Chapter 3: Wherein I am Held Captive

My Next Life as a Villainess All Routes Lead to Doom! — LNCrawler · All chapters

An unknown, unfamiliar ceiling greeted me as I opened my eyes. I got up slowly, inspecting my surroundings. I was in a room about the size of the one in my dormitory. The furnishings seemed expensive.

Eh...? Where’s this again?

Hmm... think, Katarina. If I recall... I had just given a great performance as a villainess, received huge amounts of praise from everyone... got really excited about that and started posing before the mirror in the changing room... and then someone came by and told me it was time for the ball. Eh? Then what happened after that?

Come to think of it... wasn’t it nighttime? But rays of sunlight were streaming in from outside the window right now. Question after question flooded my mind — but then a knock came at the door, and a woman appeared before me.

She had brown hair and blue eyes, and had a sober air about her. I propped myself up on the bed, looking at her.

“Ah... I see you have awoken,” she said with a tinge of relief.

“Ah... yes. I have.” I had responded without thinking, but... who was this person again? She wasn’t anyone I remembered seeing, but in my case, there was a possibility that I could have met them before and forgotten all about them.

Usually, Jeord or Keith, or anyone who was with me would help by providing me with some information. But of course, they weren’t here. I... suppose I have no choice but to ask her.

“...Um. Who... Who are you again?”

“Do excuse me. I apologize for not introducing myself. My name is Lana.”

“Miss... Lana?” Hmm... I feel like this is the first time I’ve met with this person. That’s good! That I didn’t forget about someone again, I mean.

“Please... do call me Lana. I will be taking care of your needs from today onwards, Lady Katarina.”

Ah. The way she talks... is Miss Lana a maid? Come to think of it... she’s wearing a complete maid uniform. Well then...

“Um... but I have a personal maid of my own, you see. She’s been with me ever since I was a child. Her name is Anne...?” I said, all the while wondering where Anne was.

Under normal circumstances, Anne would wake me and, as if she were a ninja or warrior of some kind, would quickly straighten and comb out my bed-head, preparing me for the day.

“I do apologize. That maid is... currently not here. Here, I will be taking care of all your needs.”

“...Is that so...?” I see... so Ann isn’t here with me. That feels a little lonely... Hmm... come to think of it. “Um... where is this, exactly?”

Perhaps it was a little late for me to be asking this question, but I really didn’t know where I was. To begin with... how long had I been here?

“I apologize. I am afraid I do not have the privilege of providing you with the answer to your question...” Lana said, seemingly troubled by my question.

“Huh? You... can’t answer me? What does that mean...?” I let out a strange sound in spite of myself at her unexpected answer.

Lana simply continued to look troubled at this. “If I may, Lady Katarina, perhaps you will find the answers you seek with a little more time...” Immediately after she offered her answer, another knock came from the direction of the door, and two more people appeared.

One of them was a bespectacled youth. His hair had tinges of blue to it, as did his eyes. He was quite dashing. Unlike Jeord, who looked like a traditional, fairy-tale prince, this youth was different. He oozed charisma, and seemed a bit like a playboy — at least, that was how he looked.

This playboy-like youth was wearing something that looked familiar. In the Claes manor, the only person who wore anything quite like it was an older man in our service... ah! It was a butler’s uniform.

Honestly speaking, our butler back at the Claes manor also wore respectably fancy clothes as well. I secretly referred to him as “Sebastian” in my heart. That wasn’t his name, of course. This... bespectacled butler... ugh. My dear Sebastian... you have lost...

Behind this man that our dear Sebastian had unfortunately lost to in my internal “Perfect Butler Contest” was a much smaller figure who must have been standing behind him. I had been so entranced by the butler’s terribly handsome aura and had hardly noticed her at first.

I shifted my eyes to the figure. She was petite, with brown hair and large brown eyes. She looked kind of like a small, vulnerable animal. Just looking at her made you want to protect her.

I was quite forgetful and very bad with names, but even I remembered who this person was. After all, we had just met at the school festival! It was at the venue where they were showcasing the magical talents of the academy’s students. She was Prince Ian’s fiancée — Selena Berg. Why is she here...? Seriously, where is this place?

“I see you have awoken safely... Most reassuring.” Getting increasingly confused at Selena’s sudden appearance, I could only stare blankly at her face. I noticed that she had an expression of relief, much like Lana had just now. And then...

“Lady Katarina... I sincerely apologize for having to employ such uncouth means. However... as soon as the relevant affairs are settled, you will be allowed to go, unharmed... Please, do stay here until then,” Selena said, bowing her head deeply.

Eh? Uncouth means? What? Why am I in such a strange, unknown place...? I desperately sifted through my memories.

That student who offered to guide me to the ball... she ended up taking a wrong turn and bringing me somewhere else. And then...? And then someone grabbed me by the arm... and suddenly shoved a cloth in my face. Hmm.

Eh? Why does this feel like the plot of a manga I read in my previous life? Come to think of it, that particular development in that one manga I read was when the main character was...

“...Kidnapped...?” I said my thoughts aloud without thinking.

Selena almost jumped back like a startled prey animal, and with an increasingly apologetic expression, bowed her head once more. “I truly... truly apologize... I promise, absolutely, that no harm would ever come to you...”

“!” Really?! I, Katarina Claes, have really been kidnapped?! I’d thought that kidnapping and things like that only happened in manga... but now it was really happening! I was nothing more than a normal, unremarkable daughter of a salaryman back then. Now, however... I was the daughter of Duke Claes. The risk of being kidnapped was high.

But now that the events of Fortune Lover were over, and I had successfully dodged all the Catastrophic Bad Ends, the possibility of being kidnapped hadn’t even remotely cross my mind. I had been celebrating ever since I had escaped all those bad endings, and had been pretty careless ever since. I really let my guard down...

Ahh, looking back on it, I should have listened to Keith’s warnings a little more attentively. Anyway... just how much gold would have to be provided in exchange for my safety? I am, after all, the daughter of a duke. I suppose the ransom would be pretty high...

My father, who doted on me immensely, would certainly be willing to pay any amount of coin on short notice. What about Mother, though? If the ransom were too high... “I suppose there’s nothing we can do. We do still have Keith with us, after all... perhaps we should just give up on that foolish daughter of ours.”

That would be horrible! What if she said something like that? I couldn’t bear it! Such a cold thing for a mother to say. No, Mother! You can’t possibly leave me like this! I promise I won’t play catch with the servants indoors anymore! I promise I won’t break any more of your favorite vases, so please! I mentally pleaded with my mother. But anyway! I have to find out just how much ransom they want for me!

“...Um. Well then... how much would the ransom be...?” Please, please let it be a sum that Mother would be willing to pay!

Selena, however, simply looked even more troubled at my words. “Ran... som?”

“Yes. The amount of gold you want in exchange for my safety. How much would it be...?”

“...Ah, no. We do not have any intentions of asking for a... sum of gold,” Selena replied, seemingly panicked.

“Eh? It’s not gold you were after? Then why did you kidnap me?” Not... gold? Then whatever for? Unlike the beautiful and lovable Maria, I had the face of a villainess, my magical aptitude and capabilities were low, and I wasn’t all that smart. I had assumed that all they would want from me would be the gold of the Claes family. Well, I supposed I did have enough agricultural knowledge to become a farmhand of some kind, but would these people kidnap me just for that?

“...That is...” Selena seemed to hesitate momentarily at my question. Just as she was about to answer—

“Lady Selena. You have already ascertained Lady Katarina’s safety, have you not? Please, let us return to your quarters.”

The dashing butler, who had been silent up until now, suddenly started talking as if panicked at what Selena was about to say. He placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Rufus... yes. Yes, let’s. Well then, Lady Katarina... I shall return to my quarters...”

It would seem like the playboy-esque, seductive butler was called Rufus. Look at him, escorting Selena like that... this is bad. I can smell the pheromones in the air.

H-Hey! I still have things I want to ask! After all, it would feel pretty terrible to just sit here, not being able to make heads or tails of the situation. “Eh...? P-Please wait...” I tried calling out to her, but all Selena did was turn around with that same worried expression, before addressing somebody else altogether.

