Episode 45

‘…Did the female lead come? Why?!’

I was taken aback by the butler’s words.

Of course, in the original novel, Diana often visited the Duke’s house around this time.

It was because of Joshua’s healing.

‘But now I’m the one healing Joshua… What other reason could she have to come?’

Although the situation had slightly changed from my initial determination to follow the original plot, I didn’t worry much about it.

Because Joshua is mentioned very briefly and passes by as a kind of prologue in the novel.

 

「Diana, who was still inexperienced in healing power, was greatly disheartened by her inability to properly heal the Duke’s second son’s incurable disease.

But soon after, an event celebrating the birth of the goddess takes place at the temple.

There, she displays abilities that surpass anyone else’s.」

 

I racked my memory to recall the very beginning of the novel.

‘Whether Joshua dies or not, Diana failing to heal him is the same as in the original work, right?’

Therefore, I didn’t particularly care about this part.

‘Failure’ would just be a small trial to highlight the female lead’s heroic episodes that would follow one after another.

And it would simply be an event that would lead to her meeting the male lead candidate, Edwin.

‘…Damn it, stupid author! If that’s the case, you should have made sure to heal Joshua properly!’

Maybe because I had grown quite fond of him.

Realizing that Joshua’s life was used for such a trivial purpose made me feel very down.

“…Miss?”

“…”

“Miss Belze!”

At that moment.

“Ah, yes?!”

Suddenly, I snapped out of my thoughts at the sound of someone calling me.

When I lifted my head, I saw two pairs of eyes looking down at me with concern.

“If you find it difficult to meet her… should I just say you’re unwell?”

Tara bent down to meet my eyes.

The warmth in her eyes gradually calmed my unsettled heart.

“Oh, no. It’s okay! But, why did she come?”

“She said she came to apologize and check on Young Master Joshua.”

“Apologize?”

“Yes. It seems it might be because the last healing didn’t go well…”

The butler trailed off.

‘Wasn’t it said that the wounds weren’t healed at all in the end?’

I vaguely recalled the first time I saw Joshua’s condition and tilted my head.

“But, does she want to see Belze first?”

“She said she really wants to meet you, claiming you were old friends.”

“Old friends, my foot!”

Did I answer too sharply without realizing it?

Tara and the butler stared at me with wide eyes.

I mumbled awkwardly with a forced smile.

“It’s only been a year since we met…”

“Shall I tell her to see Young Master Joshua first?”

The butler spoke as if trying to be considerate of me.

He was implying he could buy me some time if I needed to think more.

I hesitated for a moment.

Honestly, I wanted to avoid meeting the female lead as much as possible before the main story of the original work started.

Even if I tried to avoid her, being a fellow saint candidate, we would inevitably be entangled together eventually…

Besides, what good could come from the villain meeting the female lead?

But.

‘By now, Josh should be sleeping after taking his medicine…’

I didn’t want to wake him, especially since he was already exhausted from the healing.

Making a determined decision, I spoke resolutely.

“No. Guide her to my room!”

“Understood.”

“One moment, butler!”

Suddenly, Tara grabbed the butler who was about to leave the room.

“While giving her a tour of the mansion, bring her here as late as possible!”

“Why…?”

The butler, looking puzzled, suddenly nodded with a determined expression.

“Got it. I’ll delay as much as I can!”

With that, the butler left.

Tara hurriedly grabbed me and tucked me under her arm.

“Hurry, come here, miss!”

“Why?”

“Why? Since she’s here, we have to completely crush her spirit!”

“Spirit…?”

She dragged me to the dressing room, which was already a mess with newly delivered items, and started turning it upside down.

“This one? Or would this be better?”

She held up new dresses to me one after another.

Then she suddenly asked a passing maid.

“Hey, Kona! Which one do you think is better?”

“Hmm, rather than those… Miss should go for a chic and elegant look today. How about this dress?”

“That sounds great! Miss, hooray!”

“Hooray…”

Though I didn’t understand what was going on, I obediently raised my arms.

Tara swiftly stripped off the clothes I was wearing and tossed them aside.

“Nice catch!”

I tilted my head, watching the dark blue dress land perfectly in Kona’s hands and go into the laundry basket.

“But Tara, that dress is pretty too. Why take it off?”

“That’s an indoor dress. You need to wear a more beautiful and luxurious party dress.”

“Party…?”

Tara replied as she dressed me in a new outfit.

The green velvet dress, sprinkled with glittering gold dust, was indeed dazzling enough to be worn to a ballroom.

‘Why suddenly a party…?’

Sensing my confusion, Tara added,

“A princess of a country must always be well-prepared to greet guests, Miss.”

“Princess…? But I’m not a princess…”

The reappearance of a title I hadn’t heard in a while gave me sudden chills.

Sure enough,

“Girls, how about this hairpin for our princess?”

“Tara, how about these shoes?”

“Here, the necklace box! These just arrived from the Servignon merchant guild!”

At Tara’s prompt, the maids who were helping to organize the items began rushing over.

“Trust us, Princess Belze!”

Seeing their eyes filled with determination, I slowly opened my mouth.

‘…Please, everyone, stop—!’

* * *

A moment later.

In the mirror, I truly looked like a princess of a country.

Green velvet dress and matching velvet shoes.

