Chapter 4

This might be a bit of a downer.

Sara, who could barely sit properly, learned the general situation from the cheerful explanation of Hermine and the still-avoiding-her-gaze Filman.

In the darkness, Filman, who had climbed into Hermine’s bedroom, mistook her for Sara. And—so it seems, he ended up embracing Hermine, who was in her underwear, right there in front of him.

(……W-What!?)

I deserve praise just for not screaming.

Filman’s face is pale, but Hermine, perhaps recalling the moment, has a dreamy look on her face, her hand touching her cheek.

“It was the first time I was pursued so passionately… I strongly felt that I wanted to marry you, Filman. Right, Filman?”

“W-Well, that’s true! But I thought you were Sara….”

“Oh? But even after the sun came up and you handed over Sara’s letter, you embraced me again, didn’t you? I’m much cuter than Sara, and my chest is bigger and softer.”

—With those words, a cold wind blew through Sara’s head, which was about to boil over from Hermine’s betrayal and shameless actions.

If Filman had been seduced by Hermine, who looks a lot like Sara, and ended up spending the night with her by mistake, I can somewhat understand his feelings. But even after he realized the woman he had embraced was not his lover but a princess, he didn’t care and even criticized Sara as “not cute.”

No, even in the darkness, did he really mistake Hermine for Sara until morning? What if he realized halfway through but continued anyway—

(…What, is that?)

Noticing Sara’s expression turning severe, Filman waved his hand, his face pale.

“W-Wait, Sara! I didn’t betray you!”

“But you embraced Lady Hermine even after reading my letter, and you preferred her larger chest over mine, didn’t you?”

“That’s right, Filman. You embraced me many times until the sun was high that day.”

Hermine, who seemed to have no ill intentions, fired a supporting shot.

The attack hit not only Filman but also Sara, but realizing he was cornered, Filman took a few deep breaths, clicked his tongue, and hugged Hermine’s shoulder.

“Y-Yeah, that’s right! After two years of dating, you’re still not cute at all! Lady Hermine is much more beautiful, honest, and affectionate towards me!”

“Oh, Filman….”

“Lady Hermine, don’t worry about Sara. Our marriage has already been approved by the king and our parents.”

“W-Why!?”

Unable to hold back, Sara interjected, and Hermine blinked at her.

“Because, Sara and I swapped names and positions? Father said it’s fine to marry the person I truly love, and the viscount and viscountess think I’m Sara, so they won’t object.”

“……”

“Father is giving us the mansion where I’m living now. So, after we get married, we’ll live there together. A modest life for just the two of us… I’ve always dreamed of this. Sara knows, right?”

Hermine’s words just passed through Sara’s head.

(…Why, how did it come to this?)

For Hermine, she had endured everything.

For Hermine, she was willing to accept a swap or a political marriage.

For Filman, she was prepared to break up with him.

—All of that was trampled on with a smile.

Hermine had seduced Filman, and it was only in the morning that she handed him Sara’s letter and explained the situation. Despite escaping an unpleasant political marriage, she planned to live a carefree life in her hometown, showing no consideration for Sara.

Filman, too, was at fault. If he had only been deceived, there might have been room for sympathy, but he continued to indulge with Hermine even after learning her true identity, and ultimately blamed Sara for it.

Everyone knew that Sara and Filman were dating, so from their perspective, it would just seem like they finally got married, and they would be blessed. No one would question their marriage. No one would know the truth, and they would be able to achieve happiness.

—Her eyes stung.

Her throat was dry, her fingertips trembled, and her consciousness seemed to blur as if her brain was being squeezed.

(For what… for what have I endured all this…!?)

Once it burst out, there was no way to hold back with feelings like “because she’s my lord” or “because I owe her.”

Indeed, she had wanted to protect Hermine’s smile.

She thought she was the only one who could protect it.

…But the smile and treatment Sara wanted were not like this.

She had hoped that Hermine would eventually marry her as “Sara.” But to go so far as to seduce Filman and delay sending the letter to create a fait accompli was too much.

Furthermore, their parents were behind them. She felt sorry for the viscount and viscountess, who were still unaware, but the king valued his daughter above all and hadn’t given a thought to Sara.

Rather, he might have been relieved that Filman, who had slept with a princess, was not allowed to cheat and had found a knight to protect his daughter for life. Living in a mansion in the town below the castle would make security easier.

…She wanted to be happy.

And if possible, she wanted to spend time smiling with Hermine.

Even if she herself was unhappy, she thought it would be fine as long as Hermine was happy.

But she realized that it wasn’t like that.

(…Is this the conclusion you’ve come to… Lady Hermine?)

Sara quietly looked at Hermine.

The woman before her was not the lord she had admired and protected for six years, but someone who was drowning in a love affair, completely unaware of her sin, and deluded herself into thinking she was the tragic heroine who had won love.

“So, once Sara gets married, we’ll announce our marriage too. …Right, Sara?”

“…Yes.”

“Even after we get married and are far apart, we’ll always be… friends, right?”

…If Sara had been a bit less considerate, she might have poured the contents of her teacup on Hermine’s face.

The loyalty and affection she had devoted for six years were already shattered.

Hermine, who had shattered it, was oblivious and talking about being “always friends.”

Wanting to scream at her, Sara held back, took a deep breath once, then twice.

She pushed all the things she wanted to say, spew out, and do into her stomach, put on the mask of the “loyal maid” that Hermine wanted—

“…Yes, always friends. Congratulations on your marriage, Lady Hermine, Filman.”

Sara, whose world had been shattered, offered her blessings with her mouth but severed ties in her heart.

That was the last favor she could do for Hermine, to whom she owed six years of gratitude.