Chapter – 22
The First Fiancé
The real Saint is someone else.
I want to say it, but I can’t. The guilt and stress are enough to give me an ulcer. I need to think about eating foods that protect my stomach lining.
“Y-you’ve already formed a contract with a spirit…? Is that true, Lady Vivian?”
“Professor. That was just a coincidence…”
“An un-contracted spirit protected her. It must like her a great deal.”
My so-called talent was nothing but a mere coincidence.
I want it to be seen that way, but for some reason, everyone around me insists on making it seem like I’m amazing. I wish they would stop, from the bottom of my heart.
“Lord Brennan, that’s not all. Lady Vivian is also very knowledgeable about the efficacy of plants and herbs. She teaches us about teas and ingredients that are good for His Highness’s health; she is truly erudite. She is perfectly suited to be the future Queen.”
“To think you are well-versed even in herbology…! The fact that you could form a contract with a spirit even before enrollment alone shows you possess remarkable talent. My, my, I can understand why His Highness declares you to be the Saint.”
“That’s why I’m not the Saint… Um, is everyone listening to me?”
No matter how much I deny it, they turn a deaf ear, and the three of them get more and more excited about me.
Being called knowledgeable in front of Professor Brennan, who is known as the walking encyclopedia of the royal palace, is so embarrassing I want to disappear.
When the real Saint appears in three years, to avoid being accused of deception, I must continue to deny this Saint theory about me at every opportunity.
“Um, Professor Brennan. While I am not the Saint, I would very much like to study more about plants and medicine. If possible, I would be happy if I could borrow such books from the library.”
Wanting to somehow change the situation which had turned into something like a praise session for me, I tried to steer the conversation elsewhere by bringing up a different topic.
Brennan readily agreed, saying “Of course, that’s no problem at all.”
“I shall bring some for the next lesson. My, my, Your Highness’s Saint is so humble and diligent. It seems you have found a truly rare partner.”
“Indeed. So, Brennan, please be sure to keep matters concerning her confidential.”
“I understand, of course.”
There’s a certain ease in Noah and Brennan’s interaction.
While I’m happy to learn that Noah has another understanding person besides Marsha, I can’t help but sigh at being treated completely as his partner, even though it’s unofficial.
◆
While watering the palace garden as a maid, I was racking my brains.
Is it just my imagination, or does it seem like the more I deny it, the stronger this ‘Saint’ theory about me becomes? If I could, I’d want to shout at the top of my lungs, loud enough to echo throughout the entire palace, “I am the villainess!!!”
Just as I was seriously considering that, I heard multiple voices and footsteps from beyond the hedge.
“Lord Gilbert~!”
“Your Highness, the Second Prince~! Where are you~?!”
It was the sound of people searching for the Second Prince, Gilbert, the man who abandoned me in my first life.
Hearing them call Gilbert’s name, I remembered the scornful eyes he looked at me with in my first life, and my body began to tremble.
I’d rather not get involved, but I found myself curious nonetheless, and I peeked softly at the scene beyond the hedge.
“Really, where has Prince Gilbert gone?”
“Doesn’t this happen a lot lately?”
“Indeed, he frequently disappears right when it’s time for studies or training.”
“I wish he’d think about us, who have to search for him like this every time.”
It seemed Gilbert had vanished, and the maids were searching for him.
Even in the otome game’s setting, Gilbert was an ‘ore-sama’ type prince, so he was often selfish and arrogant.
Even so, I thought their way of speaking was disrespectful, and their chatter grew increasingly harsh.
“The cause is probably the Crown Prince, right?”
“I’d say so. He must hate being compared to the excellent Crown Prince.”
“Whether it’s studies, swordsmanship, or horsemanship, Prince Gilbert can’t win against the Crown Prince.”
“It’s not just that. Even in terms of personality, the Crown Prince is so gentle and rational, right?”
“So true. He possesses a composure and elegance you wouldn’t believe he’s the same age as Prince Gilbert.”
“Ahh~ I wish I could have been a maid for Crown Prince Noah instead of Prince Gilbert~”
While I’m glad Noah’s reputation isn’t bad, this wasn’t pleasant to listen to.
Were they saying whatever they wanted just because Gilbert himself wasn’t there?
I hate Gilbert. He never acted like a proper fiancé; he always treated me with contempt, was sweetly whispering to other women—even if she was the Saint—while we were engaged, and in the end, he coldly cast me aside. A guy like that, I even think the important parts of him should just rot and fall off.
But I don’t want to disparage someone by comparing them to others, like those maids beyond the hedge. Having been constantly compared to the Saint myself in my first life, I know all too well how much that hurts the person being compared.
I took a deep breath and opened my mouth.
“My, what vulgar chatter! I can’t believe there are such crude individuals in the royal palace, speaking such disrespectful words about the royal family~!”
At my voice, the maids panicked. “We’ve been heard!?” “Let’s go!” and they hurriedly ran away.
As the presence of people faded into the distance, I snorted disdainfully.
“Tsk, tsk. It seems no matter what world you’re in, there are gossipy, chatty people.”
There were plenty of such folks in my previous life too. They seemed to enjoy laughing at others’ misfortunes or spreading secrets. But those types usually pretend to be your friend, only to trip you up later.
Frankly, Anne, the gold-digger who only saw me as a wallet, was better than them.
“I should have just thrown the watering can water on them…!”
As I was moving to go back inside the palace, something impossible entered my field of vision.
I was left speechless, and my feet stopped moving.
(No way…)
Crouching near the entrance of the Crown Prince’s palace, as if hiding himself, was a well-dressed child.
Judging by his build, he was about the same age as me or Noah. I had nothing but a bad feeling.
Just as I tried to escape, his dark blond hair swayed and his face lifted. My eyes met with the red-eyed boy.
Eyes the color of young leaves, distinct and gorgeous features. Without a doubt, he was—
“Prince Gilbert…”
My fiancé from my first life, the one who abandoned me—the Second Prince.
