Chapter 18

“Minuelle.”

Esadien, who had been watching my gloomy face, gently unwrapped my twisted fingers. He brushed over the faint creases on my thin gloves and said,

“Your complexion doesn’t look good.”

“I’m fine.”

“No. You’ve clearly overexerted yourself, even though you said you were busy. You should rest.”

‘That’s not why…’

I swallowed the words and clutched his hand tightly, murmuring,

“I want to be with you.”

“I’ll come again. So for now, get some rest.”

His low voice rang out softly and reassuringly.

Holding onto the comfort of his voice, I shut my eyes tight for a moment before opening them again and glancing at the book Esadien had set down beside him.

“Then… I’ll lend you that book. Please come back to return it.”

“I will.”

Was the front hall always this close to the library?

Having followed him out to see him off, I lingered, unwilling to let go of his hand as I fidgeted with it.

“Minuelle, I can’t leave if you don’t rest.”

“But…”

“I just promised, didn’t I? That I’d come back.”

“…Esadien.”

“Yes.”

It hurt even more—knowing that a downward slope lay just ahead—because I was too happy right now. I hugged him tightly and whispered, “I’m really glad you came today. I missed you so much.”

He hesitated for a moment, then finally returned my embrace. Buried in his arms, I breathed in the cool scent that was uniquely his and slowly closed my eyes.

‘It’ll be okay.’

Because Esadien had become this comfortable with me. Because he didn’t make the same expression Lapheche did.

So, there was no need to be anxious.

* * *

But the resolve I had struggled to hold onto quickly lost its meaning.

Starting the very next day, I was tormented even more—thanks to Lapheche, who had awakened as the Question Mark Killer.

“How did the two of you meet?”

“Pardon?”

During a brief moment to catch my breath, Lapheche rested her face in her hands and smiled sweetly.

“You and His Highness. When I first saw him, I was so startled—I thought he was an angel who’d stepped out of a fairy tale!”

“His Highness is a truly remarkable person.”

I gave a vague answer while sipping my tea, but that part was, at least, sincere.

Up until now, Lapheche’s chatter usually focused on questions about me or her own tastes. But ever since meeting Esadien, her curiosity about him had steadily increased.

Bit by bit—like water slowly rising at my feet.

‘Stifling.’

Maybe that’s why the tightness in my chest kept getting worse.

“Minuelle, why do you look so pale?”

Even when Ramande placed his hand on me to offer divine healing, it only brought brief relief.

“Is something wrong?”

“What would be wrong? I guess I’m just tired…”

I had never once hidden anything from Ramande since I met him. But this time—I couldn’t bring myself to be honest.

‘Because of the original story… what if Esadien ends up falling for Lapheche too?’ How could I possibly say that out loud?

It was a small mercy that Sister Juela had left on an urgent business trip for a few days. If she were here, she would’ve told me to drop everything immediately.

“Lady Minuelle, what was your first impression when you met the Third Prince?”

Another tea time. Like she was offering a bribe, Lapheche slid a plate of peach mousse toward me.

“…”

I stared at it for a moment, still holding my teacup, then smiled faintly.

“His Majesty the Emperor thought it was important for betrothed couples to grow close, so he arranged the meeting. I fell for His Highness at first sight.”

“You both fell in love at first sight?”

I suddenly couldn’t breathe.

To Lapheche, it might’ve just been a passing question, but to me, it meant something entirely different.

‘Even if you can’t expect love, I believe trust and honesty is essential.’

Esadien didn’t believe in “that kind” of emotion.

It felt like Lapheche somehow knew that—and was now prodding at the cracks in our relationship.

If I answered like this, my voice would sound strange. I barely managed to sip more tea and steered the conversation elsewhere.

“A courier came by earlier, didn’t they? When is the fitting for the dress again?”

“Oh! Just a moment. I wrote it down somewhere!”

I barely got through that moment—but the questions about Esadien kept coming.

‘When did you two get engaged? I heard noble families often decide matches from a young age.’

‘I heard you stayed up for a whole week embroidering a tapestry for him! Is he really that good to you?’

‘Wasn’t last time only his second visit? I heard you were usually the one visiting the Prince’s palace…’

Where was she hearing all of this?

Normally, I would’ve either brushed it off or proudly set up a whole stage just to gush about Esadien.

But when it came to Lapheche—I couldn’t.

I just kept getting more and more on edge.

“His Highness inherited his hair color from his mother, didn’t he…”

“But, Lady Celeste.”

I had finally had enough. I looked at her squarely, my tone firm. Lapheche just winked and replied,

“Oh, Lady Minuelle. Why won’t you call me by my name yet?”

Ha. Unbelievable. She was showing interest in Esadien and trying to gain my favor?

“We can take our time with that. But it does seem like you’re quite interested in His Highness, Lady Celeste.”

“Oh…”

She rolled her eyes for a moment, then gave a bright smile.

“Did I offend you with all my questions?”

“…”

I could almost hear her adding, ‘You’re not jealous of me, are you?’

I hated nothing more than people who answered questions with more questions.

‘What is with this girl? Wasn’t she following me around because she liked me?’

