RAMHM Chapter 84

Acting Count Acacia

It was a warm, sunny afternoon, but the Crown Princess's palace was cold. Doris slowly looked over the pitiful noblewoman before her. Though her attire was no different from usual, her rough face that seemed to have slept poorly, the shadows cast darkly under her eyes, and her slightly gaunt face were enough to guess without hearing how much mental anguish she'd suffered. With Irene absent from the palace, busy with preparations for next season's debutantes, the reception room was even more desolate. Bliea before her was so deflated it was understandable, but Baroness Giusetta had her mouth firmly shut with an anxious expression.

"Nora, is something wrong?"

"No, Your Highness."

Nora's eyes lingered on Bliea for a long moment following Doris's gaze before falling away. Doris hoped this stupid, aging noblewoman would spread rumors about Bliea's pathetic state and how warmly she herself consoled her.

"Of course something is wrong—it happened to Bliea."

Doris laughed lowly, poured the cooled tea into a nearby vase, and lifted her teacup slightly. Nora quickly poured fresh tea into that cup.

"Both body and mind must be far from well, yet coming to the palace immediately... I think Bliea needs some rest."

Doris spoke kindly but firmly. Bliea, who'd been sitting forlornly with her eyes cast to the floor, raised her head. It was only for a moment, but intense rejection flared. The woman who resembled Adrienne had brought down Novian Trovika. Of course this woman hadn't personally drawn a blade and stabbed his heart, but there was certainly credit due to her for cleanly eliminating Novian Trovika for reasons other than his western name.

'But will there really be continued use for her?'

Though she should rightfully be commended for her achievement, wasn't it this woman's karma that she'd overreached beyond her station and been betrayed by the Grand Duke? Even if the Grand Duke had taken another woman, what was so significant about that? What nobleman didn't have a mistress?

'Naive. Emotional. Oblivious, yet strangely effective at getting things done.'

The problem was that just looking at that face made rage boil up and strange emotions bloom.

"Are you... telling me to quit my duties as a lady-in-waiting?"

At Bliea's trembling voice, Doris smiled kindly as if asking what she could possibly mean.

"What hurtful words! How could I say such cruel things to Bliea, who has nowhere to turn? I'm only saying this because you seem to urgently need rest right now. Isn't that right, Nora?"

"Yes, that's correct, Your Highness."

At Nora's immediate response, Doris smiled showing her teeth. Bliea bit her lip hard, her body trembling, stared at Doris for a long moment, then stood up the moment permission to withdraw was given.

"I'm grateful for Your Highness's consideration. I will recuperate well until Your Highness calls for me again."

After Bliea spoke politely and left, Doris glared after her until the door closed, then burst out laughing with a small pfft.

'This is right. I've eliminated the Grand Duke—there's no need to let that woman hover before Rhodness's eyes by keeping her at the palace.'

Whenever Doris caught glimpses of Rhodness passing by, she couldn't control her racing heart. The more the Crown Prince cowered under her watchful eye, the more the imposing Rhodness caught her attention. Naturally turning her gaze to the consummation date marked on her calendar, her eyebrows twisted against her will. If there were no heirs with the Crown Prince, wouldn't it be foolish to keep looking only at him? He might truly have fertility problems, which was why he'd been avoiding consummation. If by any chance no child came after consummating with him, rather than pursuing a future with a seedless Crown Prince, couldn't she topple him, gain sympathy votes, and have Rhodness instead? The old law that a younger brother must support his elder brother's wife upon the elder's death had long been abolished, but with Grand Duke Novian—who could have blocked Castagna from the Crown Prince's faction—no longer present, it wasn't entirely impossible.

"Nora, bring me a mirror."

Doris slowly examined her appearance in the hand mirror Nora immediately presented. She'd recently dyed her hair again. Her attire, hairstyle, even her perfume—she'd sprayed a scent similar to Bliea's, who had been Adrienne's substitute.

