Episode 26. You Can't Blame Rumors
"Haa..."
As soon as she left the palace building, Adele held onto the stair railing and barely managed to catch her breath. Just a moment ago, she felt like she was going to suffocate to death.
Even in the midst of all that, the image of April gagging wouldn't leave her mind.
Pregnant with Christine's child...
'Couldn't she have just been spit out?'
She knew better than anyone how wild and shitty the rumors of the high society were.
Just because the Princess gagged once, rumors could spread that she wasn't pregnant, but that she had a hidden child.
'Yeah, it would just be a shitty rumor.'
Then, Adele suddenly found everything funny.
'If the Princess isn't pregnant, what would change?'
The two of them were going to get married soon, so she would eventually conceive his child. The situation wouldn't have changed; it would just be a little faster or slower.
'Pathetic. Are you still not over him?'
He needed a blank document to marry the Princess. That was why he had been approaching her so intimately.
She didn’t even know that and got excited and got caught up in a strange feeling...
‘You’re really a sight to behold, Adele.’
Shaking off Christine’s thoughts, Adele hurried to walk. She wanted to get out of this palace and go home.
“The body was really horrible. It must have been that beast’s doing, right? The silver wolf.”
“Shh! Don’t you know there’s a gag order on the silver wolf?”
Adele’s steps suddenly stopped at a sound coming from down the stairs.
The silver wolf...?
At the same time, a horrible memory was summoned.
“Adele, don’t come here, stay there!”
“Oh my! What kind of beast could do this...”
“The body is so horrible.”
The people surrounding her mother’s body murmured.
And the smell of blood filled the forest.
People tried to stop her from looking, but Adele had to see it anyway.
The white forest covered in snow was dyed crimson, and Adele's mother was lying miserably in the middle of it...
“Ugh!”
Just thinking about that scene made her feel nauseous, and she covered her mouth.
Even after 10 years, she couldn’t forget it. How could it be? It appeared in her dreams every time, as if telling her not to forget.
And at the end of her mother’s funeral, people started whispering. They said they saw a strange-looking wolf with silver fur in the forest a while ago.
That wolf might have killed Adele’s mother!
Wanting to ask the guards for more details, Adele quickly ran down the stairs. However, her body didn’t keep up with her hasty mind.
She lost her balance and was about to fall, but!
Fortunately, someone grabbed her waist from behind and pulled her up.
“Ah!”
Adele’s face hardened as she turned around in surprise. It was Christine. When their eyes met, the man in his black uniform furrowed his brows in annoyance.
“Where are you going with your mind?”
The voice was so cruel that it brought tears to her eyes.
But Adele couldn’t stand feeling resentful towards him any longer.
What on earth did she expect?
“Never mind.”
She tried to shake him off, but he didn’t let go of her waist.
“Shouldn’t you at least say thank you?”
Adele glared at him and said flatly.
“I really appreciate it, Count Weiss. So, will you let me go now?”
Fortunately, someone grabbed her waist from behind and pulled her up.
“Ah!”
Adele’s face hardened as she turned around in surprise. It was Christine. When their eyes met, the man in his black uniform furrowed his brows in annoyance.
“Where are you going with your mind?”
The voice was so cruel that it brought tears to her eyes.
But Adele couldn’t stand feeling resentful towards him any longer.
What on earth did she expect?
“Never mind.”
She tried to shake him off, but he didn’t let go of her waist.
“Shouldn’t you at least say thank you?”
Adele glared at him and said flatly.
“I really appreciate it, Count Weiss. So, will you let me go now?”
When she pushed his hand away with a serious expression, Christine’s expression also turned cold.
“Of course, ma’am.”
Without any hesitation, he let Adele go and passed by with a polite and businesslike gesture.
“...Come by my house when you have time.”
Christine hesitated.
“I’ll give you what you want, as promised.”
“Do you know what I want?”
“The Marquis’ blank document wasn’t it something you needed?”
A strange smile formed on his red lips as he turned to Adele.
“Well, was that really what I wanted?”
Adele’s face turned red. His blue eyes were so sharp and hot that it felt like they were licking every part of her body.
She remembered the hot kiss that night.
It was horrible to think of herself losing her mind and falling for him.
Why me when you’re in a relationship with the Princess...?!
‘Are you still toying with me? Do you still hate me?’
Adele stiffened her whole body and stared straight at him.
“Men have chastity, too. Be nice to the Princess.”
“What?”
Christine looked like she had been unexpectedly hit in the back of the head.
“I don’t want to see you disappointed anymore. That’s it.”
Adele slowly went down the stairs. She felt his gaze on her, and the back of her head stung. The more she felt it, the more she tried her best to pretend like nothing happened.
‘You look good, Adele.’
It felt like she had fallen into a deeper pit in exchange for the few days of sweet time she had with him.
Adele thought she had managed to maintain her composure in front of Christine, but she was mistaken. No, that was impossible. He had developed superhuman senses, so he was even more sensitive to her. How could she pretend to be okay when she was not okay at all?
When he saw her struggling to keep upright, she seemed like she would collapse at any moment, he wanted to sit down and make her cry.
If she wanted to, he could...
