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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: An Unwanted Invitation
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After saying my final goodbyes to Darcy, I stepped outside and came face to face with Marquis Etoile.
“What is it?”
I knew the Marquis also stayed up until dawn, but we had never set foot in each other's spaces.
For a father who didn't even dine with me to come all this way meant something was definitely up.
I waited, thinking he would be the one to speak first, but an awkward silence fell between us.
Spending time with someone unfamiliar feels like walking on needles.
In the end, I spoke first.
“Is something wrong?”
“Are you well?”
“…Yes.”
“I see. I came because I have something to tell you.”
Just as I thought. After a brief, polite inquiry about my well-being, the Marquis got straight to the point.
“His Majesty the Emperor has sent you an invitation, Marso.”
…An invitation? What for?
The Marso Etoile in the book had pursued Prince Ryan, but she had never once received an invitation from the Emperor.
That was because the Emperor didn't particularly like Marso. She had tried to possess Ryan by any means necessary, using her status and the magic stone mines she owned.
“He's invited you to a banquet with Prince Ryan. It seems he's thinking of you as the Crown Princess. It looks like the Crown Prince's investiture ceremony will be held soon.”
I was confused. The Emperor wanted to place Marso Etoile in the position of Crown Princess?
Was this in the original story? No, there was no way I would have forgotten something this important.
There was only one answer. My actions, different from the original Marso's, had created a butterfly effect.
This was the first time I had tangibly felt the original story change. It was good that my actions could alter the situation, but I didn't like *this*.
…What? Ryan's wife? You want me to go to the man who's hell-bent on devouring me?
To me, Ryan wasn't a Crown Prince; he was a thug who threatened me every time we met.
I answered in a heartbeat.
“I don't want to go.”
Marquis Etoile looked at me with a pitiful expression and tried to persuade me.
“Marriage to the Prince wouldn't be a bad thing for you. We can't refuse this invitation, so just go and think it over.”
I have no desire, not even in my dreams, to see his face again.
“I think I'll be terribly ill that day.”
“Then the banquet will simply be moved to another day. This is not something you can avoid just by running away.”
Unfortunately, he wasn't wrong. How could a Marquis refuse an order from the Emperor?
“If it's going to happen anyway, it's best to get it over with quickly. The date is ten days from today, so prepare well. You've always liked the Prince, haven't you?”
The Marquis seemed to take my reaction as a childish tantrum. He must have assumed that since the original Marso liked Ryan, she would be delighted to be chosen as the Crown Princess.
…Clearing up his misunderstanding would be a long story, so I just kept quiet. I didn't want to have such a long conversation with Marquis Etoile.
“Well then, I'll be on my way.”
Having said his piece, Marquis Etoile walked past me.
No, he stopped beside me as he was about to pass. He was silent for a moment before speaking.
“The reason I let Reshuan in… was because I thought she could be a good friend to you. That was my mistake. I apologize.”
…It was an unexpected apology. By the time I quickly turned my head, Marquis Etoile was already walking away from me.
In the end, I couldn't see what kind of expression he had on his face when he said those words.
But his slightly trembling voice sounded as if he was nervous.
…Was I too cold to him? After Marquis Etoile apologized, I started to feel self-conscious about my attitude toward him.
But that feeling was fleeting, and the wall named Ryan left me feeling hopeless.
A bomb dropped the moment Darcy and I parted ways.
“Why can't they just let me stay cooped up at home?”
I started to miss Darcy. I wanted to tell him what had happened.
Darcy would listen quietly, then the corners of his eyes would crinkle as he gave me his opinion.
With Darcy, I could be myself.
I could shed the title of villainess, have somewhat childish conversations, and even talk about hobbies I'd never mentioned to anyone else.
He was someone I could pour my heart out to without a second thought.
It was only when I thought of something to tell him that the reality of his absence truly hit me.
Something surged up inside me. The corners of my eyes grew red.
“…I miss you.”
Picturing Darcy's face, I opened the drawing room door. It was an act born from the faint hope that he might be there.
But, as expected, the drawing room was empty.
The room, which was always the same, felt strangely empty.
I headed for the theater. My mind was a mess, so I planned to sleep there tonight.
I should continue listening to the nocturne from earlier. No, maybe I should listen to a collection of short pieces.
As I was pondering this, I flinched upon seeing Leticia standing in front of the door.
“Young Lady!”
The moment Leticia saw me, she scurried over and cautiously studied my expression.
“Are you still angry?”
“No. What is there to be angry about? I just didn't have any errands for you.”
