If You’re The Real One, Then Who’s My Husband? – Chapter 59

Author: isuzuuy

Relieved, Rachel smiled and took her designated place. With that much spirit, surely she would manage somehow.

Only then did Rachel begin to notice the beautiful weather. The imperial flags fluttering here and there, the blue sky, and the brilliant sun.

Aside from the slight chill, it was a beautiful day, as if the world itself were welcoming her title-granting ceremony.

As she knelt on one knee, the emperor’s voice rang out.

“First, Duke Nathan Valencia, come forward.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The person who had achieved the greatest merits was always honored first and last during the ceremony. So if Nathan Valencia was first, Rachel would be last.

The emperor’s scepter hovered over Nathan Valencia’s shoulder as he knelt.

“Duke Nathan Valencia, in recognition of your efforts to protect Me against hundreds of assassins and restore order in the North, I grant you three territories and gold as rewards. Continue to devote yourself wholeheartedly to Me and the Empire.”

“I am deeply honored, Your Majesty.”

The man replied calmly and stepped aside. Next, the commander of the Imperial Guard and Duke Cardier were called forward in turn.

The commander of the Imperial Guard, who had protected the emperor to the very end, and the entire Imperial Guard were awarded gold and medals.

Although Duke Cardier, the Minister of Military Affairs, accepted the rewards on their behalf, medals and gold were also awarded to key individuals from the Empire’s First, Second, and Third Knight Orders and First Mage Corps, which had been dispatched to the North, for capturing important figures involved in the incident.

And then it was her turn.

“Finally, Lady Rachel Ingrave, come forward.”

“…….”

She stepped onto the stairs. As countless nobles’ gazes clung to her back like needles,

Rachel felt a strange sense of déjà vu. The situation was completely different from that time.

Instead of standing there in a filthy state, she was dressed beautifully and stood in a place of honor.

Today, she would be given a new surname, Easton, in place of Ingrave. Many problems still remained, but none of the remnants of her previous life remained with her now.

She had successfully changed her fate.

And she would never be confined again.

Rachel knelt on one knee before the emperor. His scepter hovered over her shoulder.

“……You were the first to notice that something was wrong with My safety, and you uncovered the North’s schemes hidden behind the scenes and presented Me with evidence. Your contributions are great. Therefore, I grant Rachel Ingrave the surname Easton, the title of baroness, and the mansion and territory that come with it. Continue to be loyal to Me and the Empire.”

“I am deeply honored, Your Majesty.”

Thus, Baroness Rachel Easton was born. Now, all she had to do was sever ties with her family.

As she stepped aside, she searched the hall for the Marquis and Marchioness Ingrave. Among the many gazes directed at her, two pairs of cold eyes met hers as if they had been waiting for this moment.

Their light blue and blue eyes resembled hers, as though proving their blood ties.

“…….”

Rachel quietly blinked her own light blue eyes, then turned away. They had been the ones to let go of her first.

Now it was her turn. Wouldn’t it be fair if they each let go of one another at least once?

Meanwhile, the emperor was leading the King of Borza onto the platform.

“And today, we reaffirm our friendship with the Borza Kingdom and officially declare that all issues concerning Olsher have been resolved. As we have always done, Olsher will treat Borza with due respect, and Borza will work alongside Olsher to keep the monsters at the northernmost edge of the continent in check.”

“I can only be grateful for Your Majesty’s decision.”

The King of Borza formally expressed his gratitude. Peace had been restored once again without a war.

The emperor smiled pleasantly.

“You mustn’t leave yet. Today is a joyous occasion that we should celebrate together over drinks.”

“Indeed.”

“Excellent. Let the banquet begin.”

Tables throughout the hall and garden were filled with all kinds of food and wine, and music began to play. The banquet had officially begun.

For a moment, Rachel felt the emperor’s gaze on her.

But she deliberately ignored it and turned her attention to her parents, who had already looked away.

Given their personalities, she had expected them to come straight over as soon as the title-granting ceremony ended.

“…….”

Instead, they turned their backs and mingled with their faction, as though Rachel weren’t even there.

