Episode 69. Sweet Hypocrisy
Isabelle said she was looking around for a bazaar that would be held nearby.
The other ladies who were with her also recognized them and pretended to know them. They even asked Adele to join the bazaar, saying they needed sponsors. Perhaps because they were conscious of Christine, unlike in the Empress’s audience room, everyone was friendly.
Of course, Isabelle was haughty and cold to the end.
“Have you two met before?”
Christine asked after Isabelle and her party had left.
“This afternoon at the Empress’s Palace.”
“I see.”
Christine didn’t say anything else after that.
In the end, Adele carefully brought out the words she had been holding back all day.
“They say the previous Emperor also died at the silver wolf.”
“Do you believe that?”
“You know. When it comes to the silver wolf, my judgment becomes clouded.”
So Chris, tell me the truth.
“A woman who lost her husband and everything fell apart overnight. She would want to blame someone. A silver wolf that doesn’t exist would be a very good target.”
Those cold words hurt Adele.
“It somehow sounds like you’re talking to me. Is the silver wolf that doesn’t exist the target that I, who lost my mother overnight, chose to blame?”
Christine’s expression hardened.
However, Adele, who was hurt, didn’t notice his expression.
“Chris, if what you said is true, the silver wolf is an illusion that doesn’t exist. But is it possible that so many people saw an illusion?”
“So what are you trying to say?”
When he hid his emotions, he felt so cold. His eyes that had been smiling affectionately just a moment ago, and his soft voice, were as cold as ice.
“I thought you might know something.”
Christine kept his mouth shut for a while and said nothing.
“Ask the Count. Why is he trying so hard to block the article about the silver wolf?”
“I’m angry because you won’t let me write an article about the silver wolf...”
It was clear that Christine had something to do with the silver wolf.
But why...?
Adele’s heart wavered as she looked at his tightly shut lips.
‘What if he says something about the silver wolf?’
‘What if he says he’s hiding something about my mother’s death?’
The thought of their relationship falling apart was scary.
“Fine. I’m being sensitive again.”
Shaking her head, Adele crossed her arms with him again.
‘If you’re lying to me, it must be just as hard for you as it is for me.’
‘If you have to lie to me, there must be a reason for it, right?’
Adele knew that she was being cowardly. In fact, she wanted to cover up this peaceful daily life by attaching such an excuse.
She had chosen sweet hypocrisy over painful truth.
“Did you enjoy the opera?”
“Yes.”
“They say there will be a sea of tears in the farewell aria. Did you cry too, young lady?”
“Yes.”
Tanya asked Adele ceaselessly while combing her hair. It was a performance she had been longing to see.
But soon she realized that Adele’s answers were soulless.
“What happened?”
She asked, staring intently at Adele in the mirror.
Instead of answering, Adele smiled weakly.
This was something even Tanya could not say.
“Can I come in?”
When Christine came into the room, Tanya quickly gave him a seat.
He had disheveled, wet hair and was wearing a comfortable-looking linen shirt. He smelled of fragrant soap as he approached Adele’s back, as if he had just taken a bath.
“Your complexion doesn’t look so good.”
He said, examining Adele’s expression in the mirror.
“I must be tired because I walked a lot.”
“Hair... Should I comb it?”
“Would you?”
The rough hand that had been holding the knife picked up a round comb and skillfully combed Adele’s hair. His touch was softer than anyone else’s, and his expression was infinitely affectionate.
A person who always puts her before himself.
Adele had no doubts.
“Will you hold me, Chris?”
The hand that was combing his hair stopped.
Fearing that there might be a misunderstanding, Adele quickly added,
“Don’t think of anything naughty. I really just want you to hold me.”
“I know.”
He stretched out both arms and hugged Adele from behind. She buried her face in the nape of his neck and remained motionless for a while.
He seemed to be as complicated as Adele.
“Just give me some time, Adele. I’ll tell you everything someday.”
“What?”
“Just... everything I can tell you.”
“But I hope it’s not too late.”
A few days later.
Gosh!
A shrill scream echoed through the center of Greenhill, the capital.
“You said there were more victims today?”
“I don’t know how many. It’s so scary these days that I can’t go outside after the sun sets.”
Greenhill, the capital of Kalime, was famous for its safety. However, horrific corpses had been found almost every day for the past few days. They all looked as if they had been torn to pieces by animals.
Kalime’s tabloids decorated their front pages with provocative headlines and illustrations every day, further terrifying the people.
