Chapter 52

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“His Grace would be angry if he finds out that you falsified the invitation.”

Count Schenberg murmured intriguingly. Peter waved his hand in annoyance.

“Stop nagging. There is no evidence anyway, so what will you do?”

“Is that so?”

“That’s right. No, by the way, why the hell are you still here doing this?”

Peter, who was walking through the garden, stopped walking and turned around. Count Schenberg shrugged his shoulders, brushing his flowing amber hair.

“I came here to check on the poor.”

“Then meet the High Priest. Why are you following me when you said you would only accompany me to Delafos?”

“Your Highness seems to need me.”

Peter sighed angrily and pointed his chin towards the Duke and Duchess of Walten.

“Then I’ll let you help me. It seems like he doesn’t have any intention of leaving her side.”

“Yes.”

‘It’s what I was hoping for.’ Count Schenberg quickly moved towards them.

Instead of going through with the political marriage, he made a promise to the Crown Prince that he would join the rebels down South and persuade them. Even though he was a member of a former royal family who had already disappeared, the Schenberg House’s influence was still great, so the rebel forces and the unrest were noticeably reduced.

That was what everyone in Trivellian knew.

Kieran Schenberg bought more time like that. At first, the rebels were only made up of his private soldiers, but as the number of militants grew, it became easy to dilute the composition of the forces. The southern rebels were now known as a group dominated by the people instead of the Schenberg’s soldiers.

They decided to completely obey Kieran’s orders, the real center and leader, and aimed for the next opportunity. This required the trust of the imperial family, so Schenberg intended to become closer to the Crown Prince.

“My lord, I have something to tell you.”

Count Schenberg approached the duke and his wife and said, Alexis’ golden eyes threw him a sharp look showing his displeasure. He seemed to be telling him to shut up immediately, but Kieran pretended to not notice, stood firm and held on. The most important thing anyway was the prince’s trust.

‘It’s better to find out.’

He had forgotten about it, but there was something questionable about the Duke’s eyes. He looked at him and the Crown Prince alternately.

The Trivellian people wouldn’t notice much of a difference, but if you’re from the South, it’s something that would make you tilt your head.

Perhaps none of the southerners had a high enough status to come face to face with the imperial family’s gold eyes up close, so there were no suspicions raised.

“Say it.”

Alexis said with arms crossed as if he was not going to leave his seat. Count Schenberg purposely glanced at Kathleen and showed her a troubled expression.

“It’s not something that is easy to say……”

Then Kathleen, who had been silent, placed her teacup on the table.

“Talk. We’ll go for a walk.”

She slowly stood up and left her seat. For a moment, Alexis raised his hand as if to grab her, but it soon went down again.

A chilling voice reached Count Schenberg’s ears, who was observing it with interest.

“I wonder if what you want to say is important. Give it a try.”

As he tried to sit down nervously, Alexis moved the chair away.

“Stand.”

“……..Yes.”

“Briefly and clearly.”

“…….Yes.”

Count Schenberg swallowed dry saliva, hoping that the Crown Prince would return the Duchess quickly.

***

“You mean Peter sent the invitation?”

“Yes. Fortunately, my brother was deceived. He has never been to a charity gathering, has he?”

Although she was stunned to see Peter laughing nonchalantly, she laughed along with her.

“Then why didn’t you come directly to the duke’s residence and called me here at the Temple instead? Did the Duke ban your entry?”

“It’s nothing like that. There were just a few things.”

She said no, but she looked like she was hiding something. Peter quickly changed the subject.

“How is Luci? I heard he got sick.”

“He’s fine now. Apparently, it happens to children once in a while. We also hired a new doctor and he’s taking good care of him.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Peter’s lips drooped strangely. She pulled out a chair that was next to them.

“Sit here. If you get too far out of brother’s sight, it’ll get annoying.”

“Yes, Thank you.”

Peter sat down, but she couldn’t easily get her words out.

“Is there really nothing going on, Peter?”

After Kathleen worriedly asked again, she made up her mind and started talking.

“I have two things to tell Kathleen. One is something that Kathleen was curious about, and the other is something you don’t know. What would you like to hear first?”

“What is more important?”

“I asked because it was not something I could dare judge. But you should definitely know both.”

“Then tell me the one I was curious about first.”

Kathleen knew instinctively.

The former will be about Joseph, the latter will be……

She stopped thinking. It’s not too late to judge after hearing what’s going on. Fortunately, Peter explained it quickly.

