🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 122
Among the nobles who valued legitimacy, there was a growing sentiment that Prince Kite—descendant of the Cornier bloodline—was more welcome than the Manfredi imperial family.
Having won over the nobles more easily than expected, Prince Kite had finished his preparations to return to his homeland with a light heart.
“Hopefully everything goes well. When are you leaving?”
Emily asked Prince Kite.
“Actually, I depart tomorrow.”
“So soon?”
“Yes. Will you miss me?”
At Prince Kite’s comment, Killian immediately shot him a sharp glare.
He was already in a foul mood after being humiliated by Enoch—a man he usually ignored. Now, alliance or not, he felt like beating Kite half to death as well.
“Huh? No. Not miss you—just… it’s sudden.”
Emily quickly denied it, and only then did Killian’s temper settle a little.
“It is sudden, isn’t it?”
Ignoring Killian, Prince Kite continued smiling and speaking only to Emily.
“There’s much to do once I return. I should have gone back earlier, but I delayed it.”
“Is that so?”
Emily listened quietly, then casually dropped a question.
“But isn’t the temple or the imperial family reacting? There was a corruption scandal.”
At Emily’s sharp point, Killian and Kite briefly exchanged looks.
They couldn’t tell her the truth—that the Giuliano syndicate had stormed Delina House today because of that very scandal.
It might trigger Emily’s trauma of being kidnapped by the same syndicate.
Killian pressed a napkin to his lips and gave a vague reply.
“They’re preparing countermeasures in their own way.”
“Do they suspect you were behind this incident?”
“Most likely. Which is why I’m moving the operation schedule forward.”
The word operation carried heavy weight.
Emily took a sip of wine, her expression hardening.
“I don’t want to jump ahead, but… if Your Highness becomes emperor of Vansent, what happens to us?”
Emily asked cautiously.
“Of course, the Marquis of Starr will regain the Velvette dukedom.”
If Killian regained both his accumulated wealth and the Velvette family’s territory and fortune, he would become the wealthiest noble in the empire—undoubtedly.
“And you’ll both assist me at my side.”
“That was never agreed upon,”
Killian cut him off sharply, and Kite swallowed a laugh. Even if Killian resisted now, he would eventually end up working beside him.
Emily tried to keep herself composed.
“I just hope no one gets hurt.”
She especially feared losing the Starr family, who were practically her real family now.
Sensing her worry, Killian took her hand as if to tell her not to worry.
After finishing dessert, Prince Kite asked to borrow Killian for a bit, and the two went up to the study.
Left alone, Emily returned to her room and called for Cézanne.
“What is it, my lady?”
Since Cézanne had not served during dinner, she knew nothing of the conversation that took place.
Emily tried to speak calmly, though her questions cut sharply.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me something happened at Delina House?”
“Do you mean the renovation?”
“Not the renovation.”
“Then… what do you mean…?”
“Isn’t the renovation because of the incident that happened at Delina House?”
As expected, Cézanne flinched and couldn’t answer.
With the corruption article, Killian was injured, and Delina House went into repairs.
Even without knowing all the details, Emily couldn’t see these three events as unrelated.
“The temple is behind it, aren’t they?”
Seeing how much Emily already knew, Cézanne realized she had heard something during dinner.
“I’m sorry we couldn’t tell you the truth sooner.”
Cézanne bowed her head.
“Since it wasn’t long ago that you had trouble with the Giuliano syndicate, we feared you’d be too shocked knowing they attacked again.”
“Again… the Giuliano syndicate.”
Emily let out a short sigh.
“Anyone on our side badly hurt?”
“Only minor injuries. No one was killed or gravely wounded, my lady.”
Considering they had to rebuild the club afterward, it was fortunate things ended there.
“Who hurt him?”
“The Giuliano boss.”
“…What?”
Emily frowned in disbelief.
“The Giuliano boss—do you mean Count Enoch Bluea?”
“So my lady already knew he was the real boss.”
But is he really that strong?
Seeing Emily’s confused look, Cézanne added:
“We don’t know his true skill level yet, but he was using some suspicious device. Likely something powered by magic stones.”
Emily pressed a hand to her forehead.
The Giuliano syndicate used every vile trick in the book.
But now the temple was helping them as well—what if their interference ruined Killian’s plans?
Soon it was time to part with Kite.
“You’re leaving right away?”
Emily asked as she escorted him.
“Yes. I’ll take a ship tomorrow morning. I’ll stay near the harbor tonight.”
Killian raised a brow.
“Will you be all right?”
Kite realized what he meant and laughed.
Killian was referring to when Kite first ran away to Vansent and was beaten up by thugs at the harbor.
“Do you still think I’m that inexperienced boy?”
“Then good.”
Killian smiled back and shook his hand.
“See you soon.”
“I’ll return successfully.”
After watching Kite board his carriage, Emily and Killian went back inside.
As soon as they reached the entrance hall, Emily suddenly turned and stared at Killian.
“…What is it?”
Killian looked puzzled, and Emily reached out and brushed her thumb across his left cheek.
“Ow—”
“You have a cut here too.”
Killian clutched his cheek and stared at her in surprise.
“Stop lying and tell me the truth.”
“This wound is from handling weapons—”
Emily cut him off immediately.
“I heard the Giuliano syndicate invaded Delina House.”
“…How did you know?”
Killian instantly looked around for Alvin.
Standing awkwardly on the stairs, Alvin shook his head wildly—It wasn’t me!
“Does it matter who told me?”
Emily’s cold tone made Killian flinch.
“Come upstairs. We need to talk.”
Emily headed to the second floor first.
Alvin fled to another floor as fast as possible to avoid any blame.
Killian followed quietly behind her, looking strangely pitiful.
Inside the room, Emily sat at the table by the window, her expression serious.
Cézanne stood anxiously nearby, glancing at her boss.
So it was Cézanne, Killian realized and sighed inwardly, sitting across from Emily.
Cézanne nervously poured tea for the two.
“Did it hurt a lot when I touched it?”
Emily asked gently.
“…Not really.”
“Sorry for startling you.”
“It’s fine. It didn’t hurt.”
It wasn’t painful—just surprising.
Emily glanced once more at his wound.
If that handsome face ended up scarred, she was ready to personally drag Enoch Bluea to hell.
“You can go now, Cézanne.”
Cézanne’s face brightened; she had been dying to escape this awkward scene.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
Killian couldn’t help feeling annoyed at how fast she ran out.
As soon as the door closed, Emily spoke bluntly:
“You suppressed the article about the attack on Delina House so I wouldn’t find out, didn’t you?”
“…Yes.”
Emily sighed softly.
She expected as much, but even so—he’d given up a prime article just to hide things from her.
After a brief thought, she continued:
“And since the temple is backing them, even if we report the Giuliano syndicate, the Watch will sweep it under the rug, won’t they?”
“Yes.”
So the syndicate would receive no punishment at all.
The only thing they could do for now was damage their reputation.
“Then how about this: we report the Giuliano syndicate first. If the Watch truly takes no action, then we publish the article.”
It was a good idea. People would naturally begin to suspect the Watch as well—and wonder who was behind them.
Now that Emily knew everything, there was no need to hide it any longer.
“I’ll tell Pete to prepare everything properly.”
