Chapter 10: Echoes of a Nightmare.

“Why, why, why…”

『Marquis Marcel’s daughter—you are the one accused of poisoning the Saintess and assaulting her with water magic. Do you have anything to say in your defense?』

『Your Highness, that woman is at fault! She tried to steal you away from me—so of course she deserved it!』

『I have no memory of being stolen. The Saintess and I spoke often for the sake of the kingdom.』

『But… you met with her so many times in the courtyard… you even invited her to the palace!
My friends saw how close the two of you were again and again!』

His Highness’s eyes glinted coldly, his expression completely erased.
It was as though he were openly declaring his disappointment—how utterly let down he felt.

『And those “friends” of yours… would they be the ones who came to me with reports and evidence of all the harm you inflicted on the Saintess?』

『Wha—such a thing—!』

『Regrettably, our engagement is hereby dissolved.
This decision has the approval of His Majesty the King and your own parents.』

He didn’t even glance my way—as though I weren’t worth the effort of meeting eyes.
With swift, decisive steps he walked away, leaving my entire body frozen in icy dread.

No—wait! Don’t go!

『Your Highness! Your Highness—please wait!』

♢

『What is the meaning of this?! What did you tell His Highness?!』

『Fufu, we simply told him the truth when he asked.』
『Things have changed now. There’s no longer any need for us to stay by your side.』
『In the first place, you were only chosen as fiancée because of your mana.
Since this is the last time… we’ll tell you.
Everyone found you a nuisance.』

Who are these women—giggling and twisting their faces into ugly sneers?

The very same ones who used to shower me with convenient flattery and praise.
Now their eyes gleam with malice, their mouths warp grotesquely, their entire faces seeming stained pitch black.

What… what have I been looking at all this time?

The venomous words pouring from their mouths—mocking me, scorning me—never cease.

I don’t know these people.

And yet…

I used to speak of others in exactly the same condescending way.

So… did I look just as hideous back then?

♢

『Rachel—what have you done?』

『Father, I… I…』

『What exactly did you see when you looked at His Highness?! Harming the Saintess—do you have any idea what that means for the kingdom?!』

『No, I… I didn’t…』

『Tomorrow you will be sent to the convent on our estate.
There, you will reflect deeply on your actions.』

Father, his face haggard, covered it with both hands.
Mother sat powerlessly on the sofa, eyes swollen from crying, saying nothing at all.

♢

The carriage rocks slowly, clattering along.

『Miss… Sara is so happy to have met you.』

『Sara… I’ve gotten everything wrong, haven’t I?』

『You were always a kind person at heart, Miss.
Perhaps you were simply led astray by the wrong influences.』

『No… I was the one who chose that path.』

『The Saintess said even to me—to someone who never apologized—that everyone makes mistakes.』

『As expected of the Saintess—so full of compassion.』

『…Once I’m at the convent… maybe I can get a little closer to that kind of light.
To a woman who carries such beautiful radiance.』

『Of course you can.』

『Sara, you’re always so sweet.
I know… I could never become like her.』

───Thud!

A horse’s high-pitched whinny, the coachman’s scream, the carriage lurching violently.

『Miss—what’s happening?!』

Sara and I clung to each other, trembling—
when the carriage door was wrenched open with brutal force.
What met my eyes was the dull gleam of silver.

♢

“…Miss! Miss! Miss!”

Sara’s voice pulls my consciousness back to the surface.

Before me is not the terrified Sara who held me so tightly in the dream—
but the present Sara, peering anxiously into my face.

“Miss… you were having quite a nightmare.”

“I’m fine. Just… a bad dream. Yes, a very bad dream.”

“I see. You’re sweating quite a bit. I’ll bring a cloth to wipe you down.”

Sara smiles reassuringly, bright and relieved, then turns to leave the room.

“Sara… thank you.”

“Yes, Miss?”

She lets out a soft, delighted “fufu” laugh.
These days, she no longer looks surprised when I thank her—she simply smiles happily.

On the bedside table lies a letter from His Highness.
It must have arrived today.

I sit up, open it, and find words of concern for my health—
along with the line:

《Regarding what we discussed the other day, I will bring a chef to introduce to the Marquis household.》

Ah… the conversation about my lack of appetite?
And from that he decided to bring a chef?

As always, I have no idea what goes through His Highness’s mind.
But these exchanges—things that never happened in the past—make that nightmare feel distant, and for that I’m a little grateful.

Right. Time to shake off the mood and move forward.