I smiled and stared at her. It was true that I had been avoiding Leticia. Her attempt to push me and Reshuan together had been too uncomfortable.
As if sensing my feelings, Leticia was the first to speak her mind.
“Young Lady, I was wrong. I shouldn't have brought Lady Reshuan there… I just thought it would be better for you to reconcile with her and re-enter high society than to just stay like this.”
Hmm, I wonder if just being like this seems pathetic in others' eyes.
If you've been constantly striving and living diligently, don't you deserve a break?
“What do you mean, 'like this'?”
At my calm question, Leticia seemed to realize her slip of the tongue.
Blinking in bewilderment, Leticia carefully continued.
“Young Lady, I just thought it would be good if you could overcome your current hardships and move forward. Staying like this is a bit… you know.”
Right, maybe Leticia is thinking of me. She might feel sorry for my changed state and is trying to help in her own way.
But there is no consideration in her words. She dismisses my current state as 'that sort of thing' and tries to force me into the mold of what others consider normal.
It's obvious from Leticia's attitude. Not only has she never been in a situation like mine, but she also doesn't try to understand my actions.
I hate that.
I'm finally breaking free from the standard of 'normal' and trying to heal and live as I please.
I'm not harming anyone by living like this, so why do I have to change?
Am I expecting too much from Leticia, who is just an employee?
But Leticia was the one who crossed the line first.
“I'll take what you said today as you having my best interests at heart, and leave it at that. However, Leticia.”
My expression hardened as I stared coldly at her.
“I won't be so lenient a second time, so watch your mouth.”
The time that might seem pathetic to others was precious to me.
No matter how they denied it, that fact wouldn't change.
The time spent lying alone.
The time spent watching plays.
All the time spent in the garden.
It was time for healing the festering wounds inside me, my own way of rehabilitation.
At my words, Leticia fell silent, as if at a loss. She studied my face.
My face, stripped of its usual absentmindedness, was sharper than she expected.
A moment of silence passed before Leticia bowed her head respectfully. She stammered out her words.
“I'm sorry, Young Lady. I was thoughtless. I misspoke. I truly… thought Lady Reshuan would be of help to you. To me, that sounded like the best advice…”
This was an unavoidable difference. I don't know how Leticia has lived, and she doesn't know the origins of my personality.
The fact that, unlike me, she feels motivated by words like "living like that is a bit... you know" proves it.
When you think about it, people are all so different.
The depth of a relationship is probably defined by how much you can accept and embrace each other's differences and change.
I took a deep breath and spoke slowly.
“As long as you don't say such things again, it's fine. Is that the only reason you were waiting here?”
“…I've prepared the cake and macarons you like. I thought you might be feeling down after hearing about the banquet from the Marquis today.”
I was grateful for her consideration in preparing things I liked.
I shot Leticia a sidelong glance and muttered.
“If you knew I'd be feeling down, why would you say something like that?”
“But when I thought about how the banquet with the Prince was so soon, I got anxious too…”
“The banquet and this are two separate matters. I'll be sleeping in this room tonight, so you may leave.”
“Yes, Young Lady.”
Seemingly aware that she had misspoken today, Leticia quickly withdrew.
I entered the theater and spent some time by myself. I had to conserve as much energy as possible until I met Ryan.
If Reshuan had told Ryan about our last conversation, that alone would be a problem.
I ate the desserts Leticia had prepared as a late-night snack and listened to a collection of calm, short musical pieces, but sleep did not come easily.
I fell asleep near dawn, realizing once again just how important mental peace was.
***
Just because I stayed at home didn't mean time passed slowly.
To end this conversation once and for all, I needed to be fully prepared.
My only consolation was the fact that Pitol had finished revising his ambitious new work.
He was excited, saying he had a feeling this play would be a huge hit.
People passionately prepared for the premiere inside the Etoile family theater. My list of recordings grew day by day.
Lidro had been drawing a stricter line recently. He would even quickly leave if he saw me.
The way he acted so startled, as if something terrible would happen if he spoke to me, made it seem like he'd been threatened not to meet me.
‘…I guess it's a relief that his rose-colored glasses are off.’
His sudden change in attitude was baffling, but it wasn't a bad thing for me.
In addition, the day of my banquet with Ryan arrived.
‘How long has it been since I last went out?’
Since it was an invitation from the Emperor himself, it was only polite to dress up.
I wondered what sort of stories were circulating about me. Since I didn't go out, I had no way of knowing the rumors. Of course, I didn't bother to find out, as hearing them would only cause me stress.
Since I have to do it anyway, I might as well do it perfectly.
I sat in front of the mirror and entrusted myself to the hands of my maids.
