[CHAPTER 77]
When I opened my eyes, Vicky’s widened gaze was fixed on me, and her expression hardened.
“……How did you know who I really am?”
She asked in a low, sharp voice, her eyes filled with wariness as she looked at me.
The reason I knew Vicky was Princess Victoria was, of course, because of my knowledge of the original story.
In the novel, the princess secretly ran a massive merchant guild and joined hands with the shadowy ducal house, appearing as an enemy who threatened the crown prince’s position.
Applying that information to my current situation, it was easy to deduce that the mysterious great merchant Aizen had introduced was the princess herself.
“Portraits of the imperial family aren’t publicly released, so you shouldn’t know my face.”
“After realizing Duke Kalard’s true identity, I pieced together various suspicious points and bits of information I’d picked up to reach that conclusion.”
I made my excuse in the most polite and respectful tone possible, but the princess scanned me with a look that clearly said she was unconvinced.
I decided to brazen it out for now.
Inside, cold sweat was pouring down my back, but outwardly I maintained my composure as if I were telling nothing but the truth.
After staring straight through me for a while, the princess finally let out a small laugh.
“I’ve thought this before, but you’re bolder than you look.”
“I will take that as a compliment. Thank you, Your Highness.”
I clasped my hands at my waist and bowed my head, and the corner of the princess’s lips lifted a little higher.
“Well, I heard you figured out Duke Kalard’s identity on your own too. If that’s the case, it makes sense you’d notice mine as well.”
She snapped her fingers lightly, and her eye color faded into a pale gray as her original eyes returned.
Leaning back against the sofa with her legs crossed, the princess tilted her chin.
“So, what exactly do you need the Statue of Truth for?”
“If you truly were falsely accused.”
I stood up, shut the open window, carefully drew the curtains, and even locked the door with a click.
Then I returned to my seat and revealed my true identity to the princess and Lady Feltro, who were looking at me in confusion.
“I greet the imperial princess. I am Esther Granger of the Granger County.”
“Esther Granger? I’ve heard that name somewhere.”
Unlike the princess, who frowned slightly and tilted her head, Lady Feltro’s eyes widened instantly in shock.
“The ghost daughter of Count Granger who was arrested and executed for attempting to poison Ariana Granger, the crown prince’s lover?”
Oh, that’s a perfectly concise summary.
It saved me the trouble of explaining myself.
When I nodded, Lady Feltro covered her mouth with her hand.
Meanwhile, the princess merely shrugged, showing no particular agitation.
“So when you say you were framed…”
“Yes, that’s right. I never tried to harm Ariana. My younger sister and I were simply pushed into a corner by an overwhelming power we couldn’t oppose.”
When I indirectly implied that the crown prince had framed me, a brief silence fell.
Glancing at the princess, Lady Feltro quietly rose and moved toward the door, standing guard-like in front of it.
The princess shot her a sidelong look, then gestured for me to continue.
“The culprit who framed me at someone’s instigation has already been captured. However, that alone won’t be enough to confront the true mastermind, so I wish to use the Statue of Truth.”
“Is that all?”
“No. Once I clear my name and reclaim my position, I intend to oppose that power and repay Your Highness’s kindness.”
The princess was the crown prince’s most powerful adversary and the female lead of this world.
If I sided with her and lent her my strength, I could bring down Lionel and save Ariana from his clutches.
As if she understood the meaning behind my words, the princess grinned.
For a moment, hope flared in my chest, but then—
“Well, what do I gain from accepting repayment from someone already driven out once for incompetence? If things go wrong, I’d be the one at a loss.”
As expected, she was no easy opponent.
The problem was that I had no information on hand that could truly entice the princess.
There was no concrete evidence that the crown prince had ordered Aizen’s assassination, and even in the original story, he had few obvious weaknesses.
After agonizing over it, I decided to do what I always had and throw myself in headfirst.
“People who claw their way up from the bottom are persistent and strong. And I’m like a weed. I don’t know how to give up. Even if I’m not a great help, I’ll definitely be of use if you keep me by your side.”
“Hmm.”
The princess’s gaze softened slightly, but that was all, and my impatience grew.
I jumped to my feet and raised my voice as if delivering a speech.
“Use me like a blade. Then you won’t have to stain your own hands with blood while striking down your enemies.”
“……Hahaha!”
At my far more blatant appeal, the princess burst out laughing.
Unsure whether that was a positive reaction, I looked to Lady Feltro, and thankfully her expression wasn’t bad either.
“Fine, then.”
After a long moment, the princess stopped laughing and clasped my hand boldly.
“However, if I suddenly lend an imperial treasure to you for no reason, it would look strange.”
She folded her arms leisurely and tapped her upper arm with a finger.
“Why don’t we create a suitable justification?”
She added in an amused tone.
“There just happens to be a palace boating hunt coming up soon.”
9. Statue of Truth, Open
After successfully gaining the princess’s cooperation, my next concern was what I would do once I returned as Lady Granger.
To stand against the crown prince, I would need power beyond that of a mere count’s daughter.
I’m only a half-acknowledged one.
To offset that fatal weakness, I would at least need to take control of the Granger County.
If either Ariana or I could inherit the county by pushing the count aside, that would be ideal.
Should I… try it?
Either way, Count Granger had never been a good father to us.
For Ariana’s future as well as my own, driving him out felt like the right choice.
Of course, he wouldn’t go quietly, so it would take considerable effort.
I’ll do it.
For Ariana and me.
The moment I made that resolve, a commotion rose outside.
Confused, I went out to see servants gathered at the hall entrance, and soon a man pushed through the crowd.
Dull pink hair, blue eyes, and features that were distinct yet somehow mean-spirited.
“Is it true that Esther has returned alive?!”
The man shouted thunderously with a deeply furrowed brow as I looked at him and took a small breath.
Count Granger.
The father who only knew how to use his daughter for his own benefit had returned.
Ha, he said he’d come in two weeks.
It seemed he had rushed back from the territory the moment he heard the news about me.
As he scanned around with a scowl, our eyes met, and after freezing for a moment, the count strode straight toward me.
“No, how did you—!”
“Father!”
A thin voice cut in as Ariana appeared on the landing and hurried down to stop him.
“Why, why did you come back already? I thought you still had matters to attend to—”
“How could I stay put when someone who was supposed to be dead shows up in my house!”
“It’s a misunderstanding, Father. This person isn’t my sister, she’s—”
Ariana bit her lip, unable to finish her sentence.
Even if she claimed I was an apothecary named Jena like she had with others, the count would see through the lie immediately.
Still, the brief interruption seemed to bring him back to his senses somewhat, and instead of causing a public scene, he summoned us to his office.
Thanks to that, the three of us, a family bound by half-shared blood, ended up facing each other.
“You! Explain yourself properly. How is it that you died in prison, yet here you are in my house, perfectly alive?!”
As the count barked at me, I hesitated.
Should I pretend to be someone else and play dumb, whether it worked or not?
“No, forget it! What does it matter how you came back alive? Report this thing to the capital guard immediately and have it taken away!”
The count pointed at me and shouted at the top of his lungs.
Even though he was seeing his daughter again after believing her dead, there wasn’t a trace of affection to be found.
It’s not like I’m newly hurt by this, but I can’t let him actually report it.
I was choosing my words in my head when Ariana stepped forward first.
“No.”
At the firmness in her voice, which was unimaginable for her usual self, both the count and I stared at her in surprise.
