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After finishing the contract with Elam, I set off for the palace to meet Alexandra. The carriage quickly sped through the bustling streets and soon reached the road leading to the palace.
Passing along a tree-lined avenue, the palace entrance came into view. As the carriage entered, a guard on duty checked my identity with practiced familiarity.
Just as I was about to step out, the guard spoke to me.
“Ah, Your Highness, the Duke just finished his audience with His Majesty and has returned.”
“Is that so? Thank you for letting me know.”
“It’s nothing. Please, go right in.”
I had been curious whether Lucius was still at the palace. Feeling grateful, I smiled at the guard. His face flushed slightly, and he bowed politely before stepping aside.
“So the audience ended sooner than I expected,” I murmured.
I had hoped I might meet him if he were still in the palace. Letting out a quiet sigh, Jane, who was sitting across from me, spoke.
“I heard the Emperor called him urgently, but it seems it wasn’t too serious since he returned so quickly.”
“Indeed. I was worried he might have to go on another errand, but thankfully that’s not the case.”
“When you return to the mansion later, Your Highness will come to meet you,” Jane added.
“Oh, now that you mention it, yes.”
As far as I knew, Lucius had no further appointments for today. If he went straight back to the mansion, that would mean I’d be the one arriving later.
Usually, it was Lucius who came home late because of work, so he rarely came out to meet me. Being the one to be greeted by him would feel… unusual.
“…I suddenly want to go home,” I muttered.
I felt sorry for Alexandra, but I really wanted to go home immediately. Lucius was surely waiting for me. After all, we had only been married for three months!
I wanted to turn the carriage around right then, but Jane quickly stopped me.
“Your Highness, the Princess is anxiously waiting for you. Isn’t this regarding the matter with Baroness Werner?”
“Yes, that’s right. Sigh… I guess there’s no choice but to go.”
Normally, I might have turned the carriage around, but since this involved meeting Alexandra and concerned Angelica, I couldn’t just leave.
In that case, I’d have to finish this as quickly as possible. I didn’t know what it was about, but I hoped the conversation wouldn’t drag on.
Upon arriving at the Princess’s palace, the head maid guided me to the room where Alexandra was. It appeared to be her usual workspace. Inside, bolts of fabric, sewing machines, and tools were piled high, filling the room.
“Ah, Tiana… you’re here?”
“…Alexandra, are you alright?”
In the cramped space, Alexandra lay draped over a large central table like a lifeless figure. Dark shadows under her eyes suggested she hadn’t slept for several nights.
Seeing her so close to collapse, I handed some peppermint tea leaves I had brought just in case to the head maid.
“Could you make some tea with these? Just brew it like normal tea leaves. It helps clear the mind, so it should help Alexandra.”
“Yes, of course, Your Highness. I’ll bring it right away.”
The head maid left the workspace, her worried expression showing concern for Alexandra’s condition. As one of her close attendants, she must have been genuinely anxious about Alexandra staying up all night working.
I approached Alexandra, who showed no energy to even sit up.
“Can you even stay awake? How long have you been without sleep?”
“Hmm… about five days, I guess…”
“…It’s amazing you’re still conscious.”
Five days without sleep while working was beyond human endurance. Clearly, what she needed most was rest, but she seemed determined not to sleep at all.
“How’s the dress coming along?”
Next to her lay a dress in progress. Basting pins stuck out here and there, with lace and fabric still unattached, showing that it was far from complete.
Alexandra, stirring slightly, slowly lifted her head and spoke with a worried expression.
“It’s about halfway done… I had completed it once, but I had to start over, so it’s taking longer.”
“You started over? Wait, you had completed it once? Then why redo it?”
I was hearing this for the first time. I thought she had been inspired and working diligently after taking Angelica’s measurements, but she had already finished once? Why redo it?
She frowned and rested her back against the sofa, groaning as if her head hurt.
“Ugh… I want coffee…”
“No coffee. It’ll make your headache worse. Haven’t you already been living on coffee for the past five days?”
“Coffee is essential for my work. I can’t function without it…”
“Even so, not now. Since I’m here, you’ll take a break from work anyway, right? You said you had something important to discuss. So drink tea, not coffee.”
“Oh, right… yes, I have something important to tell you.”
I gently held her worn hands, soothing her, and she opened her eyes, as if remembering something. Seeing my hand brushing her softly, she smiled faintly and spoke in a slightly hoarse voice.
“Tiana, have you met Baroness Werner recently?”
“Angelica? No, I haven’t. I’ve been busy as well. Why? Has something happened to her?”
“Hmm… it’s not yet widespread, but soon you’ll probably hear about it. Baroness Werner seems to be in some trouble.”
