Chapter 145
A matter related to the First Prince.
More specifically, it would be about her holy power.
In truth, from the moment Count Latrang had asked for her time, saying he had something to discuss with her, she had suspected it.
If it wasn’t related to the First Prince, there would be no reason for Count Latrang, a veteran of a hundred battles, to look at her with such desperate eyes, saying he had an urgent matter to discuss.
If it were a political issue, he would have spoken to Kylus.
And when he mentioned it could be troublesome for her as well, she became certain.
Of course, she wasn’t sure how he had learned about her holy power…
Alice thought that since Count Latrang was powerful and well-connected, he must have found out about it somewhere by chance.
At that moment, Sienna, having heard Count Latrang’s words, spoke with concern:
“Count, even so… for the Duchess to meet with you alone, without any escorts…”
“Sienna.”
Alice interrupted, calling Sienna’s name.
Alice turned her head to meet Sienna’s eyes. Sienna’s expression was troubled and slightly anxious.
That was completely understandable.
Regardless of Count Latrang’s excellent character, the current situation bordered on rudeness.
Even if their families were somewhat acquainted, to suddenly invite the Duchess of a ducal house—which outranked a count—to his mansion and request a private audience without escorts was inappropriate.
It was no wonder Sienna and Ruyd’s expressions were displeased.
But Alice understood why Count Latrang was making such an unreasonable request despite the impropriety.
Of course, she would have preferred if he had followed proper protocol and formally visited the Duchy.
Alice gave Sienna a faint smile and firmly said:
“I’ll talk with the Count briefly, so please wait here, Sienna.”
And Sir Ruyd as well.
For a moment, intense gazes from both of them fell upon Alice as if they had something to say, but they didn’t open their mouths.
Defying an order from Alice, the lady of the Dearrut Duchy, would be insubordination.
“…Yes.”
They simply stepped back, their faces unable to hide their concern.
Soon, Alice entered the reception room with Count Latrang.
As the butler had said, tea and desserts were neatly arranged on the table in the reception room.
Count Latrang gestured for Alice to take a seat first.
“Please sit, Duchess.”
As Alice sat on the sofa and raised her head, she noticed a portrait hanging on the opposite wall.
It was a beautiful woman with violet hair, wearing a white dress embroidered with gold thread and a crown.
And they were identical.
The woman’s blue eyes and Count Latrang’s eyes.
“Is that…?”
“Mariella Pentium, Her Majesty the former Empress.”
Count Latrang turned his head to look at the portrait as he spoke.
“She’s… truly beautiful.”
Mariella, the former Empress smiling brightly in the portrait, wasn’t the possessor of the seductive appearance that Lariella had.
However, she had a smile that made one feel good just by looking at it.
It was as if her good nature radiated from her face.
Honestly, she was like a pretty wildflower, almost impossible to believe she was the daughter of the boulder-like Count Latrang.
“It may sound strange coming from my own mouth, but the former Empress was the greatest beauty in the south. Everyone loved her lively and bright smile.”
Count Latrang spoke with a slightly raised voice, uncharacteristic of him, his face unable to hide his pride.
But that was only momentary; the Count turned away from the portrait with a bitter smile.
He quickly concealed his pained expression as he met Alice’s eyes.
Count Latrang was the first to break the brief silence.
“Rather than… offering you tea, you’d prefer me to get straight to the point, I suppose.”
“Yes. I’ve already had plenty of tea.”
The Count took a sip from his teacup to moisten his dry lips before speaking.
“First, I apologize for not making a formal visit to the Duchy and instead requesting this improper private meeting.”
After offering a polite apology to Alice, Count Latrang continued.
“I was desperate because the Duke refused my request to meet with you.”
Alice was about to say it was fine, but she paused.
To think that the cause of the Count’s rudeness was because of Kylus.
This was unexpected.
Alice’s lips moved slowly.
“You’re saying the Duke… prevented me from meeting you?”
“Yes, that’s correct. But in truth, from the moment I made the request, I thought it more likely that the Duke would refuse.”
Count Latrang spoke as if he understood.
“The Duke cherishes you, and my request is such a sensitive matter for you as well…”
Although Alice was surprised by Kylus’s unexpected action, his refusal wasn’t incomprehensible.
Kylus had always been uncomfortable with Alice using her holy power.
He had refused her using it on him, saying she shouldn’t strain herself, so of course he wouldn’t grant the Count’s request.
Alice gave an awkward smile, then with a soft “hmm” cleared her throat and broached the main subject.
“Count, is what you wish to discuss related to the First Prince?”
