An Unexpected Visitor
In aristocratic society, rumors travel faster than the wind.
They spread like wildfire, carried along a web of hidden connections until there isn't a single soul left in the dark.
Naturally, it didn't take long for the news of my dance with the Saintess at the social gathering to reach every corner of my family estate.
"Theodore, I hear you caused quite a stir at the gathering."
"...I have no excuse, Father."
I bowed my head deeply before my father, Marquis Allister Baskerville, offering my sincere apologies.
I had even drawn my sword in the presence of the Saintess to slice a magic-infused broom in half.
Had this been the Holy Kingdom of Valentia instead of the Lyos Empire, such insolence would have seen me quietly executed for blasphemy.
Even if my actions were meant to protect the Crown Prince and the Saintess, the mere fact that I had laid hands on her body was already being devoured as juicy gossip among the nobles.
"I will handle the fallout for now. After all, you only acted to stop a rogue broom flying at His Highness..."
"By any chance, Father, do you know what became of the maid who was using that broom?"
"I do not. The Crown Prince laughed it off, saying he witnessed something amusing, but she has likely met a grim fate."
I swallowed hard, recalling the hair and eye color of that maid.
That plain-looking girl with golden hair and blue eyes was almost certainly Alice, the female lead of Royal Child.
Under normal circumstances, that commotion would have served as her fateful first encounter with the Crown Prince, sparking a romance that drove the original plot forward.
But thanks to my intervention, the timeline was completely derailed.
Let's not dwell on it. If I hadn't protected the Crown Prince back then, my own head would have rolled.
I felt a pang of pity, but this was how medieval fantasy worlds operated.
The class divide was an insurmountable wall. In this reality, a noble tormenting a commoner was far more natural than falling in love with one.
Besides, the root of the problem lay in a commoner greedily trying to use a magical broom near the Crown Prince in the first place.
Unless someone intentionally let go of a self-sweeping broom or tampered with it, it would never go wild and charge at someone like that.
"Of all people, for my son to get tangled up with Saintess Astoria... She is someone who rarely, if ever, attends social gatherings."
"Indeed. By all accounts, the Crown Prince shouldn't have even extended an invitation to her."
I tapped my foot, sensing that something was off.
The Holy Kingdom of Valentia, which bordered the Lyos Empire, worshipped the Lord, meaning the Emperor's influence there was practically nonexistent.
They were rivals. While they didn't openly show hostility, they were far from friendly.
Why would the Crown Prince invite a representative of a nation they constantly kept in check—a rival they subtly clashed with to prevent either side from gaining too much power—to a social gathering?
"Who can fathom the mind of His Highness? We are the sword that protects the Empire. A sword has no need for thoughts."
"Yes, Father."
Both my father and I suspected the Crown Prince had an ulterior motive, but neither of us voiced it.
My father was a Marquis who held territory along the border. However, it wasn't a hazardous region plagued by monster invasions.
To be precise, our lands bordered the Holy Kingdom of Valentia.
As the third son, I had to tread very carefully.
Any misstep could be misconstrued as our family playing both sides between the Empire and the Holy Kingdom.
"...It is a poor excuse, but with both His Highness and the Saintess present, I had no choice but to draw my blade."
"I understand your position. No one could have predicted some fool would send a magical broom hurtling toward the Crown Prince."
A world of swords and magic.
This was the world of Royal Child, the otome romance fantasy game I had been reincarnated into.
"I do not know where that girl threw her manners and respect for the imperial family. Commoner or not, it is absurd."
Listening to my father question the logic of a RoFan world made me feel slightly uncomfortable.
Unlike male-oriented media, female-oriented romance fantasies often progressed the plot while completely ignoring social status and noble etiquette.
If actual class systems and medieval laws were strictly applied, the female lead—who was usually of low birth or abandoned—would never even get the chance to interact with high society.
Still, this incident went too far.
The corners of my mouth twitched downward as I fell into deep thought.
I had received a report that Saintess Astoria had inquired about my residence and future whereabouts after the gathering.
If I hadn't intervened, she never would have danced with me or been protected by me in the first place.
After all, the Saintess was normally a figure entirely detached from the Empire, rarely attending social gatherings or imperial events.
"In any case, we must continue to live steadfastly as the sword that guards the Empire. Remember that, Theodore."
"Yes, Father. I will keep that in mind."
I nodded at my father's words.
In a real feudal society, a noble's true power and standing were determined by their land and influence, regardless of their official title.
Thus, there were grand barons who wielded more power than counts, and marquises who sat in precarious positions, like our family.
