Chapter 40
“……”
I stared for a moment at the woman who was picking a fight with me. Red hair, intense ruby-like eyes, and that arrogant, overbearing gaze—where had I heard those features before? No, more accurately, I had read about them.
“Hm, Lady Deluna of House Diarne?”
“Oh my, you know my name?”
When her name came out of my mouth, the woman tilted her head as if surprised, lightly fluttering the fan in her hand. She was Deluna Diarne, eldest daughter of the Diarne Marquisate, one of the great noble families of the Ludenza Empire.
“To think a commoner like you even studied the noble houses of the Empire just to pick up some ‘basic manners’? Well, I suppose if you want to walk around parties making greetings, maybe you can pick up scraps here and there. Hoho! That is indeed the sort of strategy a commoner would need.”
If only that were true. I hadn’t studied at all, yet I already knew of Deluna. Like Edel, she was an extra in the story—but unlike Edel, she was a minor villainess. She had come to me now only to play her assigned role.
Lady Deluna, clearly itching to find fault and start a quarrel, had met her fate in the original novel by bullying Sepina and then being cast out far, far away.
Though she wore an elegant, haughty expression, she was far more dangerous than she looked—possessing the tendencies of a stalker. That was precisely why Marquis Diarne, her father and the Empire’s finance minister, had agreed so readily to her exile. Even her own father had been thoroughly disgusted by her behavior.
She was a fanatic when it came to beauty, and her obsession with Licht—beginning from childhood—was beyond extreme.
Just because a young lady had exchanged a short conversation with Licht at a banquet, Deluna once invited her to a tea party and had her stung by wasps. Another time, she “accidentally” tripped in front of Licht, using the opportunity to spill hot tea on the hand of a noblewoman he had just touched—badly burning her.
And every time she created a mess, it was always her father, the Marquis, who cleaned it up.
Marquis Diarne was widely respected as an upright, incorruptible finance minister, the very man who had solidified the long-standing prestige of House Diarne. Unfortunately, he had completely failed when it came to his daughter’s character education.
‘In the end, she was exposed when she went to a spiritist and held some bizarre ritual, begging to make Licht love her.’
And the real issue? For the ritual, she had kidnapped none other than Saintess Sepina as a sacrifice. She claimed she never meant to kill her, but her true intentions were dubious. The ritual was described as requiring the “fresh holy blood” of the saintess, after all.
Deluna had done it after Licht ignored her endless advances. By then, she was so consumed by jealousy and resentment that she wasn’t even in her right mind—and no longer capable of defending herself.
‘Well, she hasn’t reached that point yet…’
I gave Deluna’s arrogant face a look full of weary pity. Strangely enough, my silence seemed to make her even more confident.
Sigh. All this, over a man. Well, to be fair, there wasn’t another face in the world like Licht’s. Still, if I didn’t respond, she might go on imagining nonsense, so I answered in a flat tone:
“Ah, yes. I just heard it somewhere.”
From the original novel. Get a grip, you fool! A person should know their place and be satisfied! Like me!
“Oh my? Who dared to mention the name of Deluna Diarne? W-wait. Could it be… Did His Highness Prince Licht himself speak of me?”
This time, her voice was filled with eager expectation. Her reddish eyelashes trembled with excitement.
‘She really shows no signs of coming to her senses.’
I clicked my tongue inwardly. Would Licht even remember who Deluna was? Eventually, yes—though only because she forced him to.
In the novel, there weren’t many scenes where Licht and Deluna interacted directly. Most of the time, she simply lingered near the council chamber on the pretext of visiting her father, then tried to pester Licht whenever he passed by. Even those incidents only appeared as short flashbacks when Deluna was punished for tormenting Sepina.
Licht’s feelings toward Deluna? Pure, burning contempt. That was all. And afterward, she was never mentioned again—her presence fading to nothing.
‘Even negative feelings require some level of attention first.’
I shrugged, raising both hands.
“Ab-so-lutely not. He has never mentioned you once.”
Whatever happy delusion you’re spinning in your head, it’s wrong. Please, return to reality.
