Episode 97. Isabelle's Laughter
"Your Majesty, the Empress? Is there anything..."
The thing hiding under the cloth suddenly poked its head out, as if it had heard the servant calling from outside the carriage.
It was unexpectedly a girl of about fifteen or sixteen.
The girl's face was soaked in blood, and her deep blue-gray eyes reminded her of Christine.
Was that the kind of face he would have when he was really scared?
They were different ages and genders, but they looked strangely similar.
On top of that, she looked pitifully exhausted for a murderer.
"Your Majesty, the Empress, the Vatican priests want to search the carriage for a moment."
The girl's frightened face turned pale at those words.
"..."
Isabelle hesitated, then spoke out of the carriage in a majestic voice.
"This is the carriage in which my father, the Duke of Rodwell, is sleeping. Please tell the Vatican to pay respect to the deceased."
"Yes, Your Majesty, the Empress."
Soon, the servant and others could be heard arguing outside the carriage.
“Is that you? The murderer they’re chasing?”
Isabelle asked the girl in a low voice.
Instead of answering, the girl shook her head and shed tears.
However, Isabelle’s cold expression still did not disappear.
“If you’re trying to appeal to my emotions, then stop. Instead, try to convince me to hide you.”
The girl quickly discarded her pitiful expression and spoke boldly.
“I’ll become Your Majesty’s magician.”
“You really killed someone with that magic?”
Isabelle thought that it would be better. It would be the cleanest way to kill Jan with magic.
“That’s ridiculous. I've been framed.”
“What a shame. I needed a strong magician.”
The girl quickly answered.
“I’ll try!”
However, Isabelle was still cold.
“If you can use that much magic, why are you hiding here like a thieving cat?”
“...”
Instead of answering, the girl simply wiped the blood dripping from her nose with her sleeve.
Isabelle held out her handkerchief.
“Name?”
“Leana.”
“That pendant must be important, huh?”
Leana looked down at the pendant she had been holding tightly in her hand. Maurice had dropped it when he attacked the brown wolf, and had quickly picked it up and run away.
“It’s my father’s heirloom.”
“Good. I’ll hide it, so leave it to me.”
Leana gripped the pendant tighter, as if it were a no-brainer.
“Why would I trust you, a murderer, to hide it? I know you’ll do something bad along the way. So there has to be at least some collateral.”
At that moment, a servant spoke again from outside the carriage.
“Your Majesty, I think you should come out and speak.”
“Did you hear?”
Isabelle looked at Leana as if urging her.
Leana had no choice but to hand over the pendant.
“Swear on Your Majesty’s name that you’ll definitely return it.”
Isabelle was dumbfounded.
“Why should I swear it?”
“Then I swear it. If you don’t give it back, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”
“...What?”
Isabelle barely managed to suppress her laughter.
This shabby child, no different from a rat in a cage, was threatening the Empress.
And she was quite bold and serious.
But Isabelle strangely liked that.
Maybe she was more useful than she thought.
“Good luck, Leana.”
As Isabelle stepped out of the carriage, two priests bowed their heads respectfully.
“What’s going on?”
“I’d like you to take a quick look inside the carriage.”
“I clearly told you. My deceased father is sleeping there. If you continue to harass the deceased and his family, I will formally lodge a complaint with His Holiness the Pope.”
Leaving them behind, Adele left the mansion first.
“Are you leaving now?”
When she turned around, Judy was approaching. She was wearing pajamas and a large shawl because of the chilly dawn.
“I was going to leave quietly, but I guess I woke you up.”
“No, I woke up early today. I guess I wanted to say goodbye like this.”
Adele hugged Judy quietly.
“It’s nice to see your face before we leave. Thank you, Judy.”
“I’m sorry, Miss.”
“What?”
Judy said awkwardly, frowning.
“I hated you a little. I was jealous. But I wish you both happiness. Sincerely.”
“I’ll cheer for you, Judy. You’ll be fine.”
Judy’s face hardened as if she were surprised.
“You knew... did you?”
Adele winked.
“Probably everyone knows except you?”
“Ugh, I don’t know!”
