Noevian began to drink regularly. No, perhaps he had been drinking like that since I died. The boxes of high-quality liquor among the groceries delivered to the servants every morning seemed familiar, and the grumblings of his doctor, Spino, did not seem all that new.
“His Highness the Grand Duke’s complexion doesn’t look very good. Are you doing your job properly?”
When I suddenly went to Spino's room, I immediately started blaming him. The Spino I knew was a very honest and smart person. That's why I guess he's still blushing and trying to find the words to say in protest.
“That’s true. If things had been done properly, Her Highness the Grand Duchess would have lived longer.”
“!”
Spino looked at my smiling face as if he were looking at Adrienne's corpse. It was understandable. He was the one who knew the face of the dead Grand Duchess as well as Annie in this mansion, and he was the one who saw me dying most closely.
“His Highness keeps taking some kind of medicine with his alcohol. Do you know what it is?”
“W-Do you drink it with alcohol? I clearly told him not to..."
“So you know what kind of medicine it is?”
“I know, but I can’t say it so carelessly. As the family doctor, I can’t carelessly reveal the state of my lord’s health.”
“To me, his future wife?”
Spino's eyes shook violently. I slowly approached him.
“I have to take care of the health of my future husband. You have to help me.”
“Ugh, I respect you, Madam. But since you haven’t been officially registered in Trovika yet, of course...”
“If you were going to be so loyal, why didn’t you spare Her Highness the Grand Duchess? Ah-.”
I clapped my hands as if I had just remembered something. When Spino, who was startled, turned his attention to me, the corners of his mouth went up.
“Perhaps you may have played a role in bringing about the death of Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess.”
"...Yes?"
I saw clearly. The color drained from Spino's face in an instant.
“...I know more than you think. In some ways, I might be here because of you.”
“What, what, what are you talking about, Ma’am! It’s nonsense.”
“So tell me. What medicine does His Highness take?”
“Never...”
“Before Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess of Trovica was suspected of having died from poisoning rather than illness.”
Spino sank to his feet. He was literally shaking. Judging from the cold sweat dripping down his wrinkled forehead and his sunken, unattractive cheeks, it seemed that he was the one in more pain than Noevian.
“I, truly did my best. I have no shame at all! The medicine of His Highness the Grand Duke is just an ordinary sleeping pill! I put everything I had on the line... I have not done anything shameful as a doctor! However...”
"...However?"
“It is a very strong sleeping pill, and when taken with alcohol, it causes strong hallucinations. If the Grand Duke continues to take the drug for the hallucinations rather than for a good night’s sleep, then it should be stopped. So, please, Madam, help me.”
“This is a very serious problem. If he goes to work in that condition, he won’t be able to make sound judgments.”
Spino nodded very vigorously. For a moment, a sense of anxiety flashed across his face at having revealed information about his master's health to an outsider, but he seemed relieved and sympathized with what I said.
“This is a really serious problem.”
Until I saw him grin and show his teeth as he spoke.
“Thank you. I’ll put my doubts about you aside for a moment.”
For a face that resembled that of a man who had heard words of gratitude, he seemed to be gripped by yet another anxiety.
“Madam! Madam! We’re in trouble!”
“What's going on?”
As I was gathering my keys to check Noevian's office, Jonah came looking for me in a hurry.
“The 2nd Imperial Knights and the Capital Guard are standing in opposition to the private soldiers at the main gate to investigate the Grand Duke’s residence!”
“At this time?”
It was a great insult to barge into a nobleman's mansion so late at night without permission unless it was a crime bordering on treason.
“It’s because of the disappearance of Baroness Kuroseda!”
“Even so, you’re saying that they visited the Grand Duke’s residence without permission?”
“Yes! Even the butler ran out and now there’s chaos!”
"...I guess I’ll have to go out for a bit. Could you wait on the first floor with my coat?”
"Yes!"
It was a good moment. I could enter Noevian's office while the employees' attention was focused on the main entrance. As I was looking in the mirror to fix my clothes one last time, I saw the window reflected in the mirror shaking with a thud! thud! sound. I went over and opened the window, and saw Rhodnes below.
“Adrienne.”
I looked around in surprise and opened the window wide, and Rhodnes climbed up the wall and entered the window.
"Hi."
“How do you know this bedroom?”
“Your maid told me. Why, a child this small.”
Rhodnes smiled faintly, spreading out his hand on my forehead. Ah, only then did I recall Jonah's slightly flushed face when she said, 'The Second Imperial Knights'.
“Jonah wouldn’t have thought you would come to him like this. No, he wouldn’t have.”
