Chapter 40

After sunbathing and returning to my room, I was on the terrace.

Wishit approached me and asked cautiously.

“Are you just waiting to see how they live in this house?”

From my room on the second floor, I could see some people having a good time in the garden.

Molga smiling like an angel, the twins flying around, and even Viego sitting at a table and watching them.

“Of course not. I was going to start working on it, but unfortunately, the plan has changed.”

“What?”

Wishit, who had his arm on the terrace railing, looked back at me with his chin on his hand.

He had red hair and a young face, just like a younger brother, so I stroked his hair several times.

“Ah, what—”

“This look suits you better than the crown prince’s look. Please stay like this.”

After smiling, I immediately stared fiercely at Molga.

“Do you know how my dad died in the last life?”

In response to my sudden question, Wishit narrowed his eyes and recalled his memory.

“Didn’t his body become weak from drinking? And then he suddenly died.”

“I thought so, too. By the way, the family doctor Molga probably bought has been prescribing terrible drugs for my dad. It is a drug that’s fine if left alone but fatal when taken with alcohol.”

Wishit stiffened.

“Are you saying that he was killed on purpose?”

“Only four people have died since Molga came into this house.”

I stretched out my four fingers and showed them to Wishit, then folded them one by one and said:

“Grandpa, Grandma, and Mom and Dad.”

“…”

“Of course, everyone’s cause of death is different. Grandpa was old. And they said my grandma’s body was weakening, and she was struggling with heart disease. My mom died after she gave birth to me. My dad, as you know, from drinking and smoking.”

I took a breath, then looked down again at Molga and added.

“If you look at it separately, everyone’s death was expected. Not really questionable deaths, but…”

“…”

“… Isn’t it a little strange to see it all together? Why are they all dying so easily?”

“Are you trying to say that she used her hand?”

“Of course that will be a huge leap, but I doubt it.”

Wishit took a breath at my firm answer.

“After my grandmother died, Molga took over the title of duchess. A woman who should have lived as a mistress until her death.”

“…”

“And wasn’t the will my grandfather left before he died shocking? He had the twins registered, and he wanted to keep Molga in the duke’s house and wanted her to be treated respectfully as the esteemed madam.”

“Right. I heard he didn’t want to raise the twins under the legal wife’s name, but he changed his mind before his death.”

“Yes. If it hadn’t been for that will, Molga would have lived separately after my dad took over the duchy. Of course, the twins would have followed their mother and become independent there.”

“So what you’re saying is…”

Wishit added in a slightly angry voice, “Molga benefited from their deaths.”

“Yes, and perhaps, from my late mother’s death as well.”

“…”

“After my father took over the duchy, my mother became the new hostess of the house. In that situation, Molga must have had many restrictions on her actions.”

“That’s correct, I guess.”

“Like managing the household or the employees… the old woman in the back room must have felt regretful that the hostess had the authority that could not be invaded.”

“Maybe so—”

“After my mother died, most of the authority fell into the hands of Molga, didn’t it?”

When I looked back with sharp eyes, Wishit was on edge.

“The only thing she couldn’t move was my father, but even that would be over in three years if it were the way it was. After Brother Viego becomes duke, it will be completely Molga’s world.”

“To Viego, she is like a mother.”

“I don’t think all the deaths in this family are just coincidences.”

“I see.”

“If my suspicions are true, I can’t just get rid of Molga as soon as possible to make myself comfortable.”

I kept my eyes on Molga with my chin loosely clenched, then I turned around and left the room.

‘How far did you go?’

I hurried down the stairs and headed for the garden.

‘If the abuse of Rubette wasn’t everything. If you’ve been doing something even crazier…’

Everyone’s eyes gathered at my sudden appearance.

“Rubette?”

I smiled broadly and ran to Molga.

‘I’ll never send you off nicely.’

Molga was startled as she hugged me, who suddenly embraced her.

“Rubette?”

“Connasse!”

“Mm?”

As I spoke elegantly in French, which no one would understand, Molga pulled me off and asked with an angelic affectionate gaze.

“What did you say?”

“I am studying a foreign language these days. It’s from a country across the sea, meaning I love you.”

At my words, Molga covered her mouth with thrilled eyes and looked back at Viego.

I said with my lips sticking out.

“I’m sorry that I complained about my grandmother these days.”

“No, Rubette. I’m really sorry for not paying attention to you. I heard Ricky tease you with harsh words.”

Molga added, stroking my hair.

“I scolded him not to do that in the future, so don’t worry.”

“Yes, Grandma.”

Viego, staring blankly at me, turned his head awkwardly when our eyes met. He seemed a little sorry but relieved that I had eventually warmed up.

I hugged Molga’s waist tightly again. Although she was stiff, she patted my back, pretending to be friendly on the outside.

You must have a lot of thoughts inside. Wondering what kind of trick this is.

I laughed and said one more time.

Connasse!

“Connasse! (You bad bitch!)”

