have a reason.
In the original story, Zerden’s rebellion failed because of Hasedian and Aria.
The two dukes’ combined power over the crown prince ensured even Zerden, as a powerful duke, could not succeed.
Now, they might help prevent rebellion—or at worst, save Zerden’s life.
Rubelia opened the door first.
Aria rushed at her, urgent yet elegant. Hasedian also wanted to embrace her but restrained himself; he couldn’t touch a noble lady recklessly.
“Miss Persinen?”
Aria’s face was so desperate and pleading that it looked like she had just survived death.
“Miss, you can’t.”
“What can’t I do?”
Was she dying of some illness without realizing it?
“I will make sure Miss Stein is happy.”
Hasedian said resolutely. Rubelia’s expression twisted.
‘You’re the ones making me the most miserable… and now you want to make someone else happy?’
‘What is going on?’ She wondered.
“Miss Rubelia, the crown princess position is completely useless.”
“Huh?”
‘Why bring up the crown princess now?’ Rubelia thought.
“Miss Persinen is right. The crown princess position is useless, and the crown prince is terrible.”
Hasedian said firmly. Rubelia was even more astonished.
Though she had no interest in the crown princess position, Hasedian calling the crown prince “terrible”… made her pause.
“Could you at least explain why you’re acting like this?”
Rubelia, already tired from Aria and Hasedian’s seriousness, asked.
“Of course. In two weeks, there will be a ball to select the crown princess. All unmarried noble ladies must attend.”
‘But what does that matter?’
Attending the ball didn’t guarantee becoming crown princess. The crown prince wouldn’t even choose her—he disliked her.
‘Because in the original story, the old Rubelia harassed Hasedian, the crown prince’s friend.’
The crown prince had witnessed her tormenting Aria as well.
‘Still, she should be careful around him.’ Rubelia shook her head.
Aria and Hasedian both said firmly:
“You must not become crown princess.”
“Even if His Highness proposes, you must refuse.”
“…I don’t think that will happen.”
‘Aria mustn’t have cried over me becoming crown princess,’ Rubelia thought.
“No, Your Highness will surely like Miss Rubelia, and try to make her crown princess.”
“But we’re not ready to let you go yet.”
To Aria and Hasedian, Rubelia was almost like a god. They could not imagine her as someone else’s partner.
“You are mistaken. The crown prince won’t like me, don’t worry.”
Rubelia tried to correct their misunderstanding.
“I understand. It must be hard to refuse a confession from someone you can’t accept.”
Aria interpreted Rubelia’s words with a dreamy expression.
“No one can trouble Miss Stein.”
Hasedian said firmly. Rubelia wanted to say, ‘Then why don’t you get a grip yourselves?’
“Then there’s only one solution.”
“…We’ll deal with His Highness immediately.”
Hasedian rested his hand on his sword belt, speaking decisively.
