Chapter 52
"Yes."
Evelyn nodded her head.
"More than ever."
"...."
Although Hermia lost her words for a moment, she continued, "I know that Your Highness wants Lord Cassius. I, too, think that Lord Cassius suits Your Highness the Princess more than me. So, please..."
"I don't like it."
She interrupted Evelyn.
"Lord Cassius... Yes?"
"I don't like it."
Evelyn, who responded immediately without hesitation for a moment, seemed to have no intention of concealing the fact.
"Why?"
Because of that, Hermia was genuinely curious.
Cassius Brudenell had all the wealth, looks, and status. Of course, Evelyn, the successor of Count Garneid, also lived a life without lacking anything, though the next Duchess of Brudenell would be a different life.
"If I were you, I would never miss this chance."
"I think it's right to give what I don't want to someone who would cherish it more."
"You didn't answer the really important questions."
"...."
Silence passed.
The answer that came back after a while was something that Hermia had not expected at all.
"I... I have someone else I love."
"What...?"
Her eyes widened as she asked back. It was the first time she had ever heard that Evelyn Garneid had a hidden affection for someone.
"He's a kind and generous person who takes care of me. He's always considerate of me. So... I want to let Lord Cassius go."
'...And, I want to get out of this,' those words were stuck in her throat.
There was only one reason why Hermia did not utter a single word. It was because the face of Evelyn Garneid, talking about her lover, was far from that of an immature Countess who fell in love without a countermeasure. On the contrary, she looked like she swallowed bitter pills.
That was the analogy that would be the closest.
"Hmm."
Hermia's eyes narrowed.
"You don't love either of them."
"....!"
Evelyn's body stiffened as if she had been caught off guard.
"Whether it's Lord Cassius or that man... The Young Lady doesn't love either of them. Rather, it seems that the Young Lady would be more reluctant to be with the man she loves?"
"I know my heart."
At her words, Evelyn replied sharply.
"Anyway, I really want to let Lord Cassius go."
Hermia laughed.
"Well, it seems to me that you meant that."
She really enjoyed it.
She thought that they were a cockroach couple*, so she was quite reluctant. Though now, she did not even have to ask the Empress.
[ T/N: It's a term used by single people to belittle couples to say that their behavior is annoying. ]
"I wish I had told you in advance, I was thinking of the Young Lady as a love rival."
A glow spread across Evelyn's face.
"Are you saying that you will consider what I am saying?"
Hermia snapped her finger.
"Yes, I'll do what you wish. But..."
Aside from what she and Evelyn wanted, the reality was not so easy. The days of obtaining everything with just the fact that she was the Emperor's daughter had already passed centuries ago. Hermia had been struggling to get what she wanted.
It seemed necessary that she had to inform the ferocious, blind noble maiden in front of her.
"The Young Lady and Lord Cassius are already engaged. Moreover, you held the wedding proposal ceremony lavishly. This will not be easy."
"I am aware of that, though the Princess is my only hope."
Saying so, Evelynn stared earnestly at her before opening her mouth again.
"I will do anything I can, so please."
"If it's something the Young Lady can do..."
Hermia's eyes narrowed and she asked again, "Will you really do anything?"
"Yes."
Evelyn nodded.
"I will do anything as long as it does not harm my family."
"Very well."
At that, Hermia's voice became cheerful.
"Let me spend the night with Lord Cassius."
* * *
"Yes...?"
I doubted my ears for a moment.
Meanwhile, Princess Hermia smiled softly.
"You're more deaf than you appear, I want you to let me and Lord Cassius spend the whole night together."
I became dumbfounded.
...Was this what I am thinking right now?
"That, that means..."
She cut off my words.
"It doesn't matter to the Young Lady what will happen."
I swallowed dry saliva. What Hermia was implying was clear.
She would pretend to have spent the night with Cassius, so that she would forcefully marry him. In fact, this could not have been better than this for me. Because the divorce will be due to his infidelity, I can protect my honor, and it would be an embarrassing incident for the Duke of Brudenell.
