IRMDH 30

Chapter 30

When I came to my senses, I realized I was standing there alone like a fool.

And, as if the announcements were over, I could already see a group of nobles walking toward us from afar.

‘Wait, already…?’

Of course, my purpose of coming here to buy the blue-spotted butterfly was still intact.

But after the whirlwind with Seira and all the information I’d learned, my head was a mess.

“And now, Count Espero has prepared a gift for you all.”

The people around began clapping in unison.

Their faces were lit with anticipation—like they were excited to see what the gift might be.

‘But they all know that the “gift” is really just a chance to purchase the rare creatures here.’

How could spending their own money be so fun for them?

Well, I suppose if they went so far as to secretly acquire an invitation to this private salon, it meant they were desperate.

Nobles lose their minds whenever something rare is involved.

Not that I was much different, since I was here to buy a butterfly myself.

I halfheartedly clapped along with the others.

“The types of creatures we can offer are limited. And to control their numbers, we cannot provide them in bulk, so we ask for your understanding.”

After that polite explanation, the Count’s attendants began moving through the crowd.

One of them approached me and spoke gently.

“Good day, madam. Is there anything here that has caught your eye?”

“That butterfly.”

“The blue-spotted butterfly, correct? We can provide you with a pair—would you be interested?”

I gave a demure nod.

The process that followed was simple.

They handed me a neatly wrapped small box and politely wished me a safe return.

Seated in the carriage back to the palace, I placed the little box gently on my lap.

“Oh my, Your Highness. What’s in the box?”

“There’s a pretty butterfly inside.”

Hearing my answer, Lily seemed to finally understand why we had come here.

She assumed I was worried that people might spread rumors about the crown princess having a frivolous hobby.

“If such rumors spread, what does it matter! Who’s more frugal than you, Your Highness…? Oh, but look—there’s an envelope tucked in there, the same color as the box!”

At her words, my eyes shifted to the box.

Indeed, just as Lily said, there was an envelope matching the box’s color, slipped in neatly like part of the gift.

I had a good guess who the sender was.

“Probably just a thank-you note for buying the butterfly.”

I said that casually, diverting Lily’s attention.

But inside, my nerves were taut.

It was almost certainly a letter from Empress Temia—and if so, the contents were bound to be political.

All I had wanted was to buy a butterfly…

How had I ended up entangled with Empress Temia?

I wanted no part in these complicated power struggles.

Honestly, it would almost be easier to stay the way things were in the original story—mocked endlessly as the ignorant commoner-born crown princess. At least then my mind would be at ease.

Suppressing a sigh, I recalled running into Seira unexpectedly.

Would it really matter if I told Blake I had seen her?

But… did Blake know?

Did he know who had killed him?

Learning that the person you trusted had betrayed and murdered you—that must have been a devastating shock.

And yet another question surfaced.

How exactly had Seira killed Blake?

If it were the man who looked like Blake that had done it, Blake wouldn’t have been so astonished when he first encountered him.

That would mean it truly was Seira who killed him…

But how could such a frail, delicate saintess kill the greatest swordsman in the world?

It didn’t make sense.

I puzzled over it like a detective unraveling a murder mystery in a novel.

By the time the carriage rolled into the palace grounds, I still had no answer.

Because people were out and about, the carriage slowed noticeably.

I saw courtiers and nobles moving about—then suddenly, a loud shout rang out.

“You fool! How dare you spout such nonsense before His Majesty!”

That voice… it sounded familiar.

I turned toward the sound and saw, through the window, a cluster of nobles gathered.

And causing the uproar was none other than Prince Alec.

His face was red, his breath ragged, and he looked ready to grab the noble before him by the collar.

For a highborn prince to behave like some common thug—in broad daylight, in the middle of the palace no less—was appallingly undignified.

When Lily caught my eye, she leaned slightly out of the carriage and quietly asked the coachman to slow down even more.

It was already crawling along, but this let us observe the scene even better.

“Useless! How could you let the blame fall here?!”

“Your Highness, the matter was handled so discreetly, we had no way of knowing—”

“Hah! Worthless parasites! I should go straight to Mother and tell her everything, have her weed out the lot of you!”

“B-but, Your Highness! The evidence from the Crown Prince’s side is too thorough and—”

By then, the carriage had passed them by.

Still, I had gotten the gist of it.

This was near the Emperor’s palace—so they must have just come out of the council chamber.

Blake must have chosen this moment to strike back at Prince Alec, who had imprisoned him.

For Alec to lose his composure so badly in public, Blake’s counterattack must have hit hard.

Rumors of the incident would be everywhere before the day was over.

Not that Alec cared—he was hot-tempered and never concerned himself with appearances.

Empress Lucia would no doubt be tearing her hair out.

Turning away from the window, I met Lily’s gaze again.

She instantly shifted into idle gossip, as if nothing had happened.

“Your Highness, do you know what I saw yesterday? Lady Robertson, the head lady-in-waiting, was sneaking into the kitchens late at night. She looked like she wanted a lemon pie all to herself, but Sir Willis, the head chef, caught her…”

…More like she was having an affair with the chef, not pie.

“And that maid Erica—she’s so popular, nobles are lining up to court her. Especially Viscount Marez, who’s old enough to be her father. He keeps saying he has something to ‘check’…”

I’d heard rumors that one of the palace maids resembled Viscount Marez. Supposedly, he had lost a daughter around her age.

So perhaps he wasn’t wooing her, but trying to confirm if she was his child.

The way Lily told stories was oddly entertaining—it always left me guessing at the real meaning hidden behind them.

And gossiping about a prince’s disgrace in front of the crown princess would have been dangerous.

Better to stick with harmless tales.

Before long, the carriage slowed to a stop—we had reached my palace.

“I’ll escort you inside, Your Highness!”

Lily declared with cheerful confidence as she hopped down first.

Honestly, she seemed more reliable than most knights.

I smiled inwardly.

But then a long moment passed, and I heard no playful call from Lily to take her hand.

“Lily? What’s the—”

Before I could finish, a large pale hand suddenly appeared.

From the black sleeve embroidered with fine gold trim…

“Your Highness?”

“Hello, my lady.”

A calm, low voice.

I took the hand, and the cool touch jolted my mind clear.

He helped me down from the carriage with practiced ease.

At once, the chill of the evening air made me shiver.

“Are you cold?”

“Ah, a little. But Your Highness, you—”

Blake wordlessly slipped off his blazer and draped it around my shoulders.

What… why was he being so kind all of a sudden?

I had never experienced this before. I was too stunned to react, and Blake, with that impassive expression, looked me straight in the eyes.

“I thought once I was released, my wife would come straight to see her husband.”

“Well, I…”

“But the first person I saw was Alec. What rotten luck.”

His tone was biting, though his voice remained level.

“So then I figured you’d be waiting patiently in our chambers. But you weren’t there either… I wondered if you’d run off again.”

“R-run off? No! I just went out for a while…”

“Out?”

His eyes fell to the small box in my hand.

“And that—who gave it to you?”

“I bought it myself.”

“…Hmm.”

Though clearly displeased, Blake simply took my hand and led me forward.

His grip was firm, yet gentle enough not to hurt.

“But tell me—what are you doing here?”

“I was annoyed. My wife went out gallivanting instead of visiting her newly freed husband.”

“….”

“So—shall we go to the bedchamber and talk?”

His expression was full of mischief and teasing.

Not that this was anything new for Blake.