Rhodnes immediately reached for his scabbard with one hand. At the same time, I grabbed his hand and stopped him. I could feel the large hand beneath my own shaking.
“Adrienne... I have to kill that bastard.”
The gentle flow of air changed in an instant. It was a peaceful room with a moderate murmur, but it felt like a huge whirlwind was raging only on our side. And in the eye of the storm, our gazes became dizzyingly entangled. I could clearly see the veins around Rhodnes’s eyes. Perhaps I was also reflected in his eyes.
“Yes, but...”
I forced a smile, suppressing the old anger that was bubbling up like pottery.
“I kill him first, then.”
“...”
Rhodnes, who had been listening to me all along, shook his head as if he could no longer hear me. If I hadn't been holding his hand, it seemed as if he would have ridden out on horseback and cut off Noevian's head at any moment.
“Rhodnes. I know why you are angry.”
“No, you don’t know.”
Rhodnes continued, spitting out his words.
“You really don’t know, Adrienne.”
I remember clearly, the way you were hurt and crying while you were in constant denial that I was Adrienne. It's still clear before my eyes.
I didn't have time to say anything. Rhodnes, who had forced a smile on me, got up from his seat. It was my first time meeting someone so full of life, so my whole body trembled.
“I’ll have Neil escort you to the mansion. Don’t worry about anything. When you wake up, everything will be over.”
The end? What does the end mean? What difference does it make if Noevian turns his back on this world now?
“I know what you’re worried about and what you want. But if I had the chance to kill someone without anyone knowing...”
The shoulders he had been holding were getting hotter and hotter.
“... Then, no matter what you say, I’ll kill that bastard with my own hands.”
“Yes. I will never be rude.”
Neil was no fool. Whatever they were talking about, yesterday's atmosphere was very serious. An angry lord and an embracing countess. It wasn't an obvious flirtation. It was clear he'd been seduced.
“And if there’s any connection between the Noevian Trovica side and the Blie Acacia, start investigating again from the beginning.”
“It’s chivalrous to investigate your lover’s past...”
“Investigate it as a murder case.”
"Yes?"
The darkly mumbling Rhodnes said no more. Neil blinked at the unexpected words, saluted, and left the office.
"Ha."
Rhodnes loosened his cravat as if he was frustrated. The knots that the attendant had meticulously tied fell apart in an instant. He felt an urge to immediately draw the sword at his side and cut off Noevian Trovica’s head.
'Would it be enough to justify the crime of killing his own wife with his own hands?'
“They said they haven’t found any evidence yet.”
“The captain of the capital guard has been dismissed, and His Highness the Crown Prince must be having a lot to worry about, Your Highness.”
“His Highness has other matters to deal with, so I don’t think that’s necessarily the case.”
Doris rarely spoke in this place, and usually, the host, Noura, would pick up on stories related to the Crown Prince and answer them on her behalf. As a result, the ladies who had been trying to catch the Crown Princess's eye for a long time were starting to feel a little irritated.
“What do you think, Countess Acacia?”
And then one of the ladies who had been in the middle of the game asked me a question. The ladies were obviously curious about me, who had suddenly taken the position of maid of honor to the Crown Princess Doris.
"...Well."
I also recently learned of the rumor that Baroness Kuroseda was the Emperor's mistress. However, what should I say about the disappearance of a woman whose face and personality I do not know?
“...”
When Noura seemed to be secretly scolding me, Irene made an excuse for me. I laughed like I had no idea. I guess Irene seemed to really like this conversation style of mine, where I was 'perfect with my body manners but seemed to have no idea when I opened my mouth.'
“Yes, but I have heard rumors that His Highness the Second Prince Rhodnes will be in charge of the case. If so, won’t the case be solved soon?”
As soon as I tripped over Rhodnes, the atmosphere of the tea party became heated. I stared at Noura as if nothing had happened, and her expression became quite strange. Noura, who was good at gossip, could not have been unaware of Rhodnes and my relationship. I remembered the portrait of Rhodnes and me that was printed on the gossip paper this morning. The picture of us embracing each other at the cafe yesterday was exactly as it was.
“Adrienne... I have to kill that bastard.”
The gentle flow of air changed in an instant. It was a peaceful room with a moderate murmur, but it felt like a huge whirlwind was raging only on our side. And in the eye of the storm, our gazes became dizzyingly entangled. I could clearly see the veins around Rhodnes’s eyes. Perhaps I was also reflected in his eyes.
“Yes, but...”
I forced a smile, suppressing the old anger that was bubbling up like pottery.
“I kill him first, then.”
“...”
