PERSONAL

Chapter 11: Offing the Offreys Aftermath

It had been a few days since the Offrey incident. The Royal Court was a whirlwind of activity as the Offreys were investigated, the Roseblades interrogated, Clarice admonished, rural lords interviewed, and my family scrutinized. No one involved was left out of the investigations.

Marquis Frampton had been the loudest to raise his concerns, given the Offreys were of his faction. A cynical side of me believed that he made as much noise as he did because he too was in Fanoss's pockets. But I could reasonably see why a loyal family would raise their concerns.

While three major houses and a plethora of minor houses and baronets had formally routed a traitorous household, it was still a severe breach in protocol that could not be simply swept under the rug. It did not matter that we were right and had barely squeaked by in terms of legality by having the Prime Minister give a silent and last-minute approval. A potential power block had just unilaterally decided to remove a county from a rival faction. If such actions were not at least scrutinized, then no family was truly safe.

It did not help matters that the entire plot was concocted by me, the 'future' queen.

I withheld my sigh as I was to meet Mylene shortly for my interview regarding the matter.

I did not look forward to how this meeting would go. From my memories, Mylene was a kindhearted woman who had taken it upon herself to act as a surrogate mother. In my previous life, she had often corresponded with me about my laments regarding Julius's behavior. She had admonished Julius several times for pursuing Olivia but to no avail as she did not have the heart to truly forbid him. She was kind to those she cherished to a fault.

But she was ever the pragmatist. When Olivia had ascended to her role as the Saintess, Mylene's support for me became nonexistent. The last few times I saw her, I saw she was filled with regret.

But that was in a previous life. In this life, my interactions with her, while still substantial, were severely reduced. Reliving this life with my gained skills has led to less need to train and learn in the capital. As it stood, Mylene was far less likely to treat me as another daughter.

My stomach curled knowing someone who I saw as another mother no longer... never saw me in the way I had gotten used to.

"The Queen will see you now," a maid said while opening the door in front of me.

I saw Mylene sitting behind her desk with more paperwork than usual. The maid quietly closed the door and left us alone.

"Your Majesty," I said with a curtsy.

"You can call me Mylene, Angelica."

I resisted wincing over how she addressed me.

"Of course, Mylene."

Rather than immediately respond, she scratched away at the documents. The silence was interrupted by only the sound of her own and the occasional sound of paper flipping. After a few minutes, Mylene put aside the current documents she had been reading and placed her pen down soundlessly.

"You've been quite busy, Angelica."

"I do apologize for the trouble I have caused regarding the Offreys, but I could not stand by after being told what Stephanie would do for entertainment."

She chuckled mirthlessly for a moment and gave me an annoyed look.

"Did you have to take such drastic measures? I had hoped you would not take Roland's theatrics as an example of leadership."

"It was not my intention."

She simply gave me a skeptical look and made a gesture for me to go on.

"While I will admit the speed by which we handled the matter was flashy, I deemed it a necessity given the current circumstances regarding the dismissal of several of the engagements with the founding heirs."

Mylene scowled and mumbled off three names in particular. I understood how frustrating it must be for her since I had often heard her bemoan how much work had been thrown to the wayside when the heirs had casually dismissed their obligations in the last loop.

Soldiering on, I continued with the cover.

"While I have managed to salvage the situation with the Atlees with the help of Lord Bartfort, there was and is little I could do concerning Chris and Greg's situations. I did not have inroads with their fiancées at the time and to be so casually dismissed for the same woman left those two too bitter to speak to in any meaningful capacity. In addition to the loss of these two families, Chris, Greg, and Jill's abdication of their positions as heirs have left the power block in shambles and with a blackened reputation."

"So you've decided to form a new block with the Roseblades?"

Mylene had a frown on her face. She likely believed that I was manipulated into attacking the Offreys.

"They were the most likely to aid me in my endeavor," I said to protect them.

