4. The Secret Garden
“Why would I become the crown princess…?”
At that moment, something struck my mind. “Wait, does Moriana know that Redian is going to become the crown prince?”
“Of course.” Juyong nodded as if it was obvious. “Moriana is a prophetess, after all. The strongest elementalist who protects the goddess!”
“…What?”
“It’s from the original story, Big Sis!”
Even if I remembered the original story, my memory should have been clearer. I received the memory of summoning the content of the original story from an angel, no, that mysterious entity’s subordinate.
Moriana is an elementalist…? That would make her a significant character, so why don’t I remember her?
“Maybe this time, both Big Sis and Mori could survive with a different ending.” Juyong sighed, relieved.
“By any chance, will Mori die too?”
“The elementalist must disappear after the prophecy is fulfilled. It was such an important scene!”
“I don’t remember it well, so tell me in detail.”
“Uh, after Moriana awakened as an elementalist, she revealed Redian’s existence.” She answered without hesitation.
After it was revealed that Redian was the crown prince, the imperial knights stormed the duchy. Duke Felicite tried to hide it until the end, but Luna, who betrayed him, stole the key and opened the underground door.
I know this part too.
“If it weren’t for Mori, Redian would have died in the underground castle. Because there was no evidence that Redian was the crown prince except for the elementalist’s prophecy.”
After that, stories unfolded that I would not have known if I hadn’t met Juyong.
Yes. This time, through the duke, they found the insignia in Claude’s jewelry box… In the original story, no one found it.
In other words, until now, I only remembered that Redian became the crown prince in the original story. I completely missed ‘how’ his identity was revealed.
What did this devil do to my memory? It was as if someone had controlled my thoughts.
“On the day Redian, who became the crown prince, overthrew Felicite, Mori disappeared as well, and that’s when the true despair began.” Recalling the memories, Juyong sighed with dissatisfaction. “I read it because it was a 19+ romance novel, but it was a complete cash grab…”
As she said, the summer night’s dance wasn’t 19+ because of passionate(?) love. It was because the process of Redian becoming self-destructive was beyond 19+, almost 29+.
“It’s strange. I only don’t remember that part.”
“Yes?”
I remember the entire story, but somehow…
“So, only the parts related to ‘the goddess,’” I muttered while leaning back in my chair.
“Now I understand why Moriana wanted you and me to meet.”
Somehow, I started to laugh. If I hadn’t met Juyong, I wouldn’t have recognized the elementalist even with her right in front of me. I would have believed the devil to be an angel and thought that the world created by Peidion was everything. In other words, Moriana caused my secret garden created by Peidion to collapse.
In that case… I won’t let you get away with it, Peidion. There was definitely a trap.
“As you said, this time, neither Mori nor I will die.”
But first, I needed to make Redian the crown prince and survive.
“Because there’s no need for Moriana to be revealed as an elementalist.”
To ascend to the emperor, he had to go through the baptismal ceremony. It was the ceremony to retrieve a insignia from the goddess’s lake. Thus proving himself to be the owner of the insignia. If a false person entered the goddess’s lake, their body would melt away before they could find the insignia. I was wondering how to get Redian there…
“If you help open the baptismal ceremony, I’ll take care of the rest.”
It would be much easier with the empress’s help.
“What should I do for you?”
“Announce that Izel’s son, that is, the late imperial princess’s son, is alive.”
“You must have found evidence to prove it.”
I nodded.
“The emperor is expected to announce the development plan for the vacation island soon, so at that time…” Juyong swallowed the rest of her words naturally and signaled with her eyes. “Will you be okay?”
“The emperor must have suspected something anyway.”
“The same goes for Kailus. He’s pretending not to know to see what happens.”
Juyong and I met eyes in the air and laughed at the same time.
“Honestly, if that face isn’t the crown prince, the goddess would be angry.”
Who would have thought our thought processes would be so similar?
“He made such a fuss over the position of the grand princess. But now that it’s decided, he has become quiet.” Changing the subject, Juyong looked at the duchy beyond the window.
“He probably accepted Luna to restore his image.”
By bringing in someone from a fallen baron family as the grand duchess, he would try to regain his compassionate image. But there was nothing he could do about his pride being damaged.
“But, you know.” Suddenly, I felt curious. “Why are you helping me instead of Luna?”
In this situation, it would be a cliché for the reincarnated person to side with the protagonist. Why did Juyong become my ally, destined for a bad ending?
“Um, I just like you.”
Over Juyong’s smiling head, the fragments I saw in my dream seemed to float. Those fragments that were part of my life.
“You’ll let Redian know too, right?”
