Chapter 4. Signs of Change (1)

Spring came again.

It means a year has passed since I fell into this novel’s world. In other words, it’s been a year since the real Alisa died, and my grand divorce plan has been going on for about that long too.

Currently, that plan is temporarily on hold. Though the goal of getting divorced remains the same, I decided to take my time with the process and timeline.

Actually, at this rate, I almost want to just stay still until Priscilla appears. It doesn’t seem bad to let time pass comfortably and docilely wait for the inevitable future.

But when Priscilla appears?

Just thinking about it made my heart sink. If I have to watch Rashid, who will love her like life itself, right by my side, I….

‘It’s natural for Rashid to fall in love with Priscilla. That’s how it was written in the first place. But still….’

Could I really be unbothered when that becomes reality?

At first, I certainly was. Back then, since Alisa hadn’t died because of me, I thought I should find another way out of this situation instead. I believed that was the right path.

‘But now I’m not so sure.’

And I found it strange that I wasn’t sure about myself.

If the ending doesn’t change, those events will happen no matter what I do.

Then I just need to live for today. There was no other way.

“Sigh……”

Holding onto Rashid’s arm keeps making me think these thoughts. In other words, this is all Rashid’s fault. Lost in complicated thoughts, a deep sigh escaped without my notice.

“Don’t you want to go back?”

He seemed to think the sigh came from not wanting to leave Camelli. Rashid lightly pinched my cheek. I shook my head like throwing a tantrum to avoid his hand.

Today is the day we return to Granrose. Some of the servants had already left by carriage, while Rashid and I planned to use the magic circle like when we came here.

When enveloped by the brief light that spreads during the spell’s activation, this time I didn’t close my eyes. The light dyed my vision pure white.

At the Granrose mansion, Sylvester, Macy, and Harriet who had departed earlier were waiting for us.

“Your Grace and my lady.”

“It’s been a while, Mrs. Ronan. Have you been well?”

“Yes, I’m glad to see you both look well too.”

After exchanging greetings with them, I went to my bedroom.

Unlike the ducal palace, the capital mansion’s master and mistress bedrooms weren’t connected.

‘So at first the ducal palace bedroom felt awkward, but now it’s the opposite.’

Will Rashid sleep alone now? Do I not need to leave space for him on one side of the bed? What should I do? Should I ask?

While I was worrying about such things until night came, Macy skillfully prepared the bed for two people.

“What are you doing, Macy?”

“I’m preparing for your sleep.”

As if finding my question strange, Macy tilted her head slightly.

“Do you have any instructions?”

“One pillow should be enough.”

“What? But……”

Macy kept blinking her eyes while looking back and forth between me and the bed. She seemed to think we would continue using just one bed since that’s what she had been preparing for several months now.

“Just put one in the middle, like before.”

After hesitating, Macy arranged the bed as I instructed. Though she still deliberately placed a couple pillows around the edges, I let it be.

Eventually night came.

I spent a long time looking over this year’s budget while thinking many thoughts. The budget for the duchess had increased to several times last year’s amount. It was already a lot before, but seeing it increase even more made my head spin.

‘If I’m not desperately trying to get divorced anymore, I probably don’t need to keep spending extravagantly. And I’ve ended up earning money too.’

While pondering what to do, the scented candle crackled as it burned. A deep fragrance wafted around following the flame.

Just then, the door opened.

“Macy?”

I unconsciously called out the familiar name first.

But it was Rashid who appeared. Now used to seeing him in a loosely worn robe, I didn’t avert my eyes.

‘Oh.’

For a moment, I found myself feeling somewhat relieved. What is this feeling? While briefly pressing my chest wondering about this inexplicable emotion, Rashid spoke first.

“There’s no……”

He gazed steadily at the bed.

“Space.”

Flustered, I quickly pulled my pillow to one side of the bed.

“I didn’t know you were coming.”

“Why?”

He sat naturally on the bed.

“Did you not want to sleep with me anymore?”

“N-no. Just…. There’s no door between the bedrooms here, and it’s Granrose, so.”

“What’s different about Granrose?”

“You don’t have nightmares here…?”

Rashid frowned.