“First, those sent to the north succeeded in entering the Carmine Mountains. It was difficult to access because Count Winston banned it for several years, but since brother overthrew him recently, the route was reopened. Everyone was interested in the territories scattered in the north, so Carmine was pushed out of interest.”

“Did my father lose his job?”

“Did you not know?”

Kathleen nodded her head in confusion. Alexis didn’t say anything to her. She met Count Winston at a party, and since he never contacted her or sent anyone, she had completely forgotten about him.

“Count Winston returned the authority over his estates and the northern borders to the imperial family in exchange for a reward. No one knows where he will go after that.”

“…..I see.”

“The imperial family is going to appoint a new lord, but it has not been decided yet, so only an administrator has been dispatched. Therefore, there would be no records of entering Carmine. I don’t know if Joseph has arrived in Carmine, but I received word that a temple half a day away from Winston has one more priest.”

“You’re saying that there’s a good chance he’s alive and staying there. The northern temple is a famous training center where priests are reluctant to go.”

“Yes, that’s what I think.”

At Peter’s agreement, Kathleen sighed in relief and clasped her hands together. He fell off a cliff, and the fact that he did not die was something to thank God for. And if he really made it to the north safely, then it was clear that he was not seriously injured.

“Why did he go all the way to the North alone? We were supposed to go together…….”

“He must have thought it would be too difficult to deal with brother. Maybe he’s trying to find them for Kathleen first.”

She was choked up and could hardly say anything. Joseph, who said he would go anywhere for her, really kept what he said.

“I’ll find Joseph and let you know once I get in touch with him.”

“Thank you, Peter. I don’t know how to repay this favor.”

“It’s okay.”

Peter wrapped her hands lightly around hers then let go.

“But if you are grateful to me, I hope you will listen to me until the end.”

“The thing I don’t know?”

“Yes.”

Peter took a deep breath and looked at Kathleen.

“Promise me you will listen to the end. You might think I’m being selfish, but I really wish Kathleen would. Of course, I do not intend to force you.”

“What is it?”

“It may not have been just a coincidence that Luciano got sick.”

“……Huh?”

“The child may have gotten ill because he is brother’s son.”

“What… I don’t understand.”

Peter’s gaze looking at her was filled with mixed feelings. She explained carefully, her eyes both sad and guilty.

“My brother has been drinking southern scorpion venom since he was six years old. It was my mother’s doing. Since he appeared before I was even born, she tried to keep my older brother in check using this. When he was seventeen, he was drafted as a young soldier and went to war. He continued to do this until he returned to Meyer at the age of twenty-one. The knights that my brother trained and the servants who served him were all sent by my mother. I didn’t know then… but for 15 years, my brother was being poisoned.”

“…..”

“The poison that had accumulated for so long mixed with his blood and flowed through his body. It paralyzed his emotions… and it really helped my brother excel on the battlefield. He got used to killing, became emotionally numb, and it made him live so blindly. If he hadn’t completely cured it, then it would have likely affected Luci as well.”

She only understood the meaning of Peter’s words after pondering them over and over again.

It paralyzes the nerves and dulls the emotions…

She could clearly remember the cold eyes that looked down at her without any emotions.

“So you’re saying the poison might be the cause of Luci’s convulsion?”

“That’s what I think.”

Kathleen looked at Alexis with trembling eyes. He was talking to Count Schenberg with his back facing her.

“I never intended to speak for my brother. He probably doesn’t even think I’m going to tell Kathleen about this.”

Peter said earnestly.

“But I thought I had to tell you because it was my mother’s fault. My brother, Luci, and Kathleen all got hurt because of it. I couldn’t just ignore it.”

Kathleen looked back at Peter, who was sitting opposite her. Her golden eyes were wet.

“My brother suffered because of my mother, and it hurt Kathleen. Now even Luci.”

“Peter……”

“So I couldn’t stand it anymore.”

Peter was the kindest and most just person Kathleen had ever known in her life. She must be telling the truth.

“I will follow Kathleen’s choice. Whatever path you choose, I will do everything I can to help. But apart from helping Kathleen, I plan to apologize to my brother as well.”

She added clearly.

“I think that’s how it should be.”

Kathleen once again turned to Alexis. He was looking their way, as if he had noticed that the atmosphere was unusual. Their eyes met.

Kathleen turned her head and reached out to wipe Peter’s wet cheek with her hand.

“Peter, it’s not your fault.”

She didn’t blame Peter.

“You did the right thing.”

Peter was already a friend and family to Kathleen. Kathleen couldn’t be harsh in front of her, who was determined to endure her pain alone.