More important than how or why I was resurrected is what I symbolize. What these people hope for are all the benefits they'll gain from my presence by their side.
That must be why they can smile so pleasantly and spout such agreeable words even with a monster like me before them.
It was laughable. The ghost who had clung to me begging for rest seemed far more pure-hearted than these insufferable people of the Imperial Palace.
"Have you forgotten why you sent me to the execution platform? It was because I beat Your Highness's beloved fiancée until she fainted."
Back then they looked at me with eyes full of disgust, but now—what was that? How did that happen?
I suppressed the urge to immediately heap criticism upon them because of a new figure who caught my eye.
"If you leave me here, think of how heartbroken that fiancée of yours will be."
I raised my voice in a dry tone, lacing it with open mockery.
"Or is mistreating your fiancée simply your taste?"
"I've never mistreated you, Anneli."
"Who said I was talking about me? I'm referring to your current fiancée."
Maxel was paying closer attention to my words than ever before. So close was his focus that he failed to notice the presence behind him.
I cast a casual glance over Maxel's shoulder and deepened my smile. This visitor to the Crown Prince's palace, appearing at such an exquisite timing, was truly welcome.
Fortunately, the other party also recognized me and froze in place. How fortunate that Lilia recognized me at a single glance.
"I heard this and that while wandering about. They say you miss me?"
At my deliberately bright and clear words, Lilia turned her wide eyes toward Maxel.
"What?"
"You've only just taken on a new fiancée, yet you show lingering attachment to your former one."
Behind Maxel, I could see Lilia's face turning pale. She wasn't alone—several maids attending her were present as well, and their expressions were anything but ordinary, clearly indicating they had heard my words.
"……."
Lilia didn't call out to Maxel. Instead, she bit her lip and glared at Maxel's back. She probably wanted to see him deny it.
I, having accomplished exactly what I wanted by needling both Lilia and Maxel, felt a small measure of satisfaction.
Whether he denied it or not was no concern of mine, and I was about to ignore Maxel entirely when he suddenly stepped closer to me.
"If I said I missed you, would you stay?"
What is this madman saying right now?
I looked at Maxel in disbelief, and behind him, Lilia's pale face shouted sharply:
"Your Highness!"
Only then did Maxel, who had been so focused on me that he didn't know who was behind him, come to his senses. Seeing Lilia standing there with her fists clenched and trembling, Maxel was visibly flustered.
"Lilia?"
"Your Highness, what is the meaning of this? Why is my older sister here? And what did you just say?"
"That's……."
Flustered, Maxel couldn't answer immediately and hesitated. At his attitude, Lilia's eyebrows shot up.
"You said you missed her? Was what the village head in Riddle said true? Back then you clearly said no!"
Oh, so the village head in Riddle did verify the truth of my words to the party involved. I'd thought that village head wasn't in his right mind either, but to think he'd so openly overturn Lilia's peace of mind.
At Lilia's reaction, Maxel urgently tried to placate her.
"Lilia, I think there's been a misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding? I just heard what Your Highness said with my own ears!"
"There's a reason for that."
Lilia's large, beautiful green eyes grew moist with tears. Once upon a time, I had seen those tears plenty too.
When tears welled in those eyes, no one could pretend not to notice. Everyone except me.
'Seeing how she immediately squeezes out tears, it seems the tactic still works well?'
Just as Lilia was about to burst into delicate sobs, new footsteps sounded in the corridor. My gaze, along with Maxel's and Lilia's, simultaneously moved toward the sound.
The owner of the quick footsteps revealed himself at the end of the corridor. After glancing about, he approached me at a near-run, as if Maxel and Lilia weren't even visible to him.
Color rose in his face as he drew close.
"So you were here!"
"Greetings, First Prince."
Heinrich, who had likely been about to call my name, regained his reason only at my formal greeting maintaining distance. After a brief hesitation, he nodded with a composed tone.
"I'm pleased to meet you like this, Princess."
"What brings you here, Brother?"
Maxel asked in a sensitive tone, looking at Heinrich with bewildered eyes. Heinrich, who had been ignoring Maxel and Lilia until now, reluctantly turned to look at them.
"His Majesty has commanded me to escort the Princess."
"What nonsense is this? Anneli is my……."
"Initially that was the command, but His Majesty was concerned that given your poor relationship with the Princess, she might feel uncomfortable. Additionally, he worried about putting your fiancée in an awkward position."
Calmly glancing between Maxel and Lilia, Heinrich added composedly:
"Indeed, His Majesty's wisdom is remarkable."
With a slight upward curve of his lips, he extended his hand to me.
"Princess. If you don't mind, I'd like to guide you."
"It would be my honor."
