Episode 100
I watched the Veronica County carriage leave. Cesar, who was behind me, spoke,
“Are you that sad to see Sylvia leave?”
“Well, she said she won’t be visiting often anymore.”
Sylvia had rushed over to me after sending Heron off. Her expression was as bright as ever, so I hadn’t noticed anything amiss.
We chatted, and I heard good news.
Although I was a bit concerned that she had become the Crown Prince’s official fiancée earlier than in the original story, it was good that she could now summon a mid-level wind spirit and a fire spirit, a new element.
Despite the events diverging from the original story, Sylvia was steadily growing as a Spirit Summoner.
However, I couldn’t help but feel sad that she wouldn’t be able to visit the Clovis Dukedom often now that she was the Crown Prince’s official fiancée.
‘There were already rumors about me and Cesar. It would be difficult for her to visit and act close to him in that situation.’
I could feel the events accelerating compared to the original story.
‘…I hope this is a good sign.’
Probably not.
I couldn’t rely on the novel’s information anymore. I had to survive and achieve my own ending using my divine power.
“You seem particularly attached to Sylvia.”
I turned my head at his sudden words. He seemed to be asking out of curiosity, not disapproval, so I replied casually,
“She’s a friend I can talk to freely.”
The only person I had become friends with after being reincarnated here was Sylvia, and I would surely be lonely if she was gone.
Even the servants at the Dukedom, whom I had been close to, treated me distantly now that I was human.
“Come to think of it, I don’t have many close friends. Cesar, Sylvia… Her…”
I stopped myself from saying Heron’s name. I couldn’t call someone I had rejected a close friend.
Sigh, how did things turn out like this? I had many friends in my past life.
“Lily.”
“Yes?”
“Who’s ‘Her’?”
Oh? He was acting all calm and now he’s jealous?
“No, it’s nothing. I was just talking about the Spirit Summoner. We’re not that close, so I stopped mid-sentence.”
“The Spirit Summoner? That ill-mannered man who came with Sylvia and disappeared without a trace?”
Judging by his tone, it seemed like it was already too late.
I subtly tried to escape the situation.
“…Cesar, I’m a little tired… yawn.”
I pretended to be sleepy and stood up. His gaze was sharp.
‘I’ll pretend I don’t know.’
But he spoke,
“Don’t meet him, even if he approaches you. Don’t talk to him, and don’t even pay attention to him.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
Why did I firmly reject someone who offered to help? I didn’t want to make Cesar feel insecure anymore.
“I like being by your side, Cesar. And I don’t want to make you feel uneasy. So if I disappear, please assume it wasn’t my intention and come find me. Okay?”
He pulled me into a hug at my words, as if reassured. Normally, he would have ignored my words, told me not to leave, and glared at me.
He held me close and exhaled without saying a word. I subtly met his gaze, and I saw unconcealed affection in his eyes.
I couldn’t help but smile.
‘It’s strange. He used to be so scary, and now…’
He seems a little cute.
They say it’s worse when you find someone cute rather than handsome.
With that thought, I stayed in his embrace. The sun was setting, and the long day was being swallowed by the night.
Autumn was approaching.
The atmosphere in the Imperial Palace was growing colder. The Emperor, who had been healthy for his age, was increasingly complaining of feeling unwell and seeing the doctor more often.
The Crown Prince, his senses sharpened, asked Arenz,
“Did you find out where the Second Prince’s funds are coming from?”
“I haven’t found any traces of funds being transferred within the Empire. Considering we haven’t found anything despite searching so thoroughly, he’s probably receiving them from another country.”
The Crown Prince pondered Arenz’s words.
He had suspected that the Second Prince might be receiving funds from abroad. But the neighboring kingdoms had no intention of interfering in the Empire’s power struggle, and some countries that were interested had expressed their support for him, the Crown Prince.
Although his power had weakened considerably after his mother, the Empress’s death, he was now an adult, capable of wielding his authority, and the Empress couldn’t easily threaten him.
And since he had the legitimate claim to the throne, other countries wouldn’t dare to interfere in this messy power struggle.
“What about the Empress’s family? Are they being monitored?”
“Since she wasn’t particularly fond of them, they wouldn’t support her even if she asked. I’ve heard that the Empress’s grandfather has connections in the Holy Kingdom, but it’s highly unlikely that they would be involved.”
