Just then, I heard that Ephero and Victor had come to visit.
I tried to ignore the rapidly worsening expression on Rhodnes’ face and allowed them to visit.
“Why is it that it’s harder for me to see my attendant than His Majesty the Emperor? Should I thank you for showing me your precious face?”
“Are you okay? How are you?”
They were noisy from the moment they appeared.
Several huge flower baskets and jewelry boxes, which were clearly not Ephero’s own opinion, were passed from the knights escorting them to the old butler.
“Thank you for coming. I just had a favor to ask of you.”
“Just do it when I tell you to, Ephero.”
“...”
Rhodnes cut him off firmly, and his face was filled with worry.
Ephero felt resentful that the woman had taken away the affection he had never had properly from his brother.
“If you behave and cooperate with her, I will help you stay here.”
But who would have thought that would come out of Rhodnes’ mouth!
“...Even if it goes against His Highness the Crown Prince’s will?”
“...”
Rhodnes’s closed lips, silently staring at Blie, were almost like an answer. The fact that a noblewoman he had never seen before was bragging about being able to keep him here as a Prince and Rhodnes’s words that he would help him gave Ephero a different level of belief.
Ephero suppressed his heart that was surging for a moment and guessed that Rhodnes, who had always put Crown Prince Bardenaldo first in his life, had changed a little because of that noblewoman’s accident.
As Victor and Blie, who were secretly getting along well, finished their plotting, Ephero grabbed Victor and dragged him back.
Blie seemed quite satisfied with the conversation with Victor and came out to see him off in person, despite her sick body.
I tried to ignore the rapidly worsening expression on Rhodnes’ face and allowed them to visit.
“Why is it that it’s harder for me to see my attendant than His Majesty the Emperor? Should I thank you for showing me your precious face?”
“Are you okay? How are you?”
They were noisy from the moment they appeared.
Several huge flower baskets and jewelry boxes, which were clearly not Ephero’s own opinion, were passed from the knights escorting them to the old butler.
“Thank you for coming. I just had a favor to ask of you.”
“Do you usually order your attendants around?”
“Ephero.”
Rhodnes, who was standing behind me, immediately called his name as if warning him at Ephero’s harsh words.
Ephero became sullen like a puppy with its tail down, then immediately raised its head and followed me into the reception room.
Victor looked around the living room.
“What do you want? It’s been a long time since I’ve been to my home country, so I don’t want to work hard.”
I showed the sly Ephero the list of words that Rhodnes had excerpted from Blie’s diary.
Ephero frowned for a moment, then lifted his head stiffly and read it with his eyes before chuckling.
“If it’s foreign language study, ask the Prince.”
Of course, I didn’t care either way, so I immediately looked at Victor. Unlike Ephero, Victor took the list himself, buried his nose in it, and began to read diligently.
“...Ephero, come here.”
Rhodnes’ cold voice pierced Ephero, who was sprawled out on his chair and looking me up and down.
Only then, Ephero, who had sat up straight with a face of “Oh no!”, scratched the back of his head and walked over to Rhodnes, who was leaning crookedly against the threshold of the living room.
Ephero had his own complaints.
The voice of the woman who said that she would let him stay in Ronta had been bothering him for several days since that day.
When he told his mother, Empress Grace, about it, she was surprised and scared.
Ephero tried to weaken his heart as he watched Blie wiping the cold sweat from her forehead, but he could not help but look kindly at the woman who had made his mother and himself anxious.
However, at the same time, his mouth snapped shut
when he met Rhodnes’s eyes in front of him. Rhodnes was standing crookedly, looking down at him with the same eyes that had warned him not to be rude.
“I would like you to translate the meaning or name of this Elacon.”
“Ephero.”
Rhodnes, who was standing behind me, immediately called his name as if warning him at Ephero’s harsh words.
Ephero became sullen like a puppy with its tail down, then immediately raised its head and followed me into the reception room.
Victor looked around the living room.
“What do you want? It’s been a long time since I’ve been to my home country, so I don’t want to work hard.”
I showed the sly Ephero the list of words that Rhodnes had excerpted from Blie’s diary.
Ephero frowned for a moment, then lifted his head stiffly and read it with his eyes before chuckling.
“If it’s foreign language study, ask the Prince.”
Of course, I didn’t care either way, so I immediately looked at Victor. Unlike Ephero, Victor took the list himself, buried his nose in it, and began to read diligently.
