In this Chaotic World, I Am Doing Fine - Chapter 9

Is it time for a lecture?

Acelia followed the Empress with a feeling of nausea.

The Empress led Acelia to a room prepared as a lounge.

Click.

As soon as the door closed, the Empress spoke.

“I’m glad to see you seem to have recovered your health more than before.”

“Yes… Thank you.”

“But aren’t you making too many conspicuous actions lately? I thought I told you to live quietly, as if you didn’t exist.”

The Empress’s cold gaze reached Acelia.

A gaze as if looking at a stranger without a shred of affection.

Acelia was perplexed.

‘Is this really her child?’

“I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

“I mean, don’t catch the Emperor’s eye. Whatever you do, make sure it’s not heard. Or are you now coveting the right of succession to the throne?”

“How can you say such a thing?”

Acelia was about to turn serious in earnest.

It’s hard enough to take care of herself, let alone the right of succession to the throne.

To Acelia, who wanted to escape this world by any means, it was like a curse.

Such a misunderstanding was unfair.

‘Did ‘Acelia’ grow up under such a mother?’

Telling a child to live as if they don’t exist is not something a parent should say.

Come to think of it, since she had possessed this body, the Empress had never sought her out.

Despite being her only child.

‘Is there something going on?’

“I’ve said all I needed to say, so you may leave now. You should keep my words in mind.”

She had called her just to say this. Acelia bowed to the Empress who had turned her back and quietly withdrew.

As she was leaving, her eyes met with the silver-haired guard knight standing in front of the door. He just nodded slightly and entered the room where the Empress was.

Before the door closed, she caught sight of the two.

But the way they looked at each other was unusual.

The Empress, sending a warm gaze that she hadn’t shown even to her daughter, and the knight responding with a slight smile.

Seeing the intimate scene between the two, Acelia felt uneasy.

‘What’s this? Why is there such a sticky atmosphere between the Empress and the guard knight?’

Ding!

[A new possibility has been detected. Would you like to add the <Empress’s Illegitimate Child> setting? Y/N]

‘C-Crazy. No way!’

They say even a servant lives well in a rich household, so the Emperor’s own daughter should live comfortably.

Fortunately, it was just a possibility, not a hidden setting being revealed, so Acelia repeatedly pressed the N button.

She had almost ruined her life.

Returning to the banquet hall with an uneasy feeling, she saw Liam and Ensia laughing and enjoying themselves, ignoring the warning.

‘As if my mind wasn’t complicated enough already.’

Acelia clenched her fist.

Is there nothing to throw?

Completely forgetting the Empress’s words from earlier, Acelia looked around and spotted Gale patting his full belly.

The fork in front of him.

‘Yes! Let’s disguise it as an accident, make those two kiss, and break off this shitty engagement!’

Without realizing it, Acelia was getting heated up.

She was originally sickly, and the <Poison> effect was slowly taking effect. Her reason was gradually blurring without her knowing.

With a hazy mind, she was contemplating how to break off the engagement.

Since an imperial engagement couldn’t be broken without a significant reason, the plan was to make them kiss in front of many people to create grounds for blame.

Somehow managing to think that far, Acelia snatched Gale’s fork.

“What? Why are you taking someone else’s fork?”

‘I have this. <Sword Mastery — Sword Master trait (limited to the first thrust in combat)>.’

Ignoring Gale’s protest, Acelia went near Liam and Ensia with the fork.

It was an impulsive decision, but now was the chance.

‘Punishment for the arrogant adulterer! And freedom!’

After calculating the angle, she passed by Liam and thrust the fork with great speed and force.

“Ugh!”

“Oh my, Count!”

But contrary to her expectation that he would fall forward and kiss Ensia, Liam coughed up blood and collapsed uglily.

‘W-What’s going on?’

Acelia was momentarily flustered.

She reflexively hid the fork in the folds of her skirt and looked around.

Surely no one saw?

People panicked, thinking Liam had been poisoned.

“Call the imperial physician! Call the imperial physician!”

“I’ll examine Count Felix.”

“High Priest Joachim! Oh, thank goodness. Please take a look quickly.”

Joachim, who appeared pushing through the crowd, removed Liam’s outer garment and examined his condition.

After thoroughly checking both external and internal injuries, he became serious.

“This looks like… he was struck by a Sword Master’s sword energy.”

“Sword energy? What do you mean? Isn’t it poison?”

“No. It’s clearly an injury from sword energy.”

