The priests awkwardly made excuses and left in place of the Saintess.
‘It seems the Saintess isn’t feeling well today. Please understand.’
‘It looks like she’s using her divine power excessively and trying to return to the temple as soon as possible.’
I looked at the spot where the Saintess had left with a bewildered expression.
‘She says she’s unwell, so there’s nothing she can do about it…’
But I’d never seen a guest leave without even saying goodbye to the host like that.
John turned my head so I would look at him.
“Estelle, you should look at me.”
As I kept gazing at that handsome face, my cheeks grew hot.
I found myself glancing at John’s lips repeatedly.
‘They look more moist than usual…’
The hot kiss earlier flashed in my mind.
John, noticing my gaze, gently licked his lips with his tongue, as if he sensed my thoughts. I swallowed nervously.
He clasped my hand, which was wearing a ring, with his.
“Shall we hold an official wedding?”
“…A wedding?”
“We never had a proper wedding because of the circumstances. I feel a bit disappointed.”
Even just the ring made my heart race more intensely. Two conflicting urges battled in my mind.
‘The original story has already changed. You’ve become the real one.’
‘You’re so naive. You’ve been betrayed and abandoned by people so many times. And yet, you still want to trust again?’
With handsome features like a painting, a firm body, and a unique atmosphere that oscillates between languidness and neatness—he looked like a treasure I shouldn’t covet.
Sometimes, I felt guilty just by thinking about surpassing him.
“Since we’ve already lived as a married couple, do you think we can hold a wedding later?”
Since such cases are rare, especially after living as spouses, it was almost unheard of.
“If you want to do it, what’s the problem?”
“…”
“I’ll hold the ceremony for you even if it’s legally forbidden.”
John’s gaze was intense, sincere.
“John, do you regret not having a wedding with us?”
He slowly brushed my hair with his other hand.
“I already imagine it. You, wearing the white wedding dress I chose, walking down the red carpet to me.”
A picture-perfect wedding naturally appeared in my mind.
Flowers rain down from the sky, and elegant music played by an orchestra fills the air. The guests would be so impressed by us.
I’d hold your hand and vow before the priests that we would be together forever.
And what about you?”
“…Just imagining it is enough.”
John’s face overlapped with the image of him in a tuxedo.
‘This might be greed.’
I smiled faintly and asked.
“But what if I have no guests to invite?”
“If it’s my wedding, anyone who wants to come would be causing a fuss.”
John brushed my hair behind my ear and pressed his lips to my forehead.
His lips were extremely hot.
From above, a confident, elegant voice echoed.
“Let’s get married, Estelle.”
“…”
“Marry me.”
John proposed with a calm tone. Strangely, I felt a strange tension in his voice.
My heart surged with irrational impulses. Yet, amid the overwhelming emotion, my mind strangely grew cold.
‘Why doesn’t John ever say he loves me?’
He treats me so dearly, gives me the ring symbolizing the mistress, and even proposes.
‘He’s deliberately avoiding saying he loves me.’
It wasn’t just this time.
Throughout our time together, I had subtly prompted him to say the word ‘love’ before. But it was always the same.
‘John kept avoiding saying he loved me.’
The only way to truly confirm his sincerity was for me to confess first that I loved him.
Then, he wouldn’t be able to evade it with a vague excuse.
Overlaying John’s face as he proposed was the story from the original work.
Estelle, tearfully clinging to John as he left, cried out.
‘Duke. How can I make you love me?’
John, stepping on my hand, answered elegantly into my ear.
‘It shouldn’t end like this.’
‘…What do you mean?’
‘Ah. You don’t understand? Let me explain simply.’
John held my chin and sneered.
‘I married you to take revenge. To toy with you and then discard you.’
A cold voice that pierced my heart.
‘It was quite fun acting all this time, but I thought I could keep you longer before throwing you away.’
‘Was all that… acting?’
‘Wouldn’t you think so?’
John smiled like a demon.
‘I would never love someone like you.’
That truth started with me confessing that I loved him first.
‘I want to trust you…’
But I wasn’t sure if I could trust him recklessly.
‘It’s not just about saying “I love you.”’
John didn’t mention revenge. Still, I couldn’t ignore the hope swelling inside me.
I squeezed my hand, which I had gently clasped, with a smile.
“John, you know my proposal is a bit late, right?”
“I know.”
“But I’m still happy.”
Just keep ready to run anytime.
If I do only that… I can stay by John’s side.
~·~·*· . ·*· . ·*· . ·*·~·~
After the Saintess left, I was examined by Henry and several other doctors.
Especially Patricia, who was very insistent at that time.
“Master. I think we need to use all the magical tools at our disposal and examine Lady once more.”
Somehow, Bettina and Erich, who had become familiar with me, nodded in agreement.