“I do apologize... Lana, please take care of her. Lady Katarina... if you are wanting for anything, anything at all... please inform Lana of your needs. We will aim to provide for you as best as we can.”

With that, Selena disappeared, escorted away from the room by Rufus the butler. I turned my gaze at Lana, who was still in the room, and all she did was silently shake her head.

And so it came to be that I, Katarina Claes, knowing nothing about my current situation, ended up spending a strange, incomprehensible time in an equally strange and foreign room.

★★★★★★★★★

I, Jeord Stuart, would like to think of myself as a fairly capable individual. I am able to perform most tasks with ease, and I also excel at reading the expressions of others. As such, I am able to go about most affairs without difficulty.

One of the few things I was unable to easily deal with... would be my fiancée, Katarina Claes. She first piqued my interest when we were both eight years old. Now, eight years later, I still found myself surprised by the intensity of my feelings for her. And yet, Katarina simply would not fall into my grasp. If anything, I could feel her slowly slipping further and further away, while I myself was only increasingly drawn to her the more time we spent together.

Today was no exception. I had spent eight years with her, and had thought myself to be well-acclimatized to her various tendencies and habits. I had thought that I could no longer be surprised in any way or form. The emergence of a Katarina I had never seen before on stage lit a fire in my heart. I fell for her all over again, in a whole different way.

Katarina Claes. Just how much of my heart must you take? Are you insatiable?

My increasing attraction to her felt one-sided at best. Words that would cause any other noble lady to blush hardly had any effect on Katarina. She would just stand there, unfazed, her cheeks never changing in hue. In truth, this was vexing.

This was why I had wanted to hold her close, at the very least. I wanted to feel Katarina more closely than usual at the ball. I longed to experience the softness of her skin and yet, this dream of mine was soon shattered.

Katarina, of all people, had suddenly vanished. To make things worse, her location remained unknown as the days dragged on.

In the beginning, I had simply assumed that she had become lost somewhere in the darkened academy grounds. After all, it was no secret that she was restless, and was prone to wandering. However, it became apparent after some time that this was not the case.

To begin with... it seemed like no one had seen Katarina after she had entered the waiting room shortly after the production ended. How was that possible? In addition, there were many students who claimed to have only vague memories of that specific span of time.

I could feel dread spreading its tendrils deep into my mind as I remembered the events of last year. A forbidden, taboo magic — the Dark Arts — had been used on Katarina, and she could have very well lost her life.

However, that incident had already ended. The perpetrator, Raphael, had lost his dark powers. Then... then! What was it this time? What could it be? Why Katarina, why was it always her...? My feeling of anticipation vanished almost immediately, replaced by irritation and fear. We searched as hard as we could, but there were no developments. I could feel the frustration build in my mind, and then—

“...Excuse me, Prince Jeord... a letter. For you,” one of my servants said, notably keeping their distance and sounding unusually reverent. I supposed even the servants were affected by how different I was from my usual self. Even I had noticed this, of course, but for some reason, I just could not bring myself to smile like I always did.

Who could it be, sending letters at this time? For the sake of my terrified servant, I made a conscious effort to soften my agitated expression. “...Who is it from?” I inquired.

The servant answered with a troubled expression. “Yes, Prince Jeord... there appears to be... no declared sender.”

“...You mean to say that the letter was sent anonymously?” It was common sense to include one’s name on the missive, especially if it was being sent to royalty. What is this all about? Is it some foolish noble who wishes to mock me? Or perhaps just rattle off a supposedly hurtful list of insults? As those questions flooded my mind, I calmly retrieved the letter from my servant.

“I have not read the letter, Prince Jeord, but we have confirmed that there were no dangerous substances in the documentation...”

I accepted my capable servant’s word and opened it, withdrawing a plain letter of sorts. What was written on the parchment, however, was... unimaginable.

“What... is this?”

I, Jeord Stuart, found myself at a loss for words.

★★★★★★★★★

So apparently I had been kidnapped, brought to some unknown place, and on top of that, the kidnapper’s goal wasn’t a ransom? I’m so confused! How am I supposed to handle a situation like this?

However... when I was hungry, snacks would be brought to me. When I was bored and wished to read, they provided books, too. If I complained that my dresses were too stuffy or tight, I was brought some comfortable, relatively loose-fitting indoor clothing. If I were at the academy, I’d be taking lessons and working hard at practical sessions. But now, while those events were happening, I was instead able to roll around and relax to my heart’s content in this room.

If it were Claes manor, Mother would surely scold me while squinting those angled eyes of hers. “How long do you intend to laze about, Katarina? You should be learning more about social etiquette and improving your manners!” she’d say.

But here, no one would reproach me like that. I was free to enjoy all the books I could read, lie around in bed, and eat all the snacks I wanted. It had only been a little over half a day since I’d ended up in this strange place, but I, Katarina Claes, had already found myself settling into a position of utmost comfort.

Lana seemed to find this strange. She stared at me with a doubtful expression. “Perhaps it would be strange, coming from someone in my position, Lady Katarina... but, if I may... are you not worried in the least?”

“Worried?”

“Well, yes... For instance, ‘Where is this place?’ ‘Why was I taken?’ All these remain unknowns...”

“!” Th-That’s right! I’ve been... kidnapped! I had been enjoying myself a little too much, to the point where I had forgotten all about this fact. “R-Right... kidnapped...” I suddenly recalled my predicament at Lana’s words, sputtering out a disjointed response as I did so.

“...Had you perhaps forgotten, Lady Katarina...?” Lana’s blue eyes opened wide with shock. She seemed severely taken aback, actually... completely dumbstruck.

“I... I apologize.”

At my apology, Lana looked firmly downwards, not saying a word. Perhaps she was thinking about what a relaxed and silly fool of a girl I was. But like... really. I was in such a comfortable space, I really had no choice in the matter, you see.

From the corner of my eye, I could see Lana’s shoulders shivering — violently, at that. Eh?! W-what’s wrong? Is she ill? “L-Lana? What’s wrong? Are you okay?” I asked, worried.

“...N-No. No, it is nothing, Lady Katarina. Please do excuse me,” she said, her voice somewhat unsteady.

“Are you... really all right?”

“Yes. Please do not worry,” Lana replied, her voice now more normal than it had been. She then looked up, turning to face me. “You really are as the rumors say, Lady Katarina...” Her expression was now full of smiles.

“Rumors?” I wondered what these rumors were.

Lana, however, simply laughed softly, bewitchingly to herself, deflecting my question. That laughter... that smile. It was almost as if I had seen it somewhere before... but I was probably just overthinking things. After all, this was the first time I had met her.

Finally recalling my predicament, I attempted to obtain some information from Lana, but she was unable to answer, as expected. She was a maid, after all — if she’d been prohibited from speaking about certain things by her masters, then it wouldn’t be easy to get information from her. Then again... even if I told Anne to keep quiet about certain things, she never did. Like when I sneakily took snacks from the kitchen, or when I broke vases and statues while romping around, and all that. These incidents were swiftly reported to Mother as soon as they happened.

And so, I continued living in that small room, relaxing and enjoying myself as much as I wanted. I also spoke a great deal with Lana, who remained with me this whole time. I told her about the fields I’d tilled and the crops I’d planted, and the trees I’d climbed and fish I’d caught. She seemed entranced by my stories. She requested more tales with sparkling eyes, and we soon became steadfast friends.

This is bad... I could really, really get used to this new life of mine.

Lana brought me breakfast, and I convinced her to stay and eat with me by complaining that eating alone was boring. Tonight’s dinner, however, was a different affair altogether.

I was taken to a ridiculously long table where an elaborate spread of cutlery was laid out. I assumed that dinner would be served on this absurd table. A servant in the room indicated a spot that had been prepared for me, and I was soon seated there. There was another set of cutlery across from me, which made it seem like there would be another person joining me at the table.

Just as I became aware of this, Selena walked into the room, closely followed by that playboy butler. Upon seeing that I had sat myself obediently in my assigned chair, she called out to me. “Lady Katarina, are you feeling all right...?”

“Ah, yes. Sure! Thanks to your hospitality.” It was a casual and even somewhat happy response — as if I had forgotten about my kidnapping all over again.

