Entering Noevian’s bedroom was much easier than I thought. I wondered if it was okay to open the master’s bedroom like this, but I soon understood. Noevian’s bedroom, which the head maid herself opened, was surprisingly bare and monotonous. It had a neat and tidy feel even before, but now it felt desolate. The room, without even a single vase or painting, had only the bare minimum of furniture, and it was so organized that I could tell where everything was just by looking around, so it seemed impossible to steal anything.
'I guess important things are kept in the office.'
“The bath water will be prepared now, Lady Blie.”
Sophie, who had opened the door herself, whispered something to Annie, and Annie hurriedly went out with her group.
“I only want to receive bathing assistance from Jonah.”
I watched those maids persistently, then gave an order to Sophie, who was standing there respectfully.
“Yes, if you need anything, just let me know.”
As I watched Sophie bow her head slightly and leave, I motioned for Marie, who was standing at the door, to come over.
“Keep a close eye on Annie while she prepares the bath.”
After even Marie, who had been startled, left, I was free to look around Noevian's room. The drawers weren't locked, and there was nothing there when I opened them.
"Lady?"
Jonah stood there watching me open the door here and there like a thief. As soon as I finished searching the bedroom, there was a knock and Annie's group came with bath water. As I watched the steaming bathwater fill the bathtub in the bathroom, I saw another door connected to the bathroom.
‘If I just open that door...’
“The preparations are complete, Ma’am.”
Soon, Annie, who had brought all sorts of fragrant herbs, flower petals, and perfumes, finally looked up from her bed and looked at me. She seemed to want to help me with my bath. However, I ignored her gaze and motioned to Jonah. As Jonah opened the bedroom door wide as if telling her to leave, Annie bit her lower lip and left. Marie followed her.
“Jonah put the clothes I mentioned earlier on the bed and sit here and make sure no one comes into the bathroom.”
“Are you going to do it alone? If you want to prepare carefully, wouldn’t it be better to get my help?”
“I want to relax and unwind. Please make sure no one disturbs me. If possible, don’t let anyone enter the bedroom.”
“Yes! Don’t worry!”
“If you see the Grand Duke's carriage through the main gate, knock on the bathroom door.”
“Yes, Ma’am!”
Jonah clenched her fists and looked out the window. I went straight into the bathroom and locked the door. As I poured all sorts of fragrant things from the rattan basket into the steamy bathtub, the strong scent of herbs filled the space. I slowly approached the door to the Grand Duchess’s bedroom and took a deep breath. Contrary to my anxiety that it might not open, the door opened with disappointing ease. I crossed over the well-maintained door that made no sound and entered the room that was once mine. The fairly spacious room that had been my whole world until recently was exactly as it was the last time I saw it. It was definitely a place with more furniture and hiding places than Noevian’s room that I had just been in.
'I guess important things are kept in the office.'
“The bath water will be prepared now, Lady Blie.”
Sophie, who had opened the door herself, whispered something to Annie, and Annie hurriedly went out with her group.
“I only want to receive bathing assistance from Jonah.”
I watched those maids persistently, then gave an order to Sophie, who was standing there respectfully.
“Yes, if you need anything, just let me know.”
As I watched Sophie bow her head slightly and leave, I motioned for Marie, who was standing at the door, to come over.
“Keep a close eye on Annie while she prepares the bath.”
After even Marie, who had been startled, left, I was free to look around Noevian's room. The drawers weren't locked, and there was nothing there when I opened them.
"Lady?"
Jonah stood there watching me open the door here and there like a thief. As soon as I finished searching the bedroom, there was a knock and Annie's group came with bath water. As I watched the steaming bathwater fill the bathtub in the bathroom, I saw another door connected to the bathroom.
‘If I just open that door...’
“The preparations are complete, Ma’am.”
Soon, Annie, who had brought all sorts of fragrant herbs, flower petals, and perfumes, finally looked up from her bed and looked at me. She seemed to want to help me with my bath. However, I ignored her gaze and motioned to Jonah. As Jonah opened the bedroom door wide as if telling her to leave, Annie bit her lower lip and left. Marie followed her.
