But it was happening.


    I didnt know about anyone else, but I didnt intend to alter the original plot.


    Right?


    Yet, if the original novel had gone on as it was, I would have be bitter enemies with the Empress.


    But the Empress has be one of the most precious people I know now.


    then.


    I stared at Sienna vacantly and then opened my mouth after briefly coughing.


    Then please call me by my first name, Sienna.


    Really?


    Yes.


    When I nodded reassuringly, my cheeks turned red.


    Sienna cleared her throat and slowly spoke.


    Charlize.


    Mm-hmm.


    whoops. That feels a bit embarrassing for some reason.


    Sienna blushed with a shy smile.


    Seeing her like that, I felt terrible again.


    I have to be way nicer to Sienna from now on.


    Any of the previous reasons such as her being the female lead in the original novel, someone wholl be with Damian and make him happy, were no longer relevant.


    They were friends.


    I also wanted to get along well with Sienna from now on.


    Whoops.


    As that realization dawned on me, I smiled happily, feeling free.


    Damian abruptly stepped into the room and narrowed his eyes.


    Hey, since when did the two of you start calling each other by your names?


    Sienna immediately shot back at Damian.


    Why, Your Highness. Are you envious?


    Why would I envy you? Ive been calling Charlize by her name since forever, remember?


    Oh? Still if I were you, I wouldnt bother asking questions about something like this if I wasnt envious inside.


    Well, its not like that?!


    Seeing the two of them bickering like that, I strangely felt relieved.


    Then Damian nced back at me.


    That aside, Charlize, whats with that face youre making?


    Hmm? You mean my expression?


    Youre grinning like an idiot.


    Hey, couldnt you say anything else other than grinning like an idiot to your one and only fiancee?!


    I fixed my expression while ring at Damian.


    The corners of my lips went up even higher, as much as humanly possible without me realizing it.


    Well, I may look a bit silly.


    But who cares?


    After Sienna has confirmed her feelings about Damian to me, theres no need to be bound by the original novel anymore.


    Now I dont have to feel guilty when Im by Damians side.


    I was so ted by that fact I couldnt help but smile happily.


    It didnt matter who was first both Damian and Sienna soon fixed their eyes on me with unsettled expressions.


    Charlize, is everything all right?


    Wait, could it be that you havent fully recovered from our time in Lebane?


    Damians vague and distressing question caused Sienna to pull her head back in a panic-stricken state.


    What?! You mean shes unwell?! How did she get hurt?! She yelled at him.


    See! You get it! You should have seen how shocked I was when she copsed!


    Oh, my God, are you all right now?


    Oh no. Look, its.


    I shook my head awkwardly at the stream of concerned words directed at me.


    No, Im just


    After a brief pause, I smiled at the two and said.


    Well, Ill do my best. Thank you.


    I spoke with sincerity.


    Damian and Siennas eyes shook as if an earthquake had urred.


    Then he opened his mouth, still perturbed.


    Surely.is everything all right?


    If you have concerns, you can tell us about them.


    As the two of them continued to express their care for me, I felt my eyes water.


    Really, its not like that!!


    ***


    And as time passed, the harvest festival was held.


    Looking at thevishly decorated shrine of Aurelia, I was overwhelmed with emotion.


    Hareally, it seems like yesterday when Damian stood as the Emperors candidate


    Damian was now the Crown Prince, who would eventually seed the Emperor as ruler of the empire.


    It was also when the Emperor publicly persecuted Damian, wasnt it?


    Either way, Ill be attending the festival not as ady-in-waiting but as the fiancee of the Crown Prince!


    On the other hand, the gaze of nobles looking at me was also unusual.


    On a side note, the nobles gazed at me in a rather unusual way.


    Raising Lady Charlize to be the Crown Princess


    No, shes still amoner. Its too much to have her be considered for the position of Crown Princess.


    Is hermoner status even of importance? Shes already manifested the power of the divine beast!


    .hey, they know I can still hear them, right?


    I squinted my eyes.


    But then.


    Sienna intervened in the conversation with a serious look on her face.


    If we nobles didnt get to choose who bes Crown Prince, what say do we have in determining who gets to be Crown Princess?


    Oh, Viscountess Antes. Its


    I dont think theres anyone more worthy of being the Crown Princess than Lady Charlize.


    Hearing the sharpness in her tone, the nobles around her quietly backed away with embarrassed expressions.


    But one person was an exception to that.


    That person was the Duke of Rochester.


    Viscountess Antes is intelligent.


    Ah, the Duke of Rochester.


    Margrave Antes must be pleased to know that he raised the Viscountess so well.


    The way the Duke openly praised Sienna was tantamount to agreeing with Siennas opinion.


    While Damians expression brightened, the Emperors expression was menacing.


    Hmmm.


    However, the Emperor quickly cleaned up his expression.


    It was as if he was calcting or plotting something.


    Then let me begin.


    The festival started with the Emperors deration, and members of the imperial family stepped forward.


    The method of conducting the ritual was the same as the years prior.


    Ornate chests, adorned with gold and packed with grains and fruits, were offered.


    Crown Prince,e forward and offer an offering to divine beast Aurelia.


    The Emperormanded in a grave voice.


    Damian took a step forward and carefully sprinkled holy oil onto the offerings.


    Then he threw in the embers.


    Whoosh!


    The fire set aze, roaring like crazy.


    Feeling the heat reach my face, I was pleased.


    Thank God.


    Its interpreted that therger and fiercer a fire is, the more satisfied the divine beast Aurelia would be.


    I didnt believe it, but I was still d it happened.


    The more sessful he is in lighting his fire, the more the nobles will be satisfied with Damian.


    Just then.


    The Emperor opened his mouth to me with a glint in his eyes.


    Lady Charlize.


    Yes, Your Majesty.


    Its been quite some time since all the nobles have gathered like this. How about giving them the divine beasts blessing?


    aha.


    I narrowed my eyes.


    He was aiming for this, so he remained quiet even when people were chatting earlier.


    A sense of deja vu came over me.


    It was all too familiar, for the words said to me were the very exact words given to Damian all those years ago.


    But at the time, it was to get Damian into harms way.


    This time, he must be keen on seeing if I inherited the power of the divine beast.


    If the rumors in the South were lies, itd be all fine and dandy.


    Unable to manifest the power of the divine beast, Id just be a uselessmoner.


    However, if I could manifest it, that would be a wholly different story.


    Maybe hes trying to take me away from Damian one way or another.


    And coincidentally, there was no better ce than the harvest festival for the Emperor to verify my power.


    That way, he could coax me into using my power nonchntly without arousing suspicion.


    As if to validate my conjecture, the Emperor spoke casually.