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Chapter 35
Marquis Demian had not planned to announce the Queen’s death this morning.
He intended to delay it as much as possible—at least until Erné returned.
If only it hadn’t been for that shameless bastard.
“The Queen has passed away!”
It all happened because Derek Babylon, who insisted on seeing the Queen early in the morning, pushed his way through the knights, claiming his status as the princess’s fiancé.
The death Marquis Demian had tried to conceal was thus revealed in an instant.
“Terrible news! You’ve been named the prime suspect in Her Majesty’s poisoning!”
Xenik, Demian’s secretary, burst into tears as he frantically announced that an inspector from the royal investigative department would soon arrive to launch an inquiry.
Given the suspicious circumstances of hiding the Queen’s death for nearly half a day, Demian was sure to be considered a prime suspect.
Only then did Demian realize this entire disaster had been sparked by the reckless desire of youthful blood.
At the same time, he began to narrow down the list of possible suspects who had poisoned the Queen.
There were a few people who seemed all too suspicious.
“Prepare the carriage right now. Gather a few royal knights loyal to me.”
“What? Where are you going in this situation?”
“If we delay even a little, the royal investigators will stop me from moving. Hurry!”
Xenik, startled by Demian’s roar, wiped his tears and rushed off.
There was no time to mourn the Queen.
The moment he confirmed her passing, Demian had already gone to see the Raven at dawn yesterday.
Now, there was no more time to delay finding Erné.
Fortunately, the leader of that guild willingly gave him Erné’s whereabouts.
Demian felt a surge of anger at the man’s strangely cooperative attitude, as if he had expected this all along—but he still accepted the information gratefully.
Though the man wore a fox mask, making his face difficult to see, Demian sensed a strange goodwill beneath his businesslike tone.
Thanks to Xenik’s quick work, Demian headed straight to Vanessa, where Erné was located.
The royal investigators would soon notice his absence, so he had to retrieve the princess quickly.
She was the sole heir to Neshard’s throne—the next queen who could calm all this chaos.
Erné… please, just be safe.
Demian clasped his hands tightly and prayed.
The Queen’s death had always been in the back of his mind.
Ever since she borrowed power from the Star-Chaser to become queen.
Truthfully, her condition had been too poor for it to be a surprise if she died at any time.
Demian tried to push away the rising sadness and focus instead on the passing scenery outside the carriage bound for Vanessa.
＊＊＊
Thud—!
Every time the desk slammed, the two father-and-son figures visibly flinched.
Erné sighed at the sight.
“So, tell me again—how exactly am I supposed to be Your Grace’s father-in-law?”
“…You’re the Queen’s consort and the princess’s father, are you not? Please, speak comfortably.”
“I’ll speak comfortably when I’m actually comfortable.”
Marquis Demian was as much of a fortress as Erné.
Windsor looked as if he were sitting on a bed of thorns.
“Young Master, why don’t you explain why I’m now suddenly your grandfather-in-law?”
Even the young Shuknen wasn’t spared.
He looked between Windsor and Erné before steeling himself and declaring:
“Miss Ellen is going to be my mother.”
Demian clutched his forehead. Since the young boy was too little to be grabbed by the collar, he had to muster immense patience to suppress his anger.
Then his piercing gaze turned to Erné, who flinched instinctively.
It was the first time she had been on the receiving end of Demian’s sharp stare, and ever since Windsor and Shuknen arrived, things had felt…
“It feels like I got caught cohabiting or something.”
Erné felt oddly guilty even though she hadn’t done anything wrong.
“And now Shuknen’s here too? This is basically ‘pregnant first, live together later!’”
She sighed inwardly and finally spoke to Demian.
“I’ll explain everything.”
“No. I’ll hear your explanation back home.”
Demian suddenly stood up.
“We should return now, Erné. The situation is bad.”
Erné stared awkwardly at the hand Demian extended.
She had always known a day like this would come—that she would have to go back someday.
But Ash and Selene were still here. She hadn’t even said goodbye to the children yet.
And more than anything, she had no intention of suddenly leaving this familiar place and returning to the royal palace.
As Erné’s hesitation lingered, Demian, growing anxious, sniffled and urged her again.
“We have to go, Erné. We’re going back, right? Right, Erné?”
His wide eyes looked like they were holding back tears, which was honestly unnerving. Erné subtly avoided his gaze.
Seeing Erné avoid answering, Demian suddenly grabbed her hands tightly.
