Chapter 39

A Box of Cookies (5)

The attempt to assassinate the prospective crown princess caused a stir in society. Most nobles questioned Rowena Adelia’s aim itself. Undoubtedly, the Count of Adelia was an important figure.

The marriage between the Adelia Family and the Imperial family was a combination of no political gain.

However, it only frustrated several duke families who wanted ties with the imperial family, and many nobles believed that Count Adelia was inferior to the imperial family.

At the news that the injured princess-to-be had already entered the royal family, the nobles were surprised, saying that the prince must have fallen firmly in love with Lady Adelia.

“Her father, Count Adelia, was unable to use his hands to protect his young daughter!”

“Oh, really? I don’t think he cared much about his daughter.”

“Now that she’s a crown princess, I’m sure it’s different from before.”

Most of the nobles knew that Paul Adelia discriminated against his daughter. Since there was a difference in their outfit every time.

Rowena Adelia’s dress was neat, but they were not ladies who would not know that the clothes she wore were out of fashion.

If the whole family had dressed like that, it would have been equal. But he and his three sons were dressed in famous designer clothes, and only his daughter was dressed like that, which made it even more obvious.

“They looked down on her that much…”

“That’s amazing, though. I’ve heard that one of his hands is completely useless.”

Rowena was not well-received among young English scholars, but she was quite welcomed among middle-aged ladies.

They remembered Rowena’s mother, Elaine Adelia.

Although less beautiful than Rowena, she was cheerful and intelligent and was friends with many noble women. After she got married at her father’s request, her smile gradually faded from her face, and she was eventually killed.

After giving birth, the fame of Count Adelia was due to his attendance on a duke’s summer vacation. With Elaine suffering from an infection, Paul attended the Duke’s meeting.

Elaine, who did not receive proper treatment at the destination, died at the inn.

It was a miserable death for an aristocratic woman.

They couldn’t believe Paul’s denial because they saw Paul getting upset and annoyed when they heard the news at the Duke’s picnic.

Only some naive ladies didn’t know Elaine’s death was because of Paul.

The topic of the conversation got to Rowena, who was injured and was staying in the palace. It was how Rowena Adelia, who was completely ordinary, captured the crown prince’s heart.

Marquis Wenson, who also attended the banquet, sipped his wine slowly despite having heartburn.

The Assassin Guild’s men had received a lot of money and failed! In a situation where it would not be easy to try again, they expressed their wish to get an additional payment, saying that five talented assassins were killed in the incident.

Is there a way to kill the girl who went into the palace?

It was rumored that the crown prince was in love with Lady Adelia. In some ways, Lyria’s appearance was superior, so it was incomprehensible to the Marquis of Wenson.

Since he couldn’t be defeated by force, he thought it would be useless to have an assassin as long as the crown prince was around.

There needs to be something else. The way is…

The marquis in his drunken state had a distorted expression on his face.

* * *

Louis was looking up at the high gate of the Imperial Palace with uncertainty. No matter how much his sister took care of him, the imperial palace was the imperial palace. He was his youngest son and was raised only by the count, but he knew that his status was inferior to that of the royal family.

No! But I’m my sister’s younger brother, and if I have to…

Is a letter better? Louis thought hard.

Rowena was his older sister, but in fact, she wasn’t much of a sister when she was treated so badly.

When he was young, he believed and followed his mother instead, but as he grew, it was because his older sister looked funny to his older brothers. She was weaker and shorter, but he admired Rowena for being a grown-up, so he even ignored their words.

Louis looked anxiously at the gatekeepers of the palace. He was afraid of the crown prince.

Why would a prince meet me? I only need to see Rowena.

Louis crouched his shoulders as he recalled Rowena’s face and the way she frowned whenever he cheekily called her name. It occurred to him that Rowena would not like him to come.

But soon, he shook his head when he remembered his father’s words that he should not return unless he got a good answer from Rowena.

I have to face it first.

Louis spoke to the gatekeeper of the palace.

* * *

It had been a long time since she overslept. Rowena loved morning sleep, but she would force herself to get up early because she was afraid of Paul. Every time she fell asleep, she was scared that she would wake up late in the morning, so she felt really strange.

Am I happy?

What she felt as soon as she woke up was someone else’s body temperature. Her heart pounded against the wide chest that touched her arm and forehead.