Adele stood in the middle of the garden and looked up at the mansion, leaving Judy behind, who was crying and covering her cheeks.
The darkness of dawn gradually receded, revealing the mansion quietly.
Surrounded by the white fog, blooming spring flowers, and trees, it was like a painting.
The children must still be deep asleep, despite the refreshing sound of birds.
Adele’s heart seemed to calm down at the peaceful scenery.
Perhaps, for a long time, when she heard words like peace, happiness, leisure, and laughter... she would think of this house.
After leaving Mark’s mansion, Christine and her party stopped the carriage around lunchtime. They were in front of a shabby inn in a small rural town.
Christine entered the inn with Adele. Zimmer and Jennifer followed them as if they were escorting them.
Isabelle, dressed in black, was sitting in the middle of the inn hall. Three or four knights with swords surrounded her.
“Come on, Count. Miss Adele.”
Christine and Adele briefly greeted each other and sat across from each other.
“The Duke’s affairs are not going well.”
Isabelle smiled weakly at the two’s greetings. Her face had become quite haggard over the past few days, but her expression was still bright.
“Thanks to you, I was able to see him through his death. I am grateful.”
“I just didn’t want to be misunderstood.”
“So, can we consider ourselves on the same side now?”
Christine answered Isabelle’s gentle question with a blank expression.
“I will just watch the fight between the Emperor and the Duke. That is more beneficial to me.”
“How irresponsible!”
Christine said firmly to Isabelle, who was criticizing him.
“I will return to Russwolf, and I don’t care who wins. I don’t want to sacrifice my people in this meaningless fight.”
“What if I have your people?”
“What is that?”
“Open it.”
Isabelle handed him a small pendant. It was a light and elaborately crafted object that was not ordinary.
Click!
Christine, who had been absentmindedly pressing a small button, stopped.
“...!”
Adele, who was looking into the pendant with her, was also startled.
The face in the portrait inside the pendant was so similar that it was believable that she could tell it was Christine.
“Ah... Dad?”
And Christine turned his head at the voice heard from behind him.
A girl with a pale face was staring at him.
Her two eyes, which looked as if they were about to cry at any moment, were the same blue-gray as Christine’s.
"Your Majesty, the Empress? Is there anything..."
The thing hiding under the cloth suddenly poked its head out, as if it had heard the servant calling from outside the carriage.
It was unexpectedly a girl of about fifteen or sixteen.
The girl's face was soaked in blood, and her deep blue-gray eyes reminded her of Christine.
Was that the kind of face he would have when he was really scared?
They were different ages and genders, but they looked strangely similar.
On top of that, she looked pitifully exhausted for a murderer.
"Your Majesty, the Empress, the Vatican priests want to search the carriage for a moment."
The girl's frightened face turned pale at those words.
"..."
Isabelle hesitated, then spoke out of the carriage in a majestic voice.
"This is the carriage in which my father, the Duke of Rodwell, is sleeping. Please tell the Vatican to pay respect to the deceased."
"Yes, Your Majesty, the Empress."
Soon, the servant and others could be heard arguing outside the carriage.
“Is that you? The murderer they’re chasing?”
Isabelle asked the girl in a low voice.
Instead of answering, the girl shook her head and shed tears.
However, Isabelle’s cold expression still did not disappear.
“If you’re trying to appeal to my emotions, then stop. Instead, try to convince me to hide you.”
The girl quickly discarded her pitiful expression and spoke boldly.
“I’ll become Your Majesty’s magician.”
“You really killed someone with that magic?”
Isabelle thought that it would be better. It would be the cleanest way to kill Jan with magic.
“That’s ridiculous. I've been framed.”
“What a shame. I needed a strong magician.”
The girl quickly answered.
“I’ll try!”
However, Isabelle was still cold.
“If you can use that much magic, why are you hiding here like a thieving cat?”
“...”
Instead of answering, the girl simply wiped the blood dripping from her nose with her sleeve.
Isabelle held out her handkerchief.
“Name?”
“Leana.”
“That pendant must be important, huh?”
Leana looked down at the pendant she had been holding tightly in her hand. Maurice had dropped it when he attacked the brown wolf, and had quickly picked it up and run away.