“Yes, there might be some problem. Lady tends to endure even when she’s sick.”
“I fully agree. All the magical tools and doctors that the master ordered have arrived.”
So I arrived at the consultation room. There, strange magical tools were piled up. I asked my chief doctor, Henry.
“What are all these magical tools?”
“I’ve collected all the diagnostic magical tools. This time, we should get an accurate diagnosis.”
There were about six medical devices. The first one checked my overall condition.
“Overall, your body is quite weak, but there are no significant issues.”
‘That’s probably normal.’
But errors started happening from the second device onward.
“You… your energy flow cannot be diagnosed by these magical tools. Usually, a graph would be printed, but there’s no graph at all for you.”
“…”
“This can’t be! The other devices don’t show anything either. Why…?”
Three medical tools malfunctioned consecutively.
‘Is this the end?’
The last device looked like a hat. Henry, trembling, placed it on my head and muttered desperately.
“Please…”
Bettina clasped her hands and prayed. It was so serious that it became awkward.
‘When will it end…?’
Suddenly, a strange warning sounded.
BEEP— BEEP BEEP! Beep!
Henry suddenly burst into tears and threw down a panel connected to the magical tools.
“This trashy magical device!”
“What’s the result?”
“This device is definitely broken. It’s a new model I bought, but…”
Henry sighed deeply.
“This stupid machine, it’s saying Lady isn’t human.”
“What?!”
Bettina shouted in anger.
“So what if she’s not human?! If she’s not, then what?! Even if they’re magical tools, this is just too much.”
“I think we need to confront the people who sold this magical device. Lady, please don’t be too upset.”
“Yes, claiming she’s not human is an insult.”
I rolled my eyes.
‘That magical device… it’s too accurate.’
A red circle blinked on the panel. Even as I watched it, Bettina was desperately trying to comfort me.
“Maybe what that device is saying is that Lady is so beautiful that she’s almost not human.”
“Hm.”
“Sometimes, when I see Lady, I think she’s beyond human beauty. Maybe she’s a legendary angel or fairy!”
Actually, Bettina, I am a fairy.
Henry, who picked up the panel, shook his head, tears streaming from his eyes.
“Why do I keep getting these reactions?”
“What do you mean?”
“…The continuous red circle indicates some kind of curse or deadly energy from a black mage.”
This device detected my curse too?
“…What is this deadly energy?”
“It indicates the remaining lifespan. The stronger it is, the closer you are to death.”
Startled, I looked at the device, which still beeped with a red signal.
Henry gently held my hand.
“Considering you’re a noble lady, there’s no way you’ve been cursed. Most likely, your lifespan is running out—”
“…Really?”
“Yes. Usually, lifespan can’t be checked, but since you’re suffering from a rare disease, it’s been diagnosed. Anyway, given this reaction—”
Henry knelt in front of me.
“Your remaining lifespan is about 1-2 years.”
“Ah…”
“I’m sorry, Lady. I, Henry Hansen, will find a new way to treat your illness.”
I was too overwhelmed to know how to react.
“Just a year… what am I supposed to do, Lady?”
Bettina, who had started crying uncontrollably, hugged me tightly.
“Our Lady… what can I do? You could be happy again now.”
A creak—
The door slowly opened, revealing a pale Erich and Raymond.
Erich closed his eyes with a devastated look, and Raymond involuntarily knelt.
“No… that can’t be true. Did I hear wrong?”
“…It’s true.”
“Unbelievable…”
Raymond suddenly stood up loudly.
“I have to report this to my lord immediately!”
“R-Ramond, wait a moment!”
“Lady! I will bring the lord!”
Guys, I’m perfectly fine!
-Child, it might be too soon to recover.
-What if everything is exposed if you delay?
-Have you ever lied? They misunderstood each other.
I heard the laughter of trees with my own ears.
-Now that it’s gotten serious, enjoy the reactions. Watching the mansion turn upside down because of you will be very entertaining.
…Do you really think that will work?
‘As expected, the answer is infiltration.’
Until John comes down, I seriously contemplated a plan to escape.
~·~·*· . ·*· . ·*· . ·*·~·~
The summer festival was in full preparation.
As a nationwide event, guests from neighboring kingdoms and the empire were invited. The most important carriage stopped in front of the beautiful mansion.
A swirling star-encompassing wave pattern.
The Royal Sea Kingdom Royhem, at the center and power of the United Kingdom.
Inside the carriage, a woman jumped out energetically. She was the princess of Royhem, Diana, with her characteristic brown skin and chocolate-colored hair tied in a ponytail.
Princess Royhem, Diana.
“Sister-in-law, is it really okay to return to the empire like this?”
Diana looked worriedly at her new sister-in-law.
