Your Highness, The Lady You’ve Abandoned IS the Saintess!

I danced a single song with Sir Berland, and then Maynard after.

After that, he was called upon by his majesty and reluctantly went his way, but not before putting the white rose in his chest to my hair to keep other men away. Fortunately, no one dared to ask me for another dance after that.

But contrary to me, Sir Berland and Brother Orpheus were flocked by ladies.

Meanwhile, Caroline and I took our seats at the chairs arranged at the venue’s corner and amused ourselves with iddle talks.

The party’s leading character, his highness, Prince Savalier, was merrily dancing in the dance hall.

He has turned nineteen this year. The 2nd prince had a glossy black hair, much like his brother Maynard, but with a slightly lighter eye color. Due to poor eyesight, he has been wearing black-rimmed glasses for years. He is still not engaged with anyone and was considered the most popular bachelor of this country up until Maynard broke off our engagement. Apparently, Maynard’s popularity sky rocketed over Prince Savalier when he became free for other ladies’ picking.

If I told them how hopeless the prince’s personality is, compared to how dashing he looks on the outside, I wonder how many of them will believe me?

While I was having such idle conversations with Caroline, noble ladies suddenly gathered around us before we even noticed.

‘It’s been a long time, Aileen.’

‘I have not seen you since your anointment as the saintess. I was worried you’ve been held captive by some ruffians somewhere.’

‘That, or thrown in the castle’s dungeon for plotting revenge against hi highness.’

‘Oh, I was convinced that she was deceived by some wretched man.’

‘Well, either way, it’s nice to see you’re doing well.’

…Ladies, you have quite the imaginations in your heads.

I wonder why all my friends are such foul-mouthed maidens?

But when Caroline added that I was kidnapped indeed, everyone’s eyes suddenly shone bright. Goodness! You should all be worried, not amused!

‘Wait, what happened?’

‘What? Did the ruffian had his way?’

‘Was he a good man?’

‘Interesting, tell me more!’

Caroline!!

What do you think you’re doing?

Well, it’s not like Paris’s case is kept secret; they just chose not to divulge it openly in public because it relates to diplomacy; so most of my friends are naturally kept in the dark.

How am I supposed to keep it in order, then?

When I turned my attention Caroline’s way and gave her the glare, my friend was savoring a glass of champagne with strawberries.

‘She was apparently locked away until his highness’ rescue came. Talk about true love.’

What are you saying?

What do you mean by love? As I was trying to deny that, the ladies gleefully squealed.

‘I knew it. I’ve always thought it was love.’

‘I mean, we’re talking about Lina here, you know.’

‘I feel a little sorry for his highness.’

‘Thank goodness, Aileen was the saintess.’

‘I guess things are back the way it was, then.’

‘Of course, his highness loves Aileen so much after all.

‘…He dumped me by saying there’s no love between our political engagement, you know?’

When I sullenly rebutted, the crowd of ladies all laughed together.

‘Goodness, Aileen. You and your jests.’

‘That cannot possibly true.’

‘Surely, his highness must have his circumstances.’

‘Won’t you stop sulking and forgive him already?’

‘I mean, isn’t that rose on your head from his highness?’

‘Right? Isn’t that basically him claiming you for his own?’

‘You’re the only one who didn’t notice, Aileen.’

‘You’ve always been such a dullard.’

When did these ladies’ become his highness’ allies?

As I inclined my head and wondered about that, Caroline laughed like she was looking at someone foolish.

‘Have you not seen his highness’s face whenever she looks at Lina?’ she said.

What? What do you even mean?

I feel like they’ve really made a fool out of me.

While I was pouting my face with displeasure, all the ladies made a racket with their squeals.

I touched the white rose attached to my hair.

It’s a flower found anywhere, but today, it’s a profound white rose that offers so much significance.

The only ones allowed to wear a rose today were members of the royal family. All the other noblemen were wearing a different kind of flower. And among all the bachelors, only Maynard wore a white rose to his chest. Prince Savalier wore a red rose, while his majesty’s was yellow-colored. In other words, from the perspective of any onlookers, the white rose in my hair declares me as Maynard’s possession.

That’s why no one else approached me today. I mean, no men would dare to lay their hands at the property of the crown prince, right?

I wonder why did I just took the rose like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Maynard is not my fiancée, and I am not his property either. That being the case, wouldn’t placing this flower in my head contradictory?

‘How arrogant.’

‘Right, what arrogance. Just who does Maynard think he is?―hmm?

I feared my thoughts leaked into my mouth, but that voice was not mine.

When I raised my face, I saw a lady with a straight chestnut-colored hair glaring at me; it as Lina Wagner, the count lady from House Wagner.

As you know, reader, this lady was the foremost candidate to be chosen as the saintess, and the lady who, after my engagement’s annulment with Maynard, became his fiancée for some time.

I heard she came with his brother Sir Grotz, but apparently she came here alone.

‘My, well, she is the saintess, dear.’

Caroline, who stood beside me, responded with a provocative laugh, which turned Lina’s face colorful.

Mhm, yes. Caroline, what strong personality you have there.’

Just like that, Lina immediately turned her face away and went towards the balcony.

‘Caroline…’

‘It’s fine. I mean, what do you think Rina has been prattling when you left to the duchy? She kept saying that if it weren’t for you, she would have been the saintess, you know? I wonder where is that buffoon who thought her to be the most-likely candidate. I, for one, think that even if you’re weren’t chosen, she would be the least likely in the list.‘

Carline said and drank up the whole glass of champagne.