RAMHM Chapter 52

You'll Regret It

How long did that silence flow? Those eyes that had always been coldly, keenly sharp sank low, and he pressed close to the open window.

"Say that again. Are you acknowledging your relationship with the Second Prince to my face?"

"Look around you, Your Grace. Living outside the palace... you who are now imperial family in name only—how can I help being more interested in the Second Prince, who lives inside this brilliant, magnificent palace?"

From the moment I'd mentioned Imperial Princess, his eyes had begun to fray—now they roiled more violently as time passed. Though frightened, I held firm.

Instead I lifted my chin higher, smiled boldly. I knew that phrase—imperial family in name only—was a trigger for him. As the Emperor's half-brother, while gaining trust over other siblings, he'd devoted his entire life to never hearing those words. So his reaction was only natural.

'Say it.'

Even if it was a lie meant to appease me.

'Say you'll give me the Grand Duchess's seat.'

You won't back down anyway until you possess this Bliea. That's why you're enduring this much, isn't it? My eyeballs ached, the back of my head pulled tight. Probably because I was glaring with eyes bulging enough to burst blood vessels.

Those deep blue pupils that seemed to have lost all reason—they rippled like black ocean, then soon calmed. Lips twitching as if ready to say anything—I watched them stubbornly. From Novian looking down at me, the voice I'd been waiting for finally burst forth.

"...You'll regret it."

Cutting through that cold silence and gaze containing not a single shred of affection came only those few words.

"Acting like this—you'll definitely come to regret it."

The voice came crawling along the ground toward me, not through the air. Novian cleanly removed his hand that had been gripping the carriage window frame as if to break it. Then after glaring at me for a long moment, he turned away and disappeared as if harboring no lingering attachment.

I didn't take my eyes off his retreating back—until his neatly tied hair completely vanished from sight, until Yona came running toward me from where she'd been watching breathlessly in the distance.

"Madam, are you all right? Did you fight?"

"...Let's go."

Yona climbed into the carriage while watching my expression, then called the coachman to move. The sounds of the still-boisterous party faded—but Novian's words clung to the carriage wheels, following me. That I'd definitely regret it?

'I'm already sick of regret.'

That useless regret—that I should never have met you from the beginning.

I fell asleep late that evening while rifling through Bliea's diary. The short passages I'd interpreted here and there proved to be nothing more than ordinary scribbles—disappointing.

From morning, Madame Leblais came by to provide special grooming, and I entered the palace much earlier than yesterday. Today was the day to decorate the party hall according to my plan, so I had much to check early.

"If Father knew I entered the palace this early in the morning, the Grand Duke would mock me."

I stopped abruptly at the wide-open entrance to the Crown Princess's palace reception room and hid myself.

"There's no way that bastard went all the way to Ellaconia for nothing. He didn't want to agree to abolishing the law, so he used that as an excuse to escape. I can't believe I was blindsided like this!"

Duke Castagna was inside the Crown Princess's palace. Had he arrived just moments before me? Even from behind, I could tell he was breathing roughly.

"You expected this, didn't you? Nora, close the reception room door. Father, I won't even hope for a formal audience, but when you come to see an empire's Crown Princess, how can you dismiss all the attendants? At least close the door properly when you enter. I have the envoy welcome ceremony to oversee soon, and even without this problem, I have much to worry about."

Thud.

"The Crown Prince... how dare he... this opportunity..."

The door closed, and Duke Castagna's enraged voice flowed from the reception room, cutting in and out. I pressed my ear close trying to listen, but it was useless. Through the tiny gap, only the Duke's shadow flashed back and forth across the reception room ceaselessly.

What were they discussing? Why would Duke Castagna—who had nothing to do with the envoy welcome ceremony—rush to the palace from the west so early in the morning?

The law Duke Castagna wants abolished—Novian doesn't want to abolish it.

That was all I could infer from Doris and the Duke's brief conversation. Clunk—!

"In any case, Father, I'm extremely busy today so... Bliea?"

The reception room door suddenly swung open, and Doris startled at seeing me standing there blankly. I bowed formally as if I'd just arrived.

"Your Highness, shouldn't you hurry to the ceremony hall? It must be decorated beautifully—I hoped you'd see it first, as is fitting."

"Ah, yes. You heard that, Father?"

Doris accepted my escort as if perfectly timed and escaped that place. Glancing back briefly into the reception room—the Duke stood there, face flushed crimson with excitement. The moment our eyes met, his went wide and round. I immediately turned my head and quickened my steps.

'Duke Castagna also knows my face.'

Someone who exchanges messages with Annie, who recognizes my face the instant our eyes meet. If nothing else, if there was one person I should watch most carefully beside Doris, it would be that Duke.

The event was more successful on the second day than the first. Unlike the first day decorated with all manner of jeweled crafts, the second day featured eastern-style floral decorations that I'd led—arranged appropriately from the hall entrance to the head table.

