Episode 54. The Princess and the Grand Duke's Trauma
When it was the Grand Duke's business, unrelated to her, she didn't bother to pay attention. Interfering could have killed her. But now, a variable had arisen. Rose was going to the Princess's birthday banquet. And with the Grand Duke of Artaeum, who was now being framed as the culprit. Jane couldn't remain silent any longer. One wrong move could have swept Rose into the fray, potentially costing her life. She swallowed, her parched lips quivering.
“I have something to tell you.”
Rose tilted her head at the low, hushed voice.
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
Jane looked around and whispered to Rose in a low voice.
“Don’t go to that banquet.”
"Huh?"
Why is Jane suddenly acting like this? Rose looked at Jane with wide eyes.
“...Don’t go.”
Jane's eyes were filled with desperation as she told her not to go. The hand holding Rose trembled weakly, like a swaying aspen tree.
"Jane. Calm down. What on earth are you doing?"
Rose calmly comforted Jane.
“Don’t get involved with His Highness the Grand Duke of Artaeum. If you do... You could end up in danger, young lady.”
Rose felt that Jane's words were not ordinary.
“Jane... what do you know?”
“...”
‘...I don’t believe the rumor that the late Emperor passed away because his illness worsened.’
The situation was suspected to be poisoning, but for some reason, the investigation was quickly closed. It was clear that the Grand Duke of Artaeum's uncle and Duke Flice were behind it.
“...That’s quite logical. I think we need to listen carefully to what that maid has to say.”
The Grand Duke, who had been suspicious of Jane, now seemed to have some degree of trust in her words.
“If you ask for the Princess’s understanding and do not attend, zhs may be able to avoid the immediate danger... but if you do, it will be the same as losing the opportunity to counterattack.”
Grand Duke Arteum nodded at Rose's words.
“Let me think about it for a moment.”
He rested his hand on his forehead, seemingly weary, and closed his eyes. The Princess's birthday banquet was ten days away. He had to find a suitable solution within that time. The carriage carrying Arteum and Rose raced forward with a powerful bang.
Meanwhile, Jane, who had been blankly staring at the departing carriage, was trudging towards the mansion.
“...But, is it true that you have no relationship with the Grand Duke?”
The more she thought about it, the stranger it seemed. Rose, who was so obsessed with the Grand Duke's business, even though they were strangers, and the Grand Duke, who had been waiting for Rose so late at night, were both. Just past the small forest path, the Count's residence was soon within sight. Jane walked slowly, clutching her complex mind. Lost in her grave thoughts, Jane stumbled. Splash!
"Oh!"
One of Jane's feet slipped into the lakeside. At the same time, her body tilted toward the water. Just then, a man in a tattered robe ran over and grabbed Jane's hand.
“Oh, thank you.”
If she hadn't been careful, she could have ended up swimming in the rotten lake water. Jane looked at the person who had helped her, expressing her gratitude. It was Serun. Serun took off the robe he had been covering and looked at Jane.
When it was the Grand Duke's business, unrelated to her, she didn't bother to pay attention. Interfering could have killed her. But now, a variable had arisen. Rose was going to the Princess's birthday banquet. And with the Grand Duke of Artaeum, who was now being framed as the culprit. Jane couldn't remain silent any longer. One wrong move could have swept Rose into the fray, potentially costing her life. She swallowed, her parched lips quivering.
“I have something to tell you.”
Rose tilted her head at the low, hushed voice.
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
Jane looked around and whispered to Rose in a low voice.
“Don’t go to that banquet.”
"Huh?"
Why is Jane suddenly acting like this? Rose looked at Jane with wide eyes.
“...Don’t go.”
Jane's eyes were filled with desperation as she told her not to go. The hand holding Rose trembled weakly, like a swaying aspen tree.
"Jane. Calm down. What on earth are you doing?"
Rose calmly comforted Jane.
“Don’t get involved with His Highness the Grand Duke of Artaeum. If you do... You could end up in danger, young lady.”
Rose felt that Jane's words were not ordinary.
“Jane... what do you know?”
“...”
“It’s okay, just talk.”
At Rose's words, Jane shook her head and repeated that she should not go.
‘It seems to be something related to Grand Duke Artaeum...’
Could they be plotting something else at the banquet? A sense of foreboding gripped her. Rose, her heart pounding, calmly spoke to Jane.
“At the Princess’s birthday banquet... is Grand Duke Artaeum taking the blame?”
Jane was startled by Rose's cautious words and responded.
“How, how did you do that...!”
The ominous feeling was right. Rose spoke to Jane in a firm voice.
“Tell me, Jane.”
“...I don’t like it. Can’t you just not go to the banquet?”
"Then what about Grand Duke Artaeum? If he's falsely accused, you don't know what will happen to him. Will you just sit back and watch?"
