ㅤChapter 27: Aquamarine’s Fury
ㅤ”I can’t possibly eat sweets of this poor quality! Go and replace them immediately!”
ㅤ”With all due respect, Aquamarine-sama. The quality of wheat is poor this season, and these are the highest quality sweets available.”
ㅤ”～～～～! You’re going to argue with me like that?! When did you become so impertinent?”
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ㅤAquamarine swiped her right arm, and the tea set arranged on the table fell to the floor with a deafening clatter.
ㅤThe cookies, each with a small bite taken out of them, scattered all over the floor.
ㅤThe attending maid repeatedly bowed her head with a pale face, saying, “Please forgive me.”
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ㅤ”Sigh. This is boring. Truly boring. I’m protecting Belheim as the Saintess, yet I can’t even eat decent sweets.”
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ㅤIf her older sister Ruby had gone in her place as the bride, she should have been able to live comfortably until she could return to the public eye as 『Aquamarine, the twin sister of the Princess』. She should have been able to obtain a huge dowry and some leisure time, without losing her status as a princess or her position as a Saintess.
ㅤBut the plan was exposed on the first day of the wedding procession. It was all because of her stupid older sister.
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ㅤ”Onee-sama is truly useless. Thanks to her, I haven’t been able to rest at all.”
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ㅤThe dowry ran out faster than she expected, and her boring daily life quickly returned.
ㅤShe didn’t want to fulfill her role as a Saintess because it was troublesome. Using her power made her tired, and it worsened her skin condition. Since she had to be a 『beautiful princess』, she didn’t want to do any work that would take a toll on her.
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ㅤ”I don’t want to go on domestic inspections because my dress will get dirty. I hate being spoken to by the filthy country folk, and their crude food is bad for my skin.”
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ㅤShe had expected to be able to rest for a while, so she couldn’t accept the outcome that was not so.
ㅤTo make matters worse, at the same time as the wedding procession, the quality of the country’s agricultural products began to deteriorate. It was undoubtedly the farmers’ fault for being lazy, yet why did she, a noble Saintess, have to eat crude sweets?
ㅤAs she was biting her nails in frustration, a voice called out from outside her room.
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ㅤ”Aquamarine-sama. His Majesty the King requests your presence.”
ㅤ”Otou-sama? I wonder what it is. Perhaps he’s going to buy me some new jewels to make up for the poor quality of the food!”
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ㅤAquamarine instantly regained her good mood. She stepped on the scattered cookies with her high heels and headed towards her father’s office.
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ㅤ◇
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ㅤHer father’s story was completely different from what she had imagined.
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ㅤ”Are you not neglecting your public duties, Aquamarine? This year, our country’s primary industries are all experiencing a decline in harvest yield and quality. Some scholars are saying that the miasma may be getting stronger.”
ㅤ”Miasma? I know nothing about it. It’s unthinkable for me to neglect my daily duties. I offer prayers whenever I have time.”
ㅤ”Is that so……? I apologize, Aquamarine. I seem to have been a little agitated.”
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ㅤThe King softened his tone.
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ㅤ”I know you are devoting yourself to our country every day. But now is a national crisis. I believe you are offering prayers every morning, but I would like you to pray at noon and night as well. Also, could you visit the farmland in the south this weekend and encourage the people?”
ㅤ”……Isn’t there supposed to be a party this weekend to welcome the Crown Prince of the neighboring country?”
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ㅤThe Crown Prince of the neighboring country, Cerdio, was twenty years old. He was handsome and quite skilled with a sword. He was the object of admiration for unmarried young ladies, especially since he was still unengaged. Aquamarine had thought that she might consider going out with him if he really insisted.
ㅤShe had been looking forward to being approached by him at this party.
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ㅤ”I want you to prioritize your role as a Saintess. We are making arrangements for the Duke Opal’s daughter to attend the welcoming party in your place.”
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ㅤ–The Duke Opal’s daughter, you say?
ㅤAquamarine gritted her teeth.
ㅤOf course, she was the highest-ranking lady in society. Next came the Duke Opal’s daughter, who was the same age as her. Her dignified beauty and intelligence, inherited from her father the Prime Minister, were popular, and she received a lot of attention from men. She was a thorn in Aquamarine’s side.
ㅤTo have such a woman steal the seat of welcoming the Crown Prince from her —!!
ㅤShe felt a sensation as if the blood in her head was boiling, but her father’s words brought her back to her senses.
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ㅤ”That’s how it is. Kind Aquamarine, will you accept this?”
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ㅤ–Even though he was her father, he was the King. Unlike the time of the wedding procession, she couldn’t refuse when he brought up her role as a 『Saintess』.
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ㅤ”I understand. For the sake of Belheim, I will work myself to the bone.”
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ㅤUpon returning to her room, Aquamarine silently threw a vase against the wall.
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ㅤ（–This is all Onee-sama’s fault. That useless girl messed up, and now I’m the one suffering. This is unacceptable. I have to make her pay for her sins.）
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ㅤAquamarine called out to her maid in a sharp voice. The maid, who had been standing against the wall, erasing her presence, jumped in surprise and rushed to her master.
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ㅤ”Do you need anything?”
ㅤ”Find Onee-sama immediately. She’s probably begging somewhere in the Langley Empire, so find her and bring her back. If you tell her that I’m hiring her as my personal maid, she’ll come running with tears in her eyes.”
ㅤ”……But that is……”
ㅤ”Can’t you hear my orders? I can replace you with anyone, so I can fire you if I want.”
ㅤ”……! I apologize. I will make arrangements immediately.”
ㅤ”Wait. I have a good idea.”
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ㅤAquamarine showed a hideous smile.
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ㅤ”Send Onee-sama’s former fiancé, the Magic Division Commander. Onee-sama liked that man for some reason. This is going to be interesting.”
ㅤ”Understood.”
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ㅤThe maid left the room as if fleeing.
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ㅤ（I won’t forgive her. She should come back here and work for me. Onee-sama should always be my supporting role.）
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ㅤAquamarine glanced up at the clock. It was almost time for her prayers, which had been increased to three times a day, but she snorted and sat down in front of her dressing table. She was tired today, and she was going to make a new dress tomorrow, so she thought she could just start the day after tomorrow.
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ㅤ（Being a Saintess is really troublesome, it’s just tiring. I’m already supreme just by existing, so it’s okay to be lax with my work.）
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ㅤLooking at her beautiful face reflected in the mirror, she smiled faintly.