Chapter 16

She couldn’t understand why she felt like she was the one being interrogated.

“Well, that’s…”

After taking a sip of tea to moisten her throat, Shaterian began recounting the events that had transpired. She explained how she had confronted Gusto, how he had used sorcery to make flowers appear in her room, the letter she received as soon as she moved to the Crown Prince’s palace, and how Gusto had come to find her.

Even Orgon was hearing this for the first time.

“Why are you only telling me this now? No, why didn’t you say anything before?”

“I missed the right timing?”

She shrugged nonchalantly, which only made the golden eyes glaring at her burn even brighter.

‘Here comes the obsessive male lead’s bad habit.’

Pretending not to notice, she sipped her tea.

“Gusto Avidita… wasn’t he the man you were dating?”

“Cough. Cough, cough! No, he wasn’t!”

“Wasn’t he?”

“No!”

Shaterian coughed uncontrollably and wiped the tea from her lips.

‘Why is he suddenly bringing that up?’

She found him insufferable, as always.

“By the way, Terry, since when did you start speaking informally to the Commander of the Knights?”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yes, you.”

“…”

She hadn’t realized until now. In her shock, she must have dropped the formal tone she usually used.

“It’s fine. Speak however you’re comfortable, Lady.”

“Well, if you insist…”

She felt a bit awkward.

Just then, the palace physician who had been examining Bruf entered the room. He reported that Bruf had no major injuries but advised him to avoid walking for a while.

“Orgon, I’m going to leave Bruf here to recuperate.”

“This is my palace, you know?”

“Yes, so I’m leaving him here. Family shouldn’t get hung up on such things.”

“…”

“Well, it seems like everything’s settled. I’m going to rest in my room for a bit.”

“You need to eat dinner first. The Commander and Deputy Commander will join us as well. That’s an order from the Crown Prince.”

Leaving no room for argument, Orgon left the drawing room in a flash.

Left with no choice, Shaterian headed to the dining hall.

The air in the dining hall, where dinner had already been prepared, was filled with the aroma of delicious food.

She approached Sylphide first.

Sylphide, who was tidying up the kitchen, widened her eyes in surprise when she saw Shaterian.

“L-Lady Shaterian!”

“Sylphide.”

At the sound of her name, Sylphide’s already wide eyes grew even larger.

Her cheeks were dusted with white flour, likely from kneading dough earlier. Shaterian gently wiped the flour off with her finger and smiled faintly.

“Could you prepare some dinner for Bruf and take it to him? He hurt his leg and probably can’t come down to the dining hall. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled if you bring it to him.”

“Y-Yes, yes, of course!”

Blushing furiously, Sylphide hurried into the kitchen.

‘Does she like Bruf that much?’

Watching Sylphide’s retreating figure with a satisfied smile, Shaterian turned to see the men seated at the dining table.

For some reason, they were all staring at her.

“What?”

“Nothing. Sit down.”

How dull.

She took the seat to the right of Orgon, who was at the head of the table. Eurell sat beside her, while Eched sat across from her.

Dinner passed quietly.

The only ones who spoke were Orgon and Shaterian, with Eurell occasionally answering when spoken to.

* * *

As soon as she woke up in the morning, Shaterian dressed herself as if preparing for battle.

Since she had personally apprehended a dark sorcery user within the Imperial Palace, the Emperor was bound to have heard about it. Today, she intended to settle things with him.

‘If I say this wouldn’t have happened had it not been for the arranged meeting, will he get hurt?’

The Emperor was surprisingly sensitive, which worried her a little.

He might blame himself, but there was no helping it.

After tightening the belt of her tunic, Shaterian made her way to Bruf’s room near her chamber.

“Bruf, are you feeling better?”

“Ah, Chief. Thanks to the medicine, I’m not in pain. Are you heading to work?”

“Before that, I’m going to pay my respects to His Majesty.”

“I see.”

“By the way, I asked Sylphide to take good care of you, so make the most of it.”

“I see…”

Bruf blushed as he smiled. 

How adorable.

With a slight frown, Shaterian left his room.

Since it was the time of day when the Emperor would be in his office, she headed straight to the main palace.

After passing through a few unusually noisy corridors, she arrived at the Emperor’s office. The attendant waiting outside announced her arrival.

“Your Majesty, Lady Shaterian Melis is here.”

“Let her in.”

Shaterian passed through the open door and entered the Emperor’s office.

Inside, Orgon and Eched were already there.  

The Emperor, having heard the story from Orgon, wore a face filled with concern and worry.  

“Terry, are you hurt anywhere?”  

“No, Your Majesty. Sir Eurell and Young Master Bruf protected me. Oh, and Commander Eched also helped greatly.”  

“Hmm… A dark sorcery user managed to infiltrate the Imperial Palace… And the reason you’ve been staying at the Crown Prince’s palace was because of this.”  

The Emperor couldn’t hide his disappointment.  