“The Holy Kingdom? The Empress’s brooch has their symbol.”
He felt a nagging sense of unease. He had initially investigated the Holy Kingdom because of that insignificant little bird, but it seemed to be closely related to the Empress.
“Why are you so certain that the Holy Kingdom isn’t involved?”
“That country is known as the land blessed by the gods, where monster attacks don’t even occur. They’ve declared their neutrality even in times of war, so why would they support the Second Prince?”
“The land blessed by the gods… but they did express their intention to participate in the hunting competition.”
“That’s true, but…”
“They seem to be connected to the Empress. And there’s something else that bothers me, so keep a close eye on them.”
“Understood, Your Highness.”
The Crown Prince dismissed Arenz after hearing his reply.
It was just a suspicion, but his intuition was screaming. He had to uncover the relationship between the Empress and the Holy Kingdom.
And to do that, there was someone he had to meet.
“It’s time I met her. The Duke’s pet bird, with the mark of the Holy Kingdom, who chattered about knowing the future.”
That bird seemed to be at the center of the recent turmoil, like the eye of a storm. The Seirthe Marquisate incident was no different.
‘Are you aware of the Seirthe Marquisate’s reaction after the news of Lady Veronica becoming Your Highness’s official fiancée spread?’
‘So, why did Duke Clovis, my rival, come all the way here to make me an offer?’
‘If you abandon the Seirthe Marquisate, the Clovis Dukedom will gladly become your main supporter.’
It was a good offer, almost tempting.
So he had accepted it, but he was suspicious at first and then curious about the reason.
But the story he heard from Sylvia had cleared everything up. He was certain. The Duke’s mad love for Sylvia had shifted to someone else.
And he had also learned, unnecessarily, that the bird that had captivated the Duke had also won over his beloved.
‘Sylvia, that bird you cherish is practically my informant. She pretended to be a maid from another household, but I’m keeping her close. So tell me anything you hear.’
‘Are you planning to put Lily in danger?’
Her words, spoken with an unusually cold gaze for someone who always had a warm smile, made him wonder what was so special about that insignificant little bird.
Still, he remembered how cute its fluffy backside had been when it was a bird.
“Even Arenz wasn’t wary of that bird. She’s universally liked, it seems.”
He had been trying to figure out why the Tower Master handed that bird over to him, but he hadn’t found an answer yet.
If she was a valuable asset, it was only right to use her, and he had to prepare for the hunting competition, just as she had foretold. It seemed like they were truly planning something.
He had to crush those who didn’t acknowledge him as the Crown Prince and were challenging his position. The day he would finally get rid of that loathsome Empress wasn’t far off.
“Your skin is so soft.”
“I’ve never seen this hair color before; it’s so beautiful.”
I smiled awkwardly. Listening to the maids chatter excitedly reminded me of the unpleasant memory of being dragged away and preened when I was a bird.
“Thank you for the compliment.”
They had been glancing at me cautiously and acting reserved at first, but their eyes sparkled as they started dressing me up.
“How should we address you, Miss? We’ve heard His Grace call you Lily, but…”
“Ah, that’s a nickname.”
I heard squeals beside me.
‘Why are they squealing?’
It was a nickname, but it was also the name I was called when I was a bird. It sounded less romantic when explained like that.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen His Grace use a nickname for anyone.”
‘Because Cesar is usually so cold. He only called Sylvia by her name.’
“Do you like birds, Miss?”
“I don’t dislike them.”
“Is that so? The bird His Grace cherished was also named Lily. She was a small, cute bird with beautiful pink feathers like your hair and a white belly.”
The maid who said that suddenly covered her mouth. They exchanged glances and nodded, then said to me,
“We were wondering why he suddenly brought a bird… it must be because he was reminded of you. His Grace cherished Lily very much.”
“But he hasn’t paid any attention to Lily since you arrived. She looked healthy when we saw her briefly, but he hasn’t brought her back from the villa. That’s too much, even for the Duke!”
“That’s right! Lily is so precious!”
The maids grumbled, expressing their dissatisfaction.
‘That’s me.’
I just listened silently, unable to tell them that the bird they were talking about was me.