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Chapter – 28
Of course, I couldn’t just say it outright. I was already getting a headache just thinking about how I’d explain how I even knew Ecklet in the first place….
“Um….”
“…Lady Liotium.”
“Yes?”
“Are you also acquainted with Duke Kaises?”
“……”
At the Crown Prince’s question—laden with suspicion—I truly clamped my mouth shut this time.
What was this, some kind of three-way standoff—no, four-way? I’d tried so hard to avoid all the protagonists, yet now they were all gathered in one place. At this point, I was almost grateful Luke Ventus wasn’t here.
As I fell silent and avoided their gazes, Bihan, who had been standing behind me, stepped forward and took his place beside me.
“Your Highness, Liotium and Kaises have long had dealings with one another. It isn’t all that strange that the young lady and I would be acquainted.”
…Was it just my imagination, or was he subtly jabbing at the imperial family for having cut ties with Liotium?
“It’s difficult for me to believe that Duke Kaises would be close enough to Lady Liotium to address her so casually.”
“…At the very least, we are closer than you and she are, Your Highness.”
“You’re more insolent than usual, Duke.”
“I’m merely offering counsel because Your Highness is overlooking something important.”
“Oh, is that so? This is my first time hearing such exceedingly rude ‘counsel,’ so I failed to recognize it.”
Though Bihan spoke in an utterly calm voice and Edgar wore a smile, sparks practically flew between them.
Thinking about it carefully, the Crown Prince couldn’t help but be on edge. The House of Kaises and the House of Liotium were both neutral factions. Despite their central role among the neutral nobles, the imperial faction had focused less on viewing them as a threat and more on trying to draw them to their side—because most neutral nobles preferred to act independently rather than band together politically.
In other words, neutral families avoided joining any single faction. But if they ever unified their stance, it would place considerable pressure on the imperial side. Given that, it was only natural that the Crown Prince would be so sharp about the relationship between Kaises and Liotium.
“Your Highness. If you don’t mind, may I say a word?”
“…By all means, my lady.”
“You really don’t need to worry.”
“…Pardon?”
“My relationship with the Duke is purely personal. It has nothing to do with our families, so there’s no need for concern.”
“Personal?”
The Crown Prince echoed.
“Ah—well… I suppose you could say it was just… a shallow connection? One where I received a bit of help.”
“Shallow, you say…?”
This time, it was Bihan who asked.
Why were they both looking more serious when I was clearly saying something meant to benefit everyone?
And was this really the issue right now? Why was no one asking anything about Ecklet and me…? I’d been on edge over that, yet they were focused on something so irrelevant….
All this while, Ecklet—who had been quietly observing—carefully tugged at my sleeve.
“Lady Rosemary.”
At that single motion, the two men who’d been staring at me with uncomfortable intensity turned their attention to Ecklet. If Ecklet said a few words now, maybe all the suspicion and attention directed at me would finally disappear…. Should I ask him to help?
“We briefly met at the masked ball that day, but I never imagined we’d meet again so soon.”
Ecklet spoke smoothly, a bright smile on his face, clearly making up a story. I had no choice but to play along.
“Right.”
“You came running today because you were worried about me, didn’t you? How did you know…?”
“I heard there were suspicious individuals roaming the slums and wondered if it had something to do with you.”
“But still, you shouldn’t move around like this. I was able to escape unharmed because His Highness arrived before the carriage overturned.”
It seemed the Crown Prince—who had left the temple before me—had rescued Ecklet just before the carriage was ambushed. Thank goodness. The story had really shifted course.
“You two.”
The Crown Prince’s voice cut through their flowing, scripted exchange.
“How exactly do you know each other?”
“Ah….”
“When I lived in the eastern slums, Lady Rosemary came to do charity work. It’s a personal matter, so I suppose she felt uncomfortable explaining it herself. But since these two already know my circumstances, it’s alright for you to speak freely, Lady Rosemary.”
“…So Liotium’s charitable work isn’t limited to its own territory, then.”
“We also have a residence in the capital. My father’s philosophy is to give wherever our hands can reach, Your Highness.”
“Ah…”
The Crown Prince looked at me with lingering suspicion. I hadn’t expected him to believe me easily—but what worried me more was Bihan, who remained silent.
I’d already told him about the fire…. When I glanced his way, our eyes met as if he’d been waiting.
“First—”
At last, Bihan spoke, turning his body slightly to indicate the carriage.
“It’s getting dark. It would be best if you returned to your estate, Rosemary.”
Blocking the Crown Prince’s gaze, Bihan created an escape route for me. Still dazed, I nodded.
He wasn’t going to ask anything…?
