Chapter 10 - Chapter 10
—Why, why, why?
"Lady Rachel Marcel, it appears you are the one who poisoned the Saint and attacked her with water. Do you have anything to say in your defense?"
"Your Highness, that woman is the one at fault! She tried to steal you away from me, so this is only her just deserts!"
"I have no memory of being stolen. I simply had many discussions with the Saint for the sake of the country."
"But you spoke many times in the courtyard... You even invited her to the palace! My friends said they saw you together intimately many times!"
His Highness, his expression erased and his eyes shining coldly, looked at me as if I were a disappointment, a failure of his expectations.
"Those friends... would they be the ones who brought me reports and evidence that you had repeatedly harmed the Saint?"
"Wh-what?! No!"
"Regrettably, your engagement is to be annulled. This is with the consent of both His Majesty the King and your parents."
My entire body went cold as I watched his retreating back as he walked away briskly, as if I weren't even worth looking at.
No, wait! Don't go!
"Your Highness, Your Highness! Please wait!"
♢
"You people, what is the meaning of this! What did you say to His Highness!"
"Heh, we only told His Highness the truth when he asked."
"The situation has changed now. There's no longer any need to stay by your side."
"You weren't a fiancée chosen for anything but your mana anyway. Since it's the end, let us tell you. Everyone found you to be a nuisance."
Who were these women laughing so hideously? These were the women who had daily lined up flattering words for me. Now, only their eyes glittered, their mouths twisted, and their faces looked as if they were stained pitch black.
What... what was I looking at?
The words of ridicule and contempt didn't stop flowing from their mouths.
I don't know these people.
But... I had also made comments looking down on others like that.
In that case, did I also have such an ugly face?
♢
"Rachel, what have you done?"
"Father, um, I..."
"What were you looking at in His Highness?! To harm the Saint—what did you intend to do to this country!"
"No, I... well..."
"Tomorrow, you are to be sent to a convent in the territory. Reflect deeply on your actions there."
Father, his face haggard, covering his eyes. Mother, sitting powerless on the sofa, weeping and remaining silent.
♢
The carriage shook slowly with a rhythmic clatter.
"Ojou-sama, Sarah is happy to have met you."
"Sarah... I got everything wrong, didn't I?"
"Ojou-sama, you are a kind person at heart. I believe you were simply influenced in a bad direction."
"No, I am the one who chose that. The Saint... even though I wouldn't apologize, she said that everyone makes mistakes."
"As expected of the merciful Lady Saint."
"...I wonder if I can get a little closer to her once I'm at the convent. To a woman who wears such beautiful light."
"Of course."
"Sarah, you really are too soft. I know. I know I can't become like her."
—Thud.
The high-pitched neighing of a horse, the scream of the coachman, and the carriage lurching violently.
"Ojou-sama, has something happened?"
As I held the trembling Sarah, the carriage door was violently thrown open. And what I saw was the dull glint of silver light.
♢
"...sama, Ojou-sama, Ojou-sama!"
My consciousness surfaced at the sound of Sarah's voice.
Before me was not the Sarah who had held me while trembling in fear, but the Sarah who was peering into my face with worry.
"Ojou-sama, you seemed to be having quite a nightmare."
"I'm fine. A dream... yes, I was just having a bad dream."
"I see. You seem to have broken a sweat, so I will bring a cloth to clean you up."
Sarah smiled with relief and turned on her heel to leave the room.
"Sarah, thank you."
"Yes, Ojou-sama."
Sarah laughed happily. She no longer looked surprised when I thanked her; she simply offered a joyful smile.
A letter from His Highness was placed by the bedside. It must have been delivered today. I sat up and opened the letter. In addition to words of concern for my health, it said:
[Regarding our conversation the other day, I will bring a chef to introduce to the Marquis household.]
Ah, the talk about my lack of appetite? And from that, a chef?
As I thought, I really don't understand His Highness's way of thinking. However, this interaction, which never happened in the past, made that nightmare feel like something distant, and I felt a small sense of relief.
Now, I must change my mood.