Only after the door closed and the sound of footsteps had completely disappeared did I approach Jonah and lower my voice.
“Jonah put the clothes I mentioned earlier on the bed and sit here and make sure no one comes into the bathroom.”
When I pointed for her to sit on Noevian's bed, Jonah hesitated and then scooted her butt over.
“I want to relax and unwind. Please make sure no one disturbs me. If possible, don’t let anyone enter the bedroom.”
“Yes! Don’t worry!”
“If you see the Grand Duke's carriage through the main gate, knock on the bathroom door.”
“Yes, Ma’am!”
Jonah clenched her fists and looked out the window. I went straight into the bathroom and locked the door. As I poured all sorts of fragrant things from the rattan basket into the steamy bathtub, the strong scent of herbs filled the space. I slowly approached the door to the Grand Duchess’s bedroom and took a deep breath. Contrary to my anxiety that it might not open, the door opened with disappointing ease. I crossed over the well-maintained door that made no sound and entered the room that was once mine. The fairly spacious room that had been my whole world until recently was exactly as it was the last time I saw it. It was definitely a place with more furniture and hiding places than Noevian’s room that I had just been in.
As if possessed, I opened the drawer of the bedside table that I had previously robbed. Judging from the fact that there were more things I hadn’t seen before, it seemed like most of the thieves had thrown them out.
'There's no mother's necklace.'
I thought it must have been put back here since it didn't seem to be hanging around Noevian's neck since that day.
'I'll have to check it out first thing when I see Noevian today.'
With that determination, I started searching around.
'There's no mother's necklace.'
I thought it must have been put back here since it didn't seem to be hanging around Noevian's neck since that day.
'I'll have to check it out first thing when I see Noevian today.'
With that determination, I started searching around.
***
At the same time, Rhodnes was at the Capital Guard headquarters. He had barely managed to hold back the urge to ride towards the Grand Duke's residence, worried about Adrienne, who had entered. They had promised to do their best in their respective positions until the work was done. The Capital Guard had been tense since the captain was dismissed, but discipline was still lax, and when they actually met the rumored Second Prince in person, everyone stood at attention, dumbfounded. Rhodnes, who had not even sat down on the luxurious chair prepared for the Prince's visit, looked over the report while standing as soon as he arrived at the headquarters.
“A few guys took turns writing it. The handwriting is a mess.”
Some executives flinched. It was because what they wrote in passing was correct.
“Did you sell the official typewriter too? Your handwriting is also very new.”
They indeed sold it because they didn't have enough budget.
“Vincenzo, I’ll have you check the documents and rewrite them.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
After handing over the crude documents to Vincenzo, Rhodnes slowly walked between them. The capital guards were under pressure from the imperial knights surrounding the headquarters, and whenever Rhodnes passed by, they felt as if someone was squeezing their breathing tubes, and they broke out in a cold sweat.
“We don’t need people who don’t even know they’re dead even though their heads have been cut off.”
It meant that the captain of the guard hadn't come to his senses even after being cut off. The people filling the headquarters office lowered their heads at his blunt words.
“A noblewoman went missing in the heart of the capital, and a month has passed without any progress in the investigation. There’s no telling how many more women have disappeared while you guys were evading taxes.”
Useless bastards. The added words were extremely cold. In the silence where even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard, a middle-aged guard opened his mouth.
“Your Highness, I am sorry to tell you this, but we too have been working day and night. Dozens of people have already collapsed from exhaustion.”
“Then why are the results like this when dozens of people collapsed from overwork?”
“We can’t remove more than a certain number of people from the rich villages, and the investigation is being conducted by a small number of people, mainly in the slums. As for the performance, it is difficult for us to search the carriages of noblemen and noblewomen.”
Starting with his testimony, several guards added their words. Certainly, the areas where many central nobles were gathered had many personnel deployed, but the number of investigations was only a handful. Judging from their reactions, Rhodnes guessed that the investigation had not made any progress because they had only investigated the slums. Rhodnes glanced at their embarrassed faces and strode forward, opening the door leading outside.
