-27-

“Honestly, I never even thought about that.”

We were walking slowly.

“Have you always been interested in international affairs?”

“Yes, a little bit.”

To be precise, it was more because I had read novels about such things rather than a genuine interest.

“Actually, it was a bit surprising. You are somewhat… different from the rumors.”

“Is that so? Well, my reputation isn’t exactly good.”

Grace gave an awkward smile at my words.

I had heard so many times that I was surprising or different that it didn’t even affect me anymore.

Within the empire, my notoriety was widespread. Everyone who met me would say similar things to Grace or look at me the same way she did.

“But you really can’t trust rumors. You seem much kinder than the rumors.”

Kind? Somehow, hearing that made me feel a bit embarrassed.

“I thought you had feelings for His Highness, the Crown Prince.”

I was a bit taken aback, as I hadn’t expected her to speak so directly.

“So I thought you wouldn’t like me.”

“No, that’s not true.”

I answered her immediately.

“I have absolutely no interest in His Highness, the Crown Prince. And I don’t dislike you either. Even if I did like the Crown Prince, that wouldn’t be a reason to dislike you.”

“…Is that so?”

Grace, who had slowed her pace, answered a beat later.

Was it that surprising that I didn’t dislike her? Normally, I should have disliked her. In the original story, Delis hated the princess to death.

“So, do you have feelings for His Highness, the Crown Prince?”

Isn’t that why she was curious about whether I liked Cameron?

“Not at all.”

Grace answered my question firmly.

Was it not yet the time for her to be serious about romance? Well, Grace confessed her feelings only after the war in the north had ended.

Knowing the future, I felt like laughing. How could she be so adamant now and later fall in love with him so deeply?

“Hehe.”

Grace looked at me strangely as I chuckled with a mischievous expression.

It was time for our paths to diverge. She had to stay in the palace, and I had to go outside.

“See you next time.”

I hope by then you’ve made some progress with the male lead. And me with Roan, sigh.

“Yes. Take care.”

Grace said with a gentle smile.

Just as I parted ways with her and was about to get into the carriage, something felt off.

Why did I feel like I forgot something?

Oh no. The fairies!

I hurriedly checked my bag. Hopefully, nothing had happened. Not only me but the fairies hadn’t reacted for a long time either.

“…….”

The fairies were sleeping soundly with their eyes closed.

They must have been bored because they couldn’t talk while I was speaking with others. I felt a bit sorry. I should give them plenty of fruit when we get to the mansion.

Just as the carriage was almost at the mansion, the fairies woke up.

“Delis…?”

Cindy called me in a voice that sounded like she had just woken up.

“It must have been boring since we only came out today. Next time, let’s go somewhere fun.”

“But it was nice to come out.”

“Just got a bit sleepy at the end.”

The other fairies started chattering as well. Watching them made me feel healed.

I didn’t do much today, so why did I feel so tired?

It felt like my energy had been drained at the palace. Was it because it was the first time I had talked to so many people in this world?

After arriving and waiting for a while, Roan hadn’t come, so I had dinner first. It seemed like the work was taking longer because of the matters I mentioned. Still, it was fortunate that I managed to relay some information.

If we could discover and stop the alliance between Carlin and the barbarians, the nobles wouldn’t leak military secrets to them. This way, Roan wouldn’t get hurt this time.

“Phew.”

I hoped the Crown Prince and Roan took my words seriously.

“Is the Duke still not back?”

“No, Your Grace.”

“He must be very busy.”

It seemed I had contributed significantly to his overtime. Seeing how late he was, it seemed he didn’t take my words lightly.

Roan didn’t return until night. I fell asleep at the table while waiting for him.

“Ugh….”

I rubbed my eyes as I woke up and saw light coming through the curtains. I must have fallen asleep while dozing off yesterday.

Now that I think about it, I fell asleep at the table last night, but now I found myself lying on a soft bed.

Did the maids move me? I’ve been eating a lot lately, so I’m probably pretty heavy. I felt a bit sorry for whoever had to move me.

I pulled the cord to call a maid.

“The Duke hasn’t left yet, has he?”

“No, Your Grace. He said he’ll leave for the palace after breakfast.”

It’s been a while since I had breakfast with Roan. I couldn’t help but hum a little.

When I went downstairs a bit later, I saw Roan already there.

“Roan, good morning.”

“Good morning, Duchess.”

It seemed we were now comfortable enough to exchange morning greetings. I was so pleased by this that I couldn’t help but smile.

“Why are you smiling?”

Roan asked when he saw me smiling.

“Oh, well… I just like having breakfast with you.”