The problem was that the opponent was Cassius Brudenell.
'...I think it would be enough for him to just kill the Princess.'
I looked straight at her.
"It's dangerous."
Hermia chuckled.
"Young Lady Garneid must be really afraid of wonderful things."
"Aren't you afraid, Your Highness?"
"Not at all."
Saying so, she smiled languidly.
"Lord Cassius cannot touch even a single finger of the royal bloodline. That's the contract between the Duke of Brudenell and our Imperial Family."
"You may be fine physically, though there are many ways to get humans into the abyss."
Knowing that she could reap her own judgment to help me, I could not stop my words. Was it fortunate, or was it unhappiness?
Still, Hermia did not seem to be affected at all by my words.
"That's enough. So, will the Young Lady do what I say or not?"
"I'll do it."
In fact, it did not take long to decide.
If I did not do anything anyway, I would be going into hell. Well, if this fails, both of us would not be safe...
Nevertheless, I felt it was worth it.
"Very well."
Then, she held out her hand.
I glanced down at Hermia's hand blankly. Perhaps, she was asking me to shake hands? Even if I did not fully master the rules of this world, I could tell that it was better not to shake hands with the Princess. However, it was not polite to make them wait either.
It was when I tried to hold her hand carefully that she shrugged her head.
"What are you doing, why don't you bring your lips here quickly?"
"...Yes?"
A groan came out of my mouth.
...Kiss her?
"Yes, Young Lady is now my subordinate. Wouldn't it make sense to show your loyalty?"
"I don't want to."
I took a step back with a straight face. I felt a strong urge to reject it from the beginning, but I hated it even more now.
The corners of Hermia's lips twisted and rose, and she said, "That means... Can it be said that while controlling the Imperial Princess, you want to take care of your pride?"
"Your Highness the Princess."
I picked the words slowly.
"I don't control Your Highness. Isn't it absurd that Your Highness is barely swayed by someone like me?"
"...Hmm."
"And, I am not rejecting the oath of obedience to protect my pride."
"Then, what is it?"
"I won't become the Princess's person."
"....?"
Hermia blinked her eyes with an astonished look. I guess she did not really expect such an answer.
"If I were to become Your Highness' person... Could you trust me?"
"I thought you might believe it."
Hermia answered slowly.
"Young Lady seemed like such a fool."
Oh.
Princess Hermia would have seen me as a melodious tone-deaf person who would have done anything at the wedding proposal ceremony. Of course, she has to think that way.
"But, the Young Lady is right. Even if you swear an oath of subordination to me, I will not be able to trust you."
Uttering so, she then smiled softly. Her pearly teeth peeked through her cherry-colored lips.
She is beautiful.
I was sure.
Cassius Brudenell will not fall for Hermia's temptation.
It was the same in the original novel, and the current Cassius was not a person to be easily passed over. However, public opinion that did not know much about him, would have firmly believed when Hermia announced that she had spent the night with him.
They would think it was a common story of a first-class groom like Cassius whispering love to an ordinary woman like me, and then falling for a woman of wealth and status, beauty, and intelligence.
Hermia held out her hand to me.
"You don't mind shaking hands, do you?"
"Is it possible?"
I, too, smiled and grabbed Hermia's hand before shaking it. At this moment, we were partners. Looking at her imposing figure, I thought.
Perhaps, this person could be the one who could achieve what I wanted the most.
* * *
...It must have been, though how did this happen?
I swallowed dry saliva and shook the doorknob. Nonetheless, the door did not even budge as if a glue had been applied.
Of course, it does.
Because I was the one who was doing the legwork to obtain a lock that could never be opened from inside the room.
It was then—
"Is it opening well?"
Cassius' voice, openly full of joy, was heard.
"Even if it doesn't open, I don't mind."
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(Hii there potatoe here! Have been really busy with life and didn't post for half a year. I'm so sorry I will try to post all translated during my 1 break! <3)