“To Angelica?”
I was startled. Something had happened to Angelica? Before I could ask further, the head maid returned.
“Your Highness, Princess. The tea is ready. Shall we move to the sitting room?”
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
It seemed difficult to continue the conversation here. There was no proper space to talk while drinking tea, and Alexandra needed to be more alert first.
I helped her to the sitting room. On the table, tea cups and a teapot were set, as I had requested.
As we sat, the head maid poured the tea. The pale green liquid released a refreshing peppermint aroma.
Curious, Alexandra sniffed the tea and I smiled.
“This is a sample we made at Baron Evitt’s request. It’s peppermint herbal tea. Try it; it should help you right now.”
“Alright. Thank you, Tiana.”
She sniffed the tea, and the aroma seemed to ease her headache. She carefully took a sip, and after swallowing, looked surprised.
“Oh, this tea is unique. The refreshing scent fills the liquid. My mouth feels clear.”
“Yes, that’s the nature of peppermint. Brewing the dried leaves releases a fresh, crisp flavor. It also helps clear the mind.”
“Indeed. My pounding headache feels a little better. It has a slight tingle, but it enhances the refreshing feeling. Tiana and Baron Evitt are amazing.”
“I just offered my opinion. Baron Evitt made this excellent product. If you like it, I can have him send some after it officially launches.”
“Perfect. It’s great for when I need to wake up or take a break from coffee.”
Seeing Alexandra nod happily, I smiled in satisfaction. Peppermint tea often divides opinion due to its distinctive flavor, so I was relieved it suited her taste.
She drank the first cup quickly and poured herself another, savoring it slowly this time. I cautiously asked.
“So… can you tell me now? What exactly happened to Angelica?”
“Oh, yes. I should explain that.”
“Is it serious?”
“It could be. It hasn’t spread widely yet, but it might have repercussions soon.”
Her face grew heavy with worry. Seeing that reaction, it was clear this couldn’t be ignored. I listened as she continued.
“Tiana, do you remember the young ladies who served Count Huizette—now Baroness Huizette—from my tea party a while back?”
“You mean the young ladies I met at my return-to-society tea party? I remember. Huizette left a strong impression, though I don’t recall all their faces.”
“One of them, the last time, reportedly died on her estate,” Alexandra said.
“I know. That was the young lady from Baron Tiben’s family, right? She fell off the cliff behind her mansion. It was treated as an accident, but Lucius and I confirmed it was definitely suicide. How is this connected to Angelica?”
Alexandra hesitated, then continued.
“Well… another young lady who served Huizette also reportedly died in an accident this time.”
“What?!”
I was shocked. Another young lady had died in an accident? My voice rose instinctively. Alexandra’s expression darkened as she explained.
“She was Baron Ayle’s daughter. She stayed in the capital, didn’t go to her estate. After Huizette left, she had no support, yet she continued social activities alone.”
“I see. I didn’t know that.”
“It’s understandable. She only attended events of the Emperor’s faction. She’d been rejected before, but she slowly made a few acquaintances and managed to reintegrate into society.”
That was fortunate. Even if she had once behaved poorly with Huizette, she would have had to earn her place in the capital carefully.
But now, she had died in an accident. Even if she hadn’t left a strong impression on me, the loss of life unsettled me.
“How did she die?”
“It seems a horse in the Baron’s stables became agitated. Neither the groom nor the stableman could control it. At that moment, she happened to pass by the stables and couldn’t get out of the way… she was trampled to death.”
“My goodness…”
A horrifying way to die. It was an accident, but to be trampled by a horse… even a dangerous one, it was rare. My stomach churned as I imagined it. Jane, noticing me, asked with concern.
“Are you alright, Your Ladyship? You don’t look well.”
“I’m fine. Just a little shocked. Don’t worry.”
I smiled to reassure her. Jane, still worried, gently brushed my back. The warmth helped me calm down, and I exhaled slowly.
Alexandra, watching us, asked with concern,
“Are you alright, Tiana? Want to lie down a bit?”
“No, it’s not that bad. But continue. The death of Baron Ayle’s daughter is tragic, but how is this connected to Angelica?”
“Well…”
She hesitated, then, seeing my determined expression, sighed and began.
“The death of Baron Ayle’s daughter brought up the previous case of Baron Tiben’s daughter again. The problem is… people are whispering that Baroness Werner might be involved in both deaths.”
“What? Angelica is connected to the deaths of the two young ladies?”
“People are saying that perhaps the deaths weren’t accidents, but orchestrated by Baroness Werner.”
“…!”
I jolted in shock. So Angelica was being suspected as the culprit behind these two deaths?
