Chapter 86

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“What? What happened to Marie?”

Ellea was surprised by the news that Borence had brought, and asked again. She wondered if what she heard was right. 

“She was found dead in prison. According to the situation, she seemed to have taken her own life.”

“How did that happen…. So, regarding this case.”

“Unless there is any other evidence, the main suspect has died, so I think it will end like this.”

Ellea clasped her hand as if resentful at that fact. She was one step too late. Marie had made it clear on a regular basis that she did not like Ellea, so it was likely that she would see that as a motive for this case at this point.

Eventually, her death completely wiped out the evidence that she had a connection with Shanil.

“Did Marie prepare her poison ahead of time knowing this was going to happen?”

“No.”

At Jane’s question, Ellea firmly shook her head.

“I caught her and she was taken away right away, so there was no time for that.”

“Then Marie… .”

“It’s like the fire in the stable. Cut off all the seeds that might be a hindrance. I’m sure the horse keeper and Marie were just chess horses.”

Before Marie exposed the secret, it was clear that Shanil had silenced her first.

“How did that happen….”

Borence and Jane were at a loss for words at the precision and cruelty.

Originally, the Imperial Palace was like this. If you don’t want to die, you have to kill others first.

“What are you going to do now? Should you inform His Majesty directly?”

Jane asked anxiously. She was worried that the case would be buried like this.

“I don’t think that would be the right choice.” (*why not? He’s the emperor of the country, shouldn’t he know? Tsk, tsk.)

“I have the same thoughts as Borence. If we come out without solid evidence, it will be us who will be in trouble.” (*Marie had died, shouldn’t it be enough of a case to mention it to the emperor?)

Even the horse caretaker, who nearly died in the fire, knew nothing about Shanil.

‘But it must have been quite urgent.’

Seeing it happened like this, it seemed that Shanil must have been terrified. 

And she knew she had the power so she moved so daringly.

‘Duke Raymir must have helped her again this time. Clean up the mess.’

‘I think the case will end here. Marie, with all her sins covered.’

“Is it lucky within the bad luck? At least the eyes that watched the Princess are gone.”

Despite the objection of Heris’s father, Marquis Endarin, she could not find evidence, and in the end, the case was closed due to the actions of her maid who had a grudge against Ellea.

The fire in the stable was also tentatively determined to have been committed by Marie. Exactly as Shanil intended.

(*And so the emperor was clueless. Case closed.)

***

A few days passed, and the imperial palace, which had been noisy over Marie’s affairs, gradually regained its calm.

And at that time, there were several carriages that had just entered the capital of Rubain.

Of course, the costumes of the knights escorting the carriages were different, so the eyes of passersby turned to the group.

The man in the carriage at the center of the crowd couldn’t take his eyes off the lively city view through the window.

“Oh, Rubain’s capital is pretty cool too.”

With a bright smile, the man’s eyes were full of anticipation. Imagine someone who will be surprised to see him.

“Wait a little bit.”

***

While Ellea was having a relaxing time after a long time, Borence and Jane rushed into her room.

“Princess!”

“Why are you in such a hurry?”

“His Majesty is calling the Princess.”

“Me? Why?”

When Borence shook her head to signify that she didn’t know, Ellea had her doubts.

She hadn’t seen him since Marie’s incident, and she avoided him whenever she could.

Because her heart was not ready to see what kind of face she should see.

“I think you need to prepare quickly.”

“Yes.”

Ellea, who changed her clothes, checked the wounds which had healed significantly. After good management, the recovery speed was so fast that there was no inconvenience in moving.

After finishing her preparations and leaving her palace, for some reason, Ellea was led towards the entrance of the imperial palace.

“Why am I here?”

“I was ordered to hurry and bring the Princess to the entrance of the imperial palace.”

“Really?”

When she arrived where Terban had called her without knowing why, Terban and his knights were waiting.

Ellea, who was curious why they had gathered here, hurriedly approached Terban.

“I see you, Your Majesty.”

“You’re here.”

“Yes. But why did you call me here?”

“You will find out in a little bit.”

Terban didn’t say anything else further, so Ellea’s curiosity only grew bigger.

As he said, Ellea stood by his side and waited, unlike before, awkwardness lingered between the two of them.

She glanced at Terban with her sideways glance, desperately looking for something to say, but he spoke first.

“I heard from Bandel. You almost got into trouble.”

“Oh, are you talking about the fire?”

She could have been seriously hurt if something went wrong, but Ellea spoke casually. At her calm voice, Terban spoke with a tone of blaming Ellea, contrary to his heart.

“Is that something to say so casually? In such a situation, you should have moved with the knights.”

“If I had time to do that, the horse caretaker would have removed the horse’s body, the only evidence.” 

