Chapter 47
I was so angry that I started the engine, ready to crash forward.
Eloise’s lukewarm hand gently stroked my head, restraining my actions.
“Well, that’s fortunate. I suppose I’ve gifted Your Highness with a destined partner. Mana resonance—now you can’t part ways.”
“I have no intention of letting Marianne go. The princess should be content becoming the crown princess. Just as Montclair desires.”
““I have no intention of letting Marianne go; the princess should be satisfied as crown princess. Just as Montclair wishes.””
A line similar to the original story triggered a rapid stream of thoughts in my mind about what would come next.
“I felt the blood drain from Marianne’s hand, which had been holding Arno. I had thought he truly loved her, but it felt as if she were merely a substitute for the princess. I didn’t want to confirm Arno’s affection in this way. At that moment, white champagne trickled down onto the meticulously styled hair.”
Just then, a servant approached carrying a silver tray laden with champagne glasses.
Eloise’s gaze turned to the champagne. The hand that had been stroking me lifted a glass.
“For Your Highness’s beautiful love—”
I was at a loss, unsure of how to act in this situation unfolding exactly like the original story.
At that moment, a noble loitering nearby lightly nudged Eloise.
The shock caused the champagne to tilt toward Marianne.
“……!”
Arno’s green eyes widened, and the champagne seemed about to pour onto the pink hair, just like in the story.
But as if time had stopped, the champagne hovered midair, suspended just as it spilled from the glass.
What was happening?
“To celebrate Your Highness’s beautiful love, cheers.”
Marcel, who had appeared out of nowhere, snatched the glass from Eloise and returned the swaying champagne to the cup.
I faintly sensed Etienne’s mana around him.
“Marcel.”
“Brother, on such a joyous day, for you to forget your younger brother… I suppose I am lacking.”
I finally exhaled the breath I had been holding.
In the original story, Marcel did not appear because Arno hadn’t invited him to the banquet.
Last night, I had asked Etienne to bring Marcel.
In a crowded banquet where Eloise’s only support was a single “cat,” it was actually a perfect situation to strengthen their love.
“Congratulations, Lady Ronsbluer. We are acquainted, though we haven’t formally met yet, have we?”
“Your Highness, good—no, peace to Calenia.”
“Aristocratic greetings can be cumbersome, right?”
“Marcel, enough.”
“We barely exchanged greetings. Brother, aren’t you a little jealous?”
While Marcel joked with Marianne, I rolled my eyes and sniffed the air.
I needed to find the noble who had pushed Eloise—a person carrying a faint smell of bitter tobacco and pungent grass.
The crown prince ignored Marcel and confronted Eloise.
“Princess Montclair, were you just about to spill the champagne?”
“Brother, it was my failure to control my magic. Originally, it was supposed to go like this—”
Drops of champagne rose from the glass, sparkling in the chandelier light.
It was truly beautiful. Everyone present admired it, eyes sparkling.
“Good heavens, it’s not easy to handle something so delicately.”
“I heard Your Highness excels in water magic; it seems true.”
“This could be dangerous.”
At the celebration of the crown prince’s mana resonance, the second prince displayed his magic.
In a way, it could be seen as challenging his half-brother.
Marcel smiled brightly, completely innocent, snapping his fingers.
“I sincerely congratulate you on your mana resonance, Brother.”
The champagne bubbles burst simultaneously, spreading the fragrant aroma of fruit throughout the hall.
Through the crowd, I spotted a man with an unusually strong scent of tobacco.
‘Count Ronsbluer.’
Even though I had never met him, I could tell.
Bright pink hair with a strong red hue, soft features contrasting with sharp slate-blue eyes.
He gave a subtle smile, exuding calm. Just as described in the original story.
I averted my gaze after watching him from a short distance.
“To the glory of Calenia, to Your Highness, the crown prince.”
“Thank you, Marcel.”
With Marcel’s sincere congratulations, the crown prince finally took a step back.