“Follow me.”
Since the headquarters was in the center of the capital, they arrived at their destination, the central square, in just a few minutes. The capital guards, who had been silently following along, not understanding what the second Prince was trying to do, watched as Rhodnes snatched the guards' armband and put it on, blocking the huge carriage that was coming from afar.
"Your Highness!"
The carriage that suddenly stopped right in front of Rhodnes was the carriage of the Grand Duchess Trovica.
"Oh my God!"
“Uh, crazy...!”
For them, it was a carriage that they could not stop even if they put up a sign saying that a criminal was on board. Rhodnes opened the carriage door without knocking, with a cold face.
“Let me do some searching.”
“A few guys took turns writing it. The handwriting is a mess.”
Some executives flinched. It was because what they wrote in passing was correct.
“Did you sell the official typewriter too? Your handwriting is also very new.”
They indeed sold it because they didn't have enough budget.
“Vincenzo, I’ll have you check the documents and rewrite them.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
After handing over the crude documents to Vincenzo, Rhodnes slowly walked between them. The capital guards were under pressure from the imperial knights surrounding the headquarters, and whenever Rhodnes passed by, they felt as if someone was squeezing their breathing tubes, and they broke out in a cold sweat.
“We don’t need people who don’t even know they’re dead even though their heads have been cut off.”
It meant that the captain of the guard hadn't come to his senses even after being cut off. The people filling the headquarters office lowered their heads at his blunt words.
“A noblewoman went missing in the heart of the capital, and a month has passed without any progress in the investigation. There’s no telling how many more women have disappeared while you guys were evading taxes.”
Useless bastards. The added words were extremely cold. In the silence where even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard, a middle-aged guard opened his mouth.
“Your Highness, I am sorry to tell you this, but we too have been working day and night. Dozens of people have already collapsed from exhaustion.”
“Then why are the results like this when dozens of people collapsed from overwork?”
“We can’t remove more than a certain number of people from the rich villages, and the investigation is being conducted by a small number of people, mainly in the slums. As for the performance, it is difficult for us to search the carriages of noblemen and noblewomen.”
Starting with his testimony, several guards added their words. Certainly, the areas where many central nobles were gathered had many personnel deployed, but the number of investigations was only a handful. Judging from their reactions, Rhodnes guessed that the investigation had not made any progress because they had only investigated the slums. Rhodnes glanced at their embarrassed faces and strode forward, opening the door leading outside.
“Follow me.”
Since the headquarters was in the center of the capital, they arrived at their destination, the central square, in just a few minutes. The capital guards, who had been silently following along, not understanding what the second Prince was trying to do, watched as Rhodnes snatched the guards' armband and put it on, blocking the huge carriage that was coming from afar.
"Your Highness!"
The carriage that suddenly stopped right in front of Rhodnes was the carriage of the Grand Duchess Trovica.
"Oh my God!"
“Uh, crazy...!”
For them, it was a carriage that they could not stop even if they put up a sign saying that a criminal was on board. Rhodnes opened the carriage door without knocking, with a cold face.
“Let me do some searching.”
***
...The carriage running towards the palace was filled with cold air.
“Checkpoint?”
Noevian, who was looking out the window at the absurd words, saw the bold man who opened the door without warning.
“Ah, Your Highness.”
“What is this?”
“I’m on official duty.”
Someone let out a few short sighs behind Rhodnes, who had climbed into the carriage without hesitation. Noevian nervously closed the carriage door and faced Rhodnes, who was sitting across from him.
“The capital is overflowing with copper energy. I ended up taking on this annoying task.”
“Please get down. This is the way to the palace.”
As soon as Noevian finished speaking, Rhodnes half-rose and kicked the seat where he was sitting, as well as the seat where Noevian was sitting.
“Checkpoint?”
Noevian, who was looking out the window at the absurd words, saw the bold man who opened the door without warning.
“Ah, Your Highness.”
“What is this?”
“I’m on official duty.”
