“I remember,” he continued, “I was sick in bed, and just when I thought heaven was about to claim me, a gentle angel saved my life. My consciousness was muddled, but I immediately knew she was the rumored angel of miracles. The moment I saw her passionate gaze and realized it was her love and kindness that healed me, I thought I was going to ascend to heaven anyway!”
What he was describing sounded ridiculous, yet I couldn’t help but feel he was speaking about an event that I was very familiar with.
“It was then that I knew she was my one and only destiny. And that angel was you, of course.”
With a moony look in his eyes, he snatched up my hand and slowly caressed it.
N-Noooooo! Th-This might actually be Prince Bernard! It’s incredibly hard to believe, but I know these eyes! This is how he regarded Lady Mina when he was constantly fawning over her!
Wait, but why would Prince Bernard look at me that way? Maybe he really is delirious!
Though his account differed from how I’d perceived my administration of his medicine, was it possible his heart had temporarily opened up to me because I was his savior? Weirder things had happened. It was the kind of situation where, once he calmed down and realized what he’d done, he’d want to die of shame. After all, the person he was showering in affection was the one he hated the most: Lucille Gustelanola. Me.
Though he’d already dug his grave, I could at least prevent him from tunneling deeper. It was time to remind him that his true love was elsewhere.
Please come back to your senses!
“U-Um, Prince Bernard, aren’t you in love with Lady Mina...?” My determination did nothing to prevent my stuttering; his unusual behavior was just too frightening.
For some reason, the addled prince’s eyes shone even brighter after hearing that. “Oh, you know my name! And you know of Mina too... Forget about her. Indeed, there was a time when I loved her. However, after she left me, I put those feelings behind me. In fact, I now believe I was separated from her so that I could meet you, my fated woman.”
Huh?! Lady Mina abandoned Prince Bernard?! Even though they were all over each other in public?! Well, no wonder I didn’t see her anywhere!
As I stiffened in surprise, I felt Lord Felix lay his hand on my shoulder and pull me under his wing. His brow was furrowed in suspicion at Prince Bernard’s nonsensical ramblings. It was the only reasonable reaction; after all, why would the prince try to win me back now?
Thanks to Lord Felix, my hand was freed from the prince’s grasp. I sighed with relief—and realized the shock had made me forget to breathe.
Prince Bernard glared at Lord Felix once more but spoke his next words to me instead. “My sweet angel, you are being deceived by this lowbrow man! I know not what he told you to earn your companionship, but the truth is...he is already engaged!”
“Um...” What in the world is he talking about?
“What’s more, his fiancée is unbelievably ugly, foolish, and horrid! It’s hard enough to see you tricked and heartbroken by an engaged man, let alone see you fall victim to his fiancée’s jealous schemes. She will surely do everything in her power to hurt you. But I won’t let her! Mark my words, Lucille Gustelanola, I won’t let you get away with this!”
The prince was growing more and more agitated as he spoke. Not to mention the fact that one moment, he was expressing concern for me, and the next, he was cursing me. Accompanying this seesawing, Lord Felix’s expression transformed from wariness to anger to confusion.
Um, what is going on here?
Lord Felix caved first. “What are you on about?”
Honestly, I’d been about two seconds away from asking the same thing.
Prince Bernard gave him a look of disdain. “Release her, scoundrel. She does not deserve to be manipulated by a lowlife like you! Besides, what of Lucille Gustelanola? You left your fiancée behind to brazenly attend a royal soiree with another woman? Where is your sense of shame?!”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
Wh-What?! I don’t want to hear this from Prince Bernard of all people! He brought Lady Mina instead of me to almost every event, royal or not! He’s truly the master of double standards. If his words were a boomerang, they’d have dealt him a fatal blow!
In contrast to my internal indignation, Lord Felix replied with utmost calm, “Lucille is here, though.”
“What?! That wicked woman is at the soiree?! Lucille Gustelanola, you dare breathe the same air as I?!”
“Huh...?”
Lord Felix still looked confused, but at this point, even I’d figured it out: Prince Bernard didn’t know that I was Lucille Gustelanola! It didn’t seem possible. Apparently, though, Prince Bernard defied common sense.
