Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: The Reincarnator, the Possessor, and...
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It had been another week since then.
The Drakenspitze expedition was now just a week away.
Roselia and I were sitting in the greenhouse of the Moonlight Garden, enjoying our tea time as usual.
We had become partners who worked well together by now, and even without the grand excuse of a strategy meeting, we naturally chatted away.
Like we'd gone from comrades to friends, perhaps?
"So, do you know what I said back then? 'These shoes aren't my style. The heels are too low; they hurt my pride.' That's what I told them."
"Heh, a true imperial princess response. What did the designer say?"
"They cried and promised to make them again. Truth be told, I was just in a bad mood that day and threw a tantrum... Now that I think about it, I feel a bit sorry."
Roselia giggled as she picked up a macaron.
Glamorous tales from the capital's high society, or critiques of the clichés in the romance novels she enjoyed reading here.
Mostly idle chit-chat with no real substance, but it was a decent way to unwind our minds before the tense expedition ahead.
Outside the window, white snow continued to pour down relentlessly, while the greenhouse was filled with the warm aroma of black tea.
An afternoon that felt far too peaceful for the calm before the storm.
And that's when I thought today would pass like any other ordinary day.
In the distance, at the garden entrance, I spotted a figure rushing toward us.
It was Seria.
Normally, she would approach silently like a shadow and quietly refill our teacups, but today, her hurried footsteps were obvious even from afar.
And as she drew closer, her expression—usually so composed—was strangely stiff.
Not the face of someone coming to report important information as usual.
More like she'd encountered a disaster too overwhelming to handle, her features twisted with anxiety and bewilderment.
I set down my teacup and asked,
"What is it, Seria? You don't look good."
"…"
Seria stared straight into my eyes for a moment before opening her mouth in a trembling voice.
"Your Grace, there's an urgent report from the guards. A guest... has arrived at the castle gates right now."
"A guest? We weren't expecting any visitors."
"That's just it... They showed up without any prior notice."
Seria swallowed dryly, then slowly uttered the name of the being who had come to Kaltstein.
"One of the Empire's Four Pillars, the ruler of the south... A carriage from the Baldinmar Duke's family is requesting entry through the gates."
"…What? Did I hear that right?"
"Yes. The Baldinmar Duke's family."
"…"
Baldinmar.
The Kaltsteins of the north, the Eckarts of the east, the Lancasters of the west.
And finally, the Baldinmars of the south—called the Empire's Sun— the supreme martial house and one of the Loen Empire's four great families, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with us Kaltsteins.
A house that had shared no ties with Kaltstein for a very long time.
And now, out of nowhere, Baldinmar had come calling without a word?
"Surely it's not that sly old fox from Baldinmar himself... What, sending a congratulatory message through an envoy at this point?"
"…No. It's neither the family head nor a congratulatory message…"
Seria hesitated, glancing briefly at Roselia.
"The lady known as the Iron-Blooded Red Rose and the closest friend of Her Highness the Imperial Princess of Loen... Lady Leonier Baldinmar has arrived."
"……What? The lady herself?"
"…Pardon?"
Leoner Baldinmar.
The moment that name left Seria's lips, before I could even react, Roselia—who had been munching on a macaron beside me—froze in place.
Her eyes shook as if an earthquake had hit.
"…Wait. Who did you say?"
Roselia asked again, her face drained of color.
"Leonie? That... that villainess? Why is she here? At this exact timing?"
"…"
For even her, the possessor, to be this rattled.
Such a woman had barged into the heart of the north without warning?
Seria watched our reactions for a moment before adding with a slightly teary expression,
"And... she's not alone. She's brought an entire battalion of knights. Along with a message that if we don't open the gates, she'll smash them down and enter by force."
"…Ha."
I let out a hollow laugh, rubbing my forehead.
"Looks like the old man from Baldinmar has finally lost his mind."
I already knew he doted on his granddaughter immensely, but... to bring knights to Kaltstein of all places?
What, itching for war? Annoying.
For a split second, an indescribable surge of anger boiled up, but I took a small breath, regaining my composure.
And slowly began analyzing the situation.
The Baldinmars, called the tyrants of the south—no, the lady herself leading a knight battalion? No matter how I looked at it, this wasn't a simple visit.
Either outright madness willing to risk war, or a show of force to demand something they absolutely needed.
But the former was unlikely.
No matter how belligerent the Baldinmars were or how loyal they were to Loen like faithful dogs, they wouldn't march troops all the way to Kaltstein at the empire's northern edge for all-out war.
Besides, even if it came to a real territorial clash, Kaltstein's odds of defeat were near zero.
So it had to be the latter.
'What the hell is their game?'
Dozens of scenarios flashed through my mind, but the conclusion was one.
With things escalated this far, no choice but to confront them head-on.
I smoothed my furrowed brow and issued the order in a calm, steady voice.
"Let them in."
"…Pardon? But Your Grace, they're fully armed. If we open the gates like this..."
