But unlike the original story, Ancia didn’t die this time. Of course, the real Ancia was gone, but Diana didn’t know that. So she wouldn’t suffer from that guilt for the rest of her life.

“You were so cool back then. I could never do that. Everyone was going crazy praising you and it was no joke!”

In “The Beast and the Lady,” there was a scene where Ancia said she did not blame Diana. Of course, she indeed felt jealous and hateful because of the situation, but she couldn’t hate her sister, the only person who genuinely liked her.

Others might not know, but Diana could realize that I was a fake.

I recalled the original story and tried to act as the real Ancia.

“Thank you.”

“How pretty.”

Diana smiled brightly. Fortunately, she didn’t seem to have any doubts.

“Are you feeling better, sister?”

“Huh?”

“They said you had drowned before.”

“Oh, yes,…”

“I was worried, but I’m glad you look healthy.”

She looked around and came close to me.

“Sister, take this.”

Diana handed me a small red box.

“What is this?”

“This thermos is made of Mana Stone of Fire. You can keep things warm with this. I wanted to give it to you earlier, but I didn’t get the chance to.”

“It’s fine. I’m all better.”

“Don’t worry about father! I bought it secretly with my money!”

She looked around again and firmly placed the thermos in my hand.

It was both admirable and sad to see her secretly trying to give me something. After all, the real Ancia had already passed away.

“Thank you. I’ll use it well.”

Diana’s eyes were wet with tears. She was very much like Blake, shedding tears at the littlest of things.

“What are you crying about?”

“I’m very happy because you accepted it…”

When I handed her a handkerchief, she shook her head.

“No. I can use mine. By the way, your handkerchief is very beautiful. Did His Majesty give it to you?”

“Yes.”

“His Majesty must really like you. That’s a relief.”

The heroine of this world was different. I was worried that Diana, like Richard, might be a weirdo, but she was much cuter and lovelier than I expected.

I thought of Blake and Diana standing side by side.

The two would get along very well.

I was supposed to be happy for them, but I somewhat felt lonely instead.

***

After the ball, I returned to the Crown Prince’s Palace.

The moment the carriage entered the Palace, I felt at ease. As expected, I felt at home here.

“Ancia!”

As soon as I got off the carriage, Blake approached me and gently hugged me. I hugged him back.

It was a pleasure to have someone waiting to welcome me when I came back from an outing.

Of course, it was only moving from one Palace to another, but it felt like I had returned from a short trip.

“Your Highness, how do I look?”

“Pretty.”

It was just a short remark, but I was delighted. It meant more to me than anything I had heard today.

I took off my fancy dress, took a bath, and then changed into comfortable pyjamas.

As I climbed onto the bed, Blake asked me.

“Ancia, did you have fun today?”

“I was so nervous that I thought I wouldn’t be able to enjoy it. But it was nice.”

“Did you dance? His Majesty led you well, right?”

“No, he didn’t.”

“Why?”

“I want my first dance to be with you.”

“…….”

“His Majesty knew that.”

Blake’s expression changed. He didn’t look happy. He replied, “You should have danced with His Majesty. I might never be able to go to such a place…”

“Why can’t you go?”

“I’m cursed…”

I clasped his hands.

‘Today, I met the person who could lift your curse. She was such a pretty and lovely girl.’

I swallowed the words back and looked at Blake.

“Your Highness, please promise me one thing.”

“Promise?”

“Yes. When the curse is lifted later, please dance with me.”

I don’t want much. I just wanted to dance with Blake at a ball after his curse had been lifted once.

“Of course. Who else would I dance with besides Ancia?”

Blake looked up at me.

“Ancia, I’m so scared.”

“The curse will definitely be lifted. You don’t have to worry.”

“Not the curse. I’m afraid you will leave me.”

He held my hand firmly together.

“I’m afraid my wife will suddenly leave me behind.”

“…Where would I go?”

I told that lie again, but Blake grabbed my hand even harder.

“Ancia, don’t leave me…”

“Your Highness…”

“You are the only one for me. Ancia, I will do whatever you want, so don’t leave me!”

He must have felt I was lying, so he cried out in desperation.

“Your Highness, don’t cry. Don’t cry.”

I hugged him and patted him on the back. I could always say that I definitely wouldn’t leave, but the white lie I always told him, somehow, refused to come out this time.

“Ancia, tell me you won’t leave.”

“Your Highness…”

“Promise me you won’t leave me.”

“… I’m not leaving.”

By succumbing to Blake’s pleas, I ended up making another promise I couldn’t keep.

***

I promised Blake I wouldn’t leave. But at the same time, I thought I should prepare for a breakup.

Blake’s first love was Diana. Although the pair split up when Diana fell for Richard, it was Blake who first loved her.

So even though Blake was young and followed me, one he met Diana, he’d choose her instead.

But Blake seemed to like me more than I thought.

The next day, I sent a letter to Count Bellacian saying I wanted to see Diana. Then the Count replied that he would send Diana at any time.

Count Bellacian hated it when Diana played with Ancia. So I thought there was a high probability of him rejecting it. Yet, the response that came was contrary to my expectations.

***

“Your Highness, today my sister will visit me.”

“Yes. I know.”

Blake nodded his head.

He cried so much, telling me not to leave, but he must be nervous to meet his first love.

I secretly talked to Hans and made him a new outfit. The clothes he wore today were those clothes.

Children were always like that. Even if they talked to someone they met for several hours, they’d still forget the conversation the next day. I was disappointed even though I knew that. But it was a good thing.

“Are you nervous?”

“A little bit. It wouldn’t be nice if my sister-in-law hated me, would it?”

Huh? Wasn’t it supposed to be the excitement of meeting his first love?

I felt something was wrong, but he might be saying that only in front of me.

“It’s alright. Don’t worry.”

Diana was a kind-hearted heroine and had no repulsion towards the curse.

Their meeting would now be earlier than the original, but it was better for it to be faster than later.

I fixed Blake’s cravat.

Soon after, the Bellacian carriage arrived.

“Sister!”

Diana was wearing a bright yellow dress and looked extraordinarily lovely today.

“I was so happy to hear that you wanted to see me. I couldn’t sleep at all last night because it was like a dream! Oh, I love your dress. You look so pretty today. How do you keep getting prettier every day?”

Diana was much brighter and a little more talkative than what was mentioned in the original story.

“Diana, say hello to the Crown Prince first.”

“Oh, greetings to the Crown Prince.”

“Nice to meet you, Lady Bellacian.”

Blake said in a rather mature way.

“Your Majesty, thank you for inviting me.”

Diana also used good manners. There was no sign of fear or reluctance from her.

The two people looked much better than I imagined as they stood side by side.

“Diana, I’m sorry, but I need to see His Majesty for a while. Can you wait here?”

“Yes, don’t worry.”

“Your Highness, can you show Diana around the Palace?”

“Of course. Leave it to me!”

“Yes, please.”

I used going to the Imperial Palace as an excuse to give time for them to get to know each other.