RAMHM Chapter 92

It was you.

Imagining Rhodness during those two years she'd spent with Novian, Adrienne couldn't even dare voice an excuse.

"I forgot for a moment that you were the one who made this madman human."

She twisted her body, wanting to pull free from his grip on her shoulders and embrace him in comfort, but Rhodness only tightened his hold.

"Just today, just forgive me today. I'll never speak of it again. I'll... I'll become that true friend you can rely on, so just today..."

Thinking back, Rhodness had drunk far more than she had. The scent of alcohol was strong. She wanted to tell him she was relying on him plenty already.

"I..."

The moment Adrienne opened her mouth toward him as he gasped for rough breaths, Neil called to them from a distance. He seemed to have been watching for the right timing to interrupt before finally breaking in.

"Your Highness, my apologies, but His Highness the Crown Prince keeps asking for you. It seems you should return urgently."

Rhodness gripped Adrienne's shoulders once more tightly, raised his head, and straightened his body. His neck remained flushed bright red and his eyes seemed slightly bloodshot, but he forced his lips into a curve.

"Neil, escort the Countess home."

It was practically an order to leave him alone today.

Adrienne disappeared with Neil, her face full of concern. Rhodness immediately banged his head against a corridor pillar. Thunk.

"Madman."

Do just one thing. Just one. If you're desperate enough to kneel and beg to remain by her side even as a friend, then either endure whatever happens in front of you and just let it pass, or if you don't want to be friends, stick by her side no matter what Adrienne thinks. All those bastards approaching her...

"Ha."

No one whose death remains unexplained can love comfortably. He knew that with his head, yet he'd still failed to contain himself and burst out, burdening her. Madman. Empty-headed fool. Rhodness banged his head against the pillar until blood nearly burst, then finally recognized he was somewhat drunk and let out a sigh. All the way to the Crown Prince's palace, he regretted it.

Even if Adrienne's plan went wrong, he needed to prove he would suffer no consequences. Hadn't he lived proving himself all along anyway? Using his sudden rages to save people. Racking up military achievements to show up those ghost stories about red eyes leading nations to ruin. He hadn't wavered at society's wariness that he was mad enough to try to surpass even his own brother. He'd always noticed when Bardenaldo grew sullen over anything Rhodness did better than him, and acted tactfully. Unlike himself, Bardenaldo had never once gone astray, and Rhodness wanted to protect his brother's resolve to inherit the imperial throne despite it not suiting his temperament—to protect his younger brother and elevate their mother's honor. Proving Bardenaldo's innocence—being able to imagine a future with Adrienne without any guilt—that was what Rhodness desired most right now.

"You're here. Where did you go after barely showing your face at the party?"

The office door opened immediately without announcement, and Bardenaldo greeted him as he entered.

"The party's protagonist isn't me, so it doesn't matter."

"Ah, right. I must have stayed away too long without realizing it."

Bardenaldo answered in a tired voice with a weak smile. Rhodness silently observed Bardenaldo's flawlessly white hands as he offered a seat and poured alcohol.

"Why are you drinking? You don't even drink well."

"Without alcohol, I cannot sleep on nights like this."

Bardenaldo's hair was slightly damp, as if he'd bathed.

"Tonight is the consummation night."

Bardenaldo smiled with such fragility that he would have been discarded immediately if he were a stud horse. Rhodness's heart ached, if only for a moment. Though Bardenaldo was the one who'd separated him from Adrienne, he couldn't simply hate him. However, he could no longer remain soft toward Bardenaldo.

"What do you intend to do?"

Because now he had one more person besides Empress Letina and brother Bardenaldo whom he wanted to protect and keep by his side. Bardenaldo poured himself alcohol as well and emptied the glass in one gulp.

"I love Epero as a brother more than anyone. The imperial family doesn't have children to spare."

The reason Epero ranked third in succession despite being the ninth prince was that the six princes born to Empress Grace before him had died in succession at young ages.

"People see Epero and me as full brothers because we resemble each other so much."

Of course—they both had blazing red hair and deep blue eyes. Rhodness smiled bitterly.

"But as Crown Prince, I have no choice but to keep that child in check. Mother's wish was for me to inherit the throne, and to uphold that, minimal restraint is necessary."

Bardenaldo's voice was as soft and fresh as cherry blossoms scattering on a spring day, yet simultaneously firm.

"Frankly, Countess Acacia's poor reputation also helps me."

Even under Rhodness's gaze, he didn't stop speaking.

