Chapter 97
“Then what happens to the Duke of Dalton’s family now? Isn’t it like a dog staring up at the roof after losing its chicken?”
“But… I heard a strange rumor.”
“A rumor?”
The noblewoman who had just exposed the Arphedi viscount’s secret lowered her voice again.
“They say the Dalton young lady has disappeared.”
“Disappeared? What do you mean?”
“It’s a very discreet rumor, but lately, Lady Dalton hasn’t shown herself in public at all, right?”
“Isn’t she just too embarrassed to appear after her engagement was broken off?”
“That’s what I thought too… but apparently, the Dalton family has been discussing marriage talks with the Maritime Kingdom of Olta.”
“What?!”
“No way…”
The startled noblewomen hurriedly set down their teacups.
“If it’s the Olta Maritime Kingdom… then are you saying Lady Dalton is becoming a princess?”
“No.”
The woman who brought up the topic shook her head.
“The position of queen.”
“What?!”
The noblewomen blinked in shock, even more astonished than before.
“The queen?”
“Yes, exactly. They wouldn’t send their daughter anywhere less than a throne adorned with a crown.”
“That duke’s family… really knows how to go big, don’t they?”
“Indeed.”
“Wait—doesn’t the king of Olta already turn eighty-three this year?”
“Oh my, that’s true!”
“They must be insane!”
The faces of the noblewomen with daughters turned pale.
“The kingdom’s prince died a few years ago, right? Since then, they’ve been searching for someone to continue the royal line. That’s when the Dalton family started marriage discussions.”
“Still, eighty-three years old…”
“That might be exactly what makes the offer more appealing. If Lady Dalton becomes queen and the king passes away soon after, where do you think the power will go? And if she even gives birth to a son, that’s the perfect scenario.”
“So the rumor about her disappearance…”
“They say she’s already gone to the Maritime Kingdom—to prepare for the wedding, skipping the engagement entirely.”
A few noblewomen gaped, while even the café staff began bustling about, unable to hide their curiosity.
“Mother…”
“Don’t worry, dear.”
Looking at Soph’s faint smile, Velia forced herself to hide her heavy heart and smiled back.
“You’ll wake up soon.”
“Of course.”
“I’ll come visit often.”
“You must be busy. Don’t worry too much—rest while you can.”
“It’s fine… Roni, please take care of my mother.”
“Don’t worry, my lady.”
Roni nodded firmly, as if to assure her she could be trusted.
Velia kissed Soph lightly on the forehead and left the room.
The corridor outside Soph’s room was eerily quiet.
The butler and head maid had ordered strict silence, worried that even the faintest noise might disturb the frail mistress.
As Velia passed the long, peaceful hallway and neared the central staircase, she frowned.
Loud shouting echoed from below.
“…Father!”
“…Silence!”
Velia didn’t even need to look—she knew exactly who those voices belonged to.
“So noisy…”
It had been a full week of shouting between Baron and the Marquis.
Baron had been relentlessly insisting on Tov’s innocence.
“How ridiculous,” Velia muttered coldly.
Even while begging the Marquis, Baron had secretly eliminated all the mercenaries listed in Tov’s contract—
the ones he himself had hired, not Tov.
Velia couldn’t help but laugh at how quickly Baron had moved to cover his own tracks.
Stopping midway up the stairs, she leaned on the railing and looked down into the grand hall.
There, Baron was clinging to the Marquis, pleading desperately for Tov’s life.
To Velia, the sight was pathetic—hardly befitting the heir of a noble house.
He could do nothing on his own, only whine to his father like a spoiled child.
Shaking her head, Velia thought of all the people who had struggled to carry out her schemes against such a man.
“I suppose even to you, he was someone precious.”
She remembered Tov being dragged away.
Now imprisoned in the imperial palace, he would soon die.
No one accused of exposing the disgrace of both the Marquis’ house and the imperial family could possibly survive.
If Baron truly wished to save Tov, he should be groveling before the Emperor himself—
not begging within the Marquis’ mansion.