“...Ephero, come here.”
Rhodnes’ cold voice pierced Ephero, who was sprawled out on his chair and looking me up and down.
Only then, Ephero, who had sat up straight with a face of “Oh no!”, scratched the back of his head and walked over to Rhodnes, who was leaning crookedly against the threshold of the living room.
***
Ephero had his own complaints.
The voice of the woman who said that she would let him stay in Ronta had been bothering him for several days since that day.
When he told his mother, Empress Grace, about it, she was surprised and scared.
Ephero tried to weaken his heart as he watched Blie wiping the cold sweat from her forehead, but he could not help but look kindly at the woman who had made his mother and himself anxious.
However, at the same time, his mouth snapped shut
when he met Rhodnes’s eyes in front of him. Rhodnes was standing crookedly, looking down at him with the same eyes that had warned him not to be rude.
“I would like you to translate the meaning or name of this Elacon.”
“The name of the herb. Is this better? You?”
“...Yes. It would be better if you knew what this was.”
Ephero complained to Rhodnes as he heard Blie and Victor whispering.
“Don’t you trust that lady too much, brother?”
Ephero said lightly, but he was sincere.
He stood by the door with Rhodnes, and twisted his mouth as he looked at Victor and the lady having a serious conversation inside the drawing room.
Victor and he had been turned away many times before coming here. It was because of Rhodnes, who was like a protector to none other than Blie.
He had also heard the news about Ronta, and he knew about the scandal of his brother and the lady.
Ephero complained to Rhodnes as he heard Blie and Victor whispering.
“Don’t you trust that lady too much, brother?”
Ephero said lightly, but he was sincere.
He stood by the door with Rhodnes, and twisted his mouth as he looked at Victor and the lady having a serious conversation inside the drawing room.
Victor and he had been turned away many times before coming here. It was because of Rhodnes, who was like a protector to none other than Blie.
He had also heard the news about Ronta, and he knew about the scandal of his brother and the lady.
“I think it’s not normal for that lady to seek out strange medicine. You should be careful too...”
“Just do it when I tell you to, Ephero.”
“...”
Rhodnes cut him off firmly, and his face was filled with worry.
Ephero felt resentful that the woman had taken away the affection he had never had properly from his brother.
“If you behave and cooperate with her, I will help you stay here.”
But who would have thought that would come out of Rhodnes’ mouth!
“...Even if it goes against His Highness the Crown Prince’s will?”
“...”
Rhodnes’s closed lips, silently staring at Blie, were almost like an answer. The fact that a noblewoman he had never seen before was bragging about being able to keep him here as a Prince and Rhodnes’s words that he would help him gave Ephero a different level of belief.
Ephero suppressed his heart that was surging for a moment and guessed that Rhodnes, who had always put Crown Prince Bardenaldo first in his life, had changed a little because of that noblewoman’s accident.
As Victor and Blie, who were secretly getting along well, finished their plotting, Ephero grabbed Victor and dragged him back.
Blie seemed quite satisfied with the conversation with Victor and came out to see him off in person, despite her sick body.
“For the time being, we should at least pretend to be close, Madam. Even if it’s because I’m scared of you.”
Ephero spoke with a half-joking tone. It was probably because he was conscious of Rhodnes, who was a little further away.
Blie opened her eyes wide and nodded with a faint smile. Ephero soon lowered his voice.
“But you must also clearly distinguish between your enemies and your friends. The enemies I have are the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince, who are your lords.”
It was meant to be sarcastic about Blie’s behavior of maintaining an octopus-like friendship and acting awkwardly, but the moment he finished speaking, Blie did not panic and instead grabbed her sore side and laughed.
Her thin shoulders shook slightly as if she was holding back laughter, and Blie held out her hand to Epero.
Epero, who took her hand without thinking, was slowly drawn to Blie, who was pulling his hand toward her.
“My goal is not to make my lord a friend, Your Highness.”
“?”
“I told you that what I want is to distinguish between my enemies and my friends. If Your Highness were to become my friend instead of my enemy, then maybe I could eliminate Your Highness’s enemy.”
Ephero spoke with a half-joking tone. It was probably because he was conscious of Rhodnes, who was a little further away.
Blie opened her eyes wide and nodded with a faint smile. Ephero soon lowered his voice.
“But you must also clearly distinguish between your enemies and your friends. The enemies I have are the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince, who are your lords.”