‘……Are they ignoring me?’

That wasn’t so bad, either. What good would it do to argue in front of everyone?

Meanwhile, the emperor had turned his attention away from her and was holding the King of Borza and Nathan Valencia close as he leaned against the imperial throne and sipped his wine.

Was he choosing to be patient one more time?

Just then, Rachel spotted Aisha Labelyn coming up the stairs. When their eyes met, Aisha’s bright smile faltered for a moment.

Then she elegantly raised the corners of her mouth again.

“Are you heading down?”

“……Yes.”

When they had met at the dress shop, Aisha had seemed ready to attack her as if she wanted to kill her.

Seeing her smile so brightly now felt a little strange. Of course, this version of Aisha was more familiar to Rachel than the one with bloodshot eyes she had seen at the dress shop.

“All right. I’m going to do my best, just as you told me to. You’d better not let your guard down when you go downstairs. Everyone is talking about you.”

“Thank you for the warning.”

Aisha smiled and passed her. Rachel quietly blinked, then walked down the stairs.

Aisha Labelyn, too.

This life after Regression was full of strange things.

The moment Rachel stepped into the hall, nobles began to gather around her. The first to approach were the group she had been close to around this time in her previous life.

“Baroness Rachel Easton! Congratulations on becoming the head of your own family!”

“Thank you, Lady Muel.”

“My goodness, I had no idea you had accomplished so much! Please tell us what happened back then.”

After them, noblewomen and nobles with titles gathered around as well.

She was only a baroness, but her background as the daughter of a marquis, her status as Valencia’s benefactor, and her connection to the emperor as his benefactor were invisible forms of influence. Even those who normally kept their distance were now approaching her.

“Your crest is beautiful. What does it mean?”

“Congratulations on receiving your title.”

“Let’s see, the next Grand Assembly is in spring, isn’t it? You’ll be attending the court’s Grand Assembly from then on, won’t you?”

On top of that, Nathan Valencia had even referred to her as his prospective fiancée while protecting her.

The gifts granted by the emperor and the conflict involving the Ingrave family were also interesting topics of conversation.

As expected, some people were quick to bring up the Ingraves.

“By the way, the Marquis and Marchioness Ingrave haven’t even come near their daughter on such a wonderful day. Has something happened?”

It was Marchioness Luviel, who belonged to a different faction from Marchioness Ingrave. Rachel smiled as if she had rehearsed it.

“I’m going to become independent soon.”

“Oh my, what could have happened?”

“I’ve received a title, after all. Now that I’ve become the head of my own family, wouldn’t it be nice to leave my parents’ care and stand on my own two feet?”

“What an ambitious goal, my lady.”

“Still, isn’t it a little strange that they haven’t even come to congratulate you?”

Just then, Marchioness Torza approached and casually brought up the subject. Rachel replied as calmly as ever.

“I suppose their feelings are hurt. My parents wanted me to stay with the Ingrave family longer.”

“Ah.”

“What a harmonious family, my lady. I’m envious.”

“Envious? Isn’t the Luviel family known as the very picture of a harmonious household?”

Rachel smiled. Having been absent from high society for some time while surrounded by all kinds of rumors, she was facing sharper remarks than usual.

She was at odds with her family, and the title of baroness was the lowest rank of nobility. It wasn’t surprising that people were suddenly emphasizing the social hierarchy.

At least they were refraining from bringing up her connections to the emperor and Nathan Valencia. Perhaps that was something to be grateful for.

‘Though that probably won’t last long.’

In any case—

“…….”

Rachel continued to deal gracefully with the nobles, but every so often, she glanced at her parents, who stood far away.

She wasn’t sure about Aisha Labelyn, but—

She couldn’t shake the feeling that her parents had some ulterior motive.

***

Meanwhile, Nathan had been drawn into a drinking session with the King of Borza at the emperor’s invitation. He was doing his best to read the mood.

He had actually wanted to leave as soon as he finished his business, but the situation wouldn’t allow it.

“Hahaha! Come on, let’s drink! Drink!”

“…….”