Thankfully the prime minister also wasn’t one of the anti-beastkin members and lent Charlotte one of the servant rooms for them to use. Of course, her actions had yet again made her father worry greatly about her. It was time for a serious father to daughter talk.

“Father, you called?”

Charlotte just entered the room Adrian was staying in after a servant delivered his short message. She took a seat and sat opposite to him.

“Well you see, your behavior has been a little strange. Are you sure you are alright?”

“Is it unacceptable?”

“No, to be honest, I heard everything that happened today from Walter and I am glad you seem to have gotten rid of the prejudice you held against both commoners and beastkin-“

“Then there should be no problem, right?”

“Well, even so, to suddenly take two strangers from the streets back home and what more, you said as your maids-“

“I don’t have anyone to play with back home, plus they would die if they were left alone any longer. Just say that we are taking advantage of each other. And if you are worried that they might in some way bring me harm, I am more than capable enough to protect myself against two little girls.”

“…Lotte dear, you are a little girl yourself.”

“So it seems, father.”

“Are you absolutely certain you are al-“

“Father, I’m afraid if anyone asks me that question one more time I might really become insane.”

(I think I’m already going insane!)

“…Alright.”

“Was that all you needed, father?”

“Since something unexpected happened, your marriage interview had been interrupted. As such, we will have to stay a little longer. The king and I had already decided that the marriage interview was to continue in about five days.”

“Eh….?”

(Oh sh*t. I almost forgot about that! Since I actually died in the original story, the second fiancé candidate, Marionette Von Lukedium became his fiancé. I completely forgot that about this! What should I do? I already planned to go back to the fief in two days since I wanted to organize everything that happened, but if I were to meet with the crown prince right now and even get engaged to him then it would be worse than when I would have died. The consequences are also troublesome is this also why they say never to mess with the flow, but then again if I did noting then I would have died, wouldn’t ? I also didn’t think that blah blah blah blah blah blah)

“…lo…”

“Lotte…”

“Charlotte”

“Eh, ah? Yes, father, did you say something?”

As if nothing happened, her dazed expression disappeared and she sweetly smiled.

“As I was saying, if you do not feel so good, you should return to your room and properly sleep. As for the meeting with the crown prince-“

“You’re right, father! Now that I think about it, I really am not feeling so good.” She abruptly stood up and began to dramatically place the back of her palm against her forehead while softly moaning “Father, I…I do not feel so good…. Ugh…”

“Eh..Lotte? Charlotte!?”

-plump

She fainted. Or at least, she pretended to faint.

(I’m sorry father of Charlotte, but I have no other choice!)

Duke Adrian began to panic. Before Charlotte’s body hit the ground, he quickly caught her by the waits and head and lifted her up. He gently placed her on the bed and checked her temperature. His expression wasn’t that good.

“I’ll be right back Lotte.” After saying so, he quickly dashed out the room to look for anyone with medical skills.

Left alone, still with her eyes closed, Charlotte faintly whispered “…oh boy…”

Not long after, the entire estate was in jeopardy. Duke Adrian had informed Walter of the situation and told him to stay by Charlotte’s side until he returns while he headed to the castle to get a healer or poison specialists. Anything that could be useful!

To make the act seem real, Charlotte adjusted her breathing and blood flow as well as blood pressure. Since it would only bring even more trouble if she pretended to be poisoned, the ones to get in trouble could be the servants at the estate, Walter or the two she had picked up. She wasn’t that inconsiderate to her surroundings and just decided to go along with having lost too much blood, her body weakened and the stress of the assault.

(That sounds realistic enough, right?)

As such, no matter how much the doctors looked, since it was fake to begin with, they were unable to find any signs of abnormality, much less poison.

The next day, after having fallen asleep at some point, even though she felt refreshed, Charlotte still had to pretend to be sickly. Her outer complexion wasn’t so good and her face rather pale.

“How are you feeling Lotte?”

“Father…I want…” she spoke in a tired tone

“What is it?”

“I want to go home…”

He didn’t immediately reply and just stared at her with a worried face. His face that was still quite young had a few wrinkles “Alright…but, I still have a few things to take care of. Since I don’t know what could happen, I will accompany you back, but I’ll leave afterwards immediately…I’m sorry Lotte, but I can’t stay with you.”

“Okay….”

(Yes! Score! Although again, I do feel a bit sorry and you’re not such a bad father, I need some time alone right now… thank you!)

“Alright then, rest a little longer for now.” he gently patted her head and kissed her on her forehead before leaving, completely oblivious to the real thoughts going through her mind right now.

Later that day, Duke Adrian along with Walter and the ‘sickly’ Charlotte accompanied by the king’s own personal knight squad made a quick trip back to the Ionesse’s fief. Oh, let’s not forget about Iris and Lilly.