CHAPTER 25
If One Becomes the Crown Princess
Fenril did not seem to grasp the seriousness of the situation.
He disappeared after drinking, and Vane felt it had all been a waste of time.
Though he appeared slightly drunk, Vane escorted him quite far before returning, certain he was actually fine.
After going up to the bedroom on the second floor, Vane frowned in irritation.
“It seems the rumors about exerting influence not only in the South but also in the Central region were true.”
“You flatter me.”
Answering coolly, Ivy Ibiton boldly sat on the man’s bed with her legs crossed and asked provocatively.
“You looked troubled because of that woman too, didn’t you? Or am I wrong?”
Vane clicked his tongue in self-reflection.
It was shameful that he had failed to control his expression enough that such a young lady could read him.
“Since you found your way in without being escorted, I trust you can find your way out without guidance.”
“The fastest way to get rid of an uninvited guest is to give them what they want.”
“And then you end up with peddlers swarming in. I have no intention of doing something so foolish.”
As if advising a child, Vane roughly loosened his cravat.
At that, Ivy flushed and shouted.
“W-What kind of shameless—!”
“You’re the one who barged into a house where a man lives alone.”
“Even so, even so, doing something like this—!”
“If you don’t like it, you can leave.”
With that, Vane calmly headed to the bathroom.
Looking at the bathtub filled with steaming hot water, he fell into troubled thought.
Did she come in before the bath was prepared, or after?
Depending on the answer, the range of suspicion would differ, so he scooped up water with his hand and watched it flow back down as he pondered.
“Hey, Vane. Are you really going to act like this?”
Unable to come in, Ivy shouted from outside.
As Vane splashed the water, he wondered whether her voice was not as loud as it sounded to him, or if all the servants in the residence had already been bribed.
“…Fine. I lose.”
The young lady, who had been venting her anger by breaking something, finally calmed down and waved a white flag.
“So come out! I’ll just say what I need to quickly!”
“I wouldn’t mind taking a nap here first.”
The magic stone in the bathtub would retain heat for quite some time.
Just as Vane considered whether that was truly the case, the door burst open.
“As if I would back down— huh?”
Ivy entered with a flushed face, as if she had steeled herself, but her expression turned oddly disappointed.
“Shameless.”
Crossing his arms as if to cover his chest, Vane spoke.
“Did you want me to be?”
“You’re not even undressed!”
“Are you disappointed it didn’t happen?”
“That’s not it!”
Vane’s residence was located within the outer palace of the Imperial Palace.
Though not as strict as the inner palace, knights and guards frequently patrolled the area.
Which meant that if time was dragged out, there was a chance someone would notice and come, leading to trouble.
Realizing Vane’s intention to stall, Ivy glared at him fiercely and quickly spoke her purpose.
“Arrange a meeting.”
“I believe you already hold a position.”
“With His Highness! Arrange a meeting! A place where we can be alone!”
Ivy shouted as if exploding with anger.
She was about to say more but glanced at the paper she held and, as if annoyed, handed it to Vane.
After wiping his wet hands on a towel, Vane accepted it.
It was a letter, closer to a set of instructions.
“So, you were sent by Count Ibiton to approach His Highness the Crown Prince and aim for the position of Crown Princess.”
“No! Don’t just summarize it like that!”
Ivy shouted angrily.
Vane brushed his lips with the edge of the paper as he fell into thought.
The letter contained many details, including what they could offer the Crown Prince.
The sender, clearly the Count, instructed Ivy to use these as leverage to win over the Crown Prince or his aides.
The step-by-step proposals were quite detailed, enough that even Vane would have found them appealing if carried out as written.
But making someone like this the Crown Princess…
Vane had no confidence in serving Ivy Ibiton.
At this rate, as Fenril had said, it might be better to serve Raven Marshall instead.
No, no, that’s not right.
Compared to a suspicious woman, even if slightly foolish, a lady who could bring political backing from her family would appear.
Vane convinced himself of that.
“So.”
“W-What?”
“Do you have a plan?”
It was the first sign of goodwill from the Crown Prince’s aide.
Ivy Ibiton reacted like a dog that had found a bone.
“Just arrange the meeting first!”
“And then what will you do?”
“I’ll seduce him.”
“What?”
Ivy stiffened as if incredulous.
“Am I not beautiful?”
“…If that’s the entirety of your plan, we should part ways here.”
She was beautiful.
A slender figure, glossy skin, light green eyes, and something reminiscent of the former Crown Princess.
As he thought that, Vane suddenly recalled a lady with black hair and black eyes that had crossed his mind.
What was I thinking?
Shaking off the thought, he spoke again.
“If you don’t have a plan—”
“I do! I said I do!”
Pressed slightly, Ivy trembled and snapped back.
This might actually be convenient.
Having someone who moves according to intention in a higher position might be easier than expected.
With that dangerous thought, Vane waved his hand dismissively.
“You should leave.”
“I will!”
As expected, the naive young lady did not even think to retrieve the letter from Vane.
Leaving behind such evidence that could later become a political weakness, was she bold or simply foolish?
“Wait a moment before you go.”
Vane called out to her.
Ivy turned back with an annoyed expression.
He asked, just in case.
“Do you love His Highness?”
But Ivy answered.
“He’s the Crown Prince.”
It was a good answer.
Vane had seen many who ruined things by being swayed by emotions.
At least this woman did not seem likely to do so.
“I’ll contact you once I choose a suitable day.”
Even if the one he served did not desire it, it was advantageous to form ties with various forces for his sake.
Vane decided to accept Ivy’s proposal as part of safeguarding the Crown Prince.
Thus, he agreed, and Ivy left.
Everything proceeded that way.
***
Ivy Ibiton was becoming increasingly irritating.
It was not simply because of her rough temperament or lack of diligence.
Today again, she wandered around the Winter Palace styled similarly to how Evelyn used to dress.
With similar clothes and accessories, and even a similar hairstyle.
She recited literary phrases in Perantor with an awkward accent, sounding convincing yet slightly incorrect.
“If only a fleeting moment were permitted, I would dedicate it solely to you.”
Even the poem she just recited had its latter part completely wrong.
It happened to be a phrase often used by Duke Embrio when testing others, so Evelyn could be certain.
It should be ‘I would dedicate that time entirely, and dare to say I have loved you forever’… why does she get such a short phrase wrong? And the pronunciation too…
Even though she was not the one making mistakes, Evelyn felt embarrassed enough to want to close her eyes.
“Honestly, Lady Ibiton is too much…”
There was also another person who exhausted Evelyn even more.
Lady Leopol, who looked at Ivy with sparkling eyes full of admiration.
“Isn’t she amazing?”
Considering her level of knowledge, it was not entirely strange for her to admire Ivy.
But it was too much for Evelyn to simply overlook.
“…Lady Berzac.”
“Shall I bring a book?”
Fortunately, there was at least one person who did not tire Evelyn.
With fiery red curly hair and brown eyes, Lady Camilla Berzac reminded one of autumn leaves.
She was calm and intelligent, making her company pleasant.
Even now, she had immediately understood why Evelyn called her.
“Shall I bring a collection of classical poetry? Or a book interpreting classical literature?”
“There should be a book that compiles commonly used literary phrases. I believe it’s republished every five to ten years…”
As Evelyn trailed off, Camilla Berzac nodded as if that was enough and quietly left.
Watching her leave, Evelyn suddenly had a thought.
Maybe Lady Berzac could help solve this problem?
She reviewed the idea to herself.
Though it came to her suddenly, it seemed like a good one.
Evelyn nodded in satisfaction.
