RAMHM Chapter 80

Madam Has Always...

The more the Emperor read the report in his hands, the more absurd—and simultaneously furious—he became.

"Rhoan, you tell me."

Unlike the Crown Prince who couldn't lift his head, the Emperor called Rhodness, who stood with his head raised stiffly, soul seemingly absent.

"Father, I... I'll explain."

"You couldn't have been the one to suggest punishing the Grand Duke. Surely Rhodness had something that didn't sit right."

The Emperor clicked his tongue as his eyes rapidly scanned down the report. But that lasted only a moment—the instant he read the report about Baroness Kuroseida, he shot up from his seat.

"Did you find the Baroness?!"

"She's probably dead."

"Rhoan!!"

The Emperor was shocked.

"Isn't it in the report? We found something like a base, and underground dungeons were discovered on land owned by Count Acacia, a vassal of Grand Duke Novian. The guards there had all already fled, and the testimony of the kidnapped Baroness Lotus is consistent."

The Emperor's legs gave out. Thud—he sank down.

"The body... did you find the body?"

"We're searching the vicinity. This case will be concluded once we find the Baroness's body."

"The Grand Duke truly did this? Why?"

"He's loyal to the imperial family—from the moment Father's affair became known, didn't he eliminate the Baroness thinking of the imperial family's dignity?"

"Rhoan!"

The Emperor's shocked eyes turned toward Rhodness as the silent Crown Prince cried out to stop him. The Emperor remained frozen, mouth working soundlessly as he endured the consecutive shocks.

"That's why I handled it quietly. If we just tarnish the Grand Duke's honor alone, Father can remain clean, can't he? If we hold a trial and drag this out, the rumors about Father's mistress will only multiply."

"Rhoan, Rhoan stop."

The Crown Prince began restraining Rhodness. The Emperor's expression had grown too pale.

"...You drive nails into your father's heart like this—what do you want? Is it to obtain the person you desire? Fine, I permit it. Whomever you wish to be bound to, this father won't interfere."

"I want nothing. I'll conclude the case once we find the body as is."

With those final words, Rhodness left the audience chamber, leaving the Emperor on the verge of collapse. Bardenaldo, who'd been floundering, hurriedly followed Rhodness out.

"Rhoan...!"

Rhodness stopped solidly in the middle of the dark corridor.

"...Thank you."

It was a greeting containing many meanings. Rhodness gave no answer. He'd bundled the reason for confining Grand Duke Novian in his report as suspicious points in the Baroness Kuroseida case. If the fact of sending rebels to the west were left in the report, he knew the west would never stay quiet.

"You're bearing all the blame for my sake, yet I..."

"Say nothing."

Watching the Crown Prince choke up, Rhodness spoke coldly.

"It's not for you, Brother. It's for Mother."

Empress Letina's only stain. The imperial family's aberration. The person who could erase all the condemnation and make Empress Letina shine as the Emperor's mother stood before Rhodness.

"...Rhoan."

He couldn't undo what had been done. He couldn't confess to Bardenaldo that Adrienne was alive.

Then while he lived, he had no choice but to exist begging Adrienne's forgiveness.

Even to the question of what he wanted—he couldn't dare ask for Adrienne. He could only hope Adrienne still wanted him. Rhodness turned his back on Bardenaldo and left the corridor.

Steam rose like fog above the hot water drawn in the bath. I immersed myself in the tub with the maids' support. Even when I pushed them to return to the Count's estate first, Marge and Yona remained at the Grand Ducal Estate to care for me. Most of the estate's servants had gone to the capital guard for questioning.

"Did you see the butler's expression, Madam? He looked ten years older."

"As long as he doesn't sidle up to Madam, that's fortunate."

"Good heavens, that slippery fellow—to Madam?"

"I don't know, that's just the feeling I get."

I silently listened to them tear into Butler Gaspar. Unfortunate or fortunate—Butler Gaspar was the first servant to return after questioning. At my fierce momentum, he'd ended up hastily agreeing and sent the wailing Annie north along with some of the Grand Duke's belongings.

Sent, in name—in reality, she was being expelled from the Grand Ducal Estate. I didn't know if he knew Annie was Duke Castagna's person, but in any case, he must have known she had backing.

When Annie was dragged away helplessly, Gaspar turned deathly pale and kept his mouth shut. Watching him protect himself while leaving me—acting like this estate's mistress—alone, he seemed frightened.

Butler Gaspar must be the Crown Prince's man.

The fact that he'd been released from questioning so quickly, and despite his anxiously wavering eyes, he tried to maintain composure—it was only possible if he had someone like the Crown Prince as backing. Moreover, he'd too obviously been following the Crown Prince around attending to him. Ah. There had been too many events—the moment the name I'd barely pushed aside surfaced, a headache came.

'If you were killed in this Grand Ducal Estate without me present, then surely... Crown Prince Bardenaldo.'

'Only Crown Prince Bardenaldo.'

Splash!

