What I Gained by Giving My Body - Chapter 3.13

The woman furrowed her brows.

“I suggested we dispose of you without a soul knowing, but Her Highness the Princess stopped me. Know that the only reason you are still breathing is thanks to her.”

Aha. Caitlyn was swept by an illusion, as if she had become the heroine of some cliché play. A low-status woman who became the fiancée of a high-ranking noble, a princess who set her heart on that noble, an attendant of the princess who kidnapped the fiancée……. Wasn’t it a far too obvious story?

According to popular plays, right about now, the fiancée should be tearfully declaring her love for her lover, pleading with the princess to give up on the high noble. But right now, Caitlyn was not the heroine of a play. She had no intention of becoming one, either. And these people likely didn’t intend to be villains. Pinning her hopes on that point, Caitlyn answered slowly.

“If I inform you that I have no feelings for His Grace the Archduke, would Her Highness the Princess feel a bit more at ease?”

“What……?”

The woman’s eyes went wide.

“Even now, I am only maintaining the engagement for convenience; it wasn’t my intention to be engaged in the first place. It was His Grace the Archduke’s command.”

“Nonsense. Why would Archduke Akbar want someone like you?”

The corners of Caitlyn’s mouth twitched upward. Yes, it was only normal to see her as completely unsuited for Roxias Akbar. Therefore, it was only right to break off the engagement as soon as this bizarre relationship ended. Vowing so, Caitlyn spoke again.

“I cannot tell you that. His Grace the Archduke strictly requested that I not tell anyone.”

Naturally, the Archduke had never said such a thing to her. It was just that Caitlyn couldn’t say anything. Because no one would believe her.

“Surely, you don’t intend to offend His Grace the Archduke? You are continuing to seek a marriage with him, after all.”

“You insolent……!”

Caitlyn stared blankly at her opponent. Had she said something so untoward?

The woman rubbed her forehead. It seemed she had a massive headache. For a brief moment, Caitlyn felt sorry for her. Since the royalty she served had publicly proposed to an Archduke who already had a fiancée, it must be quite a headache. Furthermore, seeing how she naturally looked down on her, she was clearly someone of high status in her own country. If the Princess trusted her enough to entrust this task, she could even be at the rank of a Duke’s daughter or a Marchioness.

“Anyway, you don’t have to worry. The engagement will end within a few years at the longest, and Her Highness the Princess can propose to His Grace again after that.”

“……How can I believe that you aren’t lying?”

Caitlyn swallowed a sigh. Was that really all she had to ask?

“Why don’t you ask His Grace the Archduke yourself?”

“……It’s a shame I can’t cut out your tongue.”

Caitlyn stood up from her seat. Since she had been wiggling her tied hands industriously for a while, they were now completely untied.

“Now that I’ve told you everything, I’ll be on my way.”

“No.”

A relaxed voice drifted in. Turning around, Princess Adelheid slowly entered the room. The Princess, with her red hair loosely tied, was dressed in a comfortable nightgown; seeing as she wasn’t even wearing basic formal attire, it seemed she had no intention of showing Caitlyn any courtesy whatsoever.

“Princess……!”

The Princess’s attendant called out in panic.

“Didn’t you agree not to come in?”

“I changed my mind.”

Princess Adelheid stared intently at Caitlyn.

“I need to ask for myself.”

Caitlyn’s mouth opened, then closed again. Her dilated pupils looked only at Princess Adelheid, and her body froze like a piece of wood, not moving an inch.

“What is your identity?”

“…….”

“What are you that Archduke Akbar coddles you so much?”

“…….”

“Speak up. You were speaking so well to my maid just now! Do you need to be flogged to come to your senses?”

She had to say something to avoid suspicion. Even knowing that, Caitlyn couldn’t say a word. Because the moment she locked eyes with Princess Adelheid’s vivid blue eyes, her future was sucked into view.

She didn’t know how it happened, but the future Princess was not an Archduchess. She had become the Empress. If it were just that fact, Caitlyn wouldn’t have panicked to this extent. The Princess Adelheid who had become Empress laughed vulgarly from the high tower of the Imperial Castle as she looked down at the empire ruined by war.

It was a crude laugh, so much so that it was hard to believe she was the same person who had shown such elegant conduct at the ball. Just as the door opened, Princess Adelheid, looking as if she thought someone had come to fetch her, turned around with a face full of smiles…… and was killed by Princess Julia, who looked like a beggar.

‘What…… what is this…….’

Caitlyn tried to step backward, but there was no space at all to escape Princess Adelheid.