No sooner had that thought crossed my mind than she fired off another question—as if she could read my thoughts.

“Lady Minuelle, you know I really like you, right?”

Ah. As expected. She was the kind of person that made my skin crawl. She smashed right through my resolve to stay polite.

“If you really mean that, then stop asking questions about His Highness.”

“Huh? Ah… was I being rude?”

“Anything in excess is impolite—especially when it concerns someone else’s fiancé.”

“I just thought the two of you looked so perfect together…”

“Whatever the intent, I don’t want to hear it again.”

‘Don’t you dare touch my man.’  

Forget the original story or fate—I’d leave nothing behind.

With a frosty glare, I made that message clear through every fiber of my being.

“I’m… sorry…”

Lapheche finally offered an apology in a voice barely louder than a bug’s whisper—but I didn’t accept it. Not every apology deserved to be.

The next day, perhaps sensing my mood, Lapheche didn’t bring up Esadien at all.

The day after that, she suddenly asked an unexpected question.

“Um… Lady Minuelle, would Lord Tregosnan dislike it if I asked him to meet?”

Theodore? She despised him before. Judging by her demeanor, this wasn’t an attempt to mock him again. I was curious what had changed.

“What brought this on?”

“Ah… I think I was far too rude the last time we met. I’d like to apologize…”

So, she did realize she’d been rude. I wasn’t sure whether to call that a relief.

I sighed.

“That sounds like a good idea. I don’t think Lord Tregosnan would refuse.”

“Then, um…”

But what she asked next—twisting her fingers awkwardly—wasn’t just surprising. It was downright shocking.

“I was thinking of inviting him to the opera… Would you come with us?”

“What? Wouldn’t it be better for the two of you to go alone?”

I haven’t even gone on a date like that with Esadien yet.

“I’m just… so nervous and embarrassed. If we’re seen alone, rumors could start…”

Lapheche looked down with a pitiful expression.

“…”

I folded my arms without replying.

By this point, the scale of my heart had already tipped toward disliking her.  

That pretty face didn’t affect me anymore.

But that didn’t mean I couldn’t understand her position. As an adopted daughter, there must be areas where she felt she had to tread carefully.

‘If you meet someone a hundred times and don’t remember them, then they should introduce themselves a hundred times.’

Lapheche didn’t have a sister who would tell her, ‘You don’t need to remember anyone’s name.’

That fact stirred a petty sense of superiority in me.  

At the same time, it filled me with self-loathing.

“…Then three days from now, I don’t have anything scheduled. Let’s make it that day.”

“Yay! Thank you so much!”

Feigning reluctance, I accepted. Lapheche beamed and grabbed my hand.

“There’s no need to thank me.”

And I meant it.  

Because I planned to slip away midway and leave the two of them alone.

‘Would things have been different if I had stayed in the Plendena temple…?’

The thought passed fleetingly, but was quickly buried beneath the pile of work I had to do.

* * *

Three days later.

“What a surprise. You actually found free time and aren’t heading to the Imperial Palace?”

“…I just… had prior plans.”

Maybe my nervousness was too obvious, because Ramande stopped teasing me and stared for a moment before asking,

“Something going on?”

“No, nothing like that. I’ll be going now.”

“You haven’t looked well lately, you know.”

“I’m fine.”

I only shook my head. I couldn’t bring myself to confess that I’d come up with a scheme so underhanded it would be shameful even to show Plendena.

“I… I should get going.”

I felt like the longer we talked, the easier it would be for him to figure me out. I hurried toward the carriage—but Ramande chased after me and grabbed my arm.

“Ah! You scared me!”

“You’re hiding something.”

“I’m not… hiding anything…”

“You know you’ve been darting your eyes around this whole time?”

“Me? No way. My eyes are crystal clear today, see?”

I opened my eyes wide and fluttered my lashes dramatically. Ramande studied me for a moment, as if trying to gauge something, and then let out a soft snort.

“Well, I guess you wouldn’t hide anything from me.”

“Ahaha…”

I just laughed awkwardly and fixed my gaze on a strand of his hair that had slipped out of place.

After a short silence, his handsome face curled into a dangerous smile.

“Right? Hm?”

Then he started squishing both of my cheeks mercilessly. With no sign of letting up, I had no choice but to admit defeat.

Maybe that was the first sign that things were about to go wrong.

When I finally escaped and arrived at the opera house, I found Theodore and Lapheche sitting awkwardly apart from each other, a noticeable distance between them.

“I hope you’ve been well, Lady Karnian.”

“Yes, of course.”

I smiled and leaned in to whisper to Theodore as he pretended to kiss my hand.

“It seems Lady Celeste’s feelings have changed. That’s a relief.”

“Ah… haha… well…”

Huh? That was… a weird reaction.

But before I could ask what he meant, Theodore straightened his posture and, in his usual booming voice, steered the conversation away.

“His Highness was worried you looked thinner. Indeed, you do! Why are you so small? You look like you’d blow away in the wind!”

“Is there anyone who is not small compared to you, Lord Tregosnan?”

I playfully jabbed back while smiling brightly.

‘So Esadien is thinking about me, too.’

That one thought made my sunken mood lift in an instant.