Chapter 15
High society is sensitive to change—but that doesn’t mean it acts immediately.
There were people like Madam Warrington who quickly rode the wave of current trends. But they were the minority.
Most nobles preferred to observe from a careful distance, whispering amongst themselves as they sized up the situation.
“She’s being rather subdued tonight. Must be because she came in with His Highness.”
“She’s probably trying to read the room. If she loses the prince’s favor now, after her family’s fall, she’ll be completely cast out.”
“How long do you think she’ll keep it up?”
“Hmm… a month?”
“I bet on two weeks.”
“Honestly, what does she even have besides her family name?”
“So this must be the last bit of grace His Highness is offering her?”
“Thinking of it that way makes her almost pitiful. She must’ve gotten her hopes up and even had that dress custom-made.”
Their voices fell like cold raindrops, filled with malice and mockery.
To me, now living as Laura, these kinds of words were nothing new.
But—
“Has she always had to hear things like that?”
It must’ve been quite a shock for Alex, who had rarely involved himself in social gatherings.
Even his clenched fists and the tension in his jaw made that clear.
“I’m not sure what you’re asking, Your Highness,” I said with a half-smile. “The question came a bit out of nowhere.”
I played it light, but it didn’t seem like something Alex was going to dismiss so easily.
“Always… alone…”
So that’s what he meant.
Was I always enduring those words on my own?
I didn’t answer. I stayed silent on purpose.
A shadow passed under his eyes as he looked off into the distance, as if he was lost in thought, then bit his lower lip.
He looked like he was about to storm into the crowd and say something.
“Let it go,” I said, grabbing his arm.
“Responding to every insult only makes us look weak. They’ll twist the story and say I was the one who started it. That I attacked them while they were just having a casual chat.”
I said it like I was used to it. Because I was.
“You…”
Alex muttered softly, almost like a groan, and then fell silent again.
He was probably remembering all the times Laura had gotten into trouble because of situations like this.
Most of the stories he remembered were probably true—Laura really did have a sharp temper. But if he was going to misremember them in my favor, I wasn’t about to correct him.
“Anyway,” I said lightly, “don’t you have official duties today?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Well, you always seem to disappear with some urgent work.”
I hadn’t meant anything by it. I just thought it might be inconvenient for him to stay here because of me.
But—
“I’ll stay.”
Alex’s expression twisted as if he’d just been deeply insulted. Then he added quietly:
“Today… I’ll stay by your side.”
I blinked in surprise.
This—this was something I hadn’t seen since before the curse.
I didn’t expect to see this again so soon.
I found myself smiling faintly. Just then, Alex looked over and met my eyes—only to flinch and quickly turn away.
“……”
It got a little awkward.
Thankfully, something happened to shift the mood.
Oh?
“Um, if Your Highness doesn’t mind…”
Princess Marienne, who had been standing like a decorative flower along the wall, approached Alex and asked him to dance.
Since I had already danced the first dance with him, I thought it would be appropriate for Alex to accept for courtesy’s sake.
But—
He’s… coming back?
After a brief conversation with the princess, Alex returned straight to me.
Confused, I looked up at him. He reached out and gently took my hand as if escorting me once again.
“Didn’t I say I’d stay by your side?”
His voice was lower than before, like he was emphasizing the point.
I see.
That pout on his lips—he was annoyed I hadn’t believed him.
The quiet music, the murmurs of the ballroom, all the attention—it was all converging in one spot.
Right next to me stood the male lead, the man who made me fall in love with this world.
“You’re right.”
And really, what else could I say?
I could only trust this man one more time.
✧ ✧ ✧
The welcome banquet for the diplomatic delegation varied in scale and formality depending on the envoy’s rank and the sending country’s prestige.
Arietta was a small kingdom, but since Princess Marienne was royalty, the banquet was scheduled to last three days.
For all three days, Marienne dressed to impress and attended the events with all her might.
But as time passed, fewer and fewer people paid attention to her.
