A Blend of Romance and Fantasy - Chapter 102

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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102.
To summarize Demian’s past as Cecilia saw it, it was this.
「In winter, with snow swirling through the air, Aria found Demian collapsed and nursed him back to health.
But the ungrateful Demian kidnapped and imprisoned Aria.
Aria constantly begged Demian to release her, but he refused.
One day, Aria barely managed to escape the castle, but Demian shot her dead with an arrow.」
It was truly a hopeless, depressing #imprisonment narrative.
Of course, since Cecilia had witnessed the past from Demian’s perspective, she couldn’t have known Aria’s true emotions.
But she said that in every moment, Aria appeared to be suffering.
“The Duchess mentioned she read the memories in fragments.”
“Since Demian is a dark mage, it must have been overwhelming for him to read them.”
“…Still, I’m certain.”
Leonard Blake spoke with conviction.
“It matches the facts I’ve investigated.”
“Leonard Blake, how much did you know about Aria?”
“I simply wanted to investigate further before speaking, since the information wasn’t certain.”
For some reason, I felt a sting of betrayal.
I narrowed my eyes and glared at Leonard Blake.
“…What other information is there?”
He should have just told me everything.
Leonard Blake hesitated before speaking.
“Perhaps Demian loved Aria. But I’m not certain.”
“Love?”
Cedric’s face twisted in disgust.
“You’re saying one can love someone while kidnapping and imprisoning them out of obsession?”
Well, that’s exactly what you did to Aurora in the original story.
I swallowed the words I wanted to say to Cedric and looked at Leonard Blake.
“Then the corpse—he wanted to preserve the body of the woman he loved?”
“That would be it.”
I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling a chill run down my spine.
“He’s the very definition of a stalker. First, let’s contact Hermes and inform him of this.”
* * *
I tried to contact Hermes using the contact information he’d given me, but he didn’t answer.
With no other choice, I left a note saying I would provide the records.
When it was time for the banquet to begin, I entered the Banquet Hall together with Leonard Blake.
The Blake banquet was similar to the last time I had attended.
The only difference was that this time, a ball accompanied it.
“The Sixth Prince and his Consort are entering.”
As soon as we entered, several people slowly approached us.
But they seemed hesitant and cautious, finding it difficult to approach because of Leonard Blake.
I glanced around the room.
Aurora was already surrounded by people eager to see the Saint, offering her practiced smile without pause.
‘All right. Let me approach first with the refined charm I cultivated in Sincester’s high society.’
I stepped forward toward the hesitant noblewomen.
“Good evening, ladies. How did you enjoy the Hunting Festival?”
“Oh… Your Highness! It was absolutely delightful.”
The noblewomen glanced at Leonard before readily engaging in conversation with me.
After that, realizing I wasn’t as difficult to approach as they’d thought, several more noblewomen crowded around.
But these people…
‘They seem far more curious about when Prince Alex will marry than anything about me.’
Moreover, the young ladies kept asking about my brother’s romantic preferences.
“Even if priests don’t marry, surely His Holiness the Pope does?”
“I saw his portrait, and he’s so handsome…”
Of course, the men never ventured within three meters of me.
One young lady mentioned that Prince Alex had already issued a warning.
“He said anyone who approaches would die! Your Highness must be truly beloved~”
Leonard’s situation, however, was different.
As the atmosphere grew more relaxed, a few began steering the conversation his way.
But this was a country where women could become heads of houses.
Watching beautiful women gather around Leonard in conversation, I felt an inexplicable irritation rising within me.
“Why do you look so displeased, Princess?”
When a young lady widened her eyes, I hastily covered my face with my fan.
“Oh, no. It’s nothing.”
Right, I should endure this. I’m supposed to have a good temperament.
“By the way, where is Prince Chris?”
“The Prince rarely appears at official events!”
“Everyone laments that such beauty is going to waste.”
“But Demian seems remarkably lively today~”
The young ladies turned their heads in unison.
Surprisingly, Demian was also surrounded by admirers.
“The Ice Prince seems quite relaxed today, doesn’t he?”
“But it’s still terrifying to approach him!”
“I’m so curious—who will become the 1st Prince’s wife?”
That was when it happened.
“Why are you staring at my son like that?”
