Chapter 28: This Life Is Doomed

「To Lady Yuria Graham, Congratulations」  

How did it come to this? The banner fluttering in front of our mansion’s gates left me feeling deeply unsettled.  

The temple had announced that they would officially declare Yuria Graham as the Saintess during the victory banquet. Upon confirming the truth with me, my parents were elated beyond belief and promptly hung that congratulatory banner for everyone to see.  

Since the temple requested that the announcement remain a secret until the banquet, the banner only displayed my name and nothing else.  

Thanks to that, every carriage passing by our mansion slowed down for a curious glance. Some people even got out of their carriages to ask what the banner was about and what was being celebrated.  

When I begged my parents to take it down, they responded:  

“Why does anyone else need to know the details? It’s enough that we do.”  

“You’re absolutely right, dear.”  

Mom and Dad were perfectly in sync, as usual. Ugh, heavens help me.  

“Our dear Saintess, come have your breakfast.” 

Maya chimed in, adding fuel to the fire.  

“I told you not to call me that, Maya.”  

“But it’s true, isn’t it? Saint. Ess. Your. Eminence.”  

Oh, she was having the time of her life. She now openly called me “Your Eminence, the Saintess” without a hint of hesitation.  

Looking at her innocent face, I could tell her words were completely sincere, without a single ounce of malice.  

“I can’t believe my young lady isn’t a villainess but a saintess! I’m so happy!”  

“If someone heard you, they’d think you were the one who became a saintess.”  

“I wouldn’t want that.”  

Why does she have to look so serious about it?  

“Why not?”  

“Being a saintess means meeting the Pope and members of the Imperial family. I’d die of a heart attack before I could manage that.”  

“And me?”  

“You, my lady, have nerves of steel.”  

“Hah. Just put the bread down.”  

“But it’s true.”  

However, I barely managed to nibble on the bread Maya handed me before putting it back down.  

‘I can’t believe I’ve lost my appetite.’  

It’s all because of those two!  

I glared at the Crown Prince’s invitation and the Duke’s marriage proposal lying on the table in front of me, letting out a deep sigh.  

‘If it weren’t for the difference in status, I’d love to ram into them both.’  

I tried to avoid the ultimate villain, only to end up on the verge of marriage. And now, even the male lead was throwing himself at me.  

In the original story, Xavier was fated to fall in love with Rosetta, and losing her would drive him mad.  

As for the Crown Prince, I wasn’t fond of him either. In the novel, Arthur de Fabian was described as handsome and virtuous. When I met him in person, he was indeed kind and courteous.  

But in the end, he and Saintess Rosetta destroyed the enemy nation of Moirai. While I had no intention of marrying the Crown Prince, I couldn’t be sure he wouldn’t demand that I, as the Saintess, help him destroy Moirai.  

I hated war. War meant I couldn’t lounge around and enjoy myself! I had been thrilled at the prospect of living as the pampered only daughter of a wealthy family, but now…  

‘Why does a trivial young lady like me have to become a saintess?!’  

Maya sighed as she watched me slam my head onto the table in frustration, but I didn’t care.  

‘Oh, Saintess? Rosetta!’  

If I had taken the place of the protagonist Rosetta, what would happen to her?  

In the original story, Saintess Rosetta became the Crown Princess. She was beautiful but somewhat aggressive—she had, after all, obliterated the Beast Kingdom for the Crown Prince she loved. Her actions were so extreme that it was hard to call her a ‘kind’ Saintess.  

‘I’d better stay away from her too. She only caused trouble wherever she went. Maybe I should just hole up at home and avoid everything?’  

Yes, that seemed like a good plan.  

＊  

“You’re not going to the victory banquet?”  

Father set his fork down on the table with a sharp clink. Mother, equally shocked, turned to me.  

“Yuria, the victory banquet is hosted by the Imperial family, and you’ve already received an invitation. You can’t skip it.”  

“…I suppose not.”  

“Of course not! It’s a celebration for the Duke, your future husband. How could his bride-to-be be absent?”  

“Mother, that hasn’t been decided yet.”  

“And the Crown Prince personally sent you an invitation. Not attending would be disrespectful!”  

I had forgotten how much of a Brillante Empire enthusiast my father was. His patriotism was unmatched.  

“Besides, isn’t the Saintess announcement supposed to happen at the victory banquet?”  

“Yes…”  

I was cornered.  

My plan to quietly skip the banquet failed, and I trudged back to my room, collapsing onto my bed.  

Turning my head, I saw the Crown Prince’s uniform jacket hanging on the wall, freshly laundered.  

I glared at the jacket, biting my lip.  

Why had the Crown Prince invited me? Surely it wasn’t just to retrieve his jacket. And why was the temple announcing the Saintess at the banquet?  

“Is he really after me because I’m the Saintess?”  

I felt so gloomy. I’d planned to live as a cunning side character, but it seemed fate had other ideas.  

‘Wait a minute. Even though I’ve taken Rosetta’s place as the Saintess, wouldn’t there still be a chance to reunite Xavier with Rosetta, whom he adored so much?’  

Because I became the Saintess, Rosetta had no reason to attend the banquet. As someone practically a commoner, she wouldn’t be invited to the Imperial Palace without her Saintess status.  

‘But what if the Duke brought her?’  

Yes, it was worth a shot.  

After much agonizing, I began drafting a letter to the Duke. I wasn’t thrilled about it, but I was desperate.  

