Chapter 40

I was able to leave the Imperial Reception Room without any trouble and head to the Banquet Hall.

The reason, of course, was that I wasn’t feeling sick anymore.

The power of Sacred Power, which I experienced for the first time after possession, was far stronger than I had imagined.

After all, it completely healed me even though the arrowhead was poisoned.

Well, it was the Sacred Power of the Saint, after all.

The Saint, of whom only one exists in a generation.

To have received the healing of such a Saint’s Sacred Power directly, it would’ve been stranger if I wasn’t perfectly fine.

“……Are you sure it’s okay for you to get up?”

“Yes. I’m not in any pain, so you don’t need to worry.”

So, I could confidently respond to Rebecca’s concerned voice, telling her not to worry.

Because I really was perfectly fine.

“……”

Of course, just because she heard my answer didn’t mean the Princess stopped giving me suspicious looks.

Rebecca’s eyes were filled with doubt, as if she was thinking, *”Are you really not in pain?”*

And since it seemed like repeating the same conversation would be pointless, I decided to change the subject.

“By the way, where did our parents and the Duke and Duchess go?”

I steered the conversation elsewhere.

Partly to change the topic, but also because I was genuinely curious.

After all, the four people who had just witnessed Rebecca and I hugging had disappeared without a trace.

Even if my father, Count Zernias, and the famously reserved Duke Valencia were one thing, my mother, who loves teasing me, and the Duchess Valencia wouldn’t miss such an opportunity.

But despite preparing myself for some teasing on the way to the Banquet Hall, nothing happened at all.

When Rebecca heard my question, she looked at me as if I were hopeless.

“You didn’t know?”

“Huh?”

“The second day of the Imperial Banquet is reserved for the debutantes of noble families for the year.”

“……Ah.”

I had forgotten.

That there was such a setting in the original story.

It was because of this setting that the protagonist, Mikhail, and Rebecca first met on the second day of the Imperial Banquet.

“Did you really not know?”

“……No, I just forgot for a moment.”

Lately, I’ve been getting more and more confused about the details of the original story.

Like the fact that Rebecca and the Crown Prince were already acquainted, which I just found out.

Whether the original story was changing because of the existence of “Albert Zernias,” a character who wasn’t supposed to exist, or if I was just slowly forgetting the original story, I couldn’t be sure.

But one thing was certain—something unknown was changing.

“……You really can’t do without me, can you?”

“……”

“If I weren’t here this time, you would’ve gone to the Count and Countess without knowing anything.”

While the Princess, unaware of my complicated feelings, seemed to think she had caught me in a mistake and was berating me.

It was ridiculous.

“……If I went and realized I was wrong, I could’ve just come back, right?”

I didn’t think mixing up the location was such a big mistake that I deserved to be scolded like this.

“And as I said before, I have a beautiful and smart fiancée, so it’s fine, isn’t it?”

“……”

When I countered like this, she immediately turned red and looked away, as if embarrassed. I wondered why she kept digging her own grave like this.

“Isn’t that right?”

“……Don’t tease me.”

I didn’t really understand her reaction.

*

As Rebecca and I bickered while walking, we soon arrived at the Banquet Hall.

It was a slightly smaller Banquet Hall compared to the one where I had danced with the Princess yesterday.

This place was designated for those making their debut, while the other nobles who had already been active in social circles were enjoying the banquet in the larger hall from yesterday.

I couldn’t help but think this was all just a hassle.

‘……Is this some kind of power play?’

While they claimed it was a place for those new to the social scene, it was essentially a way for the established nobles to keep the newcomers in check.

*”You’re not ready to mingle with us yet.”* *”Go gain some more experience.”*

Something like that, I guess.

The more I delved into the world of nobles, the more childish it seemed.

“……You’re here.”

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

As Rebecca and I entered the Banquet Hall, the first person to greet us was the Crown Prince.

“Are you feeling better?”

“Yes, thanks to Your Highness’s concern.”

“Be honest here. What did I really do? It was the Saint who did everything.”

“……”

The protagonist Mikhail I knew from the original story wasn’t this laid-back.

How did he end up acting like this in front of me?

