III. Jeff Alexis

Estelle walked while watching butterflies flying gracefully as if swimming between flowers. Wearing an outdated lavender muslin dress, she felt shabby compared to the splendid imperial palace garden.

The dress she wore was one that had been left behind in the closet, perhaps abandoned by a previous guest. The length that covered her hands and the loose fit made it obvious to anyone that it wasn’t her own.

‘I should have asked Father to bring my belongings first… I wonder if Laura will be thoughtful enough to bring them.’

Her only possessions in the imperial palace were two frilled negligees. As if telling her to stay put in her bedroom, Lexion hadn’t paid any attention to such matters.

Estelle sat on the railing of a fountain shaded by green trees. Looking at the golden lion statue spouting rainbow-colored streams of water, she thought this was truly an absurd waste of money. Just selling the jewels embedded in the lion’s eyes would probably provide enough to live comfortably for a year.

‘More importantly, what should I do now……’

After spending days bickering with Lexion, being alone now confronted her with practical problems. If not for his breakfast with the Emperor, she would have been leisurely reading a book beside him while he worked.

He now did everything with her except sleeping. Even the fact that he moved an entire library from the main palace recently showed his determination to keep watching her.

While buried in his work, Lexion had handed her a book, saying he had specially brought it for her because she was bored, making her wonder if he had become Crown Prince through his talent for teasing ladies.

Damn Lexion. It was a fairy tale book containing a hundred stories suitable for children. Like candy he took out when bored, he irritated her even in the middle of his work. He seemed determined to torment her.

The luxurious desk placed right next to the bed was a completely mismatched combination, just like their relationship. Lexion, neatly dressed and working at the desk. Herself, in nightclothes, idling on the bed with nothing to do. Remembering the shocked expressions of the attendants who saw this made her feel ashamed. Wasn’t this the position of a concubine parasitizing beside the noble Crown Prince?

Whenever their eyes met, she felt awkward and avoided his gaze by looking at the fairy tale book he had given her, but she found herself engrossed in it, and seeing this, Lexion played trivial pranks as if he had been waiting for it.

The next day, he brought a bookshelf filled with dozens of fairy tale books. The smooth wooden surface was engraved with “Estelle’s Library,” clearly intended to mock her.

‘Was he originally this childish?’

Faced with his incomprehensible mentality that revealed new layers with each discovery, Estelle gave up trying to analyze his behavior.

Suddenly realizing she had been thinking about Lexion continuously, Estelle’s expression became even more wrinkled. She returned to the original point and focused on her problem. Before leaving the imperial palace, she needed to access the holy relic.

‘How?’

Estelle sighed as she looked at the two knights watching her from a distance. They were tails Lexion had attached to her.

‘I guess I have no choice but to ask him directly……’

Although Lexion was unlikely to agree readily, she intended to bring it up. It was the only way available to her now.

Estelle rose from her seat. Since he had mentioned breakfast, he should be back by now. Her steps felt incredibly heavy because she had never succeeded in persuading him, either before or after her regression.

In fact, no one in this Empire could probably persuade Lexion de Herais. He was an arrogant, selfish madman.

“Excuse me……”

Estelle, who had been walking with her head down lost in thought, looked up in surprise. A tall man stood before her with an awkward expression.

“Je…!”

Estelle, who was about to call his name casually out of reflex, closed her mouth. Ah… habits were frightening indeed.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Jeff Alexis. Might you be Lady Arcis, who has recently become the saintess?”

A man with eyes resembling the lush green foliage characteristic of House Alexis and hair the color of a beautiful sky. As the Guardian of the East, he was Estelle’s only friend and a person she’s grateful for who had treated her like a human being in her miserable reality.

[Estelle… close your eyes.]

[Ah! Jeff!]

[I’m fine. Don’t feel guilty.]

Those were his last words when his head was blown apart by Lexion.

A kind and missed friend who had met a miserable death.

Unconsciously feeling tears welling up, Estelle bit the soft flesh inside her mouth and responded with proper etiquette after a slight delay.

“…I’m Estelle Arcis.”

