“Huff.”
After reading and rereading Claude’s letter, I pressed my forehead. There must be something Izel would have left behind somewhere.
Having lived through countless lives, I had become adept at deciphering secret letters and codes. Invisible ink made from lemon juice would appear when light was shone on it, and there was a way to find letters that had been hollowed out by sprinkling powder over them. But no matter what I did, no other letters appeared.
“The fact that the letter’s blank space is this long means for sure…”
The letter Claude left had its bottom completely empty. Could there be a reason for leaving such a large blank space?
Was it just written on any paper.?
Suddenly, a deep sense of self-loathing washed over me. If you were going to turn me into such a paranoid person, you might as well have possessed me into a mystery novel! Damn angel-like…
Huh? Angel?
But then,
“If you fail again this time, you will incur the wrath of Peidion.”
I paused for a moment at a voice that suddenly pierced my ears.
Peidion. Yes, I remembered where I had heard that name before…
At the time, I just assumed it was a god who had created this world. But the being that had whimpered as if afraid of the angel had predicted ‘destruction.’
Were all my possessions because of Peidion all along?
However, Peidion was a devil. That meant the angel was also a devil following Peidion. To anyone, they could have been mistaken for an angel with such a refreshing and beautiful face.
“These crazy b*stards.”
I muttered quietly and glanced stealthily into the air. I didn’t know where Peidion and his subordinates might be listening.
Let’s just focus on surviving for now.
I soon shook my head to clear it of all these thoughts. It wasn’t important whether it was Peidion or anything else. The goal I need to focus on right now is…
The awards ceremony.
So today was the debut day of the Norma. The only way to ensure a successful ascent of the Redian as a prince and a peaceful retirement for me was to completely change the image of Norma and Felicite.
“Milady, it’s about time you start getting ready. Sir Bergman and the maids are waiting in the dressing room.”
“Okay.”
At Daisy’s urging, I paused for a moment as I was about to put Claude’s letter in the drawer.
No, we never knew. From my long life experience, such important evidence always disappeared while I was away. I need to be extra careful since Luna is still in the duchy. After carefully hiding the neatly folded letter inside my underwear, I headed to the dressing room.
“Do I have to do this too?”
“Of course! It’s the day you become the face of our Felicite.”
“Isn’t the dress stunningly beautiful, Milady? Please come out wearing it. We’ll help you.”
Bergman and the maids, who were waiting for me, handed me the dress I was going to wear today, their eyes sparkling.
It’s pretty, but… The dress was the same pure white as the uniforms of the Norma, but only the hem of the long skirt was dyed with blue dye as if it had spread. The densely decorated crystals reminded me of a night sky sparkling with stars.
“Kyaaaa!”
“My goodness, if it were just among us, I would believe it if you said a goddess had reincarnated!”
After all the preparations were completed, the maids chattered excitedly, and Bergman’s weeping didn’t surprise me. I had gotten used to their extreme reactions by now.
Hmm…
But just before stepping out of the room, standing in front of the mirror, I thought,
It’s pretty.
Why did the author give such beauty to a supporting character?
In any case, Siani Felicite’s face was the best. It’s always thrilling me.
* * *
Meanwhile, Luna’s room was still dark. In contrast, the main gate was lined with carriages, and the cheers of the servants could be heard.
“…Sister is really cruel and wicked.”
Luna’s gaze, staring blankly out of the window, fell on Siani. She hadn’t eaten or dressed up, just biting her nails in her room. All her actions were meant not to irritate Siani’s sight.
“As expected, brother and I were never treated like family…”
She believed that her sister’s anger towards her would subside over time. Because Siani had always been like that.
“Why did you take my doll without asking?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was a doll Sister’s cherished. I just thought it was pretty…”
“Why do you act so childish over just one doll, Siani? You have many other dolls, don’t you?”
Even then, she distanced herself for a while, but not long after, she gave that doll to her. But now,
“Take care, Milady.”
“You are so beautiful.”
The servants greeted Siani with sparkling eyes.
“I’ll be back, Father.”
“Yes. Be careful, Siani. I’ll follow soon.”
The duke sent off his daughter as if it were natural.
“I knew it would be like this.”
Her golden hair shimmered in the sunlight, and the dress fluttered with her graceful steps. And the pure white knights following her… It was all so beautiful and dazzling.
“That’s why sister should have stayed in the darkness.”
Jealousy burned in Luna’s eyes as she now turned her gaze towards Norma.
“Why do those lowly ones get to and not me?”
Even as she led them onto the carriage, Siani never once looked back.
Why could these people claim a place by Siani’s side in just a few months while she, who had spent half a lifetime with her, was not allowed?