Selena seemed confused at my tone and mannerisms. “I sincerely apologize... I was unable to make the appropriate preparations for breakfast, and I feel poorly for you, having breakfast in that tiny room...” She bowed her head deeply.

It was worth noting that the nobles of this kingdom mostly had their meals in rooms like this dining room unless they were sick, bedridden or ill. I supposed that was why Selena said what she did... but that room was not tiny to me by any means, and I didn’t really need a huge variety of food for breakfast. In fact, I had a tendency to attempt to eat everything that was presented to me, and I would get stomach aches due to this habit. The breakfast this morning had been just the right amount of food, and I had eaten while having a lively discussion with Lana, so there was no need for Selena to apologize.

“Oh, no, please don’t worry. I am absolutely fine!” I answered. I really was fine.

“...I sincerely apologize for these trying circumstances...” Selena, however, interpreted my declaration very differently. She bowed her head with a sorrowful expression, staring downward at her hands. Looking at her made me feel guilty!

On the surface, Selena looked like a sheltered, pampered noble lady... but she was surely a delicate and gentle person. At this point, I simply wanted to announce that, “Oh, but I’m having quite a comfortable time indeed!” but surely this would be misconstrued as yet another gesture of forced politeness.

Apparently Selena thinks I’m a delicate noble lady myself! But... no. Of course I’m nothing like that. Not delicate, for sure, though maybe a little sheltered. Though hey, I could be delicate at times if I tried. For example, I’d be upset if something I was planning to eat was taken by someone else first. Or when my crops, ripe for harvest, ended up eaten by birds and other pests, my delicate heart would suffer.

But that was not the case now. After all, I could eat everything I wanted, read whatever I felt like, roll around in bed all day and not have anyone yell at me... If this wasn’t comfort, what was? In fact, I found myself wanting to live my elegant, fulfilling life in this place a little while longer.

Selena didn’t understand my perspective at all. Instead, she only continued to apologize, constantly going out of her way to show her consideration. I could be eating the breakfast brought to my room eagerly, and she would say, “It’s quite all right, Lady Katarina... you do not have to force yourself to eat it,” all the while with a worried look. But of course, I was eating my breakfast because I wanted to...

If anything, I now felt worried for Selena, who didn’t seem very keen on eating anything at all. In fact, I started to wonder... Selena had been worried about me all this time, but what if she herself had been kidnapped too? She didn’t look very healthy at all. Even so, she continued asking if there was anything I needed, if there was anything I wanted, time and time again. I already had more than enough of everything, really. I was given anything I could want.

Selena’s consideration was really something else. In fact, I could say that her pampering of me had surpassed any other experience I’d had for the past sixteen years or so. Looking at Selena, I couldn’t help but feel that this entire kidnapping affair couldn’t possibly be something she’d intended to do. I had only spent a little bit of time with her, and yet I already knew that much.

With my meal finally over, I mentally patted myself on the back, feeling very full indeed. It was then that my eyes met with Lana’s. Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Th-This! This look is...! The look of exasperation at a foolish girl who’s forgotten she’s been kidnapped! But no! I haven’t forgotten! I had only slightly, slightly relaxed due to my newfound comfort. And so...

“Um... Lady Selena? May I know why I was brought here? You mentioned before that I would be released as soon as certain things were settled. What exactly are these... things?” I questioned Selena once again, with the very first question I had asked her in the beginning. See? I haven’t forgotten that I’ve been kidnapped at all! I was just happily enjoying some vacation time, and that’s all there is to it!

At my question, Selena, who had only looked mildly ill before, now seemed very, very sick indeed. Ugh... I apologize, Selena. Really, I do.

“Yes... I suppose you would be most uncomfortable being left in the dark, Lady Katarina... Maybe this has even started to affect your quality of sleep...”

Well, no... I had been treated very well. I wasn’t fearful or worried at all, and I was very confident in being able to fall asleep soundly at night. Even so, I held my peace, allowing Selena to speak.

“In truth, Lady Katarina... you have been brought here because...”

As soon as Selena had started to speak, that playboy butler of hers, that Rufus, quickly interrupted her. “Lady Selena... you have already finished your meal. Perhaps you should return to your chambers? You must be tired too, Lady Katarina... it would be best for you to get some sleep,” Rufus said, placing a single hand on Selena’s shoulder.

“...I see... yes. Well then, Lady Katarina... goodnight.” With that, Selena rose from her seat, looking like an emotionless doll, before turning and leaving the room altogether.

It was like she had become a different person than the Selena I had been speaking to earlier. For some reason, I felt a slight tingle... an unpleasant shiver down my spine.

In the end, I didn’t find out where or why I was being held captive — and soon, it became nighttime. Although Selena was worried about me being unable to sleep, there were no such issues at all. After dinner, I chatted happily with Lana, had some delicious tea while I was at it, and soon was off to the land of slumber. In fact, I had already, most elegantly, slipped into a deep sleep, when...

“Lady Katarina, please wake up.”

“No... I don’t want... to. Sleepy. Let me sleep a bit more... Anne.”

“I regret to inform you, Lady Katarina, that I am not Anne, but Lana.”

“Nn... Lana?” Eh? It isn’t Anne? Who’s Lana again?

Finally opening my eyes, I was greeted with an unfamiliar ceiling — this was not the dormitory room I was used to. Eh? Where am I again? With my memories muddled, I got up slowly, finally remembering the events of the day before. That’s right... I’d been kidnapped and brought to this comfortable room.

The room was dark, only illuminated dimly by the faint glow of the bedside lamp. Eh...? It still isn’t quite morning yet.

“You have a guest, Lady Katarina.”

“Eh...? Guest?” Who could it be, at this time of the night? I sleepily got up from bed, had Lana do my hair and straighten my nightgown — all while I was half asleep, mind you — before finally sitting down in a chair. With that, the door quietly opened, and standing in the frame was a small, familiar silhouette.

“...Selena?” The person illuminated by my lamp was Selena Berg. I couldn’t help but liken her to some sort of small animal, lovable as she was. But... what is it, at this time? Ugh... really... I’m still incredibly sleepy. I rubbed my eyes groggily.

“Yes... I do apologize for visiting you at this hour, Lady Katarina... However, I could not help but be worried that you would be filled with fear, and hence unable to sleep...”

Actually, it was Selena who seemed like she hadn’t slept. She looked visibly more haggard than she had earlier. I, on the other hand, had a most delicious dinner, and fell asleep most comfortably soon after. I would assume this showed on my face. If anything, any onlooker would instantly be more concerned about Selena instead.

“...At the dinner table just now... for some reason, I felt this strong feeling, Lady Katarina. That I should not tell you something. But... but. I still feel that it is important to tell you,” Selena said, something obviously weighing on her mind. To think that she had been worried for me all this time as I comfortably laid down and fell asleep... Now I felt apologetic as well.

“Hmm... That would be the reason I was brought to this place, right? So, as I thought... you do know of the reason, Lady Selena.”

“Yes... after all, this entire kidnapping was planned by me...”

“?!” Eh?! Lady Selena is the culprit? I’d thought, with all her guilty mannerisms and expressions, that she was being used by someone, or maybe even being threatened... but! But! It turns out she was the mastermind... My jaw hung loosely as I gaped, much like a goldfish, in suspended surprise.

As if repenting, Selena began her exposition. “I... I wanted to kidnap you, Lady Katarina... and use your safety as a bargaining chip. All so that Prince Jeord would abandon his claim to the throne...”

“...Jeord? To make him give up on the throne?” Honestly speaking, that was very much a plausible reason.

“Yes... So that Prince Ian may take the throne instead.” Up until now, Selena’s eyes had been dark, even slightly clouded, but now I saw the clear shine of resolve in them.

And then she continued, and the secrets behind this kidnapping began to unravel...

There were a lot of complicated bits here and there, but I understood most of it. To summarize, Jeord had been gaining in political strength recently, and a certain faction of nobles felt that the throne should go to him instead.

Currently, the struggle was between Jeffery, oldest of the four princes, and Ian, the second oldest prince. Competition would only increase in intensity should Jeord throw his hat into the ring as well. This was why she wanted Jeord to give up on his claim to the throne before any of this could come to pass.