Jeff’s eyes quickly scanned Estelle without being disrespectful.

“Life at the imperial palace… seems difficult for you.”

Estelle lowered her gaze to hide her moist eyes.

“I feel burdened by the… great duty suddenly bestowed upon me…… I’ll be fine once I adapt.”

“As the Empire’s only blessing… His Highness the Crown Prince doesn’t seem to be taking proper care of you, Saintess.”

The pale blue aura around him, visible only to Estelle, rippled uncomfortably. He was clearly displeased with her ill-fitting dress, like a child wearing their mother’s clothes.

“If you come to my territory, you will receive treatment befitting your status. Please endure a little longer, despite the hardship.”

It was an agreement among the Guardians regarding the saintess. It was like a peace treaty concluded among themselves, excluding the person concerned, where she would stay in each Guardian’s territory for a month in turn to stabilize their special abilities.

“Thank you for your concern. However, I’m doing well, so you don’t need to worry too much.”

Estelle glanced at his aura and reached out her hand. Jeff looked puzzled, as if he didn’t understand her action.

“You… seem anxious.”

“Ah……”

Jeff took her hand. The first thing he noticed was how small her hand was.

A precarious and sad-looking saintess. And for some reason, a person on whom his special ability had no effect.

Jeff’s ability was to manipulate others’ minds. While it didn’t work on other ability users, he could control anyone with life according to his will. Even if that person was the saintess.

That’s why he deliberately approached Estelle. He wanted to confirm it. He found it fascinating that his ability didn’t work on her, but up close, something else caught his attention more.

Beyond her beauty, she had a peculiar atmosphere. He wondered if it was the unique energy of a saintess. The way she captivated his gaze and lingered in his mind… he felt an urge to take her back to his duchy.

“……!”

Lost in thought, Jeff flinched at the warm energy rising through his fingertips. A feeling of ecstasy and mental clarity, as if intoxicated.

It was pure holy power that couldn’t even be compared to the elixir received at the imperial palace. Jeff felt dizzy. He had heard that the saintess’s purification ritual was more effective with greater physical contact……

As a gasp escaped between his lips, Estelle withdrew her hand.

“A small token of gratitude for Your Grace’s kindness.”

“Ah… uh… well, yes. Thank you.”

Jeff clenched his fists, trying to regain his composure. Otherwise, he felt he might grab her hand again.

“This is… truly… remarkable.”

“Then I’ll take my leave now.”

As she was about to turn away, promising to meet again later, Jeff called out to Estelle.

“I look forward to the day you visit my territory.”

Estelle turned away with a smile. Even after walking for quite a while, she still felt his gaze, so she looked back and saw Jeff still standing in the same spot, watching her. She also stopped and looked at him briefly.

Perhaps their eyes met.

“I missed you, Jeff……”

Since he showed no sign of moving, Estelle turned her head first and went on her way. Meeting her old friend after a long time evoked more poignancy than joy.

‘I won’t let you die like that again.’

Her heart became solemn.

* * *

“…This is too much!”

Returning to the palace, Estelle froze at the sound coming from outside the door. An unforgettable clear voice. As she heard snippets of conversation and hesitated whether to step aside, the door suddenly flung open.

“……”

Maria’s face, filled with indignation, went blank for a moment before coldly scanning Estelle from head to toe.

“Ha!”

Maria let out a scornful laugh.

Receiving such a contemptuous gaze, Estelle fidgeted with her long sleeves as her face burned with embarrassment. Although Maria said nothing, the reflection of herself in Maria’s eyes made her shrink.

She had remained dignified in the face of criticism from others, but this time she couldn’t. The remnants of a past that hadn’t even occurred yet were deeply ingrained in her, and she couldn’t stop her heart from unconsciously shrinking.

Maria had always made her feel miserable. Despite being the Crown Princess, she had to share Lexion’s love with her, and Maria had conceived a child that she herself couldn’t have, forcing her to confront her own ugly inner self.

Estelle’s mood sank as if cold water had been poured over her. And she realized: I’ve been quite elated while being with Lexion all this time……

“Maria.”