Chapter 91

Chapter 91: Chapter 91

Among those who were not directly involved in this incident, she was the first who would grind her teeth with vexation at the threat to the descendants of the Frey family.

Christopher smiled bitterly as if he understood his sister’s feelings.

“But let me treat the merits and mistakes of the investigation team separately. It’s not because I doubt your loyalty, but because I have to prepare just in case. So, I hope you don’t take it to heart,” said Eckart.

“Not at all, Your Majesty. I just made the request to lessen your burden, so I’m satisfied as long as the investigation moves ahead, regardless of the method.”

“Let me appreciate your loyalty gladly.”

Eckart finally diverted his attention fixed on him. He glanced at the Grand Duke in the back.

“Kloud!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Sensing the emperor’s eye signal, Kloud replied quickly.

“Did you inform them about the engagement schedule?”

“Yes, I conveyed it briefly.”

‘Oh, I see,’ Eckhart murmured to himself and beckoned to Curtis. Curtis, standing like a stone behind the couch, politely gave him the glass on the table.

Quenching his thirst a bit, Eckart opened his mouth again.

“As you have already heard from the messenger, I’m going to have the engagement ceremony tomorrow. Given my situation, make it as brief as possible. So, you can prepare for it by consulting with the priests…”

There were some among them who made an expression that showed they disagreed, but no one came forward and expressed it.

“I’m going to head for the capital in the morning the day after tomorrow. Let me notify you immediately if there is a change in my schedule.”

Eckart handed the glass of water back to Curtis.

Marianne looked closely at him. His eyes, breath, fingertips, and forehead were reflected in her emerald eyes.

“That’s it. Except for the cardinal, everybody go back and take a rest.”

He issued the last order for the day.

Watching the situation quietly, standing in the corner, Helena dragged her white robe and headed to him. The rest of them left the room one after another with a brief greeting.

Marianne was the last to stay in the room, but left finally. She looked back before she crossed the threshold, but his blue eyes were already fixed on Helena.

She pulled the red hem with a long sigh.

Thump!

The door was closed from behind.

* * *

Everybody was busy in the temple in the afternoon. The members of the Grand Duke’s party kept coming in and out of the bedrooms on each floor of the annex, unpacking their stuff, and the kitchen people were busy preparing food for their guests. In the front yard and stables, the servants were also busy with sorting out the cart’s supplies and gathering horse food.

“Lady, what are you looking at?” Cordelli asked Marianne while opening a parasol after combing through the baggage.

“Huh? Suddenly the temple seems to be vibrant.”

Responding to her subtly, Marianne turned toward her.

She took her eyes off from the innermost window of the third floor of the annex where the curtain was opened halfway

“Afternoon sunshine is the strongest around this time. So, come this way. You must be especially careful about the heat, because you will be engaged tomorrow.”

“Thanks.”

Marianne rested underneath the deeper shade of the parasol Cordelli opened for her, who was standing under the tall poplar tree. As the sun shining on her face disappeared, Marianne felt a little cold.

Away from the strange vigor of the temple, she looked at the picturesque sight before her.

After leaving the emperor’s room, the party dispersed to their own rooms. Grand Duke Christopher disappeared with Duchess Lamont, and Marquise Chester returned to her room with the maids.

She and Cordelli helped Beatrice move to the bedroom on the second floor. Marianne had a cup of tea that Beatrice served with gratitude, and chatted with her for a minute before going back to her room. After combing her hair neatly, Marianne came out to the garden in the front yard.

It took her around one hour and a half for her to do all this.

Marianne seemed to have completely returned to her normal life, but in fact, she always paid attention to one thing.

‘I guess the cardinal took care of the emperor as she was left behind, but I’m still worried about his condition. He hid his wounds on purpose when he could be caught at any moment, and I think he was sweating. I couldn’t see clearly in the distance. And he had Curtis bring him a glass of water as he couldn’t hold it. Obviously, he was overworking himself…’

Marianne bit her lip unconsciously. Just like she used to when she was agonizing, she rolled her hair with her thin fingers and then loosened it again.