“...You said you weren’t close with His Highness the Grand Duke.”
Jane hung her head and muttered.
At Rose's words, Jane shook her head and repeated that she should not go.
‘It seems to be something related to Grand Duke Artaeum...’
Could they be plotting something else at the banquet? A sense of foreboding gripped her. Rose, her heart pounding, calmly spoke to Jane.
“At the Princess’s birthday banquet... is Grand Duke Artaeum taking the blame?”
Jane was startled by Rose's cautious words and responded.
“How, how did you do that...!”
The ominous feeling was right. Rose spoke to Jane in a firm voice.
“Tell me, Jane.”
“...I don’t like it. Can’t you just not go to the banquet?”
"Then what about Grand Duke Artaeum? If he's falsely accused, you don't know what will happen to him. Will you just sit back and watch?"
“...You said you weren’t close with His Highness the Grand Duke.”
Jane hung her head and muttered.
“I don’t want the young lady to be in danger.”
She was whispering, but she couldn't hide her excitement and grabbed Rose's shoulder.
"...And the Grand Duke is a member of the royal family and holds a high position! Even if something happens, he'll be able to escape somehow. But not Miss Rose. What if you get involved in something and die? What are you going to do about it!"
Jane felt uneasy at the thought of the Grand Duke of Artaeum, who might die, but the person she held dear was not the Grand Duke, but Rose. She couldn't allow Rose to become entangled in such a dangerous situation. Rose was just the daughter of a powerless, fallen noble. Jane, knowing of such a grave matter, remained silent, and yet, on the other hand, she understood Jane's position. She, too, had tried to avoid getting involved in the Grand Duke's affairs. Even though she knew full well what would happen to him...
'...I promised to protect you.'
Rose gently took Jane's hand on her shoulder. Then she spoke in a firm voice.
"Jane, I don't know how you learned of the plan, but know this: Whether you tell me or not, I'm going to the banquet with the Grand Duke."
Of course, this was a lie. Knowing it was a trap, I wouldn't walk into an enemy's lair blindly. It was just a blatant lie, meant to provoke Jane. If I used this well, it could be an opportunity to counterattack. I couldn't let this opportunity slip away. Jane was startled by Rose's words and cried out.
“No!”
“If you don’t tell me, I can’t help it.”
She was whispering, but she couldn't hide her excitement and grabbed Rose's shoulder.
"...And the Grand Duke is a member of the royal family and holds a high position! Even if something happens, he'll be able to escape somehow. But not Miss Rose. What if you get involved in something and die? What are you going to do about it!"
Jane felt uneasy at the thought of the Grand Duke of Artaeum, who might die, but the person she held dear was not the Grand Duke, but Rose. She couldn't allow Rose to become entangled in such a dangerous situation. Rose was just the daughter of a powerless, fallen noble. Jane, knowing of such a grave matter, remained silent, and yet, on the other hand, she understood Jane's position. She, too, had tried to avoid getting involved in the Grand Duke's affairs. Even though she knew full well what would happen to him...
'...I promised to protect you.'
Rose gently took Jane's hand on her shoulder. Then she spoke in a firm voice.
"Jane, I don't know how you learned of the plan, but know this: Whether you tell me or not, I'm going to the banquet with the Grand Duke."
Of course, this was a lie. Knowing it was a trap, I wouldn't walk into an enemy's lair blindly. It was just a blatant lie, meant to provoke Jane. If I used this well, it could be an opportunity to counterattack. I couldn't let this opportunity slip away. Jane was startled by Rose's words and cried out.
“No!”
“If you don’t tell me, I can’t help it.”
“Yes, just a moment!”
As Rose turned away without looking back, Jane grabbed her arm.
“I’ll tell you everything... so don’t go to the banquet.”
Jane spoke softly, her expression utterly distressed. She told the story she'd heard that day about Cedric and his men. Rose, unfazed by the story, nodded calmly.
“So... They plan to feed poison to the Princess.”
“Yes... They said that the Princess only drinks the wine brought by the Grand Duke of Arteum every year, so she takes advantage of that time.”
“...”
“...Are you really planning to go?”
Rose nodded at Jane, who was looking at her with a worried expression.
“Don’t worry too much. Thanks to Jane, we found a way out.”
If it weren't for Jane, the Grand Duke probably would have fallen into the trap without knowing anything.
“You heard this story, but no one else knows, right?”
"That is..."
Jane trailed off, thinking of Serun. She should also mention that he betrayed Rose. She opened her trembling mouth with difficulty.
"Count..."
Knock knock.
“Sorry, Ma'am. Our business hours are over.”
Just as Jane was about to speak, a clerk knocked on the door and came in, greeting Rose and Jane politely.
“Ah, now it’s really time to go.”
