Chapter 20

But unlike the original story, Ancia didn’t die. Of course, the real Ancia is gone, but Diana doesn’t know the fact. So she won’t suffer from guilt for the rest of her life.

“You were so cool back then. I can never do that. Everyone is praising you and going crazy!”

In “The Beast and the Lady,” there is a story about Ancia not blaming Diana. Of course, she indeed felt jealous and hateful because of the situation, but she couldn’t hate her sister, the only person who genuinely like her.

Others may not know, but Diana may realize that I am a fake.

I recalled the original and try to act as real Ancia.

“Thank you.”

“You’re so pretty.”

Diana smiled brightly. Fortunately, she didn’t seem to have any doubts.

“Are you feeling better, sister?”

“Huh?”

“They said you were drowning before.”

“Oh, yes,…”

“I was worried, but I’m glad you looked healthy.”

She looked around and came close to me.

“Sister, take this.”

Diana handed me a small red box.

“What is this?”

“The thermos is made of Mana Stone of Fire. It’ll be warm with this. I wanted to give it to you earlier, but I didn’t have the chance to.”

“It’s fine. I’m all better.”

“Don’t worry about our father! I bought it secretly with my money!”

She looked around again and held the thermos tightly in my hand.

It was both admirable and sad to see her secretly trying to give me something. The real Ancia has passed away.

“Thank you. I’ll use it well.”

Diana’s eyes are wet with tears. She is very much like Blake, to shed tears at the slightest thing.

“What are you crying about?”

“I’m so happy because you accept it…”

When I handed her a handkerchief, she shook her head.

“No. I can use mine. By the way, your handkerchief is beautiful. Did His Majesty gave it to you?”

“Yes.”

“His Majesty seems to really like you. That’s a relief.”

The heroine of this world is different. I was worried that Diana, like Richard, might be weird, but she was much cuter and lovelier than what I expected.

I thought of Blake and Diana standing side by side.

The two will get along very well.

I’m supposed to be happy for them, but I feel lonely instead.

***

After the ball, I returned to the Crown Prince’s palace.

The moment our carriage entered the palace, I felt at ease. As expected, I felt at home here.

“Ancia!”

As soon as I got off the carriage, Blake approached and gently hugged me. I hugged him back.

It’s a pleasure to have a family to welcome you back from an outing.

Of course, it was only moving from one palace to another, but it felt like I have just came home from a short trip.

“Your Highness, how am I?”

“Pretty.”

It was a short remark, but I was delighted, it meant more than anything I have heard today.

I took off my fancy dress and took a bath, soon changing into comfortable pyjamas.

As I climbed onto the bed, Blake asked me.

“Ancia, did you have fun today?”

“I was so nervous that I was not really enjoying it. But it was nice.”

“Did you dance? His Majesty led you well, right?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Why?”

“I want my first dance to be with you.”

“…….”

“His Majesty knows that.”

Blake expression changes, and he didn’t look happy. He replied,

“You should have danced with His Majesty. I would never be able to go to such a place…”

“Why can’t you go?”

“I’m cursed…”

I clasped his hands.

‘Today, I met someone who could lift your curse. She was such a pretty and lovely girl.’

Swallowing the words inside, I looked at Blake.

“Your Highness, please promise me one thing.”

“Promise?”

“Yes. When the curse is lifted later, please dance with me.”

I don’t want much. I wanted to dance with Blake whose curse had been lifted at the ballroom, for once.

“Of course. Who else would I dance with besides Ancia?”

Blake looked up at me.

“Ancia, I’m so scared.”

“Curses will definitely be lifted. You don’t have to worry.”

“Not a curse, but I’m afraid Ancia will leave me.”

He held my hand firmly together.

“I’m afraid my wife will suddenly leave me behind.”

“…Where am I going?”

I told that lie again. But Blake grabbed my hand even harder.

“Ancia, don’t leave me…”

“Your Highness…”

“Ancia is the only one for me. Ancia, I will do whatever you want, so don’t leave me!”

He must have felt I was lying, and Blake cried out in desperation.

“Your Highness, don’t cry. Don’t cry.”

I hugged him and patted him on the back. I can always say that I definitely won’t leave, but the white lie I’ve always told him about, somehow, didn’t come out.

“Ancia, tell me you won’t leave.”

“Your Highness…”

“Promise me you won’t leave me.”

“… I’m not leaving.”

By succumbing to Blake’s pleas, I finally made another promise I couldn’t keep.

***

I promised Blake I wouldn’t leave. But at the same time, I thought I should prepare for a breakup.

Diana is Blake’s first love. Although the pair split up when Diana fell for Richard, it was Blake who first loved her.

So even though Blake is young and follows me, if he meets Diana, he’ll choose her instead.

But Blake seems to like me much more than I thought.

The next day, I sent a letter to Count Bellacian saying I wanted to see Diana. Then the count replied that he would send Diana at any time.

Count Bellacian hated it if Diana plays with Ancia. So I thought there was a high probability of him rejecting it. Yet, what came was an unexpected response.

***

“Your Highness, today my sister will visit us.”

“Yes. I know.”

Blake nodded his head.

He cried so much, telling me not to leave, but he must be nervous to meet his first love.

I secretly talked to Hans and made a new outfit. The clothes he wore today were those clothes.

Children are always like that. Even if they talked with someone they’ve met for several hours, they’ll still forget the conversation the next day. I was disappointed even though I knew that. But It’s a good thing.

“Are you nervous?”

“A little bit. If my sister-in-law hates me, it’s not nice, right?”

Huh? Wasn’t it the excitement of meeting his first love?

I felt something was wrong, but he might be saying that only in front of me.

“It’s all right. Don’t worry.”

Diana, as a heroine, was kind-hearted and had no repulsion for the curse.

It’ll be an earlier meeting than the original, but it’s better to be faster than too late.

I fixed Blake’s Cravat.

Soon after, the Bellacian carriage arrived.

“Sister!”

Diana, wearing a bright yellow dress, looks extraordinarily lovely today.

“I was so happy to hear that you wanted to see me. I couldn’t sleep at all last night because it was like a dream! Oh, I love the dress. You look so pretty today. Why are you getting prettier every day?”

Diana was much brighter and a little more talkative than what was mentioned in the original story.

“Diana, say hello to the Crown Prince first.”

“Oh, greetings to the Crown Prince.”

“Nice to meet you, Lady Bellacian.”

Blake said in a rather mature way.

“Your Majesty, thank you for inviting me.”

Diana also used good manners. There was no sign of fear or reluctance from her.

The two person standing side by side looked much better than I imagined.

“Diana, I’m sorry, but I need to see His Majesty for a while. Can you wait here?”

“Yes, don’t worry.”

“Your Highness, can you show Diana around the palace?”

“Of course. Leave it to me!”

“Yes, please.”

I went to the Imperial Palace to give them time to get to know each other.