Why then, wasn’t this done to Ian’s biggest rival, Jeffery? Why Jeord? I did wonder that for a while, but in any case...

“Well... even in exchange for my safety, I doubt that Prince Jeord would simply give up his claim to the throne.” While it was true that I had been friends with Jeord for almost nine years, and we got along well, throwing aside one’s claim to a royal throne wasn’t something to be taken lightly.

Would Jeord even do such a thing? If I were his lover or wife, perhaps that would make a modicum of sense, but I was nothing more than his fiancée, and my job was simply to act as a deterrent. I felt that Jeord would hardly go so far for someone like me.

“You jest, Lady Katarina... Prince Jeord’s love for you is well known throughout the land. He would do anything — anything at all for you, Lady Katarina...” Selena said passionately.

Alas... that is nothing more than a lie, a rumor! All for the sake of preventing annoying noble ladies from approaching that black-hearted, sadist prince. Or so I thought.

“I am... most envious, Lady Katarina... so envious... that he loves you so, so much...” Selena said, her cheeks softly illuminated by the lamplight. I felt like I shouldn’t crush her dreams, so I kept silent on the matter.

★★★★★★★★★

Prince Jeord, Prince Alan, Master Keith, Master Nicol, Lady Mary, Lady Sophia, and Lady Maria... along with other members of the student council, were all gathered in a certain room in this dormitory. However, one figure who should have been in this room was missing. I, Anne Shelly, was missing my mistress, Lady Katarina Claes.

About half a day had passed since the end of the school festival... since the young miss had disappeared. It was then that an anonymous letter had arrived at Prince Jeord’s doorstep... Written within were these simple words: “If you wish for the safe return of Katarina Claes, publicly renounce your claim to the crown at once.” Yes... Lady Katarina was still missing, her whereabouts unknown. She had been kidnapped.

Upon receiving the letter, Prince Jeord had called for everyone and explained the situation. Seemingly having noticed my ever-growing worry for the young miss, he was considerate enough to allow me to stay for this meeting.

As soon as Prince Jeord had finished his explanation, the expressions of all who were present, which were already clouded before, now became even more ominous. I suspected that my expression, too, was one of horror and shock.

A heavy silence filled the room as the explanation ended. Not a single word was spoken for quite some time... and then.

“Well? What do you intend to do, Prince Jeord?” Master Keith said, staring pointedly at the prince.

“If this is all I have to do to bring Katarina back safely... I’ll renounce it. Crown, throne and all. However... I cannot do this immediately. It is a process, and time is required. If, during this time, anything happens...” Prince Jeord’s usual smile was nowhere to be seen. His expression was grave — and almost as severe as Master Nicol’s.

“...Even so, Jeord. Should you comply, we have no guarantees of Katarina’s safety. Consider the fact that she may be... silenced by the perpetrator, for having seen their face.” Master Nicol’s words were heavy.

“No! No! That cannot be! To take her suddenly and kill her just because she saw who they were, it would be so senseless!” Lady Sophia cried, although her voice was more akin to a wail of sorrow. Although I did not have the words, I screamed silently in my heart along with her.

“It’s someone capable of kidnapping, yeah? There’s no sense with these types. It’s very possible, what Nicol’s saying. We don’t have any guarantee that this will all end just because Jeord does what they want. If anything, more than starting some long-winded preparation to renounce the throne... we should be searching for where these people are.”

“Oh, you do have good ideas sometimes, Prince Alan.”

“...The ‘sometimes’ is unnecessary, Mary.”

“Heheh. Do excuse me. So... in this case, all we have to do is utterly crush and destroy the place these unsavory types are hiding at, yes?” Lady Mary said, a somewhat ominous smile crossing her features.

Master Keith, however, raised a slight protest. “Well, no... searching haphazardly for these places would not be efficient. To begin with, it would take too much time...”

“U-Um...! Wasn’t there a possibility of Dark Magic being involved in this incident in some way...?” Lady Maria said, her voice raising in desperation.

Yes... It would appear that all the students who should have seen Lady Katarina before her disappearance at the festival had all reported inexplicable gaps in their memory. This was very similar to the incident that occurred last year. Dark Magic was a forbidden power that was hidden from the masses by the royal family. The Dark Arts that could control and manipulate the hearts of man...

The only reason why those gathered here knew of it at all was because of what had happened last year. A certain... incident had occurred. During the events of that incident, a Dark spell was cast on Lady Katarina, and for a time, she fell into a deep, unwaking slumber. Everyone involved was intensely worried, but everything was eventually resolved peacefully, in no small part due to Lady Katarina’s contributions.

Over the course of that incident, the secret of Dark Magic was revealed to everyone here, Lady Katarina, and me, on the account that I had been serving Lady Katarina all these years. The existence of a hidden magic... the Dark Arts.

Yet, the Dark Magic incident of the previous year had been resolved. The culprit, too, now got along well with everyone in this room. As such, given that the Dark Arts were involved in this incident once more, we had no choice to think that another Wielder of Darkness was responsible.

“If... the Dark Arts had really been used. I may be able to detect it... should I see any suspicious individuals,” Lady Maria said. Being one of the few Wielders of Light in the kingdom, she was able to see what most could not — she was apparently capable of perceiving Dark Magic itself. As she said, perhaps she would be able to find the culprit, as long as she got a good look at them. It was a most effective idea, or so I thought.

“A fair idea, yes... However, as I recall, Dark Magic can only be perceived while it is being used, or a short while after, no? In that case... given that half a day has already passed, wouldn’t it be no longer possible to discern...?”

“...That...” Lady Maria’s expression clouded over.

Ahh... I thought that it was such a good idea, too...

“I suppose we simply have to crush the possibilities one by one, then!”

“Wait, Mary! Where do you think you’re going? Calm down!”

Ignoring Prince Alan’s protests, Lady Mary simply slipped by him, and with the most dark and ominous smile I had ever seen, placed her hand on the doorknob... just as a resounding series of knocks came from the other side. Another guest.

“Lady Mary... just where are you going?”

“Oh, if it isn’t Master Raphael. It’s good to see you. Of course, I’m heading out to begin my search for Lady Katarina.”

This individual was the very same person who had caused the incident last year. He now worked for the Magical Ministry... Master Raphael Wolt. He must have heard of the circumstances as well.

Master Raphael calmly responded to Lady Mary’s words without a single shred of surprise. “And how do you intend to go about doing that, Lady Mary?”

“Well, I suppose we should start by utterly destroying whatever location seems suspicious. I intend to do just that.”

Master Raphael merely sighed at Lady Mary, who seemed very confident of what she had just declared. “Would that not be a touch too reckless?”

“But! While we all stand around talking, Lady Katarina is in the maws of danger! What do you suggest we all do, then?!” Lady Mary shouted. I could see tears brimming up in her eyes. Despite her brave front, it was clear to us all that she, too, was deeply worried.

Master Raphael, however, smiled gently in response. “It is quite all right. Lady Katarina is in no danger whatsoever.”

At this statement, Prince Jeord’s eyes narrowed, his gaze directed squarely at Master Raphael. “Perhaps you should elaborate on your statement.”

“Ah, but of course. You see, a fearsomely strong bodyguard of sorts is currently by Lady Katarina’s side... and so, there is no immediate danger to her being. Please, let us wait just a little while longer.” Following this statement, Master Raphael’s tone of voice changed — it was now determined and forceful as he declared: “I will save Lady Katarina.”

★★★★★★★★★

It had now been a while since I’d started rubbing the sobbing Selena’s back. I had no idea what to do anymore.

This had all started with talk of Jeord being willing to do anything for me — a misunderstanding, of course. Then Selena, with her cheeks illuminated by the lamplight, said, “I am most envious, Lady Katarina... that he loves you so, so much...” She repeated herself immediately after, sounding sorrowful. “I really, really am envious of you...” Soon, streams of tears were flowing from her large eyes.

“S-Selena! Are you all right? What’s wrong?” Panicking, I approached her and placed a hand on her back.

“...Lady Katarina... to think that you would be worried about someone like me, someone who has done something like this to you... You really are a saintess, just like the rumors say. Compared to you, I... I am really no good. Of course Prince Ian would hate me for who I am...” With that, Selena’s sobbing intensified.

