Chapter 12
“I thought Lady Ria was someone who knew how to distinguish between ranks.”
Ernie folded her arms under her chin, sneering. She was implying—why was Ria drinking tea with Siklaen, someone of lower status, after making such a fuss about rank?
“Because we’re childhood friends!”
Completely unaware of the hidden meaning, Siklaen only smiled brightly and agreed. Before Ernie could open her mouth again, Ria quickly added,
“You don’t need to match ranks just to drink tea, do you? If I recall, I also drank tea with Lady Evon.”
“What?”
“Heh.”
When Ernie stupidly asked again, Byron let out a short laugh. Everyone turned to look at him. With his usual carefree smile, he said to Ernie,
“I think she’s saying that since she even had tea with you, then tea can be had with anyone.”
It seemed the older brother had a sharper sense of things. Ria didn’t bother to deny it; instead, she lifted her teacup and took an elegant sip of black tea.
Ernie’s face flushed red, while Byron laughed again, as if the whole situation amused him.
Does he enjoy watching his own sister get teased?
Ria stared at him.
At first, it felt strange that he and Ernie were siblings, but thinking about it, it suited them. Both were honest about their feelings—whether joy or dislike.
“Sir Byron, I hear you achieved great merit in the war?”
Ria brought this up, partly to steer the conversation away before Ernie could ruin the mood any further, and partly out of curiosity. Byron was the man who revived a fallen family through his achievements in war. The process surely couldn’t have been smooth—perhaps he was not as carefree as he appeared.
But instead of Byron, the reply came from somewhere else.
“Yes, my brother achieved very great merits. I also heard that Lady Ria’s brother went to war, didn’t he?”
Ernie spoke as if she’d been waiting for this moment.
“…Ah.”
Ria’s brother?
Ria froze and averted her gaze. She had no memory of Ria’s brother appearing in the original novel, but clearly, as the youngest daughter of the Cablik family, she must have had siblings above her.
She realized it only now. Since her transmigration, she had never once met or even heard mention of him. Besides, she had more than enough to worry about without siblings in the mix.
So the reason she never met him was because the setting had him away at war?
In Ria’s silence, Siklaen stepped in.
“That’s right. He’s a very gallant man, isn’t he, Ria?”
“Well… I suppose…”
Ria gave a reluctant nod.
“Oh my, Lady Ria, do you not get along with your brother? How sad. I get along with mine so well.”
As if showing off, Ernie clung to Byron’s arm. Perhaps she meant it as an attack, but it had little effect on Ria. She didn’t even know her brother’s face—why would she care whether they were close or not?
In fact, for her, the word “brother” brought back unpleasant memories she’d rather avoid. Her expression twisted slightly.
Perhaps misreading it, Ernie’s face grew a little flushed as she pressed on,
“Did you know? His Majesty the Emperor personally granted my brother a private audience! And even bestowed a medal on our house.”
Ernie deliberately stressed His Majesty the Emperor, while Ria only looked unimpressed. Byron just kept smiling, and Siklaen glanced nervously at them.
“Has Lady Ria’s brother ever even met His Majesty—!”
Just as Ernie brought up the Emperor again, Ria felt someone’s presence behind her.
“Seems someone here has quite the fondness for my father.”
All eyes turned that way. Ria also turned—or tried to. She couldn’t, because someone had already wrapped an arm around her shoulder from behind.
“What the—”
From the fresh, clean scent, the low voice, and the silken silver hair brushing against her nape, Ria knew instantly who it was.
“Oh my!”
Ernie let go of Byron’s arm, jumped to her feet, and covered her blushing face with both hands. Her cheeks were as red as her hair.
“I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Byron rose naturally from his seat and saluted with knightly precision.
“Prince Jen.”
Siklaen also rose, bowing her head lightly.
“Ah… Your Highness the Crown Prince! I greet Your Highness!”
Ernie fumbled with her skirts, dropping into a clumsy curtsy. Now Ria was the only one still seated.
She let out a deep sigh and tapped lightly at Jen’s arm around her shoulder.
“Would you mind letting go?”
With a lazy, teasing tone, Jen whispered,
“No.”
“…Ugh.”
At his deep voice right by her ear, Ria shivered involuntarily. Finding her reaction amusing, Jen deliberately brushed his hair against her nape.
Unable to take it, Ria pinched his forearm with her nails. Only then did he release her, before pulling up Byron’s chair and dropping into it right beside her. He crossed his legs arrogantly, exuding sheer dominance.
“Well then…”
Everyone’s attention focused on him.
“Who’s going to tell me why my Crown Princess seems to be in such a foul mood?”
