Chapter 63
‘Marriage?’
My mind raced instantly.
Why would Count Zélauer, who’d never had any real connection with me, suddenly come now?
Right after I had met Brindel yesterday, of all times.
It had been a lingering question, but now that the word marriage was mentioned, it felt like I’d found the missing piece of the puzzle.
‘If I can just gather a few more pieces….’
I was about to open my mouth with that thought when—
“I know you’re surprised, but please restrain yourself from reacting too strongly. There are eyes on me.”
“Huh?”
The Count glanced back at the knights standing guard behind him and warned in a serious tone.
“The escorts following me aren’t actually mine. They were planted by the Third Empress. I brought a magic device with a sound-blocking spell just in case, but they’re skilled. We can’t be careless.”
Of course, to me it was almost laughable.
[Tsk, tsk. Foolish man. My master noticed their true identity long ago.]
[Hehe~ That’s because we told you~. Those knights’ eyes were way too sharp, right from the start~.]
[I don’t like them! They’ve been eavesdropping on master and that man’s words the whole time!]
Still, the Count personally warning me carried a different weight than my own awareness.
It seemed he was finally ready to reveal his true thoughts, so I decided to play along.
‘Marin, can you put up a sound barrier without making it obvious?’
[Easy~.]
The moment Marin answered, I lowered my voice as though agreeing with the Count’s warning.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying…. Surely you don’t believe those absurd rumors floating around the palace, do you?”
“If there’s evidence, then the case changes. For instance, the incident at the Grand Duchy of Tellum.”
At those words, my shoulders flinched.
Catching my reaction, Count Zélauer continued in his flat tone.
“Rornords can survive within flames without a single burn. For such a being to bleed without reason—such a thing cannot happen.”
“What… what did you say?”
“The matter has already been cross-verified with multiple testimonies.”
‘So the spies in the Grand Duchy of Tellum belonged to Count Zélauer.’
And cross-verified at that… it must have been more than just one or two.
It seemed my aunt had grown lax after leaving the palace.
‘But now she’ll have to work with us again.’
I’d need to send word that it was time to clean house.
Looking at the Count’s face, I could tell—he was convinced I wasn’t truly a Rornord.
At this point, denying it any further would only waste time.
[Oh my~, is this my fault~? I feel so bad for master~.]
[No, Marin! It was just bad timing!]
[Yeah! Marin did nothing wrong! That human’s the bad one!]
‘That’s right, Marin. We had no choice but to bring the rain that day.’
And it’s still salvageable.
I glanced briefly at the knights behind the Count, who were watching us closely.
Then, feigning nervousness, I took a shaky breath.
“I… I didn’t know either.”
“Is that the truth?”
“Of course…! Do you have any idea how shocked I was? That was the first time in my life I ever bled like that…!”
I whispered those words, trembling as though with fear.
“That day, my throat felt unusually sore, but I thought it was nothing. Then the sudden fire left me no chance to pay closer attention…”
My voice wavered helplessly.
“And then suddenly, the blood just—”
Tears streamed down my cheeks.
With so much else to do, I didn’t have time to drag this conversation out. Better to move things along quickly.
‘So I’ll just show him weakness and draw out everything he knows.’
“Please, please keep this a secret.”
I clung to the Count’s sleeve with a fragile voice.
At my touch, his body shuddered faintly.
Pretending not to notice, I looked up at him, pleading.
“I truly knew nothing. My mother never once told me I wasn’t a Rornord. I never even thought to doubt my birth. And then, the moment I returned from my journey, these rumors started spreading…”
“Your Highness.”
“I don’t know what to do anymore… I’m so afraid, Count. Terribly afraid.”
“Princess Neroli.”
He gazed at my hand gripping his sleeve, then finally spoke.
“I told you earlier. If you marry me, I will do everything in my power to help you.”
“Marriage… Why do you want to marry me?”
That was the real question.
Why marriage?
Was this his own desire—or part of a scheme with the Third Empress and Brindel?
‘Given how cautious he is of those escorts, it’s likely the former.’
Slowly, the Count raised his eyes from my hand to meet mine.
He hesitated for a moment, cleared his throat, and then spoke.
“Calm yourself. Let me explain from the beginning. First… did you meet Prince Brindel yesterday?”
“Y-yes, I did.”
“Then I’m certain his side tested you. They must have asked if you’d heard the rumors.”
“They did, but…”
“The spread of those rumors, and Prince Brindel meeting you afterward—those were all meant to instill anxiety in you. He suspects your birth, but he lacks solid proof or testimony.”
“But you just said there were witnesses.”
“I falsified those testimonies.”
That piqued my interest.
[Oh my~? Falsifying testimonies? How amusing~.]
[Indeed. And he admits so calmly that he sabotaged his master’s plot.]
[W-wait! Isn’t falsifying bad?! No, wait—it’s good for master, right?!]
Exactly. That meant Count Zélauer had disrupted Brindel’s plan—
and in a way that worked in my favor.
‘So that’s why Brindel spread rumors without certainty.’
I might as well hear out why the Count did such a thing.
“Prince Brindel’s plan was to make you confess your own unease.”
“Confess…?”
“First, by planting anxiety in you. Then, by interrogating you as though he already knew the truth. Fear would drive you to cling to someone for support—and that role, he intended to play himself.”
“Oh… my goodness.”
I staggered back in apparent shock.
The Count quickly reached out and caught my shoulder.
I felt his hand trembling against me, but had no time to dwell on it.
‘Yes… even stray dogs know that Count Zélauer has the densest information network in the empire.’
He would’ve been the perfect hunter to frighten me.
I let out a small laugh under my breath.
Brindel. Zélauer. Rornord.
‘So that’s what you were thinking, when you comforted me yesterday?’
Just as I calculate and maneuver, you were plotting to use me.
I already knew—but why did fresh betrayal still sting?
‘Maybe because, at least in that moment… I was sincere?’
Strange. But it reminded me of what this palace truly was.
When I fell silent, the Count studied me briefly before continuing.
“Even suggesting a walk in the gardens was at the Third Empress’s order—to watch closely whether I was performing my role well.”
Fine. Then I’d just have to remove him first.
“But… how do I know you’re not lying, Count? Why would Brindel go so far just to toy with me?”
I muttered gloomily, and the Count replied firmly.
“The reason is clear. The succession contest has begun, and your younger brother, Prince Moren, has started studying magic. By taking you, Brindel hoped to control Prince Moren.”
“That’s absurd! Moren has no interest in the contest…!”
“Perhaps to you. But not to outsiders. Especially to Prince Brindel, this contest is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He cannot afford to overlook even the smallest threat. And suddenly, Prince Moren swallows up the Grand Duchy of Tellum—he would have seemed like a thorn in Brindel’s side.”
“A thorn…!”
“Without me, Prince Brindel would have gone straight to His Majesty with his suspicions. Or he would have spread the news widely, shaping public opinion—that you and Prince Moren must be eliminated.”
“Ah…”
“You’ve lived in this palace long enough, Princess. Surely you know.”
The Count adjusted his monocle and sighed wearily.
“What people blinded by power are willing to sacrifice.”
At those words, I let tears spill again—
though inside, my thoughts were very different.
