Chapter 34

That was the gist of what she told her audience in the room.

Of course, she didn’t explain something on purpose.

For example, she didn’t mention that when the emperor guaranteed her safety, it was her safety only as his ‘hostage’. She failed to mention it was actually the last moment in her life when she discovered Ober’s treason. She also didn’t say the reason she jumped into the fire at the risk of her life was because she couldn’t ignore what was going to happen since she returned from death.

Except for these three points, she frankly confessed the whole situation without exaggerating it or abridging. Although her story was not perfect, it was enough to convince them.

Mrs. Charlotte was only slightly surprised when she first heard of the word ‘treason.’ Since then, she listened to the duke’s daughter all along with a gentle expression on her face.

Iric maintained a cool face all the time, but he gripped the handle of a sword while he was listening. Cordelli made an expression on her face as if her curiosity were solved, and then looked at her with a pitiful expression again.

“So, that’s why you are now pretending to be at odds with the emperor?”

Finally, Duke Kling asked, repeating her last words with a deep sigh.

“Well, yes. I can’t desert Ober right now to discover some specific evidence about his treason plot. I’m sure everybody except the people here will believe I’m at odds with the emperor.”

She bit her red lips gently and touched the handle of the rose-patterned mug. She gazed carefully at her father with clear green eyes and asked, “Aren’t you angry at me, Dad?”

“Will you quit if I’m upset with you?”

“Well, that’s…”

She slurred. Her father let out a long sigh again.

“It’s too dangerous. Don’t you know how cunning Ober is? The marquise is a far more evil politician than you think.”

“I know, but that was the best option I could think of. I’m closer to Ober than you or the emperor. I can pull the wool over him more easily than you. And I can’t prove my claim if I can’t find specific evidence…”

Duke Kling felt sorry for her daughter when she tried to read his mind. She could have run away, pretending she didn’t know, but she had no such an option in her decision.

“The emperor has guaranteed my safety as well as yours. I don’t think I will be in danger.”

He felt frustrated about her naive thinking, but at the same time he felt ashamed of himself.

He felt his tender and young daughter was far more courageous than himself.

“Please don’t worry too. I will never be hurt. I’ll run away if I feel I’m in a dangerous situation.”

She grinned when she stood up and sat by his side like a butterfly. Her eyes sparkled when she played the baby, hanging onto his arms.

If she had said that the emperor, given his character, could not easily lose an important hostage like her, he would have felt more convinced. But she could not say so. That was her best explanation that she could use to to convince her father regarding her safety.

“They say a daughter is supposed to take after her father, but you really look like your mom in a situation like this.”

Duke Kling recalled his wife Estelle, who passed away a long time ago, in his lovely daughter.

Although the emperor said that it would be the safest if she stayed with him, it was like her being at the edge of a dangerous cliff. That’s why he raised and protected her in a safe place in Lennox. He wanted not to expose her to the danger of wicked people in the capital as best he could.

But how much could he protect her when she was put in a dangerous position like now?

Her place as the future empress was like the most dangerous and safest double-edged sword. She was already holding a poisoned chalice.

He no longer wanted to lose his beloved family. So, the role he had to play in the future was already set.

“Don’t leave the house alone recklessly. How surprised I was when I discovered you were gone!

“I’m so sorry. When I thought Ober was going after you, I was so impatient. I’m sorry I was too hasty.”

“I don’t mean your intention was wrong. You did the right thing. Maybe one day it might have happened like this…”

“Daddy.”

“But promise to discuss with me first before you get down to do something.”

“Yes, will do, Daddy.”

They stopped talking at a point where they thought they found the best solution.

Obviously, there should be something hidden in their request and answers, but neither of them asked further. Then he looked at the other three in the room and said calmly, “I think I have to ask you guys a favor in advance. I hope my daughter is in great hands. She is more precious to me than any treasure in the world.”

Mrs. Charlotte said, “The emperor is as concerned about your daughter as you are. On the day the emperor made her the owner of the Elior Mansion, he gave me a special order to serve her well. And I’m not stupid enough to disobey his order, ” Mrs. Charlotte said.

“Me too! I will serve her more especially! Please feel relaxed. You know the chief chamberlain praised me, saying I was the best maid who served her, right? I’m going to stand by her for 24/7!” Cordelli said.

“I will swear again here on behalf of you and your daughter that I’ll do everything to protect her.

No enemy shall ever hurt her. I will swear on my sword,” Iric said firmly.

In particular, Iric was about to kneel down to take out the sword and formally sword as a knight.

Duke Kling laughed and raised him after tapping him on the shoulder.

Looking at their reassuring actions, Kling felt much more relieved.

But he was soon caught by new worries for Marianne when she frowned openly after sipping her tea and listening to their heartwarming responses.

“Marie?”

“Oh, I’m alright. I accidentally bit the inside of my lips while I was eating a while ago.”

Marianne laughed awkwardly. She felt pain in her inner lips. She was stung by conscience when she lied, but she didn’t want to tell her father that she injured herself to deceive Ober.

“I’m stupid, right? I have to blame the chef here who is so good. He is as good as Brad, the chef at the Lennox Mansion.”

Kling was aghast as he had to listen to her daughter’s poor excuses. Suddenly something came to his mind. He put a small, round container on her palm. Its soft cover made of porcelain was engraved with the golden herb stem, a symbol of the imperial medical service.

“What’s this?”

Marianne lifted the small container and opened its cover. What was inside was a soft ointment. She smelled soft grass.

“Sir Kloud gave it to me when I was leaving the palace. He said that it’s a mild ointment that you can use in your mouth.”

“Sir Kloud?”

Why did Sir Kloud give him the ointment? Why? How did he know about the wound in my mouth? He never visited the mansion today. Did anybody on the spot notice my trick? Did Mrs. Charlotte tip him off? No way, even Mrs. Charlotte noticed it.

While Marianne was making various expressions in puzzlement, Kling smiled softly.

“I hear the emperor asked him to hand it to you.”

“Ah.”

Marianne recalled the emperor’s troubled look in the garden. Though he looked indifferent there, he must have noticed that she was sick.

‘It looks like he isn’t such a bad person.’

She shrugged her shoulders and slipped the ointment into the inside pocket of her dress.

“Let me express my thanks to him later.”

“Yes, that sounds good.”

“By the way, what do you want to eat tomorrow morning? Let me talk to the chef quickly, so he can prepare the food. How about steak or steamed bass? I want to recommend raspberry tart for dessert. We used to have it often in Lennox. Is it okay with you?”

“Marie, it’s breakfast, so let’s have a light one.”

“No, I do not like it. I think you didn’t eat properly because you came here hurriedly all the way from Lennox. You should eat a lot. After breakfast, let’s take a walk together. Okay? There is a beautiful garden here. Let me show you around.”

“If you insist, sure. ”

Kling laughed as if he could not wear her down. Mrs. Charlotte, Cordelli, and Iric who listened to their conversation smiled happily.

Marianne smiled brightly and hung onto her father’s arms. Indeed, for the first time since she left Lennox, there was kind of a lovely expectation on her face in place of the shadow of the dark complicated situation. She looked excited and thrilled.