Chapter 22: The Moment When Chance Becomes Destiny

“I’ll give you my answer after hearing yours. And I won’t give you time to think about it. It would be better to decide right here…”

Trapped until she made a decision, Bliss thought of Caelan, wondering how he would react if she told him about the current situation.

With that thought in mind, she spoke.

“I will become Your Highness’s lady-in-waiting.”

After considering which option would benefit her more, there was no need for lengthy deliberation.

“You’ve made a wise choice.”

Princess Jasmin appeared delighted to hear the answer, despite having expected it.

“Now, shall we hear your request?”

She was indicating to Bliss that this was her chance to make any requests. While a maid arranged the Princess’s hair from behind, Princess Jasmin’s eyes urged Bliss to speak, prompting a faint smile in response.

“Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I heard that a dagger recently came into Your Highness’s possession.”

“Are you referring to the dagger with the red ruby?”

“Yes.”

Bliss nodded, recalling the drawing of the dagger the Duke had shown her.

“I know about that one. There’s an interesting story behind it. They say each owner of that dagger displayed remarkable talents?”

“Yes.”

Though concerned that this admission might make the Princess reluctant to part with it, Bliss chose honesty. She reasoned that Princess Jasmin might have already known about the dagger’s properties when it came into her possession. Furthermore, if the Princess gave her the dagger without knowing its significance, she might demand its return later.

If the Princess gave her the dagger while aware of its special powers, it would rightfully become Bliss’s possession.

“Go fetch the dagger.”

“Yes.”

Another maid standing to the side moved at Princess Jasmin’s command. Uncertain how long it would take to retrieve the dagger, Bliss requested some water.

Though aware of Princess Jasmin’s scrutinizing gaze, Bliss neither initiated conversation nor met her eyes. She focused solely on quenching her thirst with the water the maid brought.

“You are truly an intriguing person, my lady.”

When Bliss remained silent, not comprehending her meaning, Princess Jasmin elaborated.

“You don’t try to attract my attention. That’s unusual among nobles, whether they’re interested in my possessions or in me personally. But you’re different. I wonder why?”

There was no special reason. She simply needed to obtain the dagger from the Princess and had come with what she considered an appropriate proposal.

Becoming a lady-in-waiting was unexpected, but having achieved her goal, she remained quiet.

Bliss kept her thoughts private and listened to the Princess’s words.

“Though you want something from me, you don’t seem desperate… It’s as if you’re not particularly invested in forming a connection with me.”

The observation was so accurate that Bliss took another sip of water instead of responding. She hadn’t considered becoming close to the Princess – in her current position, how could she even contemplate associating with royalty?

Princess Jasmin leaned forward, drawing closer. She seemed to be trying to read Bliss’s thoughts by studying her eyes intently.

“May I ask you something?”

Bliss set down her water glass and met Princess Jasmin’s gaze.

“There were quite scandalous rumors about you, but meeting you in person, you’re rather quiet. Are those rumors false? Or is there another reason?”

Princess Jasmin’s question was direct, as if she had known about the rumors surrounding Bliss from the beginning. Her red eyes gleamed sharply as she fixed her gaze on Bliss’s lips.

Bliss moistened her dry lips with her tongue. She noticed the Princess’s gaze shifting between her eyes and mouth, realizing that the Princess sought truth – both in Bliss’s eyes and in her words.

“Whatever rumors you’ve heard, I will only show you a different side of me from now on.”

Now that she had become Marchioness Bliss Adrian, things would be different. Rather than addressing the past, Bliss expressed her desire for the Princess to see who she was in the present moment.

After contemplating Bliss’s words, Princess Jasmin finally smiled.

“You’re asking me to observe and judge for myself. I like that.”

Rising from the couch, she stretched and turned her back to Bliss. After thoroughly loosening her body, Princess Jasmin extended her hand toward the maid who had brought the dagger.

Princess Jasmin examined the dagger in her hands before approaching Bliss.

“Actually, I tried holding it too. I was hoping to see what abilities might manifest in me.”

Bliss studied the dagger as she listened to Princess Jasmin’s words. Noticing where Bliss’s attention was focused, Princess Jasmin smiled and drew the blade from its sheath. The dagger appeared light enough to be drawn effortlessly, its blade as ordinary as its exterior.

The blade’s unmarred surface reflected Bliss’s face with perfect clarity, free of any engravings.

“But no matter how long I held it, nothing happened. I suppose I’m not meant to be this dagger’s owner.”

Princess Jasmin sheathed the dagger and extended it to Bliss. After brief hesitation, Bliss accepted it. Despite the Princess’s casual handling, the dagger carried a surprising weight in her hands.

When she gripped the dagger, its presence filled her palm completely, drawing an unconscious smile to her face.

“Are you that pleased?”

“I didn’t expect Your Highness to give it up so readily.”

“How should I interpret that comment?”

Though the Princess muttered about possibly taking offense, Bliss couldn’t suppress her smile.

A sense of pride welled up inside her, knowing she had achieved this entirely through her own efforts.

Seeing Bliss’s joy with the dagger, Princess Jasmin couldn’t help but smile in response. When Bliss looked up, she met the Princess’s red eyes, which had softened notably from earlier.

“Let’s get along well from now on.”

The Princess’s voice brimmed with excitement, as though she had gained something different in exchange for the dagger.

***

Once alone after the audience, Bliss released a long sigh. The Princess demanded as much attention as Caelan did. Though she smiled frequently, her eyes had remained fixed on Bliss’s face throughout their interaction.

‘She’s someone I can’t lie to.’

The Princess’s keen interest in discerning truth was apparent. Any detected lie would surely push Bliss beyond the boundaries the Princess had established.

“Not a single one of them is easy to deal with.”

These characters had seemed straightforward in the novel, but in reality, they were all complex individuals. Despite her recent sigh, Bliss felt her chest constricting again and pressed her lightly clenched fist against her heart.

Feeling somewhat relieved, Bliss lowered her hand and withdrew the dagger. She turned it over as the Princess had done, then gripped it firmly.

“I wonder how Caelan will react.”

She wondered if he would act knowingly or show surprise when she revealed it to him.

Though she had expected him to have left already, learning someone still waited for her made her eager to show him the dagger.

For the first time, she found herself hurrying to meet someone she had always sought to avoid. Bliss clutched the dagger to her chest while holding her skirt with her other hand. Lifting the narrow hem slightly allowed her to walk quickly as she searched the areas where Caelan might be waiting. But upon spotting him, she halted abruptly like she came across an invisible barrier.

The woman standing opposite Caelan – even from behind, her identity was unmistakable.

“Latte?”

Latte’s presence here puzzled her. This was Princess Jasmin’s palace, not a place for chance encounters.

As she observed Caelan and Latte, her grip on her skirt loosened unconsciously. The fabric settled around her feet as she took in the scene before her.

“…The moment when chance becomes destiny.”

The sight recalled the original story’s title – how Caelan and Latte’s chance encounters gradually transformed into destiny.

She remembered the day she had invited Latte, and when she had asked Caelan to meet her later as payment for her help.

“Did I meddle unnecessarily?”

She realized these two would have crossed paths even without her intervention. Their feelings would have developed naturally. Bliss smiled wryly, having planned to unite them before departing.

“I overstepped…”

Her words faded as she accidentally met Caelan’s gaze. Watching him approach while Latte’s eyes remained fixed on him, Bliss found herself stepping backward.

‘What’s happening?’

What was unfolding before her eyes?