Chapter 4.3
The finest tool to be used in bringing down the Emperor is undoubtedly the Duchy of Colica. And to move such a ducal house, the Crown Prince must move.
But whether it’s the Crown Prince or whatever, if they can’t grasp the current political situation, they’re useless, so I ultimately had to enter high society again.
I don’t know how many years it’s been since I was dumped by the Crown Prince and formally attended a social gathering.
The feeling of sitting alone among so many people was truly unpleasant. Especially if there was an unexpected person at this gathering.
“Lady Melina Barnes, it’s been a while.”
Though she had somehow covered her facial wounds with powder, the handprint that still remained was clearly Lilith’s work. Melina flinched upon seeing me and immediately turned her head away.
She seemed to hate seeing me so much that she, who would normally use her status as the prospective Crown Princess to somehow sit at the head table, was positioned at the edge of the table today.
“Do you know Lady Barnes?”
Countess Alke, today’s tea party hostess, asked me with wide eyes. At her innocent expression, not knowing about the series of events the Empress commits in her palace, several noble ladies and young ladies also cast curious glances.
At that, I looked at Melina with an ominous smile.
“I do. We met recently.”
“Oh my, did you?”
“I was invited to Her Imperial Majesty the Empress’s palace, and Lady Barnes personally served me tea.”
Melina glared at me with venomous eyes. It was quite pitiful that she kept getting scolded by the Crown Prince, but that was as far as it went. She’s strangely similar to the Empress. Poor kids often pick on those even weaker, just to avoid being the ones people pity.
“The tea tasted really good. Ah, Lilith’s touch was also quite good, wasn’t it?”
“That…!”
Melina clutched the back of her neck and acted as if she might collapse. Glancing at her, I turned my head again.
“By the way, Countess Alke, thank you for inviting me like this.”
“Oh my, not at all. Knowing Duchess Florence seldom makes public appearances, I sent the invitation with little expectation. That’s why it’s such an honor to have you here today.”
“I’m the one who’s honored.”
Countess Alke smiled shyly. She, who had married into a count’s family as the daughter of a small baron’s family, seemed to have a strange fondness for me.
“But I didn’t know the Duchess would be so beautiful. I was surprised because it’s so different from the rumors.”
“What were the rumors about me like?”
“Ah, I…”
“I don’t think you need to answer.”
All the words that Countess Alke would have heard were written on her face.
I sighed deeply while picking up my teacup. Well, when did I ever think I’d be sitting in such a place? I should have managed my image a bit, laughing and chatting.
While having such useless thoughts and picking up a cookie, someone next to me spoke up.
“Come to think of it, I heard Countess Alke is doing a small business these days?”
“Oh my, it’s not a great skill, but I make and sell accessories by hand.”
“My goodness, I saw them for sale at the shop yesterday and they were so pretty. Your skill is really extraordinary!”
“Since I liked sewing when I was young…”
Countess Alke shook her head as if it was nothing special.
“Still, it must be troubling. I heard that many imitators have emerged, trying to copy the Countess’s remarkable talent?”
“That’s right. Those vulgar people, this is why I hate merchants.”
“Oh my, I’m sorry for having a merchant father.”
When I spoke quietly among the noble ladies who were each saying a word, they seemed to realize something and waved their hands in surprise.
“No, I mean, Duchess! We absolutely didn’t intend to insult you!”
“That’s right, we were just…”
“I know, so you don’t need to do that.”
I chuckled. Actually, I did know. I just wanted to say something mischievously. The merchants they were talking about actually refer to those in the market streets. In my father’s case, it would be correct to call him a trader.
Well, they’re both the same thing though.
I glanced at Countess Alke. As with famous brands, once something becomes popular, the counterfeits start pouring in.
But since there’s such a thing as noble dignity, you can’t say ‘Why are you copying mine?’, so the best thing is to pretend to be generous and swallow it inside.
“It must be hard because of the imitations.”
“No. It’s just what commoners do, so I’m just accepting it.”
“But it still feels bad, right?”
I smiled brightly. Actually, the reason I came to Countess Alke’s tea party among all those invitations was simple. She was a lady from a family distant from the Duchy of Colica, and above all, her accessories are used quite importantly in the novel.
After Rachel’s dress incident, the Crown Prince gives Rachel Countess Alke’s accessory as a token of sorts, but it gets stolen.
However, the stolen item is found under Rachel’s bed, replaced with an imitation, and Rachel becomes someone who staged a self-drama claiming that a perfectly fine ornament disappeared.
And then, Melina Barnes, who was framed as the culprit, cries and makes a fuss saying Rachel framed her, and the real accessory is well kept at Melina’s own house.
I looked at Melina, who was eating cookies while avoiding my gaze. She was sitting with her head turned, as if afraid to meet my eyes. Looking at her like that, I turned back to Countess Alke.