“Right. Sister hated me and brother from the start.”
In fact, Luna knew why Siani had given her that doll. Because she thought it was dirtied by her touch.
“… That’s why sister should only be kept in the darkness,” Luna muttered those words over and over, biting her lips.
“Even if I die, I will never marry the man my sister discarded.”
“Don’t be stupid. Look further ahead, Luna Lev. I have no intention of spending my life with you either.”
“What are you suggesting?”
“Until we achieve ‘the same’ goal. How about it?”
The meaning of the ‘same’ goal Ash Benio had mentioned.
Yes. If she could have the power to isolate Siani, to ruin everything about that woman and shove her back into the darkness…
Joyous tears welled up in Luna’s eyes. Maybe a little detour isn’t so bad.
* * *
“Everything is going smoothly.” The grand duke muttered softly as he attended the award ceremony.
The banquet hall was so splendid that one could tell at a glance that the emperor had put great effort into it. Moreover, the flags of the Rixon imperial family and the Felicite ducal family fluttered side by side on the decorated stage with flowers and jewels.
“One would think the Felicite ducal house produced a crown prince.”
“…”
The grand duke chuckled, with Ash also standing by his side.
“Look, Ash. Our Benio’s flag is the only one missing.”
The black flag represents Rixon and the red flag for Felicite. Only the color representing Benio was thoroughly absent.
“The imperial family and the Felicite ducal house are clearly looking down on us, the Benio.” The grand duke’s jaw tightened as he continued. “Not bringing in a low-born from a fallen baron’s family to the position of the grand duchess, or her screaming and leaving, claiming she absolutely hates it.”
“Father, don’t worry. Their scheming will end with this award ceremony.” Then Ash spoke with a calm voice.
This lavish award ceremony and those majestic flags would all be in vain. The moment of utmost importance would bring a torrent of accusations against them.
“Oh, look, they’re coming in.”
“Wow! They really look magnificent.”
The atmosphere in the hall became noisy as Siani and her knights entered, mixing admiration and cheers.
“Did you hear that rumor?”
“Such people are climbing onto the imperial stage. It’s something that would anger the goddess.”
However, some people were murmuring in cold voices. The opinion among the powerful nobles was already under Ash’s control. But it seemed that strange rumors were also circulating among the commoners of the empire.
Luna Lev. Such vulgar agitation could only be attributed to one person, obviously. Ash shook his head and smiled.
“You are truly beautiful, Princess.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, Minister. I hear your son is about to enter the academy.”
Siani, in her pure white dress, was seen on the stage. She skillfully greeted the approaching dignitaries, shaking hands and exchanging greetings.
How can it be?
Even as Ash saw it with his own eyes, the sight felt unfamiliar. Wasn’t it Siani Felicite who used to flinch at the mere approach of a stranger?
“If I had known, I would have become a gatekeeper of the underground castle.”
“What are the painters of the ducal house doing? They should paint these statues and preserve them for generations.”
The ladies and maidens, intoxicated with ecstasy, whispered behind their fans.
The flowers and jewels that adorned the stage were splendid, and the pure white knights were beautiful. Siani, leading them, truly shone. As if she was not a human being but a celestial being…
“Please take your seats as the award ceremony will begin soon.”
At the chamberlain’s announcement, Siani took her seat.
“Wow, she’s truly enviable.”
Vallentin took care of the woman’s hair, and Francis draped a coat over her.
“Doesn’t she look just like a queen escorted by knights?”
Inein blocked those approaching Siani.
A natural wave of admiration erupted among the onlookers.
There’s no such thing as a goddess. At that moment, Ash was grinding his teeth. What appeared was…
Redian.
His entrance was met with an eerie silence in the hall.
“Your shoelace is untied, Master.” Redian gladly knelt on one knee in front of Siani.
“Your ankle still hasn’t fully recovered since that day, so you must be careful.”
The sight of him tying the shoe knot with her foot on his thigh was stylish and affectionate.
“…”
Unknowingly staring blankly at the two, Ash realized. That b*stard! The blue eyes visible through the mask defiantly faced him. And the mocking glance that flickered by….
“I will take care of your treatment when we return.”
The look he gave Siani completely softened to gentleness.
What exactly is his identity? It was clear Siani did not know his true face.
Even those who murmured curses, calling them cursed beings, eventually expressed their admiration. But Ash could not help but notice the ‘true nature’ hidden behind that brilliant smile.
He’s more dangerous than I thought.
At the moment Ash clenched his fist,
“Your Majesty the Emperor is entering.”
The ceremony of unprecedented scale began.
