Chapter 4

If I really were Minuelle, I would’ve spent my life thinking I was just born with a weak constitution. After all, even the slightest exertion would cause me to collapse or burn up with fever.

But as someone who’s experienced a whole other lifetime — however short — everything about this situation was suspicious.

“Your divine power is a perfect match. What a relief. Ramande, could you stay by Minuelle’s side from now on?”

“May I really do that?”

“Please, I beg you.”

Even though I was the one who found Ramande, the high-ranking priests of the temple were relieved — not even the slightest complaint about assigning a precious priest solely to me.

“You wove a tapestry? You should’ve rested with your frail health. You don’t need to move a finger, child.”

“I knew it wasn’t good enough. I shouldn’t have gifted my first finished work.”

“This is your first? I’ll declare it a family heirloom at once.”

Even if I was the fragile and beloved youngest, I was practically being held up to the sky by my family’s affection. But above all else — the heat in my chest, which was assumed to be the reason for my frailty. It flared up even more when I got angry.

“Those damned, good-for-nothing bastards! In the name of love and beauty, I will never—guh! Cough!”

“M-Minuelle! Calm down!”

During my childhood, when I couldn’t control my emotions, I had coughed up so much blood I’d lost count.

It was as if I had some kind of terminal anger condition. I’ve casually been calling it “pent-up rage,” but… even if it were some kind of emotional illness, people don’t normally cough up that much blood.

‘If everyone had something like this inside them, selective anger issues would disappear from the world.’

Anyway, beneath my peaceful life as a pampered noble was all of this hidden baggage.

The adults hushed everything up, so I played along — pretending not to know, acting innocent, closing my eyes to it all for the past ten years.

‘There’s nothing more comfortable than turning a blind eye.’

I hoped it would stay that way. Hadn’t I vowed recently that I wouldn’t take even a single step outside this peaceful life?

‘But the timing is just too weird.’

I quietly stared down at the short message written on the communique.

“The Cult of Fire…?”

Even I, who was raised in the temple, had never heard of such a cult. The pantheon included gods of love, the sea, and light — but not fire, water, wind, or earth. Those were domains of the elemental spirits.

‘This part wasn’t even in the original novel…’

This group appeared not long after I left the temple. But even so, thinking it’s related to me would be self-centered. I really hoped that was the case.

“Tch. My dream was to live comfortably with a silver spoon in my mouth before dying.”

Marrying Esadien and having beautiful babies!

But just as I was muttering while folding the communiqué, Ramande caught my words and furrowed his brows.

“Do what, exactly?”

“Ahaha, what are you talking about…”

Ramande was extremely sensitive when it came to topics related to death.

Not wanting to get scolded, I hurriedly changed the subject — and took the chance to ask more about this so-called Cult.

“So… does this Cult of Fire worship spirits like gods?”

“Not sure. I’ve never heard of them before, either. But one thing’s clear — all the temples are keeping a watchful eye.”

“Right. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have sent out a communiqué like this.”

“That’s true. But… wasn’t the coachman waiting outside for you?”

“Oh, right! I really gotta go!”

I sprang up from my seat like I was launched from a spring.

Time to get healed by staring at Esadien’s god-tier face!

“You really like that Prince, huh?”

“Of course! Just looking at him makes me happy. So, so happy.”

Even just talking about Esadien put me in a good mood.

Grinning from ear to ear, I bent down and brought my face close to Ramande’s.

“Aren’t my pupils heart-shaped right now?”

“No. They’re perfectly round. I can only see myself in them.”

“Oh my gosh. Maybe they only change when I look at Esadien!”

At this point, I felt like little hearts were popping out of my eyes, and Ramande’s face grew increasingly sour.

‘Why did I stick with her only to hear things like this…’

That feeling was plain on his face — but once the dam broke, I couldn’t stop the flood.

“Especially when we go on walks together… it’s truly a masterpiece.”

Esadien didn’t show much interest in me, but at the same time, he never rejected my requests or pushed me away either. Not that I asked for much—just things like going for a walk together or holding hands.

His firm arm. That cool, refreshing scent. And his hair that shimmered in the sunlight like scattered light dust—I never got tired of looking at him.

“Too bad. It’s raining today, so we probably can’t go on a walk.”

“Ramande, are you jealous because I’m not playing with you?”

“Jealous? You mean fighting? Dueling? Boxing?”

Ramande crossed his arms with an incredulous look.

“Say something that makes sense. I see you every day at home, so why would I be jealous? And besides, I’m busy being called here and there.”

Well, he was an official priest. He was a real all-rounder—healing the injured, blessing newborns, and so on.

“Right? You work hard, my dear Ramande!”

Imitating the High Priest’s tone, I patted Ramande on the head.

He bent down to let me, but even as he accepted the gesture, he didn’t stop nagging.

“So don’t do anything weird and just be careful out there. Have fun with the Prince.”

His violet eyes looked into mine, glinting with a faint smile.

“Got it?”

“Yeah, yeah, I got it.”

Satisfied with my answer, he personally walked me to the front door.

“Oh, right. Minuelle.”

“Hm?

“The chef said a shipment of mangoes is coming in today.”

At those words, my eyes lit up and my happiness meter skyrocketed.

Who cares about the Flame Cult or whatever? Mangoes were coming!

“Mangoes!”

I usually hated sweets and only ever craved meat. But mangoes were the exception.

My love for mangoes was so legendary that—though the exact age escapes me—my parents once gifted me a mango plantation in a far southern land as a birthday present.

It was on a distant island, so I couldn’t eat them every day, but whenever a shipment arrived like this, I was thrilled to the core.

