After I Died, He Died After Me Too - Chapter 33

Chapter 17.1

Leaving everything else aside, Bianca couldn’t understand why she was here in the first place.

“I’m fine. Since you have a guest, Your Highness, you can continue your stroll without worrying about me.”

“How could I do that? I was the one who invited you for a walk. It’s not as if this meeting was planned in advance, so there’s no reason you should be inconvenienced.”

“No, I…”

Despite her protest, Dexter didn’t let go of her hand.

Observing this, the Empress seemed to decide that she wouldn’t have the chance to enjoy tea with the Crown Prince unless Bianca joined them, so she invited her to join as well.

That was how the four of them, clearly uncomfortable, ended up sitting together for tea.

It almost felt like he was intentionally creating these awkward situations, as though he disliked her. Even though he knew how uneasy she felt seeing him, it seemed as if he was doing it on purpose.

Still, if there was one silver lining, it was the garden.

Although she hadn’t noticed it at night, in the daylight, it was so beautiful that it was hard to look away.

Perhaps it was because spring had arrived, but wisteria vines cascaded gracefully all around. Their buds seemed ready to burst into bloom at any moment, stirring an unexpected excitement. When the light purple flowers hanging from the vines fully bloomed, they would sway in the breeze, captivating anyone who saw them.

‘I hope the flowers bloom soon.’

Maybe then she’d feel a little more at ease. Wisterias weren’t just stunning to look at but also known for their rich, intoxicating scent. Perhaps they had been planted so abundantly in the Crown Prince’s residence to mask his overpowering pheromones.

If the floral scent was strong enough, wouldn’t it occasionally mask the fragrance that escaped uncontrollably?

Bianca still struggled to adjust to her awakened body. She wondered if she would ever get used to it.

As she sipped her tea, a familiar, comforting aroma filled her mouth. It was a rare tea, something only available in the imperial palace.

‘If the Empress is serving this, she must have high expectations for Lady Eliaden.’

For Bianca, who was an uninvited guest, the situation felt even more uncomfortable. Lady Eliaden sipped her tea gracefully, her calm expression complemented by a polite smile.

“So, what happened that caused such a commotion this morning?”

“It’s nothing significant enough to trouble you with, Mother.”

Dexter replied immediately.

Bianca couldn’t shake the feeling that she shouldn’t have come here.

‘Whatever I say will only make things worse.’

She had been assigned a lady-in-waiting of equal status, even though she wasn’t part of the imperial family. She was only chosen to be his Guide. From the Empress’s perspective, this might appear to be an excuse for Bianca to aim for something more ambitious.

“Lady Bianca, which family were you from again? Ah, yes—the Astri family, wasn’t it? Now that I think about it, isn’t Lady Elris, who was brought in as a lady-in-waiting, the daughter of Count Fair? Is that correct?”

As expected, the Empress didn’t seem to hold a favorable view of her. Perhaps that was why she hadn’t called for Bianca, even knowing she was staying in the palace.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Bianca lowered her head slightly in response to the Empress’s question. The next words were likely to be a rebuke for her actions.

“Having a lady of high rank as a handmaiden when you’re not even a member of the imperial family means you should be even more cautious about your behavior. Yet, you dismiss this as a trivial matter after forcing her to kneel before everyone? Now I’m even more curious.”

“….”

Even though he had said it to avoid making a big deal out of the situation, it only seemed to fuel the Empress’s curiosity. From any perspective, it didn’t look like a trivial issue, so her reaction was understandable. Still, explaining the truth would have been difficult, and he had no desire to revisit something that had already been resolved.

“It might be a trivial matter to mention to you, Mother, but discussing imperial affairs in front of unfamiliar guests doesn’t seem appropriate.”

At Dexter’s remark, Eliaden’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She gripped her teacup tightly, forcing a smile.

“Dexter, that’s a rather hurtful thing to say. Who’s to say Lady Eliaden won’t end up being your Guide one day?”

“That won’t happen.”

He spoke firmly once more.

Of course, while it might seem unthinkable now, the situation could look very different a year from now. Bianca turned to glance at Dexter.

“Wasn’t it you, Mother, who rejected the marriage proposal with Lady Eliaden? It seems your feelings have suddenly changed.”

“Dexter!”

“Oh, perhaps the lady wasn’t aware. Regardless of why you called her here, it was Mother who firmly opposed the repeated marriage proposals from your family over the years.”

“Lady Eliaden, don’t misunderstand. At the time, Dexter was adamant about not having a dedicated Guide. As a mother, how could I possibly override my son’s wishes?”

“Your Majesty, I know it’s because of my shortcomings. So please, don’t feel burdened.”

“With a heart as lovely as yours, it’s only natural that my thoughts have changed.”

The Empress patted Eliaden’s hand, and Eliaden smiled as though she hadn’t been hurt. This was why Bianca disliked the imperial family—the constant pretense, the hollow words, and the endless deception hidden behind their masks were unpleasant.

Bianca, who had once served as an Esper for the imperial family, had often glimpsed their uglier sides. Those who acted purely for personal gain seemed unbearably shallow and insincere.

“It seems Lady Bianca and I are interrupting your private time together, so we’ll take our leave now.”

“Dexter, you may leave after answering one question.”

“Please speak.”

As the Empress nodded, a Guide came running toward them in a hurry. Even without an introduction, Bianca recognized who it was.

She had already met him once before.