Rose and Jane rose from their seats. Jane waited for an opportunity to talk about Serun. However, she never got around to talking about Serun.
“Is the work done?”
“Huh? Your Highness?”
In front of the cafe, the Grand Duke of Arteum was waiting, accompanied by a magnificent black carriage.
“Didn’t you go back to the Arteum estate?”
“I had some business to attend to, so it took a while. I came just in case, but you haven’t left yet.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Take it. I’ll give you a ride to the mansion.”
Rose nodded at the Grand Duke's words.
"That's good. I was wondering when I'd ever get to tell the Grand Duke about this."
“Oh, Jane. Would you like to come with me?”
“No, it’s okay. It’s only a short walk to the mansion.”
Jane shook her head and declined.
“I could give you a ride on the way, though.”
“It’s really okay.”
Jane took Rose's hand with a faint smile.
"I will respect your choice, young lady. But please promise me this: ...that you will return safely."
“Of course. It’s me, Rose. You don’t have to worry about that.”
Rose tried to lighten the mood by raising her voice a bit to ease Jane's worries. Jane nodded, watching Rose.
“Please come in.”
“Yes. See you next time.”
“Yes. See you next time.”
Rose climbed into the carriage, leaving Jane's hazy gaze behind her. Then, speaking in a serious voice to the Grand Duke, who was following behind her,
“Your Highness, Duke Flice’s side has done something again.”
“Duke Flice?”
At Rose's words, the Grand Duke's eyes froze coldly.
“Yes. It seems they were planning to frame the Grand Duke again at the Princess’s birthday banquet.”
He had his spy watch over them, but the Grand Duke had no clue what was going on.
"Ha."
“I’m so glad I found out before the birthday party.”
“Did the maid you just met tell you?”
"Yes."
“...Is she a trustworthy guy?”
“Don’t worry, Jane. She’s not the kind of girl who would lie to me.”
The Grand Duke seemed lost in thought at Rose's words, his mind quite complex.
"Let's hear about that plan first. I wonder what dirty tricks they're planning this time."
The air inside the carriage was chilled by the sound of the Grand Duke's voice. Rose couldn't have been mistaken about the chill.
“They swapped the unicorn horn cup the Princess uses for a fake. And the wine the Grand Duke is supposed to take.”
The Grand Duke frowned. Even without listening to Rose's words, he could tell what they were planning.
“They’re trying to frame me for poisoning.”
Rose nodded quietly at the Grand Duke's words.
"But, I'm sure your uncle knew about the plan. Are you saying he gave his permission to poison his own daughter?"
“They promised to only give a small amount, just enough to make her faint for a moment.”
"Ha!"
He was so shocked. Because of his uncle, who knew Diana's trauma so well, responded to it.
“Are you going to hurt Diana like this again?”
What on earth was that crown...? ...! He was disgusted by his uncle, who tried to exploit his only daughter, Diana.
As Rose turned away without looking back, Jane grabbed her arm.
“I’ll tell you everything... so don’t go to the banquet.”
Jane spoke softly, her expression utterly distressed. She told the story she'd heard that day about Cedric and his men. Rose, unfazed by the story, nodded calmly.
“So... They plan to feed poison to the Princess.”
“Yes... They said that the Princess only drinks the wine brought by the Grand Duke of Arteum every year, so she takes advantage of that time.”
“...”
“...Are you really planning to go?”
Rose nodded at Jane, who was looking at her with a worried expression.
“Don’t worry too much. Thanks to Jane, we found a way out.”
If it weren't for Jane, the Grand Duke probably would have fallen into the trap without knowing anything.
“You heard this story, but no one else knows, right?”
"That is..."
Jane trailed off, thinking of Serun. She should also mention that he betrayed Rose. She opened her trembling mouth with difficulty.
"Count..."
Knock knock.
“Sorry, Ma'am. Our business hours are over.”
Just as Jane was about to speak, a clerk knocked on the door and came in, greeting Rose and Jane politely.
“Ah, now it’s really time to go.”
Rose and Jane rose from their seats. Jane waited for an opportunity to talk about Serun. However, she never got around to talking about Serun.
“Is the work done?”
“Huh? Your Highness?”
In front of the cafe, the Grand Duke of Arteum was waiting, accompanied by a magnificent black carriage.
“Didn’t you go back to the Arteum estate?”
“I had some business to attend to, so it took a while. I came just in case, but you haven’t left yet.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Take it. I’ll give you a ride to the mansion.”
Rose nodded at the Grand Duke's words.
"That's good. I was wondering when I'd ever get to tell the Grand Duke about this."
“Oh, Jane. Would you like to come with me?”
“No, it’s okay. It’s only a short walk to the mansion.”
Jane shook her head and declined.
“I could give you a ride on the way, though.”
