After seeing the tears, on the face of Adrienne, who would not be able to do anything except that.
How did you get a lot of tears that you can do much better than no one?
Rhodnes knew that his light was from Adrienne, just like a young duck who had been warmly comforted by her.
“Baroness Kuroseda may already be dead.”
“And that’s...”
“It could be the work of Grand Duke Trovika.”
If Neil was silent, Vincenzo would complete his guess. Their voices became quieter and quieter. Even if it was Baroness Lotus, there was a reason for the Grand Duke to touch Baroness Kuroseda. The current Empress Grace Ronta was the youngest of the Empresses and had little influence, so she was personally recommended by the Crown Prince.
“What does that mean?”
Rhodnes asked back, pretending not to know.
“The Grand Duke, the Grand Duke created a rebel army that did not exist to tie your feet to the West... and also planted the forbidden Mana Stone in the West to cause the periodic appearance of monsters...”
“Did that kid say that with his own mouth?”
“No, Countess Acacia said so.”
You've already told my brother.
“So, as long as I can get my brother away from that dangerous person, I don’t care.”
Bardenaldo lowered his head with a miserable expression.
“If what you say is true, Noevian Trovica has already committed an unforgivable sin. Not only did he cause the rebellion that was causing such trouble in the imperial court, but he also summoned a monster. Furthermore, aren’t things related to magic like mana stones forbidden in this country? If you continue to carry it, you will get hurt, brother.”
“Don’t you know how difficult it would have been for me to get to this point if it weren’t for his achievements? How could I let him go with my own hands? Roan, there’s nothing left for me but you and my uncle...”
“Your Highness! Your Highness!!”
As soon as the Crown Prince began to sob in despair, a servant barged in without permission. He was so loud that it was hard not to frown.
“From the East, from the East, a letter has arrived!”
The Crown Prince, with an ominous premonition, jumped up and received the letter. The attendant who rushed in was the one he always entrusted with sorting letters, so if the content was so urgent, it must have been important. The Crown Prince, who was startled as if he had been hit in the back of the head by the word “Eastern,” opened the letter frantically.
[The Eastern Alliance, including Piretta, withdraws all support for Grand Duke Noevian Trovica.]
'Adrienne, just be nice to me.'
That wasn't a joke. Adrienne herself was his personality. If they remained just good friends, he would live his whole life caught up in that damned madness. Always thirsty and hungry. Nights when he couldn't sleep unless he constantly cut down monsters and turned his body into rags. Just as she wanted to end everything with her own hands, he didn't want to be alone without Adrienne anymore. Being alone was boring. He had already tasted a brief happiness in his childhood, so it was impossible to forget. He didn't want to see his older brother, Bardenaldo, the only reason he moved into a world without Adrienne, being manipulated by Noevian anymore. The two he loved the most in this world. To protect both Adrienne and Bardenaldo, Noevian Trovica was no different from a monster that had to be destroyed.
“Your Highness, are you alright?”
When Rhodnes, who seemed to be working hard these days, had a hardened expression on his face, Neil asked worriedly. He was a very anxious Prince. Rhodnes was sitting motionless, staring at the piled-up investigation reports. Rhodnes, who had set up a tent in front of the Grand Duke’s residence a few days ago and ordered the investigation of the servants, received reports on the Grand Duke’s activities whenever he had the chance. Neil thought there was no need to ask why. It must be because of Countess Acacia.
“Your Highness, are you alright?”
When Rhodnes, who seemed to be working hard these days, had a hardened expression on his face, Neil asked worriedly. He was a very anxious Prince. Rhodnes was sitting motionless, staring at the piled-up investigation reports. Rhodnes, who had set up a tent in front of the Grand Duke’s residence a few days ago and ordered the investigation of the servants, received reports on the Grand Duke’s activities whenever he had the chance. Neil thought there was no need to ask why. It must be because of Countess Acacia.
She is truly amazing. No matter how beautiful she is, she only picks out the most difficult men to bring down in Ronta and takes over one by one. Even if the Prince bends his arms inward, she does not look pretty, but when he thinks of her sad smile or affectionate greetings that he sometimes sees, his heart sinks, and Neil’s heart flutters.
