‘He seems like a different person when he’s serious.’

Should I say his impression changed? Although he still had a youthful face, he seemed more serious.

“Prophecies can also change, right? Isn’t that right, Lady?”

“Perhaps.”

Then I hope the story of my first love changes too. I nodded my head with a vague thought.

“Then let’s do it that way.”

“So… Which side of the prophecy is it for you and the Prince?”

A bright smile returned to Cedric’s face.

“Both of us.”

I nodded. The throne is something that doesn’t concern me.

“Don’t you like the prophecy?”

Don’t the children of the royal family usually aim for the throne?

“I have an older brother, so I don’t need to.”

Right, Cedric mentioned being the second prince.

If Cedric becomes the king, what about the first prince? Since I didn’t even know what he looked like, my imagination didn’t last long.

‘Is it because there’s nothing lacking? Maybe he just doesn’t want to go through the trouble of being a king.’

I thought of Lavigne. That child doesn’t fit with the struggle for the throne either. Anyway, I don’t know what Cedric is thinking.

That reminds me of Collen.

‘This Prince resembles Collen in a different way than Jade.’

Come to think of it, is Collen doing well?

* * *

Melissa, Rose, Cedric, and I met again in the room we first entered after the prophecy was over.

Cedric accurately explained to the priests what had happened.

“You tried to steal the prophecy!”

“Oh my.”

The priests were astonished as they looked at Rose and Melissa. Cedric didn’t stop there.

“I will record all of this and personally send letters to the royal family and the Duke’s family.”

“P-Please, please don’t inform the royal family and the Duke’s family…”

Rose, who dealt with me differently, was now flustered in front of Cedric.

“Prince, you, as someone with noble blood, should be aware! It’s unacceptable for commoners to interfere in our society. I simply taught my younger sister the proper truth!”

Indeed, Rose’s scheme worked. I wanted to sigh.

“What truth? What is truth? Ah, so you’re teaching an arrogant lesson that it’s okay to take away what belongs to others as you please? This is the first time I’ve seen such a messed-up upbringing. Truly remarkable philosophy, young lady.”

I snapped out of being absorbed in Cedric’s refreshing criticism.

‘It’s my own matter, and I can’t leave it in Cedric’s hands.’

I looked at Rose.

“It doesn’t seem like a completely false statement, Your Highness.”

I smiled brightly.

“At least Melissa learned one truth today.”

“…”

“The truth that if you steal someone else’s things, you’ll receive punishment. Oh, in other words, common sense?”

As I spoke, I started to get angry. How many times has Rose slandered me?

“But if what the lady says is correct, both the royal family and the Duke’s family will listen to the lady’s side, right? So why shouldn’t we send the letters and inform them? Right? Wow. It’s worked out so perfectly! If you’re confident, there’s nothing to be afraid of, right?”

Cedric, who heard my words, raised the corner of his mouth.

Why is he smiling? He really is a strange kid.

Usually, wouldn’t people be taken aback in this situation? Because people expect girls to be kind.

“You, you, you…”

Rose looked at me with a teary expression. It was the first time I made an adult cry. I felt a slight sense of guilt.

“Do you have anything else to say?”

I shrugged my shoulders. That’s when it happened.

Bang! The door opened noisily.

“Hey, is that Rose or something.”

It was Marianne with an unusual expression. Marianne walked boldly.

“I heard everything from the priests. What kind of toys are these kids of mine? Stealing the prophecy? It’s truly ridiculous. I’m already in a bad mood as it is. I never liked you from the beginning. But this is the real deal.”

Indeed, Marianne had a remarkable personality. Marianne grabbed Rose by the hair.

“Let’s just die today!”

“What kind of impolite thing is this…! Even if you’re the Saintess, it’s not right!”

Rose’s head, caught in Marianne’s delicate hand, shook lifelessly.

“Kyaaah! What is this! It hurts! It hurts!”

Rose began to scream like a chicken, and the priests started to panic. (But none of the priests had the courage to forcefully hold on Marianne.)

Chaos broke out in an instant.

“Marianne! Calm down! Dad will find out anyway!”

In the end, I had no choice but to say this to calm down Marianne.

Finally released from Marianne’s clutches, Rose quickly fled to a corner of the room.

“Heuk, heuheuk.”

Rose’s trembling eyes, looking at me with resentment, moved. It seems Collen is scarier than Marianne, after all…

“Collen? Ah, right.”

Marianne smirked.

“I’ll make sure to take revenge more decisively. What are you looking at? Get out!”

Marianne spat out. Trembling, Rose grabbed Melissa’s hand and left as if fleeing.

‘I could have stopped her sooner, but I held back for a few seconds. It’s a secret.’

The scene of Marianne grabbing Rose’s hair was a thrilling sight I would never forget.

Phew. I inwardly sighed with relief.