I can’t believe it. Sure, I’d always been in my battle gear in his presence, thanks to Lacia’s hard work turning me into a beautiful vixen. But we were engaged for years! And he didn’t recognize me even after seeing my face and hearing my voice up close? Tell me it isn’t so!
Well, it clearly is so. Thanks, Prince Bernard.
As I was pondering how to confront him with the truth, another troublesome individual entered the fray. Frankly, I was impressed he had the nerve to jump into this tense back-and-forth.
“Your Highness! This is the woman who was with the marquess in Leeuwenhoek!”
“What?! It was her?! He’s already taken her into his territory?! Unforgivable!”
That’s right—the interloper was Lord Kanelion.
Oh! Come to think of it, Lord Kanelion didn’t realize who I was either!
It was as I’d suspected, then: He’d been ordered to check on me in Leeuwenhoek, then reported to Prince Bernard that Lord Felix had cast aside his fiancée—me—in favor of promenading around town with another woman. Of course, since that woman was me, the whole thing had been a huge misunderstanding.
“What a fine opportunity to show that vile lady what will happen if she dares to harm my beloved angel! Lucille Gustelanola! Where are you?!”
“Here,” I replied immediately. I wasn’t trying to be secretive about my identity, after all—this was simply the first time he’d actually called for me by name.
Prince Bernard’s gaze swept through the crowd, eyes scanning back and forth.
Really? Even though I answered him clearly, right in front of him?
Apparently people had difficulty noticing things they weren’t expecting.
After a pause, Prince Bernard continued in an annoyed tone, “Lucille Gustelanola, show yourself!”
“I’m here!”
You know, I’m just about at my limit. Isn’t this event supposed to be a celebration? But the mood is awful, and here I am, getting yelled at by Prince Bernard while everyone’s eyes are on us.
It was bad enough that Lord Felix and I didn’t have stellar reputations in the first place, but now we’d been made the center of attention for a ridiculous reason. Wasn’t this going to make people think even worse of us? It wasn’t that I cared what their impression of me was, but I’d obviously prefer to avoid becoming the target of unnecessary negative emotions. That was why I’d responded loudly this time—I couldn’t have this obstinate man ignoring me again.
Prince Bernard looked at me with gentle eyes. “Oh? What’s the matter? Don’t worry. I’ll give Lucille Gustelanola a proper scolding.”
“Is that so? Let me hear it, then.”
“Huh...?”
Lord Felix, arm still around my shoulders, provided a blunt explanation. “Forgive me for not greeting you sooner, Your Highness. Thanks to you, I was granted engagement to Lady Lucille Gustelanola here. As you say, she is as sweet and compassionate as an angel. You have my utmost gratitude.” It seemed that he, too, had finally realized the cause of this bizarre situation.
“Oh my, you’re making me blush, Lord Felix.”
What an effective strategy! I wasn’t expecting him to thank Prince Bernard for our engagement while gazing at me. How very ironic. As a side benefit, I was blessed with a romantic speech! Even if it’s just for show, it’s always nice to be praised by a charming man.
“What?” Prince Bernard widened his eyes. “Why are you putting on such a farce?”
Despite his words, he fell silent. It seemed that the truth was beginning to sink in. Behind him, Lord Kanelion’s face had taken on the same befuddled expression.
Is it just me or are those two starting to resemble each other?
A clear, low voice cut through the silence. “I see you’re stirring up trouble at another one of my soirees, Bernard.”
Prince Edgar had arrived from the entrance reserved for royalty, accompanied by knights. He regarded his younger brother, who was still struggling to accept my identity, with an icy gaze. However, his stern countenance quickly transformed into a blindingly bright—and fake—smile.
“Well, no matter,” he continued. “Your antics have given me many a headache in the past, but today, that all comes to an end.”
“Brother...?” Prince Bernard replied, confused.
I could practically hear Prince Edgar’s inner voice saying, “Thank you for saving me time and effort.” If it hadn’t been for Prince Bernard starting this absurd charade in public view, there probably would’ve been far fewer people around to hear Prince Edgar’s lines.
“Lady Lucille Gustelanola and Lord Felix Leeuwenhoek, would you please come with me?” Prince Edgar asked.
“As you wish.”
As subjects of this kingdom, we certainly couldn’t go against Prince Edgar, who—unlike Prince Bernard—was the skilled mastermind one would expect from the royal family!