Chapter 144
The reason for the former Empress’s death.
Everyone believed it was a sudden natural death, but in truth, Lariella, the current Empress, had killed the former Empress.
In the finale of the original story, the truth about the former Empress’s death was finally revealed, but it never showed how heartbroken Count Latrang had been when he learned the truth.
But he had loved his daughter enough to build this peaceful, scenic park for her…
If he were to learn the truth about the former Empress’s death, he would be devastated.
Now that she thought about it, there was a scene in the original story where he blamed himself for failing to protect the First Prince.
The First Prince… come to think of it, was he still alive?
Alice had briefly thought about the First Prince after meeting Count Latrang at the hunting grounds. But the whirlwind of events that followed had made her completely forget about him.
Since there had been no news of his death, he must still be alive…
But unless a miracle happened, he would likely never wake up.
Alice had the same thought she’d had at the hunting grounds. But somehow, it bothered her more now than it had then.
Perhaps because she had seen Count Latrang’s love for his child with her own eyes.
‘A miracle…’
The power closest to achieving that would be my holy power.
But should I save the First Prince?
Twisting fate wouldn’t matter since she had already twisted so many things, but… Alice was concerned about something else.
Namely, the Third Prince.
Now that the Second Prince had been driven out and the Third Prince had become the most promising candidate for Crown Prince, if the First Prince were to wake up… the Third Prince’s position could be shaken.
Originally, in the story, the Second Prince had been a degenerate, and the First Prince had died without ever waking up, so he had never competed with the Third Prince for the Crown Prince position.
Therefore, she had no way of predicting what kind of character the First Prince had, or how the nobles’ attitudes would change if he were to wake up.
If the First Prince dreamed of becoming Emperor and sought the Crown Prince position… he would have many advantages over the Third Prince.
The First Prince was the child of the legitimate former Empress, and his maternal grandfather was Count Latrang, the Southern Border Count.
Of course, the Third Prince had Kylus behind him, but… his legitimacy was far too lacking.
Alice let out a small sigh.
It wasn’t because she was worried about the situation.
She felt bitter about herself for hesitating due to concerns about power dynamics when she had the ability to save someone who was dying.
She didn’t want to be this way, but she had no choice.
This world, unlike the one she had lived in, was clearly one of survival of the fittest.
If she acted purely out of kindness, she could lose everything.
The power struggle in the imperial family was a brutal fight where even blood relatives were killed.
Unless there was a definite guarantee that the First Prince would renounce his right to succession… Alice couldn’t readily step forward.
“This doesn’t feel… right.”
But it didn’t sit well with her to turn a blind eye to someone who was dying, so Alice lowered her gaze.
She felt unworthy of looking at this beautiful landscape created by Count Latrang.
“My lady?”
Sienna looked puzzled at Alice’s suddenly downcast mood.
Alice turned to Sienna, about to suggest they return to the mansion.
But at that moment, Sienna’s green eyes widened as she looked beyond Alice, across the lake.
“Oh? Is that…?”
At Sienna’s murmur, as if she had spotted someone, Alice also turned her head in that direction.
Then she saw a person emerging from the dense forest and stepping onto the cloud bridge over the lake.
Alice knew who that person was.
“…Count Latrang.”
Indeed. That person was none other than Count Latrang, the creator of this park and the First Prince’s maternal grandfather.
Count Latrang strode across the cloud bridge, approaching Alice’s side.
Surprised by the unexpected encounter with Count Latrang, Alice had frozen momentarily, but she quickly regained her composure when she realized the Count was heading directly toward her.
Alice rose from her seat along with Sienna.
At that moment, Count Latrang stopped in front of her. The Count was alone, without any knight escorts or servants.
“Duchess Dearrut, it’s been a while.”
Count Latrang greeted her first.
Alice gave a faint smile, not revealing her complex inner thoughts.
“Yes, it has been a while, Count. Ah, this is Lady Sienna Meltain, the Duke’s cousin.”
At Alice’s introduction, the Count’s gaze fell on Sienna.
“I am Sienna from the Meltain Barony.”
“Oh, Meltain. A historical family from the western region. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
After exchanging formal greetings, a brief silence hung in the air. Finding it uncomfortable, Alice spoke first.
“Count, your park is truly beautiful. The scenery is so pretty that it makes me want to visit the south sometime.”