*Nod.*

Even Rebecca, standing next to me, nodded as if agreeing that the Crown Prince had finally said something right.

“……Princess, I’ve told you before, but expressing yourself like that in front of the person in question…”

“You don’t really care anyway.”

“That’s true.”

Watching Rebecca and Mikhail’s not-quite-a-joke exchange, I started to doubt the authenticity of the original story I knew.

Were the characters in front of me really the same ones from *[The Crown Prince Wields a Sword]*, the story I had been so deeply moved by?

It felt like my childhood innocence was being shattered.

If I kept watching this comedy, all the emotions I felt while reading the original story might disappear.

“……By the way, do the others not know?”

I asked the Crown Prince.

“About what?”

Mikhail acted as if he had no idea what I was talking about.

“About the fact that the Princess and I were attacked by assassins.”

“……Do you want others to know?”

After hearing my detailed question, he countered with one of his own.

The Crown Prince’s demeanor, which had been full of playfulness just moments ago, was now completely serious.

It was enough to make me forget all the disrespectful thoughts I had been having earlier.

“……I don’t particularly want others to know…”

I stammered, flustered by Mikhail’s sudden change in attitude.

“Then that’s settled.”

“……”

Mikhail concluded the matter very easily.

“Everyone is enjoying the Imperial Banquet, which is held once a year. There’s no need to pour cold water on it.”

“……”

“Don’t worry about compensation. The Imperial Family fully acknowledges that it’s our responsibility that the Prince and Princess experienced such an incident.”

*You and the Princess can just enjoy the banquet and leave when it’s over.*

The Crown Prince seemed to have no intention of continuing the conversation on this topic.

“Now, go enjoy the banquet together. I have some ladies waiting for me, so I’ll take my leave.”

“……Understood.”

“Then, until later.”

With those words, Mikhail walked away.

As if he had only intended to guide us and had no interest in a lengthy conversation.

As the Crown Prince gradually distanced himself from us, Rebecca muttered quietly, so only I could hear.

“……What a snake.”

“Huh?”

“How many snakes do you think he’s hiding inside him?”

“……”

At first glance, the conversation seemed like Mikhail was looking out for Rebecca and me, but in reality, it was all about handling things in a way that benefited the Imperial Family, except for the compensation to the Zernias and Valencia families.

Hiding the fact that there had been an assassination attempt meant concealing the lax security of the Imperial Family from other nobles.

Hiding the fact that the Saint had arrived a day early meant hiding the fact that the Imperial Family didn’t know about the Church’s affairs.

In essence, it was all about handling things in the Imperial Family’s favor.

“……The Crown Prince is scarier than I thought.”

I was genuinely impressed.

Just moments ago, I had thought of Mikhail as a comedian, but now I was even more amazed.

The fact that he usually acted friendly but always had such thoughts in mind made him even more impressive.

Traditionally, someone whose outward appearance and inner thoughts are completely opposite is far more frightening than someone who is consistent.

It also made me feel more uneasy.

Because the protagonist Mikhail Schuelgart I remembered from the original story wasn’t someone whose outward and inner selves were different.

He was someone who always maintained consistent values and pursued his goals.

He had ambitions, but he didn’t hide them like a snake.

“……Are you serious?”

“……”

Of course, my fiancée seemed to have a different opinion.

“What’s so scary about that black-hearted human?”

“……Black-hearted people are naturally scary.”

“You’d be better off being scared of me.”

Rebecca nodded vigorously, as if she truly believed what she was saying.

Looking at her cute expression, I couldn’t help but tease her again.

“Do you really think so?”

“……Huh?”

“Do you really want me to be scared of you?”

Suddenly, I felt like playing a prank.

“……That’s.”

Rebecca seemed caught off guard by my response and couldn’t answer easily.

“If you want me to be scared of you, I can do that for you.”

“……Then…”

“I won’t tease you anymore, and I won’t make strange requests of you.”

“……That doesn’t sound too bad…”

Hearing this, Rebecca tilted her head slightly, as if it didn’t sound too bad after all.

Despite her earlier tension, she seemed to think it was a decent idea.

However.

“But.”

“……?”

“I won’t be the one to approach you first anymore.”

My words weren’t finished yet.