Apparently, I’m a Poisonous Woman Who Sells One-Night Dreams, but I Ended Up Awakening a Hero’s Devoted Love - Chapter 2.12

The day after the soirée, though the afternoon was reserved for the dialogue between Dennis and Jerf, Mariadoll was told she had nothing in particular to do.

While she understood that was reasonable, she still felt restless since morning and was painting in her room when Jerf arrived carrying a pile of books.

“What’s the matter?”

“Princess Melfi expressed a desire to read books from Cortaus, so she went to the library under the guidance of Crown Prince Leonidas. She borrowed several books and returned just a short while ago. Since she can’t read them all at once, she lent me a few.”

“History, culture, stories of Cortaus… All seem to be topics without political complications.”

It’s only natural, since they aren’t formally engaged yet, she thought. As she picked up one of the books Jerf had placed on the table, she noticed one was about painting.

“Princess Melfi chose that one because she thought you’d like it. It’s from the royal family’s private collection and apparently has antique value.”

“Please don’t casually hand me something so terrifying!”

She hurriedly set it back on the table and stepped away. Wasn’t it an incredibly precious item?

She vowed to herself that if she ever looked at it, she must wear gloves.

(Still, even though the range of books she could borrow was limited, being guided to a place only royalty can enter… That must mean Crown Prince Leonidas is positive about this engagement, right?)

The room prepared for Mariadoll was probably quite nice for a lady-in-waiting, but it only contained a bed, a table, two chairs, one shelf, and one closet.

Jerf sat in a chair, picked up a book, and crossed his legs comfortably.

“Are you going to read here? I thought your room would be larger.”

Since she had set up an easel and was painting, paint was scattered around her feet. It wasn’t oil paint, so the smell wasn’t too strong, but thinking he might be uncomfortable, she spoke up. Jerf frowned with dissatisfaction.

“I have a dialogue with His Highness Dennis this afternoon. I need to replenish my energy a bit, or I won’t make it.”

“Can you replenish it in this messy room?”

“Well, it’d be perfect if Mariadoll put down her brush and sat on my lap.”

“Then you wouldn’t be able to read, would you?”

Hiding her embarrassment, she made a dumbfounded face and replied. Just then, there was a knock at the door.

“Yes?” she answered, and the lady-in-waiting assigned to Melfi by Cortaus peeked in.

With beige eyes and pink-blonde hair softly tied at the nape of her neck, the maid seemed surprised to see Jerf and hurriedly bowed her head.

“Miss Aria, what is it?”

“Yes, Princess Melfi is having tea in the garden and asked me to fetch you.”

“Understood. I’ll be right there.”

As she replied, Mariadoll wondered what position she was perceived to be in by those around her.

Since Jerf had come nominally as a guard knight, it would be odd for him to bring his fiancée along, so she came as a lady-in-waiting. But all she did was serve meals and make tea.

Even with the tea, after she made it, she was often invited to drink together, so it felt more like being a companion than a servant.

Since Mariadoll was leaving the room, she assumed Jerf would return to his own, but there was no sign of him moving, as if he intended to wait for her return.

After exchanging a light wave, Mariadoll headed to the detached palace’s garden.

Melfi was already there, drinking tea. When she spotted Mariadoll, she smiled gently and gestured with her palm toward the seat opposite her.

Though she had been invited for tea many times already, Mariadoll still sat down with a slight nervousness.

Even though it was a detached palace, the garden was spacious and well-maintained. Seasonal flowers and the green of the trees were dazzling to the eye.

The tea set on the table placed in the shade looked expensive at a glance, making her cautious even to touch it.

“I realized after calling you, but was I interrupting your painting?”

“No, not at all. I’ve already finished one piece, and the other isn’t very large, so it’s fine.”

It had been nearly a month since she gave Ben his dream.

Perhaps because she had more free time than usual, progress was smooth, and she was only a few days away from completion.

The sweets arranged on the table were small cupcakes topped with whipped cream and chocolate. It seemed Leonidas had prepared them, they were popular in the royal capital. Though his escorting of Melfi still had shortcomings, like leaving her alone at the soirée, he seemed fundamentally sincere.

“Which one would you like?” When asked, Mariadoll chose the chocolate cupcake with pistachio cream. A treat she’d been curious about for a while.

She scooped a bite with a fork and found chocolate chips inside. Unconsciously, her lips broke into a smile as she murmured, “Delicious.” Melfi chuckled softly.

“You make everything look delicious when you eat.”

“I apologize if I’m being rude.”

“No, not at all.”

She felt a little like she was being laughed at, but decided to let it go.