Fortunately, my mild dismissal and sarcasm seemed to hit their mark, because Deluna’s face flushed red instantly. Ah, but wait. She’s a noblewoman and I’m just a commoner, right? Was this really okay?
‘Well, I was told I’m a precious guest, so it should be fine. If she complains, I’ll just go find Lelia.’
Maybe living comfortably in the Prince’s Palace had made me bolder. Even with Deluna shrieking right in my face, I felt nothing.
“W-what an uncultured commoner! What vulgar way of speaking is that!”
‘Ah, wait. This isn’t the time for this nonsense.’
“Stop right there! How dare you! The great Deluna Diarne is speaking and—!”
Leaving her loud protests behind, I practically fled the scene. This was not the time to waste with her. Something far more important was about to happen.
It seemed that Mariné’s turn had finally come. I pushed my way carefully through the crowd, moving closer. Licht’s face came into view—gazing dispassionately at the dazzling pile of gold and jewels before him.
Indeed, even among treasures that seemed like the rarest in the world, the most beautiful thing there was undeniably Licht himself.
‘Truly, the male lead’s looks are unrivaled.’
An elderly nobleman who had just finished speaking bowed respectfully before withdrawing. The chamberlain gestured toward where Mariné was waiting.
‘So it’s finally Mariné’s turn.’
I squeezed forward again for a better view. The play was about to begin!
“Glorious star of the Ludenza Empire, welcome home, His Highness Licht Glacies Ludenza.”
With elegant grace, Mariné knelt before Licht. As she slowly raised her head, the sight resembled a masterpiece painting.
“Thank you.”
Licht’s indifferent reply completed the picture. If I had a camera, I would have captured this scene in both photos and video!
‘It’s like watching a movie, really.’
After the greeting, Mariné accepted a box from a young attendant who had been waiting beside her. It was the prepared tribute of House Bastille. She held the box high, and the chamberlain stepped forward, taking it from her before retreating again.
“Mariné of Bastille, presenting a tribute for His Highness Prince Licht.”
“Mariné of Bastille, I gladly accept your sincerity.”
The exchange between the two aristocrats was so refined, it hardly seemed real. Watching it, I was reminded all over again that I had been reincarnated into a novel.
‘Yes, in the original, she greeted him just like this. Except she was trembling far more.’
In fact, it was because Mariné had trembled so noticeably that Saintess Sepina quickly realized something was suspicious about the gift. But right now, there wasn’t the faintest hint of unease in Mariné. The tension I’d seen in her earlier on the sofa seemed like a lie.
‘She’s braver than I thought.’
Even during my years working at a company, before an important presentation or meeting I would always have to clench and unclench my hands to calm myself. And this—this was a situation where her life might literally be at stake! The fact she was so composed was nothing short of admirable.
‘Yes, I really did pick the right person.’
This girl could do anything. I nodded to myself in satisfaction.
Shifting my gaze, I noticed the Emperor and Empress seated not far behind. The Emperor looked like a lion content after a feast—his eldest son had returned, and he was throwing a grand banquet. Of course he was pleased.
Prince Caidan, the second prince I had met in the library, wasn’t at his seat. Apparently his famed sociability was keeping him busy circulating the hall.
‘So different from his brother.’
Beside the Emperor, Empress Ellicia’s lips were curved in a radiant smile. Her expression was exactly that of someone who had long awaited this day.
‘Anyone else would just think she’s happy.’
If I hadn’t known the original story, I too would have thought it was simply the joy of a mother reunited with her child. But knowing her dark heart, that smile looked chilling to me.
The Empress’s gaze was sharp, unwavering, locked onto the box the chamberlain carried. The Emperor and Empress were seated closer to Licht than I’d expected. Yet their relaxed expressions revealed the truth—they knew the box contained not only an explosive device, but also a targeted spell aimed specifically at Licht.
‘At least, that’s how it was supposed to be.’
Please, let this go smoothly.
The chamberlain carefully approached with the box in hand, slowly lifting the lid before Licht.
