Daniella, flustered and a little embarrassed, blushed and said to him,
“A-are you going to fall asleep like this?”
“I haven’t been able to sleep well lately, trying to resolve this matter.”
“…”
“I’ll wake up when we arrive at the mansion, so wake me up then.”
Now that she thought about it, the area under his handsome eyes did look a little dark. Daniella replied awkwardly.
“…Ah, alright.”
Ashid deliberately cleared his throat to hide the corners of his mouth, which kept twitching upwards. Daniella fanned her flushed face with her hand and stared straight ahead, as the shoulder he was leaning on was warm and she didn’t want him to know she was constantly aware of him.
The night after the trial. As planned, a vial of poison was delivered to Helena Strand, who was imprisoned in the Nobles’ Tower. This was partly because she was a woman and her excuse of being foolishly provoked by the Marquis of Cadogan worked to some extent.
Helena drank the poison, resenting Duke Rodian and the Marquis of Cadogan to the very end.
The Marquis of Strand was stripped of his title, had his estate and assets confiscated, and was executed by hanging.
The now-commoner Marchioness was exiled with nothing, and Richard Strand, the High Priest, was expelled from the temple and taken to an unknown island. He would likely spend the rest of his life there, laboring and repenting for his sins.
Later, the Emperor held a meeting of the nobles to discuss what further punishment to inflict on the Marquis of Cadogan.
The nobles on the Crown Prince’s side argued that his expulsion from society was punishment enough, while the neutral and other nobles argued that his assets should also be confiscated, leading to a clash of opinions.
After much deliberation, the Emperor reached a conclusion. He ordered the Marquis of Cadogan to hand over Klein Castle. He added a command that if he refused, he would have both his wrists cut off. The castle was one of his main sources of income and had also been the place Cyril Olvern had demanded as payment for harming the Grand Duchess Alveric. The Marquis of Cadogan reluctantly gave the castle to the imperial family.
The news of Helena Strand and the Marquis of Cadogan’s punishment was, of course, delivered to the Crown Prince’s palace.
Adrian, who could not attend the trial due to the Emperor’s command, worried about his beloved son’s reputation being tarnished, listened to the story told by Duke Rodian later and let out a hollow laugh.
He sat down on a chair in the reception room, his face reflecting his utter despair. He then let out a deep sigh that seemed to sink the ground and muttered,
“Marquis Cadogan and Lady Helena, why, why would they do such a thing…!”
“I apologize, Your Highness. …Even if we had to accept Lady Strand’s fate, we should have at least prevented the Marquis of Cadogan from being punished…”
“…”
“…That’s why I’m telling you this, Your Highness. …Please, could you speak to His Majesty and ask him to reduce the Marquis of Cadogan’s punishment a little? At least so he can visit the capital.”
When Duke Rodian spoke, carefully observing him, Adrian glared at him and said in a cold tone,
“Why would I do that?”
“Your Highness!”
The Duke cried out Adrian’s name in shock. Adrian’s glare at the Duke intensified.
“Both the Marquis and you, Uncle, why do you keep getting involved in things like this! Why?!”
“Your Highness, are you asking because you don’t know?”
“Yes, I don’t! Why do you keep tormenting Daniella! What did that kind and frail woman do to be tormented like this?!”
“Hah, a kind and frail woman? Daniella Enchantto? What you’re saying would make a dog laugh! Do you know how cunning and wicked that woman is?!”
“So are you saying the Marquis of Cadogan was right to do what he did?!”
As the Duke, frustrated, exploded with anger, Adrian’s voice rose even higher. The gazes of the two, glaring at each other, clashed sharply. The Chief Steward, Count Ross, quickly ran and grabbed Adrian’s shoulder, trying to restrain him.
“Calm down, Your Highness. Getting so angry isn’t good for your health.”
“Calm down? Do I look like I can calm down right now?!”
Adrian shook off Count Ross’s hand and shouted again.