Rumors? Saintess? I didn’t understand what she was talking about, but now she was crying — no, sobbing. I couldn’t think of anything to do but hold her close and rub her back as gently as I could. I continued this mildly soothing back-rubbing for a while until Selena finally calmed down enough to speak.

“I... I apologize. I lost my composure...” Her eyes were bloodshot, and she looked like she could collapse at any moment. “...I was just a little envious of Prince Jeord and you...”

“Envious?” I’m nothing more than a suitor-deterrent for a sadistic, black-hearted prince! My position isn’t enviable at all! It seems that she’s mistaken Jeord and I for lovers of some kind...

“Yes... The way you and Prince Jeord love and support each other is truly wonderful.”

Hmm. Yes, a complete misunderstanding on Selena’s part.

“It is not just you, but also Prince Jeffery and Lady Susanna, and Prince Alan and Lady Mary... They all support each other as equals, and I am envious of that.”

I don’t know much about Prince Jeffery and his partner, but... are Mary and Alan equals in their relationship? If anything, it feels like Mary always has the upper hand. In fact, the sight of Alan escorting Mary often looked like an enforcer escorting their mob boss.

However, that wasn’t something I could just blurt out to Selena at a time like this. So I held my peace and listened to what she had to say.

“Lady Susanna is known as one of the wisest and most talented women in the kingdom...”

Ohh? So that sexy lady is referred to like that, huh...?

“Lady Mary is known as the epitome of an ideal noble lady...”

Ah, yes. Mary is really something else. She’s great at dance and social etiquette... She’s perfect in every way. In fact, that’s why she has Alan as her subordinate!

“Lady Katarina is known as a saintess, accepting and gracious...”

Eh?! Me? A saintess? I’m known as that? Sorry to disappoint, but I’ve never heard of such a thing! No one has ever referred to me like that.

Did they really mean “a saintess”? Perhaps they meant to say that I had a lot of sass. Surely it must be a mistake like that. After all, my instructors always used to tell me that I’m “full of sass and spirit.” High praise indeed!

“Compared to everyone else... I am good at nothing. Good for nothing. My magic is weak... and I am not very smart. I could hardly hope to support Prince Ian... I am nothing more than baggage for him, a failure of a fiancée...” Selena said, tears returning to her eyes. “So... at the very least, I wanted to be of some use to him... and so I plotted this entire incident. I truly apologize, Lady Katarina...” The tears started flowing all over again.

Weak magic... and not too smart? I couldn’t help but feel a sense of camaraderie with Selena. I now understood why she was feeling so guilty all this time, and I could see the reason behind all this happening.

Although her methods were somewhat questionable, all Selena wanted to do was be useful to someone she loved. When I thought about it that way, I couldn’t help but feel warmly towards her.

“Of course... I plan to take responsibility for all this, once it is over.”

“Eh? Responsibility?”

“Yes... I will call off my engagement with Prince Ian, and as a means of atoning for my sins, I will turn myself in to the authorities...” Selena declared, without a shred of hesitation in her eyes.

Eh?! Call off her engagement and turn herself in? But why?

“Wh-Why? You’re just trying to do something for Prince Ian, right? But now you’re planning on calling off your engagement with him and turning yourself in? Is that what you really want?”

“Yes... I was the one who started admiring Prince Ian in the first place. And now I have made up my mind. I am resolved.”

“Huh? But aren’t you two engaged?” The way Selena spoke, it was like her love towards Prince Ian was one-sided.

Selena, however, merely continued on sadly. “I was born to a duke. When I was young, I spent time with Prince Ian, and due to my age and the fact that I could use magic, I was selected as his fiancée. But as I said before, my magical capability is low... and I am not good at my studies. Before long, both my parents and my relatives started suggesting that he should look for a more fitting fiancée. Of course they would think that. The partners of the other princes are all remarkable! They all support each other in some way. I alone am no good. I alone am lacking... I only hold Prince Ian back.”

Well... back at Claes manor, my mother was always saying, “Prince Jeord should select another fiancée! My daughter will do nothing but hold him back!” and stuff like that. Hmm, yes. I now felt closer to Selena than ever. We were so alike in many ways.

Selena continued on, all the while having no idea of the thoughts going through my mind. “Also... Prince Ian himself has nothing but contempt for me, so...” She bowed her head dejectedly.

Prince Ian hates Selena? Really? I recalled that day at the school festival. Prince Ian, strict and rigid, with the most serious expression, escorting Selena. There was no way I could possibly know much about their relationship from that encounter alone, so...

“Well... Have you ever heard Prince Ian himself say such a thing to you...?”

“Huh?”

“Have you ever asked Prince Ian how he truly feels about you?”

“Th-There is no way I could ask him something like that! But then... everyone around me always talks about how Prince Ian is tired of me, how he dislikes me... and how he... already hates me...”

“But Lady Selena... those are the words of other people, right? Have you heard the prince himself say it? Maybe you’re just imagining that he hates you?”

“But...”

One must never pay too much attention to what others say. This was especially true for noble society, as advised by my wise adopted brother, Keith. “Insults and slander are common occurrences in noble society, Big Sister. Pay them no heed,” he would say.

If one were to believe those slanders and lies, one may actually believe that I was some splendid and amazing noble lady, well-loved by Prince Jeord, when the opposite was true. And so...

“Someone’s emotions can only be known by that person themselves, right? So, Lady Selena... if you wish to know the truth, you have to ask Prince Ian, and that’s that!”

“Ask...?” Selena raised her bowed head.

“Yes, speak to Prince Ian about it, or at least try!” After all, nothing would happen without an actual conversation on the matter. In fact, this was the case with Selena herself — it was only through talking to her now that I developed a deeper understanding of her.

Selena opened her large, round eyes wide, her brown irises staring straight at me.

“Say... Lady Selena. You’ve been saying that you were no good, that you are lacking, just now... and I don’t think that is true.” Honestly speaking, given the lack of magical aptitude and academic ability that Selena was concerned about, we were not very different. After all, we just happened to be in an academy where there was a disproportionately high amount of high-spec individuals.

“More importantly, you were worried about me, a complete stranger. You were worried if I could rest well. And you even have the resolve to get captured and sentenced... all in the name of helping someone you love.”

That kind of bravery would be impossible for me. And on top of that, she mustered up this resolve all while under the assumption that the person she loved disliked her! Compared to me, who had come up with a variety of contingency plans like realistic projectile snake toys in case Jeord ever attacked me, the difference was stark.

I returned Selena’s gaze, looking deep into her brown eyes. “To me, Lady Selena, you are gentle and strong. There’s not a single bone in you that is lacking or no-good. I think you are a wonderful person.”

Selena’s eyes widened in surprise — and for a while, she only stared. “...That’s the... first time, anyone has said anything like that to me...”

I smiled slightly at the stunned Selena. “Well then! I’ll keep saying it from here on out. As many times as you’d like. So... would you like to become friends with me, Lady Selena?”

Although she was the one who looked worse for wear, all Selena did was worry about me. She was willing to get captured and sentenced, all for the sake of someone she loved. Although she was small in stature and had mannerisms much like that of a small animal, Lady Selena was strong. She was a pure-hearted, strong noble lady.

It was a strange, maybe alarming relationship, given that she was the kidnapper and I was the victim, but... in this short span of time, I had come to like the girl known as Selena Berg. More than anything else, my sense of camaraderie with her had increased throughout our conversation. We would definitely get along well.

I smiled, extending a hand towards Selena as I did so.

“...To say such words towards one who had kidnapped you in the first place... Lady Katarina, you truly are as the rumors say,” Selena said as she stared at my outstretched hand.

Hmm? Rumors? Ah, was this about the sassy and spirited thing?

“...This is the kind of person I am, but... I do hope we get along...”

And with that, Lady Selena took my hand. She returned my gaze now, no longer averting her eyes.

“Lady Katarina... As you said, I won’t be swayed by what others say anymore. I will speak with Prince Ian himself and hear what he has to say.”

“Yes, that’s a good start!”

“...Yes.” Selena’s eyes were no longer filled with tears, and her troubled, sickly expression had seemingly lifted. “But before that... I really need to stop this foolish kidnapping affair... and also atone for my sins...”