People murmured.

Sword Masters themselves were rare.

Sword Master, a level that can only be reached by mastering swordsmanship.

Sword Masters were respected wherever they went and received reverence and awe from everyone.

Even the imperial family specially managed Sword Masters.

But when did this happen?

They looked at the knights, but they were just standing far away, never having approached the nobles enjoying the banquet.

“High Priest Joachim, aren’t you mistaken?”

“No. I’m certain.”

With him asserting it this strongly, people started to suspect assassination.

Who would target Count Felix…

Among them, only Joachim suspected Acelia.

‘The Count coughed up blood and collapsed right after the Princess passed by.’

It was a fact he could notice because he had been watching her all along.

But suddenly, Acelia’s complexion turned pale blue and she staggered.

“B-Blood… The Count…”

“Your Highness the Princess!”

The maids serving her rushed over to support her.

While massaging the Princess’s arms, the maids requested.

“It seems she has received a great shock. May we return to the palace now?”

“Do so.”

With the Emperor’s permission, the maids supported the Princess and left the banquet hall.

Some people watched her retreating figure.

‘That was a close call.’

Acelia, who had avoided the situation through acting, inwardly sighed in relief.

She didn’t expect to be caught. And she didn’t know the Sword Master trait would be so strong!

‘I really just poked him lightly, just lightly!’

That’s why she deliberately used a fork.

But to think he would cough up blood and collapse from that…

Realizing it could have almost become a murder scene, Acelia felt her blood run cold.

“Your Highness, are you very shocked? You’re running a fever.”

“Huh? Fever…?”

Only then did Acelia notice the message [Poison effect activated!] displayed on her status window.

‘I wasn’t in my right mind.’

Feeling chills, she staggered and hurried her steps.

She was curious about what happened to Liam, but for now, escaping from the scene of the incident(?) was the priority.

But then…

“Your Highness the Princess.”

Someone was blocking the path of her and her maids.

As she raised her gaze, she saw cascading silver hair and blue eyes vivid even in the darkness.

Joachim stared directly at Acelia.

“Was it Your Highness’s doing?”

“W-What are you talking about?”

“Count Liam Wade Felix. I asked if it was Your Highness’s doing.”

Acelia flinched.

Misunderstanding her reaction as fear, the maids surrounded Acelia.

“High Priest Joachim, what rudeness is this! Her Highness the Princess is unwell and on her way back to the palace. Please step aside.”

“I will examine her.”

“Pardon? You, High Priest…?”

Although he had blocked their path with rude words and actions, the maids hesitated at Joachim’s attractive offer that only he could make.

“Your Highness, what shall we do?”

“……”

The <Poison> effect was racing towards its peak, making her wonder how she had managed to endure in the banquet hall.

Acelia struggled to hold onto her hazy consciousness and spoke coldly.

“It’s fine. It’s just a slight fever that will get better with medicine, so you can go.”

“Aren’t you in quite a bad condition?”

If you know, why don’t you just step aside?

Joachim was currently the person Acelia should be most wary of.

She didn’t know how he knew, but there was no evidence.

Who would believe that the sickly princess used a Sword Master’s sword energy?

As she was about to pass by, Joachim grabbed her wrist.

“Ah, I said it’s fine!”

Acelia roughly shook off his hand.

But with that reaction, she ended up collapsing with a thud.

For a moment, her mind went blank and her vision spun.

“Your Highness the Princess!”

“Step back, High Priest Joachim!”

The maids’ shouts made her head ring.

Acelia squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her temples hard.

‘Damn <Poison>…’

That’s when Joachim knelt on one knee, not caring that his pristine priest’s robe was getting dirty.

Acelia opened her eyes at the sound of the maids’ surprise.

She met his blue eyes head-on.

“I won’t ask anything. Just receive treatment.”

“……”

“Hurry.”

Acelia was surprised.

It felt strange to see him, who always looked bored with the world, urging her.

“…Alright.”

“You’ve made a good decision.”

He soothed gently.

Acelia obediently held out her hand. Unlike before, the grip on her wrist was careful.

As holy power was transmitted, her fever and headache subsided as if by magic.

After confirming that Acelia was alright, Joachim stood up.

“I’ll return to the hall now. Please go carefully.”

As if trying to keep his word, he really didn’t ask anything and left.

‘What kind of person is he, really…’

Shaking her head, Acelia went to the palace with her maids, leading her tired body.

Thinking that crowded places really do drain one’s energy.