IWCVF 05

Chapter 5

What would happen when Raiden met Olize?
Would he want to break off the engagement immediately?

“Actually, Her Highness the Princess suggested that next time we hold the party at our house…”

But money was the problem.

“I told her it wouldn’t be possible because it would burden our family.”

It didn’t hurt my pride. I was just sad that I couldn’t have a cake party with my friends.

I had always been the one receiving, never giving anything in return. It couldn’t be helped due to my circumstances, but I still wanted to do something for them.

“It seems your family’s situation has been difficult for quite some time, Celia. It didn’t suddenly become bad…”

“Honestly, I barely managed to graduate from the academy.”

“What?! Didn’t your family support you?”

He was visibly shocked.

“They didn’t. If I hadn’t received a scholarship, I wouldn’t have been able to graduate, so I struggled to finish early.”

Even now, just thinking about those desperate days made it hard to breathe.

My father had even turned to loan sharks… it really had been the end.

“Sorry, I keep bringing up such gloomy topics.”

I wanted to talk about pleasant things with him, but somehow the conversation kept going this way.

“No, it’s my fault for bringing it up… You lived like that all on your own…”

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully for a moment.

Was he thinking about me?

“You’ve gone through more hardship than I expected. And yet you worked so hard… You’re more impressive and admirable than I imagined. To think I’m engaged to someone like you…”

“I’m confident in living diligently.”

At my words, his eyes widened slightly before he let out a soft laugh.

Good. This is the kind of atmosphere I need.

“Do you also make tea at cake parties, Celia?”

“Of course.”

He seemed interested in the idea of a cake party. This might be a chance to give Raiden new connections.

I looked at him and brought up the main point.

“Would you like to attend a cake party?”

“I’m very curious, but I can’t attend a party held at the imperial palace, can I?”

That was true.

“Then instead of going to the palace, how about we hold the cake party here?”

I took the initiative.

“And I’d like to introduce you to my friends.”

Raiden looked startled and asked awkwardly,

“Me…? To your friends?”

“Of course. You’re my fiancé now. They’ll definitely be curious about what kind of person you are.”

For fate to change, Raiden needed to meet the Crown Prince.

And that was exactly what I wanted.

Why had I struggled so hard to graduate from the academy?
Because I needed something of my own to help Raiden—and only by helping him could I survive.

In the dream, Raiden met the Crown Prince much later.
But what if I made that happen earlier?

That would give him a powerful ally in his life.
And he wouldn’t forget that—I would gain his gratitude.

That’s why I entered the academy and built my reputation. Top graduates had opportunities to meet royalty.

Using that, I became close to the Crown Prince and Princess—people I had only briefly spoken to in the dream.

Everything was for changing my fate.

Now it was time for those efforts to pay off.

Well done, Celia.

“I don’t think they’ll approve. I’m just the son of a baron. And since I was forced into an engagement with you, they probably dislike me.”

Raiden said weakly.

I expected that.

I caught onto that hesitation and steered things the way I wanted.

“I’ll ask Her Highness the Princess and His Highness the Crown Prince. If they agree, we’ll do it. I’ll send a letter first.”

“Won’t they dislike me? You don’t have to go that far for me.”

“That’s not true. At the very least, Her Highness the Princess would want to meet you.”

I smiled brightly.

No backing out now. I had worked too hard for this.

“The Emperor is already keeping an eye on the Pellis family. And I like you, Raiden. So… you’ll meet them, right?”

Then I added the final push.

“You’re not refusing to meet my friends, are you?”

At my words, Raiden quickly shook his head.

“Of course not… In fact, I’d like to meet them. I’m curious about what kind of people they are.”

He exhaled and answered honestly. I smiled at his response.

“What kind of cake do they like?”

If we were going to hold a cake party, I should at least give him that information.

“They like cheesecake, whipped cream cake, and strawberry cake.”

“I’ll prepare those. But… I’m not confident. I feel like they might dislike me.”

“I guarantee it. They’ll like you. Just like I do.”

I don’t dislike you, Raiden Pellis.

“Do you… like me?”

Raiden’s eyes wavered. He stared at me, biting his lip.