“If it ever comes down to it, I’ll keep it a secret!” After all, Selena hadn’t done anything terrible to me. If anything, she had provided me with quite the comfortable life! It was like someone going out for a walk and getting a little lost.

Selena smiled somewhat bitterly at my words. “You really are a gentle person, through and through... however... that is simply not acceptable. Sins committed by my hand have to be atoned for appropriately...” she said with a calm and dignified expression.

Ah, this girl really is a pure and strong person, despite her cute appearance... The more I looked at her, the more I felt like I would fall for her.

“Well then... I shall see to it that you are safely delivered back to Prince Jeord this instant. I shall begin making the preparations...” Saying so, Selena stood up and headed towards the door.

The moment she placed her hand on the handle, however, she collapsed — no, her body had gone completely limp.

“L-Lady Selena!” Alarmed, I rushed to her side, only to notice then that someone had stepped through the door to the room.

“I had only taken my eye off you momentarily, and here you are, doing as you please. This is most troubling... Lady Selena,” the man said, placing a hand on the fallen Selena as he did so. A ravishing smile lit up his face.

“Y-You! What have you done to Lady Selena?”

What he’d just said and his tone of voice... It was obvious that this man had done something to Selena. I glared daggers at him.

“Just letting her sleep for a while. After all, she still does have her role to play.”

“R-Role?”

“Yes, of course. That of a scapegoat — this kidnapping, and a multitude of other sins will all be pinned on her. Then... I shall have her disappear with Prince Ian. That is her role.”

“!”

“And you shall disappear as well, Lady Katarina Claes... with Prince Jeord by your side.”

The man who spoke was Rufus, Selena’s playboy butler. He was smiling with enjoyment and anticipation.

★★★★★★★★★

The first time I, Selena Berg, met him... I was nine years of age.

The boy who I met then was a beautiful person. Beauty the likes of which I had never seen before... All I could do was freeze up, overcome with nervousness.

“I-It is good to m-meet you... I-I... My name is Selena B-Berg... it is a p-pleasure to make your acquaintance...” Although I had practiced my greetings so much, that was what I was reduced to in my nervousness.

The adults around me started to audibly laugh under their breaths. I could feel my face heating up from the embarrassment... surely, my face was all red. The very thought of that deepened my humiliation, and I simply looked down at my feet. But then—

“It is nice to meet you as well, Selena. My name is Ian Stuart. The pleasure is all mine,” he said with an expression of utmost seriousness, stretching out his hand.

Although the people around me laughed at my fumbled greetings and reddened face, he did not laugh at me. He extended his warm hand towards me. It was then that the young me fell for him — just like that.

That was my first meeting with Prince Ian. I was born into the family of a duke, was the same age as the prince, and had already started manifesting my magical abilities. That was the reason why I had been chosen as the fiancée of Ian Stuart, the second crown prince of the kingdom.

The emotions of the individuals involved hardly came into play in such a marriage. But... I met Prince Ian, and I fell in love with him. Ever since then, my budding feelings for him continued to grow. The way he was so serious and focused... the way he was gentle and caring, but not very good at showing it... the more I spent time with him, the more my feelings blossomed.

Before I knew it, ten years had passed since I had been assigned as his fiancée. Now, more than anything, I loved Prince Ian. I loved him very much. Although my love for him grew and grew... I was lacking. My magical aptitude was the reason why I had been chosen as his fiancée in the first place, but my magical capabilities never increased.

I worked hard to be able to stand by Prince Ian’s side. No matter how hard I tried, however, my magic remained weak. Perhaps then I could simply do well in my studies, I thought... but I did not manage to do too well academically either.

Although I was born with magic and was enrolled into the same academy as Prince Ian and many others, I was not chosen as a student council member. The council was admired by the student body, and such a role was considered an honor. Prince Jeffery, Lady Susanna, and Prince Ian were all selected, too. I was the odd one out. I alone was the underdog.

In addition, Prince Jeffery was always found with Lady Susanna as a pair. They were really close... and yet, this was not the case with Prince Ian and myself. Unless there was something he wanted, he would never meet with me. He would never touch me when he met me, either, unless it was absolutely necessary. Even if we did meet, he would pursue his goals or needs single-mindedly. This did not go unnoticed by those around us. Soon, the rumors started flowing. “Prince Ian dislikes his incapable fiancée,” they would say.

Prince Ian and I graduated from the Academy of Magic. Next to enroll in the academy were his younger twin brothers, Prince Jeord and Prince Alan, along with their respective fiancées. I had heard that both the Princes had been chosen as student council members, as was Lady Mary, Prince Alan’s fiancée.

Although Prince Jeord’s fiancée, Lady Katarina, was not chosen for the council, she was well-admired by the student body, and even had her own fan group. When word of this got out to noble circles, my parents and relatives all started saying the same thing. “Perhaps the Prince should look for a more fitting fiancée...” they would say.

Amidst the dazzling individuals that were these princes and their fiancées, I couldn’t help but feel that I alone was incompatible... that I could not measure up to them. Why was I so inept? Given that I could never be better than the average person no matter how hard I tried... of course it would be a given that Prince Ian would come to dislike me.

Even so, I still wanted to be of use to him. Anything was fine. Something... anything. If it meant that I could do something for him to make up for all the trouble I had caused up until now...

As those thoughts filled my mind and my heart, that person appeared before me.

“Allow me to assist you with your wish.”

With that, he began telling me exactly how I could be of use to Prince Ian...

When I entered her room, she had already awoken, and was staring in my direction with her aqua-blue eyes.

“I see you have awoken safely... Most reassuring,” I said, feeling relieved from the bottom of my heart.

When I had brought her into the manor, there was hardly any strength left in her — she was barely conscious. Although we had only used a small amount of the sleep-inducing drug on her, I remained worried. I simply had to see with my own eyes that she was all right.

After affirming her safety, there was something I absolutely had to tell her now that she was awake.

Even if it was all for Prince Ian’s sake, me bringing an unrelated noble lady to this place was an unforgivable transgression. I understood that. That was why I thought I should apologize first — precisely because I had done an unforgivable thing to Lady Katarina.

Upon hearing my words, Lady Katarina was momentarily silent, as if deep in thought. And then, her lips parted — “...Kidnapped...?”

I was terribly surprised. How could this be? Nothing had been explained to her, and yet, she had already realized that she had been kidnapped. According to the rumors, Lady Katarina was spirited and strong, but yet one who possessed a deep well of compassion. In reality, it would seem like she was a very capable person as well.

“I truly... truly apologize... I promise, absolutely, that no harm would ever come to you...” I apologized once again, though I knew that I would not be forgiven either way.

Lady Katarina began to think once more, a serious expression clouding her features. “...Um. Well then... how much would the ransom be...?” she said.

“Ran... som?” I did not understand the meaning of this word, and simply repeated it back at her. Lady Katarina leaned in ever so slightly with a somewhat grave expression.

“Yes. The amount of gold you want in exchange for my safety. How much would it be...?”

“...Ah, no. We do not have any intentions of asking for a... sum of gold.” Lady Katarina had apparently assumed that we had kidnapped her for money. I denied it as quickly as I could.

“Eh? It’s not gold you were after? Then why did you kidnap me?”

Of course, she did not know why she’d been taken. Surely she was unsettled by this, and would be unable to feel at ease until she knew the answer.

“...That is...” I got her involved in all this. I should tell Lady Katarina about the entire affair... I started to speak, wanting to explain the situation, but then...

“Lady Selena. You have already ascertained Lady Katarina’s safety, have you not? Please, let us return to your quarters.” Rufus placed a hand on my shoulder... and then.

Ahh... yes. That’s right... I felt like I simply had to return to my room. “Rufus... yes. Yes, let’s. Well then, Lady Katarina... I shall return to my quarters...”

“Eh...? P-Please wait...”

With that, I returned to my room, with Rufus guiding me... But there was still a lingering sense of unease in my heart.

After returning from my visit to Lady Katarina’s quarters, I felt... blank, for some reason. I could feel some vague gaps in my memory.

