Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: True Feelings at Teatime
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Opening the door to the glass greenhouse, the fragrant aroma of tea leaves was the first thing to brush against my nose.
"You've arrived, Your Grace. I've been waiting so long."
The center of the greenhouse.
Roselia, who had been sitting in the sunniest spot, spotted me and waved with a radiant smile like spring sunlight.
Anyone who saw her would think she was the picture of a lovestruck fiancée.
...Was she an actress in her past life? She's really good at this.
It was obviously an act as a fake fiancée deeply in love...
But lately, for some reason, it felt like there was a hint of sincerity? Real emotion? Something like that.
It must be my imagination... Love doesn't suit that woman at all.
With such idle thoughts, I put on a gentle expression and sat down across from her.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Roselia. Estate business dragged on longer than expected."
"No, how could I not know how hard Your Grace works for the territory? I'm just happy you came."
Roselia gracefully poured tea into my cup.
It was a flawless performance that could fool the eyes of the maids and escort knights standing nearby in an instant.
"If you don't mind, could I ask what business brought you here today?"
"Of course. Today..."
We clinked our teacups and began chatting amiably.
After finishing talk of business, we moved on to trivial small talk—how flavorful the new tea leaves were, how beautiful the flowers in the garden were.
Things like how nice the weather was: empty calories, but the kind of conversation lovers would naturally exchange.
"Try this cookie. I picked it out myself thinking of you, Your Grace."
"...Thank you. With Your Highness's discerning eye, it can't miss."
Not baked by her own hands, just picked out...
For a moment, I felt a bit pathetic for having heard she baked them herself.
I took a bite of the cookie she offered, sending her a gaze dripping with honey.
No matter what I felt inside, the key to this act was to look like I was tasting the sweetest thing in the world.
We were in the middle of gazing into each other's eyes, performing our dying-of-love fiancée act for quite some time.
By the time the teapot was nearly empty and the dessert plates cleared, the maids guarding the area stepped away for cleanup or retreated, creating a space just for us.
Confirming the watchful eyes had loosened, Roselia set down her teacup and leaned forward slightly.
Her lovely smile remained, but her eyes held a mischievous, enigmatic glint.
"So, Your Grace."
She whispered intimately, lowering her voice.
"How are things lately with our cute head maid, Seria? Any progress?"
"...Pardon? Why bring her up suddenly...?"
"Just... curious."
She brushed it off vaguely, blushing slightly as if embarrassed.
I lost myself for a moment, admiring her beauty, before snapping back and replying.
"I don't know why you're curious, but... well, things are going alright."
"I see. Then, has Seria mentioned anything special to you?"
"Anything special...?"
Her eyes brimmed with expectation.
Wondering what answer she wanted, I hesitated, thinking it might be about the principal wife talk, then responded.
"Are you referring to the principal wife... matter?"
"Y-yes! I'm glad you've heard."
"Well... it was a bit startling, but not entirely incomprehensible... So why do you ask?"
In response to my question, Roselia's cheeks flushed even deeper.
It was a subtle hue mixing anticipation with something more than mere shyness.
"Well... you see."
She fiddled with her teacup, beating around the bush, then cautiously spoke.
"So... what are your specific thoughts, Your Grace? I mean... do you really intend to make Seria your principal wife and take Lady Leonier Baldinmar as a concubine?"
"Hmm..."
"And... this is purely hypothetical, but do you have plans to take any additional concubines beyond that...?"
Roselia trailed off, watching my reaction.
Hmm... Why is this imperial princess so deeply interested in my family registry?
Probably, as a possessor, she's worried about the story deviating from the original ending she knows?
But since Leonier is a regressor, doesn't that already make it all pointless?
Feeling puzzled but deciding to answer as honestly and kindly as possible,
"Well, I still have the hurdle of convincing Seria... but I think I'll keep ties with Leonier Baldinmar. I definitely have responsibilities toward her."
"I-is that so! Then...!"
Roselia's eyes sparkled.
But at her next question—about 'additional concubines'—I firmly shook my head.
"However, I have no intention of taking any more beyond that."
"......Pardon?"
"The people already in my life are more than I deserve, honestly overwhelming. Adding more would mean no peace at home. So, there won't be any more connections in my life beyond this."
I drew a clear line and finished.
But moments later, an unexpected reaction came from her lips.
"Ah..."
A deep sigh escaped.
Far from relief, her face showed utter disappointment, as if the world had crumbled.
Regret dripped from her expression.
"I... see... No more... plans... Of course, three is already a lot... a lot?"
She bit her lip as if wronged, muttering softly.
"Damn... the spots are all filled... No, why am I like this?"
"Pardon? What was that?"
"N-nothing!"
Startled, Roselia jumped to her feet.
Her face, only slightly pink before, was now redder than a ripe tomato.
Embarrassment, or something else?
She fanned her face and shouted,
"I-I'll be going now! Something urgent came up!"
"Your Highness? There's still tea in the cup..."
"See you later! Hmph!"
Tadak!
Roselia fled the greenhouse, skirts fluttering like she was escaping.
Her back looked desperately chased by something.
"......"
I stared blankly at her retreating figure.
Why the sudden exit?
Did I say something wrong?
"Truly inscrutable."
Giving up on thinking, I tilted my head and lifted the cooling teacup to my lips.
A woman's heart might be a far more perplexing realm than unraveling curses.
It was that kind of day.
At that moment, Roselia, who had bolted from the greenhouse, ran straight to her room and flung herself onto the bed.
She buried her face in the pillow and screamed wildly.
"Aaaah! Roselia, what the hell was that!!"
Yes, she admitted it.
Ever since he saved her life twice on the Drakenspitze journey, a seed of emotion she absolutely shouldn't have started sprouting bit by bit.
Knowing Seria and Noxion's budding love story, and even Leonier's pure love persisting despite regression, she had first tried to uproot it.
But... while one can control emotions, one can't fully suppress them.
Watching him spend every night alone with Seria, and grow even closer to the lady after the ambush, strange feelings tormented her.
This was probably jealousy... or disappointment, or perhaps just childish whining for a bit more of his attention.
"Ugh... I'm crazy, insane!! Why did I bring up concubines! My mouth ran away with me!"
Kicking the blankets didn't help the writhing embarrassment; the greenhouse conversation replayed vividly in her mind.
The answer to her hopeful question was an ironclad rejection.
'There won't be any more connections in my life beyond this.'
Those words stabbed her heart like a death sentence to a condemned prisoner.
Unable to bear the rising shame, Roselia buried her face deeper into the pillow.
It suffocated her, but that was preferable.
Better than the throbbing pain in her chest.
"......Roselia. Get a grip."
For some reason, clutching the dampening pillowcase, she murmured lowly.
"Your goal here was survival... to avoid death by that crazy psychopath."
Twisting the original story for a happy ending, dodging death flags to live safely.
That had been her sole purpose since possessing.
Her own romance was nowhere included.
"Please stop getting swayed by petty emotions. You know not to gaze at a tree you can't climb..."
She repeated the resolve like self-hypnosis, her chest aching more with each word.
Once somewhat calmed, she slowly lifted her head and gazed out the window.
The sunset had dyed red and was sinking weakly beyond the horizon.
Like an unrequited love ebbing away without a place to go.
"...Fuck, I've totally soaked in romance novel vibes."
A rare vulgar curse slipped out.
Roselia closed her eyes, repeating the cringeworthy line even to herself.
For some reason, it was a day that made her terribly embarrassed of the day itself.