Chapter 9

Minori was Berteau. It was only natural that they couldn't understand such a sudden statement, and even if they understood the words, it was only natural that they couldn't believe it. Their confusion would only grow larger.

The one who quickly recovered from the shock of Berteau's statement and demanded an explanation was, as expected, the oldest in the room, Leandre.

"What are you talking about?"

A faint frown appeared between Leandre's eyebrows.

"During the half year I was asleep, she possessed my body. The memory loss was a lie; the person inside was someone else from the beginning."

"Possessed?"

"Yes. The principle of transferring from another world is not yet understood, so it's just a guess, but perhaps her soul came here first due to some influence. It might have sought a vessel and happened to enter my body, which was on the verge of death."

After reading books about magic and people from other worlds, Berteau had considered various possibilities and arrived at this conclusion. When combined with the previous theory that Berteau's consciousness had been restored and Minori's soul had been expelled, it seemed to make sense, and it might even be correct.

"So, the healing power is hers, not mine. I am not a magician."

When Berteau said this, Tristan snorted after a moment.

"Are you saying that the person from another world was Berteau? That's impossible."

"Yeah. In ancient times, when magic was abundant, it wouldn't be strange if there were spells to take over someone's body, but..."

Tristan and Kazimierz expressed their disbelief, but their expressions betrayed their deep disturbance. Moreover, Minori was clearly hurt by the negative connotation of "taking over," but Kazimierz didn't seem to notice.

"If it hadn't happened to me, I would have dismissed it as an absurd story at first."

Perhaps, a faint hope lingered in their hearts, and it was gradually growing.

"I am not asking whether you believe me or not; I am simply stating my view on the facts and their causes."

The fact that Minori had possessed Berteau was unchangeable, no matter how much they denied it. To drive the point home, Berteau turned to Ustashe.

"Your Highness, didn't you have a sense of déjà vu from her words and actions? Manners and speech don't change so easily."

"That's... true."

"Did she mention something that a person from another world who had just transferred to this country wouldn't know, such as your food preferences? Or did she slip and say something about the House of Raspeade? Did she make any such remarks?"

Ustashe's eyes widened, and he slowly turned to face Minori. When their gazes met, Minori's shoulders trembled.

"Are you 'Berteau'?"

Minori neither confirmed nor denied this, but turned away with a complex expression. Everyone understood what her reaction implied. The situation was like a lover's emotional reunion, though they had never actually dated. Minori had been running away from Ustashe's feelings, and Ustashe, aware of his previous harsh attitude, seemed reluctant to push.

Berteau had these memories. They were of two people who had realized they were attracted to each other but never exchanged decisive words.

Minori, who had transferred from another world, and Berteau, who had lost her memory, were the same person. There was no doubt that there were overlapping aspects in their relationship. The attraction was there.

That's why Ustashe had reacted so strongly. When pointed out that he had been with Minori, he had desperately defended himself, likely due to a sense of guilt for caring about Minori.

It had been about three weeks since Berteau regained consciousness, and a little over two weeks since Minori appeared. It was easy to imagine how Ustashe, who could no longer meet his fiancée, had felt. During the anxiety and fear of being disliked by his fiancée, he might have started to see his beloved fiancée in a woman he had only recently met, and struggled with the guilt of being such a despicable man.

"---Haha, hahaha."

Berteau's laughter cut through the strange atmosphere. She laughed heartily, elegantly, and without restraint, ignoring the attention.

"Because the person who gave birth to me died, I was a sinner from the moment I was born. I was rejected, an unwanted existence. But... when the person inside changed, it was so easily accepted. Was it because it was 'me' that it wasn't accepted?"

"Berteau..."

"Seventeen years, seventeen years. She overturned everything in just half a year. No, it was only two months before she was accepted. I remember it clearly. I have the memories."

It was disgusting, so disgusting. The memories of others, their changes, everything was unbearable.

"You, Your Highness, didn't even have a proper conversation with me, but you showed interest in her and even fell in love. Even though you recognized her as me."

Focusing on Minori, Berteau laughed again and continued in a mutter.

"I was really unnecessary, wasn't I?"

Ustashe's face was filled with regret. Leandre was still hard to read, but the others were the same. This only made Berteau feel even more miserable.

"Berteau... Miss Berteau, you..."

"I'm glad, Your Highness."

Ustashe was trying to say something, but Berteau, who had no intention of listening further, smiled beautifully.

Interrupting a royal's words was an act of disrespect that would normally be unacceptable, but she didn't care anymore.

Berteau had always been treated lightly. While she was respected minimally as a fiancée in public, she had never been treated with respect in private. If she discarded the formalities, it should be acceptable. After all, their relationship was a political engagement that had to be accepted, however reluctantly.

"You loved her, not me. Your feelings were always directed towards her, not me. Are you relieved to know that you are not a fickle man? Please quickly dissolve our engagement and marry her or do as you please."

Why had she clung to such a man?

On that day—when their engagement was decided and they met for the first time—she should have given up immediately. If she had given up on that day when her hopes were shattered, she could have avoided so much pain. If she had faced and acknowledged that this man was no different from the Raspeade people, she could have avoided such deep disappointment and despair.

Berteau Raspeade was never a princess in the spotlight. She was just a nuisance.

There was no fairy-tale prince for Berteau.