What I Gained by Giving My Body - Chapter 3.1

Chapter 3

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The Marquis and Marchioness, who currently enjoy the Emperor’s trust enough to be entrusted with the management of the national treasury, will be forced to surrender half of their territory years later to cover up the crime of receiving bribes. Lady Zaian, the daughter of the Duke, will live a mostly uneventful life, but her children will fall into a turbulent fate.

But all of this was in the future. What was urgent for Caitlyn right now was to safely escape her first meeting with high-ranking nobles, whom she usually couldn’t even look at.

“I offer my greetings to His Grace Archduke Akbar.”

Following Lady Zaian, who was the first to act, the Marquis and Marchioness also paid their respects. Naturally, it was only toward Roxias. Caitlyn tried to slip away quietly, but Roxias’s arm still hadn’t left her waist.

“This is my fiancée, Caitlyn Hardick. Greet her.”

“Congratulations on your engagement.”

“It is a celebration for the Empire.”

“To think that spring has finally come for Your Grace, I am simply overwhelmed with emotion.”

Everyone chimed in with a word, but no one greeted Caitlyn directly. Even after Caitlyn greeted them in turn, the responses were consistently cold. She didn’t particularly mind. Rather, it would have been quite awkward if they had approached her with friendliness, wanting something from her now.

These people were not in the same position as the Countesses or Viscountesses who used to diligently send her gifts. They were those who reigned without even trying to be the center of social circles. That was what high-ranking nobles were. Unlike other ordinary nobles who were curious about how they had become involved, they didn’t ask Caitlyn anything. They simply acted with consistent indifference, as if she didn’t exist.

‘This is actually better.’

She was used to being ignored and despised. She used to get hurt when she was very young, but now, it felt like nothing more than the slight discomfort of a mosquito bite.

“Is your mother doing well, Marquis?”

“Yes, thanks to you…… She asked me to convey her gratitude if I were to meet Your Grace.”

Was it a misfortune, or a relief? Roxias seemed completely unconcerned with the humiliation Caitlyn was suffering and became immersed in conversation with them. Caitlyn watched him and tried to sneak away, but failed miserably. Roxias gripped her arm.

“Where are you trying to escape to?”

At those words, the Marquis couple and Lady Zaian all looked at her at once with curious faces. Caitlyn wanted to answer: Since everyone is treating me like an invisible person anyway, shouldn’t it not matter whether I’m here or not?

But her goal was to lay the foundation for a smooth annulment with Archduke Akbar, not to break off the engagement right here and now. Caitlyn managed to compose herself and answered calmly.

“I’m thirsty. I’ll go get some fruit punch.”

“To say you’ll go get fruit punch yourself, Miss Hardick is truly unpretentious.”

The Marquis cut into the conversation with a laugh. Caitlyn stared at him. Did they really not drink fruit punch in the Imperial Palace?

Archduke Akbar let out a sigh and called over a passing servant.

“Bring a glass of fruit punch.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Only then did Caitlyn realize why the Marquis had mocked her words. These people don’t lift a finger in their daily lives. Even going to get a single glass of fruit punch for oneself was an object of ridicule.

“Your Grace, when do you plan to hold the wedding? Since you have such a lovely fiancée, we should be able to hear good news soon, right?”

To the Marchioness’s words, the Archduke replied nonchalantly.

“I intend to do it by next summer at the latest.”

“We shall see a summer bride! I will definitely attend.”

Caitlyn sank into thought while sipping the fruit punch the servant had hurriedly brought. There was nothing she could do in this spot right now. It was better to consider it a relief that no one was talking to her and just quietly stay in her place. However, it would be problematic if the ball ended with her only mingling with high-ranking nobles, but Caitlyn had something she was counting on.

‘The Princess hasn’t arrived yet.’

Since the protagonist of the ball hadn’t arrived, the Emperor and Empress—who usually only gave a congratulatory speech and left according to custom—hadn’t appeared either. Considering the close relationship between the Emperor and Archduke Akbar, he would try to take her and introduce her to the Emperor. If she responded appropriately then…….

“Glory to the Empire! Her Imperial Highness Princess Julia and Her Highness Princess Adelheid of Solaris!”

Everyone’s eyes turned toward the entrance. Princess Julia was the Emperor’s only child, but due to the inherent limitation of her birth as a woman, she could not become the legal successor. However, since there was no suitable alternative at present, the Emperor often entrusted the work of the successor to her. Therefore, seeing Princess Julia was not that rare in social circles; the one who truly attracted everyone’s attention was definitely Princess Adelheid.

The Solaris Kingdom, the Empress Dowager’s natal homeland, was a long-time ally of the Empire, but unlike the promising successor, the only prince, or the eldest princess who was said to be wise, almost no rumors were heard about the youngest princess. If there was just one thing heard……

‘They said she was beautiful enough to believe even if she wasn’t human.’