- Elisabeth’s perspective in the present time -

I didn’t want to come off rude, but I couldn’t help but feel tremendously uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, your highness, I’m not planning on dancing today.”

I’m not planning on dancing anytime in the future. Thanks to Elisabeth’s repelling reputation, no one bothers to send invites to me. I can’t exactly tell if that’s a good or bad thing. If I had asked Duke Carabell, he might’ve slapped me again and rebuked me for not trying to make beneficial connections. However, deep inside my mind, I knew I would loathe regularly attending parties, balls, and events. I would never have time to study. In the end, I would be expelled from the academy and most likely disowned by the duke!

It’s not exactly easy to learn material that would be considered fictitious in the world you came from. Not to mention having to learn every single topic you missed to comprehend the curricular that you’re learning in your graduating year of education. You also have to consider that you were only recently informed that you are enrolled in this prestigious academy.

Teresa jabbed me in the corset with her elbow, reminding me of the tightness. She whispered into my ear, “My Lady, you should accept! It’s ballroom etiquette!”

The prince’s expression was unreadable. No eyebrows furrowed, no twitching mouth, and no fierce glare. I didn’t know what he expected me to say. For once, he wasn’t fuming, so the whole situation was unpredictable.

Ballroom etiquette, huh.

Upon taking Teresa’s whisper in mind, I questioned Prince Caydel. “We’re not in the debutante ballroom, and you want to request a dance with me? Don’t you think you’re lacking proper manners?”

My maid shot a disapproving glimpse at me. By this point in my bizarre experiences of this world, I just thought everything was amusing.

You’d think that after rejecting someone, they would be dispirited. However, in response to my inquisitions, the distinguished prince only chuckled. “Yes, it may seem so. It looks like I need a refresher on manners. I’m truly grateful for your refusal, Lady Carabell. Now, I have a valid excuse not to dance with anybody.” He pushed back his light brown hair to the side, being absolutely pleased with my answer.

“Why? Weren’t you going to dance with Lady Lancaster?” I asked him. I had no idea why he wasn’t going to. He clearly couldn’t care less for me, and the opposite for Viktoria. I flashed a cheeky grin. “Did you...perhaps...have a lovers’ argument?”

Prince Caydel froze, and after a brief moment, he slowly said, “No...”

Hearing his hesitant reply, I just laughed. He frowned when I did so, but I could see his face burning up with rosiness. It was obvious something had gone on between them. “Alright, if you need someone to talk about it with, I’m available. This might sound strange to you, but some people have told me I give good non-violent emotional support.”

More specifically, the people in another world, living on a planet called Earth in a country not conquered by a royal family and in a town you have never heard of.

I wasn’t going to say that in front of him. It would sound like a terrible joke. Judging by the way his expression of disdain reappeared, I assumed he wasn’t in the mood for any jests. Not any of Elisabeth’s at the very least.

I motioned to leave, and my maid nodded in agreement. As soon as Teresa and I curtsied, he returned the gesture with a formal bow. The action caught my breath in my throat.

Well, that was unexpected.

Seeing him take the initiative to treat me with some respect made me dislike him a little less. I dipped my head towards him and started off with Teresa by my side. When I ran the scenario in my head again, I couldn’t help but think the prince has a soft spot for Viktoria.

It’s so adorable! I’m sure if they make it past their little quarrels, they’d make a great couple. Imagine how beautiful their children would be. If Viktoria and I were friends, maybe I would have the opportunity to hold their babies. Who am I kidding? The prince would never allow such a thing. I’d be holding the heirs to Whitensen’s throne. He would think I’m trying to poison them.

“My Lady, those two would make a terrible couple,” Teresa told me as we strode away. I snapped my head towards her.

“What? Why wouldn’t they make a good couple?” I questioned her.

She puffed her cheeks and stopped in her footsteps. “Because I support you and the crown prince!”

I let out a small “oh.” I smiled and slipped off my nude-golden gloves. I’ve been sweating in them ever since our confrontation with Lady Millien. As I aired out my fingers, I reminded her, “I’ve told you already, the prince and I already had a wonderful discussion. We hate each other.”

“But, my lady, you two are engaged. There’s no way you can break off the engagement without the king’s approval,” Teresa argued, becoming frustrated with my stubbornness.

For a moment, I thought I heard a weird grunt and muffle. I slowly turned around and caught my eyes on Garrod. He seemed to be suffocating someone. I was about to continue on as if nothing happened, but I jerked back and started right after him. Teresa tried to stop me, but I moved too quickly for her. “Why are you doing that?!” The Red Demon Knight stopped squeezing the prince’s neck. As soon as I saw the person he had his hands on, I sighed. “Prince Patrick? You’re here again?” The pummeled prince nodded in response.

This time, he wore a butler’s uniform. The vest was snug on him, and it was just as I thought: he stole it.

“I was...just trying to sneak one of those macarons you tried, and maybe, maybe I tried to talk to a few ladies, but that’s not as important as the macaron you see,” he explained. There was a plump bruise on his cheek. Blood started running down from his nose, and he wiped it with the sleeve of the uniform. “I’m surprised you bothered to check if I was okay. I’m so touched, dear Eli.” I was pitying him more than I was disgusted.