“It’s my father’s heirloom.”
“Good. I’ll hide it, so leave it to me.”
Leana gripped the pendant tighter, as if it were a no-brainer.
“Why would I trust you, a murderer, to hide it? I know you’ll do something bad along the way. So there has to be at least some collateral.”
At that moment, a servant spoke again from outside the carriage.
“Your Majesty, I think you should come out and speak.”
“Did you hear?”
Isabelle looked at Leana as if urging her.
Leana had no choice but to hand over the pendant.
“Swear on Your Majesty’s name that you’ll definitely return it.”
Isabelle was dumbfounded.
“Why should I swear it?”
“Then I swear it. If you don’t give it back, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”
“...What?”
Isabelle barely managed to suppress her laughter.
This shabby child, no different from a rat in a cage, was threatening the Empress.
And she was quite bold and serious.
But Isabelle strangely liked that.
Maybe she was more useful than she thought.
“Good luck, Leana.”
As Isabelle stepped out of the carriage, two priests bowed their heads respectfully.
“What’s going on?”
“I’d like you to take a quick look inside the carriage.”
“I clearly told you. My deceased father is sleeping there. If you continue to harass the deceased and his family, I will formally lodge a complaint with His Holiness the Pope.”
As Isabelle stubbornly stepped out, the priests looked at each other with awkward expressions.
“I apologize. Then I pray for the soul of the deceased.”
As they stepped aside, Isabelle sighed and examined the pendant.
It was made of a unique material and was very elaborate and luxurious, so it seemed like it was no ordinary item.
If it really was her parents' heirloom, then Leana was no ordinary girl.
'Well, if the Vatican is looking for her so intently, then there must be something.'
Knock!
As she was pressing the button on her pendant, Isabelle almost screamed.
'Count Weiss?'
There was a small portrait inside the pendant that looked so much like Christine.
Could this be the child's father?
Only then did she understand why she had thought of Christine the moment she saw Leana.
The child was definitely related to him in some way.
Could they be blood relatives?
He remembered the words the Duke of Rodwell had told him just before he died.
"If possible, avoid fighting the Emperor. But if you must, by all means... make Count Weiss our ally. If not, we cannot win."
In this situation, Leana, who might be Christine's blood relative, had come into her hands.
'It seems the heavens are still on our side.'
As she got into the carriage, she said to the coachman,
"To Greenhill quickly. We must meet Count Weiss."
"Yes, Your Majesty, the Empress!"
Early in the morning, before daylight had dawned.
Mark's mansion, covered in blue darkness, was filled with a sweet and fragrant smell.
In the kitchen oven, a cake was baking, and animal-shaped cookies were lined up on the large baking sheet.
Sitting on one side of the table, Adele was writing a letter.
She was going to leave soon with Christine and his party. She didn’t think she would be able to say goodbye to the children, so she was packing up letters and snacks instead. She felt bad thinking about how Jade and Pauline, who had been following her well, would be sad.
“You’re leaving earlier than I thought.”
Adele looked up at the heavy voice.
Mark was standing in front of the kitchen door, his face swollen from sleep.
“That’s right. Please give the cookies to Pauline and the carrot cake to Jade, along with this letter. And tell them I’m sorry I couldn’t see them.”
“Isn’t there a present for me? I liked your apple pie the best.”
“Oh...”
Adele was a little taken aback by the unexpected thought.
Mark laughed quietly.
“I’m joking.”
“Of course you're joking. I paid enough medical bills to buy apple pies for the rest of your life.”
Christine, who had come behind Mark, spoke arrogantly.
Adele scolded Christine for that.
“Chris, that’s not right...”
Mark also joined Adele as if he were surprised.
“Adele, your fiancée is a materialist who thinks money is everything.”
“I’m sorry, it’s because I didn’t teach him well.”
Christine was dumbfounded as he watched the two of them working together so well.
“I feel like I’m fighting a two-on-one right now.”
“It can’t just be my feelings.”
Mark ignored his fierce gaze and teased him, saying everything he wanted to say.
“Ha, thank goodness you saved my life.”
“That’s right. Fortunately, the Count is a beast who knows gratitude.”
