RAMHM Chapter 97

Reunion

People's gazes turned openly toward me.

I was already a celebrity.

A young, beautiful noblewoman who'd risen from commoner to aristocrat.

I was prime gossip fodder—the kind of story people loved to chew over—and after being linked to Rhodness, I'd begun accumulating secret followers who copied my style. Recently, I'd attracted even more attention by gaining the titles of Crown Princess Doris's lady-in-waiting and the Crown Prince's assistant.

Besides, even if the lower nobility didn't know, the great nobles would all whisper about it among themselves.

That I had once lived at the Grand Ducal Estate as the prospective Grand Duchess.

Every gesture, every move watched. That was my position now.

"Everyone's style looks similar—how boring."

Epero spoke loudly enough for me to hear.

True to his word, dresses adorned with red rose decorations made of rubies had become trendy enough to call it a craze.

I smiled faintly toward Nora, who stood clustered with others at a slight distance.

Nora swallowed her bright greeting and smiled secretly behind her fan instead.

Last time, after Nora finished her sickbed visit, I'd introduced her to the jewelry craftsman Madame Leblais had recommended.

Having harassed the craftsman day and night to create and sell the decorations, Nora's jewelry shop sales must have skyrocketed—I could guess without seeing the numbers.

As Nora and I exchanged secretive glances, I soon raised my head to follow an intensely felt gaze.

Doris, who'd come wearing the largest ruby rose of all pinned prominently to her chest, was glaring directly at me.

The moment our eyes met, her forced smile trembled visibly even from a distance.

I jabbed Viktor's side and curtsied ostentatiously alongside him.

The face that barely managed a smile—only the cheekbones and nose twitching—soon couldn't bear looking at us long and turned toward the Crown Prince.

"Does Her Highness like you or hate you?"

"..."

"Ah, wrong question. Is Her Highness your friend or your enemy?"

Epero whispered while shuddering as if the young ladies' favor-filled gazes burdened him.

"Epero, would it work if you spoke to her like that?"

"Mother."

Just as Epero's question left me awkward, Empress Grace approached.

Startled by the unexpected guest, I bowed deeply in courtesy.

"I'm not the party's guest of honor, so there's no need to be quite so formal."

Empress Grace grasped my arm affectionately, as she might with a close lady-in-waiting.

As I naturally followed her onto the nearby terrace, I saw the Empress's attendants quickly close the terrace doors and draw the curtains.

"Surprised? Your body must still not be fully recovered, yet I called you out so suddenly—I'm sorry."

"Not at all, Your Majesty."

Though I was quite severely startled, I maintained proper courtesy.

The Empress, who'd passed forty but looked only mid-thirties, was a woman with a gentle impression.

Having never had an audience with her this close before, I observed the Empress as she gazed outside the terrace.

"I wanted to thank you directly—I absolutely had to."

"Me?"

"Of course."

Her gaze shifted from outside the terrace to me.

Warm, affectionate eyes.

"Thank you for taking good care of Epero."

Since I'd been recuperating and had only attended Epero for a few days, I smiled a bit sheepishly.

"Epero told me something that made me happy... Was he sincere?"

Damn that boy.

He must have told the Empress I'd let him stay in Ronteaux.

Running to tell his mother already.

Hearing it directly from Grace made me even more embarrassed, so this time I forced a smile.

"I sincerely believe His Highness Prince Epero should remain in his homeland and serve His Imperial Majesty well, Your Majesty."

The moment I finished speaking, the Empress's affectionately glowing face crumbled slightly.

"I'm very grateful for the sentiment, but..."

"...Your Majesty?"

The Empress's suddenly tear-laden voice made me glance around despite no one watching.

"Epero can't stay in Ronteaux. I know your connections are considerable, but please don't become an obstacle to our Epero returning to Ellaconia. Do you understand what I mean?"

The pathetically trembling voice wasn't the usual elegant Empress's.

Somewhat flustered, I approached her as tears welled in her eyes. The Empress immediately grasped my hand tightly and shook it pleadingly.

"Your Majesty, forgive me, but is there some reason?"

The Empress stared into my concerned eyes for a long moment, her lips twitching as if debating whether to speak.

"Very few people has Epero ever said he'd befriend. So I'll trust you and speak."

"Yes."

"I'm afraid of the Imperial Palace. I'm afraid of the Crown Prince too."

"The Crown Prince?"

"The Crown Prince's Palace has bad energy."

After spitting out those words, Grace gasped for breath as if suffocating and looked around like I had moments before.

It was strange.

The Crown Prince's Palace has bad energy, so she fears the Imperial Palace.

"Has His Highness the Crown Prince threatened you in some way?"

"No, my son is always courteous and upright. It's me—I must be the problem. I'm just needlessly fearful..."

Empress Grace was famous for her nervous disposition.

Having sent her precious princes one after another to the Lord's side, she'd suffered deep depression.

Fearing the Imperial Palace and sensing bad energy was natural.

Deep sympathy for her welled up in my heart. I released my captured hand and instead grasped hers tightly, patting it soothingly.

"I understand, Your Majesty. Don't worry. I won't mention our conversation to anyone."