Smiling brightly as if to show off, I placed my hand in Heinrich's. Glancing sideways at Maxel, I saw him standing rigidly with a stiff face.
Right beside him, Lilia was holding onto his arm as if embracing it, her eyes brimming with tears.
Even if it weren't for Lilia, Maxel wouldn't have been able to stop us. He would have easily realized that Heinrich wasn't lying right now.
Heinrich was in no position to act against his will in even the smallest matters. That meant, at least within the Imperial Palace, he couldn't falsely claim imperial orders before the Crown Prince.
So the Emperor assigning Heinrich to receive me must be true.
"I'll clear out quickly, so enjoy your time with your fiancée."
Heinrich smiled at Maxel and turned to escort me away. I willingly turned as he guided.
As we passed by the two of them, I could feel Lilia's green eyes particularly persistently examining my face. She seemed to want to find something from me.
I didn't know what it was.
We exited the Crown Prince's palace. Only when we reached a proper guest room did my chest finally settle. Once we were alone, Heinrich lowered his voice and asked urgently:
"What is going on, Anneli? How did you end up at the Imperial Palace?"
It was hard to believe this was the same person who had acted so composed earlier. Looking at him now, his attire wasn't even neat. He must have run here in a hurry upon hearing the news of my sudden appearance at the palace.
I cleared my throat awkwardly and averted my gaze.
"It's a long story."
"Do you know how worried I was when contact was suddenly cut off?"
Oh right, I'd forgotten I was supposed to contact Heinrich once the magical tool returned to normal.
"Ah, my apologies about that. That too is a long story."
This was the Imperial Palace, where who knows who might be listening at any moment. It wasn't an appropriate place to lay out all the details. At my answer, Heinrich fell silent with a frustrated expression.
"But how did you end up in charge of watching over me?"
For the Emperor to change his mind before even a few hours had passed. He must have intended to show off the connection between the Crown Prince and the resurrected one publicly by assigning me to Maxel.
At my question, Heinrich hesitated. Furrowing his brow as if he'd heard a troublesome question, he answered slowly:
"The moment I heard the news that you had suddenly appeared at the Imperial Palace, I went to see His Imperial Majesty. ……I knelt for the first time in a very long while."
He explained that he had persuaded the Emperor by citing my infamous reputation from the past, arguing that entrusting me to Maxel would only fuel his resentment.
Saying that since an opportunity like this wouldn't come again, it would be best to leave no room for problems to arise.
What surprised me was that the Emperor had accepted Heinrich's persuasion. Even if he had knelt.
That was because the entire reason for keeping me here in the first place was a choice made considering the 'resurrected one's influence.'
If Heinrich and I were to appear close, it might actually be bad for Maxel, the Crown Prince.
The fact that Heinrich had handled Maxel's schedule on a previous occasion, too…… it all felt like ominous signs.
"Maids will be coming, so we can't talk long. I'll visit secretly again, so don't be surprised."
"Secretly?"
At my flustered question, Heinrich gave an awkward smile.
"You probably don't believe it, but I can. I'm able to."
After hesitating briefly, he asked in an even smaller voice, almost whispering:
"Do you truly think my life comes from Maxel's generosity?"
"Well……."
Well naturally, I had thought it came from the victor's arrogance. Maxel, having become Crown Prince, wanted to boast of being generous and magnanimous himself.
In reality, Maxel had been satisfied with Heinrich staying in the palace as quiet as a dead mouse. He even occasionally mentioned that situation publicly as if it were something to boast about.
Heinrich was a prince who had barely been breathing after his defeat. He had survived only because his recovery had been deemed impossible.
Because he had lost everything he possessed.
Maxel had been certain that Heinrich could no longer oppose him. That Heinrich had given up the throne.
'But did he actually not give it up?'
Realizing a possibility I had never considered before, goosebumps rose along my spine. Heinrich gazed at my face for a moment, then took a step back. Just then, maids entered in a crowd with a knock.
"Then rest well, Princess."
As if he had finished what he came to do, Heinrich turned away without looking back. The door closed, and the maids approached me with bows as I stood there dazed, the shock still not having worn off.
"It is an honor to serve you, Princess."
At the unexpectedly large number of maids, my brows naturally furrowed.
"I don't think I'll be needing dedicated attendance. I won't be staying long."
"His Majesty has given strict orders to serve with full devotion even if only for a day."
I considered sending some of them away, but ultimately gave up. Rather than arousing unnecessary suspicion by trying to drive them out, it would be better to pretend to cooperate and then stab them in the back.
But still, everything had progressed far too suddenly. They must have been surprised by my sudden disappearance—I wondered how Zen and Samuel were doing.