“Well, Lady…”

It was around that time that she heard a familiar voice.

Marianne looked back. A man who looked like a servant was awkwardly standing outside the shade of the tree.

It was Coachman Barton who drove her carriage.

“Barton?”

“Yes, yes. Barton. I am honored as you recognize this humble man.”

“You’re far too modest. How can I forget? We’re indebted to each other anyway.”

“Oh, not me, Lady. The emperor will punish me if he hears it.”

Barton waved his hands, blushing. She chuckled as if she liked his innocent reaction.

“It’s alright. He is not here anyway. What business brought you here?”

“Well, the reason I came to see you is…”

He scoured his pocket and pulled out a small, crude glass bottle.

“I think I should show you this…”

“Give me this. I have to check first if it’s dangerous. ”

Cordelli grabbed the vial from his hand with suspicious eyes. Barton quickly shook his head and said, “I’m not trying to hurt Lady Marianne. Don’t taste it. Just look at it…”

“What the heck! That makes you more suspicious. Lady, you don’t know what’s inside, so let’s call a knight or priest. Oops! Miss!”

Marianne took the vial and opened it before Cordelli was done talking. With her back against Cordelli who tried to stop her, Marianne poured what was inside onto her palm.

Something very small and white came out.

Marianne stared at her palm and put her nose near it to smell. It smelled very light and faint like grass. She split the white clot to pieces with her fingertip. The split clot looked exactly like fallen spring flowers.

“Lady, please give it to me. Let me go and ask them. Come on!”

Cordelli tried to stop her from touching it further, but it was not easy to grab her wrists because she opened the parasol to keep Cordelli away. As the two women wrestled, the innocent Barton nervously stamped his feet repeatedly.

Meanwhile, Marianne suddenly spit on the floor after touching substance with the tip of her tongue.

“Oh my god, Lady!”

Cordelli was frightened and covered Marianne with a parasol. She looked around with an embarrassed expression. But Marianne did not care and turned to Barton.

Her green eyes sparkled with excitement and intellect.

“Barton. Where did you get this?”

“Before coming to the temple this morning, I cleaned up the luggage in the residence and found it in the horse feeders of the stable.”

“Horse feeders?”

“Yes. I found it in some feeders, but not others…”

Barton looked around once more and lowered his voice.

“I think that’s the debris of flowers.”

“Do you think so?”

“It’s been more than thirty years since I bred and rode horses. My senior horsemen repeated warned me against this kind of flower, so I tried it myself as I was curious, and actually I grew it myself later. I’m confident about it.”

Hearing his confident reassurances, Marianne lowered her voice and said, “Barton.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t leak this to anyone. When someone asks me why you met and talked to me, just say you just wanted to thank me for what happened the other day. Got it? Never tell anyone.”

“Yes, madame. I will follow your words even if I have to stick my neck out for you.”

“No, no, please don’t stick your neck out for me. You know I barely saved your life.”

Marianne deliberately joked while looking around. She put the white clot back into the glass bottle. She closed the lid tightly and hid it in the pocket of the dress.

“Let me tell the emperor about your services.”

“No, madame. How can a stupid man like me deserve any credit? I just… if Jason was killed by someone else’s scheme, I just want to know the cause of his murder and see those involved be held accountable.”

Barton was done talking, and he had a sad expression on his face. When he looked up a little later, Marianne looked at him with a frown.

“Jason?”

“Oh, the horseman who drove His Majesty’s carriage was Jason.”

“Was he dead, not injured?”

“Pardon? Yes, he was… On the day you and the emperor were missing, the knights recovered his body from the tributaries of the falls. They said he seemed to have drowned, adding that he would not have survived by swimming because of major injuries.”

The more he continued, the paler her face turned.

Marianne clenched her fists without hiding her perplexed expression.