“Countess.”
“Yes.”
“I have a favor to ask, could you possibly grant it?”
When I smiled in the prettiest state I could manage, crinkling my eyes, Countess Alke blushed slightly.
“Could you distinguish between genuine and imitation items?”
“Oh my, of course.”
“As expected, I thought the Countess would naturally be able to do that.”
“No matter what, I couldn’t possibly forget something I created with my own hands.”
“But what if the other party insists it’s not fake?”
“Ah, that’s…”
Countess Alke seemed to hesitate slightly. Looking at her face, I whispered quietly.
“Hmm, how about leaving a mark on the accessories from now on that only you know?”
From now on, my name is Detective Evangeline. I’ll see through all of the schemes around Rachel. Thinking that, I smiled ominously.
Countess Alke pondered my words for a moment and then said she’d think about it.
Anyway, the tea party ended safely, and among the departing noble ladies, someone suddenly called me.
“Duchess Florence.”
It was a voice that seemed somehow familiar yet unfamiliar. When I turned my head, sure enough, Melina Barnes was looking at me with a somewhat flinching face.
“What is it?”
“Let’s talk.”
“I don’t want to.”
At my words that almost meant ‘get lost,’ Melina bit her lips tightly. She kept avoiding me during the tea party, but now I don’t understand why she’s requesting a conversation.
“We’re not on terms to have a friendly conversation, are we?”
“It’s a request.”
“Hmm.”
I narrowed my eyes. Somehow I have a feeling this isn’t just an ordinary matter, or is it my imagination? I rolled my eyes around and nodded.
“Fine, whatever.”
Eventually, Melina Barnes and I moved locations and entered a small cafe nearby. Of course, I didn’t go in alone—I brought along Lilith, who had been waiting for me in the carriage. Melina seemed not to have expected Lilith to come too, unconsciously touching her cheek and stepping back.
“Could… Lady Bolton step back for a moment?”
“I need to stay with my lady. And what if Marchioness Barnes throws tea at my lady again?”
“Such rudeness… No, that won’t happen.”
Melina Barnes flared up looking at Lilith, then immediately cowered under Lilith’s fierce gaze.
After pondering for a moment, I sent Lilith a look to step back temporarily.
Eventually, after Lilith left and only Melina and I remained in the space, she spoke first.
“Duchess, I’m sorry. I’ll apologize.”
“What are you suddenly talking about?”
“That, well… last time I was following Her Imperial Majesty the Empress’s instructions and inadvertently showed discourtesy to you…”
“Did Her Imperial Majesty tell you to pour tea on me?”
“No, that’s not it…”
“Exactly. But you’re acting as if it’s Her Imperial Majesty the Empress’s fault.”
Naturally, the Empress is the one pulling the strings, but regardless, the insults I received then were completely sincere.
Melina watched my reaction and then bowed her head deeply again.
“Duchess, I’m truly sorry.”
Before I could even be surprised by her deeply humble posture—she stopped just short of kneeling—I found myself staring at Melina, overcome by an inexplicable feeling.
“His Highness the Crown Prince ordered this.”
Flinch.
Melina started.
I thought so. I let out a hollow laugh in disbelief. Considering her persistence in struggling to torment Rachel until the very end of the original work, the possibility of her reforming was almost zero.
It’s obvious she got properly scolded by the Crown Prince after that day.
As if to prove my guess was correct, Melina looked at me with teary eyes.
“His Highness the Crown Prince won’t meet with me.”
“Oh my.”
This is more serious than I thought? It’s not like Rachel was harmed, so is there need for that?
Though I was puzzled, I spoke with a tone full of satisfaction.
“That’s really won… I mean, unfortunate.”
“Duchess… I’ve worked my whole life to be able to stand beside His Highness the Crown Prince. Now at this point… sob.”
“Why are you coming to beg me about that? Her Imperial Majesty the Empress is your solid backing.”
“His Highness the Crown Prince says he won’t meet Her Imperial Majesty the Empress either… so Her Imperial Majesty says there’s nothing she can do.”
The situation was more serious than I thought. At the unexpectedly developing situation, I frowned for a moment. Is this the butterfly effect?
But he’s surprisingly strange. Despite being so close to the Empress, to distance himself from his mother just because of that incident…
“So what do you want me to do about it?”
“Please. To His Highness the Crown Prince—”
“I’ll refuse.”
“Duchess! Please. I truly love His Highness the Crown Prince, please.”
She looked rather pitiful, like a dog caught in the rain. But isn’t it all her own doing?
I clicked my tongue. When I read it as a novel, I cursed ‘What kind of bitch is this?’ but putting her in front of me, she seems to have quite innocent and flimsy aspects. I looked at Melina and said,
“Her Imperial Majesty the Empress is His Highness the Crown Prince’s birth mother. How long could a fight between mother and son last forever?”