“Still, the Princess should have been more careful because you were injured. If Bandel was a little late…”

Terban, who did not want to imagine the situation after that, was unable to speak. Ellea wouldn’t know. How surprised he was when he heard the incident from Bandel.

“Ha.”

“Your Majesty, are you blaming me now, or are you concerned?”

“That…..”

Ellea waited for his answer, but Terban hesitated and did not come up with an answer easily.

‘It’s obvious to anyone.’

‘Yes.’

‘It seems like he’s very concerned.’

Borence and the knights, who were listening to their conversation from behind, came up with an answer that Terban couldn’t answer.

Borence got used to it to some extent, but the knights were only surprised by the appearance of Terban for the first time.

They even doubted whether it was His Majesty the Emperor they had served until now.

“Your Majesty?”

“First….Let’s say both.”

At Terban’s answer, Elea smiled softly. It wasn’t that bad of an answer.

“It’s a little bland.”

“More than that, the Princess contributed greatly to solving this case.” (*If she didn’t do it, who would? Emperor?)

Even with his words, Ellea was still full of regret. She hoped she could even uncover Shanil’s misdeeds, but she couldn’t.

‘I must not make hasty moves in the absence of evidence.’

So, she could not reveal her thoughts to Terban. 

“I am only sorry for causing concern with my maid. I can’t face Your Majesty.”

Contrary to the thought that he would like to catch the criminal, Terban was more concerned about Ellea’s calmly subdued voice.

Then a person approached the place where the two were standing.

“I see Your Majesty. But why are you here? And then there’s Ellea.” 

Chaylen happened to find Terban and Ellea together not far from the entrance.

“I don’t even know why either.”

At Ellea’s answer, Ellea and Chaylen both looked at Terban at the same time as if asking for an answer, but Terban still seemed unwilling to tell.

At that moment, the tightly closed entrance to the imperial palace began to slowly open. A carriage appeared in between.

Terban, who first noticed it, said to Ellea with a smile on his lips.

“I kept it a special secret because someone wanted to surprise you.”

“Yes?”

Ellea did not understand what Terban was saying. And then she turned her head to where his gaze was fixed.

A huge carriage was coming through the completely open entrance.

As soon as it got close enough, Ellea noticed the familiar pattern, and she doubted her own eyes. Even if she closed her eyes and opened them, the sight in front of her did not change.

“Your Majesty, that is……”

Ellea looked at Terban in a hurry. He had the look in his eyes that he already knew everything.

“As I said before, I was only doing what he asked.”

As only Chaylen was confused as to what was going on, the carriage stopped a short distance away.

The knights who got off their horses and those who got off the carriage lined up first.

Soon, a knight politely opened the carriage door, and a man stepped out.

The man with the striking red hair greeted Ellea as he waved his hand as soon as their eyes met.

“Ellea, that carriage is definitely Zevenica’s… .”

Before Chaylen could ask Ellea about it, she hurried towards the carriage.

And that step soon became a leap.

Without hesitation, Ellea ran towards the man and hugged him.  The man also gave her a warm hug.

“What the hell happened, without a word.”

“Of course I did it to surprise you. Do you think I’ve succeeded?”

“Of course. Don’t you see my surprised face?”

Ellea said, and Bellea patted her on the back when Ellea buried her face in his chest. 

“I haven’t seen you for a while and you’ve become a child.”

“It’s just that I’m so surprised. I wish you’d told me beforehand.”

Ellea had been wanting to see Bellea for a while, but seeing him face to face with this defenseless state made her heart flutter.

Ellea dug into his arms, fearing that tears would come out if she did something wrong.

Just as if he knew her heart, Bellea stroked her hair, comforting her, as if soothing a child. 

“Is this really the Ellea I knew?”

“What, I make that reaction sometimes….”

The moment Ellea raised her head and was about to speak to Bellea, there was a voice interrupting the conversation between the two of them.

“Nice to meet you.”

As Ellea turned her head, Chaylen was standing next to her.

“Chaylen?”

Chaylen naturally intervened between the two of them, not missing the gap where Ellea was separated from Bellea’s arms and made a distance.

Bellea, who noticed it, promptly turned his gaze to Chaylen. Contrary to the smile on Chaylen’s lips, the eyes staring at Bellea were saying something completely different.

“Why all of a sudden?” (Ellea)

“There is an envoy from Zevenica, isn’t it natural for a nobleman from Rubain to greet him?” (Chaylen)

Chaylen was acting politely on the outside, but in reality, he was madly curious and nervous as to who had reunited with Ellea so passionately.

However, Ellea’s reaction to Chaylen’s words was unusual.

“Envoy?”

Ellea looked at him with a bewildered expression. It was the same for the other person who hugged her. 

‘No way.’

And perhaps thinking the same thing, the two people who met their eyes could not stand it and burst out laughing at the same time.