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***
“Saintess Irene! It’s time for some snacks.”
“All right, please bear with me for a little while. I won’t be around for much longer!”
I had just finished yelling at Annette when I looked down at the desk, which was littered with papers and contained a significant amount of writing.
My handwriting was all over the paper, and it looked just like I remembered it.
All of these events were the ones I recalled from the timeline that was included in the original storyline.
‘A lot of things have already gone wrong since the original work, so it won’t be of much help……’
Nevertheless, it seemed that some of the information was helpful.
For example, this.
‘The original female lead will come to the capital soon.’
The heroine, Abigail, is expected to become a very respected saintess in the future. Of course, it would be a great help if she was recruited in advance.
In approximately two months from now, she would make her way to the imperial capital from the countryside of the empire.
‘It was mentioned at one point that she visited Seoul in the autumn; therefore, that is most likely all there is to it.’
No matter how wrong the original story was, it would not have affected Abigael, who had been living quietly and peacefully in the countryside.
‘I will pick up Abigail.’
She will definitely become a great power.
I sighed loudly as I looked down at the piece of paper on which those plans were written.
The decision to save Ian was not as easy as I thought.
After giving it a lot of thought all through the night, I’ve come to the following realisation.
‘I won’t let treason happen.’
It was never my intention to stand in the way of Ian taking his rightful place on the throne.
However, I did not want to pull an army as was done in the original work because I did not want to set up a scenario in which the emperor’s army and his army would have a head-on collision with each other.
‘Because Ian got suffered a lot in the process.’
No matter how skilled Ian is with a sword, it is impossible for him to defeat the star-studded emperor without suffering at least a minor injury.
In fact, he had a history of major injuries in the original work. I remember that it was written in the original story that it was a stroke of good fortune that he did not end up losing his life.
And his wounds were a great boon to Nine. Because of that wound, Nine was able to cast spells on him more easily.
‘No matter how much I read the original, it can’t prevent him from getting hurt in battle.’
So I had to minimize the situation in which the battle took place.
I marked the word “War” with an X and fell silent in my thoughts.
It seemed to me that Rashid could be dethroned without the need for a war of treason.
When Annette called out to me once more from the hallway, I was organising my thoughts and tapping my pen on the desk.
“Saintess Irene! An invitation came from the imperial palace, would you like to check it right away?”
Imperial Palace?
I was only thinking of the emperor, but when I heard that word, my heart skipped a beat.
I tried to sound as if nothing was wrong while simultaneously trying to clear my throat.
“Alright, I’ll look into it. Bring it.”
“Yes!”
Almost immediately after that, Annette arrived, bearing an invitation from the imperial palace.
The invitation, made of glittering gold, looked unusual to anyone.
After I finished reading the invitation, I mumbled something to myself.
“The Founding Ball, ha.”
Oh, does that mean I’ve been invited to the National Foundation Ball? Come to think of it, it’s already that time!”
Annette had sparkling eyes.
“You look excited, Miss Annette.”
“Of course! Is there anyone in the capital who dislikes the Founding Day? This is the best event of the year!”
It wasn’t something I didn’t know either.
The founding festival is the most grandiose event in the Rehart Empire, and all workers are given a week off, during that time, festivals don’t stop on the streets. In the meantime, a luxurious ball was held in the imperial palace.
“Her Majesty will hold the ball herself this time too, right? Of course, I will only hear rumours, but just thinking about it makes my heart flutter. I heard it was amazing last year too!”
“Miss Annette will be coming along with me.”
“… Pardon?”
A ball large enough to be held in the imperial palace could usually be accompanied by one or two attendants. I smiled and spoke to Annette again.
“Let’s go together, to the National Foundation Ball.”
“Saintess Irene…!”
Annette covered her mouth, as if thrilled.
“Really? Really? Could I come with you?”
“Sure. There must be a lot of unknown faces on the mask, but I need at least one more on my side to be reassured.”
“Saintess Irene, you can count on me to always be by your side!”
“Hoo-hoo, thank you. By the way, I think I have to go out tonight, can you help me get ready?”
“Sure! Where are you going?”
“Some baron. He owes me something from the other day, so he’ll have to go pay me back.”
“Owe something…..?”
Annette made a puzzled expression. Instead of answering, I smiled faintly and brought the teacup to my mouth.
***
“Oh, welcome.”
The servant who greeted the carriage glanced at me with a puzzled expression.