Though she had said it to ease the awkward atmosphere, she meant it sincerely.
As if sensing Alice’s sincerity, a smile settled on Count Latrang’s wrinkled face.
“Thank you for appreciating its beauty. And though it may sound like boasting, the Latrang territory in the south is even more beautiful than this. As you suggested, please come visit the south with the Duke sometime. I would be honored to host you.”
“My goodness, I’m grateful just to hear you say that.”
“It’s not just words. I am not one for empty talk. Even now, when I heard that the Duchess Dearrut had come, I hurried here to offer you a modest reception.”
‘He deliberately came to see me?’
A hint of bewilderment crossed Alice’s face.
While it was true that as the Duchess of the influential Dearrut family, she outranked Count Latrang, the Count’s honor was no less than the reputation Kylus held.
For someone like him to come personally to receive her, without Kylus present?
‘We’re not even particularly acquainted.’
Their first meeting had been at the hunting grounds. Alice quietly observed Count Latrang for a moment.
Though his wrinkled face wore a kind expression, the look in his eyes as he regarded her was not merely gentle.
It was… intense, somehow.
As if he had something specific he wanted to say to her.
Alice let out a soft “hmm” and asked frankly:
“Count, do you perhaps have something you wish to discuss with me?”
The corner of Count Latrang’s eye twitched, as if he hadn’t expected Alice to ask so directly.
He soon let out a small laugh and replied:
“Seeing how perceptive you are, I can see why you’re the lady of the Dearrut house. I’m not one who enjoys speaking in circles either, so I’ll be honest.”
Count Latrang erased the expression of feigned kindness and spoke to Alice with a serious face.
“I have an urgent matter to discuss with the Duchess. Please grant me a moment of your time. I implore you.”
Faced with such a solemn and respectful request, Alice’s lips parted slightly.
Despite sensing something unsettling, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse.
Because she could see the desperation in Count Latrang’s eyes.
Alice finally gave the Count a faint smile.
“Since I’ve enjoyed this beautiful scenery, I should return the favor. I accept your invitation.”
Beyond the lake, inside the dense forest, appeared a southern-style mansion that looked somewhat different from the mansions in the capital.
Unlike the capital’s mansions with their high roofs, the southern-style mansion had a low roof and was horizontally expansive.
‘But it’s smaller than I expected?’
A four-story main building and one small annex.
Even though it was supposedly a palace where the Empress had stayed, its size was only half that of the Duchy.
As if noticing Alice’s curiosity, Count Latrang spoke:
“The former Empress used to say: the vast, enormous Imperial Palace felt like a large birdcage, making her feel lonely and confined. That’s why I deliberately built just one small main building here, solely for her. So that here, at least, she could feel like she was home.”
“I see…”
Alice turned to look at Count Latrang.
For a moment, he gazed at the mansion with remorseful eyes, as if recalling the past, then turned to Alice.
“Shall we go in, Duchess?”
“Yes.”
“Welcome, Duchess Dearrut.”
As they entered the mansion, the staff of the estate were waiting in the lobby. One man who appeared to be the butler and two maids.
It was a surprisingly modest number for a mansion of such renown.
“Since I am staying here alone, I didn’t increase the number of staff. Please don’t misunderstand—it’s not that I’m disrespecting the Duchess by summoning fewer people.”
Count Latrang spoke with a slightly embarrassed expression.
“It’s perfectly fine, Count.”
Alice smiled reassuringly. She truly didn’t mind at all.
Other nobles might have been offended by what seemed like an empty reception, but Alice didn’t think much of it.
She knew from the start that someone of Count Latrang’s character wouldn’t mock people in such a petty way.
Her momentary pause had only been due to the practical thought: ‘Can just three people really manage a mansion of this size?’
At that moment, the man who appeared to be the butler approached, bowed politely, and said:
“Count, tea has been prepared in the reception room.”
“Very well.”
After nodding to the butler, Count Latrang turned his gaze to Alice.
He glanced once at Sienna and Ruyd standing beside Alice, then spoke in a low voice:
“Duchess, I would prefer if only you and I entered the reception room. The matter I wish to discuss would be troublesome if others heard it. Troublesome for both me and you, Duchess.”
‘Something that could be troublesome for me too…’
‘So it is about that after all.’
Alice’s smile faded as she looked at Count Latrang’s wrinkled face, which revealed no emotion.