I was so surprised that I forgot to be polite to each other, so I quickly corrected myself, and Rhodnes made a slightly grumpy expression.
“I heard there was a fight at the main gate. Is it okay for you to come here like this?”
“Oh, that was done on purpose to make the security here lax. It must be really hard for Neil to keep arguing with me like he never did.”
“I’m sure Sir Neil will be very good at carrying out orders, having already been trained through arguments with His Highness.”
I brushed away my surprised heart and answered at his calm words that surprised people.
“Why did you come here so suddenly and without notice? If the Grand Duke was in the mansion...”
Rhodnes, who had brushed back his slightly disheveled hair, stared at me for a moment before opening his mouth.
“...Because I miss you.”
“His Highness the Grand Duke’s complexion doesn’t look very good. Are you doing your job properly?”
When I suddenly went to Spino's room, I immediately started blaming him. The Spino I knew was a very honest and smart person. That's why I guess he's still blushing and trying to find the words to say in protest.
“That’s true. If things had been done properly, Her Highness the Grand Duchess would have lived longer.”
“!”
Spino looked at my smiling face as if he were looking at Adrienne's corpse. It was understandable. He was the one who knew the face of the dead Grand Duchess as well as Annie in this mansion, and he was the one who saw me dying most closely.
“His Highness keeps taking some kind of medicine with his alcohol. Do you know what it is?”
“W-Do you drink it with alcohol? I clearly told him not to..."
“So you know what kind of medicine it is?”
“I know, but I can’t say it so carelessly. As the family doctor, I can’t carelessly reveal the state of my lord’s health.”
“To me, his future wife?”
Spino's eyes shook violently. I slowly approached him.
“I have to take care of the health of my future husband. You have to help me.”
“Ugh, I respect you, Madam. But since you haven’t been officially registered in Trovika yet, of course...”
“If you were going to be so loyal, why didn’t you spare Her Highness the Grand Duchess? Ah-.”
I clapped my hands as if I had just remembered something. When Spino, who was startled, turned his attention to me, the corners of his mouth went up.
“Perhaps you may have played a role in bringing about the death of Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess.”
"...Yes?"
I saw clearly. The color drained from Spino's face in an instant.
“...I know more than you think. In some ways, I might be here because of you.”
“What, what, what are you talking about, Ma’am! It’s nonsense.”
“So tell me. What medicine does His Highness take?”
“Never...”
“Before Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess of Trovica was suspected of having died from poisoning rather than illness.”
Spino sank to his feet. He was literally shaking. Judging from the cold sweat dripping down his wrinkled forehead and his sunken, unattractive cheeks, it seemed that he was the one in more pain than Noevian.
“I, truly did my best. I have no shame at all! The medicine of His Highness the Grand Duke is just an ordinary sleeping pill! I put everything I had on the line... I have not done anything shameful as a doctor! However...”
"...However?"
“It is a very strong sleeping pill, and when taken with alcohol, it causes strong hallucinations. If the Grand Duke continues to take the drug for the hallucinations rather than for a good night’s sleep, then it should be stopped. So, please, Madam, help me.”
“This is a very serious problem. If he goes to work in that condition, he won’t be able to make sound judgments.”
Spino nodded very vigorously. For a moment, a sense of anxiety flashed across his face at having revealed information about his master's health to an outsider, but he seemed relieved and sympathized with what I said.
“This is a really serious problem.”
Until I saw him grin and show his teeth as he spoke.
“Thank you. I’ll put my doubts about you aside for a moment.”
For a face that resembled that of a man who had heard words of gratitude, he seemed to be gripped by yet another anxiety.
***
Noevian had been very busy these past few days. The occasional letter from Madame Leblaix or Irene contained news that Noevian was under great pressure from his vassals. They were interested in stories of love between men and women, and they usually added reassuring words to my letters.
'The Grand Duke is stronger than you think, so don't worry and follow his orders.'
I looked up at the clock as I burned the letters in the fireplace. Today was the day that Noevian said he would come home late, but I checked the time out of habit. He had gone to the Grand Duchess's bedroom at exactly that time, as he thought he had met 'Adrienne' a few days ago.
Since that day, Noevian, who had turned the whole house upside down claiming that he had lost his keychain, had carried an emergency keychain with him. I took only the key to the Grand Duchess's bedroom from the keychain I had stolen from him, and from that day on, I went to that bedroom every time. The reason was simple. I wanted to hear a confession from the half-crazy Noevian. The damned 'truth' that Blie Acacia wanted to reveal, and the truth that I wanted to know, were things that could be solved in an instant if only Noevian Trovica, the owner of this mansion and the culprit behind everything, opened his mouth.
