Acelia, who didn’t have a particularly good impression of knights, was inwardly surprised.

Whether it was the Red Hawk Knights or the Chick Knights, they had been barging in without permission, but Claude came first and stated his affiliation and name.

She had never heard the greeting “Devotion to the Star of the Empire” before. It was the highest expression used for a princess.

She naturally felt a softening of her heart. With a slight smile, Acelia greeted him.

“Hello, Sir Miller. You’re working hard.”

“Not at all. It’s what we should be doing.”

With black hair and sunset-colored eyes, he exuded dignity befitting his position as commander of the knights.

Not stopping there, Claude surveyed Acelia’s surroundings and offered,

“If you’re returning, we’ll escort you.”

“That’s not necessary. Wouldn’t that be too much trouble for you?”

“No, Acelia! I’ll take you back to the palace.”

You keep your mouth shut.

Acelia glared at Liam. Even if your superior says so, you should try to dissuade him, you tactless human.

She had only brought a couple of strong servants with her, not calling for knight escorts, in order to secretly attend acting practice.

Claude must have noticed this, hence his careful suggestion.

The more I see him, the more decent he seems.

Ding!

[New possibility detected! Would you like to unlock the romance route with ? Y/N]

The roulette pounced eagerly just because she had a stray thought.

‘What possibility? Go away.’

Acelia quickly pressed the N button without others noticing. What was the point of romance in a world she would eventually leave?

‘Though this is the kind of person one should date. Responsible and kind……’

At that moment, Joachim flashed through her mind. Acelia was startled.

‘No! Why am I thinking of Joachim here?’

Quickly erasing his afterimage, Acelia accepted Claude’s kindness.

“If you’re offering, I appreciate it.”

“Commander, I’ll escort her!”

“Sir Felix, you will remain and carry out your duties.”

“What?! But.”

“Sir Boyle, Sir Harrison, and Sir Andy will accompany me to escort Her Highness the Princess.”

“Yes, understood!”

“No, I……”

Acelia returned to the palace with satisfaction, escorted by the Golden Shield Knights in a carriage.

Indeed, competent people are also quick to read situations.

* * *

On a day off from play rehearsals.

Acelia was having a lesson about the Fernando Kingdom with the foreign service officers she had worked with before.

It turned out as Ian had said. Acelia would host the envoys from Fernando Kingdom at the upcoming Founding Day Festival.

While pretending to focus on Camilla’s lecture, Acelia was lost in thought.

‘Diego is wary of me? For that, there’s no sign of it at all.’

Nothing was happening around Acelia. Compared to when she first transmigrated, it was rather peaceful.

Perhaps Ian was overreacting. In truth, he wasn’t particularly trustworthy to Acelia either.

How could she trust him after just a few encounters? He might be the type to pretend to be nice while stabbing her in the back.

‘What if he’s trying to create confusion?’

But what would he gain from that?

With her mind becoming complicated, Acelia banged her forehead on the desk, prompting Camilla to put down her teaching materials.

“Shall we stop here for today?”

“Sorry. I’m having trouble concentrating.”

“Everyone has days like that! Your Highness the Princess is doing well.”

“That’s right. Your Highness the Princess is the only one who calls in foreign service officers for lessons about the country you’ll be hosting.”

That’s because others already know it all……

The foreign service officers chattered as if they had been waiting for this moment.

“You have no idea how popular Your Highness the Princess is in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Many people wanted to be here.”

“You’re lying.”

“It’s true! Fortunately, you specifically named us, otherwise we would have had to compete against tremendous odds.”

“Why? I haven’t done anything for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

“That’s not true. You created achievements more important than life itself. And even apart from that, Your Highness the Princess is the only one who treats us with friendliness.”

“That’s right. The others are a bit…… ‘Why can’t you do even this?!’ is the baseline. Oh! Please keep it a secret that I said this.”

Office workers really do have many hardships.

She had treated them like university team project members, but it seemed to have made a better impression than expected. This world naturally accepted vertical relationships based on status.

Still, they’re praising me too much. Acelia smiled wryly.

“I appreciate the kind words, at least.”

“It’s not just words……! Your Highness the Princess is truly amazing!”

“Yes, yes.”

When theater tickets become available, I should distribute them to the foreign service officers. I wonder if they like plays?

After the foreign service officers left, Acelia immediately flopped onto her bed. I can’t do any more today, I won’t.

While embodying a sloth and just accepting the fruit her nanny fed her, Acelia suddenly asked as if something was strange,

“Nanny. Haven’t my attendant maids somehow changed?”

