Chapter 5

Bertie moved to the bay window with a book to change her mood. She sat on the sill and opened the book. Today, she was reading a book about wizards.

Long ago, the continent was overflowing with wizards. However, their numbers gradually decreased, and the last confirmed sighting of a wizard was about three hundred years ago. In modern times, they have become a mythical existence. There are studies suggesting that a wizard is born once every hundred years, but the truth remains unknown. Even the last wizard, whose existence is recorded, lived three hundred years ago, making it extremely difficult to prove their existence.

What can be said for certain is that the power of magic does exist in this world. As evidence, valuable magical artifacts from the era when magic flourished are occasionally discovered.

Bertie, who had fallen ill, had her body possessed by Minori's soul. Over time, her illness, which had no established treatment and was in its final stages, began to heal. After an investigation, it was determined that Bertie might be a wizard with healing magic. If this were true, she would be the first confirmed wizard in three hundred years. However, there is no definitive proof, and her status as a wizard has not been publicly announced. A gag order has been imposed on those involved.

In reality, Bertie likely has no healing power. It was probably Minori's. There is a legend that people from other worlds occasionally appear in this world and possess rare magic. Therefore, it can be inferred that Minori's soul inhabited Bertie's body before it was too late, and her power healed the illness, allowing Bertie's soul to awaken.

It's just a hypothesis, but if that's the case, what happened to Minori's soul after it was expelled from Bertie's body? There is no precedent for a soul moving here alone. Perhaps—

"An otherworldly person has appeared."

Bertie reacted sharply to the voice she heard from outside. Lowering her gaze from the sky, she saw two maids in the garden.

"Really? Is it not a fraud?"

"The Duchess and the Second Prince witnessed the person suddenly appearing out of nowhere and took them in."

"So, that legend was true?"

Bertie's grip on the book tightened.

"Her name is said to be Lady Minori."

Is this what they call 'fate'? A mysterious beginning, where one's soul inhabits another's body and meets someone. They were drawn to each other but were suddenly separated, and now she has appeared before him in her original body. It's like something out of a story.

"What about the engagement to the young lady?"

The maid's question came naturally. Otherworldly people possess special powers. In the past, they were married to royalty or high-ranking nobles to absorb their powers. The current king has two children. The Crown Prince is already married, so it's unlikely he would divorce to marry an otherworldly person. Therefore, the best option for the royal family might be to dissolve the engagement of the Second Prince, who is still at the engagement stage, and have him marry the otherworldly person. This is a logical conclusion that anyone would reach.

"The young lady and the Prince have been getting along well recently, so I don't think the engagement will be dissolved."

"But the young lady is currently rejecting him. She keeps refusing to visit him, and their engagement was a political arrangement to begin with, so if the country's interests are considered—"

"Hey!"

A voice from somewhere interrupted the two maids, and their conversation stopped.

"Break time is over!"

"I know."

The maids returned to their work. Bertie rested her head against the window.

The dissolution of Bertie's engagement to the Second Prince, and his subsequent engagement and marriage to the otherworldly person, is a logical conclusion, but the situation is not that simple. Because of Minori's possession, some in the marquis family and the royal family believe that Bertie is a healing wizard. After Bertie nearly died six months ago, it was finally discovered that she had been ill, and the marquis family's chief physician, who had insisted it was stress, was fired. The engagement was heading towards dissolution.

However, the reason it has not been dissolved yet is because Minori's power had been healing her illness, and there is a misunderstanding that she might be a wizard. The royal family's initial goal of maintaining ties with the marquis family has been augmented by the desire to secure a healing wizard. This has made the engagement more solid.

However, the healing power belongs to Minori, not the current Bertie. She cannot use it.

The fact that Bertie's healing power is gone will eventually be known, even if she tries to hide it. The royal family's decision not to announce the possibility that she might be a wizard is fortunate. If the truth were known, the engagement would be dissolved immediately.

Honestly, it is full of dissatisfaction. The Second Prince, who has neglected Bertie, will be united with his beloved. This is almost a foregone conclusion. They will be the only ones to be happy.

But that's fine. Bertie is tired. The energy to cling desperately to a fiancé who doesn't care for her has long since disappeared. Now that she is cured, she wants to live freely. She doesn't want to dedicate herself to a political marriage to drive her out of the marquis family for the sake of the family.

If she can skillfully use the weakened state of the marquis family, she can start a new life in a place where no one knows her.

Freedom is within reach. She is grateful for the opportunity brought by Minori. Therefore, she might feel a little celebratory when the two are safely together.

"…?"

Suddenly, she felt a strange sensation and touched her nose, finding blood. It seems she has a nosebleed. Bertie stared in shock at the blood on her finger.