Whenever he came home drunk and drugged, I would head to the Grand Duchess's bedroom without fail and whisper.
'Living a new life with Blie Acacia.'
'Forget about me you couldn't have for a moment, and find a new love and your happiness.'
Every time that happened, when he, who had been in pain and crying, showed a relieved expression as if all his sins had been forgiven, my insides would mercilessly twist. Because he, who had no answers to important questions like why he had betrayed me and who Blie was, responded to those words. However, every time that happened, when he was conscious, his attitude toward me gradually softened.
“Madame, Madame Leblaix and Viscountess Giuseppe are here.”
“Viscountess of Giuseppe?”
"Yes."
I pushed the already ash-turned letters deeper into the fireplace and shook my hands. When I followed Marie down to the first floor, Madame and Noura were there. Madame looked at me with moved eyes as I came down from the second floor, the landlady’s area, and Noura looked around the Grand Duke’s residence absentmindedly, and when our eyes met, she quickly dodged.
“Your face has brightened up, ma’am. It’s shining!”
“Madam, too.”
“I’m telling you, really? My hands are itching to get started on the design.”
Noura only gave a formal greeting and watched Madame and I discuss what kind of dress we should wear for the final season of a debutante. Madame sat down and sketched as if she was proud, and began to appeal how much jewels would be good to use, and I agreed. Noura’s eyes, which had been noticeably sparkling, hardened considerably when Madame left the mansion first, promising to meet again.
“...What should I do?”
The usual irritated expression had noticeably softened. I wasn’t just waiting for Noura.
'Living a new life with Blie Acacia.'
'Forget about me you couldn't have for a moment, and find a new love and your happiness.'
Every time that happened, when he, who had been in pain and crying, showed a relieved expression as if all his sins had been forgiven, my insides would mercilessly twist. Because he, who had no answers to important questions like why he had betrayed me and who Blie was, responded to those words. However, every time that happened, when he was conscious, his attitude toward me gradually softened.
“Madame, Madame Leblaix and Viscountess Giuseppe are here.”
“Viscountess of Giuseppe?”
"Yes."
I pushed the already ash-turned letters deeper into the fireplace and shook my hands. When I followed Marie down to the first floor, Madame and Noura were there. Madame looked at me with moved eyes as I came down from the second floor, the landlady’s area, and Noura looked around the Grand Duke’s residence absentmindedly, and when our eyes met, she quickly dodged.
“Your face has brightened up, ma’am. It’s shining!”
“Madam, too.”
“I’m telling you, really? My hands are itching to get started on the design.”
Noura only gave a formal greeting and watched Madame and I discuss what kind of dress we should wear for the final season of a debutante. Madame sat down and sketched as if she was proud, and began to appeal how much jewels would be good to use, and I agreed. Noura’s eyes, which had been noticeably sparkling, hardened considerably when Madame left the mansion first, promising to meet again.
“...What should I do?”
The usual irritated expression had noticeably softened. I wasn’t just waiting for Noura.
According to Madame, Noura had started a jewelry shop to pay for the enormous medical expenses of her husband, Viscount Giuseppe. The reason she stayed by her side despite the Crown Princess’s disdain was because the jewelry shop was popular thanks to the noble ladies who would buy expensive jewelry like her. However, Doris followed me and didn’t even bother to do the things Noura had secretly recommended. Therefore, Noura needed to please me to maintain her family line and pay for her husband’s medical expenses.
I studied her for a moment and then answered.
“Tell me everything you know. Everything you know about her. Everything you know about Her Highness the Crown Princess. Anything.”
Noura, who had been trembling and holding onto her skirt, soon regained her composure and told me various things. Recently, the Duke of Castagna urged the Crown Prince to choose between himself and Noevian, and the intensity was much stronger than before, so Doris was intoxicated with victory. The Crown Prince visited the Crown Princess’s palace more often than before.
“In my judgment, honestly, the foundation of His Highness the Grand Duke lies in the Imperial Family. The Duke of Castagna is a great nobleman who controls the entire West, so no matter how capable the Grand Duke is, for His Highness the Crown Prince to ascend to the throne as Emperor without any obstacles in the future, the Duke of Castagna’s cooperation is absolutely necessary.”
“...It sounds like His Highness the Crown Prince should at least pretend to give up His Highness the Grand Duke so that there won’t be any problems when he becomes the Emperor in the future.”
