IDMH - Chapter 129



As Perdes said, what was inside the box was a magic music box.

“How did you know this was a magic music box?”

When you open the lid, you can see a red veil embedded inside, indicating that it is a magic music box, but on the outside, it looks just like a normal music box.

It might look different to an expert's eye, but it looked the same to me.

But I was curious as to why he immediately recognized it as a magic music box, so I asked him, and Perdes answered hesitantly.

“I felt a little bit of mana.”

...I think you said before that you couldn’t feel mana?

It was a little strange, but Perdes turned his head away as if he didn't want to talk anymore.

I wasn't curious enough to ask questions in detail, so I just let it go.

I loved the appearance of the music box, which sparkled silver like broken moonlight, and the beautiful melody, but what I liked most was the gold decoration embedded inside the music box.

'A'.

It was a code that only Prince Philos and I knew, meaning that what I asked for was ready.

It's finally time to put the next plan into action.

I smiled contentedly and stroked the music box.

It was the happiest and most satisfying birthday present ever.

***

Perdes returned to his room with a thumping voice, his face etched with discontent.

Jack clicked his tongue inwardly as he picked up the clothes that Perdes had thrown away.

'I guess something happened with Miss Adele.'

At first, he was nervous because he thought it was a big fight, but now he's used to it.

Besides, this time he thought he knew why Perdes was so dissatisfied.

Because he heard that a Prince from a certain kingdom sent Adele a magic music box along with a large statue as a birthday present.

The statue was hung, but the biggest problem was the magic music box.

Usually, magic music boxes were given as gifts between lovers or men and women in a similar relationship.

It wasn't just a gift that could be given between friends.

Besides, Adele was so happy to see the magic music box and smiled brightly, so it was natural that Perdes would react like that.

“Don’t worry too much, Mr. Perdes. Mr. Perdes can give the Lady a better birthday present.”

"Ha."

Jack tried to comfort Perdes with his words, but they only got on his nerves.

Especially, the idea that he could get something better as a birthday present really bothered him.

That's because he was also preparing a magic music box as a birthday present for Adele.

Of course, it wasn't the ordinary magic music box you can commonly find on the market.

It was a special magic music box in which he personally drew not only the music box design but also the magic circle.

Still, he was really unhappy that he had lost my player to some idiot.

Perdes muttered in a resentful voice, slamming the pillow down hard as if it were Prince Philos.

“I should have been the first...!”

Adele would have liked it if it had been her second gift, but he still wished it had been her first.

Because the first time is always the most memorable.

He wanted to be the first in everything Adele did, not just for her birthday presents.

He also didn't like the fact that Prince Philos was so open about his affection for Adele.

Be also didn't like the way Adele smiled brightly when she received the gift he sent her.

“I don’t like any of it.”

“Mr. Perdes, you are really jealous.”

As Jack spoke with a smirk in his voice, Perdes turned his head so violently that it made a whoosh sound and looked at him.

“I’m jealous?”

“Yes. You are still jealous of His Highness the Prince who sent the Lady a gift.”

“This is not jealousy... !”

Perdes tried to deny it, but he couldn't find the right words to describe his feelings other than jealousy, so he kept his mouth shut.

Jack smirked at the sight.

“I guess you’re jealous, right?”

“...It’s noisy, so get out.”

First, Perdes chased away the annoying Jack, then hugged his pillow tightly and thought hard about the right words to describe his feelings.

But no matter how much he racked his brain, no other word came to mind than jealousy.

Am I really jealous of Prince Philos?

That means I love Adele Leopold...

“...That’s ridiculous.”

Perdes left the bedroom, trying hard to deny the feelings he could not accept.

He must have blacked out for a moment because he was so annoyed.

Perdes came outside thinking that he would feel better if he got some cold air, but then he saw Adele talking to Hanes.

He couldn't take his eyes off her, even though he thought about going back because if he met Adele now, his already confused emotions would be stirred even more.

Perdes looked at Adele as if possessed by a ghost.

Adele was pretty even though she wasn't wearing a fancy dress, flashy accessories, or flashy makeup.

It's natural since she's originally beautiful...

“...Lord Perdes?”

While talking to Hanes, Adele looked back at Perdes, perhaps sensing his gaze.

Soon, her fresh eyes met him and closed beautifully.

Her red, plump lips smoothly rose in a curved line.

Dazzling.

