RAMHM Chapter 60

The Count's Estate's Mad Dog

For two days, Jimskehr had been avoiding his father, Count Raelon, who was camped in front of the Grand Ducal Estate, before finally heading to Count Acacia's estate through the back gate.

If his lord hadn't considerately given him orders that allowed him to escape, he'd have been stuck breaking into a cold sweat while continuing to lie to his father—"His Grace has entered the palace"—without reprieve.

In any case, Countess Acacia had become the Grand Duchess-designate. He'd been just as shocked by the sudden news. The Crown Prince had visited the Grand Ducal Estate several days in a row with a serious expression, so apparently they'd discussed this very matter.

Jimskehr couldn't know through what channels Countess Acacia had become his lord's mistress, but he vaguely speculated there must be someone formidable backing her. Because Novian wasn't the type to make emotional decisions simply because she resembled the late Grand Duchess.

Lost in thought, he arrived at Count Acacia's estate—quite far from the capital's center—before he realized it.

The moment he arrived, Jimskehr sensed the atmosphere was far from ordinary. He'd noticed before that the estate employed more security than seemed warranted for its modest scale, but today was different altogether. Splendidly uniformed Imperial Knights formed ranks around the estate like a fortress in the middle of a battlefield.

"What is your business here?"

"Pardon? Ah, I'm Jimskehr Raelon of House Raelon."

"What is your affiliation?"

"I'm affiliated with the Trovika Grand Ducal Estate."

The words had barely left his mouth when several knights guarding the entrance surrounded him. Then, despite his considerable build, they hooked his arms on both sides and simply lifted him toward the estate entrance. In an instant, with both feet dangling in the air, Jimskehr flailed as he was carried inside the estate gates. While he was being transported, one of the knights rushed inside the estate building and brought out a gleaming man.

"I-I'll come another time. Please."

"Where do you think you're going?"

The man descending the grand entrance steps with the leisurely gait of someone taking a stroll was Second Prince Rhodness. Though his pace was unhurried, Jimskehr's breath caught in his throat. The Prince was stripped to the waist. To Jimskehr, who only served a lord who kept himself thoroughly covered, it was highly suggestive—utterly indecent attire.

"The master of the Count's household is from House Trovika—"

"Did my warning not work? I believe I said I'd crush you so badly you couldn't walk."

That warning had worked far too well—Jimskehr was currently dying inside. He knew this Prince was a problem child who always kept his word once he'd said something like that.

Rhodness tilted his head back and looked down at him with complete disdain. His lord Novian often made that expression when suspicious of someone, but somehow, standing before this Prince, Jimskehr felt like an insect that would die the moment he was stepped on—the sense of intimidation was overwhelming.

Neil, who'd rushed out after him from inside the estate, draped something like a nightgown over Rhodness. But having already seen a body covered in scars earned on the battlefield, Jimskehr had lost his fighting spirit and simply waited for whatever the Prince might say next.

"What's your master done now?"

"Ah, Countess Acacia has been designated as Grand Duchess-to-be."

A crack appeared in the Prince's leisurely expression before it smoothed over again. Forcing his lips into a twisted smile, the Prince finally spoke after a long moment.

"So?"

"His Grace has directly sent me to manage Count Acacia's estate—"

"You must have forgotten. The Countess is my woman, so don't try anything funny. Did you not pass along my message?"

"!"

At Rhodness's gaze—as though seeking his sword—Jimskehr, who'd been frozen as if struck by lightning, shouted again.

"Your Highness! Your Highness, this is difficult. His Highness the Crown Prince already knows about this."

"So what? Trembling but still running your mouth."

Faced with this Prince who simply wouldn't listen to reason, Jimskehr realized entering the estate building to meet the Countess today was out of the question. As Rhodness strode closer—looking ready to crush him at any moment—Jimskehr quickly backed away.

That's when it happened.

"Woof! Woof!"

The moment a huge dog came barreling from the back garden with its tongue hanging out, Jimskehr's mind went blank.

"...You're afraid of dogs."

"P-please get it away, Your Highness!"

The Prince's face—like a divine masterpiece—was utterly haughty. As though he couldn't even hear the plea, he actually snapped his fingers toward the dog. Ttak! Understanding the signal, the dog charged forward with the speed of a rabid beast, and Jimskehr no longer had time to think—he turned to run, or tried to. The Prince's long, solid leg tripped his fleeing feet without a moment's hesitation.

Time seemed to slow agonizingly, and when he glanced back resentfully, Rhodness's red eyes flashed. Before his gaze could even register the sharply raised corner of the Prince's mouth, Jimskehr crashed miserably onto the front garden's stone pavement. As the dog finally reached him and vigorously licked his fallen cheek, his vision turned yellow and his trousers grew damp.

'The mad dog isn't this dog—'

It's that Prince! Jimskehr took one last look at Rhodness's concerned, detestable face before fainting.

Rhodness strode majestically through the entrance. Conscious of the servants' gazes, I hastily whispered for him to close his nightgown.

"I'm showing it on purpose."

"What?"

"Right? Your servants and my subordinates—I need to deceive them all in advance so Novian Trovika moves more frantically."

"That's why I said until this is over, we should speak formally to each other."

