TIRS 75

CHAPTER 75………………

 The Blazing Maria

When we arrived at the theater, the manager immediately rushed out.

“Welcome, Crown Prince Enjer! And Princess Ruivel of Azester!”

“The seats I reserved?”

“We’ve prepared the royal box. Allow me to escort you upstairs.”

I was about to follow behind the manager, with Crown Prince Enjer offering me his escort, when—

“Oh my, Lady Ruivel!”

A cheerful voice called out to me.

Turning toward the sound, I saw Maria approaching with a radiant smile.

“Are you here to watch the opera as well, Lady Ruivel? Goodness, what a coincidence…!”

“Hello, Maria.”

Unlike usual, I greeted her warmly and returned her smile.

Of course, my meeting with Maria here was no coincidence.

In truth, two days ago, when Maria came to see me, I had deliberately let slip my plans.

“I’m going to the theater with His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“The theater?”

“Yes, we’re going to see an opera.”

“Don’t tell me… You’re going on a date with Crown Prince Enjer?”

Maria’s voice trembled as she asked, her face stricken with grief—graver even than Helena Azeline, Enjer’s fiancée, would have shown.

[SYSTEM] has entered a state of Jealousy.

[SYSTEM] If Jealousy persists for too long, one may lose their reason. Be cautious of !

Already disheartened by what happened in the labyrinth garden, Maria now looked as if she were determined not to sit idly by this time.

She pried into which opera I’d be attending, then left with a face brimming with schemes.

And today—just as I had intended—Maria appeared at the theater.

‘Good. Maria is moving just as planned.’

The reason I’d leaked the opera information to her was to draw her here.

‘Chances are, I’ll be needing Maria’s help today.’

Unlike the Azester Empire, other kingdoms on the continent held the temple in great authority.

As the Saintess of the Luenhart capital temple, Maria was deeply respected among nobles and commoners alike, enjoying immense trust.

If Enjer were to attempt anything against me while Maria was present, she would serve as the perfect witness.

After all, since I was widely rumored to be Ansellot’s “lover,” my testimony alone would hardly be enough to clear him of his stigma.

“Do you remember, Lady Ruivel? What you once said—that when coincidences repeat, it is fate!”

Maria’s eyes sparkled as she invoked one of those ridiculous lines Piya had once concocted.

“The very moment I saw you in this theater, I thought of that day’s words. Perhaps Lady Ruivel and I are bound by fate!”

“Those words?”

At that moment, Enjer smoothly intruded on our conversation.

“Oh—Your Highness Enjer?”

Though Maria already knew he was my escort today, she pretended as if she had only just noticed him.

“It’s been a while, Saintess.”

“Yes, it has.”

Her tone toward him was completely different from the way she spoke with me—aloof, almost dismissive, as if his presence were a nuisance.

“I wasn’t aware the two of you were so close.”

But Enjer persisted, smiling brightly, inserting himself between us.

Maria gave an audible tsk before flashing a dazzling smile of her own, her voice syrupy sweet as she snapped back at him.

“I, too, didn’t realize Lady Ruivel and Your Highness were close enough to attend the opera together. Or could it be that you lost some sort of bet and, unfairly, forced Lady Ruivel into a date with you as the result?”

“Haha. A threat, you say? Could someone as virtuous as myself ever do such a thing?”

“Otherwise, how else could you have taken Lady Ruivel to the opera before I ever had the chance…?”

Her face abruptly darkened, her displeasure plain, as she looked Enjer up and down.

“Oh, but Your Highness Enjer must not know of the fateful story between Lady Ruivel and me. We first met on the streets of the capital, when I was in dire straits…”

Maria slipped into a dreamy tone as she began recounting our “destined” first encounter in excruciating detail.

“And then, at that ball, Lady Ruivel said to me: when coincidences repeat, they become fate. Which means Lady Ruivel and I are fated! Fated, I tell you!”

“Princess Ruivel actually said such a thing to you, Saintess?”

Enjer turned to me, his eyes gleaming with amusement, as if asking if I was truly capable of spouting such cringeworthy lines.

‘Ugh…’

Just recalling it made me want to bury my face in my hands. I groaned inwardly and avoided his gaze.

Prrrt!

Meanwhile, Piya, perched on my shoulder, was practically preening with smug delight.

Prrit! Prrrit!

—See, Lady Lulu! That woman recognized the brilliance of my magnificent words!

“……”

It was agony that only I could hear Piya’s nonsense.

