Trap (5)
Oslo sat in front of me without permission.
The noise in the restaurant died down. Everyone was looking at us.
He lowered his voice as if he was conscious of his surroundings.
"Do you know what Anton's reputation is? He's a royal, but people are afraid to talk to him. He's a big guy who sweats profusely when he's around people."
"..."
"The Prime Minister of Halstail brought him here to try to make him into a person who is not even treated as royalty in his own country. Did you know that when you approached him?"
"Still, I find the Grand Duke much more attractive than Your Highness."
"Ha!"
Oslo burst into laughter.
"Where can you compare me to that fat, chubby piglet?"
"Well, since I can't see, appearances don't matter to me."
Oslo stared at me.
"Strange, why do I feel like you're lying?"
"Ha, I really don't know what you're talking about."
"I don't know..."
He stroked my hair with a meaningful expression. The black hair curled into a ball on his smooth, scar-free fingers.
"Millenia, from today on, you must be alert at every moment. Be aware of me when you reach out, and when you take a single step. I will be watching you constantly."
"..."
"If you crawl in on all fours before that, I can cover you. What do you want to do?"
I smiled softly and took his hand, whispering softly so only he could hear.
"Were you that shocked that I dumped you? Poor thing."
"What?"
"I really hope you see a doctor. Your Highness is in a state of shock from the heartbreak and is not in his right mind."
"...How dare you!"
Oslo's face hardened and he pushed me away.
"Ab!"
I screamed briefly and staggered.
As I fell from the chair and collapsed on the floor, Oslo's face turned red for a moment with embarrassment.
Of course, he didn't extend a hand. There was no way he could help me, who had trampled on his proud pride so mercilessly.
"Miss! Are you okay?"
Nadia rushed over.
At the same time, Ian, Kjer, and Kalit all stood up, exuding a murderous aura. I saw Rahon stopping them as they looked like they were going to run towards me at any moment.
"Miss, hold on to me and stand."
Ah, wait, my ankle.
I grabbed my ankle instead of trying to get up. Nadia's expression hardened immediately.
"Does your ankle hurt? I'll call Rahon."
"Not to that extent. I think I can stand if you help me."
I managed to stand up with Nadia's help. A servant nearby handed me a cane that was lying on the floor.
"Young Lady, here's the cane."
"Thank you."
I took a few steps back, limping, holding onto my cane.
As I bit my lips and lowered my head as if I was afraid, the attendees who had been watching with interest until then frowned.
"Hmm, ahem!"
But no one came forward, only coughing in displeasure.
Anyway, since it happened in a relationship between a man and a woman, they think it is not their place to interfere.
The attendant who handed me the cane asked me politely.
"Young Lady. I need to check on your ankle, so how about you move to the break room for now?"
"That would be great, Miss."
"Please give me some guidance."
I left the restaurant, leaving the frozen atmosphere behind.
The break room was close to the dining hall. The attendant who personally opened the break room door nodded.
"Please rest for a moment. I will call the palace doctor."
"There's no need for that."
"Yes?"
The attendant tilted his head as if in doubt.
Brown hair, slightly sleepy, droopy eyes, a blunt nose, and freckles dotted across the bridge of his nose.
He looks ordinary. If it weren't for the bitter and spicy smell he gives off.
"You know I'm fine, Baba."
"Haha!"
Only then did Baba, who had been dressed up as a servant, burst out laughing.
Nadia blankly stared at him rolling on the floor laughing, then exploded.
"Miss! I really thought you were hurt!"
"Sorry."
From the moment I entered the restaurant, I could smell a spicy and bitter smell, so I knew there must be a baba somewhere.
I just thought he was hiding. I didn't know he was disguised as a servant.
It's really amazing. How can someone change so completely into a different person?
The original, well-sculpted facial features were not even reminiscent of the shabby appearance.
"Was it fun?"
"Wow, I thought I was going to die from laughter. Hehe, Master, you're really the best."
After that, Baba laughed for a while longer before he stood up.
"Do one thing in return for the pleasure you have provided."
"I'm busy right now?"
"What are you busy with?"
"Because Vivi is here. That's why I'm disguised as a servant."
It's been a long time since I heard that name. Vivi's face naturally came to mind.
"I don't think she'd try to kill me."
"Huh? How did you know?"
"If I die now, the Third Prince wilI be the first to be suspected."
Unless Oslo is stupid, he wouldn't be targeting me inside the Imperial Palace where the summit was taking place.
Because I know that if I were to be murdered, he would be the first one suspected.
If he were suspected of murdering the Guardian during the summit, it would have been a huge blow to his reputation, regardless of whether it was true or not.
Of course, he could have gotten out of the crisis by destroying evidence and evading the truth, as he had done so far, but it would have been difficult to be elected as the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces.
So, the palace where the summit is taking place is the safest place for me.
Moreover, since he has fallen out of favor with the Emperor, he will be even more cautious.
Until a clear opportunity to turn the tables arose.
"It's not clear because she hides her presence so well, but it seems like she's just watching from afar."
"Why?"
"I don't know. It could just be that she can't approach you because of me. She knows I'm here."
The moment I heard it, I knew that Vivi had another purpose in watching me.
"She's just trying to check if my eyes can see."
Baba asked.
"But since when did you notice me around you?"
"Since yesterday. I smelled a slightly spicy scent in the hallway of the banquet hall."
So I could walk around the palace calmly, knowing that Baba would protect me.
Of course, thanks to Chevio, I didn't have time to go out alone.
"It could be Vivi."
"Except for me, all the summit attendees are men. The valet is also a male. No matter how good Vivi is at disguising herself, she's still a woman. She's bound to stand out when she's around men."
Baba's eyes suddenly became dim.
"I have to kill Vivi quickly."
"What's urgent right now isn't Vivi."
"I'm annoyed. I don't want the owner to get confused between her and me. I want you to smell me and think of only me."
Why on earth are you jealous of Vivi? I was a little flustered, so I was slow to respond.
"There's something you need to do first."
"If the master says so, then there's nothing I can do."
Baba slumped his shoulders with a sullen expression.
"All the prisoners the Eldern knights were transporting died?"
"You knew that. Yes, that's right."
"Is the job you want me to do to testify to the Emperor that the Third Prince ordered my assassination?"
"No way."
It's not that I haven't thought about that at one point.
But there were several obstacles to bringing Baba as a witness. The mere fact that he was an assassin would cast doubt on the credibility of his testimony.
There is no need to bring in Baba when there is clear evidence that no one can doubt.
"You just need to forward the letter to someone."
"Who?"
"Albert Redfield. He's someone Baba knows well."
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