Christine smiled as if he were dumbfounded and held out his hand.
“Anyway, you owe me a lot. I believe that there will come a day when you can repay me.”
Mark took his hand.
“Be careful, if you push yourself too hard, your wounds will open.”
“Hmm.”
In the meantime, Adele wrapped up some cakes and cookies and brought them to Mark.
“Thank you so much, Mark. I’ll never forget you.”
“It’s an honor. To be the man you’ll never forget.”
Mark said playfully, as if to tell her to listen.
Needless to say, Christine’s expression turned red.
If you look closely, Mark seemed to enjoy seeing him get angry like that.
His gentle face had a strange, bad taste.
But Adele also honestly found it amusing to tease Christine when he got angry.
“A farewell hug would be okay, right?”
“I apologize. Then I pray for the soul of the deceased.”
As they stepped aside, Isabelle sighed and examined the pendant.
It was made of a unique material and was very elaborate and luxurious, so it seemed like it was no ordinary item.
If it really was her parents' heirloom, then Leana was no ordinary girl.
'Well, if the Vatican is looking for her so intently, then there must be something.'
Knock!
As she was pressing the button on her pendant, Isabelle almost screamed.
'Count Weiss?'
There was a small portrait inside the pendant that looked so much like Christine.
Could this be the child's father?
Only then did she understand why she had thought of Christine the moment she saw Leana.
The child was definitely related to him in some way.
Could they be blood relatives?
He remembered the words the Duke of Rodwell had told him just before he died.
"If possible, avoid fighting the Emperor. But if you must, by all means... make Count Weiss our ally. If not, we cannot win."
In this situation, Leana, who might be Christine's blood relative, had come into her hands.
'It seems the heavens are still on our side.'
As she got into the carriage, she said to the coachman,
"To Greenhill quickly. We must meet Count Weiss."
"Yes, Your Majesty, the Empress!"
***
Early in the morning, before daylight had dawned.
Mark's mansion, covered in blue darkness, was filled with a sweet and fragrant smell.
In the kitchen oven, a cake was baking, and animal-shaped cookies were lined up on the large baking sheet.
Sitting on one side of the table, Adele was writing a letter.
She was going to leave soon with Christine and his party. She didn’t think she would be able to say goodbye to the children, so she was packing up letters and snacks instead. She felt bad thinking about how Jade and Pauline, who had been following her well, would be sad.
“You’re leaving earlier than I thought.”
Adele looked up at the heavy voice.
Mark was standing in front of the kitchen door, his face swollen from sleep.
“That’s right. Please give the cookies to Pauline and the carrot cake to Jade, along with this letter. And tell them I’m sorry I couldn’t see them.”
“Isn’t there a present for me? I liked your apple pie the best.”
“Oh...”
Adele was a little taken aback by the unexpected thought.
Mark laughed quietly.
“I’m joking.”
“Of course you're joking. I paid enough medical bills to buy apple pies for the rest of your life.”
Christine, who had come behind Mark, spoke arrogantly.
Adele scolded Christine for that.
“Chris, that’s not right...”
Mark also joined Adele as if he were surprised.
“Adele, your fiancée is a materialist who thinks money is everything.”
“I’m sorry, it’s because I didn’t teach him well.”
Christine was dumbfounded as he watched the two of them working together so well.
“I feel like I’m fighting a two-on-one right now.”
“It can’t just be my feelings.”
Mark ignored his fierce gaze and teased him, saying everything he wanted to say.
“Ha, thank goodness you saved my life.”
“That’s right. Fortunately, the Count is a beast who knows gratitude.”
Christine smiled as if he were dumbfounded and held out his hand.
“Anyway, you owe me a lot. I believe that there will come a day when you can repay me.”
Mark took his hand.
“Be careful, if you push yourself too hard, your wounds will open.”
“Hmm.”
In the meantime, Adele wrapped up some cakes and cookies and brought them to Mark.
“Thank you so much, Mark. I’ll never forget you.”
“It’s an honor. To be the man you’ll never forget.”
Mark said playfully, as if to tell her to listen.
Needless to say, Christine’s expression turned red.
