CH 21

For some time, Odette had been denied even the most basic needs, like hot bath water and seasonal bedding.

Vileon’s help was limited. First and foremost, the Emperor prevented Vileon from actively intervening.

That’s how Odette got to where she is today.

The Fourth Princess’ palace is ready. Odette has pulled out all the weeds planted by the Empress and her ladies, and surrounded herself with capable henchmen. Now all that remains is for her to enter the fray.

I’m told that even the most ambitious Odette had trouble sleeping the night before her face-to-face with Cain Blackwood.

From the outset, there was no candidate to replace the Duke of Blackwood. Odette must win the Duke’s acceptance.

And she did.

“Why do you keep your aides, Byers?”

A low, reprimanding voice.

“Why are you trying to run our ship aground?”

“I apologise on behalf for offending the Duke’s dignity.”

“Blackwood has no interest in women. No bastard children like the rest of the aristocracy. I appreciated that. I had enough on my plate, and I didn’t want to be tangled up in a mess.”

Odette chimed in.

“I was wondering if your aide was trying to become the next duchess in a rather unique way.”

“No.”

“Are you sure? Then why does the story I hear differ from what you say?”

Vileon didn’t avoid Odette’s gaze, and as he did, the contents of the report he’d slipped into the drawer earlier came flooding back to him.

Marienne hadn’t even recognised it as a threat, but she’d been given a yellow paper bird before the bucket incident.

The elaborate bird was a swan, and swans are the symbol of the Fourth Princess.

The yellow colour is a warning, and Marienne received the paper bird when she was alone in her dressing room.

It was a week into her unusual courtship with the Duke.

‘It’s a classic court trick.’

Graceful and quiet, with plenty of room to back out later. Odette has been here for six years now. It was not unusual for her to follow the ways of the inner court.

The problem is, it doesn’t work on the unwary.

“The excuse I came up with was that my aide was in love with the Duke. It might sound a little strange, but…”

Vileon said.

“Aide Didi wants the Duke’s hair. He wants the hair as seriously as the Duke wants his influence.”

“…Go on.”

“She says she’ll tell me why later, but the point is, the Duke is not going to grant my aide’s request.”

“It doesn’t have to be the Duke, it could be anyone.”

“And the crown prince is stalling on the public library project because he’s caught up in a series of shenanigans by my aide.”

The rosy eyes glinted coldly. Finally, a meaningful reaction from Odette.

I could see that her desire to kill Marienne Didi had eased by a teaspoonful.

“It took quite a bit of effort on the Empress’s part to push the job onto her son…”

“The Third Princess didn’t back down until the very end. I understand that both of you invested a significant amount of money and made considerable promises.”

“But why does the Chancellor neglect his work?”

“No, I have not, for the Duke has rejected the idea of marrying his cousin without a second thought.”

In fact, the Crown Prince was the only one who was confident that the proposal would succeed. Even the Empress was said to be nervous.

We would be more secure if we allied with the North, but Blackwood refuses to make an alliance with us, saying what he wants.

“You should have given him what he wanted.”

Odette smirked.

“There’s no way I’m going to make a deal with someone who’s not willing to give me what’s mine, but wants to keep it.”

So what did you promise him you would give him?

Vileon stifled the words that threatened to escape him.

If the Duke of Blackwood accepted the offer, it meant he liked what Odette had to offer.

There was only one reason she hadn’t told Vileon Byers what she was betting on: it was a deal he would reject as soon as he heard it.

‘Is this the latest entry in the long line of things you’re hiding from me?’

If it’s not cruel, it’s a lie. He was the first to see Odette before Cain Blackwood, the first to make her laugh, the first to vow to help her rise to the position she desired.

And what did his beloved lord say to him?

“The order doesn’t matter.”

Up to a certain point, I will go with Vileon, but some paths can only be taken with Cain.

“It’s not just you, Lord, who’s afraid alone. I am too.”

Odette’s usually unwavering gaze seemed different this time.

“Byers, do you understand? Me too.”

“…”

“I’m afraid I’m going to have to stand by and watch you fall apart.”

It’s okay, I said. I can do this. When the command comes, I’ll do it like a hound tearing at the throat of its prey, so let me stand by your side, I implied.

Vileon has never forgotten his reply.

He is a man who would rather sacrifice himself than harm others.

Do you mean to say that I should watch as the person continues to get their hands covered in blood and gradually deteriorates?

You want me to endure the growing disillusionment in your eyes?

Vileon could not retort.

‘I wonder if it would have been different if I had answered that it would never happen.’

But that’s just a hypothetical. In fact, he still hopes that he will never have to sign the papers to condemn an empress or a crown prince to death.

Abdication and prison.

It would be a worse punishment than death for them, but it would be less severe by Odette’s standards.