“Ha ha.”

Ramande let out a laugh as he watched me all but break into a happy dance.

“So come back quickly, okay?”

His familiar hand stroked my cheek—slow and warm.

“Of course!”

Leaving behind a cheerful reply, I set out from the house.

* * *

As soon as the rainy season began, the Emperor and Crown Princess Lumière made arrangements so that my carriage could come closer to the Prince’s palace.  

Even the short path leading from there to the palace was covered by a newly built roofed corridor, letting me walk without getting a single drop on me.  

“Power really is the best.”

Rain is only romantic when you can watch it without getting wet.  

Humming cheerfully, I crossed the corridor and, as it had become my habit, stepped into Esadien’s drawing room and declared loudly:  

“Your Highness, I missed you today too!”

But unlike usual—where Esadien would be alone reading—a stranger was with him this time.  

Embarrassment aside, my first thought was that it was a very unfamiliar scene.  

Of course Esadien was human and should interact with others, but up to now, he’d always seemed like a solitary tree standing alone.

“Lady Karnian,” the stranger greeted.  

“Oh, is this the lady?”  

A blond man who had apparently heard about me stood up in surprise.  

Esadien had a good build, but this guy? His muscles were on another level.  

“Ack, his thigh is as thick as my waist.”

Even as a muscle-lover, I had preferences. These massive, bulging muscles weren’t really my type—but he was still quite handsome overall.  

His light-faded blond hair looked soft, which was nice—though not quite on Esadien’s level.  

His green eyes curved kindly as he approached and kissed the back of my hand.

“A pleasure to meet you, my lady. I am Sir Theodore Tregosnan. I am, perhaps undeservedly, a long-time friend of His Highness.”

“…!”

As soon as I heard his name, my heart plummeted.  

I’d known I might run into him someday when visiting Esadien, but I didn’t expect the main male lead of the original story to show up already.

“I heard you had been dispatched to the desert… I am Esadien’s fiancée, Minuelle Karnian.”

“Indeed. It’s been a while since I’ve seen rain—it’s quite a welcome sight.”

We seemed to be having a pleasant conversation on the surface, but my brain was a mess.  

“Wait, this better not turn into one of those cliché stories where the body reacts to the male lead or something.”  

No forced fate nonsense, please! I’m all in for Esadien! No affairs, no melodrama!

“Lady Karnian?”  

Theodore raised an eyebrow, as if I were some strange creature.

Only then did I realize I was slowly creeping behind Esadien.  

“Ack.” 

Apparently, it wasn’t attraction I felt—it was a deep-rooted wariness of the possible future.  

“Thank goodness…”

It might’ve made me look strange, but this was more important.  

Since things had come to this, I figured I might as well go all-in—and squeezed Esadien’s waist.

“Oh my, pardon me. I tend to be a bit shy and reserved around new people.”

“Ah, I see. Though for someone shy, your voice is surprisingly bold.”

“Well, that’s because I like His Highness.”  

Isn’t that obvious?

“Haha, goodness.”  

Theodore chuckled, his eyes sparkling like he’d found something amusing.  

“Don’t look at me like that. It makes me nervous.”

I slowly shifted even closer, pressing my forehead to Esadien’s back.

The faint sound of his heartbeat brought me a bit of peace.

“Lady Karnian, don’t just stand there—why don’t you sit down? Theodore, you too.”

But Esadien was firm.  

He removed my hands from his waist and guided me to sit on the sofa.  

The soft cushions were welcome, but I still missed the solid feeling I’d lost, and I sulkily opened and closed my palm in disappointment.

“She seems uncomfortable, so you can leave now.”

“Yes, yes, understood.”  

Theodore, who had been glancing back and forth between us, slowly stood.  

Then he leaned down and whispered softly to Esadien,  

“You must think your fiancée’s too precious to share even a glimpse.”

It was more of a lowered voice than an actual whisper—I could still hear everything.  

“Could it be… Esadien is finally conscious of me?” 

My ears perked up without me realizing it, but—

“That’s not it,” Esadien cut in sharply, slicing through my hopeful delusion like a blade.  

My puffed-up heart wilted instantly.  

It would’ve been nice if he at least blushed faintly when saying it…

“Oh, Your Highness,” Theodore chuckled, “You’re going to make someone feel embarrassed.”

He didn’t mean himself.  

That pitying glance was aimed entirely at me.

“Lady Karnian, His Highness is terribly awkward when it comes to expressing himself.  

But truly—he has a warm heart.”

“I believe I told you to leave.”

“Yikes, yes, Sir!”  

At Esadien’s voice, now notably colder, Theodore bolted like he’d been burned.  

For someone that big, he sure ran fast—almost comically so.

“Still, he seems like a good person,” I thought, staring absentmindedly at his retreating figure.  

“Lady Karnian.”

Esadien’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. His tone was firmer than usual.

“I have something to say.”

“Ah, yes!”

I immediately straightened my posture—or rather, scooted right up next to him.  

He sighed.

“A little farther.”

“Can we at least link arms?”

“No.”

A flat rejection.  

I pouted and tried a different approach.

“Then…can I hold your hand?”

Esadien’s blue eyes flicked downward, to where my fingers were slowly threading between his.  

He let out another sigh.

“You’re already holding it.”

“Hehe.”

Still, he didn’t tell me to let go.  

That wasn’t permission, exactly—but it wasn’t a refusal either.  

Satisfied with just that, I cradled his large hand in both of mine.

“So… what was it you wanted to tell me?”

At my question, Esadien’s expression stiffened.

“My Lady, I…”

And as his words continued, I could feel my own smile slowly begin to fade.