PSITAC 17

Chapter 17

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The moment dawn broke, Emma hurried in to wake me up.

She was even faster than Jelly.

An awkward smile filled Emma’s face.

“…How are you feeling today?”

“I’m fine. Really, it doesn’t bother me. Besides, Emma, you know I can’t remember anything anyway.”

Emma slowly nodded.

“I’m relieved to hear that. We have to attend the morning mass, so I think you should get up now.”

Looking outside the window, the sun had only just begun to rise over the horizon.

Still, today of all days, I had decided to go through with this for Agatha’s sake.

The moment I sat up in bed, the little creatures curled up beside me lifted their heads.

“Meow!”

“Kkiing……”

“Kkaung!”

Merry twisted his entire body while exposing his belly, pawing at his face like a cat washing itself.

You adorable little brat.

When I tickled his pink belly, Merry blinked sleepily and yawned. Jelly and Ttori still seemed half-asleep, lazily refusing to wake up.

I had just finished getting ready with Emma and the maids helping me when the head butler came to see me.

“May I come in, Your Grace?”

“Yes.”

The little ones who had buried their faces under their paws looked up briefly. Once they confirmed it was the butler, they immediately buried their faces again and went back to sleep.

“What is it?”

“Um… you have guests.”

“Guests? At this hour?”

I checked the time.

It was only seven in the morning.

“Yes, Your Grace. I think… you should see them.”

“Emma, are we fully prepared?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Emma finished by sliding black lace gloves onto my hands.

“Seriously, who would come uninvited this early in the morning?”

And at that moment, I remembered once again:

You should never let your guard down in life.

Sitting comfortably in the reception room was none other than—

“Your Highness the Crown Prince?”

“Agatha.”

Weren’t we supposed to stop seeing each other?

And there wasn’t just one guest.

Another man sat beside Nael.

He looked scholarly.

Who’s that supposed to be?

Emma quickly whispered into my ear.

“That’s Chase Damon, the eldest son of House Damon. The future Count Damon……”

Ah, that married man?

“Greetings, Duchess of Stadiun. I came to offer my condolences before today’s ceremony. My name is Chase Damon.”

“…Thank you for coming.”

Nael and Chase exchanged glances.

Nael completely ignored him, while Chase appeared strangely relaxed.

“Y-Your Grace, we really should depart now.”

At those words, both Nael and Chase stood at the same time.

As though they both intended to escort me.

A cold tension wrapped around the two men.

This is a complete deadlock.

Cow dung in front of me, dog dung behind me. Damn it, stepping on either one would ruin my day anyway.

As I stubbornly hesitated, Nael extended his hand toward me.

His expression was cold, as though he were already irritated.

“Let’s go, Agatha.”

The demand sounded so natural that I was unconsciously swept along by it.

Well… I suppose he’s still better than the married guy.

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Silence filled the carriage.

Nael had come to see Agatha in hopes of sorting out the chaos in his mind, but now he only felt even more conflicted.

Chase.

That Chase Damon!

Before his marriage, Chase had undoubtedly been considered one of the most promising men in high society.

But now?

Did he seriously think he was worthy of Agatha?

Nael pressed a hand against his forehead.

“That lunatic seriously……”

At the sharp mutter, Agatha glanced sideways at him.

Though she had ended up in the carriage by accident, she felt uncomfortable here too.

Still, she agreed with him on one point.

Chase was insane.

Wow. This is the first time we’ve ever agreed on something.

She had already been dumbfounded when House Damon first sent a marriage proposal.

“You’re not actually dating Chase Damon, are you?”

“Are you crazy?”

The moment the words left her mouth, Agatha bit her tongue in regret.

A brief silence settled over the carriage.

Nael removed his glasses and rubbed at the corners of his eyes.

“Haa…”

His sigh softened slightly.

Putting political reasons aside, Nael simply disliked the thought of Agatha associating with Chase.

“Agatha, Chase is a married man.”

“I know that.”

Agatha answered curtly.

“And he’s currently in the middle of an annulment lawsuit.”

I didn’t know that.

Agatha’s eyes widened.

Apparently, it really was true that she had completely cut herself off from high society lately.

Nael adjusted his glasses and continued.

“House Damon’s recent movements are suspicious. That annulment lawsuit will probably be accepted.”

The Emperor was preparing for war, and to do that, he needed House Damon’s support.

And to keep the Empress satisfied, there was a high chance Damon would win the case.

“It seems obvious what Chase Damon is planning.”

Agatha agreed.

Why does it feel like the Crown Prince and I keep agreeing today?

“Agatha, a young female head of household naturally becomes easy prey. And there’s no guarantee there won’t be a second Chase.”

Agatha blinked.