“Certainly the behaviour of your aide is unpredictable. Even for me, who would normally try to ignore it.”

Odette shook her head slightly.

“But it is refreshing to hear that the Crown Prince is putting his duties on the back burner.”

“The door to the aide’s quarters that the Duke destroyed has already been replaced, and since there’s no one living in it, they’re just going to put up a screen and put it back up in a week, as it was originally.”

“That’s on the crown prince’s side…?”

Yes, it seems that the Duke is so excited about getting into trouble that he wants to cheer up my aide.”

“I see.”

Odette rose from her chair. Her expression was noticeably softer than earlier.

“It is almost time for me to submit the first report to the Emperor. It looks like this report will also be the work of Hetzley.”

Viscount Hetzley handles the paperwork for the Crown Prince’s camp. He’s not the brains behind the scenes, but about fourth from the front.

Unhappy with the way he’s been treated for his heavy workload, Viscount Hetzley has recently secretly switched sides with the Second Prince.

The Crown Prince’s first report is probably fine on the surface.

It wouldn’t be until a little later that things would blow up.

“Marienne, what a surprise.”

Odette stood beside Vileon. Vileon knew it was time to cut to the chase.

“I will continue to be useful, but I will not interfere with Your Highness’ plans, so I would ask that you cease your warnings to my aide.”

The report speaks for itself. Odette didn’t deliberately hide the evidence completely. In fact, if she wanted to cover her tracks, she wouldn’t have swan-dived with paper in the first place.

She even predicted that Vileon would investigate the bucket drop. She hoped that once Vileon realised who was behind it, he would round up his men.

But the target, Marienne Didi, had once again exceeded the Fourth Princess’ expectations.

Unable to sit idly by for another few days until Vileon received the final report, he had the Duke of Vanla galloping through the palace corridors.

Odette was furious.

And pointing out the faults of an already angry person does little to solve the problem.

So Vileon calmly bided his time. A moment to make the most dramatic appeal to Marienne’s performance.

Odette replied coolly.

“Very well, I’ll leave your aide alone, unless the Duke changes his mind.”

“You can rest assured of that. The Duke is angry, not swayed by my aide.”

“Wouldn’t his lordship be angry?”

Odette laughed, as if she were slightly amused.

“Do you think you can just cut the hair of a powerful person without consequences. Even His Majesty can’t do that carelessly.”

Odette shook her head.

“Anyway, the Duke’s hair is… his own business. I can’t help you with that.”

“Thank you for your consideration. If Aide Didi informs me of the reason later, I will also inform Your Majesty.”

“No.”

Odette refused.

“Somehow I don’t want to know, and I don’t think I’ll understand if I do.”

In truth, Vileon was of the same mind as Odette on this point. What is it about Cain Blackwood’s black hair that Marienne is so obsessed with?

On a separate note, Vileon couldn’t help but wonder.

It wasn’t just a few strands of the Duke’s hair that his aide was after, it was his entire head.

Inwardly, Vileon begged Odette’s forgiveness.

‘I may not be able to kill a man, but I can certainly make him bald.’

To be honest, he felt a slight thrill of pleasure. Cain, a statuesque figure made of ice, would not make Odette break her alliance if he went bald.

And even if she didn’t, she’d still be disturbed by the sight of his shaved head.

Hair can make a big difference in a person’s impression, she’ll realise.

It makes me want to root for Marienne even more.

◇ ◆ ◇

When I got back to the office, Marienne was nowhere to be seen. There were no bodyguards, so she must have left.

‘Where did she go?’

Vileon looked at her desk, hoping she had left a note. It was clean. There was no note on his desk, nor on Marienne’s.

‘She’s not obliged to report every time I’m away.’

But only for Marienne. The bodyguard should have left at least one short scrawl.

I’ll have to ask him to pay attention to that when he gets back.

Odette said she wouldn’t touch Marienne anymore. But I’m not reassured that the threat from Cain has only just begun.

We’ll just have to work until they return. Vileon picked up the top of the stack of papers. He’d read about ten sentences.

‘Why are they so late?’

His gaze drifted to Marienne’s empty desk.

I’m sorry, but I remember them loudly proclaiming that they were willing to do anything that required effort, but that they couldn’t help with the paperwork.

What else did she say, right. She’d said she couldn’t wait to see what was on the menu at the Count’s dinner tonight.

Marienne had said it in the carriage on the way to work, which made me laugh.

When I asked her if she was already thinking about it after work, she nodded vigorously, as if to say yes.

“Are you having a hard time with work?”

“Lord Byers, are you joking? What could be so difficult about the work I do in the Ministry of Finance?”

“Then, is there a reason you’re already thinking about going home…?”

“That’s because I’m at work right now.”

Marienne suddenly narrowed her eyes and turned to face Vileon.

Marienne smelled faintly of his own soap.