To avoid any suspicion of colluding with the Holy Kingdom, I needed to ensure I never crossed paths with the Saintess again.
And yet...
"Marquis Baskerville, Young Master. You must come outside immediately. A guest has arrived."
"...Who could it possibly be that requires both of us to greet them, Butler?"
The sudden report caught us off guard.
Normally, he would simply announce the visitor's name, but the butler's face was deathly pale, and his hands were trembling.
He was a seasoned veteran who had weathered all kinds of storms. He wasn't the type to be easily shaken by a minor matter.
"It... It is Saintess Astoria."
"...What?"
I doubted my own ears.
If she had any inkling of the Baskerville family's position in the Lyos Empire and our role in guarding the border, she never should have set foot here.
One wrong rumor, and our family could be accused of betraying the Empire to side with the Holy Kingdom.
"Bring her inside immediately! If anyone else saw her, pay them whatever it takes to keep their mouths shut!"
Father barked the order at the butler, then shot me a look telling me to get her inside as quickly as possible.
If anyone harboring ill will toward our family or the imperial family found out, they could easily frame this as treason.
"Lady Astoria, do you understand the implications of a Saintess visiting our family?"
"I do not!"
Well, I'm completely doomed.
Despite my polite, roundabout questioning, Saintess Astoria replied with a bright, cheerful voice.
She seemed to be in high spirits, swinging her feet and even humming a little tune.
Perhaps because she had been invisible since childhood, she had developed a habit of expressing her emotions through physical cues like this.
"...The Baskerville family guards the territory bordering the Holy Kingdom of Valentia. Your presence here puts us in a very difficult position."
"Is that so? I thought it would be convenient since it is so close..."
"If anyone finds out, they will mistake this for a secret rendezvous. You may not be well-versed in politics, Lady Astoria, but that is how the nobility operates."
I pressed a hand to my throbbing forehead and laid out the harsh truth.
Even if such reckless behavior was tolerated in a romance fantasy novel, I was neither the female lead nor one of the capture targets.
If the Saintess continued to show interest in me like this, my head would be the first to roll.
Nobles were experts at blowing the slightest mistake or rumor out of proportion to eliminate their political rivals.
"Let them misunderstand. People tend to judge solely by appearances anyway."
"That is not the point. Lady Astoria, this could be construed as treason..."
"As long as I am here, that will not happen, Brother."
Saintess Astoria let out a soft sigh, sounding slightly weary.
Having lived as an invisible person for so long, she had likely encountered countless people who judged her based on her appearance.
"Besides, I was only able to come here today thanks to the help of His Imperial Highness."
"The Crown Prince?"
"Yes. While I was inquiring about the Baskerville estate, he sent me a letter detailing its location."
What on earth was he thinking?
I swallowed my frustration at her words.
Knowing our family's role in guarding the Empire, why would he facilitate a secret meeting with someone from the rival Holy Kingdom?
"I do not know what His Highness intends, but our family makes it a rule not to converse with outsiders. Perhaps you could schedule an appointment for another day..."
I racked my brain to come up with any excuse to send her away.
For a noble family guarding the border to collude with the other side was the very definition of high treason.
Even if the Crown Prince had aided her, our enemies could still use this to send us to the gallows.
"If I leave now, you plan to shut yourself inside this estate and refuse to see anyone ever again, don't you?"
"..."
She hit the nail right on the head.
I had absolutely no interest in the foolish romance stories of this otome game.
If I had cared about such things, I would have played Royal Child to completion and possessed a wealth of knowledge about the original plot.
"So, is the reason you came today to ask me to fix your transparency?"
"...While I wish that were the case, I came today for a different reason."
Saintess Astoria handed me a piece of parchment, her gaze seemingly locking onto mine.
Even though her face was invisible, I could easily infer her movements from the shifting of her robes and veil.
"Grancia Academy. I have received a divine revelation commanding me to attend this institution alongside the third son of the Baskerville family."
Her proposal was too shocking to simply brush aside.
She was inviting me to enroll together in the classic setting where characters of all social classes gathered in romance fantasy stories.
"What do you think, Brother?"
No, this wasn't a mere suggestion. It was practically an order.
On top of a divine revelation from the Lord, the Crown Prince himself had set the stage for our meeting.
Refusing this would likely lead to a fate far worse than death.
"Is there any benefit for me in attending that academy?"
"...It will be an excellent opportunity to clear your name of the infamy of being the man who boldly grabbed the Saintess by the waist and led her in a dance."
The Saintess slowly rose from her seat, leaning her face close to mine as she spoke.
"And I believe it is the only chance to cure my transparency. This is the first time the Lord has broken His silence."