Chapter 80

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The small bottle passed through Harchen’s hand, then into Philen’s grasp.

Philen looked at the vial carefully again.

It was definitely the same vial that came out of Misa’s room.

That really meant that Leila had instigated Misa to poison Cecily.

“…” 

At the completely unexpected fact, Philen stared blankly at the vial. 

The butler who brought the maid to Philen, Harchen, was also shocked.

Come to think of it, the only person Misa could be loyal to, even risking her life, was Leila.

After Leila left the mansion, Misa was the only one who missed her.

Other maids testified that she frequently visited Leila’s room as well as the storage where Leila’s stuff was kept.

Philen’s expression became more serious.

Harchen looked at him and said carefully.

“Is it possible that the maid, while looking at Young Lady Leila’s stuff, accidentally found the vial and made an arbitrary plan?”   

“Anyway, it’s true that Leila bought this drug to harm my child.”

Philen said, emphasizing the part ‘my child.’

Because of what he said, Harchen was no longer able to take Leila’s side and kept his mouth shut.

Philen closed his eyes and took a deep breath, thinking about the possibility that Leila wasn’t the culprit.

However, no matter how much he thought about it, Leila was definitely the culprit.

She killed his child.

His long-awaited first child…!

BANG-!

Philen couldn’t hold back his boiling anger and slammed the handle of the sofa.

He couldn’t believe Leila, not no one else, would do something like this.

As much as he trusted Leila, he felt a great sense of betrayal.

Philen clenched his jaw and stood up.

“I’m going to the capital right now.”

Leila.

If you really killed my child, I won’t forgive you. 

Never.

*****

The diplomatic mission of Natsha Kingdom arrived in Hutton on the second day we arrived in Hutton.

After hearing the news in advance that they were coming, I changed into my uniform and went outside.

Marquis Valdir, who had come out beforehand, frowned at my outfit.

“Lady, why are you dressed like that?” 

Is there something wrong with it?  

“Is there a problem?”

“Your outfit is not like a lady’s.”

My outfit is not like a lady’s? What…

Ah, is it because I’m not wearing a dress?

If I was an ordinary noble lady, it would be appropriate to wear a dress, but I was clearly an aide to the emperor and a member of the delegation.

But it would be ridiculous to say something like that.

“I hope you don’t forget that I am His Majesty’s aide.”

“Who said that?”

Marquis Valdir chuckled.

“I just said that if you’re a lady, it’s better to dress like a lady.”

“I’ll make a suggestion to His Majesty the next time they fit the uniform.”

Perhaps not liking my answer, Marquis Valdir looked dissatisfied.

He looked like he still had a lot to say, but he had to turn around without saying a word because of the report that the diplomatic mission of the Natsha Kingdom would soon arrive at the mansion.

After a while, a large and dignified group of people entered the main building.

“Welcome to the Empire.”

The representative of the diplomatic mission was Marquis Valdir, but the lord was Marquis Hutton, so he welcomed the delegation on our behalf.

“Thank you for welcoming us, Marquis Hutton.”

It was Marquis Azef, the representative of the diplomatic mission, who greeted on behalf of the Natsha Kingdom.

“I’m Marquis Valdir, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.”

As Marquis Valdir joined the conversation, their conversation got a little bit longer.  

I glanced through the Natsha Kingdom delegation while they were talking. 

As stated in the document, the delegation consisted of a total of 5 people, 4 of whom were male and one female.

I saw them for the first time today, but I already knew who was who because I had read the document beforehand.  

I was looking through the people with their names on my head, and I happened to make eye contact with the woman that was looking at me.

The woman approached me with her eyes folded neatly. Every time she moved, her short bob hair flickered.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Diane Andrian.”

Diane introduced herself and asked for a handshake.

It was a greeting that wasn’t commonly used among noble ladies.

So even though I felt a little strange, I felt better because she seemed to treat me as a full-fledged official rather than a noble lady.

“It’s nice to meet you too. My name is Leila Thebesa.”

I smiled and took her outstretched hand.

“Hutton is truly a beautiful city. I felt good all the way through because it felt like I was seeing the Natsha Kingdom.”

She implicitly boasted that the Natsha Kingdom was beautiful.

“Hutton is certainly a beautiful city, but there are many more beautiful cities in the Empire than Hutton.”

At other times, I would have passed it, but not now.

I replied with a smile.

“Especially Baruch, the capital, is the most beautiful. If there is an opportunity, I would like to invite you to the capital.”

Diane’s eyes lit up as she looked at me. Her lips went up in a pleasant line.

“I’m really looking forward to it. At that time, Sir Thebesa will guide me, right?”

Sir Thebesa. As expected, she recognized me as an official.

