Arthas April 13, 2024 No comments
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Rudine's eyes went wide in surprise.
"Oh my, Lady Isabel?"
"I am honored to be in the presence of the Sun of the Empire."
Isabel quickly bowed her head at a right angle, a gesture of respect due to Rudine's royal status.
"Please, rise, Lady Isabel." Rudine smiled softly, a pure, untainted smile of an innocent girl, "But Kyle, of all people..." Rudine playfully pressed her index finger to her lips, "How strange." Raising the pitch at the end, she tilted her head questioningly, "I heard Lady Isabel had been cast off by the Winfred family..."
Cast off.
The aggressive phrasing caused Isabel's brow to tighten.
Rudine smiled, narrowing her eyes at Isabel.
"So, you must be mindful of how you address me, don't you think?"
Rudine's gaze upon Isabel was one of maternal tenderness, as if looking at an immature child. Yet the underlying message in her words was a clear warning — you are no longer Kyle’s fiancée, nor anything else—mind your words, a typical aristocratic retort.
Isabel's arms trembled uncontrollably with humiliation. Luna, who had been observing the scene, covered her mouth with her right hand and snickered softly.
‘Insane, all of them.’
Each one seemed to be missing a screw, biting and clawing at each other in complete chaos. I crossed my arms, watching them in disbelief.
That's when Luna asked, feigning curiosity, "Are you quite alright, Princess?"
"Me?"
"After all, today is a momentous occasion when the entire empire gathers to celebrate the Princess's coming-of-age ceremony."
Unnecessarily long-winded. Based on my experience, this is likely a buildup to a roundabout jab.
And sure enough,
Luna batted her eyes playfully as she added,
"I hear guests from all corners of the empire have flocked here, eagerly awaiting the Princess's arrival."
"Is that so?"
"Of course. And the time for the ceremony is fast approaching. What a blessed gentleman it must be, to have the honor of escorting such a lovely lady as yourself, Princess."
Luna praised Rudine in an exaggerated tone.
And Rudine stroked her chin, smiling interestedly, "That almost sounds like you're suggesting I should be going to be escorted, as if I'm running late. Haha, I'm sure that's just my imagination, though?"
"Certainly not. How could I ever entertain such an improper notion about your highness?"
"I'm relieved to hear that! I'm well aware of your close familial bond with Kyle, as he's often spoken so highly of it. I've always admired your deep affection for one another."
"How embarrassing of him to share such things."
"Haha, so the young lady even knows the feeling of embarrassment. You continue to surprise me in so many ways today."
Luna and Rudine viciously hid blades between the lines of their exchange.
They were already mentally unhinged to begin with, but after inheriting their memories from the previous playthrough, they've become even more formidable.
In comparison, the slack-jawed Isabel observing the situation seemed almost normal.
I watched their thinly veiled confrontation in a daze.
I had no immediate reason to intervene, and my goal was solely focused on Rudine.
'I mustn't mess this up.'
Now that I've confirmed the existence of the Sacred Artifact, I need to be even more cautious moving forward. This upcoming coming-of-age ceremony was merely a one-time event to build a connection with her.
If I continued to build the relationship slowly like this, a gap would surely emerge—an opportunity to kidnap Rudine at the perfect timing.
That's when it happened
"It seems about time!" Rudine clapped her hands lightly, glancing at the clock on the wall.
"An escort, you say..."
Her gaze turned squarely towards me. I maintained a befuddled expression, emulating my usual self.
Soon, her tightly sealed lips parted slowly, "Kyle, if you don't mind, would you escort me?"
Gasp-
A strangled sound escaped Isabel's gaping mouth.
Luna also blinked, seeming caught off guard by the unexpected request.
An escort request, out of the blue?
I covertly scanned Rudine's face, but couldn't discern any emotion from her.
I cautiously inquired, "...Are you seriously asking me?"
"Yes, that's right," she nodded emphatically.
Isabel frowned.
"An escort? Surely you can't be serious."
"But I am."
"Wasn't the noble gentleman assigned to escort the Princess already determined? I'd like to believe you aren't planning to unilaterally change your escort partner on the day of."
"Hm? I'm afraid I don't know where you heard such a thing. I haven't requested an escort from anyone yet, Lady Isabel."
"But how can that be..."
"Enough."
She cut off Isabel, as if her words were unworthy of being heard.
"So, Kyle, your answer?"
"......."
"Surely you don't intend to send me alone to this once-in-a-lifetime coming-of-age ceremony, do you?"
In the previous playthrough, Kyle Winfred had not participated in Rudine's coming-of-age ceremony.