If he threw himself before the Emperor, crying and pretending to be a foolish, jealous child,
then perhaps Tov’s life would be spared—
because Baron was the Marquis of Arphedi’s eldest son,
and Velia, his sister, was currently engaged in marriage negotiations with the imperial family.
Yet, for an entire week, Baron had done nothing but pace around the Marquis’ estate.
The Marquis’ face showed his realization—his eldest son’s capacity went no further than that.
No doubt the family’s vassals had come to feel the same way.
“Still, he’s better off than me.”
Velia chuckled.
How enviable, that rosy complexion and fine clothes—what a life of ease.
She turned away from him, no longer interested.
After all, she had known all along that Baron would behave this way.
What truly surprised her was Tov.
“I didn’t think he’d step forward like that…”
He’d been brave. Intelligent, too.
His hastily concocted excuse was convincing, and the supporting evidence was flawless.
By buying time inside the imperial palace, he had even given his master a chance to act.
The palace had concluded the incident as entirely Tov’s doing.
Of course, her father’s influence had helped sever any link between Tov and Baron.
Because of that, Baron couldn’t be removed this time.
She’d cut off his limbs, yet he still lived comfortably in the Arphedi mansion.
Still—
“Serves him right.”
Velia smirked as she looked down.
She felt oddly good—no, very good.
Perhaps this was the most fitting punishment of all.
She didn’t need to lift a finger; Baron would reveal his own incompetence soon enough,
and his future would become a path of thorns.
Watching Baron hurry off somewhere, Velia turned away.
She decided to keep an eye on him for now and started climbing the stairs again.
“Ah, my lady!”
At the sudden call, Velia turned and saw Roni rushing up the stairs.
“Roni?”
“Hah—thank goodness, you’re still here.”
“I was walking slowly… What’s wrong? Did something happen to Mother?”
“Oh, no! Madam just took her medicine and fell asleep! It’s not that—it’s because of this.”
“This?”
Roni glanced around nervously and handed Velia a bundle wrapped in cloth.
“What is it?”
The soft clinking sound inside made Velia tilt her head.
“I wanted to ask you for a favor, my lady.”
“What kind of favor?”
Velia shook the bundle slightly, puzzled.
“It’s the statue that broke when Madam collapsed the other day. She’s been so upset about it… I want to fix it, but I’m afraid the young master will find out.”
“The eldest brother?” Velia frowned.
“Yes. It was his gift to Madam, so she’s been quite heartbroken over it. But the statue seems rather expensive, and it’s beyond my ability to repair.”
“So you couldn’t find anyone reliable?”
“Right. It’s not something small, after all…”
“Alright. I’ll have it repaired and bring it back myself.”
“Oh, thank you, my lady!”
“And if Mother ever wants something to eat or needs anything, make sure she gets it. If it’s hard to find or costs money, come to me directly.”
“Oh my, don’t worry! You sound just like the Marquis! I’ll serve Madam with all my heart. I’ll be going back to her now, my lady!”
“Alright! Be careful.”
After seeing Roni off, Velia opened the bundle, which was still making soft clinking noises.
“This is…”
The broken statue was stained with uneven patches of blue liquid that hadn’t completely faded—something about it looked familiar.
“Madam has always been frail, but she wasn’t this weak just a few months ago… It seems her vitality has greatly diminished,”
the family doctor had said.
As the memory surfaced, Velia felt a strange sense of foreboding.
“My lady!!”
Startled by the sudden shout, she quickly closed the bundle and looked up.
“Su?”
“There you are! My lady, you should come quickly.”
Su panted as she urged Velia to follow.
“Why? Didn’t they say I had a dress fitting this afternoon? Is Henri here? Did he ask for me?”
“No! As if he’d dare rush you! If he did, I’d deal with him myself! It’s something else—you’ll understand once you see for yourself!”
Following Su’s urgent lead, Velia quickened her pace.
As she approached, she noticed the salon staff standing nervously outside the room.
“Why is everyone waiting outside?”
“Please, my lady—just go in and see for yourself.”
“Did I have any business to discuss alone with Henri…? Ah, Su, take this to my study.”
Handing her the bundle, Velia stepped into the room.
Su quickly shut the door behind her and glanced around warily.
