Chapter 81
As for Saintess Melodia.
Originally, she does not appear in the novel. In fact, the current timeline is set further in the future, so as time passed, there were naturally characters who no longer appeared. After all, the novel was the story of the female lead and the Crown Prince.
In the end, descriptions of those unrelated to the two of them were extremely limited. At least in the case of the twins, they appeared because they were antagonists, but as for the others, there was hardly any reason for them to show up. For that reason, what could be known was very limited.
So regarding Saintess Melodia, I could only infer based on my own thoughts… and somehow, it felt unsettling.
‘Could it be… that Saintess Melodia was on the Grand Duchess’s side? No. She is definitely on the Grand Duchess’s side.’
It’s a very simple thought, but nothing explains the current situation better than that.
‘If she knows even the specific details about the twins’ mother, then it’s clear that Saintess Melodia knows her.’
Even so, it’s strange. In the novel, the female lead originally finds the twins’ mother much later. If Saintess Melodia had told the Grand Duke from now on…
‘The Grand Duke would have found her even faster.’
Did something start speeding up from the moment I intervened in the novel? The Grand Duke finding the twins, for example.
‘In the novel, did Saintess Melodia tell the female lead about the twins’ mother? After betraying the Grand Duchess at the end? As the story progressed, the Grand Duchess lost all her power, so perhaps she cut ties with her… And maybe the twins’ mother fleeing to the temple wasn’t a coincidence, but something Saintess Melodia had prepared.’
What puzzled me was—why now?
No matter how much I thought about that part, I couldn’t understand it. Was Saintess Melodia testing the Grand Duke by saying she knew things in this manner?
I shook my head from side to side.
“Do not worry.”
“…Pardon?”
“Were you not reacting that way because you were worried I might not tell you again?”
“Ah.”
It seemed he had misunderstood my head shaking. But it was a misunderstanding I quite liked.
“Yes. That’s right.”
So I added a small lie to that misunderstanding.
“Indeed. You must be curious as well. Perhaps even more than I am… you seem to wish for the twins’ happiness. You must be curious about their mother too.”
“Yes.”
“Very well. If I learn anything new, I shall tell you. But are you not curious about your own mother? You must miss her.”
“Ah.”
Adults are always like this. They assume that even someone who isn’t missed must surely be missed.
To Aisha, a mother is nothing more and nothing less than someone who abandoned her. Feelings like longing or wanting to see her had never existed, not even in childhood. If she had truly wanted to see me, she would have at least given me a name. She would have left a note. Or at least come to find me, like other children’s mothers.
But no one came looking.
‘She must have had her reasons for not coming.’
Thinking that way would only be false hope for Aisha.
“Not really.”
“I see. Still, shall I let you know if we find her?”
“…I am a little curious. Why she abandoned me and never once came to see me.”
Perhaps, like the twins’ mother, she had her own circumstances. But I know all too well that there must not have been any such circumstances. Because I am no one special. In my memories—before time turned back—I didn’t have a mother either.
In the end, that means no one comes looking for me, whether in the present, the past, or the future. It wasn’t something that made me sad, but today it felt somewhat strange.
So I smiled awkwardly.
I dislike this kind of atmosphere.
“But why are you not saying anything, Grand Duke?”
“Hm? About what?”
“About meeting the Head Priestess….”
“Because I believe there must be a reason? I do not like the temple, but I think differently of the Head Priestess. She is someone who truly reaches the divine.”
“I see.”
“The fact that she helped Lari, and that she calls you separately and shows you affection—there must be meaning in all of it. I am simply grateful.”
The Grand Duke looked at Lari sincerely. Truly with the eyes of a father. They were clumsy, but filled with love and sincerity.
Rohen, who had been sitting in the chair, seemed to sense it as well, wearing a proud smile. Thankfully, the topic shifted away from me.
Perhaps because he realized I did not wish to speak about it, the Grand Duke said nothing more, and so we headed toward the Grand Duke’s estate.
It was an unusually pleasant day. And on days that are always pleasant, problems are bound to arise. After arriving at the estate, we went straight to the room.
While waiting for Lari to wake up, we entered carrying bouquets full in our arms…
Our room was a mess.
It was so entirely within the realm of expectation that I barely suppressed a small scoff.
“The room… is in quite a state.”
But we could not definitively name the culprit. We had suspicions, but no evidence.
“Good.”