It became obvious that Alex had not chosen her—and those who had been mildly curious had lost interest as well.
The final blow came when Marienne spoke with a young lady from the Marceline territory, who also ran a merchant house.
“So you’ve come to form a trade agreement with the Empire?”
“Yes! The Empire is such a prosperous nation. Building relations with it would be a great benefit to our kingdom.”
“That makes sense. And what are your intended exports?”
“Seafood, handicrafts… and gold.”
“Those are all items that require very different handling methods. What’s your logistics plan?”
Logistics plan?
Why would she need a plan for that?
Marienne wanted to ask that out loud but held back, aware of the eyes watching her.
“Well… we’d load them on ships, and…”
“I mean, seafood spoils easily. Are you thinking of drying or salting it?”
“Salting? But that would make it too salty to eat!”
The air turned icy.
Even Marienne, who usually focused only on being the center of attention, flinched a little.
The noblewoman gave a brief explanation and moved on.
But—
“Earlier, you mentioned gold as an export. Has that been approved by His Highness the Crown Prince?”
That was the fatal blow.
“Approved…?”
“Yes. If a large amount of gold suddenly floods the Imperial market, its value could drop significantly. Not to mention, the Empire operates on the gold standard…”
“Gold… standard…?”
Marienne clamped her mouth shut, but the damage was done.
The way people looked at her changed.
She didn’t know how to recover.
All she could do was realize—one by one—people were leaving her side.
Before she knew it, she had become just another wallflower.
Why does knowing that stuff even matter?!
She tried to tell herself it was unfair. But that changed nothing.
“……”
With nothing else to do, she remained in the ballroom.
But staying didn’t mean anyone gave her more attention.
She simply sat there, her eyes blank and uneasily watching the room.
What am I supposed to do now?
For all three days, Laura had stayed close to Alex—and Marienne’s anxiety grew unbearable.
I can’t go back like this…
She knew about her half-brothers who had failed missions from their father, the king—but not what had happened to them.
They had simply disappeared one day from the palace.
No exile. No death notice.
Just vanished.
That was even scarier.
I need to do something. Anything.
Just as she gripped the hem of her dress tightly—
“Are you alright?”
Someone still cared enough to ask.
Marienne managed a weak smile—until she saw who it was, and her lips immediately dropped.
It was Angel, the knight captain Alex had assigned to be her partner.
He looked at her with concern and tried to offer her a drink, but Marienne was disgusted just by his presence.
He’s a commoner.
She had been grateful at first, not knowing who he was.
But now, his presence felt like mockery.
It was as if Alex had said, “Even this man is out of your reach.”
Are you joking?
“No thanks.”
She snapped shortly.
There was no way she was going to take the hand of a commoner.
She turned her head.
✧ ✧ ✧
…Unbelievable.
Angel was just as offended.
She treats me like this?
He wasn’t just some knight. He was Alex’s closest aide.
Yes, he was a commoner—but he had served Alex for years and was even his wet-nurse brother.
Anyone with half an understanding of Imperial politics knew better than to treat Angel lightly.
Even if they looked down on his background, etiquette demanded they keep it hidden.
At least, that’s how it used to be.
[“Um… Captain Angel, may I ask which noble house you’re from? I don’t really know Imperial nobility very well…”]
Princess Marienne had smiled shyly when she asked the question.
And the moment she learned he was a commoner, she changed instantly.
Angel didn’t expect people to bow to him.
But he was assigned by Alex to be her partner—a clear sign of trust and representation.
Yet she showed no awareness of that.
And her knowledge? Abysmal.
She probably wouldn’t become Empress.
But even if she did, she would never be of any help in governance.
She didn’t even have the most basic understanding.
Angel reaffirmed his loyalty and admiration for his lord.
His Highness really is incredible.
With only a few conversations, Alex had already judged Laura to be the better choice.
Angel couldn’t have agreed more.
If Marienne had become Alex’s fiancée, the Empire would’ve become a much more exhausting place.
