Chapter 2

Elle’s depression continued through the wedding day.

After arriving at the Rennes Empire by teleport, Elle realized that her husband-to-be was the second prince of the Empire.

The setting of <Love Bloomed in the Desert> was based on the Kingdom of Sahad Desert, where Elle previously resided. It was mentioned in the novel that as war broke out, the Rennes Empire was in a state of utter defeat.

And now, I am marrying a country like that with the second prince not even mentioned in the story…

What’s even funnier was that I teleported in the late afternoon and didn’t even get the chance to rest or prepare myself and was soon to be married on the very night.

No matter how far removed from the throne was the second prince, having his wedding at such a dreary night wouldn’t sound right. Wouldn’t it be strange even?

Moreover, Elle was a Duke’s daughter. Even if the Duke of Landmiken rebelled, she would have nothing to say and become vulnerable to the accusations. You can’t do that to your only daughter, Raella, right?

I had no choice but to think that the second prince was also a scapegoat. I guess I should live moderately or perhaps run away?

Later on, Elle donned on a wedding dress, not of her choosing. There were no formalities, and the only guests were the Duke couple and the ushers. Even the emperor did not come to see his son’s wedding.

Nevertheless, Elle just rolled with it and acted as if she wanted to be here. It was too dark, and there were fewer lights. On top of that, the so-called husband was covering his face with a black mask, so Elle couldn’t see what he looked like or what the color of his eyes was.

Such a ridiculous wedding was quickly settled, and the Duke couple immediately returned along with the wizard who they’ve brought as well, leaving only a few words of blessing for our future. Should I say thank you for formally attending?

After I saw them off, I sat idly in the assigned room, along with my new maid.

“Your Highness, I shall help you make a bed.”

A maid with a blunt expression came. Elle did not bring the maids from the duchy. It was unnecessary in the first place because it was quite uncomfortable to be waited by others.

“I’ll take care of it myself.”

Thankfully, after staying for a few days in the duchy, the habit of humbling oneself to the maids has been corrected.

“As you wish.”

“When’s the prince coming?”

“… … Your Highness.”

Now that I’m married, am I going to have that kind of night?……

But Elle had no intention of associating with a man who didn’t even show his face. I will just have to ask her to politely refuse him if ever he comes here, hoping this new maid would be a good speaker and could reject the man more nicely, but I took notice of the maid’s sudden dimmed expression.

“What is it?”

“… His Highness probably won’t come.”

“…… Okay.”

You don’t need to explain it sorely to a sponge, I understand it quite well. Elle thought ruefully.

To show that her words didn’t faze me, I slightly pulled up the corners of my mouth, which had fallen helplessly in a matter of seconds.

“Your Highness?”

“I want to rest alone, so get out.”

I think I would not want to see the prince until the day I die.

* * *

From then on, what Elle did at the Imperial Palace was eating, sleeping, and doing business. Except for the only maid, Lari, no one came to see Elle, and Elle became even more depressed.

Unless Lari dragged me out to take a walk, I would be happy to just stay inside my room.

Since Lari was a maid who stayed with me all day long, I asked her to call my nickname, much to Lari’s surprise. I’m not entirely comfortable hearing the title, Your Highness. At first, Lari was waving her hands, saying it’s preposterous, but when I kept suggesting it, she reluctantly agreed.

Lari felt immensely awkward at first, but after a few days, she would call me by my nickname comfortably well because she knows that I am not a problematic owner to serve. Though she still attached the word Lady to my name.

But it’s not that I think it’s easy, I just want to be moderately comfortable in our conversation.

“This is Lady Elle’s favorite fig pie~.”

“I don’t like fig pies.”

“But you only had this last time…”

“It was the closest to me.”

“… Oh, then what do you like?”

“Whatever’s nearby.”

It’s too troublesome to reach out. It seemed I have bad weather today.

“Lari, can you feed me?”

“…… Lady Elle.”

I seemed to be seeing my old self during my days in Korea when my evil boss was a jerk, and if he’s not too far to reached out, I would have already punched him; instead, I only gave him a death glare because I’m too depleted to approach him.

In front of Lari, Elle smiled gawkily and had a big bite of the fig pie using her hand. The first time that Lari saw her eating something that wasn’t even finger food, Lari was appalled, but now she was calm and already used to it.

“But why is this palace so dark?”

The Imperial Palace… Even if I went out for a walk in the middle of the day, there was no sunlight coming from the lush trees.

Furthermore, weeds were growing carelessly here and there as if the gardens weren’t managed at all. At first, it looked miserable, but now it was disastrous.

“Lady Elle, you really have no idea?”

“What?”

“… Oh, my goodness.”

What Elle only learned was the main characters’ profiles, and Elle was originally a villainess, and that if Elle had followed the development of the original plot, she would not have gotten married to this place. I don’t know where the main characters are doing right now, though.

“Lari, is the prince ugly?”

I don’t want to be different from others myself, even if I have to put up with everything else. But I’m not that shallow to dislike a person due to their appearance. Besides, I had a hunch that the prince at that time at the wedding, even though he didn’t show his face, his body look pretty good……

“… Well, uhm.”

“I don’t care about the prince, so please speak comfortably.”

“Actually, I’ve never seen him before, but some say that he looks like a monster during the day.”

“…… Monster?”

“Yes, because he was cursed by an evil wizard when he was young. He will turn into a monster only in daylight. However, he will change back into a human at dusk.”

“Oh……”

So that’s why we got married at night. The matter that was gnawing at me was finally solved. Is that why you hid and didn’t come looking for me?

I felt a little sad, but I thought bitterly soon after. The Duke hasten the marriage of a fantastic couple: the villainous daughter, and the monster prince of a foreign country.

“I suddenly hate the Duke of Landmiken.”

No matter how hard it was to deal with my own daughter, even though she has lost her memory, I’m still going to marry her off to the monster prince.