Chapter 54

It had been raining since late evening.

Father, who had been staying in the main residence, ran through the pouring night and arrived at the villa in the capital.

It was dark everywhere in the mansion, and it was terribly quiet. There was an atmosphere where everyone couldn’t even breathe properly.

Hamilton, Caesar, and I were sitting in the drawing room. We just sat impatiently, and no one spoke hastily.

“Your Highness.”

Before long, the living room door opened, and my father appeared before the three of us spoke.

“Father.”

“Helena. Are you alright?”

“I’m—”

The word okay couldn’t come out of my throat, so I shook my head.

Anger and guilt swirled dizzily. I couldn’t get rid of my anger.

Then my father embraced me tenderly.

“I’m glad you’re alright. I’m relieved.”

There was no resentment towards me in my father’s voice.

It was beyond my comprehension. Why don’t you blame me when we suffered damage because of me?

“Duke.”

“Your Highness, thank you for coming at such a late hour.”

The father also did not forget to greet Caesar.

His voice was so calm that I wondered if he had heard the news.

“I’m ashamed. It’s all my fault.”

Caesar bowed his head in agony. Instead of scolding Caesar for that, my father patted him on the shoulder as he did to me.

“No, it’s fine. Nothing has happened yet, Your Highness.”

Has nothing happened?

Leonard was currently under arrest by the White Knights.

They wouldn’t make things hard for a high-ranking aristocrat, but it was impossible to predict how much impact this would have.

“Come on, let’s sit down. Let’s sit down and talk.”

At Father’s suggestion, the three of us sat down again with guilty feelings.

In the indignation that hadn’t subsided, I ground my teeth.

The empress’s expression was still in front of me, and Yulika stood by her with a stupid look.

‘How cowardly.’

The anger didn’t go away.

“Are you sure Sir Horio has joined hands with the empress?”

It was Hamilton who answered Father’s question.

“That is our question as well. There was no sign of that.”

“It’s not that they’re on the same side. It might be that their weakness has been caught.”

Caesar mumbled that with a sad expression on his face.

“Most of the nobles in the gray zone leaned toward us. It doesn’t make sense to use such a mean move and stick with the empress.”

Caesar’s words were valid.

They attacked Peresca by framing Leonard.

In other words, if Leonard’s innocence were revealed, the damage Horio’s family would receive would be more significant.

‘The empress wouldn’t have made such a big move if there was nothing to gain from it.’

If there is no benefit, it must be because there is harm.

What is the harm?

“As expected, I’m sorry. I should have doubted Sir Horio’s invitation.”

I covered my face and sighed.

“It’s not Helena’s fault. The fact that Horio was attached to the empress’s side was information we didn’t even know.”

“Yes, Princess. You can’t doubt everyone, can you? Do not blame yourself.”

Caesar and Hamilton comforted me, but it was no use.

My father groaned low and agonized for a while, then he spoke again in a serious voice.

“I doubt it’s the Peresca that the empress is after.”

“I think so.”

Caesar agreed.

And I, too, think so.

‘The Red Knights stole the documents because they were wary of the White Knights… that’s a small thing that can be covered up to an extent. That’s not going to hurt Peresca or Caesar.’

Although it could damage Leonard’s reputation, the case was weak enough to attack Peresca as a whole.

“What was the biggest blow to the empress?”

Father asked.

It must have been a question that my father himself already knew the answer to.

I replied blankly as if muttering to myself.

“The monsters subjugation…”

That’s right. It’s me.

The crown princess candidate who appeared like a comet. An influential person who overcame the monsters. Favored by the emperor and became the main character of the party hosted by the imperial family.

“But if she was targeting the princess, she could have pretended that the princess had stolen her papers. The princess was also in the room.”

Hamilton objected.

But Caesar shook his head.

“Helena has no reason to pursue the White Knights’ documents. On the flip side, it would’ve been more plausible if it was the young duke.”

“If this is true, they’ll be asking for a deal soon.”

Father took Caesar’s words and concluded.

“Helena.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Don’t respond.”

“… What?!”

Caesar, Hamilton, and I were all surprised. I thought my father had made a slip of the tongue.

But Father’s expression was firm.

“Once you respond to the cowardly means, the other side will continue to attack you like this.”

“But then, Brother—!”

“It’s embarrassing, but it’s not a big deal. There will be plenty of opportunities to restore our honor and to reveal our innocence.”

My father was calmer than I thought.

No, he’s not.

When he came running through this heavy rain, there must have been that much anxiety and impatience. Why wouldn’t there be?

“It must have been one of the servants who put the papers in the young duke’s cloak. We will find someone who will confess if we go through them.”

Caesar said sarcastically. His voice was low and hoarse, but everyone could feel his suppressed anger.

“Thank you for coming out, Your Highness.”

“It happened because of me. Of course I have to step up.”

“It will be fine. Leonard is not that weak,” said Father.

It must have been a word to soften the atmosphere, but now even such words fell to the bottom like a lead.

I touched my forehead. I felt a throbbing sensation in my head.

***

“Helena.”

After the guests left, Father called me up when I was about to return to my room.

“You look lost.”

“I’m sorry.”

I bowed my head again.

My father hugged my shoulder and said affectionately.