I stayed in a haze for quite some time. Before I knew it, lunch had already passed, and I was unable to present the meal to Lady Katarina properly. When I found out that she had her meal in the room she was confined in, I felt incredibly guilty. She had been suddenly brought to this strange place without knowing why, and then was confined in that small room... Lady Katarina was surely worried and uneasy.

She was spirited and strong like the rumors had said, but she could very well be putting on a brave front for me. For all I knew, she could be crying this very moment. When I thought about that, even though I was the one who had decided to do all of this to begin with — my chest began to hurt.

At the very least, I wanted Lady Katarina to feel comfortable, even if it would only be a small consolation. I decided that only the finest ingredients should be used when preparing dinner.

After the relevant preparations were complete, Rufus and I returned to Lady Katarina’s room, only to find that she was already sitting in a chair.

“Lady Katarina, are you feeling all right...?”

“Ah, yes. Sure! Thanks to your hospitality.”

“I sincerely apologize... I was unable to make the appropriate preparations for breakfast, and I feel poorly for you, having breakfast in that tiny room...” I bowed once more, apologizing for the way Lady Katarina had to take her lunch.

“Oh, no, please don’t worry. I am absolutely fine!” she answered without wavering in the slightest.

But she had been locked in this room and informed that she had been kidnapped! There was no way Lady Katarina could possibly be fine... Surely she was pushing herself to put up a brave front for my sake. I could feel the pain in my chest intensifying.

“...I sincerely apologize for these trying circumstances...” All I could do was apologize, time and time again. I could not do anything else. How pathetic of me...

As we began having our dinner, Lady Katarina showed no signs of distress. She continued pretending that she was completely fine. I grew even more worried about her.

“It’s quite all right, Lady Katarina... you do not have to force yourself to eat it,” I said, only for her to respond to me with a gentle smile.

Then she unexpectedly asked after me, noticing that I did not have very much to eat. “Are you okay, Lady Selena?” she asked.

She asked me that, even though she was clearly the one who was in a more painful, distressing situation. Lady Katarina really was a saintess.

After the final courses of dinner had been served, Lady Katarina questioned me once again.

“Um... Lady Selena? May I know why I was brought here? You mentioned before that I would be released as soon as certain things were settled. What exactly are these... things?”

But of course, there was no way Lady Katarina wouldn’t be bothered by this. She must have been uncertain and worried all this time. And yet, she tried so hard to appear calm and collected — it hurt. The pain in my chest intensified yet again. I felt so, so remorseful. Perhaps it was best to tell her now...

“Yes... I suppose you would be most uncomfortable being left in the dark, Lady Katarina... Maybe this has even started to affect your quality of sleep...”

But then, Rufus interrupted me the moment I started to speak. “Lady Selena... you have already finished your meal. Perhaps you should return to your chambers? You must be tired too, Lady Katarina... it would be best for you to get some sleep.”

He placed a hand on my shoulder. With that, suddenly, the notion that it would be better not to tell Lady Katarina anything filled my mind.

I... perhaps it is best if I speak nothing of it. I had to return to my room, just like Rufus said. I had to listen to him — I simply had to. After all... Rufus was a really kind person. He was the one who told me how I could be useful to Prince Ian.

“...I see... yes. Well then, Lady Katarina... goodnight.”

I had to return to my room and rest... but why? My heart felt uneasy once again.

Upon returning to my room, I sat down on a chair, and for a while, thought of... nothing. Was it just me, or... were these incidents occurring more as of late? Before I knew it, night had already fallen. My room was enveloped in darkness.

Just when I thought I should move over to my bed and lie down, an image flashed through my mind.

“Are you okay, Lady Selena?”

...Those aqua-blue eyes... Lady Katarina!

Why did all my thoughts about Lady Katarina evaporate when I returned to my room? I had done terrible things to her. Kidnap her, lock her up in that room, and yet, she was still kind to me — the girl known to many as a saintess.

How could I have forgotten about something like that...? I really was no good at all... utterly contemptible. Would Lady Katarina be tossing and turning right about now, unable to fall asleep or get any rest?

I had to go... I had to go to her, and do for her what little I could. That was the very least I could do.

In the quiet of night, I crept out of my room as the entire manor slumbered. As I placed one foot in front of another in the darkened halls of the manor, I could feel my head clearing up... for reasons unknown to me.

When I finally reached Lady Katarina’s room, I was greeted by a maid standing by her door. She was a recent hire, taken on in preparation for this kidnapping plan. Now, she was a maid assigned to Lady Katarina — Lana. She had a look of utter seriousness about her, as if she had been standing in front of that door, guarding it this whole time. I asked Lana if that was the case, only for her to answer, “I just awoke a short while ago.”

I informed Lana that I would like to meet with Lady Katarina. “One moment, my lady,” she said, before entering the room. After a short period of time, I heard Lana’s muffled voice call out from within, “Please enter.”

“...Selena?” Lady Katarina’s voice seemed confused — slightly disoriented, perhaps.

“Yes... I do apologize for visiting you at this hour, Lady Katarina... However, I could not help but be worried that you would be filled with fear, and hence unable to sleep...”

Lady Katarina rubbed her eyes as I approached her. Surely she had been weeping moments before... What have I done? I made up my mind. I had to speak to Lady Katarina — do what I could to alleviate a small part of her unease.

“...At the dinner table just now... for some reason, I felt this strong feeling, Lady Katarina. That I should not tell you something. But... but. I still feel that it is important to tell you.”

“Hmm... That would be the reason I was brought to this place, right? So, as I thought... you do know of the reason, Lady Selena.”

“Yes... after all, this entire kidnapping was planned by me...”

“?!” Lady Katarina seemed terribly surprised.

I started telling her everything — the truth behind this entire incident. “I... I wanted to kidnap you, Lady Katarina... and use your safety as a bargaining chip. All so that Prince Jeord would abandon his claim to the throne...”

“...Jeord? To make him give up on the throne?”

“Yes... So that Prince Ian may take the throne instead.”

It had all started several months ago. The young man known as Rufus Brode, hailing from a family distantly related to ours, was introduced to us. He performed well in all his tasks; he served me diligently despite the fact that I was largely ignored by my family because of how useless I was.

Rufus never once complained about my failings. He would always be supportive and helpful, and had nothing but kind words for me. It was to him, and no other, that I eventually told my thoughts to.

Whatever happened, it would be fine... so long as I could be useful to Prince Ian. This thought reverberated strongly in my mind.

Upon hearing this, Rufus said, “Allow me to assist you with your wish.” And then, he thought of a plan to force all the rival princes to forsake their claims to the throne so that Prince Ian would be king.

When I had first heard about the plan, I was terrified. I felt that it was all but impossible for me to do such things. But then, Rufus reminded me... “It is for Prince Ian. This is the only thing you could possibly do for him.” The more I listened to his passionate words, the more convinced I became.

After that, Rufus suggested a plan — a scheme to entrap and kidnap Lady Katarina. That was the first step we would take.

I told Lady Katarina about everything — with the exception of Rufus’ involvement. Why did I have to leave his name out of the explanation...? If I had to say... he had done so, so much for me. If I brought him up, he would be implicated in many crimes too, and I felt horrible thinking of it.

After hearing my explanation, Lady Katarina was silent for a while, as if deep in thought. And then she said, “Well... even in exchange for my safety, I doubt that Prince Jeord would simply give up his claim to the throne.”

Her words surprised me. I felt compelled to offer a swift response. “You jest, Lady Katarina... Prince Jeord’s love for you is well known throughout the land. He would do anything — anything at all for you, Lady Katarina...”

After all, Prince Jeord’s love for Lady Katarina, and how he spoiled her, was a known fact in the noble circles of society. Honestly, Prince Jeord’s expression when he was escorting Lady Katarina at his birthday party was one of true happiness.

“I am... most envious, Lady Katarina... so envious... that he loves you so, so much...” Loved by Prince Jeord, praised and admired by so, so many around her... Lady Katarina. Compared to her, I was...

“I really, really am envious of you...” The words were escaping my lips before I even knew it. I was no-good. Useless. I could not support my prince — unlike the other princes’ fiancées. The more I thought about that... the more a suffocating sadness enveloped me. I was pathetic. Pitiful. Soon, tears were flowing down my cheeks.

