The Bad Ending of an Otome

“You turned down the princess’s proposal to be her partner?”

“Has the rumor already spread that far?”

Cassio Brahamdorff laughed casually at the remarks directed at him as soon as he sat down. The room was peaceful. It was a room that appeared to be a secret chamber, decorated for private chats, so it was only natural. The room was neither large nor little. A large table, large enough to seat seven to ten people, was set in the center, with seats lined up down its length.

There were no food options. There are no writing materials either. It was rumored that there was some unexplained device in place that repels any form of magic or heavenly force, but there was no way to confirm it. Everyone who entered this room had to go through a body search.

“They say the queen was furious.”

“The rumor isn’t that significant. Anyway, there had to be someone else she was hoping for more than me, so it doesn’t matter.”

Yes, the princess must have thoroughly chosen someone to be her prince consort. Cassio simply put on a mask-like smile on the outside. Everyone in the room looked the same, snake-like and clever. They would consume you in an instant if you were careless. Finally, the man at the head of the table in the farthest corner of the room opened his mouth. He sported a long mustache and, despite his advanced age, his powerful physique suggested that he had not ignored his physical health.

“Are you talking about Raretis Hope?”

“Your Highness the Archduke, yes. He’ll soon be known as Raretis Windrose.”

Archduke Frantz, the king’s younger brother, clicked his tongue and massaged his chin.

“…It would be problematic if the House of Marquis joined the Queen’s faction.”

“That’s why he’s still ‘Hope’ for the time being. The Marquis has not named an heir or a successor. Legally, Raretis Hope and the House Windrose have nothing in common.”

“But everyone knows.”

“Your Highness, we must acquire the Glamis Knights at any cost.”

“During the late King’s reign, the commander was somewhat useful, but now he’s just an old man past his prime. Who isn’t aware that Raretis Hope is now the true proprietor of the Glamis Knights?”

The other people at the table spoke up as well. Cassio was the only one who stood out as being youthful and attractive; the rest were showing signs of age. It was common knowledge that the king was in such ill condition that he couldn’t even make a public appearance to greet the New Year. To begin with, even before this, the king had been sick with an inexplicable ailment. Everyone believed it was no big thing because he used to recover quickly and get back on his feet.

However, the disease appeared to be more severe this time. The only heir was only eight years old. A princess turned twenty this year, but she was thought to be feeble and temperamentally weak, thus she was not regarded as a suitable heir. The queen, who had arrived from overseas, lacked a strong authority foundation in the kingdom. Things would have been different if there had been a trustworthy subordinate who was committed to the monarch throughout these times.

There was once such a person. Duke Isaac was a nobleman from a famous family in the west and a devoted vassal. However, when large-scale natural disasters struck the kingdom some 20 years ago, Duke Isaac’s realm was the hardest hit.

It was so awful that people referred to it as ‘the land of the dead’ rather than ‘the land of the living.’ The Duke attempted to reclaim his domain, but it was like pouring water into a bottomless vessel. Furthermore, his only son died at the time, leaving him with only his newborn grandson, so the disheartened Duke withdrew from central politics and resided in his area.

Archduke Frantz, the king’s brother, on the other hand, was in his prime. In his youth, he married the daughter of the northern noble Reti family and had two boys and a daughter. His area located in the mid-south, was rich in grains, and had a thriving trade. He also had strong ties with prominent nobles. In this case, if the king died unexpectedly, the eight-year-old prince would become king. Of course, the prince is the legitimate ruler.

But that’s all there is to it. The Royal Guards, which protect the monarch and royal family and guard the palace, and the patrol units in charge of capital security were equivalent. Because of their close proximity to the royal family, the Royal Guards were notorious for prioritizing ancestry and background over real ability. The Glamis Knights wielded true military strength. Jon Hubert, a devoted knight of the late King, was the commander, but he was 65 years old this year and preparing to retire. Raretis Hope, a youthful hero well-known across the land, was the one who skillfully directed and managed the knights. He’d made a name for himself by annihilating gangs of thieves that crossed the border every winter. He was also the one who had subjugated the forces of non-believers that had emerged following the large-scale natural calamities that had rocked the kingdom 20 years earlier.

