Chapter 117
* * *
The news of Lady Erzébet’s return spread throughout the capital.
Seven years ago, she turned the social world upside down by accepting the confession from the Monlepe ducal house, then went to the countryside, and there had been no news since, so the aristocratic society was abuzz with the sudden announcement of her return.
“What’s going on? She hadn’t come back for so long that I thought she was gone for good.”
“It seems she went for convalescence because her chronic illness worsened. Now she must be fully recovered and returning.”
“But back then, the lady seemed too healthy for that……. Wasn’t she the one who made the Starafit little duke have a double nosebleed?”
It was just the time when the Empress had awakened and the battles with the beastmen were being wrapped up, so topics of conversation were running low.
The nobles gathered in the salon chimed in on the topic that had risen like a morning star.
“Not only the lady this time, but Countess Erzébet and the count’s young son are coming together as well.”
“What? Count Erzébet had a son too?!”
“A son is one thing, but a wife? He never once mentioned his wife, so I thought he was widowed.”
“For the whole family to come to the capital like this, could it be…… that they’re coming to get engaged to the Monlepe Duke?”
It was a thoughtless remark someone made, but soon the room fell silent.
No matter how much they thought about it, there seemed to be no other reason for the whole family to suddenly come to the capital.
Moreover, not long after, rumors spread that the Monlepe Duke was personally going to the port to greet Asil, turning the nobles suspicions quickly into convictions.
“But was the Monlepe Duke in the capital? Wasn’t he in the south wrapping up the battles with the beastmen?”
“Your news is slow. The Duke personally brought the herb that awakened Her Majesty the Empress. He said he was uneasy about leaving it in someone else’s hands.”
“The battlefield is being handled by the Monlepe’s knight commander. Sir Dylan, was it?”
“Hmm, a lady getting engaged to that Monlepe Duke…….”
Until now, the Monlepe Duke had never had any marriage talks with anyone.
It was to the point where rumors spread that he was a stone with no interest in women.
For such a Monlepe Duke to personally go to greet her.
Since Asil hadn’t been active in social circles, few nobles had seen her in person, so they were extremely curious about who Lady Erzébet was.
But outwardly, they pretended to be largely uninterested.
“She’s probably just an ordinary lady. We’ll see when she arrives in the capital.”
“After all, she’s from the countryside.”
“As central nobles, our world is completely different she must lack refinement!”
Even so, inwardly they thought differently.
‘Hmm, when was the day Lady Erzébet arrives at the port…….’
‘I have nothing to do that day, maybe I should stop by the port briefly.’
They thought it wouldn’t suit their dignity to go to the port just to see Asil.
To personally make the trip for a mere count’s daughter who isn’t royalty or a duke’s daughter—how odd that would be.
However.
‘What difference would it make if just I go.’
‘I’ll pretend to be passing by and stop in briefly.’
They all had the same thought, never dreaming that they would end up having a group meet-up at the port.
Meanwhile, it wasn’t only the nobles going to see Asil.
“Lady Erzébet is coming?”
The Third Princess Eokaste let out a chuckle at the news of the return of the one she uniquely kept as a conversation companion.
Recently, she had received a great reward from the Emperor for awakening the Empress, so her position in the imperial family had risen considerably.
Although the negative views due to her dark navy hair hadn’t changed, the number of people lining up to get in her good graces had increased quite a lot compared to before.
The maid who delivered the news bowed deeply.
“Yes. The Monlepe Duke is said to be going to greet her.”
“Oh, the Monlepe Duke personally?”
It was welcome news amid what she had heard.
To see the always expressionless and rigid Monlepe Duke act emotionally—how long had it been since such an entertaining thing?
Of course, even without that, there were plenty of reasons to be interested.
Wasn’t she the Lady Erzébet who used to follow her around, asking to be taught etiquette with that cute and innocent face?
She didn’t know if that innocence remained, but if it hadn’t changed, she wanted to keep her by her side.
Eokaste’s eyes sparkled.
“Good. She’s my one and only conversation companion, so I must give her special treatment.”
She began preparing the military band used only for welcoming dignitaries.
The temple wasn’t staying idle either.
“What? Lady Erzébet is returning?!”
At the welcome news, Saintess Selena jumped up.