They exchanged light conversation and enjoyed themselves for a while, but at one point, Mariadoll tilted her head.

(Something feels off… Princess Melfi seems distracted today. Her responses are slower than usual, and sometimes her replies are odd.)

Even now, she placed a hand on her cheek and said, “Oh, what were we talking about again?”

This was the first time that had happened. The only thing Mariadoll could think of was the afternoon dialogue between Jerf and Dennis. But that shouldn’t directly concern Melfi.

Could it be that Melfi secretly harbored feelings for Jerf? The thought began to worry her.

“Princess Melfi, is something troubling you? For instance, the dialogue this afternoon…”

“…Yes, that’s right. I am curious about what those two will discuss. But Jerf is always calm, and His Highness Dennis is thoughtful. I’m sure it will conclude without issue.”

Then why…? she wondered, just as Melfi blinked her light blue eyes.

“Princess Melfi, are you acquainted with His Highness Dennis?”

The way she described him as “thoughtful” sounded more like her own impression than something she’d heard, so Mariadoll asked. Melfi’s cheeks, which had until now worn a regal, cheerful smile, flushed bright pink.

(Huh?)

Seeming to notice it herself, Melfi hurriedly tried to hide her face with a fan, but this time, she accidentally dropped it.

(What!?)

Before Aria, who was standing a short distance away, could rush over, Mariadoll stood and picked up the fan, handing it to her.

“Oh, thank you.”

“Not at all. It’s quite windy today, after all.”

Even though it was only a pleasant breeze.

“S-so, what were we talking about?”

“Um, about whether you knew His Highness Dennis…”

“Oh, that’s right. Before the war started, His Highness Dennis once studied abroad in Dunbargas.”

Three years ago—that would have been when Melfi was seventeen. Still in her school days.

“How old was His Highness Dennis at that time?”

“Twenty-two. I believe he was studying our country’s roads and architecture. I often saw him reading such books in the library. Oh! I was attending the academy then too, and whenever I had homework or assignments, I’d go to the library. So that’s where we met, you could say… or rather, we’d talk whenever we ran into each other, but…”

Her voice grew smaller and smaller. Even Mariadoll, who was usually oblivious to matters of the heart, couldn’t miss this.

(Princess Melfi, the more you talk, the deeper you dig your own grave.)

But she couldn’t say that, so she simply nodded along.

At the same time, she dredged up the little knowledge she had about the Cortaus royal family.

The previous king and queen had no children for three years, and the following year, a consort gave birth to the current king.

Thirteen years later, the former queen finally gave birth to her first child, Dennis, but her postpartum recovery was poor, and she passed away soon after.

The previous king died twelve years ago. At that time, Dennis was thirteen, and the current king, then twenty-six, was already involved in politics as the previous king’s right-hand man, so he ascended the throne instead of Dennis.

That king first fell ill two years ago.

Thanks to the physicians’ swift response, he recovered after several months, but during that time, it was Dennis—newly married—who managed state affairs.

Leonidas was sixteen then, so it was a reasonable decision. When the king recovered, Dennis immediately returned to an advisory role. But half a year later, Carnah, the wife of the king’s younger brother, passed away.

When the king fell ill again a few months ago, there was talk of appointing Dennis—who was well-liked and the son of the formal queen—as regent, or even as the next king. But Dennis declined and recommended Leonidas as regent instead.

That was the extent of Mariadoll’s knowledge about the Cortaus royal family, all learned from Jerf on the ship.

(So, chronologically… His Highness Dennis returned home when the war broke out. After the defeat, he married Princess Carnah and served as regent for a time. Then, a few months later, when the king recovered, he returned to an advisory role, and then Princess Carnah passed away.)

It was a densely eventful few years. In terms of intensity, Mariadoll’s own life wasn’t lacking, but for royalty, the burdens they carried must be different.

(More importantly, His Highness Dennis was married, right? Oh—but now he’s single, isn’t he?)

The marriage between Leonidas and Melfi was meant to strengthen ties between the two nations.

If that were the case, then Dennis would have been suitable too, she thought then furrowed her brow.

(But in that case, nobles might push for His Highness Dennis to become the next king. I don’t know his character, but if he commanded the military, hawkish nobles might gain influence. In that case, a marriage with the friendly Crown Prince Leonidas would be more reassuring for Dunbargas.)

Melfi, taking a sip from her cup with a distant, nostalgic look in her eyes, couldn’t fully hide the face of a maiden in love. But considering the political situation, fulfilling those feelings would be difficult. Moreover, for a princess of Dunbargas to become the second wife of the king’s younger brother would require extensive groundwork.

Mariadoll washed down her mixed emotions with a sip of tea.