"You were the one to instigate the attack?"

Mylene's tone suggested that she was telling me to throw the Roseblades to the wolves. She likely believed that her son's fiancée taking a leading role was more damaging than playing the fool. She was likely right in a political sense since claiming responsibility would alienate all of Frampton's faction whereas alienating the Roseblades was of a single major family and a few border nobles. Most other major families would not join the Roseblades since everyone knew that they had an axe to grind with the Offreys and would assume.

"The writing was on the wall. Everyone knows that Brad finds Stephanie distasteful and with his open interest in another woman... Offrey's support was already lost to us. Instead, I decided to make the best of the situation and capitalize on information from one of the baronetesses under the Offreys to secure a working relationship with a family that can act as a suitable replacement."

"Marie Fou Lafan, such a thorn," Mylene said with a scowl as she pulled out what looked to be a dossier.

I flinched at the image. So I had been wrong about Olivia.

Noticing my flinch, Mylene asked, "Do you believe Julius will fall under her sway?"

Somehow the question stabbed me in my heart. I already knew the answer. Somehow, despite me no longer being in love with the prince, the knowledge that any girl would have sufficed hurt me more. It wasn't as if I held the false belief that he was befuddled with magic. Just the very thought that my character had been found so lacking... had I been so contemptible? So unworthy of love?

"Angelica?"

"I believe Julius will act as he always has," I said stiffly.

"... You could at least give him reasons not to," she chided.

"I doubt he needs a reason."

"And what's that supposed to mean? Are you so delusional to expect a child to instantly fall in love upon sight? Are you so thin-skinned that you are willing to hold a grudge for life?"

"I don't believe it is so much as holding a grudge as being constantly reminded and proven right about my judgments when he has yet to actively pursue me outside of our mandated meetings."

"How hypocritical of you. You've given him no reason to chase, and you are not willing to take the first step."

"Need I even bother when your son constantly spites me with meaningless lines from fanciful literature?"

"At least he tries to make some semblance of a relationship."

"He knows it annoys me, and he insists on using such lines whenever we meet."

"Why do such words annoy you? It may not be original nor much of an effort, but it is still an effort on his part."

"Because it's proof he does not care about my wants or likes. He knows I grew upset when he tried that on me as a child, and yet he still insists on doing a repeat performance. I know you had me read that particular novel before meeting him. I know he was instructed to recite those lines. I know I was being manipulated. Manipulation is to be expected in the world of nobility. But it hurt to know that Julius didn't have the empathy to even ask why I was upset. I was just another duty or playing some role in his world," I said emotionlessly.

"And still you prove my point. How can Julius ever care for you if you never let him in? He recites novels because he is at a loss over what to do. He does not know your likes, dislikes, wants, or dreams because you refuse to show him anything. So let me ask you this. What do you know of Julius? How can you hold his lack of knowledge against him when you know not..."

"His preferred meal in the castle is a fish from the Seberg territory," I recited dutifully.

"Huh?"

"He often has the cooks prepare that, but I know it is not his favorite. He secretly likes sneaking out of the castle to buy some meat skewers."

"What?"

I did not stop. I rattled off the list of things that I had come to memorize, and the many things I had learned after it came out that I had not known anything.

Mylene spoke of my ignorance as a sign of my petty disinterest. I wanted to laugh. My ignorance had been a symbol of love for a false image I had created. Now, when I had the truth, I had no interest in utilizing it for what was the point.

Only after my voice started going hoarse did I stop. Mylene looked conflicted with a multitude of emotions.

After some silence, she told me to just go.

Remembering my promise to Leon, I asked her a question before turning to leave.

"My friend, Lord Bartfort, was recently promoted several ranks from baronet. Due to the rapid and unprecedented ascendance, he fears he is unable to fulfill the obligations expected of him. Given his circumstances, I believe and hope there is a plan to account for his situation?"

Mylene just nodded in affirmative. No doubt, she did not want to deal with me any further.

