🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 116
However, there was something that neither Enoch Blua nor the Emperor knew.
That was that Prince Kite was on Killian’s side.
“The Emperor knows that you are Adrian Velvet. What will you do now?”
In fact, Kite had secretly installed a magical device during his audience with the Emperor to eavesdrop on all the conversations taking place in the throne room.
The subordinates who had come with Kite to the Vincent Empire were thoroughly trained spies who had been educated for years. They took turns daily to eavesdrop on the conversations in the audience chamber.
And today, they had overheard the conversation between the Emperor and Enoch Blua. They quickly summarized the content and delivered it to Prince Kite.
-
The Emperor had discovered that Adrian Velvet was alive.
-
The person who relayed this information was Count Enoch Blua.
-
Count Enoch Blua was actually Mateo, the boss of the Giuliano organization.
Killian carefully read the document containing all the eavesdropped content.
He had already suspected that Enoch Blua might be the boss of the Giuliano organization, so hearing confirmation actually put his mind at ease.
“Marquis, are you listening to me?”
Finally, Kite, frustrated, raised his voice.
“Anyway, it was only a matter of time before it was revealed that I am a descendant of the Velvet family.”
When Count Sinope had taken him to his estate, Billy—who had witnessed it—had been bothering him ever since.
‘So that kid finally made a move,’ Killian thought, clicking his tongue.
“I will now publicly announce to the entire empire that I am Adrian Velvet.”
“Marquis, are you insane?”
“The Emperor will find it even harder to lay a hand on me from now on. Just watch.”
Killian gave a cold, slight smile.
News that Adrian Velvet was alive swept across the entire Vincent Empire.
Even people who had long forgotten where the Velvet family had been, since it had disappeared long ago, sighed with recognition upon reading the newspapers.
The newspapers had provided fairly detailed information about the Velvet family.
“So, that Adrian Velvet prince is now Marquis Star?”
As evidence, the newspapers also revealed the Velvet family heirlooms Killian had kept.
“My goodness… seeing he became a mafia boss, he must have had a really hard time all these years.”
People’s eyes turned suspicious toward the palace, wondering why Adrian Velvet had been missing for so long and had lived on the streets.
“But why did he hide it until now?”
“Didn’t you read the bottom line? He had amnesia. Only now has he regained his memory and revealed it.”
“Ah, that’s unfortunate.”
The Star organization was also surprised by the news.
Apart from his closest aide, Giovanni, none of the other members—Alvin, Knox, Chambers, or Pete—knew Killian’s true identity.
Among them, Knox was the most shocked.
“This kid… he hid it from me for almost ten years!”
Knox had known Killian since his days roaming the back alleys.
“It was such a huge secret that could have threatened his life, so of course it was natural to hide it,” others said, understanding Killian’s situation.
“What really makes me mad is that Prince Kite knew something I didn’t! Ugh!”
Unable to contain his jealousy of Prince Kite, Knox ran out to the terrace and shouted.
“…He’ll return to normal soon.”
Giovanni ignored Knox and began speaking with Prince Kite.
“How are things with the royal court?”
“I was asked to refrain from entering the palace for a while.”
The Emperor, facing bad public opinion about Killian, seemed reluctant to meet with Prince Kite.
“Now some nobles will likely contact Marquis Star.”
“Yes, mostly people who had close ties to the Velvet family.”
Not even worrying about the Emperor, these nobles reached out directly to Killian—a clear sign of how weakened the Vincent Empire’s authority had become.
“Are these people useful to Marquis Star?”
“Yes, especially one with quite a high status in Vincent contacted the boss.”
“That would be…?”
The person Killian was meeting was Marquis Wipher.
“Seeing Adrian grown up and married with a family would surely delight the late Duke and Duchess Velvet.”
“Thank you.”
At the Wipher family’s dinner, aside from Marquis Wipher, his wife, and their daughter Marlin, Killian and Emily were also present.
Marquis Wipher had been a close friend of Duke Velvet. He had lost his friend in an accident and thought the son had also died. He was now overjoyed to know Killian was alive.
“You came to our villa when you were little, do you not remember?”
“I vaguely remember.”
“Is that so?”
Marquis Wipher glanced at Marlin with slight disappointment.
“When you were little, Marlin followed you so well that I jokingly said we should marry you two someday.”
At those words, Killian and Marlin both paused mid-bite.
Marlin clenched her teeth and whispered to her father:
“Are you serious, father? That joke was too much.”
“It’s true. If you had insisted on marrying Adrian, the Duke would have said, ‘We’ll discuss it when you’re older.’”
“Huh? I have no memory of meeting Marquis Star as a child.”
