Chapter 35

“So Evan needs to hurry up and take an interest in the heroine, but why does it look like the more time passes, the more he’s interested in me…? That’s not how it’s supposed to go.”

 

I rack my brain, but I can’t make sense of it.

 

“And I’m already stressed enough because of the pirates…”

 

I’ve been getting steady reports from Ben, and we even have a good estimate of the location. Of course, the location itself is the problem.

 

The place where the lily-of-the-valley was found is in the waters between Alterun and the Zeiran Empire — and that entire area is crawling with pirates. So Ben told me it’d be reckless to go now and tried to talk me out of it.

 

“I need to get Evan healthy before the first episode where he was supposed to meet the heroine…”

 

Right now Evan looks like he has absolutely no feelings, but once that episode passes, he’ll start getting interested.

 

Just then, the door clicked open.

 

“Lepina, come out for a moment. We need to talk.”

 

“Mother?”

 

They say trouble comes in waves, and now my mother appeared.

 

I cautiously gauged her mood and sat next to her on the sofa. Her expression was subtle, but clearly displeased. There were so many reasons she could be upset that I couldn’t even guess which one it was.

 

“Lep. Other mothers go to boutiques or attend parties with their daughters, but my daughter is so busy she doesn’t give her mother any time.”

 

“…”

 

“My daughter, have you attended any parties lately?”

 

Girls my age were all attending social gatherings, tea parties, anything that could help them find a marriage partner.

 

My mother knew I was pouring all my attention into Evan, so she had suggested I try attending as well — and I had refused every time.

 

“Have you danced with any fine young men? Chatted with other young ladies at a tea party? I know you’re always researching herbs. I’m proud of you, truly. Even when you come home with dirt all over your dress, I think it’s proof of hard work.”

 

The more she spoke, the lower my head sank. Not a single thing she said was wrong.

 

“Lep, I just want you to enjoy the world a little, like the other young ladies do.”

 

I knew perfectly well that I was walking a completely different path from them. Of course she would worry. Mentioning “young men” was part of that too.

 

It had been five years. And there was still no news of Evan recovering. As a parent, she had every reason to worry.

 

“So you must attend the imperial ball this time.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

My mother blinked, surprised I agreed so easily.

 

“That’s unlike you. You’re really going?”

 

“Oh, I already told Evan, so it’s fine.”

 

“…Is that so?”

 

Bastien was the right person for the pirate situation. In the original story, he’s the one who wipes out the pirates. His power played a huge role — after all, he was one of the Empire’s few water spirit-users. I couldn’t avoid it anyway, so I might as well ask him.

 

While I was lost in thought, my mother assumed I was anxious about the ball and tried to comfort me.

 

“Lepina, I know what you’re worried about. But you can’t refuse. The thorn is already stuck; you just have to smile on the surface. That’s the life of a noble. What you did was right.”

 

She was referring to the Empress. No matter what people said behind her back, she was the mother of the Empire.

 

Bastien had a high public reputation, and after I saved his brother’s life, that reputation had partially transferred to me. I produced herbs in bulk for commoners, lowered the price of medicine, developed simpler brewing methods — and that created more followers.

 

I just believed in the value of experience, and while I was making antidotes for various poisons, people were saved and I earned money. A win-win.

 

But to the Empress, I’d become a thorn in her eye.

 

Thinking about it, it felt like I was taking on the heroine’s trials myself.

 

“I know. It’s not because I’m scared of Her Majesty the Empress.”

 

Just… annoyed.

 

“So don’t worry too much.”

 

“Yes. I always believe in you.”

 

At her warm reassurance, I hugged her like a child and smiled.

 

 

***

 

 

When my father saw me in a dress for the first time in ages, he immediately grabbed a camera from somewhere and started snapping away.

 

“Lep? Look this way!”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Even Mother, the only one who could usually stop him, nodded in satisfaction when she saw me.

 

“I didn’t like that she went to a boutique with the duchess, but that woman has an impeccable eye.”

 

I was fully armed with gifts the duchess had given me. I wore a dress that shone a fresh, summery green like a leaf full of sunlight. It felt strange wearing something so fancy after so long.

 

“How do I look?”

 

Father nodded in pure bliss.

