Chapter 27: The Invitation (2)

The day of the princess’ invitation.

Since there was still some time before Estelle’s tea party, I decided to accept the princess’s invitation. Of course, even if the dates overlapped, rejecting her invitation wouldn’t have been an option. Thankfully, the dates didn’t coincide.

“The princess is said to be truly beautiful… I wanted to see her in person too...”

Lily let out a light sigh, as if disappointed. I also wanted to bring her along, but it wasn’t possible.

“It’s an unofficial invitation, you know. It can’t be helped.”

It wasn’t a formal banquet or anything of the sort—it was a truly personal invitation. Considering that she even provided a disguised carriage to avoid being the subject of rumors, it must have been something important.

But was there any reason for the princess to send me such a significant invitation? The only thing I could think of was that she seemed to have some connection with Abel.

After all, when I returned to the banquet for the first time, she had a private conversation with Abel. Though I noticed it, I didn’t bring it up. Besides, Abel didn’t seem too fond of her anyway.

“...Done! It’s finished!”

Lily exclaimed confidently, as if satisfied with her work, and proudly held up a mirror. Reflected in the mirror was the image of an elegant noblewoman.

Even without makeup, her beauty was already beyond human, but now, with the addition of makeup, she looked utterly breathtaking. I already knew Lily’s skills were exceptional, but seeing the results every time never failed to amaze me.

“I look beautiful. Thank you, Lily.”

“Hehe, not at all. I merely brought out our Lady Adele’s natural beauty.”

She scratched her head shyly in response to my thanks.

“Oh no, we’re running late. The carriage has already arrived.”

Lily said, leading me toward the carriage. Perhaps because it was late at night, the street where the carriage waited was eerily quiet.

I couldn’t fathom why the princess had chosen this hour to invite me, but…

I would have to find out.

With that thought, I climbed into the carriage.

***

[Arie’s POV]

“Your Highness, Lady Este has arrived.”

The maid announced with a bow.

“Hmm, really? I suppose I should prepare.”

I tilted my head slightly, looking mildly uncomfortable, and the sight brought a faint smile to her lips.

Even at a glance, her expression was full of dissatisfaction; I didn’t need to read her thoughts to know what she was thinking.

-‘Why would she invite someone like her…’

As always, her thoughts flowed directly into my ears. This ability, granted to me as a member of the royal family, was more of a curse than a blessing.

Whether I wanted to or not, I could hear the thoughts of those around me. Far from being a gift, it felt more like a curse. It was this very ability that had made me an outsider in high society, despite my lofty status as a princess.

The stark contrast between their polite faces and the venomous thoughts behind them had become unbearable. People who wore human faces but clawed and bit like beasts in their hearts were now a source of revulsion to me.

This was why I had cut off nearly all social interactions. Since doing so, ridiculous rumors about me being an “unyielding flower” or some such nonsense had begun to circulate.

The words coming from the mouths of such two-faced individuals were as vile as could be. That’s why I found people who acted as they thought far easier to deal with—like the woman standing before me now.

“Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”

“Oh… I’m sorry. I must have failed to control my expression again.”

The maid hurriedly bowed, looking apologetic. I shook my head.

Though I wasn’t particularly fond of royal maids, I wasn’t the type to punish someone over such trivial matters.

“It’s fine. You may leave now.”

Among all the maids who had served me, she was the only one who hadn’t spoken her thoughts aloud.

Because of this, I appreciated how she always tried to stay within her bounds and maintain propriety.

-‘Should I start practicing my expressions or something…’

Watching the maid leave the room while deep in thought, stumbling over her own ideas, brought a smile to my face. No matter how much she worked on her expressions, it wouldn’t stop me from hearing her thoughts.

So, she’s that Abel’s fiancée, huh?

Abel, one of the rare few whose thoughts I couldn’t read, and a duke scheming rebellion against the royal family. The rumors about his fiancée being a villainess who only committed evil deeds didn’t concern me in the slightest.

How much value could there possibly be in the rumors spread by the beasts of high society? Even the absurd gossip about me was too numerous to count on both hands.

