I Became A Wretched Extra In A Healing Story - Chapter 22

Raniel answered the princess’s question.

“His Majesty the Emperor has issued a stern order to everyone to catch the culprit, so they’ll be caught soon. Don’t worry too much.”

Like Raniel said, the Emperor was very displeased due to the consecutive discoveries of poison around the princess. But unfortunately, the culprit won’t be caught. Their identity will only be revealed in Part 2.

‘Now, no more poison will be found.’

The culprits caught 10 years later confessed that the past incidents were merely tests, and their target was when the princess became an adult.

They said they waited because it would have the greatest impact to kill her when the Emperor had grown attached to her and truly loved her.

They said they planned this to make the Emperor feel the sorrow of losing family, just like they had.

So, to be precise, the target of this poison was not the princess, but the Emperor.

“I’m fine. I’m just worried because Reibella seems to be in danger often.”

“Don’t worry about me! I was fine this time too.”

Reibella said bravely. The princess looked at Reibella with proud eyes, as if looking at a younger sister.

“I’m glad you’ve become healthy, Reibella.”

“Yes. I’m happy that I’ve become healthy enough to help Your Highness.”

When she smiled brightly and said these flattering words, the princess smiled happily.

“Reibella, you speak so beautifully.”

“It’s not just words, it’s all sincere. The very fact that I’m alive and breathing now is thanks to Your Highness’s warm heart!”

“You think so?”

“Of course. Because Your Highness treats me well, that joy seems to show in my whole body. Don’t I look happy?”

Asking this, she smiled even more brightly than usual.

“Yes. I’m glad you seem to be doing well. It looks like you’re getting along well with others too.”

……Getting along?

Reibella carefully reconsidered if there had been anything that could make the princess misunderstand.

Come to think of it, the reactions of the people in the princess’s palace had been a bit strange recently. Previously, when they handed over food for tasting or approached her, there was a palpable sense of displeasure, but lately, their touch seemed to have become a bit gentler.

At some point, the intensity of the maids who used to pour out a bowl of curses with just their eyes seemed to have softened a bit.

If before, all hundred out of a hundred would have cursed her, now it might be thirty or forty out of a hundred?

Moreover, recently when she went to the kitchen to inspect the ingredients for the princess’s food, the chef even prepared something for her to eat separately.

……Though she didn’t eat it because it felt suspicious.

‘Even the cleaning maids were strange yesterday.’

The day after she recovered from detoxification, it was when she was cleaning a room that people rarely frequented, as usual. Suddenly, without warning, maids barged in. Normally at times like this, she would have to step aside tactfully, so she left for a while and came back.

Surprisingly, the cleaning was done perfectly.

At first, she thought maybe they just wanted to do it themselves, but when it happened two, three times, she wondered if they were concerned about her health.

‘Have I now become a perfect supporting character?’

Although she felt somewhat conflicted, Reibella just smiled as if she was grateful. With a bright, cheerful expression, she said to the princess,

“All the joy I experience is because Your Highness cares for me!”

“No. The reason Reibella gets along well with everyone is because they all have kind hearts. No one is bullying you, right?”

Of course, there were still some.

Although it had certainly decreased compared to the beginning, there were still people who cursed Felicity as they passed by, and when she ate the poisoned food, some cursed her saying she should have died then, or even suspected her of being the culprit.

But Reibella didn’t mention these things. She just shook her head vigorously. As expected, the princess’s reaction was as expected.

“Right? Everyone is kind and good.”

“That’s right. Everyone is friendly and caring.”

That must be the world as seen by the protagonist.

Honestly, Reibella found the princess stranger than the numerous people who bullied her.

Why was this child being so kind to her?

‘Is it because she’s the protagonist?’

Maybe it’s because she’s the ‘sunshine female lead’ and has a strong sense of mission to make everyone around her happy.

“Still, if anyone bullies you, tell me! I’ll scold them.”

“I’m grateful just for your words.”

“No. Reibella, you’ve been helping me so much lately.”

The princess said, folding one of her five outstretched fingers.

“Today too, thanks to Reibella, I successfully completed the assignment given by Master Heski. And two days ago, I answered the question Dad gave me. Also… Ah! The tea party was successful, and, and…”

After folding all ten fingers, unable to stop at just five, the princess started unfolding them one by one again.

Listening to each of these stories, Reibella suddenly realized that quite some time had passed since she came to the imperial palace.

‘Has it been about three months already?’

When she first arrived, every day felt like walking on thin ice, and with every breath in and out, it felt like rose thorns were piercing her lungs.

Exhausted, at night she would wish that tomorrow morning wouldn’t come.

Compared to then, now was heaven.

But that doesn’t mean she intends to settle for the current situation.

“Your Highness. It’s snack time.”

With a knock, Julia Hampton, the maid in charge of the princess’s food, appeared.

Reibella quickly tidied up the cleaning tools and wiped her hands with a clean wet towel. As she approached the princess, something strange caught her eye.

At the edge of the cute and pretty dessert mountain, there was a single plain fruit sitting awkwardly. It was a fruit that seemed to have been picked and brought directly, without any preparation.

“What’s this?”

When the princess asked, Julia responded with an “Ah.”

“Oh. This is for that child. I accidentally brought it along when I was supposed to set it aside separately. I apologize.”

“Is it for Reibella?”

“Yes. It’s that child’s meal.”

Surprised to hear it was her meal, Reibella looked at her. The princess also seemed puzzled by the maid’s words and asked again.

“Why is Reibella’s meal just fruit?”

“It seemed like that child hadn’t eaten breakfast, so…”

“She did the food tasting, didn’t she? Plus, I made sure she was fed.”

“Even so… food tasters are sometimes like that. Sometimes food doesn’t agree with their bodies.”

“Reibella, is that true?”

Facing the princess who was looking at her with worried eyes, Reibella gave a bright smile.

“As you can see, I’m fine.”

And then she said to Julia.

“Thank you for your concern.”

Reibella bowed slightly as she took the fruit that Julia was offering.

Before starting the food tasting, she took a bite first. It was a fruit that was only sweet, with no sourness at all.

‘…They didn’t do anything to this fruit, did they?’

When she slightly raised her head to observe, Julia the maid’s face, which was looking elsewhere with a prim expression, seemed somewhat pleased and relieved.

…Why?

The princess looked back and forth between Julia and Reibella and smiled broadly.

“I’m really glad Reibella has become friends with everyone.”

* * *

Reibella denied the princess’s words in her heart, but upon closer inspection, she realized that people’s attitudes had indeed become more docile.

Although she couldn’t understand the sudden change in attitude, Reibella thought this too was due to the princess’s influence. Because the princess treated the food taster well, the people who followed the princess also believed and followed, thinking ‘the princess must have her reasons.’

So she even wondered if perhaps the death flag she had as an ‘extra antagonizing the protagonist’ had disappeared.

But…

‘Don’t forget who you owe your life to.’

Remembering the Emperor who had spoken with a voice full of killing intent, the brief hope that had swelled deflated.

Although things were a bit easier now thanks to the antidote herb, the position of a food taster was still closely tied to death, and as long as she was a ‘Felicity,’ she could lose her life for even a small mistake.

Moreover, even if their attitudes had truly changed now, these were people who moved like reeds following the princess’s heart. She couldn’t wholly welcome such fickle goodwill that could change at any time.

Feeling stifled, she let out a deep sigh and raised her head, and as if responding to her breath, cold red eyes stared at Reibella.

Strangely, that cold response made her smile.

This feeling was good, after all.

Coming here felt like she could breathe. The tension eased, and a natural smile bloomed on her lips.

“Why are you smiling?”