chapter 4
Suddenly, her wrist was grabbed.
The grip was incredibly strong. Devaltin? Celestine thought—but she hadn’t done anything wrong. She had even taken Asha’s side…
Startled, Celestine reflexively turned her head. She immediately noticed a slightly puzzled expression.
The hand holding her wrist wasn’t Devaltin’s—it was Asha’s.
“Ow…”
What now? Celestine squinted at Asha, letting out a small groan.
“I-I’m sorry, my lady.”
Asha finally released her wrist and offered a brief apology.
“Why is she doing this…?”
Was she trying to thank me? For helping her? But that could have waited. Right now, Celestine just felt intimidated under Devaltin’s piercing gaze.
“Really…”
After a short silence, Asha spoke in a trembling voice.
“Do you really think that…?”
“Huh…?”
“What you said to those young ladies earlier.”
Celestine finally realized what Asha was asking.
Poor Asha had likely never had anyone truly on her side in her entire life.
Of course, Devaltin cared for her greatly, but one person’s attention couldn’t fill the emotional gaps completely.
“If I was rude, I apologize. But I thought… you might think ill of me, Celestine,” Asha said softly.
Celestine flinched for a moment, then quickly smoothed her expression and continued.
“Sometimes, you need to see things with your own eyes, don’t you? Your Highness.”
“…Yes?”
“I also failed to see your true value at first. But seeing you directly today, I realized that you are far better than I expected.”
Asha’s eyes flickered briefly.
“I don’t have time to lie or pretend when supporting someone. Everything I said, from start to finish, was genuine.”
Celestine’s words made Asha’s expression shift with multiple emotions.
She wouldn’t admit it, but Celestine felt a faint pang of sympathy seeing Asha respond this way.
There was no need to say more. Right now, the most intimidating presence wasn’t Asha’s heartfelt question—it was Devaltin, watching her with unreadable eyes.
“Then I should really be going. It was a short time, but I was truly glad to meet you,” Celestine said.
This was truly her final words. For once, she left the garden at lightning speed, leaving no chance for anyone to stop her.
She had no idea that Devaltin’s gaze followed her persistently the entire way out.
Celestine bolted.
Instead of returning to the ballroom, she climbed into her carriage and headed straight back to the Winsel residence, not looking back.
“No! If you’d gone to the ballroom, you could’ve done something… but you just ran off!”
Of course, she was scolded mercilessly by Greg. He seemed furious that Celestine didn’t follow orders, but after meeting Devaltin, his scolding felt less intimidating.
Things were no longer simple. She had met both Asha and Devaltin, and the warning popup could appear at any time.
Just like in the original novel, Celestine and Greg were now on the same ship, whether they wanted to be or not.
“Father, I’m afraid it’s best to give up on that useless dream,” she said, once again advising Greg.
“Crown Prince Devaltin has no interest in me. If you get on his bad side by spouting nonsense about the empress or royal affairs, what will you do if you’re executed?”
“If having schemes could get you executed, the entire nobility of the empire would be dead,” Greg said.
He was right—noble families with marriageable daughters all harbored unrealistic dreams.
“Still… it’s pointless. Who does Devaltin have his eye on?”
“Who? Has someone from another family already beaten us to it?”
Celestine spent over an hour trying to fix her earlier slip of the tongue.
She worried—if it became known that Devaltin loved Asha, Asha would be in danger immediately.
Technically, Devaltin wouldn’t realize his feelings for Asha until after he ascended the throne.
“One year until Devaltin ascends.”
This was early in the story. Having grown up together, they slowly realized they were no longer children. Gradually, they understood that their feelings weren’t just familial, which caused confusion. That process lasted one year.
During this season, other characters appeared: Rio Denheldin, heir of Duke Denheldin, and Silence, a great mage in the palace. Both took an interest in Asha, sparking Devaltin’s jealousy.
A year later, when he became emperor, Devaltin would begin obsessing over Asha.
“So, how long do I have to keep getting dragged into all this…?”
Celestine sat on her bed, trying to make sense of the situation. She recalled the reader comments from the story:
─She’s supposed to be the villain?
─I thought she’d do something, but she’s just an extra.
─Why take up so much space? Annoying. I’m done.
“The comment section…”
Readers were angry because the character Celestine Winsel appeared, took up screen time, but did nothing. At least she proved she didn’t have to follow the original plot exactly.
If trouble had occurred while defending Asha, the warning popup would have reappeared.
“So… stir up attention, but… avoid dying by Devaltin like the original story?”
Sitting blankly, Celestine tried to think positively about her impossible situation.
“As long as I survive until the original ending… that should be fine, right…?”
Once the story concluded, no more warning popups would appear. She could live comfortably, enjoying life as before.
She needed to know when her moment to act would come. Her mind raced.
“…Devaltin. This was a Devaltin episode.”
Being the only child of the empress, Devaltin had inherited the position of crown prince. Outwardly, it seemed perfect, but the reality was harsher.
He was constantly opposed by other princes, and the empress treated him as a tool for revenge, not a son.
For both Asha and Devaltin, the palace offered no real comfort.
After Asha’s debutante ball, even Devaltin—accustomed to hardship—faced an event he couldn’t ignore.
On his birthday, a secret that must never be revealed almost came to light…
“Celestine!”
“Ah!”
Startled, Celestine jumped. She turned to see Greg, smiling brightly for some reason.
There was no way that smile was good news.
Celestine instinctively felt uneasy, but Greg’s excitement was obvious.
“I knew you could do it. I don’t know exactly what you did, but that doesn’t matter right now.”
What crazy nonsense was this? Did he even know what he was saying? Celestine rubbed her ears.
Greg waved something in his hands as if about to start dancing.
“What… is it that’s so urgent…?”
“Devaltin contacted me!”
“Huh?”
Now? Why?
“His birthday is coming soon. You know that, right?”
“….”
“It’s a gathering for royalty and a few nobles, and he wants you to attend! He sent you an invitation!”
Oh no…
This was truly a situation she couldn’t escape. If she messed up, she could really die…
Celestine looked at Greg, pale as a sheet, but she had no say in the matter.