"If they truly meant war with Kaltstein, they wouldn't be at the front gate—they'd have scaled the walls. This is just posturing. A big southern beast has crawled into the northern wolves' den on its own paws. No point in turning them away at the door."
"…"
At my nonchalant response, Seria seemed to hesitate for a moment before bowing her head as if resolved.
"Understood. I'll escort them in immediately. However, for any contingencies, I'll station the mages as well."
"Do that. Leave it to your discretion, Seria."
"Then, if you'll excuse me."
Seria gave a brief nod and exited the greenhouse.
With the soft click of the door closing, the spacious greenhouse was left with just Roselia and me once more.
Or more precisely, the dazed Roselia and me observing her.
"…"
Roselia remained frozen with a half-lost look in her eyes.
The macaron in her hand had long since rolled onto the plate, and her red-painted lips were being anxiously chewed.
Her complexion had gone pale, as if she'd seen a ghost.
Just the arrival of another house's lady warranting this level of shock?
Pretending to sip my tea, I focused all my attention on listening.
And as expected, a tiny mutter slipped from her lips.
"…No way. Leonie Baldinmar? Why the fuck is that crazy bitch here?"
Convinced I couldn't understand, Roselia dropped her elegant princess act, switching to full possessor mode—spewing Korean curses like a modern woman unleashed.
"In the original story, she should be obsessed with the crown prince right now, pulling stalker shit. Yeah, pathetically simping until she gets jealous of Elina and bullies her... eventually getting poisoned by the crown prince's assassin and dying miserably as the villainess."
"…"
'Hm.'
With the teacup to my lips, pretending to savor the aroma, I inwardly cheered.
Finally, out with it. She'd kept going on about the "original story," and I'd been dying to know who the heroine was.
'Elina, huh…'
A common name, sure, but it felt like a key puzzle piece had clicked into place.
Putting Roselia's words together, this visiting Leonie was the classic villainous side character from the original: lovestruck for the crown prince, tormenting the heroine Elina, and meeting a pathetic end.
Yet here she was, not at the imperial palace with the crown prince, but inexplicably in the north?
No wonder the reaction.
It was obvious.
She was more confused now than when we'd first met.
And Roselia's turmoil didn't stop there.
Unable to overcome her anxiety, she ruffled her hair with both hands, muttering in a voice squeezed out like she was strangling it.
"Fuck... What the hell kind of bullshit variable is this?"
The crude curse bursting from the princess's mouth nearly made me bite my tongue to stifle a laugh.
Her pretentious facade crumbling to reveal that modern personality was endlessly amusing, no matter how many times.
"I figured things would get messy ever since Kaltstein survived intact after I possessed this body... but this is way over the line. Not a butterfly effect—a goddamn typhoon."
She rolled her eyes frantically, as if desperately wracking her brain.
"Leonie coming north isn't in the original anywhere. Hell, she hates the cold so much she never even glanced this way! And bringing knights? No way... Because of me? Did I twist the plot too hard?"
Roselia's face twisted in horror and irritation.
The anxiety of her known future unraveling.
The terror of her sole weapon as a possessor—her meta-knowledge—becoming useless, eating away at her.
"Ugh, driving me insane. The crown prince keeps sending letters, giving me a headache, and now this mad dog shows up... Where the hell is my peaceful retirement plan going?"
She slammed the table lightly with a thud and let out a deep sigh.
Part of me wanted to watch her mental breakdown in real-time and pry more original story info, but handling the situation came first.
I set my teacup down with an audible clink and cleared my throat.
"Ahem."
"…!"
At my sound, Roselia jolted, her shoulders trembling.
The speed at which she hastily smoothed her disheveled hair and switched back to a haughty expression was artistic.
In an instant, she fixed her attire and hair, staring at me as if nothing had happened.
"Is something the matter?"
"No, nothing. The tea's gone a bit cold."
Her attempt at playing it cool was admirable, so I pretended ignorance and slowly rose from my seat.
"Well then, I should go welcome our unexpected guest. Rude as the visit is, she's still a lady—I can't very well not show my face as the host."
I lightly adjusted my coat and looked down at Roselia.
She was still eyeing me anxiously but forcing a calm smile on the surface.
Every time, I thought it, but this possessor... was just too entertaining.
"Your Highness, please rest here. It'll be noisy outside, so best not to come out. Or do you intend to meet your friend?"
"No, I think I'll pass. I'll just... quietly sip my tea here. See you later, Duke."
"Very well. Understood."
I nodded courteously to her, then turned and headed for the greenhouse entrance.
From behind, I heard Roselia whisper softly once more, "...I'm screwed."
Hiding the smile tugging at my lips, I flung open the greenhouse door.
The original heroine, Elina.
And the villainess fated to torment her and die, Leonie.
To an already enjoyable present, a delightfully intriguing new toy had leaped onto my chessboard.
"I hope she's as fun as I'm hoping."