Chapter 32: Family, You Say?

If the original story had gone as planned, Rosetta and the Crown Prince would currently be in the midst of a budding romance. However, because of me, the connection between the two was severed.

But now, they somehow know each other?

A strange sense of unease crept over me, and I furrowed my brows.

Rosetta clasped her hands together and gazed dreamily at the ceiling, murmuring as if reciting poetry.

“I was so happy that His Highness the Crown Prince welcomed me warmly.”

Her black eyes sparkled, as though she were recalling the events of the banquet.

‘Unless… they met while I was away in the restroom.’

The thought that Rosetta might not have met the Crown Prince because of my desperate attempts to survive made me feel a bit guilty. So, I focused more on what she was saying.

“His Highness is a wonderful person.”

“That’s right. He’s kind and noble. You know, I grew up only seeing men who were drunk or gambling. His Highness the Crown Prince is the first kind and beautiful man I’ve ever met.”

Rosetta’s pale cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink.

I discreetly hid the paper bag containing the Crown Prince’s clothes behind me, afraid it might upset Rosetta.

I asked one last question.

“Rosetta, what do you think of Duke Xavier Auguste? He’s also an impressive person, isn’t he?”

At my question, Rosetta pondered for a moment before responding.

“Well, he is impressive, but… how should I put it….”

“But?”

“He doesn’t feel human.”

“…….”

Should I lay out a mat for her fortune-telling?

“Why do you say that?”

“It’s just a feeling. It’s been like that since our first meeting. For some reason, I feel uncomfortable when I see him.”

Her lips pouted, and her cheeks puffed up. She genuinely seemed to dislike the Duke.

‘Ah, forget it. It makes sense now why they didn’t end up together in the original story.’

So this is what it means to feel like the world has gone dark.

“Oh my, Saintess. Your complexion has turned black. Are you alright?”

“……No, not at all. My throat is parched, and I’d like a cold drink.”

“Goodness, there are plenty of cold drinks in the banquet hall. What on earth is the Duke doing?”

Rosetta frowned and was about to offer to fetch a drink herself when—

Knock, knock.

“Oh my, speak of the devil! It must be the Duke!”

Rosetta quickly walked over to the door and grabbed the handle to open it.

“Your Grace, the drink… huh?”

Her round eyes widened like saucers.

The person standing at the door wasn’t Duke Xavier. Unexpectedly, it was Crown Prince Arthur.

“Am I interrupting the two of you?”

“N-not at all, Your Highness.”

Rosetta clumsily bent her knees in a curtsy. I quickly folded the blanket and stood to greet the Crown Prince.

‘My face is still a mess.’

I bowed my head deeply to hide my face as much as possible.

“I greet the Little Sun of Brillante.”

“Your Eminence, please feel free to call me by my name.”

“Pardon?”

“I told you that you now hold a status equivalent to that of a Princess. Have you forgotten?”

“……No, I remember. You certainly did say that.”

“Then, that makes us practically family.”

‘Family?’

The Duke had his absurd logic, but the Crown Prince’s leap in reasoning was just as extreme!

I smiled to get through the moment and replied.

“Haha, Your Highness has quite the sense of humor.”

“Do you think it’s a joke?”

The silver-haired young man smiled softly, his eyes wrinkling. His kind smile made me feel oddly uncomfortable, so I chose not to respond.

How does being equivalent to a Princess make us family? No matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn’t make sense of it.

As I stood there, dumbfounded and silent, the Crown Prince, still wearing a faint smile, turned to look at Rosetta.

He gazed at her face with gentle eyes for a moment before withdrawing his gaze and speaking in a rather formal tone.

“Miss Rosetta, thank you for looking after Her Eminence.”

“Oh, no, Your Highness. I do it because I want to.”

The corners of the Crown Prince’s lips twitched slightly.

“Is that so?”

“I really like the Saintess.”

Rosetta beamed brightly, and the Crown Prince, as if nothing had happened, smiled just as warmly.

“Haha, that’s a relief.”

“Yes!”

“Then, Miss Rosetta, could you step out for a moment?”

“…Ah, understood. I’ll wait outside, Saintess.”

Leaving those words behind, Rosetta opened the door and stepped out.

Once she was gone, Crown Prince Arthur strode over to me and extended his hand.

“May I have your hand?”

“My hand?”

“Yes, I have something good for you. Please.”

I obediently held out my palm, and the Crown Prince took a small green bottle from his suit pocket and placed it in my hand.

“This is a hangover remedy prescribed by the imperial physician. It should help you feel better.”