They claimed that all of this was the work of the Silver Wolf. You couldn’t help but believe it, because only an animal could have the power to tear a person apart. If enough people believe it, it becomes the truth.
Greenhill, where spring was coming, was soon covered in the fear of the silver wolf.
“Miss, there was an incident today!”
Tanya came running in, holding the Kalame tabloid in her hand.
Adele, who was drinking tea, quickly received the newsletter and began reading it. She had been checking this newsletter every day.
Although she had little trust in the Kalame tabloid, she agreed that they knew quite a bit about the silver wolf.
Unlike regular wolves, it had five claws, mysterious blue-gray eyes, and the beast could kill a person in an instant...
It was all the same as what she had heard when her mother died.
Yesterday, there were two victims in one night.
Christine was a member of the palace guard, but the guards were on high alert because the Emperor had declared that he would personally resolve the incident. Because of that, he had not been able to return home for several days.
“We have to catch him quickly,”
Tanya muttered, fidgeting.
However, Adele put down the newsletter she was reading.
“Something is strange.”
“What?”
The bastard had been out of sight for nearly ten years. But recently, victims began to appear, and in the span of a few days, they suddenly increased in number. And he killed people and displayed them in the middle of the city as if to show off. It seemed like there was some intention behind it, rather than just the actions of a simple beast.
Isabelle said firmly.
“It’s foolish to hate the sword when someone wielded it. Is that an answer?”
It meant that they would not ask about Christine’s crimes at all.
After all, finding the culprit who killed the previous Emperor was not important to them.
Reclaiming the throne was more important!
“I understand your intention. Give me time to think about it.”
“Then let’s meet at the bazaar.”
Isabelle, who had been standing up cheerfully, stopped. Then she looked at Adele and began meaningfully.
“Have you ever seen Count Weiss fight on the battlefield?”
“No.”
“I saw it once. When he returned from winning the war, leading the White Ghost Knights.”
Isabelle narrowed her eyes and frowned as if trying to recall that day.
“I still can’t forget the sight of him approaching me, covered in blood and breathing heavily. He looked just like... the leader of a pack of wolves.”
“...!”
“I often wonder if the silver wolf would look like a person.”
Isabelle said she was looking around for a bazaar that would be held nearby.
The other ladies who were with her also recognized them and pretended to know them. They even asked Adele to join the bazaar, saying they needed sponsors. Perhaps because they were conscious of Christine, unlike in the Empress’s audience room, everyone was friendly.
Of course, Isabelle was haughty and cold to the end.
“Have you two met before?”
Christine asked after Isabelle and her party had left.
“This afternoon at the Empress’s Palace.”
“I see.”
Christine didn’t say anything else after that.
In the end, Adele carefully brought out the words she had been holding back all day.
“They say the previous Emperor also died at the silver wolf.”
“Do you believe that?”
“You know. When it comes to the silver wolf, my judgment becomes clouded.”
So Chris, tell me the truth.
“A woman who lost her husband and everything fell apart overnight. She would want to blame someone. A silver wolf that doesn’t exist would be a very good target.”
Those cold words hurt Adele.
“It somehow sounds like you’re talking to me. Is the silver wolf that doesn’t exist the target that I, who lost my mother overnight, chose to blame?”
Christine’s expression hardened.
However, Adele, who was hurt, didn’t notice his expression.
“Chris, if what you said is true, the silver wolf is an illusion that doesn’t exist. But is it possible that so many people saw an illusion?”
“So what are you trying to say?”
When he hid his emotions, he felt so cold. His eyes that had been smiling affectionately just a moment ago, and his soft voice, were as cold as ice.
“I thought you might know something.”
Christine kept his mouth shut for a while and said nothing.
“Ask the Count. Why is he trying so hard to block the article about the silver wolf?”
“I’m angry because you won’t let me write an article about the silver wolf...”
It was clear that Christine had something to do with the silver wolf.
But why...?
Adele’s heart wavered as she looked at his tightly shut lips.
‘What if he says something about the silver wolf?’
‘What if he says he’s hiding something about my mother’s death?’
The thought of their relationship falling apart was scary.
“Fine. I’m being sensitive again.”
Shaking her head, Adele crossed her arms with him again.
‘If you’re lying to me, it must be just as hard for you as it is for me.’
‘If you have to lie to me, there must be a reason for it, right?’
Adele knew that she was being cowardly. In fact, she wanted to cover up this peaceful daily life by attaching such an excuse.
She had chosen sweet hypocrisy over painful truth.
***
“Did you enjoy the opera?”
“Yes.”