Noura opened her eyes wide as if she was surprised to hear such insightful words from my mouth, but then she looked at me and continued to speak, stammering as if she thought I was asking these things for the Grand Duke.
“Even so, His Highness the Crown Prince would not be able to abandon His Highness the Grand Duke, whom He has relied on for a long time, so easily.”
Yes, that was the problem. However, when I think about what Noura said, I can't help but think that this was a heaven-sent opportunity. If the Crown Prince can't let go of Noevian because of personal feelings, then why not give him a reason to let go of Noevian?
'What if the Crown Prince, who said he would do anything for this country, finds out Noevian's dirty secret?'
It was the moment when I entered Noevian's office, waiting for an opportunity, and took the opportunity to strike him out.
“Tell me everything you know. Everything you know about her. Everything you know about Her Highness the Crown Princess. Anything.”
Noura, who had been trembling and holding onto her skirt, soon regained her composure and told me various things. Recently, the Duke of Castagna urged the Crown Prince to choose between himself and Noevian, and the intensity was much stronger than before, so Doris was intoxicated with victory. The Crown Prince visited the Crown Princess’s palace more often than before.
“In my judgment, honestly, the foundation of His Highness the Grand Duke lies in the Imperial Family. The Duke of Castagna is a great nobleman who controls the entire West, so no matter how capable the Grand Duke is, for His Highness the Crown Prince to ascend to the throne as Emperor without any obstacles in the future, the Duke of Castagna’s cooperation is absolutely necessary.”
“...It sounds like His Highness the Crown Prince should at least pretend to give up His Highness the Grand Duke so that there won’t be any problems when he becomes the Emperor in the future.”
Noura opened her eyes wide as if she was surprised to hear such insightful words from my mouth, but then she looked at me and continued to speak, stammering as if she thought I was asking these things for the Grand Duke.
“Even so, His Highness the Crown Prince would not be able to abandon His Highness the Grand Duke, whom He has relied on for a long time, so easily.”
Yes, that was the problem. However, when I think about what Noura said, I can't help but think that this was a heaven-sent opportunity. If the Crown Prince can't let go of Noevian because of personal feelings, then why not give him a reason to let go of Noevian?
'What if the Crown Prince, who said he would do anything for this country, finds out Noevian's dirty secret?'
It was the moment when I entered Noevian's office, waiting for an opportunity, and took the opportunity to strike him out.
***
“Madam! Madam! We’re in trouble!”
“What's going on?”
As I was gathering my keys to check Noevian's office, Jonah came looking for me in a hurry.
“The 2nd Imperial Knights and the Capital Guard are standing in opposition to the private soldiers at the main gate to investigate the Grand Duke’s residence!”
“At this time?”
It was a great insult to barge into a nobleman's mansion so late at night without permission unless it was a crime bordering on treason.
“It’s because of the disappearance of Baroness Kuroseda!”
“Even so, you’re saying that they visited the Grand Duke’s residence without permission?”
“Yes! Even the butler ran out and now there’s chaos!”
"...I guess I’ll have to go out for a bit. Could you wait on the first floor with my coat?”
"Yes!"
It was a good moment. I could enter Noevian's office while the employees' attention was focused on the main entrance. As I was looking in the mirror to fix my clothes one last time, I saw the window reflected in the mirror shaking with a thud! thud! sound. I went over and opened the window, and saw Rhodnes below.
“Adrienne.”
I looked around in surprise and opened the window wide, and Rhodnes climbed up the wall and entered the window.
"Hi."
“How do you know this bedroom?”
“Your maid told me. Why, a child this small.”
Rhodnes smiled faintly, spreading out his hand on my forehead. Ah, only then did I recall Jonah's slightly flushed face when she said, 'The Second Imperial Knights'.
“Jonah wouldn’t have thought you would come to him like this. No, he wouldn’t have.”
I was so surprised that I forgot to be polite to each other, so I quickly corrected myself, and Rhodnes made a slightly grumpy expression.
“I heard there was a fight at the main gate. Is it okay for you to come here like this?”
“Oh, that was done on purpose to make the security here lax. It must be really hard for Neil to keep arguing with me like he never did.”
“I’m sure Sir Neil will be very good at carrying out orders, having already been trained through arguments with His Highness.”
I brushed away my surprised heart and answered at his calm words that surprised people.
“Why did you come here so suddenly and without notice? If the Grand Duke was in the mansion...”
Rhodnes, who had brushed back his slightly disheveled hair, stared at me for a moment before opening his mouth.
“...Because I miss you.”
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