Translated by Tam
âYouâre here!â
Jasmine welcomed me with a visibly pleasing attitude.
âActually, I thought that I wouldnât be able to see you today, even until I sent the letter. But youâre coming to see me like this! Iâm so happy!â
âYouâve written it down that you canât come. This little thing.â
I smiled and patted Jasmine on the shoulder. Then I passed her and sat on a sofa.
âShall I bring the tea?â
âThatâs good too, but why donât we go out?â
âI canât believe Iâm going out. But where?â
âCapital.â
I said with my legs crossed.
âI need to buy some dresses. Did you hear the news? Thereâs going to be a ball soon to welcome the return of the 2nd Prince.â
âOh! Thatâs right. I heard it, too. But I wonât get an invitation.â
I frowned.
âWhy do you think so?â
âBecause Iâm the daughter of a Viscountâ?â
âAt the same time, youâre a child I like.â
I could see Jasmineâs eyes shaking. I continued.
âIt doesnât matter if you donât have an invitation. You can come in with me.â
âOh my!â
Jasmine jumped up and down, covering her mouth.
âIâm so happy! Can I dance?â
âYou canât.â
âYes~.â
Jasmine answered and sat quietly on the sofa. And yet she grinned, and seemed really happy.
âBut Iâm very happy. Thank you, Madam. I didnât mean to get this kind of favorââ
âReally?â
I squinted at Jasmine. Jasmine replied, scratching her cheek slightly embarrassed.
âI thought you might be able to help me.â
âThatâs right. Youâre so sly.â
Jasmine burst into laughter. I reached out to her like that.
âLetâs go out now.â
I wanted to get some fresh air too, and Jasmine was looking forward to going out with me, so we could leave her house without difficulty.
*****
âCome to think of it, the completion of school and nursery is coming up soon, right?â
Jasmine said, on the way to the carriage. I nodded my head.
âThatâs right. So Sylvester is out today.â
âYou are two very good people. Iâm sure people will praise Madam and the Duke when this is known!â
âI didnât mean to be praised.â
Originally, it was planned to find talented people, but the original purpose was already achieved because things worked out easily.
So I could have cancelled building a school or nursery, but I didnât.
In any case, Sylvesterâs ultimate goal is the independence of the Duchy.
For that, it was important to attract many talents.
Thatâs why I entrusted him with a school and a nursery.
âIâm really a genius.â
I compliment myself.
Hohoho.
I patted my arm and let out a low laugh.
âMadam, youâre not making any strange plans again, are youâ?â
Jasmine asked with a terrified expression on her face. I narrowed my eyes.
âYouâre saying youâre scared if I just laugh? Youâre such a weird kid.â
âItâs true that Madam looks scary.â
âI didnât ask you to tell the truth like that.â
Tsk.
I pouted my mouth and glanced at Jasmine. Jasmine burst out laughing again and clapped.
I left her behind and looked out the window.
We arrived at the capital before we knew it.
I see a lot of people. Everyone has a big smile on their face.
The capital was always full of people who were so happy.
So I liked the capital city.
It was at this time that I was watching people like this.
ââHmm?â
Someone familiar with the view came in.
âFleur?â
It was Fleur.
She lives in the capital, so itâs no wonder sheâs here.
But something was wrong with her, who kept looking back as if she were being chased by something and was busy walking.
âThatâs suspicious.â
My gut tells me to follow her.
âStop the carriage!â
I shouted in a hurry. Hiing! The roar of horses was heard and the carriage came to a sudden stop.
âOh my!â
Jasmine looked at me, barely keeping her body lean forward.
âWhatâs the matter? Whatâs wrong with you?â
âGo look around. Itâs okay to go to the cafeteria. I have a place to visit for a while.â
âYes?â
âIâll be right back!â
I hurried out of the carriage over the bewildered Jasmine.
And with my eyes fixed on Fleur, who had become smaller like a dot, I ran with all my might.
Fleur passed the busy street and turned toward the alley. I chased Fleur, keeping her at armâs length.