It was meant to be sarcastic about Blie’s behavior of maintaining an octopus-like friendship and acting awkwardly, but the moment he finished speaking, Blie did not panic and instead grabbed her sore side and laughed.
Her thin shoulders shook slightly as if she was holding back laughter, and Blie held out her hand to Epero.
Epero, who took her hand without thinking, was slowly drawn to Blie, who was pulling his hand toward her.
“My goal is not to make my lord a friend, Your Highness.”
“?”
“I told you that what I want is to distinguish between my enemies and my friends. If Your Highness were to become my friend instead of my enemy, then maybe I could eliminate Your Highness’s enemy.”
She was indeed a suspicious woman.
Ephero, who had stiffened at the thought that he could get rid of her master without care, stood still for a long time even after Blie’s body was far away.
It must have upset Rhodnes, because he was immediately kicked out of the Count’s mansion.
The second visitor was Noura Jusetta.
Noura stiffened as soon as she saw Rhodnes and lowered her head.
Since there were many things I wanted to hear from Noura, I sent Rhodnes out of the reception room.
When I pushed her back to tell him to leave, Rhodnes’ face looked slightly resentful, but that was all.
Noura looked at us bickering in front of the reception room door with a strange gaze, and when I sat down in front of her, her expression disappeared as if nothing had happened.
“Her Highness the Crown Princess sent me to look into you myself.”
Noura didn’t tell me useless things. Just formalities that weren’t even Doris’s sincerity.
Ephero, who had stiffened at the thought that he could get rid of her master without care, stood still for a long time even after Blie’s body was far away.
It must have upset Rhodnes, because he was immediately kicked out of the Count’s mansion.
***
The second visitor was Noura Jusetta.
Noura stiffened as soon as she saw Rhodnes and lowered her head.
Since there were many things I wanted to hear from Noura, I sent Rhodnes out of the reception room.
When I pushed her back to tell him to leave, Rhodnes’ face looked slightly resentful, but that was all.
Noura looked at us bickering in front of the reception room door with a strange gaze, and when I sat down in front of her, her expression disappeared as if nothing had happened.
“Her Highness the Crown Princess sent me to look into you myself.”
Noura didn’t tell me useless things. Just formalities that weren’t even Doris’s sincerity.
“Coincidentally, on the day of the annexation with His Highness the Crown Prince, there was a carriage accident, and His Highness is in a bad mood.”
Why was he in a bad mood when it was his own doing?
“What does that have to do with the annexation?”
“His Highness the Crown Prince was worried about it as if it were his own business, and postponed the annexation.”
Noura observed my complexion and wet her dry lips with her tongue.
“Things are going strangely. There are rumors that the incident where Madam was attacked by a stranger is actually related to the disappearance of a woman.”
“Huh?”
I asked back, bewildered. Wasn’t this case already hushed up with Noevian Trovica named as the suspect?
“Since it happened in the middle of the capital in the early evening, some might think so. There are similarities, right? Words like “in the middle of the capital.” “Woman.” “What’s more interesting is that His Highness the Crown Prince is raising these questions.”
“His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“It’s been over a week since he declared a state of emergency and used that as an excuse to postpone the annexation date.”
Noura said it was funny, but her face was tired. Doris, who usually showed her emotions without filtering them, could see how chaotic it would have been.
However, I couldn’t help but snort as soon as I heard that.
If I had died that day, wouldn’t it have been a perfect night for Doris? She would have gotten rid of the annoying Blie Acacia and had the long-awaited annexation with the Crown Prince.
But I was alive, and the annexation with the Crown Prince fell through, so how angry would she have been?
‘It’s as if she fell for her own trick.’
Noura stared at my laughing face.
“But the story is going strangely because there are even rumors that the real culprit in the disappearance of the woman is someone else. Some are worried that they have hastily identified the Grand Duke as a suspect and given him an excessive punishment that is no different from exile.”
“Well, I suppose that kind of concern could arise. He's been dropped so suddenly in the North.”
“By the way, I heard that His Majesty the Emperor has also recognized the seriousness of the matter and has summoned His Highness the Grand Duke to personally meet with Him for His Majesty the Emperor’s birthday party.”
My body froze at Noevian’s sudden remark.
“So, if you were planning on attending this birthday party, you’d better be careful this time, Ma’am.”
Noura advised me with a slightly worried look.