Lately, she had been suffering headaches because of the divine beasts that were increasingly not listening to her.
In the original story, the four divine beasts faithfully followed the female lead.
But now, having all the affection events stolen by Asil, she had no choice but to struggle alone.
How many years had it been since she missed Asil, who had stolen everyone’s hearts and fled like a runaway female lead?
At least, seeing Edenber holding on without rampaging, she took comfort in ‘She’ll come back someday,’ but she didn’t expect it to take a whole 7 years.
‘I can’t let Lady Erzébet run away again!’
Now, she couldn’t endure even 7 months, let alone 7 years. If she’s leaving, take all these damned divine beasts with her!
With fire in her eyes, Selena commanded the priests and holy knights following her.
“It must be a grand welcome ceremony that will absolutely capture Lady Erzébet’s heart. Show the maximum performances!”
“Yes!”
Thus, the Saintess joined on the day of Asil’s return.
On top of that, even the Starafit ducal house, which had been quiet all this time, with Fear causing a commotion, ended up participating.
Thus, on the day Asil returned to the human world.
“What’s going on here today?”
“Is there a festival?”
The port was teeming with all sorts of crowds.
* * *
Meanwhile, Asil was sailing toward the capital, completely unaware of this situation.
“Uuuuk!”
“Kkyuuuuk!”
“Are you okay?”
Asil patted the backs of her brother and rabbit friend who were continuously seasick on the deck.
Currently, Asil was in the form of a girl with abundant black hair and pink eyes, Snowa was in the form of a boy with pretty silver hair and yellow eyes, and the rabbit was just a rabbit.
Snowa and the rabbit, upon hearing that Asil was going to the human world, even went on a hunger strike to follow her.
And as soon as they boarded the ship, this chaos ensued.
“Uuk!”
“Kkyuuk!”
The two land animals couldn’t withstand the rocking ship.
The rabbit had prepared mentally since it had ridden a ship when going to the forest 7 years ago, but not Snowa.
The poor snow leopard was unable to regain its senses from the first taste of the sea’s spiciness in its life.
“J-just how much longer do we have to go……?”
“Kkyuuu……?”
The two exhausted animals groaned while looking at the endless blue.
Then, with a ‘Sigh,’ they were dragged into the cabin by Brianna’s hand.
Left alone, Asil clung tightly to the railing and watched the sea.
Thanks to riding in first class, the surroundings were peaceful. The cool sea breeze slapping her cheeks felt good.
Moreover, at some point, dolphins had started following Asil, creating blue splashes.
Asil, who was already in such a good mood just from going to the human world, waved at the dolphins.
“Hello, dolphin friends!”
Then, as if responding, the dolphins created white foam.
Just then, a mischievous girl’s voice was heard.
“What are you? Why are you wandering alone without attendants? You’re not a noble, are you?”
“Huh?”
Asil took her eyes off the dolphins and looked up.
Then, a fierce and flashy-looking lady who had come right up to her nose poked Asil’s chest area with a fan.
“You’re not a noble. This is a place only nobles can enter.”
“They said even if not a noble, you can enter if you pay a lot of money.”
“What? Mo-oney?”
As if hearing something unbearable, the girl wrinkled her face.
At the same time, the attendant behind the girl pushed Asil’s shoulder back.
“Step back. This is Princess Sunrise. How dare you shove your vulgar face in!”
“She shoved her face first. And I’m a nob-”
“Hey! How rude, won’t you raise your speech immediately!”
“I’m-”
“Let it go, Sebastian. It seems the commoner scraped together all her fortune for first class, so as a noble, I should understand, right?”
Princess Sunrise said mockingly while fanning herself.
In the meantime, Asil was pushed to the corner of the deck by Sebastian.
She didn’t know why they kept interrupting her and pushing her, but well, she was in a very good mood right now, so it didn’t matter.
And more than anything-
‘They said not to touch weak humans.’
Both Sebastian and Princess Sunrise looked so frail that if she hit them wrong, they seemed like they’d fly right out into the sea.
Since she shouldn’t carelessly touch weak humans, Asil firmly put her hands behind her back.
Unaware of Asil’s such efforts, Sebastian said commandingly.
“From now on, your spot is here. Be grateful to the Princess for graciously allowing you to share the deck.”
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