Emerald hairpins securing my half-up hairstyle, and platinum pins adorning both sides of my hair like a floral vine.

Pearl necklaces and bracelets adorned my neck and wrists.

“…Why are there two bracelets?”

“Princesses from wealthy countries always wear them like this.”

I meant to express discomfort…

Tara’s merciless reply left me speechless.

“Oh my… You look so beautiful and lovely, Miss!”

“They say clothes make the person, and this…! This dress was made just for you!”

“I understand now why Tara praises you so effortlessly. If I were your personal maid, dressing you up every day would be such a joy…”

The maids who helped me dress each exclaimed in admiration.

It was quite embarrassing, especially since these were people who had been distant until now.

Though some flattery might be due to witnessing Emma’s dismissal, it wasn’t unpleasant to hear.

‘It’s pretty, but… isn’t it a bit much for me?’

I hesitated and then spoke up.

“Do I really have to… go this far?”

“Of course, Miss!”

The maids shouted in unison!

“She’s from the same temple, right? Wouldn’t it be great to show her that our Miss is living much better?”

“Hmm… Is that so…?”

I began to understand why Tara and the maids put in so much effort.

‘It feels like going all out for a reunion…’

But how much would a five-year-old know about such things?

If it was before my return, maybe.

Diana would also be busy adapting to her changed circumstances.

I responded timidly.

“But Diana wouldn’t really know about such things…”

“Oh, come on, how could she not? She’s from the Marquis of Barellotte family, after all…”

Kona answered this time.

The other maids nodded in agreement.

“Of course, it doesn’t compare to our Duke of Kallios family!”

“Absolutely, no doubt about it!”

Tara exclaimed with a resolute expression.

“This is a matter of pride for us too, Miss!”

“Hmm…”

With nothing more to say, I looked at my reflection in the mirror again, feeling strange.

‘It looks better than I thought…’

Though it sounds funny to say it myself.

Despite the overly luxurious attire, my face didn’t seem overshadowed at all.

The red eyes I always wanted to hide shone clearly like the most precious jewel among the sparkling accessories.

Looking at myself now, no one would guess I was a commoner orphan.

I looked as precious as any noble lady.

In my previous life, I had never looked back at my appearance, living every day like a war.

I was always busy imitating Diana.

If Diana wore a red dress, I’d find a similar one for the next party.

If Diana wore amethyst accessories, my accessory box would be filled with amethysts the next day.

Fortunately, the female lead was modest, so it wasn’t difficult to follow her.

At the time, I thought that if I did everything Diana did, I’d be loved like her.

‘And after debuting in society, Diana’s style even became a trend…’

Isn’t that how all novel female leads are?

I wasn’t the only young lady who admired Diana back then.

But I was the only one who was constantly ridiculed.

 

“Did you see that commoner girl? Today, she’s wearing a purple dress just like the one Lady Diana wore at the last poetry recital.”

“It’s hilarious. Does she think she’ll become just like Diana?”

“Even though she’s a fellow saint candidate, she always picks the most vulgar and stupid things to do.”

 

“…Don’t you like it, Miss?”

Suddenly, a gentle hand adjusting my hair brought me slowly out of my reminiscence.

“Why does our lovely princess look so glum?”

Tara coaxed me with eyes full of affection.

Only then did I wipe the gloomy expression from my face.

And I smiled brightly.

“No! I like it! Thank you so much, everyone! You’re the best!”

“Kyaa, how adorable!”

When I gave a thumbs-up, the maids let out another round of cheers.

“Eek! What should I do? I just want to pinch her cheek once!”

Kona waved her fingers frantically like someone with tremors.

Tara, wearing a smug expression, spoke up.

“Our princess’s cheeks can only be touched by me, you know?”

She then turned to me with a sly smile.

“Princess, in honor of our hard work, could you please let us touch your cheek just once as a reward?”

“…Just once.”

I replied resignedly.

Immediately, Tara reached out her hand towards me.

Squish, squish.

Squeeze, squeeze.

The maids watched with sparkling eyes as Tara kneaded my cheek like a piece of mochi.

“Tara, how does it feel?”

“Ah… it’s so soft. Warm, and as tender as freshly baked bread.”

“I’m so jealous…”

“Damn it! I should’ve applied to be the miss’s maid!”

More than once had passed.

I shouted with my eyes wide open.

“Hey! I said just once! My cheeks will wear out!”

“Sorry, Princess. Please don’t be angry.”

Tara withdrew her hand, still looking wistful.

Although I had shouted in anger, the maids wore peculiar expressions.

“Oh my! She looks like a kitten with its fur standing on end. I feel like breaking everything, what should I do?”

“Even when she’s angry, she’s so adorable…”

“Princess, I know it’s our first meeting, but I love you.”

As I was half-listening to their incomprehensible comments, there was a knock.

“Looks like she’s here!”

The maids hurriedly started tidying up the dress room, which looked like it had been hit by a bomb.

“Tara, take the miss out first!”

“We’re counting on you, everyone!”

Nodding, they exchanged knowing glances and firmly locked the dress room door.

Finally, Tara and I stood in front of the door, ready to greet Diana.

Feeling slightly nervous, I responded.

“Come in.”

Creak.

The door opened.

“…Diana.”

At last, I was reunited with the female lead who had been my persistent rival in my past life.