I'd urged Rhodness, who'd come to the estate at dawn saying Novian might strike at any moment, to use formal speech with me from now on. Rhodness had agreed outwardly but seemed inwardly displeased.

"Understood, Countess."

Rhodness answered as though conceding defeat.

"What are you going to do about Sir Jimskehr?"

When I asked worriedly, Rhodness watched through the large window flooded with sunlight as his knights hoisted Jimskehr up and expelled him from the estate. His expression was cold, but his lips curved upward—he looked like a proper villain.

"Your Highness?"

"What should I do? Leave him like that and he'll get up on his own and scurry back to tattle to his master."

"Your Highness."

"If we leave him, he'll return to his master on his own, Countess."

The estate servants watched from a distance, sneaking glances, but whenever their eyes met Rhodness's, they made little hik sounds and bowed their heads almost to the floor. Well. The moment he'd arrived at the estate, he'd wandered around like it was his own home, then the instant he saw Jimskehr entering, he'd stripped off his shirt and gone outside—such bizarre behavior would have added fuel to his reputation as a problem child.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Follow me for a moment."

I quietly led him to my study. Only after locking the door and drawing the curtains completely did I turn to face Rhodness, who'd already buried himself in the snug sofa. What had I told Rhodness, who'd come at dawn out of concern for me?

"I told you I became Grand Duchess-designate."

"Even though no one's here, you're going to keep doing that?"

"Yes."

As though he didn't dislike my determination to maintain formal speech, Rhodness smiled faintly before his expression turned serious.

I sat near him and caught my breath. I'd also recognized, when I heard Jimskehr had arrived, that Novian had truly made up his mind. Without Rhodness, I might have been moved helplessly to the Grand Ducal Estate starting today.

"Adrienne—no, Countess. I want to finish this anxious business quickly."

Rhodness spoke low, having completely erased his earlier playful demeanor. He was sincere. Those eyes that had sunk deep when I'd told him at dawn about becoming Grand Duchess-designate—those same eyes were before me now.

"Truthfully, I don't care what happens to Baroness Kuroseida. I feel no emotion toward that woman."

"......"

"What I'm helping isn't Father—it's you, Countess."

So if there's anything I can help with, tell me. As Rhodness said this, he gazed at me steadily. Receiving a look soaked with earnest longing made my palms tingle. I stood abruptly, grabbed the diary from the desk, and returned. Rhodness's gaze, which had been watching me unflinchingly, slowly fell to it.

"It's Bliea Acacia's diary."

Rhodness quietly reached out and opened the diary.

"Is this that diary?"

Along with his lowered voice, his eyes became busy searching for evidence that Novian had been killing me.

"That diary is elsewhere. Apart from what I mentioned, it's mostly scribbles anyway. This one came from the Count's safe recently."

As he turned the pages, watching his expression change moment by moment, I became certain he could interpret far more of the contents than I could.

"You must be busy with Baroness's disappearance case, but whenever you have time, please look at this diary. It would be even better if you could interpret it."

"From the very first page, this dog... is spouting nonsense. I'll get a stroke."

He muttered low as though talking to himself.

"The Grand Duke will likely bring me into the Grand Ducal Estate very soon and prevent me from going out."

His straight brow furrowed slightly.

"That's why he's giving me the Grand Duchess-designate title."

"Then what do you plan to do?"

"From inside the Grand Ducal Estate, I'll make other people come find me. I probably won't be able to serve as attendant for a while either."

"...It sounds like we won't be able to meet often."

"Yes, we probably won't meet often."

Rhodness slowly lowered his eyes. Sitting at an angle with his eyes cast down so shadows fell beneath his lashes, he looked like a painting—but he also seemed to be suppressing displeasure.

"!"

Then, beneath the small tea table, his large hand reached over and gripped my knee tightly. When I raised startled eyes to examine him, his expression unchanged, he gradually shifted closer to me.

Through his improperly closed nightgown, his bare body was fully visible—my face flushed hot. I hastily picked up his shirt from nearby. Crinkle— Then suddenly I heard an incongruous sound and reached into the inner pocket to pull out its source.

"?"

Dismay colored Rhodness's face as he watched without blinking what I was doing. On my palm sat the cookie bundle I'd given him ages ago. The wrapping paper, crumpled from being in his clothes, looked rather pitiful, but I didn't dare untie the ribbon. Whatever was inside would likely be in quite a dreadful state.

"Why on earth are you carrying this around—"

That's when it happened.

"Your Highness!"

Rhodness snatched it from my hand in one motion, untied the ribbon, and dumped the cookies into his mouth.

"Wh-what in the world are you—!"

For a moment, I had the illusion his face turned deathly pale.

"I couldn't believe you existed in this world, so I always looked at it, but I've been too busy lately to go where I kept this often. So..."

After swallowing with barely any chewing, Rhodness—impressively—didn't even drink the water right in front of him and smiled at me instead. His lips, curving upward refreshingly, drew a magnificent smile that could make one fall in love, but my own mouth hung open, unable to close.

"...Delicious."

"There's no way it's delicious!"

"It is."

In the instant it had all happened, I—clutching the wrapping paper he'd undone—saw it clearly. After gulping down the cookies that were little more than powder and insisting they were delicious, Rhodness's face went pale, and in an instant, cold sweat began streaming down his forehead.