LVSFN 31

Chapter 31

I couldn’t even tell whether I was eating cookies through my nose or mouth.

To make things worse, the mood at the table wasn’t even pleasant.

Sitting at the table were my brother Oliver, Nathan, Jerlach, and me.

‘What kind of combination is this?’

Last time it was Adrian, and now it’s Nathan?

My head throbbed, but I instinctively knew this was an important moment.

Nathan was supposed to be my fiancé.

If I got engaged to him, I could straighten out the story.

‘Nathan needs to do well today.’

I had first met Nathan a fortnight before my death, at a ball held at the Cygnus Grand Duke’s estate.

<It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Bernadette. You’re just as beautiful as the rumors say.>
<Thank you.>
<Oh dear, Lady. Just a moment.>
<Yes?>
<You’ve got a feather on your back. Did you make a mistake while descending from the heavens? Ha ha ha!>
<…>
<Oh dear, there’s another feather here too!>
<Enough, please.>

He had claimed to fall in love with me at first sight and launched into a lengthy speech. He had quite a way with words. Maybe it was because he was an artist, but he used flowery language to practically enchant me.

In the original story, Liberata had been quite fond of Nathan. She found him humorous and kind.

She had believed he could purify her dark inner self.

But I was not her.

Nathan and I simply didn’t match.

He talked too much, and within all that talk, he hid his true feelings. That’s probably why he could confess his love to me one day and then send a letter to Leoni the very next.

Still, the only way I could escape this world was by getting engaged to Nathan and handing Jerlach over to Leoni.

That’s why this was such a crucial moment.

‘Right. Just focus on getting out of this world. I have to survive. I’m not going to vanish like this.’

I knew exactly what was at stake here.

Yet, strangely, I felt unsettled.

I desperately hoped Nathan would do well, and yet… my eyes wouldn’t settle on him.

I hated to admit it, but all my attention was drawn elsewhere.

Yes, it was fear. I was afraid.

‘I have no choice. I must get engaged to my original fiancé and escape this terrifying world. That’s the most important thing.’

I forced down my nervousness and slowly sipped my tea.

Meanwhile, my brother continued the conversation.

“Ribe, Sir Palamedes said he wanted to meet you, so I brought him.”

As I set down my teacup, I unconsciously glanced at Jerlach.

As expected, his expression wasn’t good.

Of course, to others, he probably looked the same as always. But I could sense the subtle change in his gaze.

“Me?”

I asked casually, and Nathan looked at me with a tense expression.

“Yes, Lady Bernadette. I’ve been wanting to meet you.”

“What’s the matter?”

Good. This was where it really began.

I looked at Nathan with innocent eyes, pretending to know nothing.

Still… what was the reason for his sudden appearance?

Surely he wasn’t going to propose an engagement right now?

He did seem like a rather impulsive person when I met him at the ball before.

Not that I’d complain if he did propose right here.

That said, I kept glancing at Jerlach throughout.

‘Focus. This is a critical moment. It’s practically a golden opportunity.’

When I smiled softly at Nathan, he cleared his throat and spoke.

“I’d like to compose a piece of music for Lady Bernadette.”

What on earth was he saying now?

“Pardon? Music?”

As I’d mentioned before, the Palamedes family was deeply involved in the arts. They sponsored musicians and introduced composers to the imperial family—Nathan himself was known for his musical talents.

But now he wanted to write a song for me?

I was taken aback and scratched my right cheek.

“Ah… it’s very kind of you, but why would you compose a piece for me?”

“I’ve heard many things about Lady Bernadette. Not only are you beautiful, but also bold and remarkable.”

Internally, I was thinking, ‘Me? Really?’ but I nodded slowly, as if I truly were such a person.

“Yes.”

“Thinking of you brought such a rush of inspiration. I couldn’t hold it back. I want to write a beautiful, powerful, and fantastical piece in your honor.”

Oh come on, that’s a bit much.

His lavish praise made me lean back slightly in discomfort.

“To do so, I had to meet you and speak with you directly. And… just as I heard, you are truly beautiful, overflowing with elegance. You’re like an angel sent from the heavens.”

Nathan then took my hand and kissed the back of it.

Oh, for heaven’s sake.

Watching him ramble like that brought back memories of when he’d first declared his love for me at the ball.

Clearly, this “angel from heaven” line was part of Nathan’s go-to routine.

Still, this was going very well. I didn’t even have to make a move, and Nathan came right to me with this display of affection—and right in front of Jerlach, too.

Maybe I could make this work without lifting a finger.

“Ah… thank you.”

I should’ve said it with a bit more cheer. I knew that. But somehow I just couldn’t bring myself to sound truly delighted.

“That’s why I came, even at the risk of seeming rude.”

It was at that moment that the previously silent Jerlach finally spoke.

“So you knew it was rude.”

His words chilled the entire table.

Jerlach himself remained calm, sipping from his teacup.

Nathan awkwardly laughed and spoke.

“Your Grace, I knew it might be improper, but the inspiration struck and I couldn’t delay for a moment.”

Then, to top it off, he started wiggling his fingers in midair as if playing an imaginary piano!

Oh no. What was that?

I instinctively grimaced.

Of course, I quickly composed my face so no one would notice.

“Inspiration?”

“Only artists like myself can understand. Inspiration comes suddenly and flutters away like a butterfly. So when it arrives, you must seize it—just like a woman’s heart, wouldn’t you agree?”

My goodness, what is this man even saying?

Nathan continued miming a piano in midair.

Then Jerlach’s face morphed into the exact same expression I had worn just moments ago.

The difference was, he didn’t bother hiding it.

“Lady Bernadette. Will you allow me to compose a beautiful piece in your honor? I’ll pour all my passion and affection into a perfect melody. When it’s complete, I’d like to premiere it on the Day of Saint Obenry. Isn’t it a perfect plan?”

Then he once again reached for my hand to kiss it.

Of course I wanted to pull away. His oily lips and those stubby fingers pretending to play the piano—none of it was appealing.

But I couldn’t. He was destined to be my fiancé.

So I had to fix this twisted story and escape this place.

I had to.

I steeled myself and nodded when—

“And who gave you permission to make such an announcement?”

Jerlach set his teacup down with a sharp clink.

“Your Grace?”

Nathan’s face paled as he looked back and forth between me and Jerlach. He wiped his forehead a couple of times with his right hand, then forced a nervous smile.

“Ah, since Your Grace is here, I thought this would be a good time to discuss it directly.”

Apparently, when God made Nathan, he gave him brazenness instead of tact.

Or maybe it was courage? Who knew.

“Discuss it?”

Jerlach’s voice was dry, but Nathan still looked as giddy as ever.

The man emitting a dark aura right in front of him didn’t seem to register at all.

Nathan cast a greasy glance my way and cheerfully continued.

“Since the Day of Saint Obenry is all about peace and harmony, I thought it would be perfect to debut the tribute I composed. What are your thoughts?”

“I think that’s going to be a problem.”

For the first time, Jerlach narrowed his eyes as he continued.

“Why are you the one presenting a tribute to my woman?”