No, to be precise, he was not allowed to.
— As if a bastard like you has any business showing your face in the Imperial Palace? You'll only bring shame to the family name.
— Just stay put and guard the house while I'm away.
— Act like a good guard dog and at least do that much right.
Luna Winfred's scathing words echoed in my mind like an auditory hallucination. As a result, I had been confined to my room, subsisting on gruel and water for days until Luna's return.
— How dare you presume to be the escort, and then not even attend the coming-of-age ceremony?
— I don't want to hear any excuses!
— Yes, it was my mistake to have trusted someone like you.
That's why Isabel, who had to attend the ceremony alone, without a partner, was raging furiously; that had slightly increased my progress, but left a rather unpleasant taste.
And most importantly-
— The Princess, Rudine Eckhart.
— The Rosario she's wearing around her neck. That's the Sacred Artifact you've been searching for.
The Rosario around Rudine's neck gleamed.
It didn't take long for me to reach a decision.
"It would be my honor."
Isabel sighed, her face a picture of bewilderment, as if she'd been struck in the back of the head; her eyebrows were knit with a sense of betrayal.
Luna stood still, saying nothing. More precisely, she seemed speechless, frozen in place. She moved her lips as if to say something, but in the end, she said nothing.
"This way, Kyle!"
I silently followed after Rudine.
* * * * *
"Silence! The rising sun of the Empire, Her Imperial Highness, the First Princess Rudine Eckhart, now enters with the second son of Duke Winfred, Ka... Kyle Winfred! Attend and pay respects!"
As the chamberlain's thunderous announcement echoed, Rudine slowly walked forward, grasping the hand I had offered.
Countless shocked gazes were fixed upon us.
For the Princess to enter with the notorious Winfred bastard as her escort — it was an utterly bewildering sight.
They couldn't outright frown upon the Princess's arrival, yet the current situation made no sense to them, their faces contorted in confusion.
Reluctant applause rippled through the hall.
Despite the grand scale of the coming-of-age ceremony, its substance differed little from other typical social gatherings; apart from being hosted by the imperial family, it amounted to nothing more than nobles congregating to exchange information and cultivate connections.
Rudine ascended the stairs with effortless grace, taking her seat at the gilded dais — a place reserved solely for the imperial family with a bird's-eye view of the entire ceremony.
"Kyle, you sit here too."
I carefully took the seat next to Rudine.
The Emperor and Empress would soon enter, following the order of procession.
In order to eventually kidnap Rudine, I mustn't neglect cultivating a favorable rapport with the Emperor and Empress as well.
Of course, they would likely hold me in contempt, but with a few nuggets of future information, that would be a trivial matter.
Just as I was catching my breath—
"Say, Kyle. Would you mind if I asked you something?"
—Rudine's cheerful voice reached my ear.
As I nodded, she seemed to have been waiting to pose the question.
"I didn't get the chance to ask earlier, but how did the engagement annulment come about?"
Since I'll be leaving this world eventually anyway, I swallowed back the words threatening to spill out.
"It was just a clash of personalities and various other reasons, really."
I carefully selected my words to avoid raising suspicion, giving a neutral, textbook response.
Rudine's expression grew somber as she continued.
"I see. It must have been very difficult for you."
"Well, it's alright now."
"Is that so? But Lady Isabel didn't seem alright at all."
"...She's still in the process of accepting it. In time, she'll be fine."
Why so many questions?
I patiently answered her inquiries.
That's when an unexpected question assaulted my ears.
"Ah, that's right! I heard you even sold the engagement ring at an auction?"
The engagement ring, and an auction.
There was no way she could have known these details without thoroughly investigating my background.
"A ring set with sunstone, how romantic. That's so like you."
"......."
"And you even attended the auction yourself the next day, right?"
"......."
"And then went straight to the Count's mansion to demand the engagement annulment."
A blaring warning sounded in my head.
I remained silent, unable to find a suitable response.
Rudine continued, her lips curved in a playful smile.
"Moonstone."
"........"
"I was really curious - why did you specifically demand moonstone as compensation? What was the reason? The Kyle I know has never shown any interest in mineral collecting."
"......."
"Luna Winfred, Isabel Yustia - they're all acting so strange, aren't they?"
Her eyes were still smiling, but her lips were devoid of mirth; the air grew thick with an ominous tension.
"You know, I've been looking forward to today so much."
Phew.
She let out a prim laugh.
"Kyle."
"........"
"No, Kyle Winfred. My one and only friend."
A menacing glint flashed in her golden eyes.
"Have you regressed as well?"
