Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Tea Time at the Royal Palace (1)
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A month had passed since Elena began her life in the royal palace.
At first, there had been worries that she might struggle to adapt to the new environment, but fortunately, nothing of the sort happened.
Even though it had only been a month, Elena's standing within the palace had already risen considerably.
"D-Duchess... That one's..."
-Nom nom.
"...Pardon? What did you just say? Oh, these cookies are delicious."
She noticed a slightly burnt cookie accidentally mixed into the tea snacks and ate it while pretending nothing was wrong.
If a maid brought the wrong item on an errand, instead of scolding her, Elena would act as if it was no issue and go fetch the correct one herself.
She even memorized the names of every maid and servant she had met even once. And there were nearly a hundred maids working in the palace alone.
Anyway, Hadi had confirmed through the grapevine that these little anecdotes were circulating among the servants. Though Elena herself seemed to do most of it without much thought.
"I realized I can't send the maids on book errands. I forgot most of them are illiterate. It's way better for me to just head to the library myself."
After a few such incidents, it was only natural that her standing among the servants rose.
The maids now treated her not just as my wife, but on the level of a prospective queen. Elena herself would just look exasperated whenever that happened.
"I'm seriously exhausted. Maids are everywhere I go in this place."
"It's the royal palace, so there are at least more than at the duke's residence. Still, isn't it more comfortable than being at the Rozier estate?"
"Well... It's not bad that they insist on helping with every little thing..."
"......"
"But hearing how well we match every time I open my mouth is kinda embarrassing. If we break off the engagement and I get kicked out later, it'll be super awkward, heh."
"...Is that so."
...It was a bit disappointing that she still maintained the relationship on the premise of an eventual breakup.
After I brought her out of the underground dungeon, she seemed to open up a little for a while, only to revert to her previous distance after just three days.
"Hey, I told you not to hold my hand."
"Still, it's better to show we're on good terms to some extent. The servants need to know you're under my protection for palace life to be easier, right?"
"...Yeah, that makes sense."
At least her harsh words had lessened a bit compared to before—that had to count for something.
She had become quite tolerant of physical contact, something that would have prompted immediate cursing the moment we turned a corner in the past. She still made it obvious she didn't like it, though.
Otherwise, Elena was thoroughly enjoying palace life as my fiancée.
She was taking magic lessons from the palace mages and diligently attending the etiquette classes led by the head maid without missing a single one.
She even voluntarily took swordsmanship and horsemanship lessons that other ladies desperately tried to avoid, saying they might come in handy later.
Her expression seems brighter than before since coming to the palace.
Considering how she was treated at the Rozier estate, it was only natural.
In any case, it was thanks to that thirst for knowledge that I could pull her out of the duke's house. As long as she didn't regret choosing to follow me, I was satisfied.
Duke Rozier didn't seem particularly interested in her activities afterward either.
"Hadi, how's the atmosphere at the duke's house these days?"
"It seems they're pretending nothing happened even after Lady Elena left. Young Lord Rinel appears a bit busier, though."
"...That kid's got it rough."
As a member of the duke's family, he was the primary accomplice in rescuing Elena.
As the next heir, they couldn't openly reprimand him, but the pressure from the duke must have been immense.
Of course, her departure had solidified his position as the next Duke Rozier... but that probably wasn't what Rinel wanted.
He wouldn't give up on Elena just because the physical distance increased.
Even if I were Rinel, I probably couldn't let go. Staying longer in that stifling Rozier duke's family might only deepen his longing for her.
I had already brought her to the palace, so I doubted they'd try to take her back... but it never hurt to prepare for eventualities.
...Palace life is definitely comfortable.
At least I don't have to watch my step around others like I did in the family estate. Instead, others watch me.
The magic lessons they stubbornly refused to teach me out of fear I'd threaten Rinel's position? Now I attend them freely, making my days far more fulfilling than before. Excluding the maids' squealing about how well Cedric and I match every time I turn around.
I hope they don't end up regretting cozying up to me if the original heroine takes my place later.
If they can't accept it and start some pointless power struggle, it'll only backfire on them.
It's comfortable now, so I don't stop them, but once I enter the academy, putting some distance might be best.
Speaking of which, I wonder how the original protagonist is doing now.
In the original story, that was the player position. If anyone was going to get possessed, it suited them more than the villainess lady Elena.