What intrigued me more was why Abel considered her the key to his plans.

“I will see soon enough.”

I sipped the coffee in my hand and perched by the window, taking in the scenery outside. The garden was dull as ever, with rows of pristine white flowers arranged like an army in rigid formation.

Moments later, the door opened, and the maid stepped inside. She froze, wide-eyed, as she took in my unchanged attire.

“Your Highness, you need to change out of your nightwear!”

“It doesn’t matter. Just bring in the lady and leave.”

“But—”

“Irina von Sartre.”

The sound of her full name caused her to freeze in place. With a subtle nod of my head, Irina hastily bowed and left the room, only to return moments later, nervously guiding in the guest.

The woman who entered had black hair and eyes as red as rubies, with a beauty that could rival my own. Her sharp features left a strong impression.

So, this was Adele von Este.

“Your Highness, I have brought Lady Este.”

“Well done. You may leave.”

“...Yes, Your Highness.”

Irina bowed at a perfect right angle and exited the room, leaving Adele standing there, seemingly confused and uncertain about what was going on.

As I watched her, I noticed something unusual.

“I can’t hear her thoughts?”

Interesting. So there’s a reason Abel chose her. She must be one of the rare, exceptional types of humans.

“I greet the little star of the empire.”

Adele spoke with forced calmness, trying to hide her unease. Her quick thinking might not have been perfect, but her composure wasn’t bad. Still, standing there like that, she was likely to get blisters on her feet.

“Would you like to sit on the bed? You look uncomfortable.”

“Oh, no. I couldn’t possibly trouble Your Highness like that...”

“It’s no trouble. I’ve already inconvenienced you first.”

I gestured toward my negligée as I spoke, and she reluctantly moved to sit. Adele perched on the bed in the corner of the massive room, glancing around as if curious about her surroundings.

“The room is quite large, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it certainly is…”

The room was almost as spacious as a small banquet hall. It was one of the many perks of royalty—rooms that matched our high status. I didn’t particularly like it, but there wasn’t much I could do.

“So, how’s married life in a contract marriage?”

“It’s not bad, bu—pardon?”

Adele, who had instinctively started to respond, looked at me with wide eyes, taken aback by my question. Her slightly flustered expression made me chuckle.

“So, it is a contract marriage?”

I had only been probing, but to my surprise, she gave an easy answer. Realizing her mistake, Adele broke out into a nervous sweat.

“Well, that’s…”

“Ahaha. Don’t worry, I’m just teasing. Abel already told me.”

Of course, it wasn’t a joke. This was more of a test—a way to see if she could truly become the key to Abel’s plans, as he claimed.

“I see.”

“Why do you think I called you here?”

“I’m not sure.”

She shook her head, her response cautious and guarded. The air, which had felt slightly lighter moments ago, grew tense again.

“You don’t know much about Abel, do you?”

“No. I’ve already learned plenty from him personally.”

So, she wouldn’t let me push further. Not a perfect answer, but not a failure either. This was just a side test, after all. What I truly wanted to test was something else entirely.

“Hmm… What do you think of Abel?”

“Do I really have to answer that?”

“Oh my, do you dislike me that much?”

Even as I joked, Adele’s wariness didn’t waver.

“In that case, shall I tell you something about Abel?”

At those words, her hand brushed lightly against her arm, an involuntary reaction. Though she tried to hide it, it was clear my question had unsettled her.

As I suspected, Abel hadn’t told her anything important.

“Abel intends to bring down the royal family.”

“…What? What do you mean by that?”

Adele’s wide-eyed expression betrayed her disbelief, as though she couldn’t trust her ears. If she had only seen Abel’s public activities, she would never have imagined such a thing. Abel’s preparations for rebellion were meticulous and quiet.

“It’s true. I’m on his side as well.”

Perhaps due to the sudden revelation, Adele furrowed her brows, her face a mix of confusion and skepticism.

Her reaction wasn’t important. What mattered was her answer to my next question.

“Let me ask you one thing.

Are you truly on Abel’s side?”

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

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