A chilling silence fell over the table.
Crown Princess?
Ria turned to him with shock, but Jen only smiled back. His beautiful blue eyes, however, held no trace of mirth.
Siklaen, Ernie, and Byron all just blinked in confusion, unable to comprehend what was happening.
Ignoring their reactions, Jen fixed his gaze on the Evon siblings and spoke again.
“So, these must be the new names that the rumors have been talking about.”
New names?
Perhaps he said it casually, but to Ria it sounded like the words of someone who knew the novel. Of course, that was impossible—she alone knew that these two were new characters never mentioned in the original.
Still no one answered. Jen calmly picked up Ria’s teacup, took a sip, and then pointed a teaspoon straight at Ernie.
“You. Start.”
“M-me?”
Ernie trembled.
“I want to hear more about what His Majesty supposedly did.”
Ernie, pale as a ghost, glanced nervously between Byron and Jen.
At that moment, Ria was reminded afresh that Jen truly was the Crown Prince. He always acted with frivolous ease, yet the oppressive weight he exuded now made her spine tingle.
And what confused her most—Jen seemed angry.
But why?
“Or will you speak instead?”
Jen turned his head toward Byron, tilting it slightly.
“They call you a war hero, don’t they?”
Byron sank to one knee.
“Byron Evon, First Division of the Imperial Guard, at Your Highness’s service.”
“Imperial Guard, huh. You’ve got some nerve.”
Jen sneered, and the atmosphere grew even heavier. Siklaen shifted anxiously, unable to understand what was happening. But Ria was just as lost.
What is all this? I only wanted a quiet, peaceful tea time with Siklaen…
Ria sighed deeply. And that was when someone else appeared from the garden.
“I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Deren bowed respectfully as he strode closer.
Why is he here now…!
Ria screamed inwardly. Her head throbbed.
Six. Six of the novel’s characters had all gathered in one place.
* * *
Deren Slanders.
A man whose instincts had never once been wrong in his life now felt as if his world had been turned upside down.
“You’re the one who shouldn’t overstep.”
“I regret ever having liked you in the past.”
“Hah.”
Every time he recalled yesterday’s events, rage boiled up inside him.
He hadn’t even been able to sleep last night. For someone like Deren, who planned his daily routine down to the minute, such a thing was nearly unheard of.
What on earth happened to make her change like that?
He massaged his temples. Recently, Ria hadn’t bullied Siklaen at all. In fact, she’d even helped her against Ernie.
What’s she scheming?
It had been ten long years. Ten years of Ria tormenting Siklaen.
And now suddenly she’s changed her heart?
Impossible. Deren couldn’t believe it. His conviction was that people never truly changed.
No, she couldn’t have.
And in truth, it would be troublesome if she did. Ria was too useful.
My whole plan is to win Siklaen’s favor by rescuing her from Ria.
Yes, Deren needed Ria—or rather, he needed a foolish villain to torment Siklaen.
She can’t have changed. No one changes that easily.
He shook his head firmly, as if making a vow. Then, recalling her words yesterday, he scowled.
“If you care so much about noble dignity and etiquette, you’d better start by not barging uninvited into a lady’s house late at night.”
And to think—she actually left me speechless.
No matter how he provoked her, Ria hadn’t lost her temper. She had spoken calmly, reasonably. He’d never experienced that before.
The first time.
Deren hated “firsts.” He loathed anything unfamiliar. Which meant these past few days were the worst of his life.
It must be coincidence.
Even a broken clock was right twice a day. Ria was just being fickle, perhaps trying a new kind of harassment. One thing was certain: soon enough, she would go back to her old self.
Roughly running his fingers through his dark hair, Deren groaned. The lack of sleep made his head heavy. He shouldn’t be wasting time on this—he had far more important matters to handle.
He tightened his grip on the documents in his arms—tasks entrusted to him by his father, the Duke of Slanders.
If I leave the academy now, I’ll reach the scheduled location right on time.
As he calculated his schedule, striding quickly through the garden, he spotted someone in the distance.
Prince Jen…?
He stopped in his tracks and narrowed his eyes.
And then his face twisted.
Ria…
She was sitting right next to Jen. And beside her, Siklaen as well.
Why does she keep…
Naive, kind-hearted Siklaen would never suspect Ria. She would only think Ria had returned to her childhood self or had a change of heart. And if that happened, it was only a matter of time before Ria influenced her.
Without realizing it, Deren turned his steps toward them.
Because I’m the only one who can protect Siklaen.
And not for a second did he doubt that his belief was anything but righteous.
