PDTVD 13

Chapter – 13 

 The Sudden Engagement Announcement

The only way out of this was to deny that I was the saint and somehow muddle through the tea party situation.

In any case, I had to make sure to stay far, far away from the Queen and the Second Prince.

Trying my best not to appear insolent, I bowed deeply, showing submission, and spoke.

“Good heavens, there’s no way that I could possibly be the—”

“That’s right. Lady Olivia might be the saint.”

My words were cut off, and I turned to stare at Noah beside me.

(Huh…? What? WHAT DID HE JUST SAY!?)

“W–wait, Lord Noah, what are you—”

“Regardless of whether she’s the saint or not, she’s still my savior. She risked her life to save mine, and I intend to take responsibility for her happiness.”

For some reason, Noah declared that proudly and even smiled at me.

Was it just my imagination, or did his cheeks look a little flushed?
And was the bad feeling creeping up my spine also my imagination?
Please let it be.

(Forget responsibility! I just want him to protect himself from being poisoned again!)

The very fact that the Crown Prince was still alive was what guaranteed my peace and safety. I didn’t need gratitude; I needed him to value his own life.

“I see. I understand your feelings, my son. I suppose I must discuss this matter with the marquis.”

“Yes, Father.”

The King spoke with the warm smile of a proud parent, and Noah responded with a bashful grin.

It was a touching father-son moment. Both of them were so beautiful that it was almost dazzling—so why did it feel so unbearably awkward?

I couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was heading in a direction completely different from what I had intended.

And to top it off, I had completely lost the perfect moment to deny being the saint.

(Well… at least the tea party issue seems to have been brushed aside. Let’s call that a win.)

“Setting that aside, Lady Olivia, you deserve a reward for saving the Crown Prince. Is there anything you wish for?”

“N–no, I couldn’t possibly ask for—oh.”

“Don’t be shy. Speak freely.”

I glanced at Noah, then hesitantly said,

“I know it’s terribly presumptuous of me, but… would it be possible for me to continue meeting with His Highness?”

I only meant that I’d like to check on his health now and then—to make sure he wasn’t being poisoned again.
But for some reason, Noah looked deeply moved, murmuring, “Olivia… what a woman you are,” with a blush on his cheeks.

Why? Was he that happy about regular medical checkups?

While I was still confused, the King suddenly burst out laughing, making me jump.

In contrast, the Queen covered her mouth with her fan, glaring at us with a look that screamed not amused.

“I see! Very well! Lady Olivia, you are hereby granted free access to the Crown Prince’s palace!”

“Th–thank you, Your Majesty…?”

“I’m counting on you to look after my son, Lady Olivia.”

(Look after him—as in… medically?)

No, that couldn’t be it. The King didn’t know about the poisoning.

So maybe he meant that, if Noah were ever targeted again, I was expected to throw myself in front of him to save him.
Yes, that must be it. That’s what I’ll tell myself.

“You can count on me, Your Majesty.”

I will protect the Crown Prince with my life.

Because at this point, Noah and I are practically bound by fate. If he dies, I’ll probably end up dead too. So yes—literally life or death.

Noah’s shy smiles were baffling, but at least I managed to leave the audience chamber unharmed.

Once the heavy doors closed behind me, I finally let out a long breath of relief.

(I hope I didn’t just draw the Queen’s ire. Please don’t let that have been a death flag…)

My heart was still pounding so hard that I wobbled on my feet. Noah quickly caught me.

“Olivia, are you all right?”

“Lord Noah… thank you. If you hadn’t been there, I might’ve died.”

“You’re exaggerating. I told you I’d protect you, didn’t I? I don’t tell meaningless lies. And what I said before His Majesty—I meant every word.”

(What he said before His Majesty… Wait, what did he say again?)

I had been so tense that the whole conversation was a blur.
And now he was saying things like “I’m glad you feel the same way,” leaving me too flustered to ask what he was talking about.

Just then, I saw someone running toward us down the corridor.

“Olivia…!”

“F–Father?”

Seeing him so desperate, I instinctively hurried toward him.

When I stumbled, he caught me in his arms and held me tight. “At last, I’ve found you!” he exclaimed.

(‘Found me’? What does that mean?)

Seeing my confusion, Father sighed deeply and explained.

When he’d heard that I had collapsed and been taken to the Crown Prince’s quarters, he’d rushed over—only to be denied visitation for five days.

(So the poisoning incident was kept secret from outsiders.)

When my eyes met Noah’s apologetic gaze, I smiled to tell him not to worry. For some reason, he blushed again. Why!?

“Please, don’t make me worry so much…”

“I’m sorry… Father.”

As he held me tight, I felt a strange warmth in my chest.

In my first life, we had barely spoken as father and daughter. I had thought he despised me.

But maybe he hadn’t hated me as much as I believed.

If so… perhaps, in this second life, we could rebuild our relationship.

That thought made me hug him back.

“Your Highness, I am deeply grateful for saving my daughter’s life.”

“Marquis Irvine, His Majesty will soon discuss this formally, but I wanted to tell you myself first.”

“What is it…?”

My father’s hand on my shoulder tightened. His face grew tense.
Noah, on the other hand, smiled brilliantly.

“I’ve decided to make Lady Olivia my fiancée.”

“…What did you just say?”

“I said we’re getting engaged. Which means you’ll be my father-in-law someday. I look forward to working with you.”

Fiancée.

The word conjured an image of a gray, bouncy block with black specks—konnyaku (a jelly-like food).
A small, detached part of my mind coolly corrected me: That’s “konnyaku,” not “konyakusha.”

My father turned to me with a look that said Explain. Now.

But honestly, I’d like an explanation too.

“Ehhh…?”

How did it come to this?

As my vision dimmed, I could almost hear the voice of the Creator God murmuring,

“Didn’t you say you wanted to be loved?”