Chapter 5: The Fiancée I Had Forgotten

Oh… I must have fallen asleep at some point.

When I slowly lifted my heavy eyelids, the sun had already begun to set, and reddish-orange light streamed in through the window beside my bed.

At some point, my body had been cleaned, and I was now dressed in fresh loungewear.

──I’m thirsty.

I gathered strength into both hands and pushed myself upright, reaching for the glass placed on the bedside table.

Just as I stretched out my hand and tried to lift it—

Ah, it’s going to fall.

Crash!

With my weakened strength, I must have misjudged the force needed, relying on my old sense of strength.

The glass slipped from the table and shattered pitifully on the floor.

Water spread everywhere.

I’ve done it now.

As I extended my arm to ring the bell by my pillow—

“Milady! What happened?!”

Perhaps she had been waiting nearby, for Sarah rushed into the room immediately.

“Ah, I tried to drink some water.”

“Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine.
Thank you.”

“Then I will pour some water into this spare glass.

You’ve just recovered, so it cannot be helped if you lack strength.”

Sarah poured water into another glass, slipped one arm behind my back, and with her other hand gently pressed the rim of the glass to my lips, letting the water flow into my mouth.

Ah… it feels like I’ve come back to life.

Well, I truly have come back to life.

After giving me water, Sarah carefully lowered me back onto the bed.

She left the room briefly and returned at once with cleaning tools.

The shattered glass and spilled water were cleared away so thoroughly it was as if nothing had happened.

“Sarah, I’m causing you trouble.
I’m sorry.”

“What are you saying!
Milady always pushes yourself too hard.
You must rest a little.”

“…Sarah, thank you.
For everything.”

Sarah’s eyes widened in surprise.

Then her face softened, and she smiled brightly.

When I saw that expression, I was struck by the realization that my former self had never once properly thanked Sarah, despite all her devoted service.

Born a marquis’s daughter, Rashel had always felt superior and special compared to others.

To her, servants were little different from part of the scenery.

Unlike the other servants who kept their distance, only Sarah stayed faithfully at Rashel’s side, and before I knew it, she had become someone special.

And yet, she had served someone who never even offered her a word of gratitude.

Servants have families.

Commoners have families.

Each of them is irreplaceable to someone.

They are alive, just like me, with thoughts and feelings.

I had failed to notice something so obvious.

Come to think of it, the young ladies who had once befriended me immediately switched allegiance to the Saintess when His Highness broke off our engagement.

They cast scornful glances at me, whispering and laughing behind my back.

Perhaps I had never had a true friend to begin with.

But Sarah was different.

Even when I lashed out at her, she stayed by my side until the very end.

I had been unable to cherish those who cared for me.

Status, magic power—

Looking back now, I had clung to such foolish things.

Rashel gazed at Sarah’s smiling face, her vision blurring with tears of regret for her former self and happiness at being given a chance to start over.

However—

“Ah, Milady!
There is something I must inform you of.”

“Yes?
What is it?”

“While you were sleeping, Master returned from the castle and came to see your sleeping face.

And he left a message for you…

Um, His Highness the Crown Prince will be coming to visit shortly.”

As Sarah smiled and said, “Isn’t that wonderful?”, my face stiffened, and I felt cold sweat trickle down my back.

Ah… I completely forgot.

I am still the Crown Prince’s fiancée.