Arthas April 13, 2024 No comments
Don't forget to rate and review the novel on Novelupdates
Rudine's eyes went wide in surprise.
"Oh my, Lady Isabel?"
"I am honored to be in the presence of the Sun of the Empire."
Isabel quickly bowed her head at a right angle, a gesture of respect due to Rudine's royal status.
"Please, rise, Lady Isabel." Rudine smiled softly, a pure, untainted smile of an innocent girl, "But Kyle, of all people..." Rudine playfully pressed her index finger to her lips, "How strange." Raising the pitch at the end, she tilted her head questioningly, "I heard Lady Isabel had been cast off by the Winfred family..."
Cast off.
The aggressive phrasing caused Isabel's brow to tighten.
Rudine smiled, narrowing her eyes at Isabel.
"So, you must be mindful of how you address me, don't you think?"
Rudine's gaze upon Isabel was one of maternal tenderness, as if looking at an immature child. Yet the underlying message in her words was a clear warning — you are no longer Kyle’s fiancée, nor anything else—mind your words, a typical aristocratic retort.
Isabel's arms trembled uncontrollably with humiliation. Luna, who had been observing the scene, covered her mouth with her right hand and snickered softly.
‘Insane, all of them.’
Each one seemed to be missing a screw, biting and clawing at each other in complete chaos. I crossed my arms, watching them in disbelief.
That's when Luna asked, feigning curiosity, "Are you quite alright, Princess?"
"Me?"
"After all, today is a momentous occasion when the entire empire gathers to celebrate the Princess's coming-of-age ceremony."
Unnecessarily long-winded. Based on my experience, this is likely a buildup to a roundabout jab.
And sure enough,
Luna batted her eyes playfully as she added,
"I hear guests from all corners of the empire have flocked here, eagerly awaiting the Princess's arrival."
"Is that so?"
"Of course. And the time for the ceremony is fast approaching. What a blessed gentleman it must be, to have the honor of escorting such a lovely lady as yourself, Princess."
Luna praised Rudine in an exaggerated tone.
And Rudine stroked her chin, smiling interestedly, "That almost sounds like you're suggesting I should be going to be escorted, as if I'm running late. Haha, I'm sure that's just my imagination, though?"
"Certainly not. How could I ever entertain such an improper notion about your highness?"
"I'm relieved to hear that! I'm well aware of your close familial bond with Kyle, as he's often spoken so highly of it. I've always admired your deep affection for one another."
"How embarrassing of him to share such things."
"Haha, so the young lady even knows the feeling of embarrassment. You continue to surprise me in so many ways today."
Luna and Rudine viciously hid blades between the lines of their exchange.
They were already mentally unhinged to begin with, but after inheriting their memories from the previous playthrough, they've become even more formidable.
In comparison, the slack-jawed Isabel observing the situation seemed almost normal.
I watched their thinly veiled confrontation in a daze.
I had no immediate reason to intervene, and my goal was solely focused on Rudine.
'I mustn't mess this up.'
Now that I've confirmed the existence of the Sacred Artifact, I need to be even more cautious moving forward. This upcoming coming-of-age ceremony was merely a one-time event to build a connection with her.
If I continued to build the relationship slowly like this, a gap would surely emerge—an opportunity to kidnap Rudine at the perfect timing.
That's when it happened
"It seems about time!" Rudine clapped her hands lightly, glancing at the clock on the wall.
"An escort, you say..."
Her gaze turned squarely towards me. I maintained a befuddled expression, emulating my usual self.
Soon, her tightly sealed lips parted slowly, "Kyle, if you don't mind, would you escort me?"
Gasp-
A strangled sound escaped Isabel's gaping mouth.
Luna also blinked, seeming caught off guard by the unexpected request.
An escort request, out of the blue?
I covertly scanned Rudine's face, but couldn't discern any emotion from her.
I cautiously inquired, "...Are you seriously asking me?"
"Yes, that's right," she nodded emphatically.
Isabel frowned.
"An escort? Surely you can't be serious."
"But I am."
"Wasn't the noble gentleman assigned to escort the Princess already determined? I'd like to believe you aren't planning to unilaterally change your escort partner on the day of."
"Hm? I'm afraid I don't know where you heard such a thing. I haven't requested an escort from anyone yet, Lady Isabel."
"But how can that be..."
"Enough."
She cut off Isabel, as if her words were unworthy of being heard.
"So, Kyle, your answer?"
"......."
"Surely you don't intend to send me alone to this once-in-a-lifetime coming-of-age ceremony, do you?"
In the previous playthrough, Kyle Winfred had not participated in Rudine's coming-of-age ceremony.