With nothing more to say, I needed to formulate a plan to ensure Olivia would not lead to my demise. My plan to simply cut out those involved previously from my life had failed spectacularly. Now I had to ponder if she or Leon would push to execute me.

....

Side Plot-Mylene

After Angelica walked out of the room, I stared into my drink. I had failed another relationship. Angelica had loved Julius, and she had held out hope he could come around. She had to have if she bothered to commit so much to memory. I don't know how long she had held that candle, but it was gone now.

I had ruined Julius's chance for a happier marriage by trying to play on Angelica's sense of romance as a child.

How did it all go so wrong? She had been such an eager student and cute child who was completely infatuated with my son when I first met her. She even adored the novel I had been reading at the time. It seemed like a sure thing.

Instead, she saw through my half-thought-out plot, and combined with Julius's lack of interest as a child, came to a drastic interpretation of the truth.

And now, I may have alienated her even further by pushing the issue.

As I looked at the dossier of names of all those whom she had rallied, and the folder that contained the recent dealings of the Redgrave patriarch, I felt the worst was yet to come if Julius could not improve his relationship with Angelica.

.....

Side Plot-Olivia

As I tunneled further into the depths of the dungeon, I impatiently began to quicken my pace. Brad and Greg had assisted me as they promised but had started flagging behind after a while. Though they did not say it, I felt that they were slightly annoyed.

We had come across several treasures up to this point, but I never felt any were of sufficient quality to earn Angelica's favor. There was always a voice in the back of my head telling me to delve deeper. There was better treasure further.

I clutched the necklace Leon had given me. I had to earn Angelica's favor if I was to ever pursue him. The two were inseparable friends. She looked favorably on him like no other, and I couldn't fault her.

If I were ever to be deemed worthy of him, I needed to do something as noteworthy.

"Livia, please. We can't keep going," Brad gasped behind me.

A surge of annoyance flooded through me, but it was an emotion I quickly quashed once I looked at the two. I could see how exhausted and battered they were. They were my friends, who were doing me a favor, and I was treating them so poorly by obstinately delving deeper.

I quickly rushed to them to heal them while apologizing profusely.

"It's all good. I get a little too hardheaded at times too," Greg said sheepishly and magnanimously.

"But how are you still so energetic?" Brad said a little more miffed; likely due to feeling inadequate.

"Ah, Leon gave me something after the pirate raid. He said it would help," I said as I gestured to the necklace.

"Man really knows how to woo women when he wants to," Brad bitterly said.

Right, I keep forgetting he had been fooled by Leon.

"Get over it, Brad. Leon didn't do anything wrong. We were being pretty shitty to our fiancées by not stepping down earlier."

"Maybe you all were, but I didn't do anything wrong."

"You were, but you were justified," Greg said dismissively.

"Then why me? Why did I have to be played for as the fool."

"Leon didn't see much of a choice. He only saw how Jilk treated Clarice and assumed you all were like that. The fact it was you was likely bad luck on your part," I said to defend Leon.

"Did he not? You told me he studied an unusual amount of time in the library after he was made aware. It's not like the others utilize the library."

Greg simply flipped Brad off.

"It was around exam time. It was reasonable to assume at least one of you would show up at the library eventually," I gently stated.

"... I know," Brad said with a sigh. He knew I was right.

"In any case, you two look too exhausted to continue. Why don't we turn back for today? I even left some injuries so that Marie can heal you two," I said with a playful tone.

Funnily, the exhausted boys bounced back up full of vigor. They would need this energy as I glanced at the sled of treasure we had accumulated. It was rather massive. It should be more than enough now that I think about it.

Yet a part of me wanted to delve deeper.

.....

AN

1) Wanted to detail the changed relationship between Angelica and Mylene as well as show how frustrating things must be for Mylene. To Mylene, who saw Angelica's flip in attitude, Angelica's lack of interest in the prince must seem incomprehensibly petty.