“Oh.”

Amazing. This looked so familiar.

A green bottle containing that liquid!

What kind of romance novel has a Crown Prince personally delivering hangover remedies?!

“Your Eminence? Your face is even redder now.”

“I-it’s nothing. I’m just feeling a bit warm.”

“Hmm, you must really have a low tolerance for alcohol.”

His golden eyes narrowed as he studied my face intently. Then, suddenly, he cupped my cheeks with both hands.

“My hands are cold. Does this feel refreshing?”

What is he doing now?

“Um, Your Highness? This doesn’t seem appropriate.”

Being alone with the Crown Prince in a private room like this felt dangerous. And if Duke Xavier saw this, my head would surely roll.

“It’s not ‘Your Highness,’ it’s Arthur.”

“…….”

Please, Arthur.

“I won’t let go unless you call me Arthur.”

Now even the Crown Prince was making advances. Resigned, I softly called his name.

“…Arthur.”

“I like that.”

The Crown Prince smiled contentedly as he used one hand to smooth my bangs.

“When I found out you were the Saintess that day, you can’t imagine how surprised I was.”

“Pardon?”

“Whenever a Saintess appears, she has always been betrothed to the Crown Prince.”

“…….”

The meaning behind his words was clear.

A marriage between the Saintess and the Crown Prince.

Just like in the original story where Rosetta had done so.

I felt chills run down my spine.

Was my death flag still active?

“I wish to marry the Saintess. To subdue the unruly Beast Kingdom, I need your power. I want to end this long war once and for all.”

“Your Highness, that’s too sudden. Marriage, you say?”

At my words, the Crown Prince’s golden eyes darkened. My startled reflection was clearly visible in his gaze.

“You seem very surprised.”

“Yes. No one could easily imagine marrying someone like you, Arthur.”

Even after hearing that, the Crown Prince simply stared at me. But soon, he smiled faintly and spoke again.

“I’m not forcing you. I just wanted you to know how I feel, Your Eminence.”

“Arthur.”

“But as long as you are the Saintess, you won’t be able to avoid marriage, no matter who it’s with.”

“…….”

“So, please choose me, Your Eminence.”

His earnest gaze bore into me, but I couldn’t respond.

If the Saintess chose the Crown Prince, the consequences were obvious. Pins and the Duke’s territory would turn into a sea of blood, and screams would echo along the road to the capital.

“What if I don’t choose you, Arthur?”

“Hmm, I haven’t considered that possibility.”

Arthur crossed his arms, seemingly surprised by my response.

“You said it wasn’t forced?”

“Of course. You’re free to decide. Even if you don’t choose me, I won’t resent you.”

Arthur smiled gently as he answered. His smile reassured me, and I smiled back.

‘Thank goodness, the Crown Prince isn’t crazy.’

To shift the mood, I retrieved the paper bag I had hidden earlier and handed it to him with both hands.

“By the way, thank you for lending this to me.”

“Is this my clothing?”

“Yes.”

“You didn’t have to do this.”

The Crown Prince accepted the paper bag as though it were a precious gift and held it to his chest.

“It smells nice.”

“I did my best to clean it.”

Well, Maya did. As I thought that to myself, I heard commotion outside the room.

“Why aren’t you letting me through? Move aside.”

“Your Grace, please wait a moment.”

“How dare you block my way? Do you have two lives?”

“I’m sorry, but His Highness the Crown Prince is inside.”

“What?”

Duke Xavier was at the door.

Ah, the Duke wouldn’t like seeing me alone with the Crown Prince.

Not just dislike—he’d probably throw off his gloves and challenge the Crown Prince to a duel.

“Ah, so Duke Xavier has arrived.”

The Crown Prince, however, remained completely composed.

Meanwhile, I was dying of anxiety. How unfair!

Crown Prince Arthur stood and bid me farewell.

“I’ll take my leave now. Please rest well.”

“Yes, Arthur. But do you really have to leave right now…?”

Before I could finish, he walked straight to the door and opened it.

“…now.”

Outside, Duke Xavier was glaring like an angry cat, while Rosetta, looking ready to pounce like a mad dog, stood beside him with her eyes blazing.

The moment the door opened, the Duke, holding two drinks in his hands, turned his head toward me like a robot. He seemed genuinely shocked to see the Crown Prince emerging from the ladies’ lounge.

“Duke Xavier, what a coincidence to meet you here.”

Duke Xavier’s elegant black eyebrows furrowed.

“That’s exactly what I was about to say.”