I kept feeling self-conscious. Though in my mind it was a reasonably justified action, it felt like I had done something terribly wrong to Rashid.

“So I can come if I might have nightmares?”

“What?”

“I feel like I might.”

Rashid grabbed a pillow and made himself comfortable. I slowly shifted to make space for him.

“Did you originally have nightmares here too?”

Maybe he did, but I just didn’t know. Since there’s no door here, the sound might have been blocked and I didn’t notice. Could that be it?

“Well……”

“You didn’t?”

“Let’s say I did.”

Rashid gave a suspicious answer as he lay down. Then he pulled my arm and held me in his embrace. Rashid’s unique scent began to linger at the tip of my nose. It was a scent that made my heart feel soft.

In some sense of stability, the earlier feeling of relief melted into one. It felt comfortable, like completing a jigsaw puzzle with the last piece, or putting an overturned doll back in its proper place.

“Is that right?”

The softly whispered voice scattered near his neck.

Rashid didn’t answer.

“It is, isn’t it?”

He tightened his arms a little more.

‘I guess that means yes.’

Anyway, I felt a bit better. Because it seemed I was helpful when he had nightmares.

I quietly buried my face in his neck. His tangible presence against my skin felt reassuring.

* * *

Until spring ripened, I spent busy days in my own way. I looked after the long-vacant mansion and met with several ladies including Karla. I sent a letter to Jeanne too, but there was no reply for a long time, perhaps because she was busy.

“These days they say it’s not easy to see Her Highness the Princess.”

Karla, still the social circle’s news source, said.

“I thought it was an excuse, but if even Alisa has trouble meeting her, it must be true.”

“She must be very busy.”

“There are many rumors.”

Karla slightly fluttered her fan to cover her mouth.

“Some say she’s preparing for marriage.”

“Oh my!”

“Well, it could be something else, but… Still, some think Her Highness might hold her wedding before His Highness the Crown Prince, who is still unmarried.”

“That’s true. His Highness the Crown Prince is well past marriageable age, could it be he has no intention to marry?”

At my question, Karla laughed out loud.

“How could that be? He’s using that to control various families, isn’t he? Who will he choose as Crown Princess─”

She made a gesture of contemplating who to choose with her finger.

“Miss Limnike is one of them.”

“Well, their ages match appropriately.”

“His Highness the Crown Prince is about the same age as His Grace the Duke, and Miss Limnike is about Alisa’s age, so it’s perfect. Since there aren’t any suitable young ladies in other kingdoms right now, one of the empire’s ladies will become Crown Princess soon.”

If Patricia becomes Crown Princess… it seems like it would be tiring.

‘Well, it’s none of my business.’

Soon I had no time for such thoughts.

That evening, Rashid returned from the imperial palace and said,

“They say the Great Blooming of camellias has come.”

“The Great Blooming……”

“There were signs before, but they say it’s certain as of today.”

I searched through Alisa’s knowledge.

The Great Blooming was God Morea’s blessing upon the Grandia Empire.

In the grand temple’s wide garden, only green vegetation spreads with no other flowers blooming. Then once every few years or decades, it becomes covered in flowers symbolizing one of the six families—the imperial family and the five ducal houses.

This was an unpredictable phenomenon, and people considered the Great Blooming an omen that the chosen family would prosper.

According to past records, once a Great Blooming occurred, it wouldn’t return for at least 5 years.

‘But… this was an event that appeared in the novel.’

I kept turning my thoughts over.

When the Great Blooming of camellias occurred, Priscilla drew Rashid out into the world when he was living like a recluse in despair.

‘Since this is the past according to the original work and it takes 5 years for another Great Blooming, does that mean Priscilla appears in 5 years?’

That would make sense.

Of course, this world’s timeline must have changed due to my existence. The small flutter of a butterfly’s wings can cause a storm, after all.

‘Just the fact that I didn’t die is already an issue. Given my situation, I couldn’t follow the original work exactly from the start.’

We don’t necessarily have to follow the original work. We can’t anyway. But since this is before the original story begins, it feels like something could change.

‘Just like how the contents of 《Pedro and Ines》 happened exactly as they did in the original world, the contents of 《Unavoidable Fate》 will probably become reality in a similar way.’