'Rhodness can't forget that bitch Adrienne Pirreta.'

That's why he'd had such a long scandal with someone as unsuitable as Bliea. If he wanted Adrienne, and if she could have him because of it, Doris could gladly become Adrienne for him.

"Nora, when you entered the palace today, was there a flag flying at the Second Prince's palace?"

"Pardon? Ah... I think there was. I think I saw some people from the Second Knights as well."

"Until Irene comes, Nora, rest here."

"Pardon? Your Highness! Where are you going alone...!"

Lately, the thought that she could manipulate the Crown Prince at will had begun to make Doris greedy for other things. When she was young, when her name was added to the list of Crown Princess candidates—Doris had naively thought that if she failed as a candidate, she could naturally become the consort of Second Prince Rhodness.

'I was truly naive.'

Doris was planning to barge into the Second Prince's palace right now. If she visited saying she had Crown Prince matters to discuss, Rhodness wouldn't be able to refuse her. It was impulsive, but there was no one to stop her actions, so there was nothing to hold back. At least not until she witnessed an absurd scene at the entrance to the Crown Princess's palace.

At the entrance to the corridor leading outside, Rhodness and Bliea stood like a painting. The moment that woman Bliea entered the corridor entrance, Rhodness—his face sparkling like stars—extended his arm without a moment's hesitation and escorted the shabby woman away.

"Your Highness! Your Highness, where are you rushing off to without even bringing a maid? At least put on this cloak..."

"No, I was mistaken. Let's go back."

Doris stared tenaciously at the man and woman disappearing like dots in the distance, then turned around. Her teeth ground audibly.

'Adrienne Pirreta. Even in death, you make me miserable.'

As Doris rushed out like a madwoman, her eyes bloodshot red, and returned to the reception room, Nora—who'd been chasing her with the cloak—stopped in bewilderment. Nora too had caught a glimpse of the retreating figures.

"Nora!"

As she ran toward the Crown Princess who was calling her sharply, Nora felt bothered by Bliea's voice that kept circling in her mind.

'Her Highness sometimes seems to subtly disrespect you by calling you "Nora" as if she's forgotten your name.'

'To not even have your name called properly... to receive such disrespect...'

And the image of Bliea's retreating figure—though she hadn't become Grand Duchess, she was leaving the Crown Princess's palace receiving Rhodness the Second Prince's escort—remained intensely burned in her mind.

As if Neil was faithfully reporting my whereabouts, when I entered the palace in the morning, Rhodness was standing firmly in front of the Imperial Palace and escorted me from the Crown Princess's palace all the way to the Crown Prince's palace. The atmosphere of the Crown Prince's palace was no different from a house of mourning from the entrance. With the Crown Prince's greatest power—the Grand Duke—suddenly fallen, everyone walked on eggshells, their actions cautious and quiet overall.

"Why did you bring that butler?"

"Ah, I have some things for him to do."

"Things to do?"

"I'm going to try playing his master for a while."

At the end of the long corridor, Rhodness stopped abruptly before the audience chamber. He looked displeased, his face showing hesitation about whether to speak or not.

"There's someone else who needs a master."

"...Pardon?"

Rhodness, his hair up revealing neat eyebrows, looked down at me for a long moment. I looked up at him with a bewildered expression.

"...Never mind."

Rhodness sighed briefly, gave what might have been a small smile, completely changed his expression, and jerked his chin at the attendant guarding the audience chamber door. The attendant checking the guest list glanced nervously at Rhodness's fierce gaze, then immediately reported to the Crown Prince. As the heavy audience chamber doors opened, the people already inside bowed their heads politely toward us and exited. Just before leaving, they glanced at me and quickly disappeared.

"You've arrived, Countess. Rhoan."