Rhodnes, who had been listening to me all along, shook his head as if he could no longer hear me. If I hadn't been holding his hand, it seemed as if he would have ridden out on horseback and cut off Noevian's head at any moment.
“Rhodnes. I know why you are angry.”
“No, you don’t know.”
Rhodnes continued, spitting out his words.
“You really don’t know, Adrienne.”
“At first, it felt like the world was falling apart for me too.”
My hand slowly moved from the back of Rhodnes's trembling hand to the grip of the sword. Even though the position had changed, the trembling felt under my hand was still the same.
“If I think about it, it wasn’t because of Noevian’s betrayal that I despaired. I thought Noevian was my first and last love... It was because I felt a greater sense of betrayal. After all, it felt like all the time we spent together was being denied. In fact, most of that time wasn’t spent with him.”
“The truth never changes.”
“I know, I know... But over the past two months, I’ve come to see the current situation from a bit more of a distance.”
When I put my hand on Rhodnes’s cheek, who was constantly shaking his head, his eyes shook violently. He could no longer shake his head, but his cheek was shaking just as much as his hand.
“If I were alive now, and I thought I lived believing that a love full of deception was true... Sometimes I think it would have been better to die like this and know the truth.”
There's nothing I can do about something already dead. I really thought so. Rhodnes sneered coldly. It wasn't directed at me, but my heart felt a pang.
“I’m okay because you’re here.”
“No, you are not okay.”
My hand slowly moved from the back of Rhodnes's trembling hand to the grip of the sword. Even though the position had changed, the trembling felt under my hand was still the same.
“If I think about it, it wasn’t because of Noevian’s betrayal that I despaired. I thought Noevian was my first and last love... It was because I felt a greater sense of betrayal. After all, it felt like all the time we spent together was being denied. In fact, most of that time wasn’t spent with him.”
“The truth never changes.”
“I know, I know... But over the past two months, I’ve come to see the current situation from a bit more of a distance.”
When I put my hand on Rhodnes’s cheek, who was constantly shaking his head, his eyes shook violently. He could no longer shake his head, but his cheek was shaking just as much as his hand.
“If I were alive now, and I thought I lived believing that a love full of deception was true... Sometimes I think it would have been better to die like this and know the truth.”
There's nothing I can do about something already dead. I really thought so. Rhodnes sneered coldly. It wasn't directed at me, but my heart felt a pang.
“I’m okay because you’re here.”
“No, you are not okay.”
I remember clearly, the way you were hurt and crying while you were in constant denial that I was Adrienne. It's still clear before my eyes.
Rhodnes continued to chant. The trembling chin and cheeks made it clear how much he was enduring for me.
“If you kill Noevian Trovica now, you’ll feel relieved for now. But what next? What will you say to your father and brother who trust him?”
“Adrienne.”
Rhodnes, with the corners of his lips, raised coldly, placed his hand over mine, which was holding his cheek.
“I am already a problem known to the entire empire. I have never heard anyone say that they are disappointed in me for killing anyone.”
Ironically, the cold, shining eyes were gradually sinking.
“No matter what great punishment I receive, I will avenge you.”
“If you kill Noevian Trovica now, you’ll feel relieved for now. But what next? What will you say to your father and brother who trust him?”
“Adrienne.”
Rhodnes, with the corners of his lips, raised coldly, placed his hand over mine, which was holding his cheek.
“I am already a problem known to the entire empire. I have never heard anyone say that they are disappointed in me for killing anyone.”
Ironically, the cold, shining eyes were gradually sinking.
“No matter what great punishment I receive, I will avenge you.”
I didn't have time to say anything. Rhodnes, who had forced a smile on me, got up from his seat. It was my first time meeting someone so full of life, so my whole body trembled.
“I’ll have Neil escort you to the mansion. Don’t worry about anything. When you wake up, everything will be over.”
The end? What does the end mean? What difference does it make if Noevian turns his back on this world now?
As soon as I saw Rhodnes raising his hand to call Neil, I stood up and hugged him from behind. Compared to his wide back, his slender waist was incredibly strong.
“No, I don’t want to get meaningless blood on your hands.”
Rhodnes, frozen in place, stood still.
“If it means taking revenge on my enemy, then my mind should be at ease.”
“...Adrienne.”
A low, hoarse voice flowed out harshly from his throat, which had never once shouted. Rhodnes, who had forcefully released my arm, slowly turned to look at me.
“If you kill him and it causes you even the slightest harm, I will not feel at ease or happy at all.”
“I can’t stand to see you re-enter the house of the man who killed you... I don’t have the confidence to just sit by and watch.”