[Your Grace, I’ve heard that Rosetta is staying at the Rexton estate. Could you bring her to the victory banquet? I’m worried about her and would really like to see her.]  

I tied the letter to a carrier pigeon and sent it off with a prayer.  

But the reply, which I thought would come within a day, didn’t arrive. I spent the entire day glued to the window, staring at the sky.  

‘It’s not even that far. Why is he taking so long to respond? I can’t exactly go to him, so this is driving me crazy.’  

“My lady, first you were tearing your hair out, then you were pacing like a dog that needs to pee, and now you’re hanging off the window like a monkey. What’s going on?”  

“Ugh. What’s with the dog and monkey comparisons?”  

“It’s just a figure of speech.”  

At that moment, the carrier pigeon finally returned, fluttering to the windowsill. Overjoyed, I quickly unfolded the reply.  

[Let’s pretend this letter doesn’t exist.]  

‘That cold-hearted, villainous Duke!’  

I crumpled the letter into a ball and hurled it into the trash can.  

Maya, watching from the side, shook her head and sighed.  

Time flew by, and before I knew it, the day of the victory banquet had arrived.  

Mother was busy dressing me in a gown from the finest boutique. The soft yellow dress made me look like a forsythia flower.  

“Oh, my beautiful daughter! To think you’re destined to be with someone you love, and even the Crown Prince is involved! It’s like a dream come true!”  

I really did look like a forsythia.  

“Mother.”  

“Yes, dear?”  

How could I explain? That I was a transmigrator who had tried to avoid the ultimate villain by pretending to be a cunning schemer, only to be betrayed by the original plot?  

“Never mind.”  

“You’re so silly. By the way, who’s coming to escort you today?”  

“Ah, well…”  

In truth, I had rejected both the Crown Prince’s and the Duke’s partner requests. It was too overwhelming, and I wanted to maintain some distance from them.  

[Understood, my lady. I’ll see you at the victory banquet.]  

The male lead, Arthur, had been gentlemanly and didn’t push the matter.  

But Xavier was different.  

[That’s nonsense. I won’t take no for an answer.]  

‘Why is he being so clingy all of a sudden?’  

“The Duke said he’s coming.”  

“Oh, I see.”  

I had half given up. The villainous Duke was always a madman. He just hadn’t had the chance or target to show it until now.  

‘Why does that target have to be me?!’  

He claimed he didn’t like me but wanted to kiss me. He said he didn’t understand his own feelings but couldn’t stop thinking about me. What kind of logic was that?  

‘This life is doomed.’  

I tried to sneak into the carriage with my parents, but there was no chance. Mother gently tapped my hand as I reached for the carriage door.  

“Yuria, what are you doing? The Duke is coming to pick you up. We’ll leave you two to have some quality time together.”  

“Yes, make sure to send my regards to His Grace.”

And with that, they left without looking back. I stared at their departing carriage with misty eyes.  

Two hours alone with the Duke on the way to the capital? What could we possibly talk about?!  

Soon enough, the Duke’s platinum carriage arrived. The door opened, and the tall, striking man stepped out.  

‘This is unfair.’  

The moment I saw him, my heart betrayed me by skipping a beat.  

His hair, styled with pomade, made his already handsome face even more devastatingly attractive. His perfect physique filled out his suit impeccably, as if he were a living masterpiece.  

Though Xavier was always dashing, today he looked like he had stepped out of a painting. And then, he extended his long, elegant fingers toward me.  

‘Why am I so weak to those hands?’  

“Shall we go?”  

“…Yes.”  

Like a magnet, my hand found its way into his as I climbed into the carriage. Once seated on the plush cushions, I avoided his gaze, knowing my cheeks would betray me by turning red if I looked at him.  

“You look beautiful.”  

“……”  

Did I hear that right?  

I glanced up at him.  

“You’re as lovely as a yellow forsythia. It’s a color that suits spring.”  

“I don’t like forsythias.”  

“Really? Then you’re like a yellow freesia.”  

“I don’t like freesias either.”  

“Then how about a little yellow chick?”  

“Stop teasing me.”  

“Hmm, I’m being sincere. Or maybe I should compare you to food instead. How about an egg yolk?”  

“Your Grace!”  

When I pouted in frustration, Xavier turned his head and let out a brief chuckle. Then, uncrossing his legs, he leaned toward me.  

He pressed a soft, lingering kiss to my lips, drawing away only after a golden glow briefly shimmered behind me and faded.  

“Forgive me. Your lips were too tempting.”  

“……!”  

“And it was time for me to receive some holy power.”  

‘What am I, a fast charger?!’  

“Are you insane?”  

Humiliated, I hissed at him in a low voice.  

“What if someone finds out? I’m a proper young lady!”  

I was so anxious that the coachman might have noticed that my heart felt like it was going to explode. Then, out of nowhere, Xavier called out loudly.  

“Can you hear me?”  

“Pardon? Did you call for me, Your Grace?”  

Oh my God, Duke!  

I glared at him, my mouth opening and closing like a fish. Xavier waved his hand dismissively.  

“Don’t worry. He won’t hear anything at this volume.”  

“Are you going to keep teasing me?”  

“Are you going to keep chattering with those pretty little lips?”  

“What?”  

His perfectly aligned teeth peeked through his smirk as his deep, alluring voice reached my ears.  

“You’re making me want to kiss you again.”