No, to be precise, he was not allowed to.
— As if a bastard like you has any business showing your face in the Imperial Palace? You'll only bring shame to the family name.
— Just stay put and guard the house while I'm away.
— Act like a good guard dog and at least do that much right.
Luna Winfred's scathing words echoed in my mind like an auditory hallucination. As a result, I had been confined to my room, subsisting on gruel and water for days until Luna's return.
— How dare you presume to be the escort, and then not even attend the coming-of-age ceremony?
— I don't want to hear any excuses!
— Yes, it was my mistake to have trusted someone like you.
That's why Isabel, who had to attend the ceremony alone, without a partner, was raging furiously; that had slightly increased my progress, but left a rather unpleasant taste.
And most importantly-
— The Princess, Rudine Eckhart.
— The Rosario she's wearing around her neck. That's the Sacred Artifact you've been searching for.
The Rosario around Rudine's neck gleamed.
It didn't take long for me to reach a decision.
"It would be my honor."
Isabel sighed, her face a picture of bewilderment, as if she'd been struck in the back of the head; her eyebrows were knit with a sense of betrayal.
Luna stood still, saying nothing. More precisely, she seemed speechless, frozen in place. She moved her lips as if to say something, but in the end, she said nothing.
"This way, Kyle!"
I silently followed after Rudine.
* * * * *
"Silence! The rising sun of the Empire, Her Imperial Highness, the First Princess Rudine Eckhart, now enters with the second son of Duke Winfred, Ka... Kyle Winfred! Attend and pay respects!"
As the chamberlain's thunderous announcement echoed, Rudine slowly walked forward, grasping the hand I had offered.
Countless shocked gazes were fixed upon us.
For the Princess to enter with the notorious Winfred bastard as her escort — it was an utterly bewildering sight.
They couldn't outright frown upon the Princess's arrival, yet the current situation made no sense to them, their faces contorted in confusion.
Reluctant applause rippled through the hall.
Despite the grand scale of the coming-of-age ceremony, its substance differed little from other typical social gatherings; apart from being hosted by the imperial family, it amounted to nothing more than nobles congregating to exchange information and cultivate connections.
Rudine ascended the stairs with effortless grace, taking her seat at the gilded dais — a place reserved solely for the imperial family with a bird's-eye view of the entire ceremony.
"Kyle, you sit here too."
I carefully took the seat next to Rudine.
The Emperor and Empress would soon enter, following the order of procession.
In order to eventually kidnap Rudine, I mustn't neglect cultivating a favorable rapport with the Emperor and Empress as well.
Of course, they would likely hold me in contempt, but with a few nuggets of future information, that would be a trivial matter.
Just as I was catching my breath—
"Say, Kyle. Would you mind if I asked you something?"
—Rudine's cheerful voice reached my ear.
As I nodded, she seemed to have been waiting to pose the question.
"I didn't get the chance to ask earlier, but how did the engagement annulment come about?"
Since I'll be leaving this world eventually anyway, I swallowed back the words threatening to spill out.
"It was just a clash of personalities and various other reasons, really."
I carefully selected my words to avoid raising suspicion, giving a neutral, textbook response.
Rudine's expression grew somber as she continued.
"I see. It must have been very difficult for you."
"Well, it's alright now."
"Is that so? But Lady Isabel didn't seem alright at all."
"...She's still in the process of accepting it. In time, she'll be fine."
Why so many questions?
I patiently answered her inquiries.
That's when an unexpected question assaulted my ears.
"Ah, that's right! I heard you even sold the engagement ring at an auction?"
The engagement ring, and an auction.
There was no way she could have known these details without thoroughly investigating my background.
"A ring set with sunstone, how romantic. That's so like you."
"......."
"And you even attended the auction yourself the next day, right?"
"......."
"And then went straight to the Count's mansion to demand the engagement annulment."
A blaring warning sounded in my head.
I remained silent, unable to find a suitable response.
Rudine continued, her lips curved in a playful smile.
"Moonstone."
"........"
"I was really curious - why did you specifically demand moonstone as compensation? What was the reason? The Kyle I know has never shown any interest in mineral collecting."
"......."
"Luna Winfred, Isabel Yustia - they're all acting so strange, aren't they?"
Her eyes were still smiling, but her lips were devoid of mirth; the air grew thick with an ominous tension.
"You know, I've been looking forward to today so much."
Phew.
She let out a prim laugh.
"Kyle."
"........"
"No, Kyle Winfred. My one and only friend."
A menacing glint flashed in her golden eyes.
"Have you regressed as well?"