His gaze seemed to ask, ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’  

Orgon gave Shaterian a subtle glance, knowing that prolonging this situation wouldn’t be good.  

“I’m sorry. I was worried that you, being so busy, would be troubled unnecessarily, Your Majesty… I promise not to do it again.”  

“Hmph. As long as you’re not hurt, that’s all that matters.”  

The Emperor, who had been muttering as if sulking, softened his tone.  

The crisis was roughly averted.  

Now it was time to address the main issue.  

“Your Majesty, I came here to inform you that I will no longer participate in arranged meetings.”  

“…”  

The Emperor didn’t respond and instead looked at Eched, who stood beside Shaterian.  

Come to think of it, these arranged meetings had started after rumors of a romantic scandal between her and Eched spread, and the Emperor, displeased with Eched, had initiated them.  

Shaterian firmly reiterated the truth.  

“Your Majesty, Commander Eched and I truly have no relationship whatsoever.”  

Without saying a word, the Emperor narrowed his eyes and scrutinized Eched.  

Shaterian jabbed Eched in the side.  

“What’s wrong?”  

‘Ugh, this dense man!’  

She gave Eched a sidelong glare before turning back to the Emperor.  

“We really have no relationship, and there has never been anything inappropriate between us. Isn’t that right, Commander?”  

Eched simply nodded.  

Although the Emperor still looked doubtful and furrowed his brows, he didn’t press further.  

He agreed to Shaterian’s request and said there would be no more blind dates where random candidates were presented to her.  

‘Does that mean there might still be other kinds of meetings?’  

His answer left a lingering sense of unease, but Shaterian decided to let it go for now.  

With this, she had gained her freedom.  

“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”  

“Alright.” 

“We’ll take our leave as well.”  

Having finished their conversation, Orgon and Eched followed Shaterian out of the office.  

Without realizing it, the three of them ended up walking together toward the annex where the offices were located.  

“Why are you following me, Orgon?”  

“I’m not following you.”  

“If not me, then it must be Eched.”  

“It’s neither.”  

Orgon, seemingly sincere, walked past them and took the lead.  

Judging by the direction, he appeared to be heading toward the cherry blossom garden.  

Shaterian, watching his hurried back, continued walking down the corridor.  

Hmm. 

Now it’s just the two of us again, huh?  

For some reason, though, it didn’t feel as awkward as before.  

Glancing sideways, she saw Eched walking silently, his gaze fixed straight ahead.  

“Did your expedition go well?”  

“It was uneventful.”  

‘Of course, it must have been uneventful for you.’  

“Hmm…”  

Conversations should have a back-and-forth. If she had to live with Eched, it would feel like talking to a wall for the rest of her life.  

As she stared at his face, lost in thought, she eventually shook her head. At this, Eched raised an eyebrow.  

“What’s wrong?”  

“Nothing.”  

“…”  

With the conversation cut short, they continued walking in silence.  

They were about to turn the corner that led to the cherry blossom garden where Orgon had gone.  

“By the way, Lady Shaterian, I forgot to mention earlier… Have you ever undergone a holy power measurement test aside from when you entered the academy?”  

Holy power measurement tests were conducted during the academy’s entrance ceremony, where she had been deemed incompatible. She hadn’t taken one since.  

“No, I haven’t. Why?”  

“Well, it seems that you…”  

Shaterian suddenly stopped walking. Eched also came to a halt.  

Now, under the faintly blooming pink cherry blossoms, his water-colored hair swayed gently.  

“Saintess Anella?”  

Anella was walking alongside Orgon in the garden, looking close and affectionate. It was a sight that seemed far too early.  

“Why is she here already…?”  

In the original story, Anella only barely arrived at the Founding Ball. It had taken her longer to travel from the Holy Temple to this place than expected.  

While Shaterian was staring at her in confusion, Eched explained.  

“We met at the Blue Plains and came here together.”  

“With you? Together?”  

The Holy Temple was in the south, while Haltonea Forest was in the east. There was no way their paths should have crossed.  

“Her carriage broke down, so she detoured eastward. Since she departed from the Holy Temple, the plains were the only route ahead.”  

“Ah, I see…”  

Eched looked at the people under the cherry blossoms. More precisely, he was staring at Anella.  

For some reason, Shaterian’s nose suddenly stung. It was the emotion she’d felt while reading the novel.  

‘I don’t want to get involved in this.’  

If she didn’t interfere, she could enjoy a peaceful reincarnated life.  

At least, that had been the plan…  

Watching the affectionate protagonists together made her feel strangely uneasy.  

Perhaps it was because the couple she most wanted to see together had been Eched and Anella, and Eched had been her favorite character.  

Then, a sudden question crossed her mind.  

If those two ended up together as in the original story, and the novel reached its conclusion, what would happen to her?  

And what about Eched?  

Even after the world ends, would you still wait for Anella’s reincarnation?  

Always, right there in that place.