Well, I can check if they're possessed or not at the academy later. I'll hand over Cedric's wife spot anyway, so no conflicts should arise.
If the original heroine takes an interest in someone other than Cedric, it might get a bit annoying... but I included a clause to break the engagement upon academy graduation just for that. No issue.
It's just a verbal agreement with no legal weight... but Cedric will handle it fine.
Who would like a girl who spits casual speech and swears right in front of him, anyway?
Still, I was a little grateful when he came to check on me as his fiancée.
My confinement probably wasn't in the original story. The way he figured it out and came so quickly showed he was sharp beyond his years.
Not quite感動, but gratitude was gratitude.
If not for Cedric, I'd still be wasting away in that underground dungeon.
Of course, he probably came more for his own sake than any fondness for me. Having me around let him fend off the annoying advances from the swarm of noble ladies.
A classic win-win. In that sense, establishing the fake engagement at our first meeting was a solid choice.
That said, I never expected even Duke Rozier to go so far as imprisoning me in the basement dungeon.
I figured a duke's lady would get off with a few strokes of the rod at most. I hadn't anticipated such a full-on house arrest.
Plus, that dungeon was the one Elena used in the original to kidnap the heroine. Never imagined I'd end up locked in there.
Parts that were vaguely 'set' in the original naturally fill in their justification once you're in the world.
When I first created Elena Rozier, I made her your typical villainess lady.
The poor treatment in the family and discrimination from Rinel weren't plots I touched. Maybe they were build-up to make her the 'nasty duke's daughter'.
Well, I don't know the details. Now that I'm in this world, I'm no longer in charge of the story.
No matter how much I protest it's unfair, nothing changes. So I might as well be content living as Elena.
Even in a romance fantasy world, it's packed with man's dreams like magic and monsters.
"Hello, Instructor Gares."
"Oh, what brings you to the knight order, Lady Elena?"
To survive alone after the breakup, I should learn swordsmanship and magic whenever I can.
Especially opportunities to learn from the elite knights of the palace guard—they're rare.
"Actually... I have something to say regarding Prince Cedric's swordsmanship lesson this evening."
"Ah, do you wish to observe? His Highness said you're welcome anytime."
"Observing would be nice, but... could I join? I'd love to cross swords with Prince Cedric if possible."
"...Are you sure? I understand you haven't received His Highness's sword yet..."
I know. The gap in swordsmanship proficiency between me and Cedric is huge.
Cedric was designed as a mature prodigy genius from the start. And he had the setting of training in swordsmanship since childhood.
It's absurd for me, who's only had proper lessons for a month, to keep up with him.
...This is exactly when I should leverage my status as Cedric's fiancée.
"B-But... crossing swords with His Highness makes my heart race so much."
"......"
"His swordsmanship when he rescued me from the underground dungeon was so cool... I-I want to catch up to His Highness's sword as soon as possible...!"
"Lady Elena..."
"O-Of course, I know it's sudden and might cause trouble... B-But, could it somehow be allowed...?"
"Of course it can! If you join, His Highness will surely be delighted, haha!"
...Easy.
I don't like being possessed into a woman, but times like this make it useful.
With Elena's looks, a bit of acting cute lets me wrap almost anyone in the palace around my finger.
"Lady Elena."
"Yes. What is it, Eri?"
As I thought that and headed to the library, my dedicated maid Eri approached.
She had been handling most of my schedule since I started palace life, and now she came holding a letter.
"Lady Katrin Vermoa, daughter of the northern border count Vermoa, has sent a letter to you requesting a friendly tea."
"Ah..."
Lady Vermoa... I think I saw her once at the autumn harvest festival.
One of the ladies gunning for Cedric's engagement, as I recall. Thought she was just an extra, didn't pay much mind, but a border count's family, huh.
That explains her confident attitude. Still, openly challenging the prince's fiancée was reckless no matter how you sliced it.
I wanted to put her in her place then, but with my lack of power in the Rozier family, I let it slide—and now it's come back around.
...Actually, not bad.
To prevent second and third Vermoas from popping up, better to nip it in the bud now that it's here.
"If it's a bother, I can send a rejection letter on your behalf, Lady Elena."
"No need for a rejection. Instead, set a date soon and invite her to the palace."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. As Prince Cedric's fiancée, building rapport with a border count's daughter is important."
Handling annoyances like this quickly when the chance arises suits me just fine.