~Chapter 18~
“…You’re a good girl.”
Peril smiled faintly.
“All I have to do is bring you the roots of the World Tree, right?”
“For now.”
For now? So there’s more he wants?
As I frowned slightly, Peril spoke as if he’d been waiting for that moment.
“There’s a kid I’m keeping an eye on.”
“……”
“It’d be nice if you could look after her, too, while you’re at it.”
I had a feeling who he meant, but I decided to play dumb.
“Who are you talking about…?”
“Idette. She’s like a wild colt—completely unpredictable. It’s driving me crazy.”
Despite saying that, Peril’s face was full of affection.
Seeing his genuine smile for the first time sent a chill down my spine.
At this rate, Idette seemed more important than the emperor himself.
He’d only just woken up recently, right?
When did he get so attached…?
I rubbed my arms to shake off the goosebumps and nodded.
Well, if it’s the teacher’s request, of course I’ll do it.
***
I could understand why Peril was worried about Idette.
The path she was about to walk was nothing but thorns.
And today marked the beginning of her painful journey.
“It’s been a while, Lady Bianca.”
Hestia opened her fan with a soft smile.
“How’s your health?”
“I’ve gotten much better, thankfully.”
I gave a short reply and glanced around to find Idette, who was standing awkwardly.
When she spotted me, she immediately smiled.
Hestia noticed her too, but quickly turned away, pretending not to.
In the original story, Idette almost died three times.
One of those was today.
“The weather’s nice, so I asked my father to make a special arrangement.”
Hestia looked out over the lakeside with a kind expression.
The sunlight shimmering on the lake was truly beautiful.
“Oh my, Princess!”
Johanna exclaimed excitedly at the sight of the fancy boats.
“If two people ride each one, the numbers work out perfectly…”
Hestia’s eyes turned to Idette.
“Oh dear, looks like there’s one person left.”
Idette forced a smile and spoke.
“I don’t mind sitting out.”
Meanwhile, Johanna came up to me.
“Lady Bianca, shall we ride together?”
In the original story, Bianca had ridden the boat with Johanna.
But I couldn’t ignore Peril’s request after what he asked of me.
I was so jealous of Railer, who was off on a trip.
“I’m sorry, Lady Johanna.”
I apologized and walked over to Idette.
“I’ll ride with Lady Idette.”
At my words, Hestia’s expression slowly hardened.
I gave her a faint smile and met her gaze.
Idette tried to stop me, saying she was fine—but I wasn’t.
The boat she was supposed to ride was going to sink beneath the surface.
Professor Peril, are you watching?
I really am trying my best…
“I didn’t think Miss Bianca was close to Miss Idette. Wouldn’t it be better to go boating with Miss Johanna, as originally planned?”
Hestia tilted her head slightly, as if to say she wasn’t quite ready to sink the marquis’s daughter along with Idette.
“I got to know Miss Idette better during the hunting competition,” I replied.
“What a shame. I thought we’d get along quite well. Weren’t we in a similar position?”
She had a point. Hestia had lost Erkisian to Idette, and I had lost Ricardo.
That might be true for the original Bianca—but things had changed.
“To be compared to a noble princess like yourself… you flatter me.”
Hestia turned away as if to say, Do as you please, and gave instructions to her attendants.
She was probably giving them orders about the boat Idette would be boarding.
Really, now—messing around with someone’s life like it’s a joke?
While Hestia busied herself repairing the boat, I turned to Idette, who stood behind me.
She looked genuinely moved.
“You really didn’t have to go this far…”
Seeing her innocent expression made me feel a little guilty.
“If you ever find yourself in a difficult situation, feel free to use my name. You can even go around saying we’re best friends if you’d like.”
Like, say, to Peril. Or… Peril Edwin, maybe.
Idette let out a light laugh, thinking I was joking.
***
The tranquil lake echoed with the laughter of noble ladies—everyone except me and Idette.
So this is how you get revenge, huh?
Every other boat had an attendant rowing for them, but ours had no one.
“We only brought enough attendants to match the number of ladies. Oh dear, what now?”
They never even intended to assign someone to Idette’s boat.
A petty princess, through and through.
While I sweated and struggled with the oars, Idette looked cheerful, as if rowing suited her perfectly.
When I stared at her intently, she spoke with an awkward smile.
“I used to go boating often in my hometown. It was my grandmother’s only hobby.”
“I’m glad I boarded with you.”
At my words, Idette’s cheeks turned pink—but just for a moment. Her expression slowly darkened.
After a pause, she carefully spoke.
“Miss Bianca, there’s something I want to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“…Despite all the rumors, the Duke and I… there’s nothing between us.”
Her next words took me by surprise.
As I blinked in shock, Idette continued quietly.
“I’ve been wanting to tell you for a while.”
“…”
“I can’t go into detail right now, but the Duke and I…”
Just then, a breeze swept past.
I tucked my hair behind my ear and turned my head.
The rippling water, moving with the wind, looked unstable.
Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who felt uneasy—other ladies had begun returning to shore.
“…Shall we head back?”
Idette nodded gently in response.
So Ricardo and Idette aren’t what I thought…?
My mind became a tangle of thoughts. Was it just her perspective?
Or had their feelings not developed as I’d assumed?
Still, to anyone watching, Ricardo clearly seemed interested in Idette.
Even at the banquet, he’d focused solely on her.
And besides—I had the original story.
That book, where it was written exactly why Ricardo had no choice but to love Idette.
I was lost in thought for just a moment before turning my eyes back to the lake.
It wasn’t the sea, but the water churned like it was waving.
No, more than that…
I couldn’t look away. It was like I’d been hypnotized.
I was certain I’d seen something. Was it just my imagination?
Goosebumps crept over my skin.
“…Miss Bianca?”
Idette called out, puzzled by my reaction.
I quickly looked away from the water, pretending to be fine, but my thoughts were spinning.
What did I just see? …A water ghost, maybe?
And then—
The boat stumbled.
“Miss Bianca!”
Idette cried out sharply as I lost my balance.
But it was no use. Just like in the original story, Idette also fell in after me.
…Ah, damn it.
I thought they’d fixed the boat.
My body sank below the surface.
Just as my vision began to darken, my feet touched solid ground.
“…!”
I carefully opened my eyes.
I had definitely gone underwater—but I could breathe just fine.
It felt like I was trapped inside a room.
I reached out, but there was nothing to touch.
Where on earth… am I?
Just then—I saw a figure.
Idette?
I stepped forward quickly to help her—but in that moment, a vision washed over me like a crashing wave.
Frozen in place, I stared at the familiar image before me.
***
Meanwhile, elsewhere—
“Idette’s supposed to be at the palace today, right?”
Roam chuckled, tapping Ricardo’s arm.
“Wouldn’t now be a good time to go? The princess seems pretty bothered about her.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
Ricardo brushed off Roam’s words.
“What? Don’t you have feelings for Idette?”
“…”
“The only girls you’ve ever shown any interest in are Bianca and Idette. Well, to be fair, Bianca’s the one who clung to you, wasn’t it?”
Roam grumbled, then added—
“You were the one who asked me how to break off the engagement, remember?”