For a moment, the hand holding his fork paused slightly.

“…You say such things so easily.”

Roan had a somewhat awkward expression.

Weren’t we a couple who had even kissed?

“I just wanted to be honest.”

“…….”

“Don’t you like having breakfast with me?”

Roan’s expression was amusing, so I decided to tease him a little. As I enjoyed his silence, he suddenly spoke up.

“I did want to.”

Roan said he wanted to have breakfast with me as if it were nothing. Then he added,

“The food at the palace isn’t very good.”

I had to suppress a laugh at that.

Of course, our chef’s food was the best, but the palace food was definitely no less excellent.

So he really did want to have breakfast with me, didn’t he? I’ll just believe that, yes.

Just as I was about to start imagining things, Roan suddenly spoke up.

“About what you said yesterday.”

“Yes?”

“You mentioned the possibility of someone allying with the barbarians.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Is that something you thought of yourself?”

“Yes, it is.”

Actually, it wasn’t something I ‘thought’ of, so I felt a bit guilty.

“Hmm.”

Roan made a sound as if something was bothering him.

“Are you sure it was really your idea?”

His eyes were filled with suspicion.

Come to think of it, Roan might know that since I came here, I hadn’t read a single book on military or national affairs. Of course, the original Delis wouldn’t have either. Even if she did, I was supposed to have lost my memory.

So it was only natural for him to question how I came up with such a hypothesis.

“Really?”

“Y-yes, really.”

Why was I stammering? I felt frustrated with myself. Roan, who had been watching me quietly, spoke up.

“I said I would trust your word.”

He said he would trust me. He didn’t press me any further.

But I was lying, even if it was about something I couldn’t explain.

Seeking trust while telling a lie was too selfish.

“Well.”

Damn it. I ended up opening my mouth.

“I mentioned before that I had an undisclosed source.”

I had to tell him.

“I learned about this from that source as well. But like I said before, I’m the only one in this world who knows about it. It’s not dangerous. It’s not that I won’t tell you, it’s that I can’t.”

Roan pursed his lips into a thin line and looked at me with an unreadable expression. But his demeanor wasn’t cold.

“I won’t ask what it is. Everyone has secrets they don’t want to reveal.”

“Thank you.”

“I sent someone discreetly to investigate yesterday. We’ll soon find out if your hypothesis is correct.”

Him telling me this meant he trusted me. I was so happy that I smiled broadly.

Seeing my smiling face, his calm gaze seemed to waver slightly.

“Are you going to the palace right after breakfast?”

“Yes. Do you have any plans today, Your Grace?”

“Yes, I have a riding club meeting today.”

When I attended the tea party yesterday, several people invited me to gatherings and tea parties. Today at lunch, there was a riding club meeting.

“Riding?”

Roan’s blue eyes hardened a bit.

“Have you ever ridden a horse before?”

“No.”

Not me, anyway. I’m not sure about the original Delis.

“Isn’t it too dangerous?”

“No, they said beginners can ride safe ponies.”

“…….”

Roan was silent for a moment.

“Where is the meeting held?”

“At the riding arena closest to the palace.”

For some reason, Roan didn’t look pleased. Why was that?

“…Be careful.”

“I will.”

***

After Roan left for the palace, I also headed to the meeting place. As expected, it was the largest riding arena in the capital, with a vast expanse and mostly high-quality horses.

The maids dressed me in the riding attire they had prepared. I wore long boots as well. The outfit made me feel capable and excited.

The riding outfit clung to my body, not much different from what I remembered in my previous life. It was a bit surprising to wear such attire in this world since it was rarely seen here.

Upon arriving, the first thing that caught my eye was a head of light pink hair.

“Lady Berkeley.”

Hearing her name, she blinked her round eyes and turned around.

She was cute, a different kind of cute compared to Sophia. Lady Berkeley wasn’t a striking beauty at first glance, but the more you looked at her, the more appealing she became.

She felt familiar. She was one of the few people I met at the last tea party who didn’t seem fake or vain.

“Duchess.”

She looked at me with a slightly surprised face. She seemed surprised that I was the one who had spoken.

“We meet again here.”

“Yes….”

Lady Berkeley spoke to me in a cautious tone.

“…It’s nice to see you again.”

It was evident that she had mustered a lot of courage to say that. I smiled broadly.

“Me too.”

At the gathering, I saw many faces from the last tea party.

I also saw Delis’s former minions.

Perhaps still shaken and resentful from the incident at the tea party, they didn’t approach me as warmly as before. This made it even more apparent.

Delis had no real friends.

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up on the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories