Chapter 98 – There’s No Need To Check

She could have sent Jenkins and Zanbar back to the mansion, but Bella wouldn’t.

Anyone who looked at the novel and what was organized in the safe would surely be shocked. It was the same even for demons, who didn’t even appear in the novel because there was a story about the death of Bella, the successor of the Demon King.

‘I even promised to let them live in the demon realm, but if they knew that I was going to die and leave…’

The sensitive kid like Jenkins might have lost his way if he knew this.

‘As expected, I’ll fail the contest quickly and check it myself.’

The next day.

Bella knew why Kiehl said she couldn’t leave until she memorized it.

A total of about twenty people passed this debate, and not only the ladies but also quite a few government officials participated. And although it was a face she had never seen before, she could identify the person sitting in the center at a glance.

…Emperor Lariette Elysia.

The dark blonde was definitely Kiehl’s father. However, the atmosphere was markedly different.

‘He looks very sick.’

Would it be rude to say he smelled like death? Beside him, there was a person who glared at Bella and exhaled murderous energy.

‘There’s that Rohan bastard, too.’

Sticking right next to the emperor. Anyone could see that he was proving that he was a real heavyweight. Then, after a while, Kiehl, the crown prince, came in and sat on the left side of the Emperor.

‘Since I’m sitting there, he feels really far away.’

He sat with such dignity that the feeling that she had met him the day before seemed to be empty.

When their eyes met, he smiled brightly. Seeing that, Bella also tried to raise her lips, but Rosanne, who was sitting to Bella’s right, waved her hand towards him gently first.

‘…Oh, he didn’t smile at me.’

As the foam of the waves that came down from the sea of emotions touched her toes, she looked down and straightened the ends of her gloves.

The debate was much more boring than Bella thought.

‘It’s just a presentation.’

The young ladies were told to discuss it, but everyone was busy taking care of themselves. Besides, there was nothing very innovative about it. They announced items that could be exchanged, but no one talked about the actual situation.

Bella barely restrained her yawn and gently wiped the tears from her eyes.

‘There was a reason this didn’t appear in the novel. It’s the least fun time to come here.’

Finally, the final turn, Bella stood up.

Because the presenters in front of her were so clueless, she presented only half of her answer from memory.

“I think…”

So far, no one has refuted or asked any questions. So she tried to sit down, thinking that it would be the same for her as well.

“You are amazing. Lady Bella knows a lot for someone from another world.”

At those words, Bella glanced at the lady who raised her voice for the first time in a long time.

‘…Who is it? Are you sarcastic or praising that?’

However, there was no way to suddenly praise in a discussion like this.

“Though you don’t seem to know the real situation here.”

She then remembered who that person was.

It was Marianne Merken… the lady whom Bella threatened with Pur. She was glancing at Bella with a confident face.

‘She must have been waiting.’

…To step on her in front of this place where so many people gather.

“Everything you said seems unrealistic, especially about magic research.”

Bella glanced at Kiehl quietly at those words.

‘These are all answers written by Kiehl.’

She couldn’t answer that. So instead, Bella replied as she explained to Marianne on behalf of Kiehl.

“Currently, magic explosion accidents are emerging as a fairly serious problem.”

“….”

“So, I think it’s okay to express our willingness to cooperate with the research if requested by the country.”

As she was about to sit down again with those words…

“I mean, why should the Empire help the country with its research, Lady Bellatrice?”

…Marianne wouldn’t let go of her.

Bella responded with a momentary annoyance.

“If you don’t like it, then don’t.”

A smile spread across Kiehl’s lips at that short, bold answer. That was the charm of our cat.

Seeing the mood instantly cooling down, Bella cleared her throat and spoke again.

“Anyway, we’re going to decide on exchanging items from now on, but it’s good to have a lot of options for each other. It’s just…”

“Why do we have to use our wizard’s manpower for that option?”

She hated that she threw words at her. Bella hated interruptions even more. What was she doing, cutting people’s words off…?

It was very repellent.

“Why are you so short in thought?”

Thinking that, she glanced down disdainfully from above at Marianne.

“There are many wizards from the Fire Kingdom who come to study abroad… there are very few cases of people in the empire studying abroad.”

The wizards of the Fire Kingdom know about the magic of the Empire, but not the Empire.

“Rather, it’s an opportunity for the empire to learn about the magic of the Fire country, but you can’t just think of it in one dimension.”

In a way, it was a vile move.

Pretending to be generous and helping, but digging out weaknesses first…

“Even if you say this, it doesn’t mean you don’t know what I mean, Lady Marianne?”

“Wha… what…”

“I guess you don’t know.”

Ordinary noble ladies would have been satisfied with this and given up, but not Bella.

“It’s worth knowing this is the level of the Merken Duchy.”

She thought, glancing at the people in amazement who were sitting in front of her. Anyone who saw Bella today would think she was ‘creepy.’