Someone let out a few short sighs behind Rhodnes, who had climbed into the carriage without hesitation. Noevian nervously closed the carriage door and faced Rhodnes, who was sitting across from him.
“The capital is overflowing with copper energy. I ended up taking on this annoying task.”
“Please get down. This is the way to the palace.”
As soon as Noevian finished speaking, Rhodnes half-rose and kicked the seat where he was sitting, as well as the seat where Noevian was sitting.
Boom! Boom!
The sound of the kicks was so loud that it seemed as if the sturdy carriage would be destroyed at any moment.
“There’s nothing?”
The face of Rhodnes, who smiled with his white teeth exposed, was cold and sharp rather than gentle.
“I guess the rumor that the Second Prince is crazy is not just a rumor.”
The expression on Noevian's face as he hummed softly was just as cold.
“Oh, that’s right. I’m a little crazy.”
Rhodnes tapped the sole of his boot with his hand and laughed again. Then he calmly approached Noevian and placed his hand on the wall next to his face.
“Someone keeps coveting what’s mine. Two years ago, too. And now.”
When Noevian saw Rhodnes' eyes up close, they looked like boiling lava.
“...You may have mistaken it for yours.”
When Noevian responded nonchalantly, Rhodnes stepped back more briskly than expected and opened the carriage door.
“You want to believe that. In fact, you are the one who has nothing.”
Bam!
“There is nothing in the carriage of Grand Duchess Trovica, so you may go!”
In an instant, the door closed, and outside, Rhodnes's voice boomed. At the same time, a series of "bang! bang!" kicking sounds were heard, and the seat where Noevian was sitting sank. It was clear that Rhodnes had kicked the carriage wheel from outside to check, and it had fallen over, unable to withstand the force.
“Oh, what should I do?”
In the silent eyes of Noevian, the face of Rhodnes, who did not look embarrassed at all, was reflected in the window frame. Rhodnes left without looking back, not caring about the shock that filled the surroundings. The capital guards, who had been hesitating and loitering nearby, also followed him, trembling with fear of being punished.
“...”
Until the bewildered coachman hurriedly untied one of the horses and brought it to the front of the carriage door, Noevian was staring at the opposite side where Rhodnes had been sitting just a moment ago.
'Someone keeps coveting what's mine. Two years ago, too. And now.'
'You'd like to believe that. In fact, you're the one who has nothing.'
Red veins had appeared on the whites of Noevian’s eyes. His face was pale and hardened, but below that, his neck was red. On the hard, dry ground, Rhodnes’s horse crashed down like lightning and seemed to crack. It was a long time since Noevian got out of the carriage. The coachman, who had been hesitating while leaving the carriage that was not moving in the middle of the road, could only watch from afar the back of Noevian, who had come out with dark, sunken eyes and received the reins from him, riding his horse.
“There’s nothing?”
The face of Rhodnes, who smiled with his white teeth exposed, was cold and sharp rather than gentle.
“I guess the rumor that the Second Prince is crazy is not just a rumor.”
The expression on Noevian's face as he hummed softly was just as cold.
“Oh, that’s right. I’m a little crazy.”
Rhodnes tapped the sole of his boot with his hand and laughed again. Then he calmly approached Noevian and placed his hand on the wall next to his face.
“Someone keeps coveting what’s mine. Two years ago, too. And now.”
When Noevian saw Rhodnes' eyes up close, they looked like boiling lava.
“...You may have mistaken it for yours.”
When Noevian responded nonchalantly, Rhodnes stepped back more briskly than expected and opened the carriage door.
“You want to believe that. In fact, you are the one who has nothing.”
Bam!
“There is nothing in the carriage of Grand Duchess Trovica, so you may go!”
In an instant, the door closed, and outside, Rhodnes's voice boomed. At the same time, a series of "bang! bang!" kicking sounds were heard, and the seat where Noevian was sitting sank. It was clear that Rhodnes had kicked the carriage wheel from outside to check, and it had fallen over, unable to withstand the force.
“Oh, what should I do?”
