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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: An Unwanted Visitor
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“Thank you for believing in me, Your Majesty.”
Ryan bowed his head.
Why would he offer that place to him? Had he decided to change his ways?
No, people don’t change that easily.
Bestowing the palace meant that the work that had to be done there was finished.
…Had he found another place to commit murder? Or was he planning to order him to repeat the massacre?
As Ryan was lost in thought, Kies’s voice drifted into his ears.
“What about the young lady of the Etoile family? Rumor has it her personality has mellowed out lately, and she just stays at home.”
Ryan flinched at the mention of Marso’s name.
In the past, he was the type of person who wouldn't have even mentioned her name, finding her too difficult for the imperial family to control.
The only reason he was bringing her up the moment her behavior had changed slightly was that he coveted the mines.
“I wouldn’t have considered it before, but things are different now. They are a family with mines—two magic stone mines, at that. If we marry into that family, the imperial family can completely monopolize magic stones.”
“Aren’t the mines the imperial family already possesses sufficient?”
“We need more magic stones.”
Kies’s eyes gleamed with greed. He didn’t seem like he would be easily swayed.
Ryan quickly realized.
‘So this was the reason.’
The sudden summons, the talk of slaughtering the mages—it was all to explain why this engagement had to be pushed through.
Magic tools made using magic stones, especially chains and cuffs, were effective for managing and killing mages.
Of course, this was all hushed up and kept secret by the Emperor, who wanted to monopolize magic tools.
Kies was also the one who had effectively used the press to sour public perception of magic tools.
The same went for the rumors about mages.
“Think about it carefully, Ryan. What you must do for the sake of the imperial family.”
“…Yes. I will consider whether there might be a better way.”
“A better way? I doubt such a thing exists… In that case, I will hear your answer next time.”
Kies frowned at Ryan’s words but reluctantly gave his permission. Ryan knew all too well that his patience was paper-thin.
After finishing his conversation with Kies, Ryan left, deep in thought.
If he couldn’t find something to satisfy Kies, he couldn’t avoid this engagement.
And that meant marriage to Marso Etoile. The Marso Etoile he so despised.
‘I can’t let that happen.’
For the sake of Reshuan, who would be hurt, he had to prevent it. He was already worried, as Reshuan hadn’t been in a good state lately.
“Next time” meant when Kies returned after finishing the massacre.
He had two weeks. There were two options: explain Reshuan’s advantages to the Emperor, or explain a fatal flaw of Marso Etoile.
‘There was a rumor she’s been trying to take a lover lately.’
He needed to find out more about that rumor. The easiest way would be to use the spy he had planted in the Etoile household.
For a moment, Marso’s words flashed through Ryan’s mind.
“I hope that from now on, Your Highness, you suffer as much as I have.”
People don’t change easily.
“Marso Etoile has truly been cooped up in her room, just as she said. All she does is have merchants create magic tools for her. And even that is just so she can stay inside. Your Highness, I think she may have really changed.”
Ryan pressed his lips together.
What Marso Etoile had said to him couldn’t possibly have been sincere.
The only reason that person, who had loved and desired him so desperately, was showing a different side now was surely to make him lower his guard.
He could only devise a plan to crush Marso Etoile because she was a villain.
She was someone who deserved to be treated this way.
Unlike the kind and lovely Reshuan.
***
After Darcy left, I spent my days normally, waiting for his return.
Being stuck at home wasn’t so bad.
Not only did I raid the most famous dessert shop in the capital, but I also hired their pastry chefs for a day and had them make all of my favorite desserts.
Sitting in the glass garden, I savored the desserts that were piled so high on the table it looked like its legs would buckle.
This was an apple pie generously topped with sweet and sour stewed apples; that was a tiramisu with mascarpone cheese and moist ladyfingers. And this was a macaron with layers of ruffles.
There were times I felt lonely by myself, but when I thought of the stress I’d face dealing with people, such feelings would completely vanish.
Human relationships are the hardest thing in the world.
“I need a rest.”
This place was a paradise just for me.
Just as I was about to cut into a cake topped with delicious-looking strawberries, Leticia came running.
“Young Lady, Lady Reshuan is here!”
What news to ruin my appetite on such a fine day.
I made a sour face and shook my head.
“Tell her to go back.”
“…She’s already come in.”
What? Before I could respond to Leticia’s words, the garden door burst open with a bang. Reshuan was standing there.
With her neatly styled hair and pretty eyes that sparked people’s sympathy, she strode toward me.
…The sight of her, looking as if I had just dumped her, left me speechless. Up close, her glistening eyes looked like they were about to spill over with tears at any moment.
Upon spotting me, Reshuan immediately ran over.
“Marso! I came because I wanted to talk.”
…Ha. A dry laugh escaped me. Even I, who had been tolerant of Reshuan’s behavior until now, found this a bit uncomfortable.
This was my space. It wasn’t a place she could just barge into as she pleased.
As anger surged, my mind paradoxically grew calm.
Leticia, standing behind Reshuan, bowed her head with a timid look. When she raised her head, her lips moved silently. She offered me a word of comfort.
“…It will be helpful for you, Young Lady.”
Of course, that was no comfort at all.
‘Father must have let her in.’
Not everyone who came to visit unannounced could meet me. The fact that there was a servant who let her into the estate and guided her all the way to the garden meant she had received permission from the current master of the estate.
From Marquis Etoile, who provided me with only material things but no interaction.
Reshuan thrust a gift box at me. As I just stared at her from my seat, she hurriedly began to speak.
“Marso. I’ve really thought a lot, and I realized how hard it must have been for you. The more I think about it, the more I realize how much I did wrong.”
The gift, wrapped in bright yellow paper and tied with a soft silk ribbon, was proof that Reshuan had put thought into it.
But that was no reason for me to accept the gift.
I could hear the sound of my perfect day slowly starting to crack.
Picking up a napkin, I wiped my mouth and then told her to leave.
“Get out, Reshuan.”
I said it with a bright smile.
For a moment, the smile Reshuan had been barely holding on her lips faltered. But she didn’t move. Her voice was so firm it was almost like the protagonist’s willpower, and it was tiring to listen to.
“…Marso, I don’t want you to hate me.”
Reshuan’s words left me speechless.
She wasn’t used to being disliked.
Ah, I get it. Especially for someone who is used to being loved.
Then what about me?
I’m an ordinary person, not used to being either loved or hated.
But since possessing this body, I have been subjected to people’s raw hatred. I have silently endured filthy, dark emotions that Reshuan could never understand in her entire life.
A small drop of blood that stains a pure white dress. It doesn’t have an overwhelming presence, but it’s constantly nagging at you, making you look back, until you can’t stand it without doing something about it.
Is that what I am to Reshuan?
Leticia looked at me and mouthed words again. Her attitude, as if trying to persuade me to resolve the situation nicely, made me scoff.
Seriously, whose side is Leticia on?
She usually listened to me well, but it was very troublesome that she would take Reshuan’s side at such a crucial moment.
‘Coming here means she came with that much resolve, I suppose.’
I placed the gift back in Reshuan’s hands and smiled sweetly.
“Reshuan, the world won’t collapse just because one person doesn’t like you.”
So much for pretending to be nice.
“There are plenty of people in this world who will love you.”
At my words, Reshuan frantically shook her head.
“What are you talking about? Plenty of people to love me? I’m sure there are people who love you too, Marso. You’re such a good person. It’s just that you haven’t met them yet.”
Should I say her head is full of flowers?
No, is that what it takes to be a heroine?
The ability to find something positive in any situation?
“Why don’t you want me to dislike you?”
I asked her the main point bluntly.
“…Because it doesn’t feel right, thinking that you dislike me—”
“So you want to make up with me for the sole reason that *your* heart is uncomfortable. And you’re just ignoring my opinion.”
“That’s not it! I was thinking about you that much, too. I missed you.”
It was a line that sounded like it belonged to a heroine and a male lead, but this was the scene of a villain and a heroine struggling against each other.
She never would have contacted me if I hadn’t reached out first.
Even a few months ago, when she didn’t show her face at all, she only apologized belatedly and never said she missed me.
So she treated me like a fish she’d already caught.
There was only one reason Reshuan missed me now.
Because I was trying to leave her side.
“…After hearing what you said, I realized. I was so ashamed of how careless I’d been. Let’s get along well again. I was so happy when you asked to be friends a year ago. We’ve been getting along well all this time, haven’t we?”
She grabbed my hand abruptly. I raised an eyebrow, mulling over her words.
Hmm, so she thought we were getting along well.
It seemed I first needed to shatter her illusion that everything had been going smoothly.
“Reshuan.”
I opened my mouth, my tone firm.