‘Those cheesy lines weren’t mine! They came from this damn bird!’

And the only person who knew the truth was Ansellot of all people…

Enjer then spoke again, clearly provoking Maria.

“My, what an extraordinary fate you two share. But alas, Saintess, it seems that fate is not yours today.”

“What was that?”

Maria’s eyes flashed daggers at him.

“Because Lady Ruivel is about to watch the opera with me.”

Enjer smirked smugly, chin tilted high.

Maria refused to let go of me, but at the manager’s reminder that the opera was about to begin, she tearfully released me.

I followed Enjer and the manager toward the reserved seats.

On my shoulder, Piya hummed happily.

Prrruuu.

—Truth is, Lady Lulu, I’ve never told you this before, but Piya has always had a dream.

“A dream? You mean, becoming the King of Guiding Birds?”

Prrit! Prrit!

—No, not that predetermined destiny. My real dream!

“Yeah.”

Prrit?

—Aren’t you curious?

“Not really…”

Prrrit!

—Heh. Then allow me to tell you anyway.

“I said I wasn’t curious…”

But Piya ignored me and chirped on, brimming with excitement.

Prrit! Prrruuu!

—Piya’s true dream is to become a great novelist.

He beamed, eyes curving like crescent moons.

I looked at him in silence, my heart heavy.

Scenes of Piya’s “writing” flashed through my mind.

[…(swooping in with a wink) My lady’s beauty is salvation itself…]

Cringe.

[…(leaning close, lips almost touching) Then, may I claim the reward I desire in return…]

So cringe.

[…(stabbing a rose into the floor) To threaten my love? Unforgivable, Prince Ansellot!]

Unbearably cringe!

Cringe enough that I wanted to stab the rose straight into the ground myself!

“…Piya. Please don’t take this the wrong way.”

I spoke carefully, not wanting to crush his spirit.

“I respect your dream, but… maybe you should consider finding another passion?”

Prrit?

Piya only tilted his head, puzzled.

Prrit! Prrit!

—Anyway, opera is wonderful! It’ll inspire Piya’s creativity!

“…Fine. As long as you’re happy.”

I half-heartedly gave in.

The manager finally stopped and presented a lavish private royal box.

“One of only two in our hall. The curtain facing the stage is enchanted with the finest soundproofing magic—especially popular with couples.”

I ignored his wink and looked around the room.

It was designed so the door could be locked from inside.

‘Once the curtain’s drawn, no one would know what happens here…’

I sat beside Enjer on the sofa facing the stage.

The opera began, actors stepping onto the stage.

Pretending to watch, I quietly pulled out an item.

Item: Monocle of Maria’s Wish

A monocle imbued with Maria’s holy power and prayers. Reveals nearby murderous intent visually. Fragile—will break if worn too long.

Outwardly, it looked like an ordinary monocle. But it carried the holy power of the heroine Maria herself.

‘So it can visualize murderous intent…’

Hezen, for conquest purposes, had a special skill that allowed him to sense joy, sorrow, anger, murderous intent, and other emotions.

I had no intention of building a harem like Hezen, but the ability to detect hostility and killing intent seemed undeniably useful.

In fact, Hezen had often sensed my rising fury and fled before I could catch him.

Maria’s monocle went a step further: it could reveal murderous intent from everyone nearby, not just a target.

This could prove invaluable for detecting hidden assassins.

The only drawback—it was too fragile for long use.

[SYSTEM] Equipped <Monocle of Maria’s Wish>.

I put it on and looked at Enjer.

“Quite the elegant monocle.”

“……”

But contrary to the description, nothing happened.

‘Is it defective?’

I tilted my head in confusion—

[SYSTEM] <Monocle of Maria’s Wish> detects [Intense Murderous Intent].

My eyes flew wide as I turned toward the source.

“Gasp…!”

It was an ordinary wall—but behind it blazed an inferno of crimson killing intent.

“Princess?”

Enjer looked at me, puzzled by my gasp. Clearly, he couldn’t see it.

‘…Don’t tell me an assassin is hiding there?’

Just then, the manager returned with a tray of desserts and drinks.

I cautiously asked him:

“Who’s next door?”

“Next door? That would be the Saintess.”

“…Ah.”

Only then did I realize the truth behind the murderous aura.

It wasn’t an assassin—it was Maria.

Blinded by jealousy, Maria was unleashing a blazing hatred toward Enjer.

‘Should I feel reassured by this… or terrified?’

I averted my eyes, pretending not to notice Maria’s burning murderous intent.