“Don’t worry about anything. You don’t have to do anything. Stay safe until the job is done.”

“… What?”

I lifted my head again at the unexpected words and looked at my father. I felt a strain on my forehead.

“I just want to tell you that…”

My father smiled bitterly at the look on my face.

“You are not that kind of child. Am I right?”

“Father…”

“How long are you going to be silent? How long are you going to keep thinking about your fault?”

My father said in a reproachful voice.

And the way he spoke was more relaxed than when he gently embraced me.

“Since we had decided to stand on His Highness’ side, we should have been prepared for this. I told you this path isn’t romantic. Did you forget?”

“No, I remember.”

“Good. My children are by no means weak, right?”

“Yes, Father.”

“Tell me what you’re going to do.”

My throbbing head cleared.

My nervousness calmed down.

“I’m going to kill all the guys who dared to bully my brother.”

My father did not get angry at the crude, vulgar remarks. He just laughed out loud.

“Yes, that’s my daughter.”

He just laughed out loud.

***

There was only one thing the empress could’ve asked of me to bring back the atmosphere inclined toward Caesar, back toward them.

Conceive the position of the crown princess to Yulika Brande.

I was reminded of that fact after receiving the empress’ invitation early in the morning.

“My lady. Can you not go?”

Bessie, who came to my room, said to me with an anxious look and voice.

“The young master isn’t here, and I’m so worried that something might also go wrong with the lady.”

“It’s okay. I’m going to pick my brother up. Nothing could go wrong.”

“How could this happen to our good young master…”

Bessie muttered with a face that looked like she was about to burst into tears at any moment.

“Bessie, come here. Hug me.”

“My lady…!”

Bessie came over to me and hugged me. I patted Bessie, who was sobbing.

“Nothing will happen. No one dares to touch Peresca.”

Yeah, no one touches my people.

Because I will protect them.

Soon, with a knock, the butler Kegor entered. He remained steadfast in this situation, resembling Father.

“My lady, the carriage is ready.”

“Thank you. I’ll go down.”

After comforting Bessie, I went down to the first floor. Agoth, waiting at the entrance, greeted me with determined eyes.

As I got into the carriage, I said to Agoth.

“When we arrive, do not enter the imperial palace and wait in the carriage. You have to be careful what you say and what you hear.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Don’t move recklessly if someone approaches you to help you or if they show strange signs. We can’t trust anyone right now.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Agoth nodded solemnly. That solemnity was too much, and I burst into laughter.

“Bessie was crying.”

“Really?”

“Are you okay, Agoth?”

“It’s not that I’m okay…”

Agoth frowned and looked into the air. She seemed to be thinking. Should I cry, too?

“I, um… When the master returns to the mansion, I will cry.”

Agoth’s tears were a foreshadowing.

Somehow, I felt like the remaining tension was a little relieved.

‘When I went to slay the dragon, it was more enjoyable than this.’

At that time, I felt like If I die, I’ll die.

I think I know now. It’s actually not that scary for me to die or if something goes wrong with me. It wasn’t even courage.

‘It’s scarier… if something goes wrong with my people.’

The carriage arrived at the imperial palace faster than usual.

I found the empress’ residence without any hesitation. At the entrance to the residence, servants were waiting for me to come.

I was immediately led to the room where the empress was. This was the room I had visited several years ago.

“Welcome, Princess. I’ve been waiting.”

Just like that day, today, Yulika Brande was sitting at the right hand of the empress.

At that time, Yulika Brande and I had been young. But she was not young now, and she should not be. I was the same.

“Helena of Peresca sees Your Ladyship the Empress.”

“You don’t have to be so formal. It’s not our first time seeing each other, right? Now, make room for the princess.”

The attendants provided me a seat under the empress’ order.

“Do you have any idea why I called you, Princess?”

“Is it because of yesterday?”

“Yeah. Indeed, you’re smart.”

The empress smiled brightly. It was a very kind smile. How could that woman be able to smile like that in this situation?

“I heard about the document’s contents, but it wasn’t that important because it was only the White Knights’ training schedule.”

“It will be up to Sir Horio to decide whether it is a major issue. For your information, I think it’s a very major problem.”

“You mean theft?”

I asked. The empress squinted.

“Is this theft?”

“What do you mean?”

“The truth is, he tried to steal major military intelligence for rebellion…”

How far are you going to go, woman?

What does the training schedule that will be revealed to the entire Knights Order in a few days have anything to do with the rebellion?

I frowned automatically.

“You’re going too far, your Ladyship.”

“Really?”

“You’re making such a fuss. People will laugh at you.”

“Well, yes. If it was this alone.”

What do you mean by ‘this alone’?

Is there something… more?

The empress shifted her gaze from me to Yulika.

“Come on, Young Lady. Bring it here.”

What on earth?

After hesitating, Yulika finally got up from her seat and approached the empress.

Then she pulled a double-folded piece of paper from her sleeve and handed it to the empress.

‘… No way.’

A double-folded piece of paper.

I felt chills down my spine.

“Now, Princess. Do you remember what this is?”

The empress opened the paper and held it so I could see it clearly.

It was the paper I had entrusted to Yulika.

A sentence written in a forgotten language read, “Welcome to the king who will come again.”