“Why didn’t you contact your father when you were alive all this time…!”
“Father.”
“Erné, after you disappeared, I…”
Demian’s tears poured down, his sobs wracking his body like a child.
Hoo-waaaang. He buried himself in her arms as she gently comforted him.
“….”
The knights, and even the two Douglas men, watched in bewilderment—but Erné soothed the sobbing Marquis as if she were used to it.
“I’m sorry, Father.”
Marquis Demian was not only affectionate but also a crybaby. He was the classic weepy male lead from romance novels.
The Queen, too, had often left the room in exasperation when Demian cried endlessly.
Which was why it was always Erné who comforted him—not the Queen.
After a long while of sobbing, Demian finally looked up with a face dripping with snot and tears.
Even the onlookers were visibly taken aback, and Erné reflexively took two steps back.
“Let’s go, Erné. To the royal palace.”
So it’s really come to this, she thought, her heart heavy with exhaustion.
Erné could no longer ignore Demian’s tears.
All she could do was give a small nod.
Seeing her agree, Demian’s face instantly lit up.
Then, with an uncharacteristically serious look, he spoke.
“Erné. There’s something I absolutely must tell you.”
“Yes?”
“Please don’t be shocked. Just listen.”
His repeated warnings made Erné uneasy.
Something about the tone poked unpleasantly at her chest.
Demian’s face twisted with pain, and he clutched her hands tightly as he finally said:
“Her Majesty was poisoned.”
It was the perfect line to end with a To Be Continued… caption.
Instead of grieving for her birth mother, Erné found herself bristling with goosebumps—once again, it felt like the novel was plunging headfirst into madness.
＊＊＊
“Please go on ahead. I’ll follow you soon.”
“What?”
“I’ll notify Ash and Selene’s guardians. Don’t worry too much, and I’ll return to the capital once I’ve wrapped things up in Vanessa…”
It had been an exhausting day. Before Erné left, Windsor, with moist eyes, reassured her that he would be right behind her and she shouldn’t worry.
Wait, why is he saying he’ll follow me when I’m the one going home?
As Erné looked at Windsor in confusion, Shuknen clung to her leg, tears streaming down.
“Teacher. I’ll be there soon.”
Windsor aside, when Shuknen said that, Erné’s heart softened, and she had no choice but to agree.
Marquis Demian, on the other hand, was so overjoyed that Erné was finally returning with him that he beamed the entire way back.
In contrast, Erné grew stiffer the closer they got to the capital.
She had left of her own will to avoid the melodrama—and now she was heading right back into it. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling.
In the carriage, Demian shared many things with her.
“Someone poisoned the Queen’s champagne.”
“Did you catch the culprit?”
“No. She had many enemies.”
Demian’s bitter smile made Erné nod solemnly.
Half the people of Neshard were tired of the Queen’s tyranny and cursed her openly.
Few genuinely liked her.
But… was there really someone bold enough to murder her?
As Erné grew lost in thought, Demian carefully asked:
“Can I ask why you left the palace, Erné?”
His voice trembled. Erné could tell how long he had agonized over this question.
“I wanted to break off the engagement. With Derek Babylon.”
“That’s all?”
“I didn’t want to be Queen, either. One day I woke up and was suddenly a restored princess, next in line to the throne. I had been living my life working toward a dream—not royalty.”
Demian clutched his chest in anguish, eyes brimming with tears.
“Erné… I’m sorry…”
Just before the waterworks started again, Erné frantically waved her hands.
All the duties that came with her status were things Erné wanted nothing to do with.
Who cared about luxury when the kingdom was on the brink of collapse?
Erné, swallowing her sighs, tried to comfort Demian.
“It’s okay, Father.”
“No, I’m not okay, hic, I—hng, sob!”
His full-blown sobbing made it sound like the engine had started again.
Erné sagged her shoulders in exhausted resignation.
The once-dignified Queen’s consort now seemed more like a docile lamb.
Comforting him was its own job—but now Erné tried to focus on what truly mattered.
Demian had brought news of the Queen’s death. He said she had died around midnight, but the announcement wasn’t made until the morning. And here he was, down in Vanessa, not busy with funeral arrangements…
Which could only mean…
Erné’s eyes narrowed.
“Has anyone been named a suspect?”
A sharp question.
Demian peeked out from behind his hands and nodded quickly.
“Yes. Me.”
Not something to be proud of.
