Chapter 44
The Emperor acted for his own power, the Crown Prince out of inferiority, and the Monclair couple for their daughter’s sake.
Judging from the Duchess’ previous words, they were worried that Eloise wouldn’t awaken.
But perhaps Eloise herself had no say in the matter.
“Oh. I see. Then, by my logic, the young lady will definitely become the Crown Princess, right?”
“Have you forgotten why we’re guarding this place?”
“To train under the guise of a secret meeting… surely not?”
Bang!
Before the shaggy-haired knight could finish speaking, a loud explosion rang out near the lake.
The knights immediately went on alert to guard against incoming crowds, and I seized the opportunity to dash toward the lake.
‘There was an explosion in the original story too!’
During training, a strong friction of mana caused an explosion, which allowed the male and female leads to successfully resonate.
Until then, the resonance hadn’t been perfect, which was why it was kept a secret.
Amid the acrid scent of burning, a chilling coldness and a faintly sweet aroma lingered.
I walked carefully among the brown leaves.
Leaves that had lost their life fell with the slightest movement.
Through the bare branches, I saw the Crown Prince and Marianne.
“Marianne, are you alright?”
“Yes… thanks to His Highness’ protection.”
The two lay on the ground, tightly holding each other.
There was an odd silence, their gazes sticking together with an almost sticky intensity.
It was the scene described in the original story, showing the complex emotions that surfaced after their successful resonance.
It was the beginning of love and the moment foretelling the villainess’s downfall.
My heart sank. I turned and ran to avoid seeing it.
‘I was too naive!’
Seeing a scene I had only imagined in my mind hit me harder than I expected.
The rustling of the fallen leaves didn’t bother me as I ran endlessly toward the Crown Prince’s palace.
I could think of nothing but protecting Eloise.
For the first time, I had an ally; I had to save my villainess from the original story.
A cat cannot become the prince on a white horse, so I had to play the role of bringing that prince.
“Marcel!”
A sharp voice echoed throughout the Crown Prince’s palace.
My breath hitched. The brief time I had spent with Eloise flashed through my mind.
I had tried to keep my distance because she was a villainess, but before I knew it, I had fallen for her.
I sincerely hoped for her happiness.
Light, quick footsteps echoed through the hall, though they weren’t Marcel’s.
“Did you cause some trouble?”
Contrary to the harsh tone, beads of sweat on his forehead showed how fast he had run.
I stretched my front paw toward Étienne and babbled,
“If this continues, Eloise might die. Étienne. Call Marcel. Call Marcel.”
It was a vague hope that Marcel could do something.
Panicked, my mind wouldn’t work properly.
Why do I always seem useless, in both my past life and this one?
My vision blurred, and the fur around my eyes got damp.
“Calm down, Lisette.”
For the first time, Étienne called my name.
He caught my waving paw and carefully lifted me into his arms.
The warmth of his body gradually calmed my anxious heart.
“This isn’t like you.”
“What’s like me then?”
“Causing trouble recklessly.”
“……”
“At least you wouldn’t cry helplessly like this. And… we should move somewhere else first.”
Only then could I look around.
The familiar servants and maids were hovering around us, bewildered.
I nodded, and Étienne carried me into the reception room.
“Now, tell me.”
“Where’s Marcel?”
Perhaps because we were in a familiar place, I felt much calmer.
As Étienne said, I wasn’t acting like myself.
The fear of losing something precious still terrified me, making my body tremble.
Family, love, life… I thought I had grown accustomed to loss, but apparently not.
“Marcel is having a brief meeting with the Emperor.”
“Ah…”
Étienne placed me on the sofa and rummaged around the room, bringing out water and cookies.
The cookies were my favorites.
It was a small gesture, but it calmed my trembling body.
“Talk to me. I am Marcel, and Marcel is me.”
Indeed, those who resonate mana are very special to each other.
In the original story, it was said that those who perform mana resonance regard each other as incredibly special.
The Crown Prince and Marianne must be the same. The closer they grow, the closer Eloise’s downfall will come.
“What do you mean Eloise will die?”
Should I tell her that she is fated to die because of the Crown Prince, knowing the future?
Being suspected as the devil’s cat, is it even okay to say such a thing?
“Étienne.”
“Don’t worry.”
His words carried immense reassurance, almost like magic, banishing my fear.
“I heard what the knights were talking about.”
But feeling reassured didn’t change the fact that I was possessed.
I didn’t want to reveal that I wasn’t truly of this world.
“The Crown Prince and Marianne are training… mana resonance training. And… it seems they succeeded today.”
“So that’s what caused the mana waves I felt earlier.”
“When they resonate mana, Eloise’s position will be endangered. And if special feelings develop…”
“The Crown Prince will do whatever it takes to corner her. Especially since her reputation is already poor.”
In the original story, Eloise’s villainy began in earnest from this point.
By tomorrow at the earliest, the Crown Prince would publicly announce his resonance with Marianne.
Then he would rally the nobles to reinstate the Queen system for Marianne’s sake.
The calculating and selfish Crown Prince would try to keep both Marianne and Eloise.
Eloise, realizing this, would become enraged, harass Marianne, wreak havoc, and gradually isolate herself from society.
“But if it’s like that, there’s nothing Marcel can do.”
“I’ll break off Eloise’s engagement.”
“What?”
Étienne’s eyes widened in shock.
Being in a familiar place with someone I trusted, my mind worked faster again.
If the Monclairs arranged the engagement for a daughter who hadn’t awakened, I just had to show who could truly help Eloise. If I brought a valid reason to break the engagement, neither the Duke nor the Emperor could do anything.
“Unlike the Crown Prince, Marcel likes Eloise.”
“Eloise likes the Crown Prince—”
“No, Eloise likes Marcel.”
His golden eyes widened once again. Both Marcel and Étienne had terrible intuition.
Confidently, I continued, and Étienne let out a deep sigh.
“Even if that’s true, you can’t easily annul a royal engagement.”
“That’s why we need to find a reason. You’ll help me, right?”
“You’re something else.”
“You’re Marcel, and Marcel is you. Marcel would do anything for Eloise.”
Étienne looked like he regretted what he just said.
But it was too late for regrets.
“So, what do we do now?”
“We’ll think about it from now on.”
I said “no plan” boldly, and Étienne pressed a hand to his round forehead.
“This is… so like you. Causing trouble recklessly.”
“I should stop talking now.”
Étienne removed his hand from his forehead and lightly flicked my forehead.
Thanks to my white fur cushioning it, it didn’t hurt much.
“Thanks.”
“Isn’t it weird to say thanks after getting hit?”
“…For calming me down.”
“I understand.”
His golden eyes quietly observed me.
He slowly opened his closed lips.
“I’ll help you. No matter what it takes.”
“Really? It’s a promise?”
“Yes. I also want Marcel and Eloise to be happy.”
After promising cooperation, Étienne escorted me to the Empress’ palace.
“Since we promised, don’t go somewhere alone and cause strange trouble.”
“Got it, got it.”
Perhaps because I didn’t seem very reliable, he sighed deeply before returning to the Crown Prince’s palace.
Once Étienne disappeared, the quiet Empress’ palace felt somewhat chaotic.
It seemed likely that it was due to the earlier explosion.
Carefully, I made my way toward Eloise’s room, when a maid spotted me and shouted,
“Head Maid! Lady Lisette is here!”
…Could it really be because of me?
