IWPVD 117

Chapter 117

“Did you hear the rumor?”

“Mm-hmm, that rumor, right? There’s been a hint of it for a while now.”

“Well, the two of them do look good together….”

“When do you think they’ll get engaged?”

Whispers. The idle chatter of young noble ladies.

I could’ve ignored it and walked past, but when I occasionally heard my name and Thearoha’s mixed into their gossip, I couldn’t help but listen.

“But really, it’s so romantic. Lady Laila and Prince Thearoha… They’re like a couple straight out of a fairy tale.”

“I even heard that Prince Thearoha might become the Crown Prince.”

“Well, nothing’s certain yet. …Though I kind of agree.”

A faint smile curved my lips.

Not far away, Thearoha was conversing with envoys from a distant land. His straight posture, gentle smile, and the trust that naturally radiated from him—those were all part of what made him who he was.

And I liked that about him.

While I was smiling to myself, someone suddenly spoke to me.

“A fine evening, isn’t it, Lady Laila?”

For an instant, I almost frowned—but with superhuman restraint, I managed to stop myself.

“It certainly is. Have you been well?”

“Well, as much as one can be.”

I forced a smile as I greeted him. He, in turn, repeated my words in an oddly deliberate tone.

His golden hair and eyes glittered beneath the chandelier light, perfectly suiting the name “Alteo,” which literally meant “of gold.” If a crow saw him, it would’ve been obsessed with his hair—after all, crows are said to love shiny things.

“It’s only been a few months since I rose from my sickbed, but I’m managing,” he said, his tone sharp as a blade. No—his words were blades.

After all, Alteo’s illness and his subsequent withdrawal from his post as the army’s commander were all caused by my magical potion running out of control.

But this time, I decided to be shameless.

Even if he had gone to war, he never would’ve achieved the sweeping victory that Thearoha did. The soldiers’ loyalty and respect—those were things only Thearoha could’ve inspired.

And besides, it was his father, Emperor Ulysses, who personally pardoned my mistake. I had no reason to cower.

“I’m glad to hear you’ve been well,” I said lightly. “I’ve been enjoying myself too, these days.”

“I heard you went to the Kingdom of Siwin?” he said with a sneer curling his lips.

He was unusually impatient and rough tonight.
It was clear the people surrounding Thearoha at this banquet were grating on his nerves.

“‘The Miracle Healer,’ was it? Don’t you think that title’s a bit too grand for you? If I recall correctly, you nearly killed someone with your potion.”

His words dripped with venom.

But I didn’t back down. I met his golden eyes squarely.

Before my trip to Siwin—before saving those people—I might have been shaken, drowning in guilt, because he was right. I had made a mistake. And saving others didn’t erase that.

But now, I had confidence in myself.

“Of course, it’s a grand title,” I admitted.

“Knew you’d think so.”

“But from now on,” I continued, smiling faintly, “I plan to become someone worthy of it.”

The smirk faded from Alteo’s lips.

“The day they choose the Crown Prince isn’t far off, is it?”

“…”

“I plan to do my best in the meantime—as a court magician, and as a lady of the Ulysses Empire.”

A confident smile spread across my face.
“It won’t be easy for any of us. I look forward to working with you.”

His brows knitted tightly.

“…No matter what you do, the one who wins will be me.”

“You sound quite sure of yourself.”

I shrugged casually. Of everyone here, he knew best that nearly everyone in this banquet hall was on Thearoha’s side. His bravado was all bark and no bite.

“…You’d better be careful, Lady Laila,” he said darkly, glaring before storming out of the hall.

Hmph.

What did he think he could scare me with?

Sorry, but I’m more than capable of protecting myself.

I cursed him inwardly as I slowly made my way out of the ballroom, feeling a bit tired.

Then I spotted a familiar figure standing in the corner.

“…Elia?”

I called her name cautiously. At the sound of my voice, she flinched and turned around.

It really was Elia.

I ran over to her, both relieved and worried.
“Elia, are you feeling better?”

She looked pale and thin—hollow-eyed, as if she’d been ill for a long time. Something in her had changed. Her hair, now a rich violet, was pinned up, and her makeup was darker, more mature.

If I hadn’t been her roommate back at the Academy, I might not have recognized her at all.
Even I hesitated for a moment—others would’ve mistaken her entirely.

“Laila…” Elia blinked and tried to smile.
“I’m fine.”

But she clearly wasn’t.

“You don’t look fine. You should’ve stayed home instead of coming to the party.”

“Yeah… I wanted to, but I couldn’t skip again. My superior said this counts as part of work, or something like that.”
She murmured, her head bowed low.

“I sent flowers and a letter, but you never replied. I was worried.”

“I got them. They were beautiful,” she said softly.

“I’m glad. Get some rest, okay? Oh, did you hear? I became a court magician! Let’s have lunch together sometime—like the old Academy days.”

I kept talking brightly, hoping my cheer might lift her spirits a little.

“Yeah… let’s do that,” she said faintly, a fragile smile on her lips.

“Laila!”

Someone called my name. I turned to see my father and my brother, Eit, waving me over.

“Come here for a second!”

“Oh, Lady Elia! It’s been a while!” they said loudly, talking over each other as always.

I sighed and shook my head. Whatever they were planning, it couldn’t be good.

“Sorry, looks like they want to talk to me. Can I—”

“Wait, Laila…!”

At the last second, Elia grabbed my sleeve.

“…Hmm?”

I blinked.

Her face was desperate, her fingers trembling where they clutched my arm.

“Listen…”

I looked into her violet eyes.

“…I’m sorry.”

Her voice cracked, like she might cry.

“…Sorry? For what?”

I asked gently, but she didn’t answer. Instead—

“I’m sorry. For everything.”

Her words were vague, unsettling.

“What’s wrong, Elia?”

“…I’ll tell you later. When we meet again. I just… can’t talk about it right now.”

I held her shoulders firmly. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

“…Promise you’ll tell me?”

“…Yeah.”

She looked so fragile that if I pushed any harder, she might shatter like glass.
So I just patted her shoulder softly and nodded.

“I’ll wait. And whatever it is… don’t worry too much, okay? You’re my friend.”

“…Yeah.”

She nodded weakly.

Seeing she didn’t want to talk anymore, I stepped aside and left her there.

As I walked toward my father and brother, I glanced back every so often. Whatever prank or plan those two were up to, it didn’t matter.
When I turned to look again—Elia was gone.

Elia…

I repeated her name silently.

After everything that happened later… I sometimes wondered—

If I had stayed by her side that night,
would things have turned out differently?

Alteo was grinding his teeth.

Grinding them so hard that, one by one, the objects in his room began to shatter.

Porcelain worth tens of thousands broke with a sharp crash, but Alteo didn’t care. Rage blinded him.

“How… how could he—!”

A priceless ornament fell from the mantel and hit the floor. The room became a wreck, but he didn’t stop.

He could still hear those words echoing in his head.

“Don’t you think Prince Thearoha is more fitting to be Crown Prince than Prince Alteo?”

From a mere marquis—a man who once groveled to him for favor. And now, that same man dared to say that.

The very gift that man had offered to win his favor was right here, in this room.

Alteo found it and hurled it to the floor without hesitation.
The sculpture hit the bare stone floor and shattered into pieces.

“A ‘Miracle Healer’? That title is too small for her! Isn’t it thanks to Lady Laila that we can all smile and enjoy this evening? She’s a true saint!”