“They say there will be a sea of tears in the farewell aria. Did you cry too, young lady?”
“Yes.”
Tanya asked Adele ceaselessly while combing her hair. It was a performance she had been longing to see.
But soon she realized that Adele’s answers were soulless.
“What happened?”
She asked, staring intently at Adele in the mirror.
Instead of answering, Adele smiled weakly.
This was something even Tanya could not say.
“Can I come in?”
When Christine came into the room, Tanya quickly gave him a seat.
He had disheveled, wet hair and was wearing a comfortable-looking linen shirt. He smelled of fragrant soap as he approached Adele’s back, as if he had just taken a bath.
“Your complexion doesn’t look so good.”
He said, examining Adele’s expression in the mirror.
“I must be tired because I walked a lot.”
“Hair... Should I comb it?”
“Would you?”
The rough hand that had been holding the knife picked up a round comb and skillfully combed Adele’s hair. His touch was softer than anyone else’s, and his expression was infinitely affectionate.
A person who always puts her before himself.
Adele had no doubts.
“Will you hold me, Chris?”
The hand that was combing his hair stopped.
Fearing that there might be a misunderstanding, Adele quickly added,
“Don’t think of anything naughty. I really just want you to hold me.”
“I know.”
He stretched out both arms and hugged Adele from behind. She buried her face in the nape of his neck and remained motionless for a while.
He seemed to be as complicated as Adele.
“Just give me some time, Adele. I’ll tell you everything someday.”
“What?”
“Just... everything I can tell you.”
“But I hope it’s not too late.”
***
A few days later.
Gosh!
A shrill scream echoed through the center of Greenhill, the capital.
“You said there were more victims today?”
“I don’t know how many. It’s so scary these days that I can’t go outside after the sun sets.”
Greenhill, the capital of Kalime, was famous for its safety. However, horrific corpses had been found almost every day for the past few days. They all looked as if they had been torn to pieces by animals.
Kalime’s tabloids decorated their front pages with provocative headlines and illustrations every day, further terrifying the people.
They claimed that all of this was the work of the Silver Wolf. You couldn’t help but believe it, because only an animal could have the power to tear a person apart. If enough people believe it, it becomes the truth.
Greenhill, where spring was coming, was soon covered in the fear of the silver wolf.
“Miss, there was an incident today!”
Tanya came running in, holding the Kalame tabloid in her hand.
Adele, who was drinking tea, quickly received the newsletter and began reading it. She had been checking this newsletter every day.
Although she had little trust in the Kalame tabloid, she agreed that they knew quite a bit about the silver wolf.
Unlike regular wolves, it had five claws, mysterious blue-gray eyes, and the beast could kill a person in an instant...
It was all the same as what she had heard when her mother died.
Yesterday, there were two victims in one night.
Christine was a member of the palace guard, but the guards were on high alert because the Emperor had declared that he would personally resolve the incident. Because of that, he had not been able to return home for several days.
“We have to catch him quickly,”
Tanya muttered, fidgeting.
However, Adele put down the newsletter she was reading.
“Something is strange.”
“What?”
The bastard had been out of sight for nearly ten years. But recently, victims began to appear, and in the span of a few days, they suddenly increased in number. And he killed people and displayed them in the middle of the city as if to show off. It seemed like there was some intention behind it, rather than just the actions of a simple beast.
For example, a vicious intention to show off his existence...
Then, there was a knock on the door and Henry announced, “We have a guest.”
***
She was truly an unexpected guest.
“Welcome, Your Majesty Empress Isabella.”
Although she was the previous Empress, Isabella still had great influence among the ladies. But today, she was alone, without even a single maid. Her clothes were plain enough to not stand out. That meant she didn’t want people to talk about today’s meeting. Adele dismissed Tanya and everyone else.
“I came to ask a favor.”
As soon as she took off her gloves and sat down, Isabelle got to the point.
“A favor?”
“We need desserts to sell at the bazaar. Everyone has been praising Miss Adele’s skills.”
“I can definitely help you with that.”
“Then I’ll send someone to tell you the detailed schedule.”
“Is that really all you came here to say?”
At that moment, the corners of Isabelle’s mouth rose elegantly.
“Since Miss Adele accepted my request, I can also grant you one favor. Did you say you were curious about the silver wolf?”
Was it a deal?
“Yes, I would like to hear what information you know about the silver wolf.”
With Duke Rodwell’s abilities, they should have a lot of information.
“Good. Then, Miss Adele, share the information you know.”
“Are you asking me to betray the Count?”
