TBDNS - Chapter 85

Episode 85. Jan's Last Mission


"I have good news and bad news."

"Good news first."

"The Vatican has rejected Stone's objection. So you and Adele can officially get married."

When Christine's expression didn't change even after hearing that, Jan felt a little embarrassed.

"I guess you already knew." "

"A little while ago."

"Then did you hear bad news?"

When Christine showed interest in the word bad news, Jan sighed as if he had a headache.

"It seems that the Duke of Rodwell wrote a letter to the Vatican. He asked them to investigate the silver wolf that appeared in Kalame."

"I believe that the silver wolf was a fake rumor spread by Stone to hide his identity."

"I said that too. However, it seems that the Duke has no intention of backing down this time. He said he's going to the Vatican with the letter himself."

Christine snorted lightly.

“Will the Vatican believe him when there’s no evidence?”

“If it’s the Duke of Rodwell, he might be able to move the Vatican. If the Vatican starts an investigation, not only Stone but you could be in danger.”

Christine read Jan’s cunning intentions.

“So, you want me to deal with the Duke of Rodwell?”

Jan’s expression, which had been sighing until just a moment ago, brightened.

“As expected, you’re quick-witted.”

He wanted to use his hand to deal with the Duke of Rodwell and prevent Stone from being revealed as a member of the Wolf Clan. He didn’t know that April would get hurt either.

“I’ll refuse.”

It seemed Jan had already guessed that he would be rejected. The next condition was right after that.

“If this matter is resolved, I’ll make you the Duke of Janelle. And you’ll be treated as a hero and allowed to return to your territory. If you want, I can give you autonomy.”

“I won’t kill anyone for you anymore, Jan.”

Jan’s face turned cold at that.

“Then, do you want to be discovered and chased away by the Vatican? Now you have to think about your wife, too. Yes? This is the last time. I swear it on the Emperor’s name.”

Christine didn’t believe Jan’s promise. However, if an investigator from the Vatican came, it would definitely be a headache.

And this might be the best opportunity.

***

“Then let’s rest for a while and then see.”

Jan, who came out of the audience room, looked extremely attentive. As if he had personally visited Christine because he was worried about him. His back was still arrogant as he left with the guards, as if he had never asked him for a favor.

However, Adele was anxious.

He knew that he was calculating and in some ways more cunning than Stone.

Furthermore, Christine’s expression seemed quite complicated, even though she didn’t show it.

“Why did His Majesty come?”

She asked cautiously as the Emperor got into his carriage and disappeared.

“He has a favor to ask of me.”

“I told you not to listen.”

He looked at her as if he were surprised.

“Can you really do that? The other party is the Emperor?”

Adele sighed.

“Yes. The other party is the Emperor. I think I’d like to sprinkle salt on the back of his head so he doesn’t show up again.”

“I should try it. It’d be fun.”

When Christine chuckled, Adele glared faintly.

“Are you laughing now?”

“He said it’s a last request. He said that if I just finish that job, I can go back to Russwolf.”

However, Adele felt a strange sense of unease at the word “last.” 

“That request... is it dangerous?”

“Adele, there’s nothing dangerous for me.”

“Wow, what’s with this confidence? Then tell me what it is.”

Christine made an ambiguous expression and didn’t answer.

“Since you’re not telling me, it must be dangerous.”

“I need to go somewhere for two or three days.”

“Where?”

“Let’s leave for Russwolf as soon as I get back.”

Adele’s voice grew a little louder as she watched Christine not answering.

“Where on earth are you going for two or three days?”

He hesitated for a moment and then answered helplessly.

“Blue Gale. I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you more.”

However, Adele’s green eyes were persistently questioning his purpose of going there.

He felt like she would confess everything if he kept going like this, so he turned Adele’s shoulder toward the restaurant.

“Enough questions! Let’s go eat.”

“Tch!”

When Adele stuck out her lips,

Chook!

“Oh, what is it!”

Adele covered her lips in surprise and looked at him, and he smiled slyly.

“I thought you were asking me to kiss you when you stick your lips out.”

“Wow. When did you become so sensitive?”

