Chapter 144
“Lady Fujet… is dead?”
What on earth was I hearing? Lady Fujet, dead? And in a carriage accident, no less?
It wasn’t just me who was shocked. Lucius’s expression hardened as he read the letter. With each line his face grew darker, confirming the dreadful news.
I couldn’t sit still at his reaction. Without waiting for him to speak, I blurted out,
“Lucius, is it true? That letter—it’s from His Majesty, isn’t it? Is it true that Lady Fujet is dead?”
“…Yes. It seems to be true. It’s written here.”
“No… it can’t be…”
Lady Fujet is really dead? How could this have happened?
A carriage accident… Wait. I saw the Fujet carriage myself earlier today.
On the way back to the Grand Duke’s estate, I definitely passed it. Could Lady Fujet have been inside that carriage?
The thought that someone I might have seen just hours ago was now dead sent a chill crawling up from my toes. My fingers went slack, and I dropped the fork I was holding.
Clang!
The sound rang loudly across the dining hall. All eyes turned to me. Lucius jumped up from his seat, hurrying over.
“Are you all right, Tiana? What’s wrong?”
“…I saw it.”
“Pardon?”
“I saw the Fujet family carriage. On the way home this afternoon.”
“Is that… really true?”
I nodded firmly at his tense question.
“Yes. I’m certain. It passed quickly, so I hesitated at first, but it was unmistakably the Fujet family crest.”
“Couldn’t you have been mistaken?”
“No. Jane saw it too. Right, Jane?”
At my call, Jane, who had been waiting nearby, stepped forward and nodded.
“That’s correct. I also saw it with the Madam. It was without a doubt the Fujet carriage.”
“…I see.”
Lucius’s expression grew grave as he took my hand. I might have been one of the last witnesses before the accident.
I hadn’t expected this at all. Lady Fujet, dead. I had hoped it wouldn’t come to this, but now all three of the ladies who tormented Angelica had perished in accidents.
How could this be? Is this really… coincidence?
First, Baron Tiven’s daughter. Then, Count Ayle’s daughter. And now, Lady Fujet.
The first fell from a cliff—more like a suicide than an accident. The second was trampled by a rampaging horse. And Lady Fujet died in a carriage crash.
The first two deaths had already seemed suspicious. And now this.
It was hard not to think these weren’t accidents at all, but carefully planned crimes aimed at Angelica. Otherwise, how could three people, one after another, die so conveniently?
Before long, this news would spread throughout the capital. People would surely bring up Angelica again. With her engagement announced and marriage on the horizon, any bad rumors could deal her lasting damage.
How tangled things had become. In the original story, there had been factions opposing Angelica and Rael’s marriage, yes, but nothing like this.
Does Angelica know yet? She might not have heard of Lady Fujet’s death, but the gossip about the earlier accidents had been loud enough that she surely knew of them.
I hadn’t expected such headaches to follow one after another. A sharp pain throbbed in my head, and I pressed my temples. Lucius rubbed my back with concern.
“Tiana, are you unwell? Dizzy?”
“I’m fine. Just a headache.”
“Perhaps you should lie down upstairs.”
“No, it’s all right. But Lucius—did His Majesty say anything else? About Lady Fujet’s death?”
The fact that Rael himself had sent the letter meant there was more to this. Even if Lady Fujet’s death might affect Angelica, there had to be another reason for such urgency.
“His Majesty said he wishes to see me tomorrow. And… he asked for you to come as well.”
“Me?”
“Yes. I don’t know why, but since you mentioned you saw the Fujet carriage earlier, I imagine it’s because of that.”
“His Majesty knows about that?”
That road had been a secluded lane near the estate, not a main street. Just how far did Rael’s eyes reach? Could he really know everything happening in the capital?
Either way, if he summoned me, I had to go. Though all I had was a fleeting glimpse, hardly enough to serve as evidence.
Rael’s intentions were never easy to guess. I sighed softly, and Lucius seemed to take it another way. He leaned closer.