It was so dazzling that Perdes couldn't look straight ahead.

Her smile.

The warm sunlight poured down upon it.

“Are you feeling a little better?”

The affectionate voice that worried about him flew like an arrow and pierced his heart.

Because of that, Pandora's box that had been buried deep in his heart was opened.

The feelings that he had tried to hide and ignore because he didn't want to admit them and couldn't admit them at all, came back to him clearly.

"...Yes."

Perdes kept denying it, but now he had no choice but to admit it.

“I think it’s gotten better.”

The fact that Perdes loves Adele Leopold as a woman.

***

Sir Aldor had triumphed over Usher in a spectacular duel, beating him to the punch and saving the pride of the Order, but it wasn't enough.

I also thought it was right to punish him.

Now that it was clear that Usher was not just a simple imperial knight, but a member of the Anatome Guard, it was decided to expel him from Leopold's duchy.

Sir Dominic was very embarrassed when he heard my decision and tried to persuade me, but I did not change my decision.

I also find it offensive that Usher dared to insult my family and my order.

Because I didn't want to keep an impure person in my territory who might do something at any time.

“Huh, I understand. I will do as you wish, Young Lady.”

Since Usher's guilt was certain, Sir Dominic had no choice but to follow my decision.

So Usher was driven out of the Duchy of Leopold, and the Imperial Knights decided to stay in the Duchy for three days longer than planned.

The purpose was to investigate the disappearance of the second prince, Chernosser, and find his body.

No matter how much you investigate, you won't find out anything other than what I told you, so everyone's wasting their time.

At this point, I thought it was a good idea to kill that knight as Perdes had said.

If he were alive, he might have told them that Chernosser had gone into the basement of the Duke's mansion and then disappeared.

If that fact were known, I could not avoid responsibility either.

They could have bothered me with ridiculous charges like negligence of management.

They could have gone as far as to say that they would investigate the basement of the Duke's residence without even knowing that their life was at stake.

Not only the Imperial Knights, but I also tried to find Chernossor.

To be exact, why did Chernosser enter the basement of the Duke's residence?

And I was trying to figure out how he was able to get to a place where only the blood relatives of Duke Leopold were allowed to enter.

I wanted to look into my father's diary or something else, but I didn't have enough time.

Once I enter the basement, time is distorted, so even if I only stay for a moment, the outside world will pass by for hours, so it is impossible to investigate thoroughly.

I have a lot to do now, so I'll take my time looking into it later when I have time.

“If you go here, a man will give you a box.”

With that in mind, I handed Aldor a note with the location written on it.

“Just take that box and bring it to me. Don’t open it.”

“Yes, Miss.”

As soon as Sir Aldor left, I immediately called the manager in charge of the upper house and the family's property.

“Excuse me for a moment, Lady Leopold.”

But Sir Dominic came to see me without me calling.

Immediately after, when the officials I had called arrived, I asked them to wait outside for a moment and then asked Sir Dominic.

“What's going on?”

You are leaving the Duchy of Leopold tomorrow. Is that why you came?

You don't plan on staying any longer, do you?

“His Majesty the Emperor has sent a letter to Young Lady.”

...It’s more terrible than I expected.

"Please."

The Emperor's letters were always a priority, so I checked them right away.

The letter was written in detail on fancy letterhead, but its main point was simple.

He asked me to come up to the capital so I could report directly to him about the Chernosser incident.

It was also written that Perdes should come along as he wanted to see his son after a long time.

If this was going to happen, you should have told us to come from the beginning. Why did you send the royal knights?

Moreover, it was funny that he was looking for the son he tried to kill.

As I stared at the letter in disbelief, Sir Dominic added an urgent explanation.

“I have already reported to His Majesty the Emperor twice, but He has expressed a desire to hear from many people, especially the people involved.”

"...Yes."

I answered calmly and put the letter down.

Sir Dominic asked cautiously, watching me closely.

“Are you going to the capital?”

“His Majesty the Emperor has summoned me, so of course I must go.”

“Yes, that’s right. That’s only natural.”

Sir Dominic finally felt relieved, and he sighed deeply in relief and cleared his chest.

I guess you thought I'd throw a tantrum if I didn't want to go.

It was true that I did not want to go, but it was not so much that I did not want to go to the capital as I did not want to respond to the Emperor's call.

And since I had to go to the capital to carry out my next plan anyway, I readily accepted the Emperor's invitation.


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