Chapter 65:
“So, they’re planning to use William to spread bad rumors?”
William was currently disguised as Rainier. Normally, he wore a mask most of the time, but even without it, his striking black hair and red eyes made him stand out.
Of course, they were fake.
“Yes, that seems to be the case.”
Rainier listened to the report from his aide, Riar, while flipping through the documents.
“Their method is so obvious it’s almost disappointing.”
Rainier smirked and shook the papers in his hand.
“They’re doing this because rumors about me being alive have started to spread.”
“I know you expected this.”
“Still, to carry out such a stupid trick without hesitation…”
“You already knew the Anasis Crown Prince was foolish, didn’t you?”
Rainier was well aware of the Crown Prince of Anasis’ lack of wit. But he also understood why the man would make such a foolish move.
Now that word was spreading among the people that Rainier might still be alive, public sentiment was shifting. In their harsh, suffocating lives, people began to hope for a savior. Anasis’ goal was to ruin Rainier’s reputation and crush those hopes before they could take root.
“So they’re even spreading rumors that I like men.”
“Keep reading.”
“Oh? And that I don’t discriminate between men and women?”
“That part seems to be because William’s a bit of an innocent fool.”
Rainier knew very well what kind of person his guard, William, was. Having never dated a woman in his life, the man would break out in a cold sweat and panic if a woman so much as held his hand.
Avoiding eye contact with women was natural for him, and he made nervous blunders often.
In front of Layla, the only reason he didn’t act like that was because he was terrified of Rainier and doing his best to hide it.
“Will you let this continue?”
“Yes, let it be.”
“…Understood.”
Riar found it odd that Rainier didn’t seem to take the matter seriously, instead finding it amusing. But he knew his lord well enough to understand — Rainier was shrewd and brilliant when it came to getting things done.
So he voiced no objection and decided to carry out the plan as ordered.
“Welcome, Lady Layla.”
Layla had been fortunate enough to be invited to the tea party hosted by the daughter of the Duke of Weimar.
The gathering took place in the Weimar Ducal residence’s rear garden. Rose-covered topiaries and elegant statues surrounded the space, creating a picturesque backdrop.
There were beautiful white chairs and tables arranged like something from a fairy’s garden, shaded by white cloth canopies. The fabric had been woven with such elaborate lace that the patterns cast intricate, striking shadows.
“I’m so happy to see you again, Lady.”
Layla had chosen a white dress and a lace hair ornament to present herself as harmless in the duchess’s eyes. Judging by the warm welcome from the Weimar lady’s group, her choice seemed to be paying off.
“What will you have for tea?”
“Earl Grey, please.”
“Oh my, that’s my favorite too.”
Layla already knew the duke’s daughter liked Earl Grey — she’d looked it up in advance.
“Actually, His Highness the Crown Prince of Anasis told me.”
“…Pardon?”
“I visited the palace yesterday to pay my respects to Her Majesty the Empress, and during that time, His Highness and I spoke a lot about you.”
“Oh my.”
The Weimar lady’s cheeks turned pink at Layla’s words. Sensing the perfect opportunity, the lady’s right-hand friend, the daughter of Viscount Penalden, quickly jumped in.
“What sort of conversation led to the young lady’s name coming up?”
She knew full well it was the topic the Weimar lady most wanted to hear about.
“It seems Her Majesty was curious about what kind of person I am — since I’ll soon be Sonnet’s wife.”
Layla deliberately set the stage so as not to provoke the Weimar lady, who had long admired the Anasis Crown Prince.
“That’s why she summoned me. In fact, Sonnet and I have agreed that once we marry, I will immediately inherit the title.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t she invite both you and Viscount Bruce together?”
The Penalden lady played her part well, feigning ignorance while poking at the questions that might bother the Weimar lady. She hadn’t become the right-hand friend for nothing — she was good at this.
“It would have been difficult to summon Sonnet directly, since he hasn’t officially succeeded the title yet.”
Layla’s sensible answer made everyone nod in agreement.
After all, if the Empress summoned the heir before the succession took place, it might look as if she were urging the current viscount, Bruce, to step down early — which could be politically awkward, even if Bruce was from the aristocratic faction.
And in truth, such an introduction should come from Bruce himself, not from the Empress. That made it perfectly reasonable that Layla had been invited alone.
In reality, of course, the Empress had merely used that as a pretext to learn more about the woman her son, the Anasis Crown Prince, was spending time with.
“I see, so that was the reason?”
“You knew already, didn’t you?”
“Of course.”
“As expected of you, Lady! I’m so slow-witted I always have to ask before I understand.”
The Penalden lady laughed, helping the conversation flow between Layla and the Weimar lady.
“His Highness spoke a great deal about you.”
At just the right timing, Layla brought up exactly what they’d want to hear. The maid serving tea smiled at her, and Layla smiled back, taking her cup.
“I heard you and His Highness haven’t known each other long?”
“That’s right. I was quite ill when I was young, so I stayed home most of the time.”
Layla, who remembered the original story, knew this was a lie.
The real reason the Weimar lady had stayed secluded was because she’d been learning how to manage her family’s affairs.
The Duke of Weimar had only one child — her. He had never taken another woman besides her mother, and he wanted to pass his dukedom to his highly capable daughter.
Imperial law stated that if a son were born, the title would have to go to him instead, regardless of the daughter’s abilities. Even so, the Weimar lady was not merely a beloved daughter by default; she truly was competent, able to handle everything in her father’s name flawlessly.
She deliberately concealed her abilities behind the image of a typical noblewoman who enjoyed society events, but the Duke knew exactly how talented she was.
He adored her all the more for her resemblance to him in appearance, cool-headedness, and skill — and for giving him credit for her accomplishments.
Confident that no one could surpass her abilities, and loving both his daughter and his family legacy deeply, the Duke wanted to pass the title to the most capable person — her.
For this reason, at first, he’d only offered lukewarm support for making her the Crown Princess, thinking a passive princess consort wasn’t fitting for his daughter. But since it was something she greatly desired, he was now wholeheartedly backing her.
“He said he really enjoyed the time you went to the opera together.”
At Layla’s words, the lady’s attendants seemed subtly relieved. Surely His Highness wouldn’t talk about another woman in front of one he was interested in.
“Why are you curious about that?”
“Well… since I’ll be Sonnet’s wife, and I want to get along well with His Highness, I should also get along with the woman who will be his consort, shouldn’t I?”
“How admirable. And cute, too.”
Layla forced a smile as she recalled her conversation with the Anasis Crown Prince. She didn’t know what had prompted his sudden friendliness toward her, but she was someone who seized opportunities when they came.
She believed her misfortune in her previous life had been because she’d let opportunities slip away.
This time, she was determined to live more happily than anyone else.
“Speaking of which, I’ve grown a bit closer to His Highness lately.”
The lady looked at her with slight tension.
“How about the four of us go to the opera together?”
“Four…?”
“You and me. And His Highness, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Lutenberg.”
Hearing this, the lady blushed and quietly nodded. Then, as if to affirm Layla in front of her attendants, she said:
“I’m so glad to have become friends with you, Layla.”
The omission of “Lady” from her name did not go unnoticed by the Penalden young lady, who realized the lady’s growing fondness for Layla. She decided she’d better treat Layla well from now on.
The Penalden family were loyal to the Duke of Weimar, and the young lady, like her father, was quick-witted and well aware of her position.
“By the way, I’ve heard that Lady Siever has been insulting you quite often.”
She felt it was time to correct this matter.
Thanks to Hugo Ronald’s disgrace, they already knew the rumors Siever had spread were false. That meant it would be unacceptable for someone about to become the lady’s confidante to carry the label of “vulgar woman.” Such a thing would be an insult to the lady herself.
Glancing at the Weimar lady, and receiving a look of approval, she said firmly:
“I think we shouldn’t just stand by — we should make the truth known to everyone.”
Layla’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Really? You’d help me?”
Then, catching the lady’s gaze, she quickly brushed away the tears that had welled up, looking pitiful.
The Weimar lady, gazing at her sympathetically, said:
“I don’t want to watch my friend suffer because of malicious rumors.”
And of course, she also earnestly hoped that this friend would help her get closer to the Anasis Crown Prince.