 

“See, this is why your father acts like this. But Father— I think I’m one step ahead of you.”

 

“What?”

 

Piote was holding a recording orb. When I asked why he was late, he said he’d gone to the storage to get it.

 

“Isn’t video better than photos?”

 

“Oh-ho!”

 

Watching the two of them fool around, I finally exploded.

 

“Enough! We’re going to be late!”

 

After much chaos, my family finally got into the carriage and headed to the Imperial Palace.

 

Seeing it grow closer through the window made my nerves tighten. I could already imagine myself standing stiff in a corner like a sack of barley.

 

“There’s no shortage of chances to brag about our daughter’s achievements.”

 

“Father. This is His Highness the Crown Prince’s birthday celebration.”

 

Just imagining him proudly bragging about me with a huge grin made me embarrassed.

 

“I’ll just say hello politely and come right back home, right?”

 

“You’re already thinking about going home? It’s His Highness’ birthday. Many people will be here. Watch, learn, build connections for your future.”

 

And then her mother added: “And make sure you talk to some fine young men. Our Lep is lovely and kind — you’ll be popular.”

 

The two men beside us immediately blew up in protest. They scolded him, saying I was too young and needed to be careful.

 

Our carriage shook from their arguing — and only quieted once we arrived.

 

“…It’s blinding.”

 

I stepped out carefully. Since I had no partner, Piote escorted me. Then something occurred to me.

 

“Do you have anyone you’re seeing, by the way?”

 

Nobles usually get engaged young, but Piote never had. I’d never heard anything about his love life. Was he even planning to marry…?

 

“You’re finally interested in your brother’s life?”

 

“I’m curious about my future sister-in-law. So? Is there someone?”

 

If I hadn’t been so determined to support Evan and Elena, Piote — who spent the second-most time with Elena — might’ve ended up with her. But there was no way I’d give our heroine to my sister-obsessed brother.

 

“There’s no one. But… there is someone I’m interested in.”

 

“Really? Who?”

 

But Piote only smiled slyly and didn’t say.

 

“She doesn’t know how I feel.”

 

“Oh…”

 

So Piote had a crush? Now I really wanted to know who.

 

“Good luck. Introduce her someday.”

 

“Sure.”

 

Anyone but Elena. I patted his back.

 

Our parents told us to hurry, so he and I headed toward the entrance. The doorman checked invitations one by one and announced each name aloud.

 

Seeing the imperial ball run by the palace made one thing cross my mind.

 

“My eyes hurt…”

 

The colorful lights hit me like a wave. The hall was enormous and glittering inside and out. People flooded in so thickly that I had to push through.

 

“Did you hear? They say this ball is meant to choose the future crown princess.”

 

“I heard that too. But more importantly, I wonder if His Highness really will ascend the throne.”

 

“No one knows. The affairs of the Imperial Palace are unpredictable. And the problem is that people support different princes.”

 

“True. They’re both excellent — it’s hard to choose.”

 

“Either way, it’s good for us. I plan to introduce my daughter to His Highness.”

 

“Oh-ho, there’s an order to these things!”

 

I expected talk like this, but their blatant greed was still exhausting. I couldn’t help but laugh dryly. If I had come with Evan, what kind of things would they have said…?

 

“Is something wrong?”

 

I said it was nothing and shook my head.

 

Then I realized just how big the ripple of my actions was. In the original, the second prince died. That secured Bastien’s position as crown prince.

 

But now it was different. People were comparing the two everywhere.

 

Bastien, who graduated with top marks, and Second Prince Fedeshar, who continues to maintain excellent grades.

 

I didn’t know much about Bastien beyond the original story, but I knew Fedeshar. He was the classic “pleasant to everyone” type, kind to all. My age, too. We sometimes ran into each other at the academy.

 

But I could never read him. After the poisoning incident, we’d grown closer, but his thoughts were a mystery. His eyes always seemed murky, almost eerie.

 

“Maybe that’s why I naturally avoid him.”

 

But at the same time, I felt sorry for him. Maybe the people around him had shaped him that way.

 

Father dragged Piote off to introduce him to other nobles, and I stuck closely to Mother.

 

The moment I stepped forward, noblewomen flocked around me. Mother had been waiting for this and began proudly introducing me. I put on my best “customer-service smile.”