"Your dear friend, is she? I'm always sorry to you. But while Epero remains, I need that Countess to act as surveillance and block other forces from approaching him."

"Brother."

"Yes."

If only Bardenaldo's expression as he answered affectionately didn't look so exhausted. If only he weren't about to go consummate an unwanted marriage, Rhodness would have wanted to shout and demand:

'Why did it have to be Adrienne?'

I don't believe you were involved in Adrienne's death, brother. Please, I hope you're innocent. Even that hope felt bitter, knowing it was his own selfish desire for a future with Adrienne. Looking at that pitiful face showing no happiness despite sitting in such a high position made it so. The person he'd protected his entire life—this much lingering attachment was unavoidable. His heart felt uncomfortable. No wonder Adrienne couldn't confide everything in him. His faith in Bardenaldo was sworn to the gods and utterly sincere.

"Do you have something to say to me?"

Still, if he could ask, he wanted to.

"Adrienne..."

Just then, footsteps that had been oddly grating his nerves grew closer. When Bardenaldo recognized the sound as well, the office door burst open without warning. Both brothers' brows furrowed simultaneously. Vincento rushed into the office as noisily as uncorked wine pouring out.

"Your Highness! Your Highness, terrible news!"

"What rudeness is this, entering without announcement?"

Before gathering courage to speak, Rhodness—who had drunk another glass—shook his head and glared at Vincento.

"C-Countess Acacia on her way home..."

Rhodness shot to his feet.

"She's been kidnapped!"

The wine glass in his hand shattered into pieces on the marble floor.

I looked around with blurred vision. It was some kind of warehouse, too dark to see clearly. Wherever light leaked through, wisteria shadows fell—we seemed to be in a wisteria forest near the capital. Several fat, pig-like men surrounded us, making my skin crawl just looking at them. Yes, us. I bit down hard on the soft flesh inside my mouth, looking at Marge and Yona trembling beside me.

They were the maids who'd smiled broadly and massaged my shoulders when I told them I'd become the Crown Prince's assistant. The fat men holding swords as long as forearms surveyed us with sinister eyes, making me feel sick. I didn't know how I'd been dragged here, but my last memory was leaving the imperial palace when Neil received a summons and said he'd finish his business and rejoin us shortly. I'd stopped briefly at the Acacia estate to check the study for documents related to the mana stone mine before boarding the carriage again. Then the carriage racing toward the Grand Ducal estate had collided with another with an enormous crash, as if smashing to pieces, and my body had tilted.

"Nnnngh—"

My mouth tasted of blood, as if something inside had burst. I'd had twenty knights as escorts. I'd planned to wait for Neil at the estate and return together, but I'd been in a hurry, my mind full of the books about mana stone mines.

"Madam, Madam, are you all right?"

"M-M-M-Madam...!"

At my groaning, Marge and Yona—bound only at the arms while seated—approached rapidly on their knees. This... what the hell is happening, I should ask, but my tongue stung from the gag stuffed tightly in my mouth and I couldn't speak. My whole body hurt so badly, as if I'd been beaten, that tears streamed down my face. The carriage had been half-destroyed—my body couldn't be intact. Who could it be? Who would attack a noblewoman's carriage returning home at early evening? Various faces flashed rapidly through my mind, but with all my limbs bound and unable to move, I struggled to sit up. And I had to endure the unpleasant sensation of insects crawling all over my body from the men's gazes as they giggled, watching me squirm.

"M-Madam has regained consciousness! Quickly, quickly let us go! What is this! Do you know who this person...!"

As Marge gathered all her courage to cry out in a low voice, someone walked forward from among the men in the dark warehouse lit only by moonlight.

"Good heavens... This, this...!"

"How can you be here?!"

Short stature, walking feebly while leaning on a cane with frail steps. In this place emanating only ominous energy, Marge and Yona's low gasps flowed out in succession.

"You see... you should have been more moderate in your swagger."

Beneath the thin beam of light flowing from the small window, that figure's identity was fully revealed. An aged, wrinkled face. Between drooping eyelids, black pupils glittered like fake jewels. It was Sophie, the Grand Ducal estate's head maid with her cold expression. But her solemn face gradually cracked upon seeing my wretched state. Because of me, body trembling as I let out a laughing sound.

'...So it was you.'

With a gag in my mouth, my whole body bound as tears streamed down...

'The one I could never find a single clue about. Doris's eyes and ears within the Grand Ducal estate.'

My eyes—far from filled with fear—must have been brimming only with joy, my mouth split wide in a grin.