ㅤChapter 4
ㅤ”……Umm. I am Aquamarine. Why do you think I am not?”
ㅤ
ㅤWhen Ruby asked, Theodore silently pointed behind her.
ㅤTurning around, she saw the golden tassel of the carriage entrance swaying.
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ㅤ”Hiii……eeeek!!”
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ㅤLetting out a strange cry, she finally understood what the surrounding murmurs were about.
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ㅤ（I messed up!　My wig came off!　Of course, you’ve seen the portrait beforehand, so it’s natural that you think I’m someone else……）
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ㅤHaving made a blunder within three seconds of meeting him, Ruby’s mind went blank. In the first place, after being confined for eight years, her ability to communicate with people had deteriorated. Unable to come up with a good excuse, she could only hang her head.
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ㅤ”……I apologize. As you said, I am not Aquamarine. I am her older sister, Ruby.”
ㅤ”Older sister?　The Belheim Kingdom is supposed to have only one princess.”
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ㅤWhen Arnold asked with a puzzled expression, Ruby resigned herself to explaining the situation.
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ㅤ”……It would be helpful if you could keep this between us, but I am supposed to be dead. According to my father, it is for the good of the country.”
ㅤ”Supposed to be dead?　Why?”
ㅤ”I was confined in no time, so I don’t know the details, but it’s probably because of my Heavenly Star. I think they were concerned about me being a 『Poison User』.”
ㅤ”Poison User…… So, not a Saintess, but just a Poison User……”
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ㅤIt was Theodore who let out a voice filled with despair.
ㅤHis flushed expression had turned pale.
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ㅤ（His Majesty is depressed. That’s understandable. Instead of the beautiful Saintess Aquamarine, the unwanted me has come……）
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ㅤRuby was suddenly filled with a feeling of apology. She had come here intending to repay Belheim’s kindness, but from the Langley Empire’s perspective, it must have been a terrible situation. There must have been a good reason why they paid such a huge dowry.
ㅤSeeing Theodore and Arnold’s faces lose color, she realized that she had done something terrible.
ㅤThe two of them, with grim expressions, whispered to each other, and then looked down at Ruby, who was still kneeling.
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ㅤ”We will contact the Belheim Kingdom immediately. For now, Princess Ruby will stay at the detached palace.”
ㅤ”I wanted the Saintess’s younger sister. You are unnecessary, so I do not consider you my wife.”
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ㅤRuby clenched the sand in her hand on the ground.
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ㅤ”……Of course.”
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ㅤShe bowed deeply, and when she raised her head……
ㅤThe figure of the man who was supposed to be her husband was no longer there, only the onlookers staring at her with curiosity remained.
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ㅤ◇
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ㅤThe detached palace she was guided to was located behind the Imperial Palace, and it was a building with the atmosphere of a large cottage house. It was too small for a family to live in, but it was spacious enough for one person.
ㅤIt was cleaner than the tower she had lived in for so long, and light came in through the windows. Ruby immediately fell in love with this house.
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ㅤ”This seems to be our new home. You all must be tired from the long journey.”
ㅤ”Squeak~!!”
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ㅤThe Poison Rats she had brought from Belheim ran around the room.
ㅤThe two maids assigned to take care of Ruby screamed.
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ㅤ”Wah!　I’ll go prepare the meal!”
ㅤ”I’ll unpack the luggage……!!”
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ㅤRuby wondered why the maids had scattered like spiders.
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ㅤ”Perhaps they don’t like animals very much. I’m sorry for startling them.”
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ㅤIt might be better to have them stay in their nest while the maids were working.
ㅤAfter telling the Poison Rats to quickly prepare their nest, she looked around the room again.
ㅤInstead of the inorganic and cold stone walls of the tower, there were warm wooden walls. Instead of the palm-sized window covered with cobwebs, there was a large window fitted with a stylish frame. The color of the sky was gray and chaotic, but it was much better than the tower where she couldn’t see anything.
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ㅤ”……I’ll be living here for a while. I might be sent back, but until then, let’s expand our knowledge in this country. If I have to return to the tower, I don’t know when I’ll be able to leave again.”
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ㅤIt would be a lie to say that she wasn’t worried about her own treatment.
ㅤHowever, more than that, Ruby was dazzled by the new world that spread out before her.