Suddenly, my hands and feet felt numb.
I quickly clenched my fists. I felt a tingling sensation in my side and smiled at Noura as if it was okay.
“Thank you. But I definitely plan on attending His Majesty the Emperor’s birthday party.”
The attempted kidnapping of Adrienne took on a new aspect.
The rumor that Noevian Trovica was behind the disappearance of the woman died down, and rumors began to spread that it was actually a plot by Rhodnes to get rid of his uncle.
The Emperor dismissed it as nonsense, but because of his built-up image, some people even rumored that Rhodnes had to drink women’s blood instead of monster blood on the battlefield.
This was especially true because he had been revealing his face here and there for the past few months, which made his handsome appearance more widely known.
The secret to his manly appearance was the blood of women.
It was a ridiculous rumor that was hard to laugh at, but the problem was that there were actually people who believed it. This was especially true for the commoners since Rhodnes was a member of the royal family with a fearsome image related to monsters.
Why was he in a bad mood when it was his own doing?
“What does that have to do with the annexation?”
“His Highness the Crown Prince was worried about it as if it were his own business, and postponed the annexation.”
Noura observed my complexion and wet her dry lips with her tongue.
“Things are going strangely. There are rumors that the incident where Madam was attacked by a stranger is actually related to the disappearance of a woman.”
“Huh?”
I asked back, bewildered. Wasn’t this case already hushed up with Noevian Trovica named as the suspect?
“Since it happened in the middle of the capital in the early evening, some might think so. There are similarities, right? Words like “in the middle of the capital.” “Woman.” “What’s more interesting is that His Highness the Crown Prince is raising these questions.”
“His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“It’s been over a week since he declared a state of emergency and used that as an excuse to postpone the annexation date.”
Noura said it was funny, but her face was tired. Doris, who usually showed her emotions without filtering them, could see how chaotic it would have been.
However, I couldn’t help but snort as soon as I heard that.
If I had died that day, wouldn’t it have been a perfect night for Doris? She would have gotten rid of the annoying Blie Acacia and had the long-awaited annexation with the Crown Prince.
But I was alive, and the annexation with the Crown Prince fell through, so how angry would she have been?
‘It’s as if she fell for her own trick.’
Noura stared at my laughing face.
“But the story is going strangely because there are even rumors that the real culprit in the disappearance of the woman is someone else. Some are worried that they have hastily identified the Grand Duke as a suspect and given him an excessive punishment that is no different from exile.”
“Well, I suppose that kind of concern could arise. He's been dropped so suddenly in the North.”
“By the way, I heard that His Majesty the Emperor has also recognized the seriousness of the matter and has summoned His Highness the Grand Duke to personally meet with Him for His Majesty the Emperor’s birthday party.”
My body froze at Noevian’s sudden remark.
“So, if you were planning on attending this birthday party, you’d better be careful this time, Ma’am.”
Noura advised me with a slightly worried look.
Suddenly, my hands and feet felt numb.
I quickly clenched my fists. I felt a tingling sensation in my side and smiled at Noura as if it was okay.
“Thank you. But I definitely plan on attending His Majesty the Emperor’s birthday party.”
***
The attempted kidnapping of Adrienne took on a new aspect.
The rumor that Noevian Trovica was behind the disappearance of the woman died down, and rumors began to spread that it was actually a plot by Rhodnes to get rid of his uncle.
The Emperor dismissed it as nonsense, but because of his built-up image, some people even rumored that Rhodnes had to drink women’s blood instead of monster blood on the battlefield.
This was especially true because he had been revealing his face here and there for the past few months, which made his handsome appearance more widely known.
The secret to his manly appearance was the blood of women.
It was a ridiculous rumor that was hard to laugh at, but the problem was that there were actually people who believed it. This was especially true for the commoners since Rhodnes was a member of the royal family with a fearsome image related to monsters.
Rhodnes was used to these rumors and acted indifferently, which upset Adrienne even more.
No matter what the situation outside was, he only repeated Adrienne’s words that he wanted to get closer to her and tried to take care of her.
And so, the day of the Emperor’s Birthday, the biggest annual event of the Empire of Ronta, dawned.
No matter what the situation outside was, he only repeated Adrienne’s words that he wanted to get closer to her and tried to take care of her.
And so, the day of the Emperor’s Birthday, the biggest annual event of the Empire of Ronta, dawned.
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