Chapter 6

“Young Lady!”

It was the first time I’d ever seen Esadien’s eyes open that wide.

‘Ugh, just stay still, will you?!’ 

Even at that moment, he looked like he was about to jump forward again—so I threw my arms around him and hugged him tight.  

His body stiffened in my embrace.

There was no way I had some legendary hidden power.  

At best, the only thing I’d ever triggered was a bout of blood-spewing rage. I wasn’t expecting to suddenly awaken into anything useful now.

But—  

‘What I do have is a ridiculously powerful protection talisman!’

The day before I left the temple, the High Priest—who, after all our bickering, had grown fond of me—gave it to me as a farewell gift.

‘Don’t cause trouble out there.’

‘I never did! I’m a model child!’

‘The wrinkles I nearly got because of you, number in the hundreds.’

He’d recently become very concerned about hydration and anti-aging, and even while making the sign of Plendena, he handed the talisman to me.

‘This will protect you when you’re in danger one day.’

“I didn’t think that day would come this soon!”

Just then—THUD! 

A pained scream followed.

“Kugh!”

I cracked an eye open. The assassin, bloodied and battered, was flying backward across the boat.

“This protection talisman is freaking amazing…!”

But there wasn’t time to marvel.

“KYAA!”

Of course—every action has an equal and opposite reaction.  

Esadien and I were thrown from the boat by the talisman’s force too.

A brief moment of weightlessness—then a powerful splash enveloped me.

“Gugh—pfft!”

I was doomed. I couldn’t swim!

They say you have to relax when you hit the water—but I just couldn’t.  

My heavy dress dragged me down like an anchor, and it felt like unseen hands were pulling me deeper and deeper.

‘Am I… going to die like this?’

That was my first thought.

‘Am I really going to die without ever getting to kiss Esadien?’

As I choked on the briny lake water, my eyes began to close.

Then—I felt a hand grip my waist tightly and pull hard.

“…nuel!”

A desperate voice reached me as I was yanked upward.

“Wake up, Minuelle!”

But my foggy mind couldn’t quite process the urgency in his voice.

In my past life, I’d died in a fire.  

Now, I was going to drown.

‘Life is just…’

A hollow smile tugged at my lips.  

That was the last thing I remembered.

 

* * *

 

The soft rustle of cloth brushing against skin. The trickle of water droplets. The sound of tree branches knocking together in the wind outside the window.  

My hearing was the first sense to return.

Next was touch.  

I felt a cool, damp cloth pressing gently to my forehead, and I slowly opened my eyes.

“Sister… Elga?”

“You’re awake?”

I’d been sure I was going to die this time, and yet—  

Turns out human life is tougher than it looks.

‘Kind of embarrassing, really.’

I already had the beginnings of a cold, and now I’d gone and nearly drowned. Of course my body was in terrible shape.

After tossing and turning with a fever, I finally came to my senses—and found my eldest sister leaning over me with a deeply worried expression.

‘Didn’t my sister go north on estate business about a month ago?’  

I guess it wrapped up faster than expected.

My head felt so heavy that it was hard to think clearly.

“You’ve been sick for three days, Minuelle.”

“Sorry… What about His Highness?”

“Your first concern isn’t your health but the Prince’s?”

I smiled weakly.

Sister Elga sighed softly, as if she couldn’t help it, and finally answered.

“He’s fine. As far as I know, uninjured.”

“That’s a relief.”

Even if it was just the royal garden, there were probably hidden guards around. They must’ve come to our rescue.

“Sister, you’re too close. You’ll catch my cold.”

“I’ve never caught one in my life.”

“Still.”

I weakly tried to push her away, but of course someone like me couldn’t budge someone like her.  

I gave up and chuckled softly.

“How’s my brother-in-law doing?”

“Same as always. Still just as pretty as you.”

“Ehh. He’s the most beautiful in your eyes, sister.”

Sister Elga’s husband, Sodiem, was as much a beauty as our father.

A former retainer of our house, he’d fallen head over heels after sister saved him from a monster. He’d pursued her relentlessly until they finally married.  

She’d been left with a large scar on her face from that incident.

“No, he’s exactly as beautiful as you.”

Ugh. These two—so in love it was ridiculous.

Before, it used to make me smile just watching them.  

But now… it stung a little.  

Because I kept thinking of Esadien.

“…You should’ve brought him with you.”

“He said next time for sure.”

Of course, Sodiem loved me too—like everyone in our family.  

Not that sister would’ve married someone who didn’t adore her little sister.

“Our baby’s awake!”

A short while later, my other sister, Juela, came in, probably after hearing the news.  

As I slowly sipped soup, the two of them watched me, heads tilted in unison.

“So, sweetie, what do you want to do today? Your sisters  will do anything you want.”

“Are you both free today?”

I stared at them blankly, and both dark-haired, red-eyed beauties—so much like our mother—nodded at the same time.

‘My sisters are too pretty, honestly.’

“Then… I want to stay with you both.”

“That’s a given.”

“Hmm. Then…”

What should I do?

Tilting my head, I suddenly remembered they’d said I’d been sick for three days.  

I buried my nose in the crook of my arm and sniffed.

Maybe I did smell a little…

“Then… I want to take a bath. With you guys.”

“Oh? Sounds great.”

Sister Juela nodded without hesitation and snapped her fingers.  

