Chapter 2

Before I knew it, I had fallen asleep again, and when I woke up next, it was already morning.

Chiharu's memories still remained. It seemed she wouldn't forget them.

If I were just a naive 17-year-old Emerine, my life from now on might have been unbearable. But with Chiharu's experiences mixed in, it seemed I could manage somehow.

Is this fate as well?

The door was knocked on, and when I replied, "Come in," the maid Kanon rushed in.

"Miss Emerine! How are you feeling?"

"My head hurts, but I can get up. How long has it been since I got home?"

"Two days. I'll inform Master that you've woken up!"

As Kanon hurried away, my parents soon came in, making a commotion with their footsteps.

"Em!"

Mother hugged me, running her fingers through my curly black hair and stroking my head.

"What happened? For you to go through such a thing..."

Tears overflowed from Mother's purple eyes, the same color as mine.

"...Mother, I'm sorry."

"There's nothing for Em to apologize for."

Father clenched his fists. His beautiful green eyes were now red, either from anger or fatigue. His hair, once as black as mine, was now completely white.

"How are you feeling?"

"I think I was just too tense. But there's no need to worry anymore, right? I'll be fine soon."

"You had a high fever, you know?"

Was it a fever of wisdom? Is this headache due to the fever?

Father placed his hand on my forehead. It felt cool and refreshing.

"Because of my weakness, I've caused trouble for Father, Mother, and Keith."

Keith is my younger brother by two years and the heir to our family. He is currently attending a boarding school for nobles. I couldn't even attend a noble school.

Father shook his head silently.

"Can I assume that my 'blessing' was exposed by the prince's statement?"

"No, everyone was so surprised by the suddenness that they didn't catch it at first. The prince was ranting about bad luck, so everyone missed that the 'luck' was actually a 'blessing.' Besides, no one had ever heard of such a 'blessing' before, so it didn't even cross their minds."

It seemed the worst-case scenario had been avoided. However, the damage to me as a noble was still significant.

"Father, I thought a lot last night. I can't leave the country. I don't want to be a burden to this family. All the eligible men are already engaged. I can't even consider being a concubine or a second wife. With the biased education I've received, I can't even do business. I want to return to the estate and become a nun."

"Ah..."

Mother gasped.

"Is that... the only happiness for our family and for me?"

"Being a nun! You're only... only seventeen!"

Mother grabbed my shoulders and shook me.

"Mother, I'm sorry. I... I'm tired. I want to become a nun and live a peaceful life, helping out on the estate."

"Em..."

"I will dedicate my 'luck' to God from now on."

"Let's... petition the king."

Father, knowing this was the right course, said so. His voice was trembling.

◇◇◇

A week later, my condition had returned to normal. Occasionally, memories from my past life would resurface, making me feel nostalgic and dazed. The maids, including Kanon, mistook this for deep thought. Even if I denied it, they wouldn't believe me.

The tutor sent by the royal family stopped coming, and I burned all the materials and notes from my past life. According to Chiharu, the knowledge didn't seem necessary. The manners for social events and the rules for a princess didn't help fill my stomach. Dance and piano lessons weren't at a level where I could teach others and wouldn't provide a means of living.

I sold all the blue dresses and accessories made to match the second prince's eye color to a merchant and returned the money to Father. As a princess, I had received high-quality items that were far beyond my station. I felt truly sorry. Father simply said, "Thank you," and accepted it. I respected my practical father.

The items I could take to the convent were limited. I think it was just one trunk. I packed a few undergarments, a modest brown dress, toiletries, sewing tools, and a family portrait. The convent would provide the habit, and I could secretly carry some money for emergencies. I thought this would be enough.

Seeing my room become increasingly empty, Mother cried. She had also lost weight.

"I should have given you a normal 'blessing'..."

That's not it.

"Being born to you and Father was lucky enough for me."

Both my parents and the cheeky Keith loved me. In this world, that was actually quite lucky.

◇◇◇

A few days later, I received a summons from the royal family. It was finally happening. It was about time.

Whether my engagement would be broken or dissolved would significantly change my future.

If the engagement was broken, my life as a noble would be cut off, and our family would be quickly ostracized from noble society.

If the engagement was dissolved, our family's reputation would be somewhat preserved, and we would receive a consolation payment for the time I was constrained, maintaining our family's dignity.

My destination was the convent, so it wouldn't change either way, but for the sake of my loved ones, I hoped it would be a dissolution.

Father and I went to the castle. I wore a plain gray dress with a high collar, and people whispered behind my back. Father squeezed my hand.

"Father, this treatment will end today. It feels refreshing, doesn't it?"

"Yes... it really does."

Father chuckled and nodded.

We were led to a small, private reception room for the king. Even though we were offered chairs, we both stood. After a while, the door opened, and the king immediately entered.

Father and I greeted the king gracefully.

"Baron Balt, Em, today... there's no need for formalities. Please sit."

I confirmed that Father had sat and then sat next to him.

"Em, I've already talked to Baron Balt... about my foolish son. I still want Em as my daughter. But, surely... your heart has already moved on, hasn't it?"

"..."

What am I supposed to say?

"I will dissolve the engagement. I appreciate your loyalty up to this point."

Dissolution... I felt relieved. I met the king's eyes, who was prompting me to speak.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. From now on, I will live at the Cabirna Convent in the Balt estate, praying for the eternal peace of your reign with all my 'blessing.'"

I said I wouldn't leave the country and would use my 'luck' to the fullest to pray. There should be no complaints.

"Em, no, Miss Emerine... I cannot agree to sending you to the convent."

"Huh?"

I involuntarily let out a strange sound. The engagement was dissolved. My father, as the head of the household, should decide where I go. There was no reason for the king to interfere. After all the concessions I made, why say such a thing?

"Your Majesty, with all due respect, my daughter only wishes to spend her remaining years quietly in a small monastery on our estate, with children who have no family. I thought you agreed to this the other day."

"That plan is rejected. I want the intelligent Miss Emerine to marry one of my knights."

"Marriage?"

I couldn't close my mouth at the unexpected word. Why not a nun? Who would want a damaged person like me? What is the king's intention? What more does he want to do to me after the prince humiliated me?

Looking at Father, he was also stunned.

"Enter."

The king gave permission, and the guard opened the door.

There stood a man, taller than the door, with red hair down to his shoulders, casually flowing behind him. He bowed and entered, as if slipping through the door frame.

"!!!"

...Even I, who had lived a sheltered life, knew the man with the red eyes said to burn enemies with a glance, the scar on his cheek from a sword cut. The real star of the party that left me in scandal, the one who created today's peace.

"General Lancelot Alabaster..."

"Miss Emerine, grant your 'blessing' to the hero of our country."

Despair slowly crept over me.