“B-but…”
“And if Her Imperial Majesty finds out you came to me like this, it seems like it would be a huge problem. Are you really okay with that?”
Only at that moment did Melina seem to grasp her actions, her expression turning flustered. The child was raised being pampered at home, so she’s stupid. I can see why she wasn’t the mastermind in the original work.
I shook my head and stood up from my seat. At this, Melina grabbed my sleeve and spoke urgently.
“H-Her Imperial Majesty will forgive me. If she knows I made an effort to win His Highness’s heart…”
“Lady, Her Imperial Majesty didn’t try to match you with His Highness because you love him.”
“Th-then…”
“It’s because you seemed like a useful daughter-in-law to Her Imperial Majesty.”
Did the Empress go crazy and pamper you like her own daughter because she thought you were really pretty? There are many entangled reasons.
Melina seemed genuinely unaware and made quite a flustered face. I eventually gave her one more word.
“What we talked about today won’t reach Her Imperial Majesty, so from now on, take a detour when you see me. Got it?”
“Duchess!”
“Ah, and just keep your mouth shut about meeting me.”
“……”
“If Her Imperial Majesty finds out you did such a stupid thing, I think you’ll die quite painfully from my perspective.”
Tears welled up in her large eyes.
In the original work, the reason Melina could rampage like that was ultimately because she had the Empress as backing. But now that the Crown Prince won’t even meet the Empress, she had no choice but to collapse immediately.
This is really the butterfly effect? I shook my head with a surprised face.
* * *
“What did she babble about?”
As soon as we came out of the cafe, Lilith asked me with sparrow eyes. Looking at her aura as if she might go inside right now and grab Melina’s hair, I shrugged my shoulders.
“Nothing much. She begged for forgiveness for her wrongdoing.”
“Pfft, liar.”
“What?”
“Ah, no. She’s simply not that kind of person.”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
I didn’t expect that either. I muttered quietly and got on the carriage.
The rattling carriage arrived directly at the ducal mansion. As I was getting off the carriage with an escort, I caught sight of a figure running frantically from afar.
“My lady!”
This was the first time I’d seen Mrs. Jena behave like this, so I made a flustered face. Lilith was also looking at her with some fascination as if it was quite a rare sight.
But Mrs. Jena looked truly flustered. Not knowing what this was about, I tilted my head slightly, when she shouted urgently at Lilith.
“You must immediately help my lady change clothes.”
“Yes?”
“Quickly!”
Mrs. Jena shouted urgently. Looking at her face, I asked.
“What’s wrong, Mrs. Jena? Why do I suddenly need to change clothes?”
“My lady, you need to go to the imperial palace right now.”
“Why…”
“His Grace has been injured.”
For a moment, all thought circuits stopped and my ears went numb. If Mrs. Jena was making such a fuss, it wouldn’t be a simple matter. I tried to calm down as much as possible.
“Where is he hurt? How badly…”
“He went hunting with His Highness the Crown Prince, and got hit in the shoulder by a flying bullet…!”
Shot by a gun? I immediately turned around. Seeing me struggling to get on the carriage, Mrs. Jena was startled and quickly grabbed my wrist.
“Duchess, you must change clothes to enter the imperial palace!”
“Rubellian is hurt, where’s the time to change clothes!”
It’s not just any injury—he was shot. When I shouted angrily, Mrs. Jena shouted even louder.
“If you show a disheveled appearance in such a situation, people will gossip!”
“Let them gossip!”
“All of that will reflect on His Grace the Duke.”
“……”
“Please remember the disgrace His Grace endured by marrying you. It’s not your fault, but still, you must be even more careful at times like this.”
Mrs. Jena’s words were enough to persuade me.
I eventually clicked my tongue and ran into the mansion as if flying. Even while changing into court dress suitable for imperial palace entry, I was going crazy with worry about Rubellian.
Anna and Marie, knowing my feelings, silently helped me change clothes quickly without saying anything.
Eventually, after quite some time had passed, I was able to get back on the carriage. Looking out the window and stamping my feet impatiently, I quickly bit my lips at the imperial palace that was beginning to come into view.
And soon the carriage stopped.
“Duchess, please come this way.”
A knight who had been standing guard in front of the Crown Prince’s palace recognized me and guided me. Following him urgently inside, I was enveloped by an anxious feeling seeing the nobles gathered in front of the splendid door.
“Duchess Florence.”
“Oh my, you’ve come. Please go in quickly.”
“Duchess, please don’t be too shocked.”
Words that I couldn’t tell were comfort or intimidation came from here and there. I moved my steps with a slightly tense expression, and soon the door opened.
“Rubellian…!”