Ellaconia was a nation made wealthy by the enormous quantity of gems buried in its barren land. I understood why Nora said she'd stake her life on making connections here. Over ninety percent of the jewelry Nora's shop handled came from Ellaconia. The Ellaconian envoys, connoisseurs of gems, praised yesterday's decorations that Nora had prepared. But only that.

"Today's atmosphere is quite different from yesterday."

The interpreter—listening to the envoys' words—conveyed them to us with a bright expression. I remembered how Ellaconia and my homeland Pirreta had profited by buying and selling gems and flowers to each other. That memory seemed to have struck true. People from a nation where flowers were rarer than gems would remain indifferent no matter how many expensive jewels you displayed.

"After the party ends, we've arranged for you to take home the decorative flowers, packaged."

When I gestured toward the attendants waiting at the party hall entrance, the interpreter quickly conveyed my words. The envoy delegation couldn't hide their sparkling eyes, speaking rapidly.

"Of all the places visited... the best... grateful..."

It seemed to mean this was the best of all places they'd visited, and to convey their thanks. When several of them looked at me intently as if to remember me, I spoke in the Ellaconian I'd prepared.

—Everything is according to the Crown Princess's wishes.

At the Ellaconian words—clumsy but accurately delivered—people nearby quietly applauded. When I conveyed to the bewildered Doris what I'd just said, she looked at me with round eyes as if quite impressed. Crown Prince Bardenaldo, conversing with the envoy delegation leader at the head table, summoned Doris to stand beside him.

"Let us toast to the infinite glory of the Empire and Ellaconia."

Everyone attending the party raised champagne glasses simultaneously. When the Crown Prince then commended Doris for successfully preparing the welcome reception, applause poured from the Ellaconian side. The gazes of both Doris and the Crown Prince—who must have been thoroughly briefed on who created this welcome ceremony—turned toward me simultaneously.

I raised my champagne glass and nodded toward the young Crown Prince couple. I was acutely aware that Jimskehr—Novian's faithful dog—was watching this entire scene.

"Madam, you were truly magnificent today."

"Sir Neil. You always work so hard."

"If we don't pay attention to your escort, our enlighten... His Highness the Second Prince will crack our skulls, so we have no choice."

Neil—who'd been outside the hall—naturally escorted me while speaking glibly.

"Is His Highness busy?"

"Ah, rather than busy... he's coordinating to undertake an important mission. With His Imperial Majesty."

"Might that be related to Baroness Kuroseida's disappearance?"

When I mentioned a rumor I'd picked up somewhere, Neil finally opened his mouth after a long pause.

"He'll tell you himself. If I speak out of turn, my skull really will burst, so please pretend you don't know."

Though said playfully, the voice carried genuine sincerity. I quietly nodded and climbed into the carriage heading home. Throughout watching the scenery flash past the window, everything felt dreamlike.

'I never imagined what I studied for Novian would be used like this.'

Now he'll clearly understand he can no longer move me according to his whims. Seeing me—who should remain in shadow—constantly emerging into light, gaining recognition, obtaining things one by one through my own power... he'll know that treating me harshly alone won't change anything.

I clearly saw Jimskehr—who'd witnessed every scene today—quietly disappear. What would Novian do now? After completing such a major event, sudden fatigue crashed over me. I wanted to enter the Grand Ducal estate as soon as possible and freely rummage through his study and mine without anyone's interference.

I want to escape quickly...

To end this tiresome fight.

'I don't want to lose you ever again.'

'I'll do anything for that.'

Rhodness's voice—stopping by to tell me that despite his busyness—rose unbidden at all hours. When this tiresome fight ended, could I also envision a future with Rhodness?

Before long the carriage stopped, and I descended with spirits somewhat lifted—but strangely, the Count's estate was quiet. Neil, who'd escorted me, also seemed to sense something amiss, opening the door with thoroughly wary eyes. Brightly lit yet dark atmosphere. Servants gathered and murmuring. The premonition wasn't good. Had Novian stormed in?

"Madam! Madam!!"

Hearing my presence, Marge burst from among the servants and grabbed my skirt, collapsing.

"The master, the master...!"

"What about the Count?"

One of the knights who'd escorted Count Acacia emerged from among the servants, face covered in wounds, and Marge's sobbing voice grew progressively louder.

"Forgive me, Madam."

"What happened?"

"Count Acacia, while inspecting his territory..."

"Was there some problem?"

"The carriage wheel came off and he fell down a cliff."

"!"

I was too shocked to even open my mouth. The knight's somber expression struggled to speak again.

"We couldn't find the body, but... he must certainly have perished."

The servants' lamentations filled the space. Count Acacia was dead.

'You'll regret it.'

The knight who'd accompanied the Count said it was definitely an accident, yet why—

'Acting like this—you'll definitely come to regret it.'

Why did it feel like that damned voice of Novian Trovika was gnawing inside my ears?