Chapter 50. A World That Must Be Perfect

“Please take care of me, Miss Renève.”

“Likewise, Lady Ellenore.”

Dona Renève, who came as my Katarian teacher, was a calm and intellectual person. She didn’t ask unnecessary questions or engage in idle chatter, and her choice of words and manner of speaking clearly showed how meticulous she was.

I liked her. The quiet time I spent with her put my mind at ease. Listening to her detailed explanations while studying the unfamiliar language allowed me to put aside my complex thoughts for a while.

“Then, should I visit at the same time tomorrow?”

Since today’s lesson was ending, Dona Renève asked while organizing the teaching materials. I nodded and replied simply.

“Yes, let’s do that.”

“Understood. See you tomorrow then, Lady Ellenore. Have a good afternoon.”

“You too, Miss Renève.”

After parting ways with her, I went up to my room and reviewed the Katarian grammar and expressions I learned today.

The 33 letters of the Katarian alphabet are called ‘Karal characters.’ Some were similar to the common letters of the Europian continent, but many looked entirely different.

While scribbling and reading particularly confusing letters in my notebook, I challenged myself to read any sentence aloud from the textbook.

My pronunciation was quite decent, but I got stuck on irregular words. I couldn’t figure out how to read those words.

I stopped staring at the word and opened the dictionary. The dictionary provided the pronunciation and meaning of the word, but it was a strange word that I couldn’t grasp even with the pronunciation guide.

It seemed to be read as ‘almorter’… but I wasn’t sure. However, I could clearly understand its meaning, and it happened to be a polysemous word.

Love, or death.

A noun that simultaneously meant ‘love’ and ‘death’—how peculiar and yet somewhat splendid. Katarian turned out to be an unexpectedly interesting language.

I decided to ask Renève about that peculiar word later and set aside the Katarian textbook, dictionary, and notebook.

It was already 3 PM. I had many tasks to do besides studying Katarian today.

‘First, I need to write the engagement invitations…’

According to royal tradition, writing invitations for engagements and weddings is the woman’s responsibility. It was a bothersome tradition.

‘After writing the invitations, I need to reply to the Queen’s letter.’

And also to Princess Roelyn… Although I hadn’t received a letter from the princess, Enoch said it would be good to write to her first. I had no idea what to write about… Maybe some greetings and seasonal talk would suffice. Is that too insincere?

But what can I do? I don’t know Princess Roelyn’s personal preferences.

‘I guess I’ll have to ask Enoch later…’

He said to be particularly cautious when talking about ‘health’ with Roelyn. Health, future, things she wants to do, places she wants to visit… He said these topics make Roelyn feel a great sense of deprivation.

Hearing that, I felt a strange sense of kinship with Princess Roelyn, but I shouldn’t show this feeling outwardly. There’s no way to explain why I feel this kinship. The fact that using foresight magic shortens my lifespan must remain a secret known only to me.

I sighed and hurriedly started writing the invitations. Naturally, there was no invitation for the Lopez family.

* * *

“Your Highness, a letter has arrived from Lady Ellenore Lopez.”

“…A letter?”

Roelyn, who was half-lying on the bed reading a book, sat up.

A royal attendant approached and respectfully presented a silver tray with the letter on it. Roelyn picked up the letter with a weak gesture.

As she flipped the envelope to check the sender on the back, her eyes filled with deep melancholy.

“It’s really from Ellenore Lopez.”

“…If you plan to read and reply, please ring the bell to call me.”

“Alright, you may leave.”

“Yes.”

After the attendant left, Roelyn sat on the edge of the bed and opened the envelope. The wax seal bore the crest of the Grand Duke of Bayern, which further soured Roelyn’s mood.

Even before the engagement, she was already acting like the Grand Duchess. Did Enoch really care for Ellenore Lopez so much that he allowed such pretentiousness? It was hard to believe.

Roelyn read the letter with a fierce look, gripping the paper as if to crumple it. The content of the letter was simple, and the handwriting was neat and proper.

Despite rumors of her being raised like a maid under ab*se, Ellenore Lopez’s letter exhibited frighteningly perfect etiquette. Was this really written by her alone? Could someone have written it for her?

“……”

Staring at the letter in silence, Roelyn felt an unbearable surge of emotion and jumped to her feet. She strode to the fireplace, ready to toss the letter into the flames.

Knock, knock.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Roelyn instinctively paused and turned her head towards the door, still holding the letter.

“What is it?”

She asked in a slightly irritable voice.

“Your Highness, a guest has arrived. It’s Lady Angela Besnard.”