“When you act like this, Celia… it gives me hope, and that makes things difficult.”

No—have hope!

But he still didn’t fully believe me. Well, considering everything, that couldn’t be helped.

Then I just had to treat him even better until he believed.

“We’ll need Artern’s permission. You can handle that, right?”

“If they come, he will definitely agree.”

“Then once you get his permission, I’ll send the letters.”

Princess Shiran would likely accept. The real problem was Crown Prince Majin.

“It would be nice if His Highness the Crown Prince could come as well.”

“It would be enough if Her Highness the Princess comes.”

Still, I wanted Majin and Raiden to meet.

“I’ll try to set a date when both can come.”

“…Alright?”

At my words, he quietly nodded.

He didn’t fully believe me, but he followed what I said.

Why is he like this? Was Raiden always this gentle?

Did my past self really hurt someone like him?

A sense of guilt crept in.

“Celia, you’re too kind. You treat me so well.”

When he returned from the battlefield in the dream, I had felt my heart race seeing how much he had grown.

I had sorted out those feelings now… but still, he had been my first love.

If I hadn’t known he would fall in love with Olize…

Wouldn’t I have fallen for him again?

Artern flipped through documents related to business revenue before lifting his head and stroking his chin.

I hope the two of them are getting along well.

They said they were having tea together.

Just the two of them.

Was it going well?

Raiden had long held feelings for Celia. He wouldn’t treat her poorly.

The concern was Celia.

But judging from her behavior at dinner, there didn’t seem to be a problem. Still, he couldn’t help but worry—it wasn’t a normal engagement, after all.

Just then, someone knocked.

“It’s me.”

It was his son.

Artern stood and opened the door. Raiden’s face looked troubled.

“Is something wrong?”

“Yes… I was thinking of holding a small party at our house.”

“A party? What happened?”

Surprised, Artern asked for details. Raiden explained his conversation with Celia, his expression both excited and conflicted.

“The Princess and the Crown Prince?”

Artern was shocked.

Is she trying to give my son connections?

Since Celia would write the letter herself, it was unlikely they would refuse.

“It seems Celia likes you more than expected.”

“I don’t understand why. I’m happy she treats me well, but there’s no reason for her to… She should resent me.”

At that, Artern chuckled.

“What, are you afraid her kindness will disappear?”

Raiden didn’t answer, as if struck at the core. His face had gone pale, and his eyes wavered.

“Once Celia receives a reply, we’ll hold the cake party.”

If the Princess and Crown Prince attended, it would be a tremendous event.

Artern smiled.

“You must show them your best.”

Raiden nodded, looking tense.

I wrote a letter to the imperial family.

The engagement ceremony had been so sudden that I couldn’t invite my friends.

After that, I had been too busy adjusting to life here to contact them, but in my last letter, I had asked them to wait.

Because of that, I was sure Shiran would come.

She enjoyed attending parties—and she would come to see me.

As for Crown Prince Majin, he had once asked to be invited to tea. And more importantly…

Raiden was here.

Raiden was the heir of the Pellis family. Their recent contributions during the famine had earned them recognition across the empire.

Majin wouldn’t miss the chance to meet him.

Because he was a clever man.

I hope His Highness the Crown Prince takes a liking to Raiden.

And then there was one more person.

Olize.

She was truly beautiful.

Six years younger than Raiden—now thirteen.

The girl Raiden would one day fall in love with.

I could arrange for them to meet this time…

But I didn’t intend to.

I needed time to survive.

And I needed to grow closer to him first.

I finished the letter and rang the bell. Luten entered.

“What is it?”

“I’d like this letter sent to Her Highness the Princess. Please send someone suitable.”

“It may not be delivered quickly. If someone from our household goes, they may be inspected. It could take time.”

That was a problem.

The sooner the party happened, the better.

“Take this.”

I handed him a hairpin engraved with the imperial crest.

“This was given to me by Her Highness the Princess. If you say I sent the letter, it will be delivered immediately.”

“Understood.”

Luten bowed.

“But… will they really come?”

He sounded worried.

I smiled softly.

“They will come.”