“Who should I say is here?”
“My name is Irene Grace.”
“Irene… Heok, yes. Please wait a moment, saintess!”
The servant, who had just taken a quick glance at my bright pink hair, panicked with a look of confidence upon hearing my name.
After a while, the butler of the mansion came out to meet me.
“Welcome, Saintess Irene. Please understand that the preparation was poor due to the sudden visit. Let’s have it here first.”
The butler looked at me as he led me into the drawing room.
“But why did you come to visit……?”
“I’d like to meet Baron Vichen. I’ll tell him the matter myself.”
“My master will be home soon. Please wait a moment!”
As I sat in the drawing room, I watched as the servants brought various flavors of fragrant tea and tea to my table.
As I was savouring them, before long the parlour door opened.
“What an unexpected guest.”
Edward Vichen was looking at me with one eyebrow raised.
It’s the first time since we met on my engagement day, probably.
Of course, it was the same face that smirked at me while he was holding a pendant for me on that day.
Being the head of the dark guild, he pretended to be such a noble aristocrat on the outside. I wondered if the butler really knew the identity of his master.
“Hello, Baron.”
I smiled and greeted him.
“I have to get something done here right away because it’s very important.”
“What kind of business did the saintess have with me?”
Edward cast an eye over to Dame Joan who was standing behind me.
“Then shall we talk in a quiet place? Just the two of us.”
Dame Joan spoke quietly.
“Saintess Irene. If there is anything wrong with you, give me an immediate signal.”
“Of course.”
After Edward gave the signal to leave, everyone else followed suit, including the butler and the other servants. That includes Dame Joan, of course.
“Haa. Then.”
When everyone left, Edward’s disposition took a sharp turn for the worse.
Edward said, pulling down his tightening kraft.
“What brought you here? You are so bold.”
“To fulfill my duty as a slave.”
I said with a faint smile.
“I’ve found some news that I think I must deliver to my masters, but you’re the only contact I can think of.”
“Is this news that must be delivered?”
Edward’s eyes twinkled.
“You must have reeled in a very large fish. Oh, did you finally get around to dying those crystal earrings?”
When the story of the crystal earrings, which were said to be soaked in Ian’s blood, came up, I managed to capture the expression that almost stiffened at the moment.
“No. I haven’t tried it yet. As you know, he’s such a vigilant person.”
“I know very well that he doesn’t look like a human. But aren’t you an idiot who is obsessed with the world of beauty?”
Edward grinned as he scanned my face like an accessory on the stand.
“I never thought he had this taste, neither did we. After all, even if he is the noble commander of the Holy Knights, is it because men are men?”
“It is true that it is news about Ian.”
Edward frowned impatiently.
“What is it? Don’t look around and tell me right away.”
“Commander Ian.”
After taking a deep breath, I continued.
“You’re pretending.”
“… What?”
Edward’s eyes widened. It was as if he had been hit in the back of the head.
“Say it again.”
Edward, who strode up to me, said it like a thunderbolt.
“Come on!”
“Please keep your voice down.”
I said, clenching my teeth together. If Dame Joan had heard a commotion outside and rushed in to investigate, things could have gotten tricky.
“Sir Ian told me that he was planning a rebellion.”
“… It must be information, right?”
Edward whispered, lowering his voice this time.
“You know very well how heavy the words you just said are. Is it true? Is Ian Esteban really aiming for the throne?”
“I’m sure.”
I nodded.
“Because I saw with my own eyes that every night, the elite army was preparing for treason.”
“……Ha.”
Edward let out a chuckle. He murmured frantically as if immersed in his own world.
“Yes…… That’s what I’m saying. Is that so?”
Edward mumbled to himself for a long time, like a raving lunatic. His eyes shone with an unquenchable thirst for wealth. He is scratching his head, trying to figure out how he can turn the information I’ve brought to his attention into a tool that will help him amass wealth and power.
“Tell me more.”
Edward suddenly came close to me, and he grabbed me by the shoulder.
“Do you know anything more?”
“Of course I do.”
Looking at Edward’s shiny eyes right in front of my nose, I said it in a whisper.
“After a week, visit Ian’s personal office. You’ll see something very interesting.”
“I want to hear more!”
“I heard that an important meeting will be held in the office that day. It must be a place where the masterminds behind the treasonous plot get together.”
I said, looking directly at Edward.