Didn’t the two of them meet at an unbelievable time today?
The face of the crying lady was so sorrowful that even a passerby would want to hug her.
'This is why women with many stories are dangerous.'
Neil thought about it and placed the report he had been studying for the past few months on the desk and tapped it. It was something that Vincenzo had pointed out many times, but if he didn't do it, his master would be lost in thought and not even know who was in front of him, so there was nothing he could do about it.
"Your Highness."
“When did you come?”
“I was just standing here like this for about five minutes.”
Rhodnes scanned the report with sharp eyes.
“!”
It seemed to be the report that had been urging the investigation into the relationship between Blie Acacia and Noevian Trovica as if it were a murder case.
“As you can see, it’s extremely clean. However, what we have this time is that the lady’s movements started from the Elacon area. The Trovica estate and Elacon are adjacent, so it seems that they first met there. There is also testimony that a woman with a similar appearance was seen at the border crossing from Elacon to Ronta.”
As Rhodnes listened to Neil's report, he remembered what Adrienne had once said. That when she greeted the Elacon messenger, she could understand the Elacon language. The possibility that Blie might be from Elacon grew even stronger.
“And in the process of tracking north, we found this again.”
This time Neil handed him something he had roughly drawn. It was a cabin in a dense forest of trees.
“There used to be a dungeon beneath this cabin. Wasn’t there another disappearance recently in the capital? The victim of that disappearance, Baroness Lotus, was found locked up in this dungeon and brought in today. Would you like to meet her?”
“The country is in a total mess. Who is the owner of this land?”
“...This is the dead Count Acacia.”
Vincenzo, who was sitting nearby and working quietly, raised his head and looked at them. For a moment, a terrible silence fell. Rhodnes’ eyes shone sharply and coldly, like the color of a monster just before it was killed.
“...It’s the work of Noevian Trovica.”
“Yes? Why are you suddenly talking like that....”
“It must be Noevian Trovica’s doing. Do you understand?”
“!”
Rhodnes jumped up and disappeared towards Baroness Lotus. Neil and Vincenzo ran out at the same time. They had often seen the Prince with those eyes cause trouble.
'This is why women with many stories are dangerous.'
Neil thought about it and placed the report he had been studying for the past few months on the desk and tapped it. It was something that Vincenzo had pointed out many times, but if he didn't do it, his master would be lost in thought and not even know who was in front of him, so there was nothing he could do about it.
"Your Highness."
“When did you come?”
“I was just standing here like this for about five minutes.”
Rhodnes scanned the report with sharp eyes.
“!”
It seemed to be the report that had been urging the investigation into the relationship between Blie Acacia and Noevian Trovica as if it were a murder case.
“As you can see, it’s extremely clean. However, what we have this time is that the lady’s movements started from the Elacon area. The Trovica estate and Elacon are adjacent, so it seems that they first met there. There is also testimony that a woman with a similar appearance was seen at the border crossing from Elacon to Ronta.”
As Rhodnes listened to Neil's report, he remembered what Adrienne had once said. That when she greeted the Elacon messenger, she could understand the Elacon language. The possibility that Blie might be from Elacon grew even stronger.
“And in the process of tracking north, we found this again.”
This time Neil handed him something he had roughly drawn. It was a cabin in a dense forest of trees.
“There used to be a dungeon beneath this cabin. Wasn’t there another disappearance recently in the capital? The victim of that disappearance, Baroness Lotus, was found locked up in this dungeon and brought in today. Would you like to meet her?”
“The country is in a total mess. Who is the owner of this land?”
“...This is the dead Count Acacia.”
Vincenzo, who was sitting nearby and working quietly, raised his head and looked at them. For a moment, a terrible silence fell. Rhodnes’ eyes shone sharply and coldly, like the color of a monster just before it was killed.
“...It’s the work of Noevian Trovica.”
“Yes? Why are you suddenly talking like that....”
“It must be Noevian Trovica’s doing. Do you understand?”
“!”
Rhodnes jumped up and disappeared towards Baroness Lotus. Neil and Vincenzo ran out at the same time. They had often seen the Prince with those eyes cause trouble.