“That’s right. When did I become so sensitive?”

“From now on, only do this in front of me. Yes?”

“Yeah.”

Chook.

This time, Adele kissed him and said coolly.

“This is a seal of promise.”

Christine could barely hold back the urge to kiss Adele again because he found her cute.

***

The next day.

When Adele opened her eyes early in the morning, the seat next to her was already cold.

She thought he would leave in the morning, but it seems he left at dawn when everyone was asleep.

Instead, there was a neatly folded note in his empty seat.

[I’ll be back as soon as possible.

Let’s get married at the church by Lake Garden before the cherry blossoms fall.

Your beloved husband.]

“Cheers.”

Adele smiled without realizing it. She folded his note neatly and put it in the box where she kept her pistol.

Then, as she happened to look out the window, she saw Zimmer and Tanya under the garden tree.

Weren’t they leaving together?

Adele quickly put on her robe and went outside.

“Weren’t you going with the Count, Sir Zimmer?”

Zimmer, who was talking to Tanya, quickly turned around. His usually calm face seemed a little flustered. Tanya, who was in front of him, also had her cheeks slightly red.

“I’m sorry. I did interrupt your good time...”

“No!”

“No, miss.”

The two were startled and waved their hands. Then Tanya said she was busy packing up her luggage and ran quickly.

“I was just thanking her for mending my clothes.”

Zimmer looked embarrassed and explained the situation a little while ago.

“But the atmosphere seemed pretty good.”

“Oh, you’ve misunderstood!”

“By the way, I thought you were leaving with the Count.”

“He said he was going alone this time.”

“So he left alone in the early morning without anyone knowing?”

“Don’t worry. He’ll come back safely.”

“It sounds like something could happen.”

“No, what I’m saying is...”

“If I ask why he left, you won’t tell me, right?”

“I’m sorry.”

Zimmer just nodded.

Although Zimmer seemed gentle and quiet, Adele knew that he was more reserved than anyone else. That must be why Christine kept him by his side as his confidant.

“I understand.”

Yes, nothing would happen.

However, Adele had been feeling a strange sense of unease since yesterday.

The fact that he left without anyone knowing meant that his mission was that secret.

It must mean that it was as dangerous as it was secret.

The cunning Emperor had come to visit him in person and asked him for his last favor, so he couldn’t just give it to her.

***

However, Adele couldn’t just worry about Christine.

There were more than a few things to sort out if he was going to leave for Russwolf as soon as he returned.

She had to select the luggage he had to take, and she had to arrange for the carriage and workers she would need to move. In addition, she had to find out about the supplies she would need while moving, simple food, and accommodations where she would stay. There were also several accounts to settle.

Most of the bills were taken care of by Henry and the maid, but the final decision was up to the landlady, Adele.

Then, she was surprised when she received a call from Chanel asking her to come to the house to get her wedding dress fitted.　

“You forgot. When you were getting your engagement dress made, you saw the designs for the wedding dress and the reception dress together.”

After hearing Madame Chanel’s words, Adele remembered.

She had seen the wedding dress together when she was getting her engagement dress made. However, she had completely forgotten about it when she couldn’t have the wedding due to various reasons.

“But I don’t think I had requested it at that time.”

“The Count ordered it together. He said that you might be getting married soon.”

“I see.”

Christine had wanted the wedding as much as she had.

Thanks to that, she ended up wearing a proper wedding dress at her sudden wedding. Come to think of it, she almost got married without a wedding dress.

As Adele stood in front of the mirror in her fitted dress, Madame Chanel exclaimed.

“Oh my goodness, you are so beautiful! If the engagement dress was like an angel, then the wedding dress is like a goddess!”

The pure white wedding dress had a deep neckline along the chest line and puff sleeves. The skirt was a gorgeous fluttering chiffon fabric, and pearls and crystals were delicately and gorgeously adorned from the center of the waist.

However, Adele was a little embarrassed by the excessively flashy and bold design.

“It seems that my chest is showing more than the original design.”

“My design motto is ‘making beautiful parts stand out.’ Just trust me. You will be a more beautiful bride than anyone else.”