"Madam!"

"...Sorry."

I'd struck at Novian's whispering face rising above the water, and water splattered everywhere. Marge grumbled and stood, saying she'd go change clothes. And she'd get medicine to apply to Yona's face from Bianca's blow earlier—she left the bathroom.

Once Marge departed, Yona began carefully massaging my scalp. I sighed low and bit my lip. Novian Trovika had deceived me countless times, lied endlessly. From where to where should I accept what that man said?

It couldn't be helped. I love Adrienne. Bliea is just a substitute. The Crown Prince urged me to marry you, but in the end I loved you. The uncomfortable truths that came from his mouth filled my heart tight and scraped raw wounds. I didn't want to accept any of it.

Suddenly Crown Prince's words surfaced—that he could do anything for this Empire.

If following Novian's words, the Crown Prince was the source of all evil and he too was merely a victim—was I a sacrifice offered for the greater good? Should I accept Novian's words because it couldn't be helped, and understand the Crown Prince's decision because he had a greater cause?

『I have one older brother. The family I love most in the world and the person I must protect with my life.』

The affectionate, respected older brother who always appeared in young Rhodness's letters. Should I ask Rhodness? He trusts the Crown Prince, so he'd tell me not to believe Novian's words—but even if not my death, the marriage that was certainly the beginning of my unhappiness was the Crown Prince's doing.

If only Novian is punished. If he too can despair as much as I did. If his lifelong-built honor crumbles—I'd thought it no different from killing him. No matter how many times a sword pierces his heart, Novian dying shouldering that honor wouldn't despair. I knew the way to kill him most miserably and cruelly was losing honor, living shamefully, in a manner unbecoming of royalty, from rock bottom.

So I did it that way. I made him feel betrayed by everyone he'd trusted most. Yet why does it feel so unsettling? Why can't I see the path? What if Novian's words were really true...

...What if the Crown Prince killed me?

Unlike with Novian—rather than betrayal, absurdity was what I felt toward the Crown Prince. More than resentment toward him, Rhodness's face surfaced first.

I wanted to tell him. The words I couldn't properly say last time due to bad timing—'I missed you.' I imagined substituting the time stolen by Novian into days living entirely for myself. What if we'd met properly?

If I'd suspected Novian even once. If I'd met eyes even once with Rhodness, who must have been staring holes through us dancing our first dance. What expression would Rhodness make hearing such imaginings—just briefly picturing it made my own face flush hot.

I quietly buried my face in my hands. I didn't want to think about anything. What should I say first when I meet Rhodness? Novian says the person who could have killed me is your brother. So I want to investigate your brother. Will you help?

Whether Rhodness helps or doesn't help—the discomfort is unavoidable. It would look like forcing him to choose between his brother or me. I have no right to burden him with that.

How much did Bliea know?

That truth Bliea told me to verify—how far did it extend? That Novian married me without any real feelings, under the Crown Prince's orders? Or that the Crown Prince might be involved in my death?

If she was going to tell me, she should have kept writing in the diary. I exhaled deeply and tilted my head back. Let's rest today. Just rest today. I've been running so exhaustingly. I truly wanted to rest a little.

"Madam, you must be weary."

"...Yeah. I'm sorry, Yona. Because of me, your pretty face... I would have called you when the time came, so why did you come?"

"Actually, I rushed over upon hearing the news, but also came to do your hair treatment."

Yona scratched her cheek as if embarrassed, then began mixing the things she always used to care for me—when had she prepared them?

"Hair treatment can be done anytime."

I smiled drowsily and just let her do as she pleased. Familiar hands touching me—drowsiness poured over me.

"But look, the color has already risen this much. You said if even one day passes from the set date, it shows at the roots, and after two days, the moment it touches water it returns to the original color like magic. Today is already the second day."

Until I heard strange words from Yona.

"...What are you suddenly saying?"

"It's not that you sent me away—there were no ingredients at the Grand Ducal Estate, so I was thinking I'd have to go to the Count's estate sometime anyway."

"Yona?"

Innocent Yona's face suddenly felt unfamiliar. At the strange creeping sensation climbing my spine, I turned my eyes to the mirror hanging on the wall.

"...!"

My—no, Bliea's—appearance leaning against the tub with my body tilted slightly back. If there was a difference from usual—

"Yona, what on earth... what is this?"

Just as Yona had said, the water-soaked hair was changing to blonde from roots to ends. Like magic. Goosebumps rose enough to make my hair stand on end. I jumped up from the bath and approached the mirror frantically. Everything was the same, yet Bliea's hair was sparkling blonde—identical to my original hair—in an instant.

"Yona, Yona... Yona?"

My mind grew distant. I reached behind me, groping at empty air. I needed something to hold onto.

"What's wrong, Madam?"

Yona quickly approached and firmly grasped my hand. Feeling my neck stiffen rigidly, I slowly turned my head toward Yona.

"Madam has always been blonde."

Yona was there, smiling innocently.