As the crown prince and Marianne drifted from view, Marcel leaned close and whispered to me.
“Lizette, did you find him?”
I immediately understood.
Given when Marcel had appeared, he must have seen someone push Eloise too.
But among the crowd, it would have been hard to pinpoint exactly who.
“Yes. Two o’clock direction, deep pink hair, wearing a black suit.”
“Ah… Count Ronsbluer.”
I was correct.
Come to think of it, the sharp grassy smell from him was similar to the poison scent from last time.
Just the scent alone had put me in danger—what was his name again… Se… something.
“What are you two whispering about?”
Eloise’s transparent voice interrupted—apparently, we were talking too privately.
“Long time no see, Princess Montclair.”
“Peace to Calenia, Your Highness, the second prince.”
They exchanged greetings as if it had been a long time since they last met.
In reality, they had been meeting regularly for my health checkups, but were conscious of the others’ gaze.
Still, no matter how much I thought about it, they suited each other…
“They really are a perfect match.”
I lifted my head, thinking someone had read my mind, and saw everyone’s gaze on the center of the hall.
There, the crown prince and Marianne were dancing to the music.
The first dance of the banquet, leaving his fiancée to dance with his lover.
Eloise’s turquoise eyes were heavy as she looked up.
“Princess Montclair, would you honor me with a dance on behalf of the busy crown prince?”
“With pleasure.”
I spoke for Eloise, freeing her from my embrace and stepping onto the marble floor.
At least this way, they would grow closer. If love blossomed, even better.
“Hey, handsome servant. Could you take the princess’s coat?”
The servant I had indicated flinched but then composed himself and reached toward Eloise.
“I will take care of your coat, Princess.”
“Princess Montclair, my hand might feel embarrassed.”
With both men reaching for her, Eloise raised her right eyebrow.
She had no choice but to remove her coat and hand it to the servant, then lightly grasp Marcel’s hand.
The crowd’s gaze was intense on Eloise. Though no one spoke, they were surely admiring her adornments.
Women looked at her with jealousy; men stared with admiration.
Marcel subtly turned his body to shield Eloise from the crowd and whispered to me.
“Lizette, Etienne…”
“Third balcony on the right. Correct?”
“Not bad.”
I could now clearly feel the flow of mana connected to Marcel.
With my position set, Eloise’s expression relaxed.
Once I saw them head toward the stage, I made my way to where Etienne was.
I dodged through the crowd and finally reached the balcony.
Tap, tap.
I knocked on the glass door with my foot, and the balcony window opened as if waiting for me.
Squeezing through the small space, I saw Etienne under the bright sunlight.
He was leaning against the railing, sipping orange juice.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
He handed me some blueberries he had prepared… when did he get those?
…Should have said “meat,” not “blueberries.”
I wondered if the word I mentioned at the tea gathering had spread this widely.
I accepted the blueberries without complaint. Fresh and sweet, they filled my mouth.
While Etienne and Lizette enjoyed their quiet moment, Eloise and Marcel continued dancing.
Their movements matched the music naturally, as if rehearsed beforehand.
“It’s been a while since I’ve danced like this.”
“Three years have already passed.”
She had been engaged to the crown prince at fourteen and hadn’t gone out with Marcel since.
Until Marianne appeared, Arno had been by Eloise’s side.
Marcel’s hand around her was larger than before.
Her changed height, her sharper face—up close, she looked unfamiliar.
And the magic I had seen earlier…
“You’ve improved a lot since I last saw you.”
“Have I?”
“When you were little, you were clumsy and always got soaked.”
“Ah, yes. Once I nearly spilled it on the princess…”
“And we ended up looking like drenched mice, even though you seemed ready to save me.”
A short laugh mixed with the cello music, creating harmony.
Marcel smiled bitterly at her smile. He wished this moment could last forever but dared not be greedy.
Everything about him depended on the emperor’s permission.
His status, wealth, the prince’s palace, even his life. He could not become a threat to his half-brother.
“Eli, do you like him?”