I stopped as I was entering while calling Rubellian’s name. The gazes of people huddled together in the room and the familiar gaze of the person half-leaning against the bed turned toward me.
“Eve.”
Seeing him with blood-red bandages wrapped around him, I approached the bed with a tearful expression.
“Rubellian!”
“Why did you come? You should stay home.”
“You’re hurt, of course I had to come!”
“I’m not badly hurt. The bullet just grazed me.”
“What do you mean grazed? Can’t you see you’re all red and hurt right now? Doesn’t it hurt? How can you laugh?”
When I spoke to him in a sobbing voice, Rubellian smiled affectionately.
“I’m serious, but why are you laughing!”
“No, your expression right now is so refreshing. Are you worried about me?”
Where’s the time to be happy about such things at this point! I smacked his leg covered by the blanket.
Suddenly he grimaced, going “Ugh.”
“Why, why are you doing that? What is it? Don’t joke around.”
“Excuse me, Duchess… His Grace the Duke was shot in both the shoulder and leg.”
“What?”
I immediately lifted the blanket. Sure enough, seeing the blood-red bandage on his leg, I made an apologetic face.
“Did I make it worse? Did I make you hurt more?”
“No. You hit a different spot. It just caused a little pain, so don’t worry too much.”
“I’m sorry.”
I wanted to hug him, but worried I might hurt his shoulder, so I fidgeted awkwardly instead—then finally, I took his hand in mine.
“It hurts, right?”
“I’m fine.”
“But it still hurts. I’ve seen someone get shot too, and they were in deadly pain, but why do you keep saying you’re fine?”
At my words, Rubellian’s eyes widened. I finally realized I had made a slip of the tongue and covered my mouth.
“It doesn’t seem like anyone near you is at risk of having a gun pointed at them, does it?”
“Ah, no…”
I sweated profusely in panic.
“That… well, that’s just. Just in a dream, in a dream…!”
“In a dream?”
“Yes, in a dream I was a prosecutor.”
“A prosecutor?”
“Right, a prosecutor. Prosecutor, mage, knight—that kind of prosecutor.”
Wow, I’m amazed by my own wisdom, really.
Rubellian seemed to think about something at my appearance, then let out a chuckle. Soon, reaching out to fiddle with my cheek, he spoke.
“If you say so, then it must be so.”
He’s really an angel.
I let out a deep sigh. Still, perhaps because I confirmed Rubellian was safe, I finally noticed the other people in the room. I was surprised to see Rachel and the Crown Prince on one side.
“Rachel?”
Rachel nodded with a gentle smile.
“How are you here…”
“I heard His Grace the Duke was injured, so I thought my meager power might be of some help…”
At Rachel’s gentle voice, I made a grateful expression.
On the other hand, looking at the Crown Prince standing beside her, I frowned deeply.
So my husband ended up like this while playing with him at the hunting ground? This is why people need to choose their friends well. I distorted my face and spoke to the Crown Prince.
“Has the person who fired the gun been caught?”
“He was caught and is now in the interrogation room.”
“When did this happen?”
“Two hours ago.”
My goodness, then when I was having that conversation that wasn’t even a conversation with Melina Barnes? I ground my teeth in a bad mood.
“Guide me to where that bastard is.”
At my words, the Crown Prince looked at me as if quite surprised.
What are you surprised about? I said guide me.
At my determined attitude, Rubellian grasped my wrist.
“Eve, what are you trying to do?”
“What do you mean what? I need to ask who ordered it and why he did such a thing.”
“The knights will handle that. It’s dangerous. Absolutely not.”
“Knights are knights, and I am me. I’m saying I want to see the bastard who wounded my husband’s body directly, and I can’t even do that much?”
Looking at Rubellian who was holding me back with a worried face, I smiled brightly.
He wanted to stop me but knew better than anyone that I wouldn’t listen, so he made a displeased face.
“I’ll win and come back.”
“There’s no need for that.”
“Come on, I said I’ll win and come back.”
I winked cheerfully. Then I looked at the Crown Prince and said,
“It’s possible, right?”
“Since it’s something that happened in the imperial family, it’s difficult to show easily, but…”
I instantly hardened my face coldly, curled up the corners of my mouth slightly, and asked.
“Would it be troublesome?”
Actually, my request wasn’t that difficult.
My husband was shot in the imperial palace and was hovering between life and death, and I just said I wanted to see the culprit briefly. Did I say to kill the culprit, or that the Crown Prince should die instead?
But somehow, seeing the Crown Prince’s hesitant face, why am I getting bad thoughts?
“30 minutes only.”
At the Crown Prince’s act of presenting the obvious as though it were a grand favor, I gave him a bright smile. Seeing Rachel’s face, who had been looking anxious along with me, also brighten up, I nodded.
“Of course.”
* * *