“Uh... What should I do with this?”
Christine turned her gaze to the cautious voice.
Zimmer was holding a green ribbon with an embarrassed face. It was a gift he had given to Adele, but it was covered in mud.
“Throw it away.”
“A few days ago, when I came to the palace, my lady was looking for this hair tie. Then, after hearing the conversation between the Emperor and Empress, she misunderstood that the Captain approached her because of the blank document...”
“Misunderstanding? Which part? It’s all true.”
Zimmer, who had tried to reconcile the two, barely suppressed his boiling anger.
Anyway, stubborn!
He was very perceptive in other matters, but he was not so perceptive when it came to his feelings for Adele.
“I understand. Then I understand that you will marry the Princess. That is the safest choice.”
Christine’s face distorted fiercely. It was annoying enough that the Emperor was pushing for the Princess to marry him, but now Adele and Zimmer were talking about the Princess.
“Why is everyone making a fuss about not being able to hook up with the Princess?”
“Do you really not know that?”
“I’m asking because I don’t know.”
Zimmer let out a sigh as if he were embarrassed.
“Of course, the Princess is pregnant.”
“The Princess is pregnant even though she’s not even married?”
Christine was a little shocked, but on the other hand, he was relieved. In this case, the Emperor wouldn’t be able to forcefully link up with the Princess.
“I don’t think the important thing right now is whether the Princess is married or not?”
“Then?”
“Whose child is it? That’s more important.”
“Of course, ma’am.”
Without any hesitation, he let Adele go and passed by with a polite and businesslike gesture.
“...Come by my house when you have time.”
Christine hesitated.
“I’ll give you what you want, as promised.”
“Do you know what I want?”
“The Marquis’ blank document wasn’t it something you needed?”
A strange smile formed on his red lips as he turned to Adele.
“Well, was that really what I wanted?”
Adele’s face turned red. His blue eyes were so sharp and hot that it felt like they were licking every part of her body.
She remembered the hot kiss that night.
It was horrible to think of herself losing her mind and falling for him.
Why me when you’re in a relationship with the Princess...?!
‘Are you still toying with me? Do you still hate me?’
Adele stiffened her whole body and stared straight at him.
“Men have chastity, too. Be nice to the Princess.”
“What?”
Christine looked like she had been unexpectedly hit in the back of the head.
“I don’t want to see you disappointed anymore. That’s it.”
Adele slowly went down the stairs. She felt his gaze on her, and the back of her head stung. The more she felt it, the more she tried her best to pretend like nothing happened.
‘You look good, Adele.’
It felt like she had fallen into a deeper pit in exchange for the few days of sweet time she had with him.
***
Adele thought she had managed to maintain her composure in front of Christine, but she was mistaken. No, that was impossible. He had developed superhuman senses, so he was even more sensitive to her. How could she pretend to be okay when she was not okay at all?
When he saw her struggling to keep upright, she seemed like she would collapse at any moment, he wanted to sit down and make her cry.
If she wanted to, he could...
“Uh... What should I do with this?”
Christine turned her gaze to the cautious voice.
Zimmer was holding a green ribbon with an embarrassed face. It was a gift he had given to Adele, but it was covered in mud.
“Throw it away.”
“A few days ago, when I came to the palace, my lady was looking for this hair tie. Then, after hearing the conversation between the Emperor and Empress, she misunderstood that the Captain approached her because of the blank document...”
“Misunderstanding? Which part? It’s all true.”
Zimmer, who had tried to reconcile the two, barely suppressed his boiling anger.
Anyway, stubborn!
He was very perceptive in other matters, but he was not so perceptive when it came to his feelings for Adele.
“I understand. Then I understand that you will marry the Princess. That is the safest choice.”
Christine’s face distorted fiercely. It was annoying enough that the Emperor was pushing for the Princess to marry him, but now Adele and Zimmer were talking about the Princess.
“Why is everyone making a fuss about not being able to hook up with the Princess?”
“Do you really not know that?”
“I’m asking because I don’t know.”
Zimmer let out a sigh as if he were embarrassed.
“Of course, the Princess is pregnant.”
“The Princess is pregnant even though she’s not even married?”
Christine was a little shocked, but on the other hand, he was relieved. In this case, the Emperor wouldn’t be able to forcefully link up with the Princess.
“I don’t think the important thing right now is whether the Princess is married or not?”
“Then?”
“Whose child is it? That’s more important.”
“So whose child is it?”
Christine was also a little curious.
Who on earth is the Princess with?
Zimmer whispered quietly.
“The captain.”
“Which captain?”
Christine looked around to see if anyone else was around him as Zimmer stared intently. But seeing that no one was there...
"No way?”
Christine was also a little curious.
Who on earth is the Princess with?
Zimmer whispered quietly.
“The captain.”
“Which captain?”
Christine looked around to see if anyone else was around him as Zimmer stared intently. But seeing that no one was there...
"No way?”
He pointed to himself.
Nodding.
He laughed because it was so absurd.
Nodding.
He laughed because it was so absurd.
“Even jokes get angry when they cross the line, Adjutant.”
“I wish it were a joke, too. There are already rumors going around the palace.”
