Chapter 66
My promise seemed to please Lumina, who smiled brightly and tried to settle matters with Laika.
“Fine. I’ll do as you say. But in return, you take this coin and toss it into the fountain.”
Lumina pressed the coin she held back into Laika’s hand. Looking awkward and not knowing what to do, Laika hesitated. That’s when I held out my palm toward him.
This was the reason I had stepped in.
“Give it to me. I’ll toss it into the fountain. That way, I’ll be the witness to this deal. Neither of you will have to be in an uncomfortable position then, right?”
“Vanity!”
Lumina looked at me in surprise, while Laika wore the same expression of gratitude he always did when he was moved.
“Anyway, since I’ve settled this, let’s wrap it up here.”
Laika placed his right hand lightly on his chest and lowered his head slightly. It was the salute of a knight. I felt strange, realizing he was finally trying to become a true knight.
“Once again I am in your debt. Thank you, Lady Vanity.”
In return, I thought I should show some courtesy as well.
I lifted my skirt lightly with both hands and gave a small bow toward Laika.
“You’re most welcome.”
Instead of holding her own skirt, Lumina caught mine.
“Vanity, you really do have a knack for surprising people.”
“I only hope it’s in a good way, Lumina.”
“Of course, I meant in a good way, Vanity.”
Laika, looking a little embarrassed, cleared his throat and waved to me.
“Then, I’ll be on my way. I’ll see you again.”
As he turned to leave, I called out to him.
“Laika!”
“Yes?”
“Please give my regards to Janie, will you?”
Turning back, Laika grinned and waved enthusiastically, giving me a thumbs-up.
“She misses you a lot! I’ll definitely give her your regards! I promise!”
Maybe I had grown attached to him, because watching Laika’s retreating figure made me feel a little wistful.
“You two aren’t just acquaintances—you seem rather close?”
“We just went through some difficult things together, that’s all, Lumina.”
Lumina stared blankly for a while at the spot where Laika had disappeared.
“You said that boy’s going to be a knight, right?”
“Yes.”
“If he’s that honest, I truly hope he becomes one.”
It did look like Lumina was fond of Laika. Perhaps the rumor that in my past life Lumina and Laika had met wasn’t such a lie after all.
“He will become a true knight.”
“I hope so, Vanity. Just as you say.”
Oh, he would indeed. He’d become the finest knight in the entire Reynos Empire.
The tedious crown princess lessons resumed once again. Now and then Karzan would show up in the middle to monitor whether I was performing well, but there was no difficulty in finishing embroidery, ribbon crafts, flower arranging, watercolor painting, and the like. Those were less about excelling and more about unavoidable lessons in etiquette—things no one truly failed at.
During this time, I received countless invitations to balls hosted by noble families, but I didn’t attend a single one. At first, dozens of invitations poured in each day, but eventually they stopped. My parents looked at me with concern, but I refused to take part in any gatherings.
While I was busy with these etiquette exams, the seasons turned, and the imperial palace announced a grand Thanksgiving ball in anticipation of the crown princess selection. Meanwhile, Karzan, as in my previous life, traveled tirelessly across the empire searching for the witch’s musical score.
Though I didn’t want to attend this ball either, I had no choice. I had to save Lumina there.
Perhaps worried that I would refuse to appear again, he showed up.
One morning, while I was still drowsy in the warmth of my bed and half-dreaming, there came a loud knocking at my window. Startled awake, I saw Karzan outside.
I nearly screamed but stopped myself, staring at him wide-eyed.
“Your Highness? What are you doing out there?”
When Karzan opened the window, the chilly autumn breeze swept in. Behind him, Perion’s mane fluttered in the wind.
“I told you to compete fairly.”
“I believe I am competing fairly.”
“And yet, I hear you haven’t been attending any of the recent balls. Do you really think that’s fair?”
“I simply didn’t see the need to attend.”
Karzan pushed the window fully open and perched himself on the sill.
“Forging connections with the nobility and leading society are also trials in this contest. Do you not know that?”
“I don’t think socializing is a necessary test. I don’t want to divide people into factions—yours and mine.”
My constant backtalk clearly displeased him, his brows furrowing.
“But that’s the reality. Winning over your generation of young nobles—that’s your duty in this contest.”
If I argued any further, he might actually unleash snakes again, so I sighed deeply, showing my displeasure without words.
“Speak plainly then, Your Highness. What exactly would you have me do?”
This time, my response seemed to amuse him. His lips curved in a faint smile.
“Attend the Thanksgiving ball. Without fail.”
So that was his real purpose.
I nodded.
“Very well, Your Highness.”
He gave a slight nod and, before shutting the window, added:
“Though you sat on your bed in your nightclothes while speaking to me—most discourteous—I’ll let it pass.”
And with that, he rode off on Perion.
It was absurd that he barged into someone’s house at dawn through a window, yet still accused me of being rude. But being the crown prince, he could get away with it, and I could say nothing.
Even without Karzan’s threats, I couldn’t have avoided this Thanksgiving ball. My family was overjoyed to see me preparing for it after so long, and their smiles made me board the carriage with one of my own.
As always, the talk at the ball revolved around who would become crown princess. The decisive day was fast approaching, and the nobles’ nerves were stretched taut as they openly supported their favored candidates.
This time, both Lumina and Rosalie were visibly ambitious. The young ladies pressed them with questions—what would they do if they became crown princess? In other words, would they favor their families or not?
Both Lumina and Rosalie answered them earnestly, as they had to. After all, winning over their peers was essential to securing more noble votes.
Winning over the people had been necessary to gain the palace’s favor. But after that, the next step was always to win over the nobles. That was why Lumina and Rosalie had been attending so many balls all along. I, too, had done the same in my previous life.
When I entered the hall, people, seeing me after so long, were a bit awkward and distant. But they couldn’t ignore me completely and soon began gathering around.
“Lady Vanity, welcome! It’s been so long.”
“Indeed, my lady, I can’t recall the last time I saw you at a gathering like this.”
I smiled politely at them, explaining that I hadn’t been well. Fortunately, the excuse worked, since rumors had spread after my return from Rithos that I’d caught the plague. People had believed it without question, so when I said I’d been sick, they only nodded in sympathy.
Excusing myself, I pushed through the crowd to prepare for what I knew was about to happen. I went straight to Lumina.
“Lumina. It’s been a while.”
“Vanity! How have you been? I missed you. You really haven’t been to any social events. Was it true then—you were sick?”
“Well.”
I smiled faintly and leaned close to whisper in her ear.
“Lumina. Did Rosalie give you anything to drink yet?”
Lumina blinked in puzzlement.
“No. Why?”
“If she does, make sure you drink it.”
Perhaps because things with Caru had worked out well, Lumina nodded obediently, blinking a few times before replying:
“All right, Vanity.”
“And after that, drink this as well.”
I handed her the sobering potion Acaron had once given me. At the time, I never imagined I’d use it this way.
Lumina studied the little vial in her hand before tucking it into her pocket.
“Okay. But what is this?”
“A hangover cure.”
“A… hangover cure?”
Her eyes widened as if I’d said something mad. Of course it sounded strange—drinking a cure for drunkenness without even having had alcohol.
But I knew what would happen. Rosalie would offer her wine, Lumina would drink it without thinking, then soon grow tipsy. Trying to help the visiting princess, she would commit a terrible blunder and suffer humiliation.
That was why I had resolved to help Lumina today. She could not afford to falter here.