2) Expanded on the idea that Angelica's attempt to help the kingdom and her family had inevitably led to Mylene thinking the Redgraves are going to pull a Fanoss. To be fair, Vincent does have that plan in his back pocket.

3) Had it so that Olivia is somewhat influenced by the Saintess but only in the sense of suggestions currently.

Review Responses

Vilkath: I somewhat disagree. Angelica, while not stupid, canonically makes a lot of bad assumptions based on bad information she knowingly takes from extremely biased and corrupt lackeys. This is a fact presented in the Marie Route where she initially dismisses Leon on the word of her friends, who she had just caught undermining the Redgrave family's ability to network by dismissing heiresses for having gifts that were too lackluster. She knows the two girls are taking advantage of her name and looks down upon potential allies for being too poor, and she still trusts them enough to take on their word that Leon is worthless, something she immediately regrets when Leon stops some pirates in the capital. Also, consider real-life reactions. People very often do not bother to look further when they believe they already know a fact. Being from the future, Angelica has no real reason to assume that anything would progress differently. Even when presented with evidence to the contrary, the majority of people will double down instead of investigate. As for the prince and friends not hiding the fact that Marie is around, consider a counterpoint. They weren't advertising it either. The only real interactions we are provided about the Otome game (mix between main and Marie route) are Marie kissing Brad privately in the library, Greg inviting Olivia to eat at a restaurant after curfew in town in a chance meeting, Olivia meeting Chris while he is training alone, Marie getting invited to tea parties in front of Angelica, and Marie getting into the dungeon raiding party. Of these, Angelica is only directly involved in two, which do not occur in this story since she is avoiding the cast. She also likely did not pay attention to Marie's other paramours for a long time given how she only thought to bring up the issue of infidelity at the banquet rather than earlier. Side note, I don't think your sky is green analogy means what you think it means (I'm not sure). Plato's shadow wall philosophy is a more common example of what you are saying and more or less supports the way I have Angelica written as she is.

Bruh: There was a lot, so I'll more or less respond sentence by sentence.

It's your bias because I don't see how indicating the five being too inept and cowardly to directly confront Angelica is giving them credit. They each have their own idea of how to deal with Leon also shows they lack any real teamwork despite being best friends. So no, I don't see where credit is given.

This fic does not smear the canon pairing at all, it just follows along a relatively reasonable progression of events which the Marie Route even supports. Additionally, why does having the canon pairing matter so much in fanfiction? Isn't the point of fanfiction to write something new? Also, I wasn't referring to the demands for certain pairings as the complaints. I was more referring to how often people were saying Angelica is too ignorant, which I've more or less addressed in the above review response. Though I should probably have used a different word than complaint, but hey, I posted that at 2 in the morning so I didn't particularly care about the tone so whatever to being lazy.

This is not a more serious take on the original plot. I'm not sure where you got that.

You call this a farce. Are you sure you just don't like this fic? It's okay if you don't.

For the romance arc, I haven't decided on the pairing yet so I'm not exactly sure when that will occur. Also, not that I'm saying that I will, so what if Angelica ends up with Julius? I could reasonably see a quote-on-quote redemption arc or a forgiveness arc being a good way to write the story. Imagine removing the name and making an original story (ie Prince and Duchess instead of Julius and Angelica), would that not be a decent story? So long as the story is written well, it doesn't matter what the pairing is.

As for the hater thing, if you want to type up over twenty thread pages deriding my fiction, deriding anyone who likes what I wrote, deriding the entire fandom, and getting triggered about my work when the author updates Marie Route I can't stop you. I just find the idea to be a colossal waste of time and annoying if you flood entire threads just to insult other people. Amusingly, you would hate my hater. The guy absolutely hates Leon and praises the five and wants them to have the harem instead. So have fun joining the guy if I do end up deciding to pair Angelica with Julius.