***
What Baroness Lotus said was truly astonishing. She said that her captors kept mentioning the 'Grand Duke' and that she had to report to him or not. The Baroness said that they treated her like she was going to die soon, and that was why they were talking so well in front of her. Vincenzo also seemed to sense something ominous, and he and Neil locked eyes.
"Perhaps..."
"Perhaps..."
“Baroness Kuroseda may already be dead.”
“And that’s...”
“It could be the work of Grand Duke Trovika.”
If Neil was silent, Vincenzo would complete his guess. Their voices became quieter and quieter. Even if it was Baroness Lotus, there was a reason for the Grand Duke to touch Baroness Kuroseda. The current Empress Grace Ronta was the youngest of the Empresses and had little influence, so she was personally recommended by the Crown Prince.
Noevian’s influence was always present in the Crown Prince’s affairs, so it was only natural that Grace’s elevation to Empress was also Noevian’s intention. However, the Emperor favored Baroness Kuroseda, who resembled the late Empress Letina, over the young Empress who had even given birth to a child by her. Since the current Empress, who could do whatever she wanted, had become useless, it was only natural that the Emperor’s government would be a thorn in his side.
“You said it was Noevian Trovica.”
As the dry voice echoed through the office, they jumped up and saluted. It was Rhodnes, who had just finished talking to Lady Lotus and had changed into his uniform. Contrary to their worries, Rhodnes met Baroness Lotus quite calmly. That made them even more anxious.
“Then what should we do now, Your Highness?”
“What should we do?”
Rhodnes, who had been laughing sharply, slowly blinked his slightly bloodshot eyes.
“I have to tell my brother.”
“Shouldn’t you inform His Majesty the Emperor first?”
“Even if I tell His Majesty, it might be a waste if he steps forward and stops me.”
Rhodnes glared at the empty space and gritted his teeth. It was not pleasant to see the central figure of the Crown Prince's faction being kicked out like this, but to Bardenaldo, Noevian was a poison that had to be eliminated someday. Noevian, who had abandoned Adrienne and mercilessly killed his own vassal, could possibly harm someone with some scheme.
“I have no choice but to let my brother choose.”
Rhodnes softly murmured, stroking the heavy sword grip at his side. Depending on Bardenaldo’s choice, he could make two choices. If Bardenaldo abandoned Noevian Trovica, he would watch over her as she pushed Noevian off the cliff as quickly as Adrienne wanted. On the other hand, if Bardenaldo could not abandon Noevian until the end...
'There is no choice but to kill him and make him disappear.'
The eyes of Rhodnes, who had seized the opportunity, were shining more ominously than when someone had cried out for a warlord.
“You said it was Noevian Trovica.”
As the dry voice echoed through the office, they jumped up and saluted. It was Rhodnes, who had just finished talking to Lady Lotus and had changed into his uniform. Contrary to their worries, Rhodnes met Baroness Lotus quite calmly. That made them even more anxious.
“Then what should we do now, Your Highness?”
“What should we do?”
Rhodnes, who had been laughing sharply, slowly blinked his slightly bloodshot eyes.
“I have to tell my brother.”
“Shouldn’t you inform His Majesty the Emperor first?”
“Even if I tell His Majesty, it might be a waste if he steps forward and stops me.”
Rhodnes glared at the empty space and gritted his teeth. It was not pleasant to see the central figure of the Crown Prince's faction being kicked out like this, but to Bardenaldo, Noevian was a poison that had to be eliminated someday. Noevian, who had abandoned Adrienne and mercilessly killed his own vassal, could possibly harm someone with some scheme.
“I have no choice but to let my brother choose.”
Rhodnes softly murmured, stroking the heavy sword grip at his side. Depending on Bardenaldo’s choice, he could make two choices. If Bardenaldo abandoned Noevian Trovica, he would watch over her as she pushed Noevian off the cliff as quickly as Adrienne wanted. On the other hand, if Bardenaldo could not abandon Noevian until the end...
'There is no choice but to kill him and make him disappear.'
The eyes of Rhodnes, who had seized the opportunity, were shining more ominously than when someone had cried out for a warlord.