To my surprise, the door opened right away and a maid entered.

“Everything is prepared, Milady.”

Huh? Already?

My eyes widened, and Sister Juela giggled.

“We weren’t going to waste precious time with our baby sister. We had a feeling you’d ask for something like this.”

“Wait, that’s a bit…”

“Nope. All you have to do is enjoy it.”

There was no way to argue against her overwhelming presence. I just nodded, slightly overwhelmed.

Then Sister Elga let out a soft laugh—and picked me up like a sack of rice.

“Wah!”

“Stay still.”

“…”

‘My sisters… are kind of terrifying.’

Sister Elga’s arms were solid—like she had armor under her clothes.  

‘Did they hog all the cool genes so I ended up like this little crumb?’

She walked so fast that before I knew it, we had arrived.

“Ahh, this feels amazing.”

As they both sank into the water, they let out identical sighs of relief.

Even though it was hot water.

“W-wait, isn’t it way too hot?! It stings!”

“If you stay still, it’ll start to feel cooler.”

‘Why are my sisters so… grandma-like on the inside, despite looking like goddesses?’  

I panicked and tried to get out of the bath, but Sister Juela wrapped her arms around me with a mischievous grin.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

“Wah! Waaah…”

I gave up immediately and went limp.  

It was faster to adjust by not moving.  

Just like a frog slowly being boiled alive…

“Minuelle.”

“Y-yeah?”

“Are you planning to keep seeing the Third Prince?”

“Of course. Obviously.”

‘Why are they even asking that?’  

I tilted my head, and a lock of hair slipped from under my towel into the water.

Sister Elga exchanged a silent look with Sister Juela, then carefully asked:

“Minuelle…do you really like the Prince that much?”

‘Just like Ramande said.’

Sister Juela added, a little disapprovingly,

“I used to think it was fine as long as you were happy. But you almost got hurt because of that Prince.”

“That assassin—was he after His Highness?”

“That’s what we heard.”

“Who?!”

‘Who the hell would dare?!’ I was completely shocked.

“How could anyone try to kill such a beauty? If he dies, it’s a loss for all of humanity!”

Unbelievable. The nerve!

My sisters exchanged a look, then burst out laughing.

“You seriously sounded like a priestess of Lord Plendena just now.”

“R-really?”

‘Maybe I got a little too worked up.’

“It’s not just about looks, Minuelle,” Elga said. “I just hope you end up with someone who can truly make you happy.”

“If it ever feels wrong, break the engagement. Anytime.”

I simply smiled.

“I really like His Highness.”

“Minuelle…”

Even so, I liked Esadien.  

I wanted to believe—truly believe—that someday he would smile at me.  

That his ocean-blue eyes would shine warm and gentle.

“I love him. I really do.”

Seeing my face, my sisters didn’t bring up Esadien again.

After that, while I was getting dressed, they stayed beside me like personal maids, feeding me beautifully sliced mango pieces.

“Here. Say ah.”

“Ahhh.”

“Good girl.”

“Mmm! So good!”

All I had to do was eat like a little baby bird.  

They beamed with pride every time I flailed my feet in delight.

That’s when a maid entered, bringing some rather surprising news.

“My Lady, the Third Prince has arrived to visit you.”

 

* * *

 

‘Esadien.’

Mother.

‘My beloved son.’

A frail body. A face gaunt and worn.  

Still beautiful, even stained with madness—my mother.  

She had been my entire, narrow world.

‘Come here.’

Even knowing her embrace would choke me, I could never refuse her call.

Again.

A sharp, stabbing pain pierced his temples, and Esadien furrowed his brow, pressing his fingers hard against them.  

Since the incident at the Imperial Garden, memories long buried had begun surfacing again and again.

It was probably because of…

Lady Karnian.

No matter how many times he called her name, those tightly closed eyes, her bloodless skin so pale you could see the veins underneath—it was all still so vivid in his mind.

‘My beloved son.’

That lifeless face overlapped so perfectly with his mother’s final expression.  

He knew he owed her gratitude—knew he should visit the Karnian estate—but hadn’t had the courage to even set foot there.

“Your Highness.”

“……”

Even pressing hard on his temples didn’t relieve the pain.  

Neither did the medicine the court physician prescribed.

His attendant spoke up with a worried voice.

“Lady Karnian has regained consciousness.”

“……”

“Shouldn’t you pay her a visit?”

He didn’t want to go.  

Seeing fragile, delicate Minuelle would only drag his thoughts back to his mother.

“I must.”

But he could delay it no longer.  

For the sake of the Emperor and the Grand Duke—he had to fulfill his duty as her fiancé.

As he made up his mind and opened his eyes, a massive bouquet was held out in front of him.  

A spray of flowers, all in full bloom, soft pink like Minuelle’s hair.

“We knew you would, so we prepared this!”

For some reason, his attendants seemed more excited than he was.

Now that he thought about it—everyone liked Minuelle.  

Everyone except him.

‘Esadien, Esadien, Esadien…….’

Even as he carried the bouquet and gifts, he could still hear his mother’s voice—one that shouldn’t exist.

“Please… stop.”

‘Maybe today was the wrong day.’ 

If this continued, he was sure he’d show her a side of himself he didn’t want to reveal.

Esadien abruptly stood from his seat.

At that very moment—

Tap, tap, tap.

Light footsteps began approaching.