It was then that a very good idea flashed through her head…

‘Ah… Can I drop out like this?’

Even though she parachuted through the first contest, the next time, she could definitely be eliminated.

“Your, your words are too…!”

“There is nothing in your head like that, so what are you doing being the Crown Princess?”

All she had to do was play the game. After all, no one would want the Crown Princess to speak recklessly like this.

Meanwhile, Emperor Lariette, who had been watching the scene, quietly asked Rohan.

“I’m seeing that young lady for the first time. Who is she?”

“This is Bellatrice Cruelle. She came from another world and entered the Cruelle family as an adopted daughter.”

It was no different whether the Emperor or Rohan held the real power. Contrary to Bella’s thoughts, Lariette smiled slightly.

‘…It’s fine.’

After the debate, Bella was on her way back to her room with the demons.

“Miss, if you talk combatively like before, the number of your enemies will increase.”

That was what she hoped for.

Still, Jenkins, like an aide, continued to nag, “There will be more eyes to see in the future, so be careful. And Iwer.”

“Why me?”

“Stop calling men every night.”

“Oh, I didn’t call them, I came.”

Looking at Iwer, Zanbar clicked his tongue.

“Anyway, that’s what dream demons do. Is it good to suck human energy in a low-level way?”

“What are you saying, Mister Trash Zanbar?”

Bella looked around, and after making sure that no one was looking at her, she gave Zanbar and Iwer a blow to the head.

“Quiet. None of you can even be recycled.”

“Ah, Miss. Don’t act like that.”

Jenkins sighed heavily.

“The second contest will gather the citizens of the Capital and conduct public opinion polls. From now on, you have to be a little more benevolent…”

“What?”

Bella doubted her ears for a moment.

The main stage in the novel was largely divided into two.

One was where Kiehl’s love with Rosanne grew while traveling all over the empire for the holy relic, and one was the Imperial Palace, the stage for Rosanne to become the Crown Princess. In addition, in the novel, the Crown Princess contest was made up of three rounds.

Since they called in ladies of all kinds of families, the first contest was like a test.

The second contest was selected by the Crown Prince.

The third contest was to invite the people of the empire and show their vision as the Crown Princess in front of them.

And, Shuria’s evil deeds are desperately revealed in the third contest. Seeing Rosanne forgive Shuria like that, public opinion was that Rosanne was a ‘saint of the age’, and that opinion for her as the crown princess became strong.

It was then.

“What are you doing here?”

Kiehl’s voice came from behind Bella.

“Good job, Bella. Marianne…”

“Kiehl. Are you inviting the people to the second contest?”

She cut him off, frowned, and started asking questions without hesitation.

“Aren’t you inviting them to the third contest?”

“Oh, Lady Bella. How did you know? Originally, it was planned to gather the people in the third contest, but it was changed.”

Rio, who was next to him, answered openly. He really wondered how Bella knew about the botched plan. At the same time, Kiehl slowly looked down at Bella quietly.

…Did she realize that the content of the novel has changed little by little?

“I will choose from among those who passed in the second competition.”

“…Why?”

“Because they will be my wife, I want the last option.”

That was right, though. Why was it so slightly different from the original story? Depending on the background of the novel, the emotions, and events of the two would surely flow differently.

‘Those two… they’re on good terms, right?’

Suddenly, Kiehl gently held her hand.

“What’s wrong?”

Judging by the way Rosanne waved her hand earlier, it must be so.

‘There’s no need to check, yes.’

Maybe because there was no villain like Shuria. It may be that the novel changes because there is no comparison target to show the contrast like light and shadow during the third competition because the power to flow like the original story was great.

And, after the discussion, Rosanne, who had nowhere to go, waved her hand when she saw Kiehl’s group.

“Oh! It’s cotton candy!”

Pur looked at Rosanne, drooling.

When Rio waved his hand and beckoned her to come, Rosanne walked slowly. Meanwhile, Kiehl let out a short sigh and took Bella’s hand.

“Ah. Come to think of it, I said I would introduce you, but I couldn’t. Bella hasn’t been here in a while.”

“….”

“You already know, right? Since you share the same room…”

Rosanne blushed shyly as her eyes met Kiehl’s from afar.

‘Aahh…’

Rosanne approached, and the waves wet Bella’s feet. Even though she knew that the novel had changed little by little, she kept thinking, ‘It will work out.’ Kiehl seemed to get along with Rosanne, so there was no need to check.

She just didn’t want to check.

…From long ago until now.

This person next to her was so dear and precious. What color did that emotion take, and what color did it occupy in the heart?

Even though she knew it, she just ignored it.

‘…I hate to see you two together.’

As Rosanne approached, Kiehl spoke affectionately to Bella.

“Bella, say hello. This is…”

“I know, too.”

__