“I’m making a proposal. To put it bluntly, I’m asking you to make the Count a man of the Grand Duke of Rustis.”
“...!”
Adele held her breath. Isabelle’s son, the Grand Duke of Rustis. He was not yet twenty years old and was the eldest son of the previous Emperor. If the Emperor had not suddenly passed away during the war, he would have naturally become the next Emperor.
However, he was now the owner of the most remote and useless territory in Kalime. In reality, he was no different from being exiled. However, his maternal grandfather was the Duke of Rodwell, the head of the noble council. Now that the war was over, it was expected that the Duke of Rodwell would not remain quiet.
So Jan joined hands with Stone to disperse the power of the nobles.
And the Rodwell family wanted to join hands with Christine to disperse the power of the Emperor.
But that meant becoming a traitor.
Adele was suddenly frightened by such an outrageous story. This was the Marvel Palace. Even if it was just the two of them, they were openly discussing treason in the palace.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Isabelle laughed as if she saw right through her.
“No, you know very well, Miss Adele. If Stone Oswald becomes the son-in-law, the Count’s position will be greatly weakened. Then, who would be better to join hands with?”
Adele was once again filled with anger at the Emperor. During the war, he had been popular with the people by riding on Christine’s back, but now he had joined hands with Stone for political gain.
Isabelle threw out another sweet bait.
“If you help us, we can give the Count autonomy of his territory in the future.”
“You mean...?”
“The Count’s lands will become a duchy, and you will become a Grand Duchess.”
Grand Duchess...
Adele was not at all interested in such titles. However, the offer to live peacefully with him without interference from anyone was very appealing.
“Why did you suddenly change your mind? Didn’t you hate the Count a few days ago?”
“Because the silver wolf appeared. Everyone said there was no such thing. But now the whole city is trembling in fear of the silver wolf. So there is a reason to investigate my husband’s death again. And then we need the Count’s help more than anyone else.”
If the current Emperor really did kill the previous Emperor, and if Christine was involved in it as they thought, he would be the most important witness.
And the Grand Duke Rustis would have enough justification to reclaim the throne.
“If by any chance the Count was involved in the assassination of His Majesty the previous Emperor...”
And the Rodwell family wanted to join hands with Christine to disperse the power of the Emperor.
But that meant becoming a traitor.
Adele was suddenly frightened by such an outrageous story. This was the Marvel Palace. Even if it was just the two of them, they were openly discussing treason in the palace.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Isabelle laughed as if she saw right through her.
“No, you know very well, Miss Adele. If Stone Oswald becomes the son-in-law, the Count’s position will be greatly weakened. Then, who would be better to join hands with?”
Adele was once again filled with anger at the Emperor. During the war, he had been popular with the people by riding on Christine’s back, but now he had joined hands with Stone for political gain.
Isabelle threw out another sweet bait.
“If you help us, we can give the Count autonomy of his territory in the future.”
“You mean...?”
“The Count’s lands will become a duchy, and you will become a Grand Duchess.”
Grand Duchess...
Adele was not at all interested in such titles. However, the offer to live peacefully with him without interference from anyone was very appealing.
“Why did you suddenly change your mind? Didn’t you hate the Count a few days ago?”
“Because the silver wolf appeared. Everyone said there was no such thing. But now the whole city is trembling in fear of the silver wolf. So there is a reason to investigate my husband’s death again. And then we need the Count’s help more than anyone else.”
If the current Emperor really did kill the previous Emperor, and if Christine was involved in it as they thought, he would be the most important witness.
And the Grand Duke Rustis would have enough justification to reclaim the throne.
“If by any chance the Count was involved in the assassination of His Majesty the previous Emperor...”
Isabelle said firmly.
“It’s foolish to hate the sword when someone wielded it. Is that an answer?”
It meant that they would not ask about Christine’s crimes at all.
After all, finding the culprit who killed the previous Emperor was not important to them.
Reclaiming the throne was more important!
“I understand your intention. Give me time to think about it.”
“Then let’s meet at the bazaar.”
Isabelle, who had been standing up cheerfully, stopped. Then she looked at Adele and began meaningfully.
“Have you ever seen Count Weiss fight on the battlefield?”
“No.”
“I saw it once. When he returned from winning the war, leading the White Ghost Knights.”
Isabelle narrowed her eyes and frowned as if trying to recall that day.
“I still can’t forget the sight of him approaching me, covered in blood and breathing heavily. He looked just like... the leader of a pack of wolves.”
“...!”
“I often wonder if the silver wolf would look like a person.”
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