The House Windrose was a long-standing neutral party. They utilized their only daughter’s fatal illness to skillfully separate themselves from politics and business. There were reports, however, that the Marquis planned to return to social life this year.

The Marchioness, who had retreated to her mansion without wearing a single new outfit since her daughter’s death, was believed to have ordered many new dresses from the dressmaking room she used to frequent. She even offered to arrange a beauty salon for a young lady. After all, marriage for political benefit is the essence of social life. Ophelia Windrose had died, and Raretis Hope was the House of Marquis’s likely successor.

The power of the House Windrose and the Glamis Knights changed depending on who claimed the seat next to Raretis Hope. It was impossible for the queen to not crave such a position after seeing sparks fall on her way. In such a situation, Cassio Brahamdorff’s proposition for the Princess’s spouse was literally a shot in the dark.

Cassio had never been the cavalier of an unmarried girl at any debutante ball from the start. Cassio only smiled coolly inside when confronted with those who initiated arguments. The Brahamdorffs, too, had not taken a definite stance. Unlike the House Windrose, who attempted to remain neutral before matters became unpleasant, they desired to play the role of kingmaker. The Brahamdorff family’s credo was ‘maximum results with minimal investment.’ They weren’t planning on sticking with one party until the end, but it was clear by the way they sat in this spot and chatted casually.

“Anyway, depending on who becomes the princess’s partner… in other words, it’s crucial which forces the queen can pull in, isn’t it?” 

Cassio shrugged his shoulders and said as though summarizing the issue.

“Do you happen to know something?”

“All I know is that it hasn’t yet been decided who will be the princess’s partner.”

“Is it possible that Raretis will not participate in this social season?”

“There is speculation that the Marquis has emerged from seclusion. Given their strong relationship, it’s unlikely.”

It’s an unclear position to be a second son more skilled than the oldest, therefore Raretis Hope grew up switching between the Houses Windrose and Hope from an early age. After demonstrating his intellect at an early age and gaining his knighthood, he reduced his visits to the Hope family almost entirely. Of course, this was something both family leaders had already agreed on. The fact that Lady Hope, who preferred only her eldest son, saw Raretis negatively also played a role. As a result, the Marquis Windrose considered Raretis Hope to be his own son.

“Make an effort to get our people close to him in some way.”

“He’s known for his stubborn personality, so it’s unlikely to work.”

“Lord Cassio, do you have any ideas?”

“Isn’t the princess actually not that important?”

“What exactly do you mean?”

“Our real adversary is not the queen or the princess, but the young prince.”

The archduke pressed his lips together. Yes, he did not want to be recognized as the horrible man who drove his young nephew to the brink of death and usurped the crown. But he is also a guy who cannot let go of his desire for the throne. For those who begin to crave power, the conclusion is evident. Cassio gave a sweet smile.

“As for social intelligence, there are those who will know better than us, so let us leave it to them. How about we concentrate on what comes next?”

He thought to himself as he peered around the now-quiet surroundings. It would be wise to equip her with at least one defensive weapon. This year’s dance floor will not be filled with drinks and melodies, but with a battleground where people hide blades in their grins and stab each other.

“…Don’t you think this is a little too much?”

Cassio, oddly, stared at Emilia’s pale, irritated face with a somewhat amused expression. He had brought a reluctant Emilia along to make up for the sufferings she had faced the day before, and they had already raided three dressing rooms.

They literally ‘ransacked’ them. Kitty was much more excited with Emilia behind him and joined in with “Miss, all of these are beautiful!” every time. Cassio chimed in, telling them they needed to pack everything. Everywhere they went, the dressmaking room workers and madams greeted them with the most cheerful smiles in the world, smiling and making recommendations.

