IWPVD 72

IWPVD

I Was Reincarnated as the Villainess’s Daughter — Chapter 72

“You two are here! …Huh? What are you doing?”

The terrace door flew open and, together with the backlight, a lively tune spilled into the room.

Elia entered, tilting her head in puzzlement.

By then we were standing apart — technically I’d moved away at the speed of light — each looking in a different direction.

“Th-the moon is very bright, so I was observing it. Isn’t that right, Prince Tearoha?”

“…It’s the full moon.”

“The moon…?”

I swallowed a shame so fierce it felt like crying blood inside.

Elia seemed confused by our odd behavior, but she didn’t press it. Unaware of my thoughts, she clapped her hands lightly and said,

“The others have been looking for you two. Um, I hope we’re not interrupting anything?”

“…Interrupting? Of course not. L-let’s go, Prince Tearoha?”

“…Yes.”

Elia still looked innocent and bright. So we left the terrace.

Stepping out from the dim terrace into the brilliantly lit ballroom made everything dazzle. Couples were dancing in the center.

The way skirts of silk and jeweled dresses fluttered and then wrapped back around bodies was beautiful to watch.

I was staring blankly when someone beside me muttered.

“You look happy, my brother.”

“You brat. If you’re jealous, say you’re jealous.”

“Father! Brother It!”

It and Father were in their uniforms.

It, serving as captain of the royal guard, only grew more renowned, and Father — called the perfect head of the Roshahil house — needed no introduction. Still…

“Why is it that our family doesn’t seem to age at all?”

It may be that It is still young, but seeing Father, who could pass for only his early forties, made me wonder whether there was some preservative in our family meals.

Anyway, I greeted them warmly. It and Father’s faces softened when they saw me, which was pleasant.

Hearing my voice, Edwin, who was dancing in the center, turned and smiled gently at us. Is this what they call a cocktail effect?

My new sister-in-law greeted us as well. I returned her greeting with an awkward smile.

Watching that perfectly matched pair made me half expect the young ladies somewhere to start sobbing with envy.

“Boohoo — Lord Edwin….”

“I was infatuated. Truly….”

“I’ll never love again….”

“Me neither….”

I looked at them with a slightly displeased expression, then shook my head.

Edwin married this spring. His match was Lady Diamant.

I’d sensed something between them since the banquet during the hunting contest. Turns out they’d liked each other since their academy days. It was wonderful — they suited each other perfectly.

I felt warm seeing their affection. It seemed It and Father had different thoughts, though; before I knew it they were arguing in earnest.

“I worry because you resemble Laska so much.”

“Father, what’s wrong with Uncle Laska?”

“He still hasn’t married….”

“Uncle and I are different. I married a sword, remember?”

It said in a defeated voice. Even so, It wasn’t lacking in admirers. In fact, there were plenty. I noticed young ladies secretly watching It from a corner. Their quarrel was so heated that maybe none dared approach him boldly… In any case, that side of things was a mess too.

“Anyway, you’re hopeless, right? Elia…?”

He asked while shaking his head and looked to Elia for agreement, but something about her was off. I called to her, puzzled.

“…Elia?”

“…Ah? Huh?”

Elia was never particularly quick, but today she looked more spaced-out than usual.

Was she still nervous?

“You okay?”

When I asked worriedly, she blinked. She seemed full of other thoughts.

“Nothing’s wrong, is it?”

“Oh, no…”

She hesitated, then went on.

“You know, Laila…”

“…?”

Elia’s cheeks were flushed.

“I saw someone really wonderful.”

“Hm?”

“He seemed to sparkle.”

I was a little surprised and asked her to clarify. Elia’s face looked dreamy.

“You saw someone wonderful? Who is it? What’s his name?”

“…I don’t know. I couldn’t ask.”

She clutched at her skirt.

“But actually, he was so wonderful… I’m starting to think maybe it was just my imagination.”

“…What?”

Elia was cautious and slow to trust — it had taken months for her to get close to people like Rookran and Raon. I’d never seen her show romantic interest in someone.

Who could it be, I wondered, tilting my head.

“Well, if he’s a capital noble, we’ll probably meet him again.”

If it wasn’t a hallucination, that is. I decided I should bring more invitations to the banquets for Elia and looked around at the others.

Everyone was smiling.

This peace felt so precious.

If only things could stay like this.

I smiled brightly at Evharun, who offered me another glass of champagne, and prayed silently.

That night, Tearoha came to see me.

As always, when a hand tapped the window, I opened the inner sash.

The early autumn air had a faint chill. Tearoha smiled playfully, but his eyes were serious. I, in turn, became serious.

When he had something secret to tell me, he often came like this. He could hide his presence and avoid being noticed, and meeting in person felt more certain than passing notes.

He visited me especially often on nights of big banquets. Then we would discuss policy or the influence of the Crown Prince and the Second Prince we’d observed at the ball.

But seeing him wearing such a troubled expression was rare. I looked at him with a little worry.

“The domestic and foreign situation is dangerous.”

Tearoha began bluntly and looked at me.

Of course.

I nodded.

Besides selecting an heir, the Ulysses Empire had numerous domestic and foreign problems piled up.

To explain the empire’s history briefly — it began as a confederation. The Ulysses kingdom seized central dominance and subjugated surrounding realms, transforming into an empire.

No matter how powerful an empire becomes, there are always forces that look for cracks to invade. On top of that, everyone knew the emperor had fallen ill and was bedridden.

“I’ve heard dangerous disputes on the southern border are increasing. Is it okay?”

I looked up at Tearoha with concern.

If those conflicts are left alone they could escalate into war. Because Peregrin watches the north and Roshahil guards the center, news from the southern border reaches us late. It was natural to be worried.

If war broke out, many would be conscripted and meaningless blood would be shed.

Knowing my worry, Tearoha forced a gentle smile toward me, as if to reassure.

“Don’t worry.”

“…”

“We’re investigating the causes in detail and formulating countermeasures now. There’s no law that says war must happen. Diplomacy is an option. Also…”

He continued slowly.

“There’s no guarantee I’ll go to the front myself.”

I clenched my fist tight.

Yes — that was the source of my fear.

Tearoha being the Grand Mage was a powerful advantage. But because he possessed such force, the powerful often feared him. They couldn’t openly push him aside because he was a legitimate prince, but they always wondered if there was some way to neutralize or limit his power.

Someone would make use of him in the best possible way — by having him go where he himself would step forward.

The emperor could no longer take part in state affairs. To him, the immigrants from the south were a serious problem.

The pretext was perfect: the Grand Mage Second Prince personally joins the war for the safety and welfare of the people.

Though Tearoha holds a nobler position than most, a war tests that nobility: can he go to war for the people or not? And there are almost no ways to avoid such a test.

That is why I prayed harder than anyone.

Please stop the conflict. Please let there be no war.

Though I knew he was the Grand Mage no one could match, I feared him slipping away from me.

Leaving where my eyes could not reach,

Leaving where my hand could not touch — that thought terrified me like death.

Perhaps it was the trauma of three years ago.

I still remembered the scythe-bearing reaper.

The card that foretold an eternal farewell to me…

I must have looked on the verge of tears. Tearoha’s expression blurred. He leapt down from the windowsill where he’d been sitting and wrapped me in his solid arms.

“…!”

I could hear his heartbeat.

A little rapid, but real, beating right in front of me.

I could see it.

I could reach it.

How comforting that was.

I stayed silent for a long time in his embrace.

“Don’t worry…”

“…Mm.”

I managed to answer.

“It’ll all be fine.”

“…Mm.”