When I thought about the two years I had spent with Noevian, I couldn't even dare to make excuses.
“I forgot for a moment that it was you who created this crazy guy into a human being.”
I twisted my body to let go of the shoulder that was being held in pity and to hug him, but instead, Rhodnes held my shoulder even tighter.
“Just look at me today, just for today. I won’t say it again. I will... be that true friend you can rely on, just for today...”
Come to think of it, Rhodnes had been drinking much more than I did. I could smell the alcohol. I wanted to tell him that I depended on him enough.
"I..."
As soon as I opened my mouth to speak to him, who was breathing heavily, Neil, who had been standing far away, called out to us. It seemed like he had been waiting for the right moment to intervene and finally managed to do so.
“Your Highness, I am sorry, but His Highness the Crown Prince keeps looking for you. I think you should go back immediately.”
Rhodnes lifted his head and straightened his body, squeezing my shoulder once more. His neck was still flushed and his eyes looked slightly bloodshot, but he forced the corners of his mouth to turn up.
“Neil, bring Countess Acacia home.”
Today was just like a wedding ceremony where I wanted to be alone.
“Do you have anything to say to me?”
Still, if he may ask, he would like to ask.
“Adrienne...”
At that moment, the footsteps of the person who had been strangely irritating him since earlier came closer. As soon as Bardenaldo recognized the sound, the office door opened without warning. The brothers’ eyebrows narrowed at the same time. Vincenzo came noisily into the office like uncorked wine pouring out.
“Your Highness! Your Highness, we are in trouble!”
“What rudeness? Without even reporting it.”
Before he could muster up the courage to speak, Rhodnes glared at him, shaking his head as he took another drink.
“Ah, Countess Acacia is on her way home..."
Rhodnes jumped up.
“She's been kidnapped!”
The wine glass Rhodnes was holding shattered on the marble floor.
As Marge summoned all her courage and let out a low cry, someone walked out from between the men in the dark warehouse relying on moonlight.
“Oh my God... Oh my God, oh my God...!”
“How did you?!”
Short in stature, walking with a cane and a weak gait, Marge and Jonah let out low sighs one after another in this place filled with an ominous atmosphere.
“Well... you should have been more assertive.”
Under the thin beam of light streaming in from the small window, the figure’s identity was completely revealed. An aged and wrinkled face. Between the drooping eyelids, the black eyes sparkled like fake jewels.
Even with a gag in my mouth, my whole body tied up, and tears streaming down my face...
'No matter how hard I searched, there was not a single clue. Doris' eyes and ears in the Grand Duchess's residence.'
My eyes would have been filled with joy, not fear, and I would have been laughing my ass off.
“I forgot for a moment that it was you who created this crazy guy into a human being.”
I twisted my body to let go of the shoulder that was being held in pity and to hug him, but instead, Rhodnes held my shoulder even tighter.
“Just look at me today, just for today. I won’t say it again. I will... be that true friend you can rely on, just for today...”
Come to think of it, Rhodnes had been drinking much more than I did. I could smell the alcohol. I wanted to tell him that I depended on him enough.
"I..."
As soon as I opened my mouth to speak to him, who was breathing heavily, Neil, who had been standing far away, called out to us. It seemed like he had been waiting for the right moment to intervene and finally managed to do so.
“Your Highness, I am sorry, but His Highness the Crown Prince keeps looking for you. I think you should go back immediately.”
Rhodnes lifted his head and straightened his body, squeezing my shoulder once more. His neck was still flushed and his eyes looked slightly bloodshot, but he forced the corners of his mouth to turn up.
“Neil, bring Countess Acacia home.”
Today was just like a wedding ceremony where I wanted to be alone.
***
Adrienne disappeared with Neil with a pitiful expression on her face. Rhodnes immediately banged his head against the pillar of the corridor.
“That crazy guy.”
Just do one thing. Just one thing. If you want to stay by her side even as a friend, and you are so desperate that you are on your knees begging, then no matter what shr do in front of you, just endure it. If you don't want to be her friend, then no matter what Adrienne thinks, just stick by her side and never leave her. Kill all the guys who come near her...
"Ha."
No one can love someone who died for no reason. Even though he knew it in his head, he couldn’t stand it and ended up exploding, burdening them.
“That crazy guy.”
Just do one thing. Just one thing. If you want to stay by her side even as a friend, and you are so desperate that you are on your knees begging, then no matter what shr do in front of you, just endure it. If you don't want to be her friend, then no matter what Adrienne thinks, just stick by her side and never leave her. Kill all the guys who come near her...
"Ha."
No one can love someone who died for no reason. Even though he knew it in his head, he couldn’t stand it and ended up exploding, burdening them.
Crazy guy. A crazy guy.
Rhodnes, who had been banging his head against the pillar until his blood was about to burst, sighed, realizing that he was a little drunk. He regretted it all the way to the Crown Prince’s palace. Even if Adrienne’s plan went wrong, he had to prove to himself that he wouldn’t be affected at all.