Cassio was first delighted every time Emilia’s look went from indifferent to appalled. Even now, she might not see the shaking stare that alternates between the pile of garments and shoes and himself. It was like a black cat sleeping flat on the floor with no expression, then finding a mound of goodies and toys in front of it, including dried salmon, birch bits, and fur balls made of fox fur, and being astonished with fur standing on up.

It was comical how she reached out gingerly and cautiously to touch one of the gowns in the pile, as if she couldn’t imagine the price, and then surreptitiously looked around to see if there was a catalog or any way to discover the price.

She was like a wary cat who delicately caressed the human-piled tower of treats and toys with its paw, then recoiled a step back in disgust as it collapsed over with a thud.

Has her living conditions recently been so deplorable?

She was said to have lived opulently at the Windrose Estate. The Windrose family was also aristocratic, and they had acquired a variety of items for their daughter, who found it difficult to leave the estate. Because the two kids were the same age and Ophelia insisted on doing everything with Emilia, it was expected that they would get two sets of identical outfits. When she left the estate, she had nearly nothing.

Cassio strained to contain the sudden burst of irritability that welled up within him. This was not the moment to give in. Emilia stood right in front of him, her eyes half-empty, as if she had lost her soul. To be honest, Emilia was the most collected lady Cassio Brahamdorff had ever seen when it came to taking care of herself. This did not imply she was not shaken in any way. It didn’t imply she was brimming with dignity. Rather, a few young ladies who had been rigorously educated since childhood performed even better. Emilia, on the other hand, remained calm throughout. She exuded an intriguing vibe, as if she were disconnected from something. Her eyes were black and dry, and she smiled calmly, as if she never anticipated anything.

Seeing that smile… made him feel an odd twinge somewhere in his body.

It irritated him. Yes. Despite the fact that she had nothing and no one to rely on, her refusal to act subservient was inexplicable. When she was with Ophelia, it irritated him. It was excruciatingly ludicrous how she dared to stand tall next to Ophelia and boldly accept Ophelia’s favor.

It was as if a corroded copper piece had been put next to the finest diamond. How could she mock Cassio Brahamdorff? She must not have known where she belonged. She must not have realized her rank because she had been pampered as a daughter at the Marquis’s house since she was a child. It was because of this that she dared to boast that she and Ophelia were the best of friends. He had the same opinion. It was otherwise incomprehensible.

As a result, that woman would eventually suffer a crushing defeat. He expected to see her normally tranquil face twisted in profound sorrow one day. On the day of the funeral, his hopes rose. She will finally give up after losing her pillar. But something got lodged in his throat the moment he saw her tearless face. He expected her to erupt in rage or tears this time. Or perhaps he would finally see her true colors, which were veiled in pretense.

Logically, she must have waited all this time by Ophelia’s side for this day. Otherwise, why would she have put up with all those sufferings and humiliations for so long? 

She must have planned to claim possession of everything by remaining in Ophelia’s place now that Ophelia was gone…

However, the woman’s reaction was neither. The lady grinned. It was a genuine relief-filled smile. Cassio Brahamdorff froze in an instant. The same could be said for Edmund Gloucester, who stood next to him. They’d never seen such a happy face before. Not a single time. They had never seen ‘Emilia’ smile like that.

They were more accustomed to her contemptuous demeanor, or questioning whether they were back, or expressing her displeasure. Ophelia acted to the woman like a cat without claws, and the woman cared for Ophelia like a mother cat cuddling her kitten. 

They had fought fiercely, with Ophelia in the middle.

So they expected it to be the same this time. It was not going to alter. Even after her death, she would guard Ophelia’s nest, mock at them for calling her selfish, and declare that whatever Ophelia left behind was hers, and they should simply watch and envy.

They simply assumed that, just as it was natural for Emilia to be where Ophelia was, Emilia would remain there after her death. Implicitly, there was no way ‘that’ Ophelia would give up anything to anybody other than Emilia, therefore their daily lives would remain unchanged…

‘That’s not going to happen.’