Chapter 129 : The Crown’s Silent Puppeteer
Chapter 129
“Frederick Müller.”
At the sound of her voice, Frederick’s once-expressionless face softened, and a faint light stirred in his dull eyes.
“Your Royal Highness, the Crown Princess.”
“Yes, it’s been a while.”
Despite her earlier jest that she couldn’t recall his name, it was evident that Christian and Frederick shared a long history.
“You wouldn’t be dressed so properly if you were just here to see me.”
With a smirk, Christian cast her gaze over Frederick’s clothes, then gently brushed her fingers against his collarbone, exposed just beneath the loosely fastened buttons.
Frederick, flustered, blushed like a boy struck by his first love.
“No… I dressed like this to leave an impression on Your Highness.”
Though it wasn’t new to her, Christian raised her brows in feigned surprise.
“Really? That’s sweet of you. I thought you’d completely turned your back on Edward.”
“Never! I could never do that.”
“Mmm… loyal children must be rewarded.”
Christian’s lips curled into a sly smile as her frosted fingertips grazed his hair. Unlike the fierce slap Edward received earlier, this touch was almost gentle.
Frederick closed his eyes, accepting her touch with quiet reverence—he was used to this. When his lashes fluttered open again, her tone had shifted.
“You’ve grown thin. Is Edward treating you poorly?”
“No… It’s bearable.”
He shook his head quickly, as if denying even the thought.
“Really? But you look even thinner than you were at Barberin Castle. Are you sure he’s not mistreating you?”
“It’s fine… as long as it’s for Your Highness’s sake.”
Christian’s brows furrowed slightly. Her hand, still resting on his head, pressed gently down.
“No, Frederick. Not for me.”
Her once-sugary voice turned cold, like frost creeping in.
“It’s for His Royal Highness Prince Edward.”
Frederick corrected himself instantly. Only then did her expression soften, and she resumed stroking his hair.
“Yes, that’s right. As his sister, I feel reassured knowing you’re always devoted to him.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Your loyalty belongs to Edward. That is what matters most. Understand?”
Though Christian’s tone was light, a subtle chill lingered beneath. Frederick offered no resistance. Despite her distance, there were few people who had ever shown him this kind of regard.
Christian’s expression mellowed.
“Did you know?”
“Know what, Your Highness?”
“Edward seems to have lost interest in his hobbies. He’s better at hiding that inferiority complex of his toward me than I thought.”
She stared at Frederick, her eyes glinting like steel beneath velvet.
“Maybe we should offer some new stimulation. Do you know anything, Frederick?”
Frederick hesitated. Should he bring up Edith Schultz?
He didn’t want to. Not to Christian.
After all, Edith’s mother had once been a friend to his own parents—before their deaths in the Alchemist Massacre. Memories flickered in the corners of his mind.
He remembered the ruined city. The charred remnants of Herzburg. He remembered her—the young girl who found him among the ashes.
Christian had reached out with those same ice-tipped fingers and said:
‘You look useful.’
‘……’
‘If I take you with me, will you do anything for me?’
Young Frederick had nodded frantically. He’d instinctively known this was his one and only chance.
‘Good. Then from now on… I am your salvation.’
And so, Frederick Müller became hers.
She wasn’t cruel—not then. She shared meals with him. Asked about his well-being. Treated him, for a fleeting time, like something precious.
But the warmth cooled. She forgot him.
When he began to feel useless, his eyes fell upon Edward. And he saw something in Christian’s gaze toward her brother: contempt, but also fear.
That’s when Frederick made his move. He gambled.
‘Perhaps… I could serve Prince Edward Windsor?’
‘You? What can you do?’
‘I’m no alchemist, but I understand chemicals. I can create anything.’
‘Really?’
Christian’s eyes had sparkled.
From that moment on, she had begun to truly prepare—to guard herself against Edward Windsor.
‘I can’t sleep peacefully. I never know when Edward will try to take what’s mine. My hope is to clear all obstacles before he ascends the throne.’
‘……’
‘I want him to make a mistake. A great, irreversible one. Edward is a boy ruled by inferiority. Let’s feed that fire.’
‘……’
‘You must help. Let the sin grow until it consumes him. You understand, don’t you?’
And so, Christian’s pressure turned Frederick into a killer. He murdered innocent women at her silent command.
He became Edward’s shadow. Her spy. For years.
But he never wanted Edith involved. He had recognized her immediately—not just by her resemblance to her mother, but by the sharp scent of chemicals clinging to her like a memory.
“Frederick?”
Christian’s soft voice broke through his thoughts.
“You look deep in thought. Is something the matter?”
“No, Your Highness. I was just reflecting. Nothing unusual has occurred.”
“Is that so?”
He had made his decision.
He would keep Edith out of this. She was already on Edward’s list for elimination. Her ending had likely been sealed. There was no reason to offer her up to Christian prematurely.
Frederick offered a sweet smile.
“There’s nothing to worry about. If anything of note happens, I’ll be the first to let you know.”
“Ah, that’s my Frederick.”
Frederick’s voice trembled, but his eyes held firm.
“You saved me, Your Highness. I exist for you alone. Use me as you wish.”