Rhodnes forced his voice, forced it. But no matter how much I thought about it, if he cut off Noevian’s head, I would have to live in Blie without knowing anything. Cover up all the truth and live a new life. Is that really revenge?
“No, I don’t want to get meaningless blood on your hands.”
Rhodnes, frozen in place, stood still.
“If it means taking revenge on my enemy, then my mind should be at ease.”
“...Adrienne.”
A low, hoarse voice flowed out harshly from his throat, which had never once shouted. Rhodnes, who had forcefully released my arm, slowly turned to look at me.
“If you kill him and it causes you even the slightest harm, I will not feel at ease or happy at all.”
“I can’t stand to see you re-enter the house of the man who killed you... I don’t have the confidence to just sit by and watch.”
Rhodnes forced his voice, forced it. But no matter how much I thought about it, if he cut off Noevian’s head, I would have to live in Blie without knowing anything. Cover up all the truth and live a new life. Is that really revenge?
I shook my head. And I looked up at Rhodnes, who was holding my arm like a rope.
“If I need help, I’ll ask. Please trust me.”
Just as you trusted me with Adrienne, trust me this time. I asked you to let me finish this with my own hands.
“...You too, you too, please listen to me.”
The firm chest of Rhodnes, which had been rising and falling rapidly, suddenly stopped moving. The murderous intent that had been shining in both eyes suddenly decreased. I cautiously approached Rhodnes and dug into his arms. It was not a sexual embrace, but an embrace that comforted both him and me. Without embracing me back, he heaved his chest several times before finally wrapping his arms around my shoulders and embracing me back.
“If I need help, I’ll ask. Please trust me.”
Just as you trusted me with Adrienne, trust me this time. I asked you to let me finish this with my own hands.
“...You too, you too, please listen to me.”
The firm chest of Rhodnes, which had been rising and falling rapidly, suddenly stopped moving. The murderous intent that had been shining in both eyes suddenly decreased. I cautiously approached Rhodnes and dug into his arms. It was not a sexual embrace, but an embrace that comforted both him and me. Without embracing me back, he heaved his chest several times before finally wrapping his arms around my shoulders and embracing me back.
After a long time, Rhodnes’ warm, firm body pulled away from me. Rhodnes, who grabbed my shoulders, put strength into his face and opened his mouth heavily.
“...If I get the chance, I’ll get rid of that guy any time.”
“...If I get the chance, I’ll get rid of that guy any time.”
"No."
“I know what you’re worried about and what you want. But if I had the chance to kill someone without anyone knowing...”
The shoulders he had been holding were getting hotter and hotter.
“... Then, no matter what you say, I’ll kill that bastard with my own hands.”
I shook my head at him, unable to make a sound, even with the lump in my throat, because it suddenly occurred to me that I had no right to object.
***
The palace of the second Prince, Rhodnes, was extremely busy for the first time in a while. Unlike before, when he acted as if he had declared a strike, Rhodnes was not just sitting in his office drinking but was ordering everyone to bring him anything. Neil was busy carrying the documents that had to be signed off on, but somehow Rhodnes was working like crazy, but his soul seemed to be somewhere else entirely.
“Don’t just stand there, put it down.”
“Where does it hurt?”
“Neil.”
"Yep."
“Never be rude to Countess Acacia again.”
“When have I ever been rude?”
As he said this, he was reminded of how he had been so eager to tell the Countess of Acacia that he had to defeat the steamer with his heart.
“Don’t just stand there, put it down.”
“Where does it hurt?”
“Neil.”
"Yep."
“Never be rude to Countess Acacia again.”
“When have I ever been rude?”
As he said this, he was reminded of how he had been so eager to tell the Countess of Acacia that he had to defeat the steamer with his heart.
“Yes. I will never be rude.”
Neil was no fool. Whatever they were talking about, yesterday's atmosphere was very serious. An angry lord and an embracing countess. It wasn't an obvious flirtation. It was clear he'd been seduced.
“And if there’s any connection between the Noevian Trovica side and the Blie Acacia, start investigating again from the beginning.”
“It’s chivalrous to investigate your lover’s past...”
“Investigate it as a murder case.”
"Yes?"
The darkly mumbling Rhodnes said no more. Neil blinked at the unexpected words, saluted, and left the office.
"Ha."
Rhodnes loosened his cravat as if he was frustrated. The knots that the attendant had meticulously tied fell apart in an instant. He felt an urge to immediately draw the sword at his side and cut off Noevian Trovica’s head.
'Would it be enough to justify the crime of killing his own wife with his own hands?'
