[CHAPTER 67]
Ravelan Arasas asked how the collusive relationship between the Nixandor Ambassador and the Belua Duke had been uncovered.
Surprisingly, at that moment, Rision gave Dianu Ortensa the right to speak.
“Since it was essentially Miss Ortensa who uncovered it, it would be proper to hear it from her directly.”
All eyes turned to Dianu.
It was the first time since she had given a graduation speech as class representative that so many people were waiting solely for her to speak.
At least back then, I had a script…
At a girls’ academy, they did not teach how to give speeches or presentations before large audiences.
And now, her audience consisted of the most noble figures on the continent.
Even now, it still felt unfamiliar that she was allowed to voice her opinion before such people.
Rision took the hand of the hesitating Dianu.
“Just speak comfortably, exactly as it happened.”
“I am not sure where I should begin…”
“You can start with what happened at the fir palace on the founding anniversary.”
It felt like something from the distant past now.
Back then, Rision Catalos had been nothing more than the emperor and employer to whom she owed her duty as a subject.
So much has really changed.
That very emperor and employer was now holding her hand and encouraging her with a gentle expression.
Drawing courage from the warmth of his hand, Dianu began recounting her memories.
At first, she hesitated and sometimes lost her train of thought, and her speech slowed as she checked people’s reactions along the way.
But as time passed, she grew more confident.
She carefully explained, in chronological order, everything that had happened in the imperial palace so far, from overhearing the suspicious conversation between the Belua Duke and the Nixandor Ambassador at the fir palace, to the Duke attempting to provoke Princess Elpenlira, and finally to how an attendant had guided Princess Elpenlira and Dianu to a secluded corner of the garden.
“And there, an assailant swung a blade at Lady Elpenlira… Fortunately, she was not injured.”
At that point, Rision’s grip tightened.
A scar from that incident still remained on Dianu’s abdomen.
However, she deliberately did not mention that she herself had been the one stabbed, as it felt like she would be boasting of her own merit.
Of course, Princess Elpenlira did not let Dianu trail off like that.
“My tutor took the blade in my place.”
Ravelan rounded his lips in surprise.
Flustered, Dianu hurriedly changed the subject.
“In any case, because of that incident, His Majesty began to suspect the collusion between the Belua Duke and the Nixandor Ambassador…”
Rision added calmly.
“That was also how we learned that the two of them had staged it to look as though Arasas had attempted to assassinate the imperial princess, in order to incite hostility toward Arasas.”
Ravelan twisted his lips into a smile.
“To sabotage the royal marriage?”
“Yes.”
Dianu continued the rest of her account with composure.
She spoke of how she first heard rumors from the maids of the Oak Palace about Bertona Aldebaron’s excessive extravagance, how she personally traced the source of that extravagance, and how the Belua Duke had been funneling large sums of money to Baron Aldebaron while evading imperial surveillance.
Rision added one final clarification.
“The Duke took advantage of the fact that I trusted Baron Aldebaron, and that the Baron’s daughter served as Elpenlira’s maid. Miss Ortensa uncovered the method by which the Duke paid the Baron the price of betrayal.”
At that point, Ravelan raised one eyebrow.
“You have not been on the throne long, and you were already stabbed in the back? That is unusually careless.”
At those words, not only Dianu, but also the Grand Duke and Duchess, Sir Roysen, and even Elpenlira stared at Ravelan in shock.
Is he really allowed to say something like that?
She knew intellectually that Ravelan was Rision’s friend, but it was still a fresh shock to see someone criticize his judgment and capability so bluntly.
However, Rision merely nodded calmly, showing not the slightest sign of offense.
“It was my mistake to leave him alone, thinking him incapable. Just because the Baron himself lacked the wit to scheme does not mean an outsider could not recruit him.”
“I believe there must be a ledger recording the transactions between those two. Over six years, with such large sums moving so frequently, it would be difficult to rely entirely on memory, and even more difficult for their recollections to never diverge.”
Such a ledger would have meant more than merely recording transactions.
“It would also serve as insurance in case the other party betrayed them. If there are records, one person cannot simply deny everything when things go wrong.”
Everyone’s gaze was fixed on Dianu.
She pressed a hand to her pounding chest, unsure whether what she felt was tension or excitement.
“And that ledger is probably being kept at the Arasas embassy residence.”
* * *
By the time the discussion concluded and everyone left the drawing room, the clock was already pointing to two in the morning.
Instead of heading to his bedroom, Rision opened the door to his study.
As expected, Ravelan was seated on a long chair, tilting back a bottle of liquor.
His cravat was loosened, his tailcoat jacket cast aside, and his appearance was thoroughly disheveled.
Deep shadows lay across his fatigue-soaked face.
The Arasas Crown Prince glanced up briefly at Rision standing in the doorway, but said nothing.
He merely filled his glass to the brim with an enigmatic golden spirit.
Rision spoke first, saying what needed to be said.
“I am sorry I did not tell you in advance. I thought that even if you learned someday, it should be Rila herself who told you.”
Rision could not read the gaze Ravelan cast at him over the rim of the glass, which was rare for him.
Holding the glass precariously in one hand, Ravelan leaned his head back languidly.
“I figured there had to be some story behind it. You must have been under a lot of strain.”
Perhaps he had been waiting for someone to say exactly that.
Rision loosened his cravat as if to tear it off and flopped down across from him.
He heard the sound of Ravelan refilling his glass.
Fatigue he had not felt all day rushed in at once.
With the back of his hand resting over his closed eyes, Rision muttered softly.
“…If it were not for Miss Ortensa, I would never have come this far.”
“Ah. About that.”
Ravelan spoke as if something had just occurred to him.
The sensation of having a sore spot poked did not feel pleasant.
All Rision wanted was to lie back against the long chair and fall asleep, but he forced himself upright.
“…It is still too soon. She would probably run away in terror just from hearing the word ‘empress.’”
“Hmm. If you are going to do it anyway, would it not be better to say it sooner rather than later? From my perspective, the longer you drag it out, the harder it will become.”
A glass was set in front of Rision.
Feeling an inexplicable dryness in his throat, he downed it in one go, despite knowing it was not a wise choice.
Ravelan studied Rision’s furrowed expression closely.
His gaze was measuring something, though it was unclear what exactly.
“People like your lover… they become resigned quickly. If they are not skilled at resignation, they cannot stay by our side.”
“…”
“I am saying you should make the first move before that resignation becomes part of her entirely.”
Perhaps because of the alcohol, irritation flared up suddenly.
Propping his weakening upper body with an elbow on his knee, Rision glared at his friend.
“Is that from personal experience?”
If one was not skilled at resignation, one could not remain at ‘our’ side.
The implication, as if Ravelan himself had once had a woman in the same position as Dianu Ortensa, stuck in Rision’s throat like a thorn.
Even if it were a political marriage, one should be faithful within it.
If Ravelan were insulting Elpenlira, Rision could not forgive him, no matter who he was.
Ravelan, who clearly understood Rision’s challenge, let out a quiet snort and drained his glass.
“I have never done anything that would make you send an assassin after me, nor do I plan to, so put your mind at ease.”
“…That is a relief.”
Ravelan narrowed his eyes over the rim of his glass.
“And you, are you properly protecting the honor of the woman you love? You look to be having a rather hard time.”
Letting out a pained groan, Rision buried his face in his palm.
Ravelan patted his shoulder sympathetically.
“So, just hurry up and get married.”
Then he added meaningfully.
“Some things are better handled after you have already gone and done them.”