“…Yes, it is. Duchess, please save the First Prince.”
Just as she had expected.
Now what should she do?
Alice lowered her gaze slightly, considering.
The Count watched Alice lower her gaze with an unreadable expression and calmly continued:
“I learned about your holy power by chance during the incident at the hunting grounds. Naturally, I also came to understand that the miracle that saved Duke Dearrut was thanks to your holy power.”
So he had learned about it from the hunting grounds incident.
Alice finally understood how Count Latrang had come to know about her holy power.
And she replied briefly in a subdued voice:
“…I see.”
She was striving to be very calm, showing not even the slightest tremor.
The conclusion of their conversation would be a noble act of saving a life, but reaching that conclusion required thorough negotiation.
So from this point on, Alice needed to make an important deal with Count Latrang.
Count Latrang was a seasoned veteran who had traversed countless battlefields and engaged in power struggles with nobles in the political arena for many years.
Alice was closer to a novice in social circles who simply knew a bit more about this world than others.
Even if his situation was more desperate, he was not an easy opponent.
Alice organized her thoughts and raised her gaze toward the Count.
“Since you’ve already spoken with the Duke… I won’t foolishly deny that I have such an ability. But Count.”
“Please speak.”
“It’s true that my holy power is strong, but saving the life of a dying person is by no means an easy task. Not only does it put great strain on my body, but there’s also the risk that my ability could become known to the public because of this.”
“…I understand.”
The Count’s face darkened, as if he thought Alice was about to refuse.
He could have threatened her, saying if she didn’t help him, he would put her in danger. Just as Empress Lariella had done.
But the Count didn’t seem to have such intentions.
Alice, newly impressed by the Count’s character and feeling that the Empress’s personality was truly trash, began to speak seriously.
“Therefore, if I were to save the First Prince, there is something I would need you to promise me.”
A flicker passed through the Count’s eyes.
“What must I promise? If you will only save the First Prince, I’ll do anything. I swear on my life.”
The Count’s eyes were desperate, as if he were ready to jump into a pit of fire.
Alice, without wavering, looked directly into the Count’s blue eyes and opened her lips.
“Please have the First Prince renounce his right to succession to the throne. And I would like the First Prince to leave the capital until the Third Prince ascends to the throne.”
“I will do so.”
The Count answered without even a second’s hesitation. His response was so swift that Alice was momentarily taken aback.
This wasn’t a matter one should answer immediately without any deliberation.
Soon after, the Count resolved Alice’s puzzlement.
“I already told the Duke the same. That if you would save the First Prince, I would not only renounce his right to succession but also support the Third Prince.”
He had already told Kylus that?
Alice was extremely surprised inwardly.
It meant that Kylus had refused even though Count Latrang had made such an offer.
No, with an offer like this, rationally… he should have accepted, shouldn’t he?
Or perhaps the Count was lying right now?
Trying to deceive her and then betray her after she saved the First Prince…?
For a moment such suspicions arose, but considering Count Latrang’s character, that didn’t make any sense.
Still… it would be better to make sure.
Alice, without revealing her inner thoughts, asked seriously:
“Anyone can say they’ll do something. Count, I want definite proof that you will keep your promise.”
A written pledge or a contract. I needed evidence in my possession so that even if the First Prince changed his mind later, the Count couldn’t go back on his word.
“I would like to write a pledge renouncing the throne, but that is something the First Prince must write himself…”
Count Latrang furrowed his brow and trailed off. After a moment of silent contemplation, he rose from his seat.
“Duchess, would you please wait a moment?”
“What? Oh… yes.”
As Alice nodded, the Count left the reception room.
What is this?
Alice was bewildered to be suddenly left alone without any explanation at such a crucial moment.
“…Perhaps he suddenly needed to use the bathroom.”
She was so taken aback that even such a ridiculous thought crossed her mind.
About ten minutes passed.
Just as the stiffness was beginning to leave Alice’s back, the door to the reception room opened again.
The Count had returned.
Alice saw a small, antique wooden box in the Count’s hand.
With extremely careful handling, he placed the box on the table and sat down again.
As confusion filled Alice’s golden eyes, the Count opened the box and spoke:
“This is a ring bestowed upon the Latrang family by His Majesty Emperor Actur Pentium, the fourth Emperor of the Pentium Empire, when he entrusted the south to us.”
“…A ring?”
As Alice asked quizzically, Count Latrang looked down at the ring with eyes full of pride and said:
“Yes. It bears the name of the late Emperor, and is a treasure of both the empire and the imperial family.”