“It’s really okay.”
Jane took Rose's hand with a faint smile.
"I will respect your choice, young lady. But please promise me this: ...that you will return safely."
“Of course. It’s me, Rose. You don’t have to worry about that.”
Rose tried to lighten the mood by raising her voice a bit to ease Jane's worries. Jane nodded, watching Rose.
“Please come in.”
“Yes. See you next time.”
“Yes. See you next time.”
Rose climbed into the carriage, leaving Jane's hazy gaze behind her. Then, speaking in a serious voice to the Grand Duke, who was following behind her,
“Your Highness, Duke Flice’s side has done something again.”
“Duke Flice?”
At Rose's words, the Grand Duke's eyes froze coldly.
“Yes. It seems they were planning to frame the Grand Duke again at the Princess’s birthday banquet.”
He had his spy watch over them, but the Grand Duke had no clue what was going on.
"Ha."
“I’m so glad I found out before the birthday party.”
“Did the maid you just met tell you?”
"Yes."
“...Is she a trustworthy guy?”
“Don’t worry, Jane. She’s not the kind of girl who would lie to me.”
The Grand Duke seemed lost in thought at Rose's words, his mind quite complex.
"Let's hear about that plan first. I wonder what dirty tricks they're planning this time."
The air inside the carriage was chilled by the sound of the Grand Duke's voice. Rose couldn't have been mistaken about the chill.
“They swapped the unicorn horn cup the Princess uses for a fake. And the wine the Grand Duke is supposed to take.”
The Grand Duke frowned. Even without listening to Rose's words, he could tell what they were planning.
“They’re trying to frame me for poisoning.”
Rose nodded quietly at the Grand Duke's words.
"But, I'm sure your uncle knew about the plan. Are you saying he gave his permission to poison his own daughter?"
“They promised to only give a small amount, just enough to make her faint for a moment.”
"Ha!"
He was so shocked. Because of his uncle, who knew Diana's trauma so well, responded to it.
“Are you going to hurt Diana like this again?”
What on earth was that crown...? ...! He was disgusted by his uncle, who tried to exploit his only daughter, Diana.
The late Emperor and Empress had died of poisoning. It happened before Diana could even begin to shake off the grief of losing her mother. Diana had always been by their side. During the reign of the late Emperor and Empress... and even the moment her own mother died. Diana was the first to discover their cold bodies. This was a trauma that would remain with Diana for the rest of her life. It was an unbearable horror for a child, not even seven years old, to endure. Her fear of poisoning inevitably intensified to an unusual degree. Diana was plagued by the constant anxiety of death. Not only did she hire a poison tester, but she also always wore leather gloves to prevent the poison from penetrating her skin.
The Grand Duke of Artaeum was also shocked by the poisoning of the late Emperor and Empress. However, unlike Diana, the Grand Duke overcame the trauma on his own. Sharpening his blade of revenge... Grand Duke Artaeum was so shocked by his uncle that it gave him goosebumps.
‘...I don’t believe the rumor that the late Emperor passed away because his illness worsened.’
The situation was suspected to be poisoning, but for some reason, the investigation was quickly closed. It was clear that the Grand Duke of Artaeum's uncle and Duke Flice were behind it.
“...That’s quite logical. I think we need to listen carefully to what that maid has to say.”
The Grand Duke, who had been suspicious of Jane, now seemed to have some degree of trust in her words.
“If you ask for the Princess’s understanding and do not attend, zhs may be able to avoid the immediate danger... but if you do, it will be the same as losing the opportunity to counterattack.”
Grand Duke Arteum nodded at Rose's words.
“Let me think about it for a moment.”
He rested his hand on his forehead, seemingly weary, and closed his eyes. The Princess's birthday banquet was ten days away. He had to find a suitable solution within that time. The carriage carrying Arteum and Rose raced forward with a powerful bang.
Meanwhile, Jane, who had been blankly staring at the departing carriage, was trudging towards the mansion.
“...But, is it true that you have no relationship with the Grand Duke?”
The more she thought about it, the stranger it seemed. Rose, who was so obsessed with the Grand Duke's business, even though they were strangers, and the Grand Duke, who had been waiting for Rose so late at night, were both. Just past the small forest path, the Count's residence was soon within sight. Jane walked slowly, clutching her complex mind. Lost in her grave thoughts, Jane stumbled. Splash!
"Oh!"
One of Jane's feet slipped into the lakeside. At the same time, her body tilted toward the water. Just then, a man in a tattered robe ran over and grabbed Jane's hand.
“Oh, thank you.”
If she hadn't been careful, she could have ended up swimming in the rotten lake water. Jane looked at the person who had helped her, expressing her gratitude. It was Serun. Serun took off the robe he had been covering and looked at Jane.
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