~ Chapter : 6 ~
Duke Mont, just like in the original story, was certain that Litia would be chosen as Tenia. It had been taken for granted ever since Litia was born, and she would naturally wield power comparable to—or even surpassing—that of the royal family.
That was how the power structure of this empire worked.
Therefore, his ultimate goal was for Litia to live her life as a noble Tenia without marrying, leaving her mark in history.
In fact, some Tenias in the past had given birth and weakened their influence, so he wanted to eliminate even that small risk.
Even so, the reason he considered the position of Crown Princess was simply a contingency plan—what if, by some chance, Litia did not become Tenia?
But in truth, Litia disliked either option.
Whether Tenia or Crown Princess, both were positions of power that everyone desired. But unlike being Tenia, the Crown Princess would be stripped of freedom for life. She had no desire to become one.
“What is all this about?”
From the way Duke Mont spoke, it was clear the Crown Prince had some affection for her. Perhaps it would be better to learn more about this prophecy once she returned home.
Since she was unprepared and had even lost her memories, it didn’t seem likely that the prophecy would immediately decree she ascend as a saint.
If that were the case, Duke Mont might act more hastily or urgently—but he seemed unusually composed.
“Truly, I envy you, Your Grace.”
A middle-aged man with chestnut hair neatly swept to one side approached with proper etiquette.
“Oh, Count Siore.”
To prevent Litia, who had lost her memories, from making a mistake, Duke Mont deliberately mentioned the family name whenever greeting someone. Then Litia would place her hand over her chest and bow respectfully.
Count Siore leaned closer to Duke Mont and spoke.
“You look well, Your Grace. Everyone has been spreading baseless rumors, but they can’t utter a single word, as if honey had been put in their mouths. Seeing you two get along so well…”
“……”
“I truly thought it was nonsense. What an absurd rumor it was!”
A flicker of annoyance passed through Duke Mont’s eyes, but he quickly chuckled.
“Whenever someone speaks nonsense, I hope you convey what you see, wisely. No matter how much they gossip, they must understand that the rightful place has its true owner.”
Count Siore laughed heartily while seemingly working tirelessly to please Duke Mont.
Litia silently wished the dull conversation would end.
And why were there so many young men trying to impress her at every opportunity? “Are you okay? I’ll escort you,” she had been told dozens of times, to the point it hurt her ears.
Being harassed by Duke Mont, then by everyone around… her head ached more than on the day she first opened her eyes.
After another hour of enduring it, Litia finally stepped out onto the terrace. If she went back in now, she would likely encounter the Crown Prince—and then Duke Mont would no doubt start rambling again. Just thinking about it made her tired.
“Haah.”
She drew the curtains to prevent anyone from coming, took a deep breath, and held a glass of wine in one hand.
Inside, she had already received a glass and sipped it a few times.
Now, she drained the newly filled glass in one go.
“Ah, this is nice!”
She couldn’t help the exclamation.
As she set the glass aside, she heard giggling nearby.
Surely, the curtains were drawn, she thought—but when she realized they weren’t, Litia was startled and nearly dropped her glass.
Expecting the shards to scatter, she instinctively ducked and closed her eyes.
“……?”
Yet, even as it seemed the glass would fall, no sound came. Carefully opening her eyes, she saw the wine glass sitting neatly on the railing.
“……H-How?”
“Thanks?”
Another sound came.
Litia turned her head rapidly, checked around, even tugged at the curtain—but no one was visible.
“Who’s there?”
“A ghost behind the curtain.”
A voice laced with amusement.
Lies. Litia had already checked behind the curtain; there was no one.
“Liar.”
“Nope.”
She looked around more but gave up quickly. She had searched everywhere plausible.
Not in the ceiling, not dangling below the railing. Besides, she had already had at least one and a half strong glasses of wine before coming out here, and she had just finished another glass—she was tipsy and too lazy to keep looking.
“Fine. If you arrived first, my apologies. I’ll find another terrace.”
As Litia picked up her glass to leave, another voice spoke.
“I won’t disturb you. Just stay there.”
“Really?”
“Want me to make sure no one else comes?”
Her eyebrow raised.
“Are you a magician or something?”
“Something like that?”
It was funny enough that she was talking to someone whose face she couldn’t see—but strangely, Litia didn’t feel uncomfortable.
