MFWSP 63

Chapter 63

“So what I’m saying is—it could be assumed that she, while admiring the First Prince, grew jealous of the duchess who was caught in a scandal with him.”

When I gave him a look to stop spouting nonsense, David simply rephrased his words with a sweet smile.

“…”

“There is… another theory, though.”

“Speak.”

“It seems Lady Serveh doesn’t want to lose her title as a goddess.”

“Lose it?”

“Oh, didn’t you know?”

When I asked, David tilted his head in question.

“Well, considering the duke has been practically imprisoned in the mansion all this time, I suppose you wouldn’t have heard the internal news from Serveh territory.”

He continued.

“Lady Grace Serveh is already being called a goddess within the Serveh estate.”

“…Really?”

“Some even call her the agent of God, or the prophet of Serveh.”

David explained with an intrigued expression.

“She’s actually made prophecies—several of them, very accurately. They say her predictions saved many people in Serveh.”

“…”

So the ‘goddess’ nickname already existed around this time?

In my previous life, I’d been confined in the ducal residence because of the Penten family, so I hadn’t heard in detail what she’d been up to in the territory.

“You need to decide.”

David leaned in and whispered to me, breaking my thoughts.

“Whether you’ll attend tomorrow’s banquet and meet Serveh’s prophet—or avoid her.”

Day Four of the Victory Banquet.

The decorations of the ballroom had changed again.

This time, it resembled a dazzling silver sea.

At a glance, it looked like the silver wave emblem of House Serveh, and rumor had it that the Duke of Serveh had bribed the steward in charge of the decorations.

“Isn’t this a bit much?”

A young noblewoman who looked just past twenty approached and whispered to me.

Seeing her familiar face, her name came to me.

Lady Rubiette of Viscount Bieze’s family.

David’s former business partner, and a moneylender who operated near any gambling den.

“It’s been a while.”

I greeted her lightly and asked,

“Don’t you like flashy silver, Lady Rubiette?”

“Oh, I love everything that sparkles.”

She chuckled and replied.

“But going this far just to launch your daughter into society seems excessive. I hate seeing money being wasted.”

That’s probably because it wasn’t going into her pocket.

“I guess the Duke of Serveh must really treasure his daughter.”

I said, swallowing my real thoughts.

“If you made David your butler, you must’ve heard all the rumors already. Are you pretending not to know?”

Rubiette winked knowingly.

“Ever since Lady Serveh woke from her coma a few months ago, the Duke has been waiting for a chance to introduce her to society. He’s spread word of her beauty and the miracles she supposedly performed.”

“Oh, I’ve heard she’s a great beauty, too.”

A young nobleman nearby chimed in, clearly having overheard us.

I recognized him from the Pegasus divination gathering.

“Honestly, I’m not expecting much. That prophecy stuff is probably nonsense. Isn’t the most beautiful woman in the Empire still the Duchess of Apellemeon?”

“Is that so?”

I replied indifferently.

“I’m not just saying that.”

Another noble who’d been standing behind him added,

“You’ve been busy with the title and all, but the story of the black-haired beauty who tamed the Pegasus and helped win the war is already legendary. Have you heard the ballad composed by that famous bard in the capital?”

Many people around us nodded in agreement, their eyes sparkling.

Still, I said nothing.

I knew many noble houses had sent invitations to befriend me after I reclaimed my title. I was also aware of the attention I received on the first day of the banquet.

But I also knew that such topics of fascination were always short-lived.

“There are strange rumors about Lady Serveh too, but none of it compares to you, Duchess.”

“The louder the rumors, the more hollow they tend to be. Honestly, I’m not expecting anything.”

I smirked inwardly at their half-genuine words.

Based on the current situation, the Duke of Serveh’s money hadn’t been wasted.

The center of attention had already shifted from the war with Carciel to Grace.

Even though people had gathered around me and Carciel in the ballroom, everyone’s thoughts were likely focused on Lady Serveh.

Whether the gossip was good or bad, what mattered was that she had successfully drawn attention.

And with that attention, she could sweep through high society like a storm—just like she had in the past life.

“What about you, Duchess? Are you curious about Lady Serveh?”

“Yes.”

I answered Rubiette’s question.

“I’d like to meet her as soon as possible.”

And I meant it.

I wanted to see Grace’s face again.

Because I knew I couldn’t avoid her anyway. No—this time, I didn’t want to avoid her.

Creak—

At that moment, the ballroom doors opened.

Rubiette, I, and the other young nobles instinctively turned to look at the staircase.

“Ahem, hem!”

We heard the voice of Roy, the imperial chamberlain and Ray’s father. Two silhouettes appeared behind the doors.

My heart started pounding again.

“Head of one of the Empire’s great houses—Lucius Serveh, the 29th Duke of Serveh!”

As his booming voice echoed, one of the figures stepped out. A handsome man in his fifties with silver hair.

“And his daughter, the Prophet of Serveh, Lady Grace Serveh, now enters!”

The Prophet of Serveh.

I swallowed dryly and fixed my gaze on the top of the stairs.

Slowly, the second figure revealed herself and began descending the steps.

Long, elegant silver hair flowing to her waist. Eyes bluer and deeper than the ocean, brimming with wisdom.

A pure, serene smile that seemed to hold the truths of life, and a shimmering blue dress with elaborate jewelry that made her look like a mermaid.

It was her.

Grace was here in the same space as me.

She looked like the very queen of this silver ballroom, and some people gasped in awe.

Even the Emperor and Empress seemed to widen their eyes as they looked at her.

Grace descended gracefully, took her father’s arm, and approached the imperial couple.

“We greet the Sun and Moon of the Empire.”

Both father and daughter greeted in unison.

Grace’s movements were light and elegant. Though not perfectly by the book, her natural purity seemed to win over the onlookers.

Baltazar, who stood nearby, raised his eyebrows in amusement. Carciel, standing a step behind, showed no visible reaction.

“It’s been a while, Duke Serveh.”

The Emperor nodded with a pleased expression.

“Is this the daughter I heard was gravely injured a few months ago?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Duke answered, gently raising Grace’s chin.

“You’re introducing her as the Prophet of Serveh?”

The Empress raised a brow and asked.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“How bold. I believe an explanation is in order.”

The Empress’s expression held multiple layers—courtesy toward the Duke’s house, which maintained neutral ties with her own, the Marquess of Rudes, a bit of curiosity, and a touch of wariness about the attention Grace was receiving.

It made me think the Empress’s instincts were sharper than expected.

In my second life, the Empress and Grace had briefly allied—but after Grace saved Carciel’s life, they became enemies.

Eventually, Duke Serveh succeeded in assassinating both the Empress and Baltazar. Because of that, the Rudes family ended up aligning with the enemy nation, Yulkan… but none of that mattered now.

“Step forward, Lady Serveh.”

At the Empress’s command, Grace took a step.

“What did you predict?”

“…The first prophecy was a flood, Your Majesty.”

Grace replied.

Her voice was as clear as silver beads rolling on a jade plate—just like in my previous life.

The Empress frowned.

“A flood? That sounds like a coincidence.”

“No, Your Majesty. Not a single lie was told. Grace evacuated hundreds of people, and three days later, that village was completely submerged.”

The Duke quickly stepped in to explain.

He couldn’t hide his pride in his voice.

“The second prophecy was the appearance of the sea wolf, a giant monster.”