As far as he knew, this was the second time Daniella had been in danger, after the hunting festival incident. The fact that people around him were involved in each incident was unbearably agonizing for Adrian.
Daniella was no longer his person, and she could never be again.
So he had no choice but to watch her be happy next to his half-brother, Ashid.
Even that was so painful and sinful that he had to try his best not to look at her. That’s why he reduced his party attendance and avoided creating opportunities to run into her.
He tried to reassure himself that as long as she was living happily, it was enough, and that it was a good thing he had abandoned her, so he could shake off his lingering feelings for her.
-But why did his own people keep trying to torment Daniella?
‘Are they trying to get rid of her so I can’t even watch her from a distance anymore?’
When that thought crossed his mind, Adrian felt a fierce anger for the first time in his life, as if his vision was turning red.
Without even knowing why he was so angry, he glared at Duke Rodian with a murderous look and warned him in a cold voice.
“Whether it’s you, Uncle, or the Marquis, don’t ever get involved in things like this again. Just leave my brother and Daniella alone. This isn’t advice from a nephew to his uncle; it’s a command from the Crown Prince to his vassal.”
“…”
“If you disobey this command and do something foolish again, I will sever all ties with you.”
“…Your Highness! How can you say such a terrible thing!”
“I have nothing more to say. Now, leave. I feel bad about the Marquis of Cadogan, but I won’t be able to help him.”
“Your Highness!”
“I said, leave, Duke Rodian.”
Adrian commanded again in a firm voice. Duke Rodian had no choice but to stand up. If he couldn’t get help from the Crown Prince, he had to find another way quickly.
After Duke Rodian left and the reception room door closed, Adrian buried his face in his hands and let out a deep sigh.
The Chief Steward, Count Ross, carefully approached his master.
“Your Highness…”
“I don’t know why these things keep happening lately. After Lady Emily, now even the Marquis of Cadogan…”
“…”
“…I’m sure Daniella and my brother resent me.”
“Don’t blame yourself, Your Highness. It’s not your fault.”
“No, it is my fault. …This is all because I didn’t manage the people around me well enough.”
Despite Count Ross’s consolation, Adrian’s sorrow did not disappear. Adrian felt a strong sense of self-loathing and guilt. At the same time, he felt sorry for Daniella. He wanted to apologize to her. If possible, in person, face to face.
‘Can I… can I see her…’
At that moment, Adrian felt a fierce desire, as if his throat was burning.
He could no longer suppress his yearning to see Daniella and hear her voice. Even if he couldn’t be alone with her since she was married. Even if he had to meet her with Ashid.
‘…Yes. After all, I have to apologize to my brother about this incident anyway.’
Adrian rationalized his actions and said, as if making a firm decision.
“I think I should invite my brother and Daniella to my palace and apologize for this incident.”
“…Pardon?”
“Chief Steward, send an invitation to the Alveric Grand Duchy. Tell them I would like to offer my brother and Daniella tea at my palace on Friday at around two in the afternoon.”
“Your, Your Highness… Is there really a need to go to such lengths? It’s not as if you did anything wrong…”
“No, I must.”
He shook his head despite Count Ross’s attempt to dissuade him. Seeing Adrian’s attitude, which seemed unyielding, the Count had no choice but to bow deeply and say,
“Understood. I will prepare to welcome the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess as you commanded.”
“Good. Oh, and one more thing. Please tell my father that I would like him to summon my brother to the audience chamber at around three in the afternoon on Friday.”
“It’s not difficult to tell him, but… may I ask the reason?”
“If His Majesty personally apologizes and soothes him, it might calm the agitated public opinion in the North a little.”
‘And while my brother is away, I can be alone with Daniella.’
Daniella and he were family now. Before they were engaged, they were practically childhood friends. So, it should be alright to be a little greedy. Adrian justified his actions once again.
“Yes, I will convey that to His Majesty.”
“Thank you.”
Thank you very much 🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