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Chapter – 12
That Name, Darten Ert.
“You can’t call me that anymore? What do you mean?”
Darten’s expression shifted. As if a toy he’d been playing with suddenly rejected him, his face twisted in displeasure. Jesica, however, kept her gentle smile.
“Now that I’ll soon be making my debut in society, I can’t address Your Highness as casually as before.”
“What? That’s what you meant?”
“Isn’t it obvious? We aren’t ‘children’ anymore.”
Watching Darten nod, Jesica smiled inwardly. Before she returned in time, she had once greeted him with his nickname at her debutante ball—only to be met with the embarrassment of her life. She still remembered the words Darten had said with a stiff expression when she called him by that nickname.
“I never gave Miss Jesica permission to use my nickname.”
With the way he cut her off so coldly, she doubted this was the same Darten who used to visit the marquess’ estate and treat her kindly. The whispering voices behind her only made it worse.
The humiliation and shame she felt that day were indescribable. After the party ended, Darten visited her privately to explain why he had reacted that way.
“We aren’t ‘children’ anymore. We have to observe proper etiquette. You can call me that in private, but never in public.”
At the time, she had quietly listened to his nonsense lecture about the rules of high society. But now Jesica was returning every word he once said back to him. Darten accepted her explanation, only to repeat the same thing he’d said back then.
“But it’s just the two of us now, so it shouldn’t matter, right?”
“You must have forgotten the maid behind me, Your Highness.”
At her gentle but firm refusal, Darten’s face hardened. He clearly hadn’t expected her to reject him. Jesica thought to herself:
Is this worth getting angry over?
The wounds she had suffered—the pain she had endured—could not be soothed by something this trivial. To mend her torn heart, she had to see his downfall through to the very end. She would watch him walk the thorny path she laid before him. Jesica renewed her resolve.
Darten’s sharp gaze slid toward Daisy, who was standing behind her. Seeing the slight twitch in his brow, Jesica immediately understood.
Daisy, this won’t be easy for you either…
There was no way someone like Darten, narrow-minded as he was, would leave Daisy alone. To him, being turned down because of a mere maid was an affront. His expression grew colder; he did not consider those of lower status to be people at all.
“A maid?”
“Your Highness, please do not scold Daisy.”
“……”
She emphasized it deliberately—You were rejected because of the maid.
Hearing Jesica defend Daisy only made his gaze ice over further. Daisy, receiving that cold stare directly, fidgeted helplessly.
“Go prepare tea in the garden.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Daisy hurried away at Jesica’s command, and Darten watched her retreat until the very end. As Jesica walked down the corridor beside him, looking bored as he talked, a spark of liveliness returned to her eyes.
“Sir Alter.”
“I have completed the task you mentioned and returned.”
“Welcome back.”
As her face softened into a light smile, Darten spoke up.
“Who is he?”
“Oh, Your Highness. He’s my personal knight. Please greet His Highness, Sir Alter. He is the Empire’s Third Jewel.”
Alter, visibly startled, placed a hand over his chest and bowed to Darten.
“I greet the Empire’s Third Jewel.”
“… A pleasure.”
The displeasure in Darten’s voice was unmistakable. He immediately turned back to Jesica.
“A personal knight?”
“Father appointed him for me.”
“You didn’t tell me anything about this.”
“Father made the decision after the funeral. I didn’t have the chance to inform you, Your Highness.”
“… I see.”
The old Jesica would have apologized profusely, begged for forgiveness, asked what displeased him, and promised to do as he wished.
But she was no longer that foolish girl.
Even though he didn’t like her answer, Jesica paid no mind to Darten’s sour expression.
“Do you not have urgent matters today?”
Jesica asked in a soft voice, noting how Darten—who always complained of being busy—was lingering in the marquess’ estate. Darten suddenly had an uneasy thought.
She’s not trying to get rid of me… right?