***
Rhodnes had already felt that his brother had reached his limit. Bardenaldo, who welcomed him, could not even offer him a cup of tea, which he usually enjoyed, and could only sigh. As soon as Bardenaldo saw Rhodnes, his expression, which had been pretending to be calm, collapsed and he sat in front of him with his head bowed like a criminal.
“Roan. How should I bring this up...”
“I have something to say first.”
Bardenaldo, who had been hesitating, nodded slowly. Looking at Bardenaldo, whose eyes were filled with inexplicable fear, Rhodnes handed over the report he had prepared. Bardenaldo read the report very slowly. Bardenaldo, who had been reading the short content over and over again, wiped his face with his hand.
“Roan.”
“Brother, Noevian Trovica is dangerous.”
"...Roan.”
Bardenaldo called his name almost sobbing.
“Yesterday, I heard a shocking report.”
“...What is it?”
The Crown Prince was silent for a long time. Rhodnes waited patiently until he opened his trembling lips.
“I heard that in fact... there are no rebels in this country.”
“Roan. How should I bring this up...”
“I have something to say first.”
Bardenaldo, who had been hesitating, nodded slowly. Looking at Bardenaldo, whose eyes were filled with inexplicable fear, Rhodnes handed over the report he had prepared. Bardenaldo read the report very slowly. Bardenaldo, who had been reading the short content over and over again, wiped his face with his hand.
“Roan.”
“Brother, Noevian Trovica is dangerous.”
"...Roan.”
Bardenaldo called his name almost sobbing.
“Yesterday, I heard a shocking report.”
“...What is it?”
The Crown Prince was silent for a long time. Rhodnes waited patiently until he opened his trembling lips.
“I heard that in fact... there are no rebels in this country.”
“What does that mean?”
Rhodnes asked back, pretending not to know.
“The Grand Duke, the Grand Duke created a rebel army that did not exist to tie your feet to the West... and also planted the forbidden Mana Stone in the West to cause the periodic appearance of monsters...”
“Did that kid say that with his own mouth?”
“No, Countess Acacia said so.”
You've already told my brother.
Rhodnes's nerves were on edge, worried that he might get in trouble with Adrienne, but he managed to keep his wits about him. No matter how many years he'd been on the battlefield, now was not the time to be thinking about such things.
“What are you going to do?”
Rather, he would have liked it if his brother could let go of the Noevian Trovica because he was rolling around so meaninglessly. Bardenaldo's face looked very sad as he watched Rhodnes, who was neither surprised nor angry, as expected. It was a similar reaction to Adrienne.
“How can you be so calm, Roan. I couldn’t even sleep because I couldn’t believe that my uncle, whom I trusted so much, did this to you...!”
“What are you going to do?”
Rather, he would have liked it if his brother could let go of the Noevian Trovica because he was rolling around so meaninglessly. Bardenaldo's face looked very sad as he watched Rhodnes, who was neither surprised nor angry, as expected. It was a similar reaction to Adrienne.
“How can you be so calm, Roan. I couldn’t even sleep because I couldn’t believe that my uncle, whom I trusted so much, did this to you...!”
“So, as long as I can get my brother away from that dangerous person, I don’t care.”
Bardenaldo lowered his head with a miserable expression.
“If what you say is true, Noevian Trovica has already committed an unforgivable sin. Not only did he cause the rebellion that was causing such trouble in the imperial court, but he also summoned a monster. Furthermore, aren’t things related to magic like mana stones forbidden in this country? If you continue to carry it, you will get hurt, brother.”
“Don’t you know how difficult it would have been for me to get to this point if it weren’t for his achievements? How could I let him go with my own hands? Roan, there’s nothing left for me but you and my uncle...”
“Your Highness! Your Highness!!”
As soon as the Crown Prince began to sob in despair, a servant barged in without permission. He was so loud that it was hard not to frown.
“From the East, from the East, a letter has arrived!”
The Crown Prince, with an ominous premonition, jumped up and received the letter. The attendant who rushed in was the one he always entrusted with sorting letters, so if the content was so urgent, it must have been important. The Crown Prince, who was startled as if he had been hit in the back of the head by the word “Eastern,” opened the letter frantically.
[The Eastern Alliance, including Piretta, withdraws all support for Grand Duke Noevian Trovica.]
It was an unbelievable announcement.
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