“Then I’ll just rest here for a bit. It’s stuffy inside.”
“Banquets are boring, anyway.”
She smiled softly at that. Talking to empty air was amusing, but the fact that she could have a conversation was even funnier.
“You dislike them too?”
“I don’t really enjoy them.”
“Makes sense. Just seeing you hide here, I can tell.”
The man chuckled again. He still didn’t reveal his face. Compared to the people inside constantly trying to catch her attention, this felt much more relaxing. At least he wasn’t clinging or bothering her. Perhaps he had also helped prevent her from being startled.
Had she had this conversation inside, she would likely have been treated as a detached, awkward princess. Now, without knowing his face or where he was speaking from, she felt a small sense of comfort.
Perhaps the wine also helped. She reasoned that just as she couldn’t see him clearly, he likely couldn’t see her, either—allowing her to speak freely.
“When will you go inside? I have to go back soon.”
“I don’t plan on going in.”
“…Lucky.”
She muttered this unconsciously.
“You could stay out too.”
“I’d like to, but many people will look for me. Even if I don’t go, they’ll come find me.”
Litia sighed deeply. She no longer heard his voice. Perhaps he had left, bored.
Then she heard it again.
“Need some help?”
“…With what?”
“You said you don’t want to go in.”
What on earth did he mean by help?
Litia straightened up from leaning on the railing, rising on tiptoe to check above, below, left, and right—but all she saw were walls no one could cling to and a ceiling she couldn’t hang from. No human figure was visible. Same below.
“Where are you even speaking from?”
“Curious?”
“Not that curious.”
As she trailed off, she heard the click of heels on the railing.
“…Above?”
Looking up in surprise, she saw a man descending from the railing like coming down a single step.
“Hello.”
The pleasant mid-low voice became clearer.
“…Hello.”
Tall enough that she had to take a few steps back for them both to be fully visible, Litia’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Wait, were you sitting up there?”
“Standing.”
“Either way… I can’t believe you weren’t hiding behind the curtain.”
“You already checked.”
“I thought I didn’t check properly.”
After a brief exchange, Litia could finally see him clearly.
Perhaps it was the pitch-black hair and eyes, or the night sky, or the fact that his clothing was entirely black, but he radiated a mysterious, even eerie presence.
If not that, then perhaps it was his unnaturally captivating features. Smooth, pale skin like porcelain before glazing made the contrast even sharper.
“……”
“What are you staring at?”
She snapped out of it at his quiet laughter.
“I wasn’t staring…”
“Do you like it?”
“No.”
Litia shook her head firmly, and he chuckled again.
She had been studying the faces of people who greeted her, matching them to book descriptions—but this was someone she had never seen at the banquet. If she had, she would have remembered him like an engraving.
Even tipsy as she was, he was not an unrecognizable face. Perhaps he had just arrived or had been hiding up there since before the banquet began.
“This is fascinating.”
“Fascinating how?”
He studied her intently, corners of his lips lifting slightly, inspecting her features—down to each eyelash. When she showed mild discomfort at his intense gaze, he casually stepped back along the railing.
“Should you even be here?”
“Me?”
“Whether hiding or unaware, it’s fine.”
“What on earth do you mean…”
Litia continued to question the enigmatic man.
She felt a twinge of anxiety. Did he know she had entered Litia’s body? Or, given she had no friends other than the Crown Prince, was he possibly a friend?
“Have you not seen Princess Mont?”
A familiar voice came from behind the curtain.
Of course she hadn’t forgotten. The same Jitte Tresch who had forcibly grabbed her wrist and shouted earlier.
She had thought he had left the banquet hall, but he hadn’t.
Litia’s expression soured as she alternated her gaze between the curtain and the mysterious man.
“Ah…”
She had told him never to show up again. And now, if she went out, it was obvious how annoying it would be.
“They said they went this way. Why can’t I see them?”
Jitte’s voice drew closer.
“Um.”
“Hm?”
“Sorry, but can I hide behind you for a bit?”
Both Jitte Tresch and this handsome, unknown man were equally new to her—but if she had to choose, she preferred the one who had helped her earlier.
Fueled by courage from the wine, she thought his broad shoulders and tall stature would hide her well.
“You want me to hide you?”
The man asked with a voice laced with amusement.