Fleur, who entered the alleyway, was looking around. Maybe she was trying to find her way in a complicated alley.
If sheâs looking for a way, sheâs definitely trying to meet someone, but who would she like to meet with Fleur acting so cautiously?
I held my breath even more and followed Fleur.
And.
ââ¦.!â
I saw an amazing sight.
âOh my.â
It was Fleur and Largo together!
I canât believe it!
âWhatâs with the two?â
I opened my mouth looking at the ridiculous scene.
But they talked without knowing I was there.
âWhat did you do with the medicine I gave you?â
Largo said to Fleur.
Medicine?
I shook my head.
The only âmedicineâ that Fleur has is the contraceptive that she sent to screw meâ does it mean that Largo gave it to her?
My hand on the wall trembled.
âI gave it to Ophelia, but I donât think she ate it.â
âWhy do you think so?â
ââ¦Iâve heard that sheâs pregnant.â
âWhat?â
Largo asked in a voice that seemed to be exasperated.
âWhat do you mean pregnant! The Duke and Ophelia, they donât get along!â
âNo, theyâve gotten along recently. This is a fact that everyone knows.â
âNo way!â
Largo shouted.
âYou might not want to believe it, but itâs true. Theyâre really on good terms.â
ââItâs strange.â
At Fleurâs firm words, Largo stroked his chin and frowned.
âHer relationship with the Duke suddenly improved, and even the Crown Prince and Emperor were on her sideââ
Fleurâs face hardened noticeably as soon as the Crown Princeâs story came out. But Largo continued without paying any attention.
âItâs kind of strange. Itâs like she has become a different personâ Oh!â
Largo opened his lips wide open.
âIt canât beââ
Gulps. I swallowed dry saliva.
âDid the magic circle I gave her fail, so someone elseâs soul came in?â
This bastard Largo, heâs so smart.
What am I supposed to do?
Should I run in and interrupt their conversation?
I was at a loss what to do.
âT, thereâs no way.â
Fleur spoke in a trembling voice.
âB, but, w, what happens if thatâs true?â
âItâs a good opportunity.â
Largoâs lips rose obliquely.
âYou can open a temple trial. You can refer her to trial and judge her soul. If itâs true that thereâs another soul in it.â
ââ¦If itâs true?â
âItâs the death penalty.â
Oh my.
I bowed my head back with my forehead on my hand.
This canât happen.
First of all, I thought I should stop their conversation.
So I put it into action.
âOh my!â
I purposely ran between them with a loud noise.
âOphelia?â
âDuchess?â
They looked at me in surprise. I deliberately looked at them with a calm face.
âI heard a familiar voice on the way, so I came here. What were you two doing in this quiet place?â
They didnât answer, just looking at each other. So I covered my mouth with a fan and frowned.
âNo way. Is it a secret love affair?â
âDuchess! How can you say that!â
âIâm just kidding.â
Watching Fleur get angry, I twisted my lips even more.
But Fleur shouldnât be further stimulated here.
Now that Largo is suspicious of me.
I had to take his attention away from me.
âEven so, I was going to visit Your Highness.â
So I looked right at Largo and said.
âAs an extension of the conversation we had earlier.â
âConversation?â
Largo asked back as if he didnât understand.
âThe deal. We did.â
Largoâs eyes narrowed.
Half doubting me and half wanting to know me, it seemed to be mixed like that.
So I had to pretend to be Ophelia.
âIâll send you a letter soon, Your Highness.â
I said with glittering eyes on purpose.
âWe have to put an end to our deal.â
Largo looked at me with a slightly relaxed face now.
âSo you didnât forget.â
Looking at his face, he seemed to have erased a little of the suspicion he had just made.
I breathed a sigh of relief and pulled my chin.
âBut.â
Largo turned to me.
And slowly approached me one step at a time.
âDo you know, Ophelia?â
Then he grabbed my neck in the blink of an eye.
âIn the past, you couldnât even look me in the eye.â
Ugh, I groaned and leaned my head back.
âWhat kind of person are you now?â