“S-Selena! Are you all right? What’s wrong?” With those words, Lady Katarina approached me, placing an arm around me, her hand on my back.

A saintess... that was what Lady Katarina was called at the academy. She was not tied to any notions of status, treated everyone equally, and was a person overflowing with passion. The fiancée of a prince, and from a noble family. I had thought that the rumors were exaggerated, perhaps... yet although she was the victim of this entire kidnapping, she was showing kindness to me — the perpetrator. Surely it was Lady Katarina herself who wished to shed tears, and yet here she was, gently rubbing my back, all the while without showing a single shred of anger.

Lady Katarina was fitting of the name indeed. She really was a wonderful person... a saintess. It was a given that a person as wonderful as she would be dearly loved by Prince Jeord.

The gentle motions of her hand on my back slowly allowed me to calm down. “I... I apologize. I lost my composure... I was just a little envious of Prince Jeord and you...”

“Envious?”

“Yes... The way you and Prince Jeord love and support each other is truly wonderful. It is not just you, but also Prince Jeffery and Lady Susanna, and Prince Alan and Lady Mary... They all support each other as equals, and I am envious of that.”

Lady Katarina continued to comfort me. It was like as if a dam broke in me — large droplets of tears fell as I felt the gentle touch of her hand.

“Lady Susanna is known as one of the wisest and most talented women in the kingdom... Lady Mary is known as the epitome of an ideal noble lady... Lady Katarina is known as a saintess, accepting and gracious...”

All of them were talented and capable. They were all worthy of their positions — of being fiancées to crown princes.

“Compared to everyone else... I am good at nothing. Good for nothing. My magic is weak... and I am not very smart. I could hardly hope to support Prince Ian... I am nothing more than baggage for him, a failure of a fiancée... So... at the very least, I wanted to be of some use to him... and so I plotted this entire incident. I truly apologize, Lady Katarina...”

All I could do now was apologize. But then... “Of course... I plan to take responsibility for all this, once it is over.”

“Eh? Responsibility?”

“Yes... I will call off my engagement with Prince Ian, and as a means of atoning for my sins, I will turn myself in to the authorities...”

This had been determined the moment we decided to go ahead with this kidnapping plan. Relinquishing one’s claim to the throne was an irreversible process. This was a law, abided by since ancient times. And so... if Prince Jeord really did relinquish his claim, reality would not change even if I were to reveal my sins at a later time.

That was why... when this all ended, as long as I had been of some assistance to Prince Ian, I had long since steeled myself — that I would live as a prisoner, a sinner for the rest of my life.

“Wh-Why? You’re just trying to do something for Prince Ian, right? But now you’re planning on calling off your engagement with him and turning yourself in? Is that what you really want?” Lady Katarina asked, the surprise plain in her voice.

“Yes... I was the one who started admiring Prince Ian in the first place. And now I have made up my mind. I am resolved,” I answered without hesitation.

“Huh? But aren’t you two engaged?”

My chest ached at Lady Katarina’s words. That’s right... I was still Prince Ian’s fiancée as of now. But...

“I was born to a duke. When I was young, I spent time with Prince Ian, and due to my age and the fact that I could use magic, I was selected as his fiancée. But as I said before, my magical capability is low... and I am not good at my studies. Before long, both my parents and my relatives started suggesting that he should look for a more fitting fiancée.”

“Of course they would think that. The partners of the other princes are all remarkable! They all support each other in some way. I alone am no good. I alone am lacking... I only hold Prince Ian back.” I was sure that a more fitting fiancée would be found for Prince Ian soon enough. “Also... Prince Ian himself has nothing but contempt for me, so...”

I hardly ever saw him. Even when we did see each other, he did not seem very fond of me. That was why everyone said that Prince Ian disliked his fiancée. But of course... unlike the other crown princes’ fiancées, he had to contend with me, useless as I was. It was all but impossible for him to like me.

Even so, I wanted to be useful to Prince Ian. Even if he hated me, and had nothing but contempt for me. I... I still loved him...

Lady Katarina stared at me for a while before finally starting to speak. “Well... Have you ever heard Prince Ian himself say such a thing to you...?”

“Huh?” I was surprised at those words. I had never thought of such a thing before.

“Have you ever asked Prince Ian how he truly feels about you?”

“Th-There is no way I could ask him something like that! But then... everyone around me always talks about how Prince Ian is tired of me, how he dislikes me... and how he... already hates me...” After all, that was what everyone else said. They couldn’t be wrong... So why? What was Lady Katarina saying...?

“But Lady Selena... those are the words of other people, right? Have you heard the prince himself say it? Maybe you’re just imagining that he hates you?”

“But...” This was something I had never thought about, up until now. I was terribly confused, bewildered... Is it just my imagination, then? That Prince Ian isn’t fond of me? Are all those voices... wrong?

“Someone’s emotions can only be known by that person themselves, right? So, Lady Selena... if you wish to know the truth, you have to ask Prince Ian, and that’s that!”

“Ask...?”

“Yes, speak to Prince Ian about it, or at least try!”

I won’t know his true feelings on the matter if I don’t ask...? I should... speak with Prince Ian? Can I really do such a thing? Is it okay for someone like me to...?

I raised my head and found Lady Katarina’s aqua-blue eyes — her azure eyes staring straight into me.

“Say... Lady Selena. You’ve been saying that you were no good, that you are lacking, just now... and I don’t think that is true. More importantly, you were worried about me, a complete stranger. You were worried if I could rest well. And you even have the resolve to get captured and sentenced... all in the name of helping someone you love. To me, Lady Selena, you are gentle and strong. There’s not a single bone in you that is lacking or no-good. I think you are a wonderful person,” Lady Katarina said with the gentlest gaze.

I am not lacking or no-good... I am... a wonderful person? “...That’s the... first time, anyone has said anything like that to me...” I muttered, stunned.

I had been called useless and lacking up until now. Praises were rare, if I ever received them at all. Even if someone did praise me, it felt like nothing more than a pleasantry — the politically correct thing to say.

However... Lady Katarina was not lying. I knew this. Her piercing, honest gaze did not hide a single shred of malice or falsehood. Slowly, I felt the warmth of her words spread through my entire being.

“Well then! I’ll keep saying it from here on out. As many times as you’d like. So... would you like to become friends with me, Lady Selena?”

I could only look on blankly at Lady Katarina’s outstretched hand. Ahh... perhaps this person before me really is a saintess.

“...To say such words towards one who had kidnapped you in the first place... Lady Katarina, you truly are as the rumors say.”

I felt a fire in my chest. I felt that... if I took her hand, something would change.

“...This is the kind of person I am, but... I do hope we get along...” Saying so, I held Lady Katarina’s hand in mine. Her hand was warm. “Lady Katarina... As you said, I won’t be swayed by what others say anymore. I will speak with Prince Ian himself and hear what he has to say.”

I had never thought of it that way. No one had ever spoken of me or to me in such a way. Even if I did have such thoughts, I would surely be paralyzed by fear. I would have remained stuck in place, ruminating endlessly about the what-ifs.

But... now I felt like I could do it. I felt a sense of strength flow into me from Lady Katarina’s hand straight into mine.

“Yes, that’s a good start!” Lady Katarina was still looking straight at me.

“...Yes.” In a single breath, I felt all my hesitations evaporate. I nodded earnestly.

Well-loved by everyone... the girl known as the saintess. She was a mysterious person. It was almost as if a strange power dwelt in her words and in her straight, unwavering gaze.

“But before that... I really need to stop this foolish kidnapping affair... and also atone for my sins...” That was where I would start, even if it meant that my engagement with Prince Ian would be broken off. Even so... if I spoke with Prince Ian personally, just like Lady Katarina suggested, then surely something would change.

“If it ever comes down to it, I’ll keep it a secret!”

The saintess was truly a compassionate person indeed. But... “You really are a gentle person, through and through... however... that is simply not acceptable. Sins committed by my hand have to be atoned for as appropriately...” I would atone for my sins, and speak with Prince Ian.

“Well then... I shall see to it that you are safely delivered back to Prince Jeord this instant. I shall begin making the preparations...” I headed towards the door.

The painful, binding sensation in my chest was gone. Now... I felt like I could do anything.