She was. But he couldn’t imagine it. Her smiling face showed no hint of reluctance or discomfort toward him.
Alter, however, felt something else.
Beneath Jesica’s refreshing smile… something cold stirred.
Why?
He shook his head sharply to rid himself of the thought.
“I had some spare time today. Are you worried about me?”
“You’re always busy, so I’m glad to hear you have a bit of leisure today, Your Highness.”
Jesica ended the topic there and continued walking with Darten. He stayed in the estate for quite some time, even drinking tea with her, and finally left only when the sun was setting.
He had looked ready to stay for dinner too, but the butler brought news of the marquess’ return—and Darten had to leave, not forgetting to glare at the butler for it.
“Daisy.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Go upstairs and prepare my bath.”
Once Daisy went up to the second floor, Jesica turned around. The butler, who had been waiting behind her, widened his eyes.
“Butler.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“It seems we need to tighten the household.”
“…Pardon?”
“Someone is leaking information from the marquess’ estate. We need to find them.”
Otherwise, there was no way Darten could have “coincidentally” shown up today.
The marquess’ departure was among the strictest household secrets.
Even Jesica herself hadn’t fully known he left with the First Prince and the knights, until Alter quietly informed her afterward. So how had Darten known?
The answer is obvious.
He planted someone here.
To carry out her plans, she could not allow Darten’s people to remain in the estate.
Her work hadn’t even begun yet.
Once Anna returned and the family’s assets grew, the foundation for Jesica’s revenge would be complete.
She couldn’t let Darten gain any leverage beforehand.
The butler bowed deeply, then left the parlor with a solemn expression.
“Sir Alter.”
“You called for me, my lady?”
“There may also be someone within the knight order. Please confirm it.”
“The knight order… my lady?”
A knight’s first rule was to respect the lady they served and devote absolute loyalty to their lord.
If they failed in that, they didn’t deserve to be called knights.
Alter believed no one around him would betray those principles, but hearing Jesica’s words, he realized that at this point, anyone might be a suspect.
“I know it’s a difficult request.”
“No, my lady. You should not request it of me—you should command me.”
Jesica’s eyes trembled at his loyal words. She fought hard to hold back the tears stinging her eyelids. As she shook silently, Alter saw a clear teardrop fall from her eye.
Startled, he panicked, unsure what to do.
“What is going on!”
The voice of Marquess Bittern rang out, with the First Prince, Salife, appearing beside him. Thankfully, Jesica was standing with her back to them—they hadn’t seen her tears. She quickly composed herself and spoke to Alter.
“Please look into it, Sir.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Alter saluted and stepped back behind her. Jesica turned around; the trace of tears had vanished as if they never existed. She smiled gently, bright as ever.
“What was going on for Alter to behave like that in front of you?”
“You’re back, Father?”
“Jesica, must you call me Father again…?”
“You left this morning without a word, after promising to stay with me.”
“Well, Jesica, that was because…”
“Since Father wasn’t here, I questioned Sir Alter instead.”
At her words, the tense atmosphere instantly dissolved. The knights, who had been glaring sharply at Alter a moment ago, relaxed and withdrew their hostility.
Alter exhaled in relief. If Jesica hadn’t spoken up quickly, he would’ve embarrassed himself then and there.
“Jesica, I—”
“I’m not listening!”
With that, Jesica ran upstairs to the second floor. Alter bowed awkwardly as he followed her. Marquess Bittern could only stare blankly.
“My poor, sweet daughter…”
“Marquess, that doesn’t seem quite accurate,” Salife said.
“What do you mean, Your Highness? What’s wrong with our Jesica! She’s kind and gentle and—”
Ignoring the marquess’ rambling, Salife’s eyes narrowed.
She’s quite skilled at diverting attention.
He had noticed the slight redness around Jesica’s eyes.
He made a mental note, revising his judgment of her:
She was someone who, when necessary, could deftly manipulate hearts with calculated finesse.