After all, he had been proving himself until now. Like using the madness that came out of nowhere to save people. Like showing off his achievements as if he was proud of the rumor that the red eyes would lead the country to ruin. He was so crazy that he didn’t waver even when the world thought that even his brother would try to beat him.
Didn’t he notice Bardenaldo’s expression, who always got sullen when he was worse than Rhodnes, and act accordingly?
On the contrary, Rhodnes wanted to keep Bardenaldo's promise to inherit the throne that was not crooked or unbecoming of his nature, to protect his younger brother, and to honor his mother. Proving that Bardenaldo was innocent, and thus being able to imagine a future with Adrienne without any qualms, was what he most desired at the moment.
“You’re here. Where have you been, only showing up at the party?”
As he entered the open office door without saying a word, Bardenaldo greeted him.
“It doesn’t matter since I’m not the star of the party.”
“Oh, right. I guess I was out too long without realizing it.”
Bardenaldo smiled weakly and answered in a tired voice. Rhodnes silently stared at Bardenaldo’s flawless white hands as he offered him a drink and offered him a seat.
“Why are you drinking? You don’t even drink well.”
“There are nights when you can’t sleep without alcohol.”
Bardenaldo's hair was slightly wet as if he had just taken a bath.
“Today is the annexation day.”
“You’re here. Where have you been, only showing up at the party?”
As he entered the open office door without saying a word, Bardenaldo greeted him.
“It doesn’t matter since I’m not the star of the party.”
“Oh, right. I guess I was out too long without realizing it.”
Bardenaldo smiled weakly and answered in a tired voice. Rhodnes silently stared at Bardenaldo’s flawless white hands as he offered him a drink and offered him a seat.
“Why are you drinking? You don’t even drink well.”
“There are nights when you can’t sleep without alcohol.”
Bardenaldo's hair was slightly wet as if he had just taken a bath.
“Today is the annexation day.”
If Bardenaldo had been a stallion, he would have laughed so weakly that he would have been abandoned right away. Rhodnes felt a pain in his heart for a moment. Bardenaldo was the one who had separated Adrienne from him, but he couldn't hate him all the time. However, he couldn't be soft on Bardenaldo any longer.
“What are you thinking?”
This was because he now had one more person to protect and be by his side, in addition to his mother, Empress Letina, and his older brother, Bardenaldo. Bardenaldo poured him a drink and emptied his glass in one go.
“I love Ephero more than any other brother. Isn’t he a precious member of the royal family?”
The reason why Ephero is third in line to the throne even though he is the 9th Prince is because the six Prince born to Empress Grace before him all died at a young age.
“People even thought that Ephero and I looked like blood brothers.”
Well, Ephero had blazing red hair and deep blue eyes. Rhodnes smiled bitterly.
“But as the Crown Prince, I can’t help but keep that child in check. Mother’s wish was for me to succeed to the throne, and to protect that, I need to keep at least a minimal amount of checks and balances.”
Bardenaldo's voice was soft and refreshing like cherry blossoms fluttering in the wind on a spring day, but at the same time, it was firm.
“Honestly, it also helps me that the Countess of Acacia doesn’t have a very good reputation.”
Even under Rhodnes' gaze, he did not stop talking.
“Friend, right? I always feel sorry for you. But I also want that lady to act as a watchdog while Ephero stays, and prevents other forces from approaching.”
"Older brother."
"Yes."
Even if Bardenaldo's expression as he answered affectionately hadn't looked particularly tired, and even if he hadn't been on his way to an unwanted annexation, Rhodnes would have wanted to shout and ask.
'Why did it have to be Adrienne?'
I don't think my brother was involved in Adrienne's death. Please, I hope my brother is innocent.
“What are you thinking?”
This was because he now had one more person to protect and be by his side, in addition to his mother, Empress Letina, and his older brother, Bardenaldo. Bardenaldo poured him a drink and emptied his glass in one go.
“I love Ephero more than any other brother. Isn’t he a precious member of the royal family?”
The reason why Ephero is third in line to the throne even though he is the 9th Prince is because the six Prince born to Empress Grace before him all died at a young age.
“People even thought that Ephero and I looked like blood brothers.”
Well, Ephero had blazing red hair and deep blue eyes. Rhodnes smiled bitterly.
“But as the Crown Prince, I can’t help but keep that child in check. Mother’s wish was for me to succeed to the throne, and to protect that, I need to keep at least a minimal amount of checks and balances.”
Bardenaldo's voice was soft and refreshing like cherry blossoms fluttering in the wind on a spring day, but at the same time, it was firm.
“Honestly, it also helps me that the Countess of Acacia doesn’t have a very good reputation.”
Even under Rhodnes' gaze, he did not stop talking.
“Friend, right? I always feel sorry for you. But I also want that lady to act as a watchdog while Ephero stays, and prevents other forces from approaching.”
"Older brother."
"Yes."
