Chapter 81
Clink.
Veronica gracefully lifted her teacup, took a sip, and set it down.
The Amasto Marquisate’s mansion was modest yet never shabby. She had just arrived and been led to the drawing room. The beautiful woman sitting across from her, golden curls cascading down her shoulders, looked noticeably uncomfortable.
“Indeed, the Amasto Marquisate serves only the finest tea leaves to their guests. The brewing technique is exquisite as well.”
“We could hardly compare to the long-standing traditions of the Eckhart Duchy.”
Feigning warmth as they exchanged meaningless pleasantries—neither Maili nor Veronica had any fondness for such games. But, not knowing each other well enough, they had to start somewhere.
“I heard you will soon be engaged to the Crown Prince. Congratulations.”
Maili smiled brightly and spoke in an elegant tone. Of course, knowing the truth about the Crown Prince, she found nothing amusing about it. What she truly wanted to know was why Veronica had come here to speak with her in private.
‘Was she suffering under the Crown Prince? Or was she not?’
“Do you really think so?”
Growing quickly tired of skirting around the issue, Veronica propped her chin on her hand and asked directly.
At the very least, she knew this sort of conversation didn’t suit her nature.
“…Why would you ask such a thing?”
Uncertain of the other’s intentions, Maili’s tone instinctively sharpened. An old habit from her time as an irritable and high-strung lady-in-waiting. She was once again reminded that this sort of thing wasn’t for her. She would have to bury herself in the knight order, body and soul. Trying to play the noble lady for once had taught her that one mistake was more than enough.
As Maili mulled over her misstep, Veronica smiled faintly. And in that moment, Maili finally recognized what had been bothering her all along. Veronica seemed like a completely different person.
“Neither of us enjoys dancing around the subject, do we? Let’s get to the point. You don’t mind, do you?”
Maili stared at her as if looking at a stranger. Something was very wrong. The Veronica she knew would never say something like this.
“I don’t want to marry the Crown Prince.”
“…What?”
Impossible. The conversation was becoming more and more bizarre. Maili was so shocked that her lips parted in an unrefined manner—yet she didn’t even notice.
“That can’t be. Veronica, this has been your lifelong goal. Why the sudden change of heart?”
“Hmm, well… I thought you’d know without me having to say it.”
Veronica twisted a strand of her well-maintained, long brown hair around her fingers. Her expression was sullen and absentminded, as if she had no particular thoughts. For a brief moment earlier, she had been wearing a mask, but now she had completely discarded it.
“The Crown Prince is unbearable. Isn’t that why you quit being a lady-in-waiting?”
Maili raised an eyebrow. So this was how she wanted to play it? Fine. Then she would be honest as well.
“You’re not Veronica, are you?”
At those words, Veronica’s lips curled into a sly grin.
“Nope. So help me out, will you?”
She flashed a playful, affectionate smile. The real Veronica probably had no idea, but when she smiled like that, she actually looked incredibly cute and lovable. Maili was so dumbfounded that she could only stare at her. The sheer audacity of such a shameless request—yet somehow, it wasn’t infuriating.
Snapping back to her senses, Maili crossed her arms. She had almost fallen for that cute smile and replied,
“Sure.”
She needed to stay sharp if she wanted to avoid being swept up by this mysterious woman. That was the only way to keep her guard up.
“Before anything, tell me who you really are. And what do I get if I help you?”
“Hmm, my identity, huh.”
She scratched her cheek once and glanced around, hesitating.
“I’m not really sure myself. I died, and when I woke up, I was in this body.”
“…What??”
What in the world was she saying? Maili quickly realized that this was beyond anything she could handle alone.
Discussion
0 CommentsNo comments yet.