If you look closely, Mark seemed to enjoy seeing him get angry like that.
His gentle face had a strange, bad taste.
But Adele also honestly found it amusing to tease Christine when he got angry.
“A farewell hug would be okay, right?”
“Of course,” she said readily to Mark’s question.
Finally, Christine, whose patience had reached its limit, stepped in between them.
“Let me.”
“Huh?”
Mark looked at him in confusion.
“Since Adele is my fiancée, I’ll hug you on her behalf.”
“I’ll decline that, Count.”
When Mark backed away in horror, Christine approached him more mischievously.
“Don’t decline. I can even give you a farewell kiss.”
“No, no, Count.”
“Adele will be upset. I’ll decline.”
Suddenly, the tables were turned, and Christine seemed to be having fun teasing Mark. Adele could barely contain her laughter as she watched the two bickering like children.
At times like this, they were two men who were no different from Jade and Pauline, except for their size.
Leaving them behind, Adele left the mansion first.
“Are you leaving now?”
When she turned around, Judy was approaching. She was wearing pajamas and a large shawl because of the chilly dawn.
“I was going to leave quietly, but I guess I woke you up.”
“No, I woke up early today. I guess I wanted to say goodbye like this.”
Adele hugged Judy quietly.
“It’s nice to see your face before we leave. Thank you, Judy.”
“I’m sorry, Miss.”
“What?”
Judy said awkwardly, frowning.
“I hated you a little. I was jealous. But I wish you both happiness. Sincerely.”
“I’ll cheer for you, Judy. You’ll be fine.”
Judy’s face hardened as if she were surprised.
“You knew... did you?”
Adele winked.
“Probably everyone knows except you?”
“Ugh, I don’t know!”
Adele stood in the middle of the garden and looked up at the mansion, leaving Judy behind, who was crying and covering her cheeks.
The darkness of dawn gradually receded, revealing the mansion quietly.
Surrounded by the white fog, blooming spring flowers, and trees, it was like a painting.
The children must still be deep asleep, despite the refreshing sound of birds.
Adele’s heart seemed to calm down at the peaceful scenery.
Perhaps, for a long time, when she heard words like peace, happiness, leisure, and laughter... she would think of this house.
***
After leaving Mark’s mansion, Christine and her party stopped the carriage around lunchtime. They were in front of a shabby inn in a small rural town.
Christine entered the inn with Adele. Zimmer and Jennifer followed them as if they were escorting them.
Isabelle, dressed in black, was sitting in the middle of the inn hall. Three or four knights with swords surrounded her.
“Come on, Count. Miss Adele.”
Christine and Adele briefly greeted each other and sat across from each other.
“The Duke’s affairs are not going well.”
Isabelle smiled weakly at the two’s greetings. Her face had become quite haggard over the past few days, but her expression was still bright.
“Thanks to you, I was able to see him through his death. I am grateful.”
“I just didn’t want to be misunderstood.”
“So, can we consider ourselves on the same side now?”
Christine answered Isabelle’s gentle question with a blank expression.
“I will just watch the fight between the Emperor and the Duke. That is more beneficial to me.”
“How irresponsible!”
Christine said firmly to Isabelle, who was criticizing him.
“I will return to Russwolf, and I don’t care who wins. I don’t want to sacrifice my people in this meaningless fight.”
“What if I have your people?”
“What is that?”
“Open it.”
Isabelle handed him a small pendant. It was a light and elaborately crafted object that was not ordinary.
Click!
Christine, who had been absentmindedly pressing a small button, stopped.
“...!”
Adele, who was looking into the pendant with her, was also startled.
The face in the portrait inside the pendant was so similar that it was believable that she could tell it was Christine.
“Ah... Dad?”
And Christine turned his head at the voice heard from behind him.
A girl with a pale face was staring at him.
Her two eyes, which looked as if they were about to cry at any moment, were the same blue-gray as Christine’s.
“Is this definitely your person?”
Isabelle ended up laughing out loud as if she enjoyed this situation.
Forgetting that she was in mourning.
Isabelle ended up laughing out loud as if she enjoyed this situation.
Forgetting that she was in mourning.
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