“You probably have nothing but bad memories of the empire. What if you run into that woman again…?”
Fair skin, pale hair, and hazel eyes with an orange tint.
Diana’s lovely sister-in-law smiled kindly.
“Yes, it’s okay. I’m happy to come back to my hometown, the empire, after so long.”
“That’s right, you’ve always missed the empire, haven’t you?”
Diana frowned deeply.
“I don’t understand why the victimized sister-in-law has to suffer because of that crazy wicked woman.”
“…Diana. Don’t get too angry.”
“Even though I got an unforgettable scar, that wicked woman is living shamelessly without even an apology!”
Diana was excited and fuming.
“Libertan was caught for treason, and I thought she’d pay the price. But now she’s become the Duchess of Blanchet and living well. How can the world be like this?”
“I said I’m okay. It’s all forgiven.”
“I’m not okay! If I meet that woman, I won’t stay silent.”
At that moment, Queen Royhem spoke sternly.
“Do not act recklessly.”
“Mother!”
“You must remember that whatever happens, Royhem depends on your actions.”
Queen Royhem gently held her daughter-in-law’s hand with a compassionate smile.
“Daughter-in-law, don’t worry too much. Though it’s not as powerful as the empire, Royhem is not without strength. Especially, you’re part of our family. I won’t stand by and watch our family suffer.”
“Thank you, Mother. But I still haven’t married Hesenn…”
“Once the wedding is in a few days, you’ll be practically family already.”
Moved by her caring words, the daughter-in-law seemed to tear up. The Queen, feeling even more sympathetic, patted her gently.
Soon, Miryu, who would become the Queen of Royhem, fluttered her long eyelashes.
‘She should have died with her treason…’
Libertan’s fake had luckily become the Duchess.
But fortunately, the empire still called Estelle a notorious wicked woman. Just as before she left to become the Crown Princess.
‘There’s no way my lies will be exposed.’
Miryu smiled pleasantly while looking at the Royhem mansion.
‘No one will believe her anyway.’
However, her hand anxiously fiddled with the choker around her neck.
I arrived at the party hall, dressed splendidly. Everyone was so worried about my safety that it was difficult to move easily.
‘The only good thing…’
After misunderstanding about my lifespan and granting all my requests, I was able to come to the party alone, without John.
‘A party of the United Kingdom…’
This was a casual gathering of nobles from the United Kingdom who had arrived in the empire.
‘It’s perfect for making connections with the nobility of the United Kingdom.’
Escaping to the United Kingdom would make it hard for the empire to find me, and if I fled to the sea, I’d never be found again.
‘Having connections with the nobles of the United Kingdom would make it easier to get their understanding.’
So, it was best to learn as much as possible about the United Kingdom today. Getting close would be even better.
The nobles from the United Kingdom at the party looked at me with surprised eyes. I was quite accustomed to this reaction.
But since they only glanced at me and didn’t greet me, I had to awkwardly stand there.
‘I thought since this is a gathering of the upper nobility, they’d act practically.’
Apparently, they didn’t come forward to greet me openly, probably because of rumors about me.
‘Still, the host will probably come to greet me.’
At that moment, one of the young ladies whisperingly muttered loud enough for me to hear.
“Why… is that wicked woman here?”
“Does she think she can ignore her sins in the United Kingdom? How shameless…”
I gracefully took a step toward the young lady.
Initially, she tried to pretend she didn’t notice, but as she saw me approach, her face turned pale. When I reached her, she bowed her head.
“Duchess Blanchet. I am Nadia Morse from the Kingdom of Depheb.”
“Nice to meet you, Lady Morse. Sorry, but what is Morse’s family?”
“We are counts from the Kingdom of Depheb.”
“I see. I don’t know much about other kingdoms.”
I smiled warmly as I looked at Nadia.
“By the way, it seems you know me very well?”
“Ah, that’s…”
Nadia clutched her skirt tightly and spoke.
“I apologize, Duchess Blanchet. It might be a bit difficult for you to hear…”
I genuinely looked worried as I saw Nadia biting her lip awkwardly.
“No, Lady. If you just apologize right away without thinking, I might misunderstand you.”
“…”
“Claiming that the Kingdom of Depheb tried to look down on the empire…”
My words caused the surrounding atmosphere to stir even more. I smirked at their reactions.
“Of course, I’m joking.”
“…”
“Maybe not.”
~·~·*· . ·**##^^##**· . ·*·~·~
Hey there, It’s Green Rose 😉
Since I human I might have make some mistakes while translating so please if you find them let me know here in the comments or in the Discord group so I can correct them and be careful in the future so they do not repeat.
Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
~~~Next Chapter~~~
Next chapter will be released Tomorrow.
See you then!!