A sharp voice masked in sweetness came from behind me.
The Empress had somehow drawn close to my back.
With so many people around and her son present, I hadn’t expected her to pay attention to me…
“Your Majesty.”
“You’re gazing so intently. Tell me—are you trying to seduce my son this time?”
“…!”
They say like attracts like, but surely you’re not one to talk?
I wanted to jeer, but we were in the middle of a ball, so I held my tongue.
I snapped my fan shut with an audible click and laughed.
“I’m not sure what you mean, Your Highness. I merely thought it enviable that so many gathered around the 1st Prince.”
“My, what are you saying? Don’t more people surround the Sixth Prince’s Wife? Excessive modesty becomes arrogance.”
“What business do you have speaking with my wife?”
Leonard Blake approached at that moment, his face devoid of even a hint of a smile.
“Your Majesty.”
“…To think the protagonist of the Yeom-mun-seol would gallivant about so openly! I came to tell you to be ashamed, as the mistress of the Imperial Palace!”
The Empress then raised her voice, gesturing toward Princess Lilith and the Second Empress, who were being revered by gentlemen in the distance.
“Do you have your wits about you or not?”
“Your Majesty the Empress, what do you mean by that?”
Katrina rose from her seat, her face utterly bewildered. The Empress then shrieked sharply.
“Your daughter-in-law is entangled with another man in the Yeom-mun-seol, yet instead of restraint, she indulges in banquets. How did you educate your daughter-in-law?”
“…That is…”
“Well, you yourself are too preoccupied enjoying the banquet to notice. That’s just the sort of woman you are.”
The Second Empress’s face flushed crimson, but the Empress did not stop.
“The Sixth Prince—even he is pitiful. The Yeom-mun-seol hasn’t even faded, yet he gallivants about with its protagonist everywhere. Are you so besotted with your wife?”
“….”
“But this is conduct that diminishes the dignity of the Imperial Palace!”
The Empress then turned a sharp rebuke upon all who had approached us.
“Those who seek to befriend the Prince’s Consort should be ashamed as well.”
She continued with more reproaches after that, and I simply felt exhausted.
‘Is this that trope where the villain’s intelligence is lowered to elevate the protagonist’s abilities?’
In that moment, my gaze met Leonard Blake’s. He looked equally weary, as if thinking the same thing.
I approached him and whispered quietly.
“Shall we just ignore her and leave?”
“Yes, the Emperor will handle it himself.”
After all, Emperor Yukal was on our side and surely despised the Empress.
I was nodding when it happened.
“A fair point indeed.”
“…!?”
Emperor Yukal rose from his seat and approached us.
Everyone was startled—even the Empress looked at the Emperor with astonished eyes.
“The Empress speaks truly.”
“Your… Your Majesty….”
The Empress looked flustered, as if she hadn’t expected the Emperor to take her side.
“I meant to point it out since the Hunting Festival, but Sixth Prince’s Wife—don’t you rather enjoy drawing others’ attention too much?”
“Your Majesty.”
“I believe it would be best if you retired now. Don’t you agree?”
“….”
Ah.
Now I understood why he was doing this.
This Emperor clearly disapproved of my selection of a doe as the answer to the Hunting Festival’s riddle.
As I clenched my fists, Leonard stepped forward in front of me.
“That theory is false, so my wife has nothing to be ashamed of. Moreover, it matters not what I believe—only what others perceive.”
“If that were true, why didn’t that Duke go to the Holy Knight Order? Besides, regardless of what you believe, the opinions of others are what truly matter.”
“Y-you’re right.”
The Empress looked flustered, but soon her expression shifted to one of smug satisfaction.
“You should retire now. I would also suggest the Sixth Prince and the Prince withdraw as well. You all seem far too agitated.”
“….”
A sigh escaped me.
Another sigh, deeper still….
Let me be clear: I am truly a kind and gentle person.
I never caused trouble even once in Sincester….
Well, I was at least virtuous within the Religious Society.
Yet here, everyone refuses to cooperate with me?
I can’t take this anymore. How dare they paint me as a wanton woman?
I’m the kind of woman who rejected even a confession from a handsome male lead from a romance fantasy novel to preserve my honor.
“Your Majesties, I demand an apology from you both at once.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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