Until now, every conversation between her and Nael had been sharp and hostile.

Nael misunderstood her, and Agatha had only focused on avoiding him.

To Agatha, Nael was the man who would eventually drive her to death in the far future.

Priority number one to avoid.

“Agatha, what exactly have you prepared to protect yourself?”

The only reason things had been quiet these past six months was because Agatha had been too busy watching Nael carefully.

And Nael pointed that out.

“It’s fine if you turn your back on high society. But as long as you are Stadiun, you cannot turn your back on the world.”

Nael’s crimson eyes stared directly at her.

The roadside trees cast shadows through the carriage window. Leaf-shaped shadows stretched across Nael’s face.

Sunlight filtered between them.

Those red eyes fixed on Agatha.

Quiet breathing.

The rattling carriage.

And the concern in his gaze.

So annoying.

Agatha had to admit something she absolutely did not want to acknowledge.

He’s ridiculously handsome.

Seriously heart-fluttering handsome.

---

Hisha scratched furiously at the bedroom door.

[You damned Nael!]

His short whiskers trembled angrily.

He had clearly said to take him along if Nael was going anywhere!

Instead, Nael had locked him in the room and disappeared.

[Arrogant little human! I’ll teach you a lesson!]

Hisha slammed his paws against the door repeatedly.

But no matter how much he raged, the heavy door did not budge.

To transform into his adult form, he needed to borrow Nael’s energy.

And in his current form, there was no way he could leap off the balcony.

Scratch scratch scratch scratch!

That was why Hisha could only keep clawing uselessly at the door.

After who knew how long, the bedroom door finally creaked open ever so slightly.

“Hey.”

A small pale hand beckoned toward Hisha.

A woman crouched down and smiled brightly at him.

“Are you hungry? Or are you upset because you were left alone?”

At the gentle question, Hisha answered before he even realized it.

“Kiing……”

Feeling strangely wronged, Hisha leapt straight into the woman’s arms.

He recognized her.

She was one of the maids who came in to clean Nael’s bedroom whenever he was away.

She occasionally brought snacks for Hisha too.

Though she lacked common sense sometimes—offering meat to a divine beast and all—her heart was warm.

“Kkiiing……”

The maid stroked Hisha’s head gently.

“Were you scared all alone?”

Without thinking, Hisha rolled over and exposed his belly.

Ahem. She’s clearly experienced at this.

Her belly rubs felt incredibly good.

Closing his eyes, Hisha relaxed completely beneath her touch.

“So cute……”

And apparently, the maid had good taste too.

The corners of Hisha’s mouth curled upward smugly.

As she continued rubbing his belly, strands of hair slipped free from beneath her maid’s headscarf.

Bright golden hair shimmered vividly.

---

The reason Agatha had sat speechless in the carriage wasn’t only because Nael was handsome…

“He only said things that were completely right.”

She unconsciously groaned.

Emma had definitely said not many people would attend today.

Who would care enough to come to a memorial marking the first anniversary of the dead?

And yet—

“Duchess of Stadiun, we haven’t seen you much in high society lately.”

“Exactly! You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to see you.”

This place is basically a marketplace.

Were Nael and Chase’s visits earlier actually warnings for this exact moment?

Was I always this popular?

“I’ve heard rumors that Your Grace has been passionately involved in charity work lately.”

“I also heard that High Priest Kivre of the Central Temple has taken an interest in Your Grace.”

“Indeed! Taking in and caring for divine beasts that lost their powers! Even the great god Maellis would surely be moved!”

Emma had said my image was improving more and more every day.

Honestly, being the villainess was less exhausting.

So this is what people call image laundering.

Without intending to, I had apparently become some kind of messiah for divine beasts.

And listen to these people.

‘Divine beasts that lost their powers’?

That’s not right.

Shouldn’t it be ‘abandoned divine beasts’?

Look at those silver tongues. Do they eat butter instead of rice or something?

“That’s enough.”

The one who dismissed them was Nael.

“The Duchess of Stadiun came here to mourn her mother’s death. I doubt she appreciates your rudeness.”

The nobles who met the Crown Prince’s eyes quickly turned away and retreated.

“Ahem! We meant no offense. His Highness is simply being oversensitive, wouldn’t you agree, Duchess?”

Right.

I’m the villainess Agatha.

The Agatha who says whatever she wants.

I am Agatha Yuna Stadiun. Let’s go!

Gathering all my energy into my voice, I snapped back:

“The fact that you called me merely ‘Duchess’ already annoys me. And I agree with His Highness. Why are all of you so rude? Are we close friends or something?”

“Urk!”

The man who had tried to paint Nael as oversensitive turned bright red.

I pressed harder.

“Do you not know who I am? I’m Agatha Stadiun.”