“Are you struggling, Tiana? Then perhaps you shouldn’t go to the palace tomorrow.”
“No. His Majesty summoned me, so I must. And really, I’m fine. I was only startled by the unexpected news—that’s why my head hurt. I’m feeling much better now.”
“Still…”
“Thanks to you, I rested well today. My fever is gone, I’ve eaten plenty, and I feel my strength returning. Don’t worry. Besides…”
“Besides?”
“I want to go with you. If we go together, we can stay side by side.”
“Tiana…”
Lucius blinked rapidly, bit his lip, then pulled me into his arms.
“Lucius?”
“…I truly cannot resist you.”
His voice, low and heavy, brushed against my ear as he held me tight, one hand at my waist, the other cradling my head. I could feel the warmth of his body, the unspoken emotions behind it.
“We’ll go together, right?”
“Yes. Together.”
“Good.”
I smiled at his soft surrender and embraced him back.
The next day, at the Imperial Palace.
“Welcome, both of you.”
Instead of the audience chamber, the chief attendant led us straight to Rael’s private garden.
Bathed in sunlight, Rael sat at a table, sipping tea as if nothing in the world was amiss. His casualness was almost insulting after the urgent summons.
“You don’t look like you’re in the mood for a cheerful ‘good morning.’”
“…”
“Well… yes.”
Of course not, Emperor. You call us here at dawn in a panic, and then sit there like this? We hadn’t even managed a slice of bread or a sip of tea before coming.
Lucius said nothing, his gaze drifting. I too was at a loss for words. Rael cleared his throat awkwardly and gestured to the attendant.
“Sit down, both of you. Breakfast will be served shortly. We can talk while we eat.”
“…Understood.”
“Yes, thank you, Your Majesty.”
We sat. Soon the servants returned, carrying an array of dishes—flaky croissants, fragrant mushroom soup, soft golden omelets, and a bright fruit salad tossed with a tangy sauce.
The aroma filled the garden, making my stomach growl despite myself.
“Eat. I assumed you hadn’t had breakfast, being summoned so early.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Yes, we’ll eat well.”
Whatever the reason for this summons, it clearly wasn’t going to be revealed until after we’d eaten. I picked up my fork, following Lucius and Rael.
The mushroom soup was smooth and comforting, the omelet seasoned to perfection. I tore off a piece of croissant, dipped it in the soup, and savored the buttery richness. The fruit salad was refreshingly sweet.
Delicious. Even better than I expected.
The Grand Duke’s household and even the Celeste duchy had fine kitchens, but this was on another level. The Imperial Palace’s cuisine was in a class of its own.
“The Grand Duchess eats well. I’m glad to see your health has improved,” Rael said with a faint smile.
I set down my fork and returned the smile.
“I’ve recovered a lot, thanks to His Highness and the family’s care. I hadn’t regained my appetite… but this food is simply too delicious. The Palace’s cuisine is truly unmatched.”
“My head chef’s dishes are always superb. There’s no rival to him in the Empire. Convincing him to cook only for me was no easy feat.”
“Truly? But serving as the Emperor’s chef must be the highest honor—why would he hesitate?”
Rael chuckled.
“He only cooks what he wants, and only for those he chooses. I persuaded him to cook only for me. Ah, but today I asked him to serve extra portions. Strangely, he didn’t complain.”
“…He sounds rather unusual.”
Indeed, someone proud enough to cook only on his own terms. For Rael to have secured him said a lot about them both.
We finished the meal and cleansed our palates with peppermint tea. As I savored the fresh aroma, Rael finally set down his cup and spoke.
“I called you here to inform you that the plan we discussed has changed.”
“…!”
“Changed, Your Majesty?”
My heart lurched. Did this mean the marriage with Angelica was to be called off? Had Lady Fujet’s death altered everything?
Rael smiled faintly, watching us both.
“The wedding will be held within the month.”