***

Four days later, the first weekend of August.

It was the social gathering day.

I contacted Lisbeth if she would like to go to the party with me, and she replied willingly.

When I arrived at the garden of Asto Palace, where the royal ladies were living, Lisbeth appeared.

And Lark in disheveled clothes.

“Hello.”

“Oh, Your Highness? I didn’t expect to see you today. It’s been a while.”

“Right, but…”

Lark greeted me with a smile when he saw me getting off the carriage, then immediately asked with worried eyes.

“Are you sick, Princess?”

“What?”

I was puzzled by the sudden question, but Lisbeth suddenly intervened.

“H-How did you lose so much weight?”

“Aah.”

I checked my body every day, so I couldn’t tell…

‘I lost more than 10 kilograms but felt like nothing has changed.’

I smiled at Lisbeth and shrugged my shoulders.

“I think it’s because I’ve been exercising lately.”

“W-What kind of exercise did you do to lose weight so quickly? In a single month? You were still rolling around when I saw you last month…!”

Lisbeth seemed unhappy that I was losing weight beyond recognition, which should have made her look a little fatter next to me.

“I just ran and cut down on snacks.”

“What’s with this dress?”

Lisbeth scanned my outfit up and down.

Empire-style dress in dark violet color featuring a luxurious neckline.

The style, which removed the shoulder pad and tightened the bottom of the chest so that one could wear it without a corset, was also suitable for covering one’s chubby body.

“There’s a new boutique in Lünten. It’s called “Blanc de Ruby”. It’s a new dress for this summer season, and the design is pretty good, so I got one.”

I cleverly advertised my shop to Lisbeth.

“I haven’t lost that much weight. It’s because the dress makes me look slimmer.”

“Is that… so…”

Lisbeth’s eyes fluttered as she looked down at her dress with burdensome shoulder pads and dazzling ribbons.

Not only did it make the chubby body look fatter, but it was also a childish design that made one frown.

Lisbeth’s fashion today was simply an error, but it didn’t happen because she didn’t have good sense.

‘It’s just that this design is trending, so…’

These days, noble ladies in the capital wore ten out of ten dresses like this.

‘Of course, when Sarah Hugo puts on my clothes for the first time today, the trend will be turned upside down!’

I forcibly lowered the corners of my lips that were rising.

“Look at this!”

At that time, Lisbeth, who kept glancing at me, must have thought that I was bragging and did not want to lose.

“My brother bought it for me yesterday!”

A headband studded with pink diamonds.

“Wow! It’s really pretty. I envy you.”

“Ahem.”

Jeweled headbands were also a popular accessory among noble ladies of this age.

‘I should try designing a hairband and hairpin.’

As I adjusted my rhymes to Lisbeth, who was so proud, while contemplating a business item in my mind, Lark suddenly offered me something.

“…?”

He held a headband with a single transparent diamond as a point in his hand.

It was a simple design, but just looking at it, it looked ridiculously expensive.

“A gift.”

“What? Is this for me?”

Confused, Lisbeth opened her mouth and looked up at Lark.

“Brother? D-Did you buy this for Rubette?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean why? I want to give you a gift. Do you need any other reason?”

Lark, who responded casually, waved once as if telling me to receive it quickly, so I received his gift with a puzzled mind.

“Thank you.”

“Are you exercising today?”

“Well, I always do. I’ll leave the party at around eight o’clock, so I’ll be late today.”

“Oh, no. It’s dangerous at such a late hour. But fortunately, I’m going to go around today, too.”

“Oh, are you? Then see you then.”

“Alright.”

I could feel the gaze as I was chatting. Lisbeth was staring at me with a disgruntled face.

“You, Rubette.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Don’t tell me you’re interested in my brother.”

“Pardon?”

For a moment, Lark and I looked at each other.

“It is not so, right?”

Lisbeth, whose cheeks were puffed up, raised her eyes as if threatening me and persistently asked.

I smiled and shook my head.

“It’s not like that.”

“That’s alright. If you have a conscience, you shouldn’t like my brother.”

‘Oh, this little thing.’

She was a mean bird, but she was so young that I didn’t even want to get angry, so I just laughed.

“Of course. I know myself very well. How dare I look at the crown prince.”

“Good, good.”

Lisbeth nodded her head with satisfaction.

Lark was staring curiously at his immature sister with his arms crossed at a glance.

I hurriedly got on the prepared carriage and hurried Lisbeth.

“It’s late, so let’s go.”

“Okay! Brother, I’ll be back!”

“…”

Lisbeth hurriedly took the seat next to me, and Lark sent forward the coachman who was about to close the carriage door and grabbed the door instead.

“Lissy.”

“Mm~?”

“I’m sorry, it is your brother—not Rubette— who’s interested.”

“…?”

Stomping her feet in excitement, Lisbeth looked back at Lark in amazement. “What?”

“Well, then. Have fun,” Lark smiled brightly and closed the carriage door before Lisbeth could say anything.