“Men have chastity, too. Be nice to the Princess.”
Christine wiped his face in frustration as Adele’s words came to mind.
“Damn... who on earth!”
Even if he chewed and chewed it up when he met her, it wouldn’t be satisfying.
“A few days ago, on a rainy night, people saw you entering the Princess’s bedroom. What happened?”
Was that the reason the rumors started?
Christine sank into a deep sleep.
“Yes, I did meet the Princess. But after that... I don’t remember much.”
“Then, it’s a story that’s completely impossible...”
Zimmer’s murderous gaze met his, and he scratched the mud that had dried on the ribbon with his fingernails.
“One thing is certain. If I had held the Princess that day, I would have woken up in her bed, not in the palace forest.”
Christine, unable to control his desires that day, must have instinctively gone to find the Princess.
However, when he came to, he was in the palace forest. It meant that he hunted because he needed energy to control his desires.
“Then, the dead guard was the captain...”
“I wish it were a joke, too. There are already rumors going around the palace.”
“Men have chastity, too. Be nice to the Princess.”
Christine wiped his face in frustration as Adele’s words came to mind.
“Damn... who on earth!”
Even if he chewed and chewed it up when he met her, it wouldn’t be satisfying.
“A few days ago, on a rainy night, people saw you entering the Princess’s bedroom. What happened?”
Was that the reason the rumors started?
Christine sank into a deep sleep.
“Yes, I did meet the Princess. But after that... I don’t remember much.”
“Then, it’s a story that’s completely impossible...”
Zimmer’s murderous gaze met his, and he scratched the mud that had dried on the ribbon with his fingernails.
“One thing is certain. If I had held the Princess that day, I would have woken up in her bed, not in the palace forest.”
Christine, unable to control his desires that day, must have instinctively gone to find the Princess.
However, when he came to, he was in the palace forest. It meant that he hunted because he needed energy to control his desires.
“Then, the dead guard was the captain...”
The guard who was bitten to death by a beast that night.
However, Christine didn’t even remember whether it was his doing or not.
However, he had never attacked or hunted anyone without reason until now. No matter how irrational he was, his prey was always animals.
However, his memories were vague, and the victim came from the palace forest.
He couldn’t even be sure that he hadn’t harmed the guards.
Then he heard footsteps approaching from afar. When he turned around, he saw the Emperor’s attendant walking from the end of the corridor.
The attendant stopped in front of Christine and bowed politely, and told her the matter.
“His Majesty the Emperor is looking for you.”
When the attendant left, Zimmer sighed.
“Is it because of the rumors about the Princess? You must be having a headache.”
“Not really.”
Christine replied as if it was nothing, then glared at Zimmer’s hand. The green ribbon he was holding tightly caught his eye, so he quickly grabbed it.
“You told me to throw it away?”
“I’ll throw it away.”
***
“Sob, sob!”
As Christine entered the Emperor’s office, April was sitting on the floor, sobbing.
The hem of her silk dress spread out gorgeously on the floor, and the woman with flowing blond hair and jewels was crying like a painting.
A picture of a woman crying beautifully rather than sadly.
“Explain what happened.”
Christine looked away from April at Emperor Jan’s voice. Then, as if he had nothing to do with her crying, he asked coldly.
“What do I have to explain?”
Jan’s eyes twitched as he sat leaning against the armrests of his armchair. Christine’s question was incredibly shameless.
“There were people who saw you going in and out of the Princess’s room every night.”
“What else did they see?”
“What?”
“I admit that my behavior when I visited the Princess a while ago was rude. I will gladly accept punishment for that. However, if you ask me about anything else, I have nothing to say.”
Was it because his attitude and voice were too cold and indifferent? April’s sobs, which had been fading away, grew louder.
“Sob, sob!”
Jan lost his senses for a moment at the sound of his beloved daughter’s cries.
Sss!
He kicked the armchair away and pulled out his sword, aiming it at Christine’s neck.
“You! Do you think you can get away with teasing my daughter?”
“Father! No!”
Surprised, April grabbed Jan’s leg and hung on.
“Get out of the way, April!”
“No. If the Count does something wrong, I will die too!”
Jan’s face distorted at his daughter’s firm attitude.
“Then tell me. What did the Count do to you?”
April buried her face in her hands again and cried harder.
“Your Highness, you just have to suffer from morning sickness in front of everyone. And if anyone asks you the truth, just cry. Then everyone will say whatever they want.”
“But the Count knows the truth, right?”
“If the Count was drunk that day and out of his mind, he won’t remember. So, Your Highness, just cry as pitifully as possible. Like something happened.”
“What if that doesn’t work?”
“You can just say you were sick and vomited and get away with it. You never said you were pregnant.”
“Then wouldn’t I be the only one being laughed at?”
“But you can get rid of that woman. Adele Oswald.”
April cried as pitifully as Seira had told her. Meanwhile, she checked Jan and Christine’s mood.
Jan’s face was red and blue, and he was fidgeting. As Seira said, he seemed to believe that something had happened between them.
However, Christine had been cold from the moment he entered the room. His gaze was cold and creepy, as if he were looking into April's mind.
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