"...Thank you. But I'm sincere that Epero must return to Ellaconia. Please don't shake that child's heart. I beg you."

Her earnest words—as if she'd clasp both hands together if necessary—left me quite troubled.

At word the Emperor sought her, Grace left the terrace with a distinctly unsettled expression, having failed to get my firm answer.

Her earnest request left me feeling strange, when suddenly someone opened the terrace door and entered.

"My lady."

It was Rhodness.

"What did you discuss with Her Majesty the Empress?"

He'd clearly come in out of concern. It was proof he hadn't taken his eyes off me, so I smiled reassuringly.

"Since I was injured so dramatically, she wanted to comfort me directly as His Highness the Prince's attendant."

I'd tried not to keep secrets from him, but having promised not to tell others, I didn't mention the conversation about Epero.

Fortunately, Rhodness didn't seem particularly bothered—a slight smile lingered at his lips.

"...Are you perhaps disappointed that I didn't escort you today?"

As if.

I knew why Rhodness kept his distance from me at the party hall.

Rhodness, treated as an unprecedented schemer due to suspicions there was a different culprit in the missing women case, was receiving even more attention than me right now.

Since it wasn't pleasant attention, he didn't want to stand beside still-injured me and remind people of our scandal.

"No, I understand why you're doing this."

"I'd almost prefer you felt a bit disappointed... I hate being apart. But even if I dislike it temporarily, it's better to keep some distance on a day like today."

At the half-sincere joke, Rhodness chuckled softly as I showed slight confusion.

Ah, that smile of Rhodness's in the night glittered like stars, shaking my heart helplessly.

"Don't worry. No one has the swollen guts to cause trouble at His Imperial Majesty's birthday celebration."

I briefly gathered my fluttering heart, then hesitated over whether to share what I'd been keeping in mind.

"Actually, the reason I pushed myself to attend the celebration today was... to meet Novian."

The spring breeze smile instantly froze into coldness.

Rhodness tilted his head slightly as if doubting his ears, then stepped closer.

"What do you mean?"

At the slightly angry-sounding voice, I clutched my dress hem tightly.

"Don't be angry. This is why I didn't want to tell you."

Rhodness's face instantly filled with hurt.

"I have no choice. I have something to receive from him. Questions to ask too."

"I'll ask on your behalf."

"It's not something Your Highness can do for me."

I answered with a bitter smile.

What I wanted to receive from Novian was my mother's necklace. If Novian had that necklace, there was no way he'd give it to Rhodness.

"He's still a criminal, and as long as he came at His Imperial Majesty's summons, he can't do anything reckless to me."

Rhodness's mood seemed quite damaged already. But as if trying not to show it, he kept his mouth firmly shut. Not wanting to make his effort futile, I quickly added:

"Lord Vincento and Lord Neil seem to be looking for Your Highness. Don't worry. Let's each accomplish our own goals today."

I diligently pushed the stiff-faced Rhodness out toward his aides. Then I deliberately didn't look back and quickened my steps in another direction.

The party had ripened, but the Emperor had disappeared from the head seat. He'd clearly gone to meet Novian separately.

Just in case, I felt for the dagger I'd brought in my bodice. And recalled recently learning defensive dagger techniques from Neil. Neil had seemed quite surprised at my movements.

Judging by how my body reacted automatically when kidnapped, Bliea was clearly quite skilled. Yona's reaction telling me to take it easy definitely wasn't that of a maid serving a frail mistress.

She was certainly a more mysterious and absurd woman the more I learned.

Grand Duke Novian Trovika recalled the Emperor's face as he met him condescendingly on his birthday, and smiled bitterly.

The withered smile made his mouth muscles ache.

'Would I, Novian, abandon you? Don't act rashly—stay quiet and I'll naturally summon you when appropriate.'

Having rushed over at word the Emperor sought him with hopeful expectations, it was exactly like talking to his son.

The music and laughter from Atilchard Hall, audible from afar, made his mood even fouler. Having lived a lifetime without receiving gratitude, it was almost funny how regret now crashed over him like his skull would split.

Not much time permitted, he had to return to the carriage.

The freedom specially allowed for the Emperor's birthday would be brief.

Unable to stay long at the Imperial Palace, the path toward a place no different from prison was humiliating.

'Tell me, Noah. Why did you kill me?'

His noticeably gaunt hand pressed firmly against his chest.

He still hadn't escaped that day's nightmare.

When he closed his eyes, Adrienne looking down at him against the night sky pouring red fireworks endlessly repeated. That cold face that wouldn't forgive him no matter how he begged.

When he opened his eyes, he became a useless bastard in a desolate, shabby mansion just hoping someone would call for him, chewing and re-chewing the nightmare.

His steps toward the carriage had somehow drifted elsewhere.

The garden where he'd first properly faced Adrienne, and lied to a young princess he barely knew.

And there in that garden, Novian saw a woman standing as if waiting for him.

"Not beyond expectations."

"...Bliea?"

"That you'd call me that too."

"Adrienne!"

Emotion blazing like lightning poured out as voice. Like a madman, he ran toward the woman submerged in dark shadow.

In the nightmare—Bliea, no, Adrienne stood there.