The Executed Saint Reincarnates as a Princess and is Loved by Her Older Brothers - Episode 47

In the palace’s grand hall, a luncheon was held to welcome Angela.

In the hall adorned with luxurious plasterwork, the orchestra’s performance reverberates against the high, vaulted ceiling.

The floral arrangement was also splendid. Normally, one would decorate with flowers that have a gentle fragrance so as not to interfere with the meal, but it seemed they had put in a lot of effort, as there were plenty of large flowers with strong scents.

While lightly clearing her throat at the overwhelming fragrance, Angela shrugged her shoulders.

This isn’t the time for such luxury…

It might be rude to think this while being welcomed, but I can’t help feeling uneasy. I wish they would spend the money on helping the poor rather than entertaining Angela.

“Ah, Princess Angela, you are truly beautiful! It is an honor to spend such a wonderful time with you──”

Nathan is constantly bragging and promoting himself, but unfortunately, Angela’s ears just let it go in one and out the other, and she doesn’t absorb any of the content.

Queen Hortense, sitting next to Nathan, was aloof in contrast to her cheerful husband. Her perfectly arranged profile was beautiful, but she looked clearly displeased and unapproachable.

The full course meal, starting with the pre-dinner aperitif, was elaborate and luxurious, but with Nathan in high spirits and the Hortense couple spreading their bad mood nearby, it hardly had any taste.

The potato dish they served at the castle in Rochelle was much more delicious…

I feel suffocated, but I make sure to perfect my table manners like a princess.

“Even so, I never thought my foolish younger brother would be so bold and reckless.”

Nathan raised the stem of his wine glass high and exhaled. He seemed to have already consumed a considerable amount of alcohol, his face flushed and his eyes glazed over.

“Not even understanding your own position, how dare you approach Her Highness the Imperial Princess… There must be no one near Her Highness who doesn’t know proper etiquette, so I imagine you must have been quite surprised, weren’t you? Perhaps Lionel’s brazen and thoughtless behavior appeared refreshingly new to her.”

It seems he wants to say that Lionel shamelessly pursued Angela, and the sheltered princess Angela was completely deceived.

“You must have never encountered a man without ethics who would forcefully pursue you, Your Highness. But do not mistake audacity for passion. What befits you is a man of status and power like myself──”

“That’s not right.”

Angela interrupted Nathan’s words and shook her head.

“Lord Lionel is not pursuing me. I am the one who is drawn to Lord Lionel.”

“Wh-…!”

Nathan’s face, which had been flushed from the alcohol, turned pale in an instant.

“It was I who proposed the engagement. I said that I would marry Lord Lionel.”

It’s true. Angela was the one who proposed this engagement. …Although I can’t say it’s a limited-time contract relationship.

The courtiers of the kingdom, who had been listening to the conversation, were stirred with surprise.

“I never would have imagined that Her Highness the Princess was the one who desired the engagement…”

“Even though you are such a delicate person, you are surprisingly proactive…!”

“Have you been so captivated by His Highness the Prince? Is this what they call a fateful encounter…?”

As a vassal serving the royal family, I had always hoped that if a princess were to marry, she would become a queen rather than a queen consort.

The divorce from the current queen, Hortense, will likely cause a stir, but if an imperial princess becomes queen, the popularity of the royal family will recover. It could become the greatest celebration that breaks the long-standing stagnation of this country.

However, it was said that the princess admired Prince Lionel and proposed the engagement herself. Was it not a political marriage, but rather a case of falling in true love?

“Well, but Lionel is just a lord of a remote region! He is not worthy of your status as a princess! In that regard, I am the king of this country──”

“Yes. Lord Lionel taught me that there is love that transcends social status. This is the first time I’ve ever wanted to protect someone, to be with someone, like this.”

This is also a true story. I wanted to protect Lil and be with him. …Although I can’t say that was the case since, he was a child.

“I would like to thank His Majesty the King for sending Lord Lionel to the Empire. Thanks to that, I was able to meet Lord Lionel.”

Angela said it boldly, and Nathan’s face turned from blue to white.

Could it be… the princess is conspiring with Lionel to usurp the throne…?

When Nathan broke out in a cold sweat, Angela smiled brightly.

“I did not choose my fiancé based on status, so of course, I will not seek status in the future either. The Rochelle territory was a very wonderful place. I hope that Lord Lionel will continue to be a beloved figure among the people of that land as their lord.”

The lunch meeting concluded smoothly with the final dessert, the dessert de dessert, and the petit four.

However, when Angela returned to the waiting room, she found herself trapped between the wall and Lionel’s solid biceps.

Eh?! What do you mean?

Lionel’s face was closer than ever. Pressed against his broad chest, Angela’s heart began to race rapidly.

“You don’t have to say things like that.”

“Like that?”

“Um… the fact that you were attracted to me…”

Lionel’s earlobes turned crimson. “To be told something like that,” he whispered softly.

“I… I won’t be able to let you go…”

Ah, so it’s difficult to part ways because of that.

That’s right. Lionel has a woman he can’t forget.

This engagement will eventually be dissolved. However, if I emphasize that Angela is infatuated with Lionel, it will become difficult to part amicably. I might be accused of abandoning the princess.

“I understand. I’ll be careful.”

I want to protect Lionel, but I don’t want to interfere with him eventually being with the woman he truly loves.

In order not to cause any trouble, Angela once again engraved it in her heart.