Chapter 18

“I heard about it, Onee-sama! When Schulvestel-sama visited, you met with him, right?”

“Yes. You were at the church, and Dad and Mom weren’t home. I had no choice but to attend to him.”

“Did you perhaps… try to seduce him?”

“Why would I need to seduce the First Prince?”

“Obviously, because you want to become Queen!”

“I’ve never once wished to become Queen.”

“Then, could it be that you’re in love with Schulvestel-sama?”

“I’ve never had any feelings for him.”

“Then why would Schulvestel-sama propose to you?”

“The Prince seems to be under the mistaken impression that I am going to become the Saint. No matter how much I denied it, it felt like someone had convinced him otherwise.”

“That means…”

“I’m sure it’s the work of the Second Prince’s faction. They must be trying to marry me, who is not the Saint, to the First Prince, and Solene, the true Saint, to the Second Prince. If that happens, the Second Prince’s faction will overturn the balance of power.”

“…I see.”

Of course, everything I said was a complete fabrication, but Solene seemed to believe it.

“Given that we don’t know who’s been whispering what into the Prince’s ear, no matter how much we try to explain, he won’t believe us.”

“…Then, Onee-sama, are you going to get engaged to Schulvestel-sama?”

“I am not.”

“But still…”

“You just need to start a new rumor.”

“Me, start a new rumor?”

“Come to think of it, ever since you began attending the church as the Saint, you haven’t participated in any tea parties, have you?”

“That’s right. I haven’t had much time for them…”

“Then you should host one yourself. At the tea party, you can talk about how you’re the true Saint and mention that Schulvestel-sama visited our house.”

“What if someone asks about the engagement?”

“It’s true that the Prince visited. As for the engagement, you can say that there was just a suggestion for a candidate, but nothing has been decided yet.”

“…You’re right. I’ll host a tea party.”

“Good luck.”

“Won’t you help me, Onee-sama?”

“If I’m there, it would only cause more misunderstandings.”

“True, I’ll be fine on my own.”

Accepting my words, Solene immediately began preparations for the tea party.
Even the servants, thinking it was better to help her prepare than to rather than endure her outbursts., busied themselves working under her direction.