Chapter 13
If I had stayed quietly inside my room like in the original story, I wouldn’t have had to attend this banquet at all.
They could have continued hiding me behind rumors that I was still ill.
But now that it’s come to this, maybe it’s actually fortunate that I came.
Until I saw it with my own eyes, I had completely forgotten about that medal.
And the moment it was bestowed, I could feel the tension around House Tanzerik tighten. The strongest family in the Empire now possessed a royal pardon on top of their power.
Everyone must already be thinking about how to take that medal away.
Just like the Empress in the original story used me… they could use me again. Or even Renzard. Unlike Chedman, he isn’t exactly sharp.
If we’re going to protect it, we need to clear up the misunderstanding about Priscilla’s death quickly and unite the entire family.
As I vowed never to let it be taken, I felt the Emperor’s intrigued gaze settle on me.
“Ah, yes. I hear your daughter is present as well.”
“…Yes. She is.”
Having awarded the medal, the Emperor finally revealed his true intention.
“I was told her health is frail. I hope coming all this way has not exhausted her.”
“I am with her now. There is no need for Your Majesty to worry.”
“Oh?”
The Emperor’s violet eyes gleamed as he scanned the hall. Heinox grasped my arm and pulled me slightly behind him.
“Why are you—”
“My daughter is shy.”
Heinox’s gaze swept slowly across the nobles.
“Perhaps because of the unpleasant stares directed at her.”
Those who met his sharp blue eyes immediately lowered their heads.
“I’ve heard there are rumors circulating about my daughter.”
“What rumors?” the Emperor asked.
“Things unfit to say about the only daughter of Tanzerik.”
Heinox’s eyes flashed coldly.
“I hear some claim she devoured her own mother.”
A collective gasp rippled through the hall.
No one had expected him to mention the late duchess so directly.
“Th-that…! Any who dare spread such slander will be dealt with personally by me!” the Emperor declared.
“Since Your Majesty says so…”
Heinox’s lips curved slightly.
“I shall look forward to it.”
Wow… seriously….
From behind him, I could only stare.
He really is a mastermind villain.
He hadn’t said much, but the chill radiating from him made my body tremble. I glanced down at my shaking hands.
And I’m not even the one he’s glaring at.
Just then, Chedman quietly took my trembling hand.
“What are you—”
He placed a finger over his lips.
“Shh.”
Stay quiet?
I’d already been quiet. Ah—was even my eye movement too loud?
I resolved to move my eyes more discreetly.
Now wasn’t the time for me to step in.
When I nodded in understanding, Chedman grinned briefly before schooling his expression.
But what’s wrong with Renzard?
He’d been unusually silent today.
And he looks pale.
He’d seemed unwell at dinner the other day too, but now he looked worse.
Is he actually sick?
I examined him, but he just stared blankly ahead.
I’d rather he pick a fight. This is unsettling.
If rumors spread that he’d lost his mind after arguing with me, I’d obviously be blamed.
Should I talk to him first?
Just as I reached out, Heinox turned around.
“Come.”
“W-what about Renzard and the others?”
“They will mingle with the other young lords. There are none your age here. Stay with me.”
He lifted me effortlessly onto his arm.
Ah. This is for show.
From what he’d just said, I realized how Roxina was viewed in society.
If rumors claimed I’d killed my mother, then word must have spread that I’d been cast aside.
As expected, the nobles began whispering at the sight of Heinox holding me.
“You’re light. Are you eating properly?”
“Yes.”
Not just meals—plenty of snacks too.
I thought longingly of the pie I’d left at home.
“Is the banquet uncomfortable?”
“A little…?”
“Who made you uncomfortable?”
He sounded ready to execute someone on the spot. I hurriedly shook my head.
“No one!”
Please don’t kill anyone. I don’t want to see a corpse.
Thankfully, he seemed to read my desperation.
“That’s good. If anyone has yet to learn their place, I would have gladly taught them.”
“Haha….”
I laughed awkwardly and looked away.
Suddenly, he raised his hand and placed it on my head.
That startled me….
He patted my hair.
“Is something wrong?”
“No… I just called you.”
“I see.”
Even so, he kept holding me.
This is uncomfortable.
It felt like he had no experience holding children.
“Could you put me down now?”
“Uncomfortable?”
“Yes.”
Even after I answered, he didn’t move.
“Your Grace?”
“Ah. Right.”
Only then did he set me down.
Phew.
As my feet touched the ground, relief washed over me.
“Roxina. You—”
“Your Grace.”
“Cain…?”
It was Heinox’s aide, Cain.
I’d seen him often outside Heinox’s office. Seeing a familiar face here was strangely comforting.
“Why are you here?”
“As the Duke’s aide, I coordinate his schedule. I accompany him to most engagements.”
“I see….”
Like a secretary.
How pitiful, working daily with such an unreadable superior.
“Cain, do you at least get overtime pay?”
“Pardon?”
He blinked—then burst into laughter.
“Ah—yes! Of course! His Grace ensures it. No need to worry.”
“That’s good….”
I felt reassured.
“But why are you laughing?”
“Ah, that’s—”
“That’s enough.”
Heinox cut him off coolly.
“Cain Brown. You said you had something to report.”
“Yes.”
“If you interrupt a banquet, it must be important.”
“It is.”
Heinox glanced at the watching nobles.
“We should relocate.”
He met my eyes and pointed toward Renzard sitting blankly nearby.
“If anyone troubles you, tell him.”
Honestly, Renzard didn’t look capable of helping anyone right now, but I nodded.
“I’ll return shortly.”
As Heinox and Cain left, the hall fell oddly quiet.
What is this feeling?
A bad premonition stirred.
I started toward Renzard—
—but a group of unfamiliar girls blocked my path.
“Who are—”
“You should greet us before asking questions.”
You appear out of nowhere and demand a greeting?
When I stood silently, the girl covered her mouth in mock surprise.
“Oh my. Has the young lady not received proper etiquette lessons?”
“What are you—”
“You trail off your words. Basic speech is fundamental. Has the Duke not taught you even that?”
You keep interrupting me.
And I’m four. Speaking clearly at all is impressive.
The girl confronting me was dressed entirely in pink—head to toe.
Even her hair was pink.
Is she upset because my dress has a pink ribbon? Does she think she owns the color?
Ridiculous.
But she looked about twelve. I could be generous.
“I’m sowwy.”
“Hmph. At least you know you’re wrong.”
She raised her voice so all could hear.
“Then tell me what you did wrong.”
As she crossed her arms arrogantly, murmurs spread.
“Isn’t that too much? She is a duke’s daughter….”
“I saw the Duke carrying her earlier.”
“She killed her mother. Why would he cherish her?”
No one criticized the girl.
They were watching her cautiously.
That narrows it down.
There weren’t many families powerful enough to command this kind of deference.
Pink hair…
Ah.
Only one fit.
Fleury Akarinz.
The only child of Count Akarinz and the Empress’s niece.
In the original, she relied on the Empress’s power and ran rampant.
She’d once pursued the illegitimate Second Prince—and when he rejected her, she accused him of assault.
He’d been imprisoned for life.
She was insane.
Even though he was technically her cousin.
Reading it in a novel had annoyed me.
Seeing her in person was worse.
When I looked her up and down, she frowned.
“Are you ignoring me? How rude!”
“How can I greet you if I don’t even know who you are?”
