Chapter 21
‘But I’m not like that.’
Those who covet what they cannot have inevitably become unhappy.
I clearly understood the limits of what I could attain through effort, and I didn’t become impatient trying to seize what wasn’t mine.
But it wasn’t something I could easily explain to Angel.
So I changed the subject.
“Could you tell me more about Princess Luigi? What should I be careful of?”
The guest arriving this time was quite significant.
‘Luigi is Asel’s aunt.’
Strictly speaking, her status as a “princess” wasn’t technically valid anymore.
She had married into the Kingdom of Mortum and no longer held a royal surname. Properly, she should be called the Duchess of Argen.
However, she occasionally returned to the Empire, and Asel’s father had continued to refer to her as “Princess” out of habit. So others followed suit for convenience.
Princess Luigi didn’t wield much influence in the Empire. She had become more of a subject of the kingdom she married into and never stayed long when she visited the Empire.
Still, I remembered her name because she appeared in a side story episode. Though she was a minor character, and I couldn’t recall all her personality traits—
‘She dies from poison at a banquet a few days later.’
She was the only one who died among many banquet attendees. Since she was elderly and had a unique fondness for seafood—unlike other nobles—she was the only one affected.
Later, it’s revealed that one of the attendants from her own kingdom poisoned her. But since it happened in the Empire, both nations began blaming each other.
Rumors of war with the kingdom spread, and the stock market grew unstable.
‘Markets hate instability.’
Fortunately, the culprit was caught quickly. But then a civil war broke out in the kingdom.
The kingdom had been divided between the pro-Empire Second Prince and the anti-Empire First Prince. Luigi’s death tipped the balance.
‘Since I know the future, it would be good if I could prevent her death and maybe even stop the civil war.’
I wasn’t sure I could save her, but maybe I could prevent the war. That’s why I asked Angel.
“Uh, you don’t really need to do anything special…”
“…?”
His reaction was odd.
He seemed unsure, almost like he wanted to avoid the topic.
It was suspicious behavior for someone like Angel, who normally took the initiative in hard matters.
“Just staying still and letting things pass might be best, yes.”
He made it sound like Luigi was a storm to be weathered.
I didn’t understand—until I saw her for myself.
“If you have a tongue, then use it!”
“I heard there was an incident at the ball. But just getting involved in such a mess shows your lack of ability, doesn’t it?”
“And to summon your spirit in front of so many people! Do you even understand how dangerous that was? The ballroom was crowded. You could have caused casualties—or even harmed Asel!”
“And yet, you have the audacity to walk around with your head held high? Can you still claim to be the Crown Princess?”
That’s when I remembered something I had forgotten.
‘This woman hates Laura.’
✦ ✦ ✦
You’re wondering how I didn’t know someone hated me?
It’s because this was the first time I’d ever met Princess Luigi in person.
‘Laura’ had interacted with her long before I was reincarnated…
And in the original story, Luigi wasn’t portrayed this way.
Princess Luigi liked Seraphina. She appreciated her gentle and diligent nature.
But with me, she was more severe than any nagging mother-in-law. It was like she couldn’t wait to tear me apart.
Still, I didn’t just sit back and take it.
“Even if there were suspicions, I couldn’t just sit by. More importantly, His Highness the Crown Prince is personally proving my innocence. I could not risk tarnishing his name. I had to provide overwhelming evidence for the sake of the royal family’s dignity.”
“Hmph. You make excuses well.”
She scowled at me, unable to find fault.
But then—
“Already acting like you’re the Crown Princess? How amusing. If you’re so capable, then surely you can host the upcoming banquet for me, a mere duchess from a small kingdom?”
She was clearly testing me.
Though she framed it as a request, I could already tell she planned to nitpick everything I did.
“What are you saying? So many people here in the palace would be honored to host you. Why ask my fiancée of all people?”
Asel tried to stop her in panic, but—
“Stop coddling her. You kept her at your side because you thought she had the qualifications of a Crown Princess, didn’t you? Then she should be capable of handling this.”
“Th-That’s not—”
“Or is it that the Empire has no worthy women? If you want, I can recommend some fine young ladies from the kingdom. I’d be happy to arrange introductions.”
Luigi completely shut Asel down.
And the Grand Duke added fuel to the fire:
“If something were to happen to His Highness, this young lady here would take over royal duties. Even as a fiancée, she is technically part of the imperial family. Hosting a banquet should be well within her capabilities.”
He made it sound like it was the natural thing to do.
Behind Princess Luigi stood the Second Prince of Mortum, Malken.
“…Surely my aunt has her reasons for suggesting this.”
He gave no further opinion. He merely deferred to the consensus.
With everyone against him, Asel was on the verge of losing it.
“You don’t have to do this.”
Once we were alone, he tried to dissuade me again.
“My aunt’s temper is short because of the long journey. You don’t have to deal with all her backlash. Our contract only requires you to fulfill your duties as my fiancée. This wasn’t part of that.”
He was trying to ease my burden.
But—
“No, I’ll do it.”
‘Why would I say no?’
Just moments ago, I had all but given up on preventing Luigi’s poisoning.
As the “prospective” Crown Princess, I had no real authority over palace affairs.
If I went around warning people about a poisoning plot during the banquet?
[“And how would you know poison was going to be used at the banquet? Explain yourself clearly.”]
At best, I’d be suspected. At worst, I’d be accused of being an accomplice.
But—if I were put in charge of the banquet?
‘I’d naturally be in a position to prevent the poisoning!’
And if I succeeded, I’d save Luigi and stop the civil war.
‘That’s at least a 5% boost in my future survival odds!’
Big win.
“Being acknowledged by the elders of the royal family is also part of being a Crown Princess, isn’t it?”
I smiled and gently grabbed Asel’s hand.
“Let’s charm the Princess together.”
I was curious to see how much charm I really had.
✦ ✦ ✦
The Grand Duke was given a residence in the western wing of the palace.
It was smaller than the one he used as a prince, but allowed more freedom due to fewer attendants.
Asel wanted to assign him a more heavily monitored palace—under the pretense of honor—but failed.
Until now, the Grand Duke had never shown ambition to anyone.
At the center of that secured space—
The Grand Duke stood, hands behind his back.
“Do you really intend to go through with it?”
His long-serving aide asked.
“Didn’t you care for Princess Luigi?”
The man held a small vial—the poison to be used at the banquet, provided by the Second Prince.
“She too must become a necessary sacrifice for the greater cause.”
The Grand Duke did genuinely care for Luigi. Unlike his brother, who had competed for the throne, Luigi had never shown ambition.
She simply wanted her three siblings to get along.
With her, he could be himself.
His affection for her wasn’t a lie.
But still, he prioritized reality over sentiment.
“There will be no changes to the plan because of personal feelings.”