“Several left due to personal circumstances.”

“Is that so?”

Acelia didn’t notice the momentary hesitation from her nanny and just accepted the explanation.

Her slowly blinking eyes were full of drowsiness. The nanny naturally changed the subject.

“What is your schedule for tomorrow?”

“I’ll go to the temple.”

She planned to meet Joachim and ask if anything might happen during the Founding Day Festival. They couldn’t have bears appearing again. If there was danger, she needed to prepare in advance.

……That was the plan. Until Liliana came to visit.

“Princess, Princess! Let’s go see a play!”

“Liliana…… It’s five in the morning.”

Acelia, who had been wandering in dreamland, opened her eyes at the touch of hands shaking her body.

Looking up with bleary eyes, she saw Liliana smiling brightly, elaborately dressed from head to toe.

You…… think everything’s fine if you smile prettily?

Eventually, Acelia sat up. Her low blood pressure made her head throb.

“What play……”

“The Catsmoon Troupe is performing a new play that’s supposed to be so interesting. It’s extremely provocative and mature. I heard that even noble ladies secretly go to see it, and they all run into each other there, creating awkward situations. Isn’t that funny?”

Catsmoon was the name of the second troupe Acelia had visited. The one where actors were treated poorly.

But provocative and mature? Feeling ominous, Acelia asked,

“What’s the title?”

“〈Why Did the Baroness Give White Bread to the Servant〉!”

“What?!”

Acelia felt wide awake. The familiar scent of a soap opera…… Their concept overlaps with ours!

This was no time to be lying down. Urging her maids to prepare for an outing, Acelia took Liliana to the Catsmoon Troupe.

And after watching the play, Acelia’s face gradually filled with shock.

‘We’re ruined……!’

After sending away Liliana, who was insisting on more fun activities, Acelia rushed to Angel’s troupe.

The atmosphere was serious, as if they had already assessed the situation.

“Ria, you’re here?”

“Melvin. Is it because of Catsmoon?”

Melvin, who played the ‘brother-in-law’ role in 〈Two Husbands〉, nodded with a gloomy expression.

In the market, being first was important. At this rate, they would be nothing but latecomers.

While watching the ash tree lady listening to Angel with a tearful face, Melvin whispered,

“Moreover, the supporting actress playing the villain was originally from our troupe.”

“Could it be Elena, who was your star actress?”

“You know Elena too, Ria? Ah…… You must have heard from the director. That’s right. She used to only play lead roles, so with her temperament, her pride must be deeply wounded to take a supporting role.”

“Were you close with Elena, Melvin?”

“People in this troupe used to be like family. I never thought Elena would betray us and transfer…… especially during the peak season.”

Seeing his face full of concern, Acelia felt compelled to do something.

As she approached Angel and the ash tree lady, she overheard their conversation.

“So you’re saying the script of the play at Catsmoon is the work of a rival lady who stole a glimpse of the 〈Two Husbands〉 script?”

“She’s not a rival! She always disrespected and disparaged me and my work. And now…… theft!”

So there was this backstory here.

Acelia stepped forward.

“This won’t do.”

“Prin…… Ria. What should we do in this situation?”

“Let’s change the ending.”

Her powerful voice focused everyone’s attention.

* * *

As the Founding Day Festival approached, Catsmoon was packed with people.

〈Why Did the Baroness Give White Bread to the Servant〉 stimulated audiences’ nerve endings with its mature, provocative content that differentiated it from traditional plays, creating an addictive effect.

Meanwhile, Elena, who played the villainous supporting role in the play, returned to the dressing room right after the performance and threw a tantrum.

Since this wasn’t the first time she behaved this way, the other actors pretended not to notice.

‘I should have been the lead!’

Elena gritted her teeth, recalling the lead actress who monopolized the audience’s cheers during the curtain call.

When she first transferred to Catsmoon, Elena naturally thought she would be the top star.

She was beautiful, experienced, and an excellent actor. When recruiting her, the director had seduced her as if he would give her the lead role immediately.

But after transferring, when Elena brought up the role, the director said something different.

—Lead role? If you want the lead, bring investors! In this business, experience doesn’t matter; money is everything. Otherwise, I can’t even give you a minor role, so remember that!

But Elena, with her lofty pride, refused to attend entertainment events.

Now, however, she thought she should have done whatever dirty work necessary to get the lead role. What good was pride when the audience’s cheers could have been hers!

Just then, someone rushed excitedly to Elena.

“Ms. Elena! Have you heard the news? Angel’s troupe is putting on a new play, and guess what……!”

“What?”