Even if Bardenaldo's expression as he answered affectionately hadn't looked particularly tired, and even if he hadn't been on his way to an unwanted annexation, Rhodnes would have wanted to shout and ask.
'Why did it have to be Adrienne?'
I don't think my brother was involved in Adrienne's death. Please, I hope my brother is innocent.
Even that wish was his own greed for the future with Adrienne, and it made his mouth water. He thought so when he saw that pitiful face that didn't look happy at all despite being in such a high position. He must have been so foolish since he had protected Bardenaldo his whole life. He felt uncomfortable. It was natural that Adrienne couldn't tell him everything. His firm belief in Bardenaldo was sincere, he swore to God.
“Do you have anything to say to me?”
Still, if he may ask, he would like to ask.
“Adrienne...”
At that moment, the footsteps of the person who had been strangely irritating him since earlier came closer. As soon as Bardenaldo recognized the sound, the office door opened without warning. The brothers’ eyebrows narrowed at the same time. Vincenzo came noisily into the office like uncorked wine pouring out.
“Your Highness! Your Highness, we are in trouble!”
“What rudeness? Without even reporting it.”
Before he could muster up the courage to speak, Rhodnes glared at him, shaking his head as he took another drink.
“Ah, Countess Acacia is on her way home..."
Rhodnes jumped up.
“She's been kidnapped!”
The wine glass Rhodnes was holding shattered on the marble floor.
***
I looked around with blurry eyes. It was a dark warehouse-like place where I couldn’t see clearly. Judging from the shadows of the wisteria trees wherever the light filtered in, it seemed to be a wisteria forest near the capital. Several fat pig-like men who gave me goosebumps just by looking at them surrounded us.
Yes, ‘us.’
I bit the tender flesh in my mouth as I watched Marge and Jonah trembling beside me. When I told them I had become the Crown Prince’s aide, the maids smiled broadly and rubbed my shoulders.
The fat men holding swords as long as their forearms glared at us with sinister eyes, and I felt like I was going to vomit. I don’t know how I was dragged here, but my last memory is when I was leaving the palace, Neil was called by someone and said he would finish up for a moment and join us.
I stopped by Count Acacia's residence for a moment, checked the office to see if there was any information related to the Mana Stone mine, and then got back on the carriage. Then, the carriage that was speeding towards the Grand Duke's residence suddenly crashed into another carriage with a huge noise, and my body was torn apart.
“Euuugh-.”
My mouth tasted bloody as if it had burst. 20 knights were escorting me. I had originally planned to wait for Neil at the Count's mansion and then return with him, but I was in a hurry because I was going in to find books about the Mana Stone mine.
“Madam, are you okay?”
“Ma, ma, ma, ma’am...!”
As I groaned, Marge and Jonah, who had been sitting with only their arms tied, quickly approached me on their knees.
“Euuugh-.”
My mouth tasted bloody as if it had burst. 20 knights were escorting me. I had originally planned to wait for Neil at the Count's mansion and then return with him, but I was in a hurry because I was going in to find books about the Mana Stone mine.
“Madam, are you okay?”
“Ma, ma, ma, ma’am...!”
As I groaned, Marge and Jonah, who had been sitting with only their arms tied, quickly approached me on their knees.
What is this...?
I should have asked them what was going on, but my tongue stung because of the gag that was tightly clamped in my mouth, and I couldn’t speak. My whole body was in so much pain as if I had been beaten, that tears streamed down my face. The carriage was half destroyed, and there was no way my body would be okay.
Who could it be? Who could have attacked the carriage of a noblewoman returning home in the early evening?
All sorts of people’s faces flashed through my mind, but I, whose limbs were all tied up and unable to move, tried to sit up slowly. All the while, the gazes of the men who were giggling and watching me squirm made me feel as if bugs were crawling all over my body.
“Ma, Madam, you have come to your senses! Hurry up and let me go! What is this! Do you know who this person is...!”
“Ma, Madam, you have come to your senses! Hurry up and let me go! What is this! Do you know who this person is...!”
As Marge summoned all her courage and let out a low cry, someone walked out from between the men in the dark warehouse relying on moonlight.
“Oh my God... Oh my God, oh my God...!”
“How did you?!”
Short in stature, walking with a cane and a weak gait, Marge and Jonah let out low sighs one after another in this place filled with an ominous atmosphere.
“Well... you should have been more assertive.”
Under the thin beam of light streaming in from the small window, the figure’s identity was completely revealed. An aged and wrinkled face. Between the drooping eyelids, the black eyes sparkled like fake jewels.
It was Sophie, the chief maid of the Grand Duchess’s residence, with a cold face. However, her solemn face gradually cracked as soon as she saw my miserable state. It must have been because of me, who was shaking and laughing.
'...It's you.'
Even with a gag in my mouth, my whole body tied up, and tears streaming down my face...
'No matter how hard I searched, there was not a single clue. Doris' eyes and ears in the Grand Duchess's residence.'
My eyes would have been filled with joy, not fear, and I would have been laughing my ass off.
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