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Chapter 32
At the bottom of the letter, a footnote was written.
[-P.S. If you use this seal, the letter will be delivered directly to me without going through the faithful. Do not abuse it.]
As stated, a seal was enclosed within the letter.
I examined the seal. The World Tree, symbolizing the Papal State, was carved into the bottom. This was a direct line of communication.
Well, it would be rude not to use it.
He told me not to abuse it, but why should I care? I decided to take the opportunity to stamp the letter, which contained the list of ingredients needed for the cure, and send it to the Holy See.
The Holy Knights often went on missions to the Monster’s Forest.
Perhaps I could get help from the Holy See with the ingredients as well. In any case, with Michel’s cooperation secured, the cure development would accelerate.
Now I need to give Killian… the detailed development method.
I trusted Pope Michel, but I still hesitated with Killian. I simply couldn’t figure out what he was thinking.
‘The Cornellis.’
I hardened my lips. After I said that, Killian hadn’t made any obvious moves.
He didn’t believe me after all.
A wave of regret washed over me for speaking up. I should have endured it alone and found a solution by myself, just like in the past.
I let my emotions get ahead of me.
At the time, Luke was seriously injured because of me, and my body was in pain, so I spoke out in a fit of anger. After over ten years of silence, I should have just remained silent. Why did I open my mouth then, and why to him of all people—the villain behind the original story?
My head was pounding. I sighed and entered my office, where Daisy and Henry were huddled together, looking at something.
“What are you looking at?”
Their faces, as they read, had a subtle look of joy.
“Is there good news?””Yes! Look at this quickly!”
Daisy quickly handed me the newspaper. My eyes widened at the headline.
[Cornelli Ducal Family Twins, Assassination Attempt in the Imperial Palace. Placed under house arrest by Imperial Order…]
The article didn’t mention who was almost assassinated. Because of that… it was easy to assume the target of the assassination was the Princess.
“…Is this a dream?”
I read the paper again, unable to believe it was real, but the content was the same. Still not convinced, I asked Daisy.
“Daisy, slap my cheek.””Pardon? How could I lay a hand on you, Miss…? Are you serious?””Yes.”
When I nodded with a determined look, Daisy tightly closed her eyes and raised her hand.
Slap!
“Wow! That hurt like hell!”
Tears welled up, but I wasn’t upset. On the contrary, I was greatly pleased that this was real life, not a dream. Henry murmured in astonishment.
“She actually slapped you when you asked her to…”
Daisy, stung by his comment, quickly changed the subject.
“This is wonderful! They won’t be able to easily touch you now, Miss!”
Watching Daisy jump up and down with happiness, I smiled awkwardly and recalled the past. Daisy was the only person who had witnessed the humiliations I suffered from the twins when I was at the Duke’s castle.
Is that why? She seemed even happier than I was. I was grateful to have someone who cared about my affairs as if they were her own.
On the other hand, a question arose.
Who reported them?
There weren’t many people capable of reporting the Cornelli twins to the Imperial Family and getting it published in the newspaper.
Surely…
One person, no, an Archdemon, flashed through my mind. It was hard to deny, as there were so few candidates. Especially a noble who could move the Emperor to place them under house arrest like this…
Killian Orfeo.
There was no one else. I was certain. This was his doing.
I can’t miss this opportunity.
It was the perfect chance to destroy the Cornelli twins.
“Daisy, I need to send an urgent letter. Can you get me paper and a pen?””Who are you sending it to?”
I laughed with genuine satisfaction.
“The person who is giving those psychos a taste of their own medicine for me.”
The letter was immediately sent to the Imperial Palace, and I received a reply not long after. It was an affirmation.
“Was it really your doing?”
In the reception room of the Cornelli Ducal Family, Richard asked the twins.
“Which one?”
Natalie tilted her head with an innocent face.
This wasn’t the first time they had deflected, knowing exactly what he was talking about.
Richard’s face, as he interrogated them, was cold and rigid.
Since they had all been friends since childhood, he knew they adopted this casual innocence when they were playing a cruel prank.