However, something happened that deviated from expectations. I had assumed that when we returned from our outing, the Grand Duke would come back to the room with us. I had also assumed that while we were gone, the room would be left in disarray. Amid the chaos, there would surely be items hidden here and there that could once again become poison to us—and to Lari.
That was why I had intended to use that as evidence. The one who had put Lari to sleep was certainly the Grand Duchess, and knowing the poison worked on Lari, I thought she would try something more. By now, not only the twins but I as well must be thorns in her side.
“Let us go to my room. You will stay there for the time being.”
“Pardon?”
“Why that reaction?”
“Ah… well….”
I need to stay in this room and gather evidence. That was what I needed to say, yet I could not bring myself to say it.
“I cannot have the children staying in a room like this.”
“Ah. Then I will remain here—”
“You as well.”
“I appreciate the consideration, but—”
“It is not for your sake. It is for the twins.”
With those words, the Grand Duke stepped outside again.
“Ah… but….”
“Rex.”
“Yes.”
“Conduct a thorough investigation of this room. Since you have been coming and going from here, you should know what has changed and what has been altered. Determine whether it was made a mess to find something—or to hide something.”
As if he knew my thoughts, the Grand Duke gave Rex the order.
“Yes. I will investigate thoroughly.”
“I will ensure no one other than you may enter this room. Once the investigation is complete, report to me. For the time being, cease escorting Aisha. For safety, the children will not even leave my room. Investigate thoroughly and swiftly.”
Rex, who looked somewhat regretful, nodded.
“Will that suffice?”
“Ah… did you know what I wanted to do?”
“I saw your eyes waver. The way you provoked the Grand Duchess earlier—unusually so—must have been for this reason. To see something change.”
I had thought the Grand Duke was foolish. I had thought he would not know much.
But that was not true at all. It seemed the Grand Duke knew far more than I had assumed.
“Ah….”
“I thought you were quite a clever child.”
I scratched my head awkwardly.
“Now that I have done this much, may we return to my room?”
“Yes.”
I had nothing more to say. He had gone this far to consider me; I could not insist any further.
In the end, we headed to the Grand Duke’s room. A broad smile spread across his face, as if he were rather enjoying this situation. Why? Why did he seem so pleased?
He was the one who had to give up his own room.
‘Does he think Rex will find something?’
Even if he investigates, it’s possible nothing will turn up.
After passing through a long corridor, we arrived at a room located on the second floor of the main castle of the Grand Duke’s residence. A room slightly to the right of the center. And in front of it stood someone unexpected.
It seemed she was not a welcome guest to the Grand Duke either; the smile that had lingered on his face just moments ago hardened.
“Why are you standing in front of my room?”
It was the Grand Duchess. Seeing us, she spoke with irritation in her voice.
“I was waiting to speak with you when you returned. But it seems you have more to say to the children? Why have you brought them all the way here in a line? Must I wait again?”
“I do not believe we have anything to discuss. And I did not bring them for that reason. The room is in disarray, so I brought the children here.”
“Brought them? Surely you do not mean to say you intend to have the children stay in your room?”
Without much change in expression, the Grand Duke merely nodded.
“That is correct.”
“Hah… If the room is a mess… you could let them stay in the guest rooms. Why do you keep giving the children special treatment?”
“Special treatment… Grand Duchess, do you know the saying?”
“What saying?”
“That one falls into one’s own trap.”
“….”
“You have done something truly foolish.”
It was a voice cold to the point of cruelty. Though there was no rise or fall in his tone, his voice carried force.
“Foolish? I—I do not understand what you mean.”
“Do you think I know nothing?”
“Are you trying to test me?”
“Who knows. Whether I am testing you—or whether I truly know something… you shall see in due time.”
“Please… speak with me alone. I want us to be on good terms again. We may not have had love, but we were an ideal couple. For the sake of our child….”
“Our child? Ah. Surely you do not mean Ron?”
The atmosphere turned distinctly serious. Rohen tightly grasped my hand, as if anxious about something.
“Yes. I am speaking of Ron.”
“Ron… how amusing. To think you would say that child’s name. Grand Duchess, if you wish to save at least that child, you would do well to restrain yourself. I cannot stand by while you torment my children.”
“Are you threatening me with your own child?”
“My child.”
With a faint scoff, the Grand Duke silently looked her up and down.
“Yes… my child. My child, indeed. It must be my child. The mother who bore Ron says so….”