“A more beautiful bride than anyone else?”

Madame Chanel seemed to be speaking with a certain object in mind.

“That is... It seems that the Princess is getting married soon.”

“The Princess?”

Madame Chanel lowered her voice.

“Actually, I have a friend who is a tailor at the palace. But a few days ago, the Empress called her secretly and asked her to make the Princess’s wedding dress.”

Adele was confused.

“Marquis Oswald has been arrested and is probably in prison right now.”

“That’s right. The Count had a hard time catching him, so maybe he’ll be released soon?”

“No way!”

If he was released after committing such a terrible crime, then it could only be said that the Emperor had decided to let him go.

And then what did he ask Christine for as the last favor?

“But do you know what’s even stranger?”　

“What’s even stranger?”

“Well, they didn’t let us measure the Princess’s measurements. They just told us to make it a little bigger than usual because she seemed to have gained weight recently.”

“Why is that...?”

Madame Chanel lowered her voice even lower than before.

“Sometimes there are noble ladies who make such orders in our shop. Most of them are trying to avoid being found out that they’re pregnant...”

Could April be Stone’s child?

When Adele looked at her in surprise, Madame Chanel quickly got away.

“Of course, it’s absolutely not Princess who did that... Oh! Surprise!”

Madame Chanel was leaving the fitting room after finishing her secret conversation when she was startled.

Isabelle was standing in front of the door.

"Am I a ghost? Why are you so surprised?”

“I’m sorry. I’ve been feeling weak lately, so I’m easily startled.”

“Hello, Your Majesty.”

When Adele greeted her politely, Madame Chanel hurriedly left as if she were still alive.

“I heard the news. Congratulations on your wedding, Miss Adele.”

“Thank you.”

“Can we talk for a moment? Is this a good time?”

“Of course.”　

***

After leaving Chanel’s house, the two went to the cathedral where the bazaar had been held. Since it was a weekday, the inside of the cathedral was quiet and peaceful, with only the occasional priest passing through the corridor.

Isabelle sat on a bench in the courtyard surrounded by trees. Every tree branch had light green sprouts or flower buds hanging from it. As if to announce their survival, having survived the long winter.

“I really like this place. My mind becomes calm, and my distracting thoughts disappear.”

Isabelle closed her eyes for a moment, listening to the distant sound of the choir singing.

“What do you have to say to me?”

But Adele could not be as calm as she was.

Stone might be released soon.

“As Miss Adele said, the serial killer of Greenhill was Marquis Oswald. However, my father and I do not think he is the one who killed the former Emperor.”

“Do you still suspect Count Weiss?”

“Well, the Vatican will find out.”

“What is that...?”

“My father went to the Vatican today. If he reports that this serial murder is the work of the Wolf Clan, the Vatican will be interested. We will see.”

“What will happen if he is a Wolf Clan?”

“The Vatican will investigate him directly. The Oswald family will fall. And..."
　
Adele thought back to a conversation she had once had with Christine.

If the Vatican intervened, Stone and the Oswald family would fall. That was what Adele had wanted.

But wouldn’t that put Christine in danger too?

If he really is a wolf clan and the Vatican finds out...

“Why are you telling me this?”

“I wanted to give the Count a choice. Who will he side with, the Emperor or us? If he helps us, I will try to stop him.”

“You are certain that the Count is the Silver Wolf.”

“Of course, I hope not.”

Isabelle made that elegant threat and rose from the bench.

At that moment, Adele seemed to understand the final mission the Emperor had given Christine.

“If you’re talking about the Vatican... you mean the one in Bluegale?”

“Yes.”

At that moment, Adele’s heart sank.

Christine must have left for Bluegale at dawn to stop the Duke of Rodwell from going to the Vatican.

Jan had clearly ordered him to assassinate the Duke.

And then he was preparing for April and Stone’s wedding.

Jan, you traitor!

“Are you okay?”

Isabelle asked worriedly, seeing how pale her face was.

“Yes, I’m okay. That’s all.”

As Adele hurriedly finished her greetings and left the courtyard, Zimmer ran toward her and shouted,

“Stone Oswald has been released!”

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