Teresa shook her head. “Just go home, your highness. Lady Carabell will not accept you.” The statement she made instantly reminded me of something.

“Perhaps, if you manage to show me your respect, I’ll one day accept you.”

“Really? You’ll accept me?”

There was the ringing of little Elisabeth’s mischievous giggle. “Yes, of course, I will accept you.”

Recalling how she plotted to manipulate the poor boy into her evildoing made me livid.

That nasty little girl caused such an innocent child to turn into such a hot mess. Would it be weird to say I hate myself even though I wasn’t the original person who owned this body?

“It was a lie,” I blurted out. “It was all a lie.”

Garrod loosened his grip and let the prince rest against the wall. He slumped in tiredness, but he still turned his head to look at me deliriously. “A lie? Oh, of course, I knew it was a lie. However, it was such a beautiful lie. I couldn’t help but believe it.” Teresa and Garrod exchanged confused glances.

“Let me tell you something that isn’t a lie. Chasing after someone like me is not worth it. Don’t loiter around the academy like some creep. Go home and get your bruise treated,” I told him with my hands on my hips.

He just laughed, laughed, and laughed until I thought I saw something of a tear. If it was a tear, he didn’t let me see it clearly, for he put his hand over his face. “The truth is so cold I refuse to accept it.” The moment he removed his hand, it was if he restarted his mind, and all that I said went in one ear and out the other. “You’ve become so much more beautiful, my dear Eli. It’s so unbelievable. I didn’t think someone so perfect could become more than perfection.”

Before the prince could blabber on further about Elisabeth’s attractiveness and charisma, Garrod grabbed his collar and made a swift chop to his nape. The man’s body went limp, and the knight carried him up into his arms. “Don’t you have a few things to ask me, Princess?” Garrod questioned me.

“Yes⎯”

“Call out my name whenever you feel like asking. I’m going to dispose of this body first. If you’ll excuse me, your highness.”

Hold on. “Dispose of?!”

As soon as I reached out to stop him, an intense red glow illuminated and blinded my sight.

He’s gone again! Why are people so rude to Elisabeth? Honestly.

My brain stopped churning thoughts.

Ah, nevermind, there are plenty of reasons why...

A sudden headache overwhelmed me, and I clutched my head. I began to rub my temples. “Teresa, let’s just head straight back to the ballroom.” She guided her hands forward for me to continue on first. “Can I take home some treats?” At this point, my maid looked just as exhausted as I was, so she merely gave me an expression of consent.

I knew she wanted to know what the conversation between Patrick and I was about, but I don’t believe I should share something that isn’t in my discretion to share. I’m not Elisabeth. I didn’t ask to be her anyways. I don’t want to take responsibility for something I didn’t do, but here I am, feeling bad for someone’s despair that was the result of her meddling.

The ballroom was as lively as it had been before I left it. The ladies and gentlemen have already danced a few rounds by now. Some were beginning to appear a bit lethargic. Others were just as energetic as they were when the debutante had only just started. Teresa and I looked ghastly in comparison to them. Luckily, they hadn't eaten much of the desserts. There was plenty left for me to harvest.

The chamber music was buoyant and cheerful. The duo of violins gave off a lovely spirited voice, and the violoncello made a mellow sound. The candles in the chandelier were relit with newer ones. However, the longer I stared at them, the worse the sick feeling in my stomach became. I could envision the white flames that danced around me the night of the transmigration.

“I don’t believe you’re excited about this either,” I said in a whisper to my maid.

All of a sudden, it was like her exhaustion had faded away. An odd glow returned to her eyes. “No, I am thrilled, my lady!” Her words made me want to drop to the floor and sit there for the rest of the debutante. I would go back to the lounge, but lord knows what could happen if I do that. “Truly, my lady,” she added, trying to convince me.

“Let’s just go back to the estate. We’ve arrived. That was already too much of a hassle anyway,” I complained. “What more could I do? No one wants to talk to me, and I don’t want to talk to them either. Those same people are the ones making my life a living hell at the academy.”

Teresa shook her head. The utter motion made my shoulders sag miserably. “No, my lady, we should, at least, stay here for a bit longer. The duke will be furious if he finds out you returned early. You know the debutante is very important to Whitensen society.”

I groaned, feeling the corset restricting my body again. “Let me go collect some sweets then.” I was about to head straight towards the array of desserts, but Teresa caught me by my arm.

My heart abruptly picked up the pace.

“Let me go and take some sweets for you. The other guests will think you’re a glutton if you take so much for yourself,” she reasoned.

Whew.

I thought she was going to tell me something important. “Don’t worry, they couldn’t think less of me. Even my mother called me a glutton. What could be worse? Having my maid being called a glutton too. One of us having a bad reputation is better than the both of us having a bad reputation.”

Teresa stepped between me and the path to the dessert table. “Teresa…” I said with irritation.