Before coming here, he had thought it couldn’t be them. But seeing their natural attitude only strengthened his suspicion that they were responsible. Richard uttered a single cold word.
“The Imperial Palace carriage accident.””Ah, that.”
A flash of displeasure crossed the twins’ faces. Natalie was the first to compose herself. Rolling her eyes innocently, she said:
“Richard, do you believe that?””Then, are you saying the Archduke framed you?””Ha! What a ridiculous person.”
Lawrence immediately slammed the table with his fist in outrage.
“He must be colluding with her and framed us, unable to refuse her request!”
The way he fumed and gasped for breath made him look truly like someone who had been falsely accused. Richard watched him quietly, frowning.
“But the Archduke wouldn’t have a reason to do that just because Edit asked.”
Natalie, who subtly watched Richard hesitate, dropped her smile and said:
“Well, how could we predict the Archduke’s whims?”
She looked straight at Richard, as if stating a fact.
“But we are not so reckless or foolish as to do such a thing. On the contrary, I think…”
Natalie’s expression turned serious.
“Someone is deliberately trying to frame us.”
Richard fell silent at Natalie’s calm voice. His face was emotionless, but his blue eyes were still filled with confusion. For some reason, his mouth felt very dry.
Lawrence, who was sitting sloppily in front of him, let out a hollow laugh and then spoke coldly.
“She may have left the Duke’s castle, but she just can’t quit those parasitic habits.”
Richard’s hand, which was reaching for a water glass, stopped mid-air. He instantly knew the comment was directed at Edit.
“Parasitic?”
When Richard reacted sharply, Lawrence said:
“Isn’t she? Even in the past, she was disgusting, fawning over Stella just to get whatever leftover benefits she could.”
There was not a single trace of malice on the boyish face as he said this. He spoke as if merely stating the truth.
“Ah, right. And she finally managed to get a necklace from Stella, didn’t she?””Lawrence. That’s enough.”
When Natalie intervened, Lawrence shrugged and fell silent. Richard remained silent, deep in thought.
Did Edit do that?
As far as he could remember, Edit never tried to curry favor with anyone. For several years after Stella’s death, she had, if anything, offended people with her dry and honest manner of speaking.
Even when she was beside Stella, she was no different.
Richard had never seen Edit fawn over or flatter Stella.
On the contrary, Stella and Edit often bickered like real sisters, got sulky, and made up. Stella was usually the one to extend the hand of reconciliation.
The Edit of that time, though timid, had a stubborn streak and wouldn’t easily back down or apologize, especially when she believed she was right.
She changed at some point.
Before Stella died, Edit wasn’t this temperamental or sharp. Why? Richard’s thoughts were broken by a knock.
Knock-knock.
“Come in.”
Natalie replied in a flat tone, as if expecting the visitor. Richard, who hadn’t been told anyone was coming, stood up to leave.
“…Elisa.”
However, the person who entered was Elisa. Elisa’s eyes widened when she saw Richard was there.
“Richard, why are you here?””I came for a brief matter.”
It was a vague answer, but Elisa had already read the newspaper and knew Richard was the investigator in charge of the incident.
“Richard… surely you don’t suspect Natalie and Lawrence?”
Elisa looked up at him with a look of confusion. Richard sternly closed his lips, looking troubled.
“Haha, Richard just did what he had to do. Don’t push him so hard.”
Lawrence said with a hearty laugh.
“This is too unfair of a punishment… even from His Majesty.”
Elisa’s eyes brimmed with tears. Her words already presupposed the twins’ innocence.
“The Emperor’s trust in the Archduke is absolute. It couldn’t be helped.”
Natalie smiled beautifully like a flower, as if resigned. No one would mistake that face for the face of a liar.
Facing that look, Elisa felt a shiver run down her spine.
It was definitely their doing.
While Richard might not know, Elisa immediately recalled a previous conversation.
‘I feel like Edit has forgotten how scary we can be.’
‘Should we play a little prank on her this time?’
‘Heh heh, I like it.’
Hadn’t she seen the twins try to kill Edit this way many times before? She was convinced that they were the culprits behind this incident.