“…Angela? …Alright, let her in.”

“Yes.”

After a moment of hesitation, Roelyn decided to show the letter to Angela and put it back on the sofa.

As she draped a nearby shawl over her shoulders and sat on the sofa, the door opened, and Angela walked in.

As always, Angela’s face was full of healthy color, her glossy ebony hair and milky skin, and her crimson lips formed a beautiful and healthy appearance.

Suppressing the familiar surge of jealousy, Roelyn skillfully turned it into admiration. Angela then became a friend she looked up to rather than a target of envy.

Roelyn smiled back at Angela, who sat down and smiled at her. They exchanged brief pleasantries, and soon a maid came in to serve tea and refreshments.

Roelyn always drank light apple tea. With her weak stomach, she couldn’t drink black tea or coffee. She still vividly remembered the month of suffering after drinking them out of whim. Every time she ate, her upper abdomen hurt, and she had to eat only clear soup for a while. She had lost about 5 kilograms back then.

“Oh, chocolate pudding. I really like this.”

Angela said with a cheerful laugh, picking up the pudding dish. Her blue eyes sparkled as she tasted the pudding, looking like an innocent child.

Roelyn, smiling faintly, hesitated to bring up the topic. When Angela finished the pudding, Roelyn put down her teacup with a clink and started.

“Actually, I received a letter from Ellenore Lopez.”

“From her?”

Angela asked, her eyes wide with surprise. Roelyn silently nodded and took the letter from under her shawl, handing it to Angela.

After a brief hesitation, Angela took the letter, her face showing complex emotions.

“Miss Lopez… She’s not a bad person.”

Angela murmured softly as she opened the letter. Roelyn responded with a fierce smile.

“You don’t know that until you’ve met her.”

Towards Roelyn, who was smiling awkwardly, Angela slowly began to read the letter. After a moment, she folded the letter back and carefully placed it in the envelope, sharing her thoughts with a rather calm tone.

“The handwriting is very neat. The content is clean and to the point.”

Seeing Angela return the letter with an angelic face, Roelyn felt a burning anger inside. Unable to hold back, Roelyn forgot her princess dignity and snapped in a sharp voice.

“Aren’t you angry?”

“Well…”

“You’ve liked Brother Enoch for so long! How can you accept that a girl from a lowly baron family, who is far below Brother, has taken him away? I can’t accept it! Besides, there are bad rumors about Ellenore Lopez.”

“…Bad rumors?”

Roelyn raised one eyebrow at Angela as if asking if she really hadn’t heard. Angela just tilted her head with an innocent face.

Seeing Angela still so kind-hearted, Roelyn felt a sense of helplessness and sighed deeply. She took a sip of tea and spoke.

“It’s about her biological mother.”

“…That she’s half Katarian?”

“Yes, it’s already unpleasant that she has the blood of an Almaira foreigner, but they say her biological mother suffered from madness. So they say she inherited that madness. When Brother Enoch brought her out of the Lopez estate, witnesses said her hands and clothes were covered in blood. There’s talk that she went crazy and caused a commotion. Everyone is just too afraid of Brother Enoch to say anything…”

“Oh my…”

Angela covered her mouth with her hand as if she had heard a shocking story. Roelyn, after a moment of contemplation, got up and approached Angela. Holding Angela’s hand tightly, she spoke with a desperate expression.

“I hope Brother Enoch changes his mind. Angela, you’re the only one who can be Brother’s partner. Can’t Teacher intervene this time?”

The teacher referred to was Angela’s grandfather, Morpheus Besnard. Angela looked at Roelyn with affectionate eyes and slowly shook her head.

“How could I ask grandfather to intervene in a matter involving my personal feelings? I’m okay, Roelyn. And Miss Lopez… she’s the one Enoch chose. She’ll be fine, I’m sure.”

“…You really…”

Roelyn, who was about to speak in frustration, let out a deep sigh as if the ground would sink. Truly, her friend was too kind. At this rate, she wouldn’t even be a rival to Ellenore Lopez.

Roelyn finally decided to take her last resort. She planned to meet Enoch and Ellenore Lopez, uncover the truth of their relationship, and urge them to break up.

Enoch was Roelyn’s most beloved brother. And Angela was the only person Roelyn acknowledged as Enoch’s partner.

The thought of another woman being Enoch’s partner meant Roelyn’s world would collapse. She couldn’t forgive the uninvited guest who suddenly invaded her cherished world. She had to drive her away. Only then would everything return to its rightful place.

Yes, that’s why.

Trust me, Angela.

Roelyn, gazing at her angel-like kind friend,