The Crown Prince personally rose from his seat with a very pale, tired face to greet us. As if he'd suffered much mental anguish, his complexion was very dark. The teacups for the previous guests were cleared away and fresh tea was quickly poured into new cups. After the attendants finished receiving guests efficiently and left, the Crown Prince invited us to be seated.

"You came faster than I expected."

"I happened to stop by the Crown Princess's palace on my way, Your Highness."

The Crown Prince's complexion darkened further. I examined his haggard face with complicated feelings. Under the table, Rhodness firmly grasped my hand. I glanced at Rhodness in surprise, but his gaze was fixed on the Crown Prince.

"I didn't expect you to come with Rhoan."

"Is there a reason I shouldn't have come with her?"

"...No, no. That's not what I meant."

I'd thought Rhodness would only be weak before his brother, but surprisingly he held his ground quite dependably.

"The reason I called you here, Countess, is to express my gratitude for your courage and decisiveness. Ronteaux is a country with clear rewards and punishments, and as Crown Prince of this nation, I wish to commend you for choosing the greater good over personal safety."

The Crown Prince, who didn't know I was Adrienne, was giving me both disease and cure. I felt my mouth turn bitter as I quietly withdrew the hand Rhodness held and folded my hands neatly on my lap. Rhodness's gaze, which had been fixed on the Crown Prince, immediately shifted to me. I pretended not to see his gaze and kept my eyes fixed only on the Crown Prince.

Given the Crown Prince's character, he would definitely call me for this reason. Having just sensed a strange energy from Doris, the timing was uncanny. I'd long since noticed that Doris was trying to discard me. She should have rewarded me for wanting to eliminate Novian Trovika, but instead she'd only recommended rest. Which meant—I needed to prove my usefulness to Doris again while also obtaining legitimate grounds to investigate this Crown Prince. Both Doris and the Crown Prince were potential enemies I needed to watch closely.

"If it weren't for you, Countess, I would have remained ignorant of this tremendous fact. Though it pains me as well to have cast out my uncle, it couldn't be helped for the sake of order. You've done a great service for the country, so please speak freely if you have any wishes."

"Anything at all—would that be acceptable?"

The Crown Prince, focused on my hesitantly parting lips, smiled faintly and nodded.

"Yes, anything within my authority to grant."

Bardenaldo. How far did you extend your hand in my death?

"Since you nearly became Grand Duchess, it's only right that I look after you."

The moment the words "Grand Duchess" emerged, Rhodness secretly reached out his arm again and firmly grasped my hand.

"Once your situation is settled, my mind will be at ease as well."

I responded to the ignorant man's worried expression with a smile.

"In that case, there is something I want, Your Highness."

"Yes, please tell me."

"I wish for you to appoint me as Your Highness's assistant."

The Crown Prince immediately made a dumbfounded expression.

"That's... I cannot appoint an ordinary noblewoman as my assistant. I'm sorry, but another request..."

"No, Your Highness. Your Highness can do it."

The Crown Prince's face grew uncomfortable, and Rhodness tugged my hand slightly. His face was just as uncomfortable. Because this was something I hadn't discussed with him. With my free hand, I carefully patted the back of his hand.

"Strictly speaking, I'm not Countess Acacia but Acting Count Acacia, am I not?"

Bardenaldo's eyes, which had narrowed trying to gauge my meaning, grew progressively wider as time passed. He must have realized. The wife inheritance law. That legislation that had instantly made Grand Duke Novian Trovika Ronteaux's greatest romanticist.

"The title of a nobleman who dies without an heir is attributed to his wife for the next five years."

"Countess...!"

"So right now, I'm not Countess Acacia but Acting Count Acacia, am I not?"

'Your mind will be at ease once my situation is settled?'

I'm sorry, but your mind being at ease is not part of my plan.

"Use Your Highness's authority to bring Count Acacia in as Your Highness's assistant."

Whether you're someone worth Rhodness protecting, or someone I must strike down even if it breaks his heart... I need to confirm it, even if I have to use this ridiculous law Novian created.