The Extra Saved the Terminally Ill Princess and Ran Away - Chapter 58

Chapter 58: Grace is a Concubine?

***

"Berry."

"Yes?"

Grace, after staring intently at my chest for a while, finally looked up at me, a gentle smile on her face.

But there was something different about her usual serene demeanor.

"They say love makes people alike, but… I don't think you need to emulate this aspect."

"…What?"

Her tone was slightly formal, almost stiff.

But I didn't have time to question her meaning. I already knew.

I, too, had been in her shoes. She must have realized my intentions, the reason behind my approach.

"While I do desire to experience love, I believe this method is… inappropriate."

She took a step closer, her eyes meeting mine, and began her lecture. I listened patiently, my gaze unwavering.

Even if my intentions were noble, she wouldn't be happy about being used as a tool, a pawn in my plan.

"A love born from someone else's machinations, a third party's intervention… I don't consider that true love."

She, whose love for Ian was orchestrated by the author of this world, said this.

A wave of bitterness washed over me.

"That's not the kind of love I desire. I want something more… fateful… a love born from a destined encounter."

"That's why I tried to clarify things with Her Highness. I don't want to be forced into a relationship."

Her clear, topaz eyes, unwavering in their gaze, seemed to shimmer with a newfound confidence.

Her assertiveness, so different from the Grace I knew from the story, intensified the bitterness I felt.

Who was she, this character from the story?

The Saintess of Truth, the walking lie detector, the naive and easily manipulated healer.

And…

The girl who would throw herself into eternal damnation to save the man she loved.

"So, while I appreciate your consideration, I must decline. I want to find my own destiny, even if it takes years."

Her gaze dropped to the floor, and I looked up at the sky through the training grounds window.

My plans weren't going smoothly, my worries increasing, yet I felt a strange sense of relief.

'Grace is a secondary heroine, destined for an early exit. Even without awakening, she's still a valuable ally.'

My desire to awaken her, to have her fall in love with someone other than Ian, was perhaps driven by my own selfish desires, my own anxieties.

As long as she wasn't in Ian's party, she wouldn't be in danger. And he was strong, even stronger than in the original story. He would obtain Durandal sooner, further amplifying his strength.

And I knew when, where, and how Ian would die, so I could prepare for any contingency.

I had the power to protect him now.

So, even if Grace fell in love with Ian and joined his party, she might survive.

Of course, that was a gamble I wouldn't take.

So, perhaps my desire to awaken her, to gain access to her powerful healing and blessings, was just wishful thinking.

"Sigh… You're right, I'm sorry…"

"Huh? Your Highness? What are you doing here?"

Selina's voice echoed from the hallway.

And Lili's eyes, barely visible through the slightly open door, came into full view as the door creaked open.

Her gaze, unfocused and lost, darted around the room, avoiding us.

Her pupils were dilated, her eyes trembling, a clear sign that she was seeing something she didn't want to see.

I knew that look. She was definitely suspicious of Grace and me.

We were alone in the training grounds after class, talking… It was a perfectly reasonable assumption, from her perspective.

I tensed, ready to stop her if she tried to flee before hearing my explanation, but then Selina appeared, pushing her into the training grounds.

"Why are you just standing there! Didn't you come to see Berry? Just go in… Oh."

Selina froze, seeing Grace and me.

And then,

A smirk.

It was a fleeting expression, but I saw it. A subtle smirk as she looked at us.

"Why…?"

Grace, her eyes narrowed, stared at Selina, a puzzled expression on her face. She, too, had seen that smirk.

Selina grabbed Ian's arm and tried to pull him out of the training grounds, her excuse flimsy and transparent.

"Oh dear… I'm so forgetful! Ian…! I forgot to bring you a drink! So… would you mind coming with me to the dormitory?"

"W-What? But I promised to go to the academy treasury with Berry…!"

The moment she heard the words "academy treasury," Selina stopped and looked at Ian and me, her eyes questioning.

"Really…? The treasury? Now…?"

"Well… not right now, but… yes?"

Selina's gaze shifted to Grace, then she resumed dragging Ian away.

"I see…! Then I'll let you go as soon as we have our drinks in the dormitory! Excuse us…! See you later!"

"Berry! I'll be back soon, so wait for me…!"

And just like that, Selina, who had appeared like a whirlwind, vanished just as quickly, dragging Ian with her.

"………Why?"

Grace muttered, a puzzled frown on her face. Something about that scene seemed to bother her.

I was curious too, but I had a more pressing matter to attend to.

"F-Finn…"

Lili, her eyes filled with tears, her body trembling precariously, stood before me, her gaze accusing. I had to clear up this misunderstanding.

***

What a mess.

The Princess had been about to call out to her attendant… her lover… when she saw him through the slightly open door.

But the silhouette of another woman stopped her.

'Grace…?'

The biggest threat, according to her late-night conversation with Marianne.

Grace, of the Divine Arts Department, smiling gently at the boy.

And then, she heard his voice.

He was standing closer to the door than Grace, so she could hear him clearly.

"Just out of curiosity, are you… seeing anyone?"

Thump.

Her heart sank.

Her worst fears were coming true. Finn… was interested in Grace.

She steadied herself, focusing on their conversation, her eyes filling with tears.

'No… it can't be… Finn wouldn't…'

And then, another blow.

"Love… I'd like to… experience it…"

"Sigh. Is that so?"

Finn, sighing in relief at Grace's confession.

Two sentences, and her world crumbled. But she still clung to the door, hoping it was all a misunderstanding, hoping he wouldn't betray her.

She didn't even care that her carefully chosen outfit, meant to impress him, was now ruined, her face stained with tears.

But…

Fate, it seemed, was determined to test her.

The next words were even more devastating.

"It's a bit late now, so… could you come to the next sparring session?…"

Finn, suggesting a secret rendezvous.

"If you love me… I think it would be nice."

Grace, implying that a relationship wouldn't be a bad idea.

"I also… want to… try it."

Grace, confessing her desire for such a rendezvous.

Thud. Grace took a step towards Finn, as if about to kiss him.

"…A third party's… love…"

Grace, her gaze fixed on Finn, talking about love with another person, her expression pleading.

"Love… blossoms from… a fateful encounter…"

The Princess couldn't bear to watch any longer. She turned away.

They were about to kiss, lost in a romantic moment.

…Unlike her, who had kissed him and run away.

….

….

And now, forced to face them by Selina,

She clung to the hope that he wouldn't leave her,

But she couldn't blame him for seeing Grace, not after their brief, tumultuous reunion.

Men often had multiple wives, and there was no guarantee that Finn would be different.

Her guilt, her overwhelming sense of indebtedness towards him, made her unreasonably understanding.

"F-Finn… G-Grace is… a c-concubine, right…? But… I'm still the first, right…?"

What kind of commoner would have a concubine while being involved with a princess?

It was an absurd question, but her mind, already filled with even more absurd fantasies, clung to the most hopeful scenario.

A scenario that allowed her to force a smile, despite the pain.

Of course, Finn and Grace, hearing her understanding words, only looked at her with cold, unreadable expressions.

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