Chapter 12
Katrina was certain.
For now, the plan to send her to the monastery was off the table.
But it was not yet time to relax.
“This is only a temporary fix.”
She couldn’t ensure her safety through Raymond alone.
If she wanted to survive, she needed something more secure.
“When did His Highness say to visit?”
“He didn’t specify an exact date. He just asked you to come as soon as possible.”
So basically, she had to go within a couple of days.
“Got it.”
With that, the messenger left.
“Katrina.”
Someone called her name.
Katrina willingly turned around.
“Yes, Selena.”
It was someone who hadn’t spoken to her even once since her return.
Selena disliked Katrina.
Then again, who in this house didn’t?
What was laughable was that disliking someone in this household wasn’t unusual.
Everyone hated each other.
The current duchess was once a concubine, who became duchess after the previous duchess died.
Damian, the son of the former duchess, and Selena, the daughter of the current one — the two were fierce rivals.
“You didn’t happen to go to the palace yesterday, did you?”
What kind of question was that?
As if Katrina had a reason not to be at the palace.
“Wait a second.”
She knew Damian had tried to prevent her from going…
“Don’t tell me they were in on it together?”
A sigh slipped out at the realization.
Truly, what a household full of schemes and slander.
“Is there any reason I shouldn’t have gone?”
“……”
“It was already agreed that I’d be visiting the palace.”
Selena said nothing.
At least she didn’t blatantly admit it.
Unlike Damian, she wasn’t that shameless.
“What did you and the Crown Prince talk about?”
Katrina answered with nothing but a quiet smile.
Selena frowned at the expression.
“Katrina, let me give you a piece of advice.”
“Advice?”
“Don’t get too full of yourself just because you didn’t get dragged off to the monastery.”
You and Damian really are cut from the same cloth.
Selena had always been wary of Katrina.
It was natural.
Ever since Katrina was adopted into the family, Selena had been forced to share everything she once had to herself.
Everyone in this household held that kind of grudge against Katrina.
She understood that much.
“A lowborn like you has no place in the Abitche family. You’d better go back to where you belong.”
Katrina didn’t like when people crossed the line like this.
Selena had always insulted Katrina’s origins.
She would scoff at the idea of a commoner entering the Abitche family.
“Selena, that’s a sad thing for you to say.”
Katrina put on a sorrowful expression.
“I thought you, of all people, would understand.”
“What?”
“We’re in similar positions, aren’t we?”
Though Katrina smiled innocently, the chill in her tone was sharp.
It was as if to say she could see right through Selena’s weaknesses, and Selena’s face twisted in response.
“Similar? With the likes of you?”
“Think about it. We probably have more in common than you realize.”
Katrina was hitting the spot Selena hated most.
“What are you talking about! I’m nothing like you! My mother came from a noble viscount’s house!”
The current duchess’s origins weren’t so clean either.
The title had been bought for her by the Duke at the time of their marriage.
But Katrina hadn’t even been talking about lineage.
“We’re not the same at all!”
“Well, you were the one who brought up ‘knowing your place’…”
Katrina’s eyes shifted beyond Selena — to a man watching them from a distance.
“I just figured you must’ve stolen a lot in your life too.”
“What?”
How ridiculous their conversation must sound to him right now.
“Katrina, Father is calling for you.”
“D-Damian…!”
Selena jumped as if she’d seen a ghost when she turned and saw him.
Damian slowly walked toward them.
With each step, the air around him grew heavier and more oppressive.
The pressure exuding from his cold face was like a gust of frigid wind.
“Why are you so startled, Selena?”
“W-Why are you sneaking up on people like that!”
Selena shouted in shock, and Damian looked at her as if she were being ridiculous.
Judging by her reaction, she really was surprised.
Those two didn’t get along either.
It felt newly refreshing to see it again after some time.
“Father called for me?”
At those words, Selena turned toward Katrina. Her eyes trembled in disbelief.
“Thanks for telling me. I’ll be off now.”
Katrina turned away from them.
A chilling gaze followed her from behind.
“The Crown Prince requested your presence, I hear.”
The Duke of Abitche had been informed as soon as the royal messenger arrived.
“I was going to call you anyway, since you went to the palace last night, but the messenger beat me to it.”
“I managed to go safely, thanks to your trust.”
“Honestly, I can hardly believe it. For the Crown Prince to change his mind so suddenly…”
The Duke looked at Katrina with suspicion in his eyes.
“What did you do?”
“……”
“I know the Crown Prince doesn’t like you. So what did you pull to make him rush over the moment he woke?”
“Does the method matter?”
Instead of answering his question, Katrina posed another one.
“What matters is the result, isn’t it, Father?”
“……”
“This whole situation made me think about a lot of things.”
Katrina spoke calmly.
“Knowing I can do something beneficial for the family like this… I started wondering why I ever acted foolishly and brought shame upon our house.”
She cautiously looked up at the Duke.
“Please let me wipe away the disgrace I’ve caused to the family.”
Though the words were polished and elaborate, the message was simple.
She was asking if he had given up on sending her to the monastery.
“Tsk. I still remember the foolish things you’ve done.”
“……”
“I regretted bringing you into the Abitche family. Wondered how someone so useless ended up here.”
“……”
Not the kind of words one should say to their daughter.
But perhaps that was because she wasn’t his real daughter.
“I want one of my daughters to become the Crown Princess. Better yet, I want one to become Empress.”
Katrina already knew the Duke wanted to marry one of his daughters into the royal family.
That’s why he had invited Raymond.
“But I don’t think it’ll be you. Not with just this one incident.”
“……”
“There’s a Harmony Gathering coming up.”
The Duke spoke in a low voice.
“If you’re chosen as the Crown Prince’s partner for that event, then I’ll reconsider.”
The Harmony Gathering…
Come to think of it, that time of the year was approaching.
The Abitche family held gatherings every quarter to foster exchange with other noble houses.
The Harmony Gathering had become a core part of noble society — more than just a social party.
Since this custom began, invitations had come to symbolize social rank and influence.
A family that failed to receive an invitation would see its status fall.
In that sense, the Harmony Gathering invitation was a symbol of power.
The Abitche family had long ruled as the noblest of the nobles through these events.
“Understood, Father.”
If that was the only way to avoid being dragged to a monastery…
Then she’d have to do it.
Because for now, she had to stay in Abitche.
A blindingly clean white room.
“Abitche has rescinded their plans to send Lady Katrina to the monastery.”
Someone was reporting calmly.
Everyone in the room was frozen in place, not daring to move, and the atmosphere was thick with tension.
“This message arrived this morning from Abitche, Your Eminence the Cardinal.”