“You were only four then.”
Seeing Marlin’s stern expression, Mrs. Wipher turned her head and laughed quietly.
“Oh dear, did I say something inappropriate in front of Mrs. Star?”
Only then did Marquis Wipher realize Emily was present and apologized.
“No, it’s fine.”
Emily also stifled a laugh, amused by Killian and Marlin’s reactions.
Killian, seemingly having trouble digesting, put down his fork and wiped his mouth with a napkin.
Marlin accidentally met Killian’s cold gaze and swallowed nervously.
‘Did I just propose to such a scary man?’
“This is the worst,” Marlin muttered, causing the dining atmosphere to stiffen.
“…Did I just say that out loud?”
Emily, sitting across, nodded in surprise.
“No, no, it’s okay!”
Marlin jumped up to explain:
“I didn’t mean the Marquis is the worst. I meant that the situation of us getting married seems the worst…”
The more she tried to explain, the more tangled it became.
“You know, I don’t dislike the Marquis. That doesn’t mean I like him either.”
She waved her arms wildly and accidentally knocked over the centerpiece vase on the table.
“Oh no.”
Water spilled toward Killian and Emily as the vase toppled.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m acting like this.”
Marlin grabbed a towel from a maid and rushed to hand it to Killian.
“I’m not bold enough to act like this against a mafia, really.”
Mrs. Wipher pressed her temples, seeming to have a headache from the chaos.
“Marlin, just stay still. The situation is only getting more complicated.”
“I’m sorry. I thought I could handle it.”
Marlin returned, exhausted, to her seat.
Marquis Wipher personally apologized to Killian and Emily.
“Our daughter took the wrong medicine this morning. Her dopamine is overactive. Please understand.”
“…Then I understand.”
Marlin glared at her father.
‘This is all your fault.’
Because of Killian being invited to their house, she had taken a tonic instead of the sedative.
Marlin sighed deeply. It would take some time to calm down.
Afterward, an awkward silence lingered at the table.
When the eventful meal ended, Marquis Wipher and Killian went to the study for a more private conversation.
“You two can continue your conversation comfortably in here.”
Mrs. Wipher showed Marlin and Emily to the parlor and went upstairs.
“This room has the best view in the Wipher mansion.”
Indeed, from the parlor terrace, the garden outside stretched beautifully.
“Marlin, I have a favor to ask.”
“Already with the uncomfortable conversation, and it’s been less than five minutes,” Marlin said, resting her arm on the sofa. Josephine suddenly jumped onto her lap.
“You want me to help shape public opinion, right?”
“Yes, you are part of the most influential social group.”
“Of course.”
Emily had recently received information from Giovanni about the royal family’s debts and the Emperor’s unreasonable taxation policies.
He asked Emily to help sway public opinion against the Emperor.
“Just drop a few hints, and I’ll take it from there.”
“Hmmm…”
After some thought, Marlin firmly tapped the armrest.
“Alright. But I have a favor in return.”
“What is it?”
“Connect me with Viscount Knox Clive.”
‘I had forgotten.’
Emily held her head, distressed, and spoke reluctantly.
“Marlin, there’s something you should know about Knox.”
“I don’t really want to hear it, but fine.”
Marlin nodded reluctantly.
“Go ahead.”
“Actually, Viscount Knox Clive is the third son of the Howard family, who was exiled.”
Marlin looked confused.
“I heard the third son of the Howard family became a mafia?”
“Yes.”
“Eh?”
Marlin’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You’re not saying Viscount Clive is a mafia, are you?”
“He is. He works for the Star organization.”
“W-what….”
Marlin sat in shock, staring blankly into the air, then slowly muttered:
“Well, either way, I’m destined to become a mafia’s wife.”
“Eh?”
Marlin stood up, holding Josephine.
“Fine. I’ll accept my fate. Since it’s come to this, I’ll reconnect my mother with Mr. Clive. I’ll make him a member of the Howard family again!”
“…You’ve thought that far ahead? What a delusion.”
She was already calling Mrs. Howard “mother.” Emily clicked her tongue at Marlin’s decisiveness.
“But weren’t you scared of the mafia?”
“I don’t know. The thing I’m really scared of isn’t the mafia—it’s your husband.”
Marlin glared at Emily as she spoke.
“So, will you help or not?”
“Alright… I’ll create a natural opportunity with Mr. Knox.”
“Good.”
Marlin sat back down with a satisfied look.
Although the combination of Marlin and Knox was concerning, it was fortunate that a conclusion had been reached.
“In that case, I’ll help Marquis Star, if only for Clive’s sake.”