“Of course. While you’re making your move, I’ll make all the preparations.”
I could sense it.
Now I really see the end.
Finally, it was time to show Redian the letter and the insignia.
* * *
Ash and Luna’s marriage was quiet but swift. Despite being an important event to welcome Grand Princess Benio, there were no lavish gifts or noisy banquets. Just a series of days as quiet as they were shabby. And at the center of it was Siani Felicite.
“If you’re here, speak up, Irik.”
“Ah.” Irik awoke from his thoughts at Siani’s voice. “I heard the eczema treatment is going well. Congratulations.”
Only then did Siani put down her pen and look at Irik. “You seem to have made your decision.”
He also knew it meant to skip the useless pleasantries and get to the point.
“My course has always been the same. Recently, I just haven’t had a chance to talk because Sister has been busy.”
The duke had been constantly absent, and Siani was extremely busy with the treatment and the foundation establishment. Irik had to wait for days to finally have this private meeting.
“I…”
As if to tell him to speak, Siani nodded slightly.
“I’ll stay quiet. I’ll do everything I can for Felicite. So, I’ll do everything Sister asks.”
“So you’ll be betraying your own sister, Luna?”
“I’m a member of the Felicite family before I am Luna’s brother.”
“…”
“I admit it. What Luna did was deceive both Sister and the duke.” After a moment’s hesitation, Irik continued. “Just as Luna is my family, so are Sister and the duke. It was Luna who broke the family’s trust, and I have no intention of shielding her.”
“Ah… family.” For a moment, Siani laughed softly. “I’ve never considered you all as my family even once.”
Her subsequent voice was calm. “You, Luna, and even father, all wanted me isolated in this duchy. Only the methods were different.”
“Sister.”
“If you’re satisfied with quietly supporting, you can stay.” Siani’s attitude indicated she wouldn’t listen to any more of his words. “But if you want more than that, you should leave now.”
“…”
“Since father brought you here, I will support you to inherit the barony Lev if you want.”
“No, Sister. I’ll just stay by your side. Please let me stay.”
Even if he used the Lev name for life, his determination to stay by Siani, in Felicite, remained unchanged.
Becoming part of their family. From the moment he entered the duchy until now, Irik’s goal had been singular.
A long silence followed.
“…You may go.” Siani averted her gaze.
Irik, swallowing his remaining words, turned around at her firm order.
“Damn it.” Closing the door behind him, he muttered a low curse.
His plan to succeed the duke family had been thwarted, so he had no choice but to lay low for now. It wasn’t something he couldn’t do.
“This is always the same. Siani Felicite.”
But why, despite his efforts, did Siani never give him a chance?
Why can that b*stard do it, but I can’t?
At that moment, he saw Redian approaching from afar.
Why does she grant all mercy to those devil-like b*stards but none to someone who has been with her for a lifetime?
“I apologize for what happened in the underground castle.”
“…”
“Thinking back, the trainers were a bit harsh.”
At those words, Redian, who was passing by Irik, stopped.
“But you should know one thing.”
Looking at the firmly closed office door, Irik turned his gaze.
“She might be showing some affection because she finally got a well-behaved dog after being lonely for so long…”
The blue eyes that met his simultaneously were the same as those seen through the bars in the darkness.
“Siani Felicite is so noble that she hates anything lowly. In short, people like you and me.”
Those eyes were cold and emotionless as if they belonged to someone inhuman.
“Everything around Siani ends up in the same miserable state.”
The guy who had been bound in shackles was now standing next to him.
“Even I, her family, got kicked out with just one word.”
Maybe everyone sought Siani’s love. Ash, Luna, himself, and even the duke.
“So don’t have any pointless expectations. I’m telling you because I pity your life.”
And since Siani treated everyone like less than a dog, there was no need to rank them.
“…What kind of family looking at her with eyes like that?”
At that moment,
“You’d better lie down flat and lick her feet like the others.”
Redian, who seemed annoyed, swept his hair back and laughed.
“You must be pretty dull. I almost put out your eyes instead of the carriage that day.”
For a moment, Redian’s suddenly calm expression was chilling.
“Who’s out there? Is it Redian?” Siani’s voice was heard as if sensing the presence.
“Yes, Master.” The instantly softened tone flowed from his red lips.
“There’s no fun in it anyway.”
But his following voice was low enough not to leak through the door.
“As you said, master…” His hands, now free from shackles, gripped the doorknob. “is not interested in b*stards like you.”
As Redian opened the door, his icy sneer faded. “Did you call for me?”
Irik clearly saw those eyes that had softened.
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