In the silent eyes of Noevian, the face of Rhodnes, who did not look embarrassed at all, was reflected in the window frame. Rhodnes left without looking back, not caring about the shock that filled the surroundings. The capital guards, who had been hesitating and loitering nearby, also followed him, trembling with fear of being punished.
“...”
Until the bewildered coachman hurriedly untied one of the horses and brought it to the front of the carriage door, Noevian was staring at the opposite side where Rhodnes had been sitting just a moment ago.
'Someone keeps coveting what's mine. Two years ago, too. And now.'
'You'd like to believe that. In fact, you're the one who has nothing.'
Red veins had appeared on the whites of Noevian’s eyes. His face was pale and hardened, but below that, his neck was red. On the hard, dry ground, Rhodnes’s horse crashed down like lightning and seemed to crack. It was a long time since Noevian got out of the carriage. The coachman, who had been hesitating while leaving the carriage that was not moving in the middle of the road, could only watch from afar the back of Noevian, who had come out with dark, sunken eyes and received the reins from him, riding his horse.
***
It didn’t take long for Noevian to return to the mansion drunk. He had come in through the back door, half-lying on his horse, so no one except the gatekeeper knew of his comings and goings. It was just beginning to get dark, so it was much earlier than his usual time to return home.
“Don’t make a fuss.”
As the servants quickly approached the sight of their master staggering, which was rare to see in his life, he bit them all. His head was still boiling as if it was going to burst, and the words of Rhodnes were eating away at his mind like a curse.
'In fact, you are the one who has nothing.'
He knocked on the door of his doctor, Spino, who was in the corner of the first floor, staring into the empty space, and without hesitation, he asked for the medicine he always took. Spino, overwhelmed by the ominous atmosphere, silently handed over the bottle of medicine, but his worried expression did not disappear.
“Don’t drink too much, especially with alcohol.”
Ignoring Spino's advice, Noevian went straight to his office and drank the medicine he had received mixed with alcohol. The medicine was just a normal sleeping pill, but when taken with alcohol, it became a powerful hallucinogen and sometimes gave him fantastic dreams, and every time he did, he dreamed of the day he married Adrienne.
“...”
But today was not the day. Not Adrienne, but only Rhodnes's damned voice rang louder in his head. Holding his head that felt like it was going to burst, and having bitten all the butlers, Gaspard, Noevian moved his legs without knowing where he was going, drunk and drugged. And where he arrived was in front of the bedroom of his dead wife, Adrienne. Noevian stood there for a while leaning his head against the door, shaking his shoulders for a while, and laughing silently. Soon, he searched through his belongings, took out a bunch of keys, opened the bedroom door, and went into the room.
“Don’t make a fuss.”
As the servants quickly approached the sight of their master staggering, which was rare to see in his life, he bit them all. His head was still boiling as if it was going to burst, and the words of Rhodnes were eating away at his mind like a curse.
'In fact, you are the one who has nothing.'
He knocked on the door of his doctor, Spino, who was in the corner of the first floor, staring into the empty space, and without hesitation, he asked for the medicine he always took. Spino, overwhelmed by the ominous atmosphere, silently handed over the bottle of medicine, but his worried expression did not disappear.
“Don’t drink too much, especially with alcohol.”
Ignoring Spino's advice, Noevian went straight to his office and drank the medicine he had received mixed with alcohol. The medicine was just a normal sleeping pill, but when taken with alcohol, it became a powerful hallucinogen and sometimes gave him fantastic dreams, and every time he did, he dreamed of the day he married Adrienne.
“...”
But today was not the day. Not Adrienne, but only Rhodnes's damned voice rang louder in his head. Holding his head that felt like it was going to burst, and having bitten all the butlers, Gaspard, Noevian moved his legs without knowing where he was going, drunk and drugged. And where he arrived was in front of the bedroom of his dead wife, Adrienne. Noevian stood there for a while leaning his head against the door, shaking his shoulders for a while, and laughing silently. Soon, he searched through his belongings, took out a bunch of keys, opened the bedroom door, and went into the room.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment