Chapter 25
“I was attacked by an assailant today. I was nearly fatally wounded.”
“Lady Calliope, is that true?”
Butler Harold asked in shock. The other servants were just as stunned. Their eyes widened as if they might pop out, and they began to speak with worried voices.
“Are you all right?”
“If you’re hurt anywhere, we must call the physician immediately…!”
The servants who had long served the House of Count Verdi were deeply loyal, their years of service a testament to their devotion.
Especially so toward the young lady who had lost her parents at a young age yet grew up so admirably.
It was only natural they were shocked to hear she’d been in danger.
“Did they catch the perpetrator?”
“Who the hell was it? I’ll go break the bastard’s spine into three pieces right now—!”
The tone escalated to something fierce, and Calliope raised a hand to calm them.
“Thanks to someone subduing the attacker just before the strike, I wasn’t hurt.”
“Whew, what a relief.”
“But our young lady must’ve been so frightened.”
Only then did the servants breathe a sigh of relief.
Calliope waited a moment, then slowly looked around at the gathered people and dropped a bombshell.
“And I believe the person who ordered the attack… was my uncle, Gilbert Roman.”
“…What?”
The servants stared at Calliope with stunned expressions, as if they’d just been struck on the head.
A wave of shock rippled through them. One by one, they turned their eyes toward Gilbert.
A flicker of panic crossed the face of the man accused.
But it was brief. He quickly composed himself and calmly replied.
“You must be mistaken. I have nothing to do with what happened today. I swear to God, I am innocent.”
Calliope silently scoffed.
‘A man who doesn’t even believe in God is invoking His name now?’
Gilbert straightened his neck proudly and went on.
“These days, there have been many petty thieves and robbers in the area. Perhaps you were just unfortunate to run into one of them.”
“The attacker was highly skilled. He wasn’t some petty thief or robber.”
“Even so, that doesn’t prove I hired an assassin.”
Natalie quickly chimed in to support her husband.
“She’s right! If you have proof, show it now!”
Nicholas joined in with an indignant tone.
“There’s a limit to how much you can falsely accuse someone, sister. How could you slander your only uncle like this?”
“People would scorn you if they knew,” Natalie added as she glanced at the gathered servants, watching their reactions carefully.
Gilbert seized the opportunity to strike back.
“To be honest, I’m starting to think this whole thing is a setup. A little act you staged yourself.”
“…A setup?”
“Of course. After Father changed his mind and put the succession up for competition, you must’ve felt wronged. Maybe you even resented me. But does that justify framing someone for attempted murder?”
Gilbert tried to paint the incident as a desperate move from Calliope, anxious about losing her claim to succession.
Watching him pretend to be an unjustly accused victim, Calliope gave a cold smile inwardly.
‘Let’s see how far he takes this.’
Gilbert continued speaking as if coaxing a child who didn’t understand.
“Let’s think logically. Even if the assassin were a sword expert, would they really attempt to kill someone in the middle of a crowded city street, in broad daylight? That’s absurd.”
Until then, Calliope had been silently observing. Suddenly, her eyes flashed sharply.
“There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask.”
Her purple eyes narrowed, focusing on the prey caught in her trap.
“How did you know the attacker was a professional assassin? Even the city guard initially thought he was just a petty thief.”
A flicker of alarm crossed Gilbert’s face. But he quickly covered it up and answered coolly.
“Didn’t you say he wasn’t a petty thief or robber? And since he attacked someone, I simply assumed he must be an assassin.”
“I see.”
Calliope nodded as if she understood, then asked another question.
“Then how did you know the assassin was a sword expert-level fighter? Even the city guard only recently confirmed that, and I never told you anything of the sort.”
“T-That’s…”
This time, Gilbert was visibly shaken. It was a clear blunder.
‘Damn it. I have to come up with an excuse or I’m done for…’
He quickly racked his brain.
“You said the attacker was skilled, so I just assumed that was the level he must’ve been.”
“He could’ve been a mage, not a swordsman.”
“……”
Gilbert was left speechless.
As he gaped like a fish, the watching servants began to murmur.
Unlike Calliope, many of them had worked in the household long enough to know Gilbert since he was young—and they had always been wary of him. He was selfish and had a sly streak.
‘Did Gilbert really try to harm Lady Calliope?’
‘No matter what, attacking your own niece?’
‘If it’s true, beating him to a pulp and kicking him out wouldn’t be enough!’
Their cold gazes now turned toward Gilbert. Sweat began to pour down his back.
‘Damn it, if this keeps up, I’ll be pinned as the culprit for sure.’
His mind went blank, and he chewed on his lip helplessly. Calliope opened her mouth again, watching him coolly.
“There have been repeated break-in attempts at the mansion lately. Most were stopped by the barrier protecting the estate… but one did succeed.”
Natalie cut in again.
“Everyone knows that. The guards caused such a ruckus searching the mansion, yet they were too incompetent to catch anyone. Pathetic.”
The gathered soldiers glared at Natalie for her rude comment, but she didn’t notice.
Fortunately, Calliope quickly diffused their anger.
“We didn’t fail to catch him—we let him go on purpose. To trace who was behind the infiltration. And then…”
She curled one side of her lips into a smirk. It was time to spring the trap.
“…we discovered something very interesting.”
She turned toward the entrance. Just then, Sylvia—who had gone out to greet a guest—threw the door open at just the right moment.
“His Highness the Seventh Prince has arrived!”
“Am I too late?”
Rerazie entered with a grin. Calliope shrugged.
“Nope. You’re right on time.”
“Ha! I knew it. I’m alwa—”
“Just show the evidence.”
“Che.” Rerazie grumbled and pulled out a video orb from his coat and activated it.
The orb projected a crystal-clear scene: an unknown intruder sneaking into the annex—and Gilbert handing him money.
It had been recorded by the assassin himself, just in case he needed insurance later.
Their conversation echoed through the hall.
“That bitch Calliope’s not easy to fool. One slip-up and we’ll be the ones in trouble!”
Before the video even finished playing, the furious servants lunged forward and seized Gilbert. Natalie and Nicholas were also caught.
“How dare you speak such filth to our lady!”
“Even ripping your spine out wouldn’t be enough!”
“L-Let go—!”
“Do you know how much this dress cost?!”
Just moments earlier, the three had been so full of pride—now, their faces turned pale as sheets as they struggled in vain.
Soon, the soldiers had them restrained and lined up before Calliope.
She looked down at her uncle’s family with a cold expression.
“This is nonsense! It’s a setup…! We’re being framed!”
“You staged this whole thing just to kick us out!”
‘Still trying to fight back to the bitter end, huh?’
Calliope clicked her tongue lightly and opened her mouth—
(End of Chapter)