I was happy with that fact, but my situation of having to be happy only over such things made me feel bitter. 

“Of course.”

Conversation with Diane was pleasant and fun.

Above all, it was good that she didn’t ignore me like other nobles.

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“Oh my, what are these two beautiful ladies talking about?”

While talking to Diane, Aldor suddenly interrupted.

“Short hair is not common in the Empire, so I don’t have a chance to see it, but it’s very refreshing to see it this way.”

Aldor glanced at Diane up and down as if it was very interesting.

How rude you are to the person in front of you.

As a noble of the same empire, I was ashamed.

“Lord Hutton.”

I called him because I thought it would be better to stop him before he became ruder.

Then Aldor winked at me.

“Don’t be jealous, Lady Thebesa. In my eyes, the Lady is the prettiest.”

What kind of nonsense is this…

I bit the soft flesh in my mouth to deal with the crumbling expression on my face. The corners of my lips, which I tried hard to raise, trembled slightly.

“That’s rude.”

Unlike me, who hid my emotions, Diane expressed her displeasure.

“Is this how the Empire welcomes delegations from other countries? Sexually harassing a member of the delegation?”

As Diane’s voice resounded loudly through the hall, everyone’s attention was drawn.

Aldor’s face, which had unexpectedly become the center of attention and was cornered as a molester, turned red.

“Whe, when did I sexually harass you…!”

“Didn’t you just say that? And why are you speaking informally? I never gave you permission to speak casually.”

Unlike me who hesitated, Diane said what she wanted to say without hesitation. 

Even though we’re both women, we’re so different. 

I was embarrassed and ashamed of myself. The desire to act confidently like Diane suddenly soared.

As Diane shot him, Aldor kept his mouth shut with a red face.

“What’s going on?”

Marquis Hutton came to Aldor’s behind and asked. 

“Father! I’m innocent!”

Aldor confessed his innocence to Marquis Hutton.

After hearing all the stories, Marquis Hutton sighed and pushed Aldor’s back.

“You go back to your room.”

“Father!”

“Now!”

At Marquis Hutton’s roar, Aldor stomped and disappeared.

“My stupid son made a mistake.”

Marquis Hutton apologized to Diane.

“I apologize on his behalf, Lady Andrian.”

“I accept your apologies for the Lord’s rudeness, but I hope the Marquis will correct the title as well.” 

Diane smiled brightly at the bewildered Marquis Hutton.  

“It is correct to call me Sir Andrian or Viscount Andrian, not Lady Andrian. Because I am here as a diplomat.”

*****

“Isn’t it too early for you to corner someone?”

Diane, who came into her room guided by Marquis Azef, took off her coat and looked at him.

“What do you mean? You told me to pick a hole, uncle.”

“That’s true, but after talking to them, I think we don’t have to.”

“Looks like they’re not that competent, huh?”

“I think Marquis Hutton is still good enough, but Marquis Valdir is good for nothing?”

Marquis Azef smiled and sat down on the sofa.  

“I can’t believe such a man is the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The glory of the empire seems to be a thing of the past. This meeting will be easy to resolve.”

“Well. Will it be?”

At Diane’s answer, Marquis Azef looked at her. 

“Seems like there’s someone on your mind, huh?”

“Yes, there is.”

“Who?”

Diane thought for a moment and shrugged.

“It doesn’t seem to be an obstacle yet, but I’ll let you know when it grows to that level.”

*****

It was a pity that I couldn’t talk to Diane more because of Aldor.

I wanted to visit her, but I held back because it didn’t seem like I could meet a foreign delegation privately.

From the other person’s point of view, they might think that I was here to be a spy.

And Marquis Valdir would find some faults in me needlessly.

I’ll see her again at dinner anyway, so we can talk then.

Soothing my regret, I went through the data I had organized about the Natsha Kingdom.

But had Marquis Valdir read the data I gave him?

I was sure he wouldn’t even look at it.   

As expected, I have to attend the meeting.

Marquis Valdir wouldn’t allow me to attend the meeting, but it didn’t matter.

Because I was the Emperor’s agent.

That alone was enough to qualify me to attend the meeting without the Marquis’s permission. 

“My Lady.”

Eria came in with a large box.

“The Marquis has sent you a gift.”

Seeing her calling him ‘Marquis’ instead of ‘Master’, she probably referred to Marquis Valdir.

I couldn’t believe he sent me a gift. It probably wasn’t sent in a good way.

I looked at the box with uncomfortable eyes.

On the other hand, Eria smiled and put the box on the table.

“May I open it, My Lady?”

It’s a gift sent through a maid, so it wouldn’t contain anything strange, right?

I answered while trying to soothe my uncomfortable heart.

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“…yeah.”

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