Still, it felt like Adrienne's voice was strangling his throat. Adrienne had clearly said so, in a voice so strong that he could not stop her. Regardless of the truth, Noevian Trovica was already a sinner. Whether Noevian actually killed Adrienne or not, it was no longer a matter of importance to Rhodnes. Thinking back to Adrienne in despair, it was like that. The scabbard in his hand and Adrienne's voice asking him to trust her to finish Noevian blocked his breathing.
“Vincenzo!”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Rhodnes opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind to face Vincenzo, who had come in briskly.
“Go to His Majesty the Emperor and tell him that I will do whatever His Majesty wants.”
“...!”
Vincenzo's eyes widened as he immediately understood what that meant. The disappearance of Baroness Kuroseda!
“Vincenzo!”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Rhodnes opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind to face Vincenzo, who had come in briskly.
“Go to His Majesty the Emperor and tell him that I will do whatever His Majesty wants.”
“...!”
Vincenzo's eyes widened as he immediately understood what that meant. The disappearance of Baroness Kuroseda!
While Vincenzo was dumbfounded and ran to the Emperor's office, Rhodnes looked at the closed door and gritted his teeth. There would never be a day in his life when he could defeat Adrienne. Then there was nothing he could do. He had no choice but to shake Noevian Trovica by performing a great feat that the Emperor could not ignore. He wanted to end it with his own hands, so he had no choice but to help her.
'You've done well, the troublemaker and the second Prince wants the Blie Acacia.'
If he heard those words directly from the Emperor or himself, not from Blie, he would definitely react more.
Noevian Trovica, who kept it a secret and repeated deceptions. The second Prince, who did not care about other people's opinions, sat next to her. He knew best what the government would choose.
***
The night before. I could hardly sleep and tossed and turned all night. Several of the knights of Rhodnes, including Neil, were said to be hiding around the Count's mansion to protect me. The next afternoon, I was invited to a tea party hosted by Noura at the Crown Princess's palace. It was my first proper social activity since becoming Blie Acacia. Most of the guests were the wives of the Crown Princess's major nobles, but since I was seeing all these people for the first time, I just sat with Irene near the Crown Princess and Noura and listened blankly.
“You’re talking about the missing woman case. Have you narrowed down the suspects?”
“You’re talking about the missing woman case. Have you narrowed down the suspects?”
“They said they haven’t found any evidence yet.”
“The captain of the capital guard has been dismissed, and His Highness the Crown Prince must be having a lot to worry about, Your Highness.”
“His Highness has other matters to deal with, so I don’t think that’s necessarily the case.”
Doris rarely spoke in this place, and usually, the host, Noura, would pick up on stories related to the Crown Prince and answer them on her behalf. As a result, the ladies who had been trying to catch the Crown Princess's eye for a long time were starting to feel a little irritated.
“What do you think, Countess Acacia?”
And then one of the ladies who had been in the middle of the game asked me a question. The ladies were obviously curious about me, who had suddenly taken the position of maid of honor to the Crown Princess Doris.
"...Well."
I also recently learned of the rumor that Baroness Kuroseda was the Emperor's mistress. However, what should I say about the disappearance of a woman whose face and personality I do not know?
Just because Doris is silent does not mean she is not watching me.
“I don’t know.”
"Ma'am."
Noura looked at me with sharp eyes, perhaps thinking that I was being insincere. I just shrugged. It was a very fitting answer for my future image, so it didn't matter what Noura said.
“I apologize for interrupting, but Countess Acacia has only recently come to the capital from her fiefdom, so she really doesn’t know Baroness Kuroseda very well. Isn’t that right, Ma’am?”
“I don’t know.”
"Ma'am."
Noura looked at me with sharp eyes, perhaps thinking that I was being insincere. I just shrugged. It was a very fitting answer for my future image, so it didn't matter what Noura said.
“I apologize for interrupting, but Countess Acacia has only recently come to the capital from her fiefdom, so she really doesn’t know Baroness Kuroseda very well. Isn’t that right, Ma’am?”
“...”
When Noura seemed to be secretly scolding me, Irene made an excuse for me. I laughed like I had no idea. I guess Irene seemed to really like this conversation style of mine, where I was 'perfect with my body manners but seemed to have no idea when I opened my mouth.'
“Yes, but I have heard rumors that His Highness the Second Prince Rhodnes will be in charge of the case. If so, won’t the case be solved soon?”
As soon as I tripped over Rhodnes, the atmosphere of the tea party became heated. I stared at Noura as if nothing had happened, and her expression became quite strange. Noura, who was good at gossip, could not have been unaware of Rhodnes and my relationship. I remembered the portrait of Rhodnes and me that was printed on the gossip paper this morning. The picture of us embracing each other at the cafe yesterday was exactly as it was.
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