Chapter 77
Who’s the One Caught in the Trap? (5)
Elluciana let out a faint laugh. Did Camilla notice it? For a fleeting moment, murderous intent flashed across Camilla’s sorrowful face before vanishing again.
Camilla bit down lightly on her teeth as if suppressing pain, then spoke.
“I know this wasn’t your will.”
On the surface, it sounded like she was defending her. But if Elluciana agreed, it would be no different from confessing she was the culprit.
At the same time, it would imply that there was someone behind her. Yet even if she denied it, the crime they had already set upon her wouldn’t disappear. Either way, she was bound to be condemned.
And Camilla was subtly pointing the finger at her.
But Elluciana was not one to meekly accept it.
“You’re right. This isn’t my will. It’s the same with me being here right now. I didn’t come here because I wanted to.”
Camilla frowned faintly and stared at her intently. She hadn’t expected Elluciana to so openly admit she’d been dragged here against her will.
Even so, Camilla quickly calmed her expression, as if nothing had happened. Instead, she gazed at her with pity.
“It seems you’re very upset that things haven’t gone as you wished. I regret not being able to understand your heart. Forgive me if I made you feel hurt.”
“Lady Eragost! Forgive her?!”
“Forgiveness is what she should be begging for!”
“How can you be so soft-hearted?!”
The nobles, who had been slightly shaken by Elluciana’s words, quickly returned to Camilla’s side. Ignoring their chatter, Elluciana pressed on.
“Since Lady Eragost says so, may I stand up now?”
“How rude!”
“You mustn’t, my lady! The crime hasn’t even been revealed yet!”
Camilla, who had been silently watching Elluciana, gave a small nod.
“Nothing has been proven yet. Everyone, calm down.”
Elluciana stood up, ignoring the nobles who pointed fingers at her. Her knees stung where they had scraped against the marble floor, but she didn’t mind.
Because now she would thoroughly expose their ignorance.
Elluciana curved her lips into a faint smile.
“Thank you for Lady Eragost’s fair consideration. That being said, I believe there’s been a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding? Someone was hurt from the flowers you arranged. What kind of misunderstanding could there be?”
Anna, who had been waiting, stepped forward beside Camilla with a mocking smile.
“That’s what I will now prove. But if I prove that I’m innocent, then all of you owe me an apology.”
“What?”
“Especially you, my lady. Since you slapped me, I expect a particularly sincere apology.”
“You—!”
Unable to control her temper, Anna nearly lunged forward. But when Camilla grabbed her arm, she stopped herself.
Even she felt something was off. Elluciana’s baseless confidence—what was it rooted in?
Without delay, Elluciana pulled a scroll from her robes.
In that instant, Camilla’s eyes changed.
That’s… a magical certificate?
Why was she suddenly bringing that out?
Ah! Could it be about those flowers—
Her face twisted ever so slightly at the thought, but the expression was so fleeting that no one else noticed.
“I believe you all know better than I what this is. Please, see for yourselves.”
The nobles, hesitant at first, hurried forward to see the scroll.
Five elliptical symbols intersected at the center, surrounded by four large circles.
Stamped in gold at the lower right corner was none other than the crest of the Grand Duchy of Sestein.
“All the flowers arranged here today were treated with a preservation potion certified by this document.”
“What?”
Anna snatched the scroll from her hands in disbelief.
This potion is classified as Grade 1. It certifies that any treated medium will be preserved for one year without distortion of form.
Anna’s hand trembled violently as she held the scroll.
If this was true, the flowers decorating Ruber Hall would remain in perfect condition for the next year. More importantly, the “Grade 1” noted on the certificate meant this was one of the highest-quality potions certified by House Sestein.
“H-how do you even have this? How could someone like you possibly possess it?!”
“That’s not the issue here, my lady.”
Elluciana gently picked up one of the few wilted flowers and spoke softly.
“What matters is that this flower is not one from the Fragrant Garden. As you can see, it wasn’t magically treated.”
At her words, Anna’s face turned ashen. Yet to admit her fault outright was impossible—her pride wouldn’t allow it. To bow her head to a mere commoner was unthinkable.
“W-who can prove that? Out of so many flowers, how do we know you didn’t sneak in a different one?”
She shook the scroll angrily, glaring at Elluciana.
“You really think you can fool us with this? Just because you say so, we’re supposed to—”
At that moment, the scroll in Anna’s hand suddenly floated into the air.
The nobles gasped, eyes widening in shock.
“Wh-why did it suddenly rise up?”
“Magic?!”
“Magic? But there’s a magician in this ballroom?”
As the crowd looked around in confusion, a man in a black robe tinged with blue stepped forward.
“T-that crest on his back… House Sestein?”
A noble gasped at the emblem embroidered on the robe. No one had expected someone from such a reclusive house to attend this ball.
Another lady spoke.
“It is true. Lately, they’ve been appearing in society more often. They must have received an invitation to this ball as well. But if he’s a vassal of the Grand Duke, which family is he from?”
While the nobles struggled to regain composure, someone suddenly shrieked.
“T-that man is the Grand Duke of Sestein…!”
The noble’s eyes widened in horror, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
And then, parting through the crowd, the man in the black-and-blue robe pulled back his hood.
Aster stepped forward calmly.
His crimson eyes, cool and sharp, swept across the room.
“So. Are you saying you cannot accept House Sestein’s certificate, my lady?”
Grasping the floating scroll, Aster stared silently at Anna.
Meeting his gaze, Anna shuddered violently, goosebumps running across her skin.
“Then there’s no need for House Sestein to send goods to your family anymore.”
“…!”
Anna’s face went deathly pale.
For a commoner it might not matter, but for a noble house, being cut off from House Sestein’s supplies was a crippling blow.
From protective talismans to magical remedies, there was not a single item untouched by their influence.
And yet, Anna couldn’t utter a word in protest—because the one who had spoken was the Grand Duke of Sestein himself.
The other nobles watched in silence, holding their breath, terrified of being caught in the fallout.
Unlike them, Elluciana couldn’t hide her complicated feelings.
Aster had never attended a public event before. The greatest reason was his frail health.
But if he collapses suddenly again… wait.
She tilted her head unconsciously as she studied him.
Instead of his usual pallor, there was color in his face. He looked healthier—more vigorous than anyone in the hall.
Did he obtain some rare elixir?
As Elluciana eyed him suspiciously, Aster stepped closer and handed her the rolled-up scroll.
“Keep this safe, Elluciana.”
He smiled gently.
She accepted it without thinking, but quickly came to her senses. Tugging his shoulder back toward her, she pulled him close.
“…!”
Bringing her lips close to his ear, Elluciana whispered urgently.
“How did you even get here? Are you all right? I heard you still shouldn’t be using magic. Do you have any other pain?”
The Sestein butler had once told her: during the succession struggles, Aster’s body had been damaged, making it difficult for him to use magic.
The shortness of breath, the constant fainting—it was all because of that.
And yet—
He looks completely fine. Is he really sick?
Aster’s shoulders stiffened slightly as he replied.
“Levitation magic is… relatively simple. And just for a short while, it’s fine.”
“Oh.”
Finally understanding, Elluciana realized how close they were and quickly stepped back.
“Ah—sorry. I thought I had to whisper.”
“No, I liked it.”
“…What?”
“Ahem. I mean—do you still have business here?”
“Well…”
Elluciana’s eyes drifted toward Camilla. She still hadn’t received the compensation payment from her.
And right on cue, Camilla stepped forward toward Aster, as if she had been waiting for this moment.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Grace. I am Camilla Lu Eragost, daughter of the Eragost Count.”