“Then….”
I needed to get out of here quickly. As I took the opportunity Bihan had created and prepared to bid the Crown Prince farewell, Bihan whispered quietly.
“May I send a carriage to Liotium tomorrow?”
“…Go ahead.”
“Thank you.”
Right. The execution date had simply been postponed until tomorrow.
*
Last time, I’d ended up in the Duke’s carriage without knowing the destination, making my visit unavoidable. But to think I’d come to the House of Kaises of my own accord like this—especially to see both Ecklet and the Duke.
“Welcome, Lady Liotium. The master is waiting for you.”
Guided by the butler, I entered the estate. Instead of the reception room like last time, we headed for the inner garden. I knew this place well—it was Ecklet’s favorite spot in the novel.
Sunlight poured into the garden, where a table draped in a pristine white cloth was decorated with candles and flowers. Three chairs surrounded the round table. The familiar figures who seemed to belong there rose to their feet and looked toward me as I entered. It felt like a scene straight out of the novel, perfectly recreated—even though I hadn’t existed in it.
“Rosemary.”
“Thank you for inviting me, Duke.”
“His Highness is not present here.”
Did you really have to add that? Especially when Ecklet was right here….
“Yes, of course. Lord Bihan.”
As soon as I sat in the chair Bihan pulled out for me, Ecklet leaned toward me.
“Lady Rosemary, did you make it home safely yesterday?”
“…Are you alright, Ecklet?”
“You’re still only worried about me.”
Ecklet smiled as he gave a strangely worded reply. As I stared at him in confusion, Bihan—seated to my left—filled my teacup and spoke.
“First, we have apprehended the baron’s messengers.”
“…But everything ended in an attempt. Was there sufficient cause to arrest them?”
“Although there was no formal warrant, we secured evidence that they attempted to ambush the Duke’s carriage and planned arson in the slums.”
Arson….
“Did they confess?”
“They value their lives above all else, so they immediately named Baron Adrian. However, with only their testimony, it will be difficult to pressure the baron. Nobles won’t readily believe the words of mere messengers.”
“I see. And if this becomes public, Adrian is aligned with the noble faction—they wouldn’t stay quiet.”
“The noble faction isn’t the only problem. The baron has secured quite a troublesome connection.”
I knew exactly who.
Princess Lucia.
Just thinking of her caused Bihan’s expression to harden. The reason Princess Lucia supported Baron Adrian—who belonged to the noble faction—was Bihan himself. Her pursuit of Duke Kaises was widely known, and Ecklet becoming an eyesore to her after the debutante ball….
I turned my gaze to Ecklet. Aside from the scratches on his face, he looked bright, as though nothing had happened. If the story had followed the original plot, he would have left the capital in ruins. The fire that would have erased the eastern slums had become nothing more than a “near-miss incident,” and since Ecklet hadn’t fled and remained in the capital, the things the princess would do to him might come sooner—and more fiercely.
Could Ecklet handle all that on his own? If, as he’d said yesterday, it wasn’t something he could change by himself….
“We’ll make sure neither the slums nor the Urs Foundation can be touched. There’s no need for concern, Rosemary.”
“I’m not worried. And the temple will move soon.”
“You’ve secured the temple’s cooperation?”
“Yes. I was fortunate. If the temple declares its support, Baron Adrian won’t be able to use that ‘connection.’”
“You intend to build a chapel in the library?”
I nodded, setting down my teacup.
“Not just a chapel. I’m planning to build many things.”
“So it won’t be just a ‘library.’”
“…It will be the beginning of change for the slums. I’ll make sure of it.”
After stopping the fire, I felt even more certain.
“But, Rosemary.”
“Yes?”
“If you reunited with Ecklet on the terrace that day… why didn’t you say anything to me…?”
Finally. The questions I’d been anticipating all night began to surface.
“Well, you see—”
“It was my first time at such a ball, Lord Bihan. I didn’t know why the terrace curtains were drawn—that it meant someone was already there. And then I found Lady Rosemary.”
Ecklet cut in and answered for me, as though reading from a prepared script. Bihan nodded, apparently satisfied.
Right. Since it was a noble custom Ecklet wouldn’t be expected to know precisely, Bihan could accept that explanation.
Still… Ecklet’s behavior—constantly putting himself forward and shielding me—left me bewildered. If the protagonists misunderstood this—
“Very.”
“…Pardon?”
“I wondered if you two had been very precious to one another.”
See? Just like that, he misunderstood.
“No, that’s not it—”
“We were children. Lady Rosemary was kind even then—warm-hearted. Kind enough to treat me this openly.”
Ecklet… why are you doing this?
