Chapter 45

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Chapter 45

I followed Salihan from the Duke’s office.

‘I’ve come all the way here, so I need to know as much as I can.’

Salihan went down one more floor, and he entered a room. It was only half the size of the Duke’s office, and the papers were piled up on both sides.

“Aman.”

As he called someone’s name, a masked man appeared from the darkness.

“Take the poison from Gerald and deliver it to Aman.”

He then wrote something on a piece of paper and handed it to Han.

‘Is Aman the servant’s name? I’ll have to tell him to go to the Imperial Palace to find it.’

Aman simply bowed his head and disappeared again.

“This time, we’ll be able to catch the Emperor.” Salihan twisted one corner of his mouth and laughed softly.

‘You’re making me laugh.”

You will never be successful forever. I will protect Declan.

Thinking that, I got close to Salihan’s face, growled, and exited the duke’s house.

Declan, who was reading the material he had retrieved from the temple, rubbed his temple. When he glanced up, the sky was quite red.

“I told you to come back before the sun goes down.”

He looked at the door with a worried face. After staring at it for a long time, he did not feel anything, so he leaned against the backrest.

“Ha…”

A dejected smile escaped his lips.

“It was so funny.”

He thought he would get things done if he acted like a madman, though when he did, he didn’t feel very well.

“Chloe…”

Complex emotions spilled over.

“…It’s been a long time. My pretty little sister.”

Declan, who had a strange expression on his face, neither crying nor smiling, whispered softly. Even though it was still unpleasant to be teased, he was happy to see Chloe, who was the same as when he was still alive.

He wanted to stuff that figure.

As he quietly closed his eyes, memories with Chloe came to mind one by one.

Then those scenes changed to the time he had with Erica. While she was dancing in the form of a doll, she threw macarons at him and laughed, comforting him in the greenhouse.

The scenes, which continued like a panorama, stopped at her standing in front of him.

He realized when he saw her during the conversation with Chloe.

“Did you need Miss Erica for Chloe?”

The answer to the question Mason posed…

He saw Chloe and Erica side by side, and he knew for sure.

“I can’t believe I realized that now.”

The moment he saw Erica, he remembered the time they met the puppeteer, and nothing but her entered.

‘Now that Chloe is here, can I take Erica with me?’

When he saw Chloe again, it seemed like someone was saying that. At that moment, his heart sank and he unconsciously searched for Erica first.

Chloe and Erica are completely different people.

His feelings towards them were also different.

It was only when he stood in front of the two of them that he realized it.

“I was stupid…”

Chloe was his pain, but she was the child he had to let go. However, Erica was the most precious person today…

‘No, she’s someone I want to be with in the future.”

Declan took another deep breath.

“Your Majesty.”

When he heard the voice he had been waiting for, his head lit up.

“I’m here.”

The moment he saw her smiling brightly, his anxious heart disappeared in an instant. At that moment, Declan was clearly aware.

Regardless of Chloe, he wants Erica.

“I’ve learned something incredible.”

Now was the time to show my abilities.

“Your Majesty?”

But, Declan was strange. The piercing gaze in his eyes seemed to be something of a mystery.

“What, what’s wrong?”

As he got closer and looked around, he smiled openly and stood up before asking, “Are there any injuries?”

“Hey, there’s no way the soul can get hurt.”

“Still.”

He circled around me and looked closely. That action tickled my heart again, and a laugh leaked out.

“I’m fine, so come here. I’ll tell you what I did.”

I made him sit on the sofa.

“I received a report from a Shadow that he went to the Duke of Otien.”

“Already?”

No matter how good the shadow was, it was delivered so quickly!

Seeing me in surprise, Declan grinned.

“What the Shadow found out was the shaman’s house, and the man who came out of it entered the Duke’s mansion.”

I guess they couldn’t go inside.

‘Then, I found out more.’

Again, triumphantly, I swelled my chest and said, “I went inside and listened to all their conversations!”

“You worked hard.”

Hearing my words, Declan smiled softly like towards a child.

“The person the shaman met was Salihan, Duke Otien’s aide.”

“Salihan… He’s the second son of Count Noike.”

I also told him about the conversation between Gerald and Salihan in a hurry. Even Duke Otien’s intentions for doing this.

“Are they going to use me like a puppet? Their dreams are wild.”

Declan raised the corners of his lips sourly.

“Right? I’m here for you.”

Declan grinned as I grinned.

“Yes, I have you, my secret weapon.”

“Secret weapon? That’s nice.”

“They won’t be able to find out until they die.”

Of course. I am the perfect secret weapon.

“Oh, and I learned something really important.”

“Are they up to something else?”

“The culprit of the last poison case.”

“Yes. Mason is looking, but I haven’t heard from him yet.”

At that, I raised my chin and replied curiously, “I think I found the culprit?”

“You…?”

He looked a little startled at my remarks, but then Declan narrowed his eyes.

“Is it Duke Otien?”

“They say Gerald made the poison.”

“That shaman must have many talents.”

Even though it was a compliment, his expression was cold.

“And, I know the servant who put the poison in His Majesty’s food.”

“The results are more significant than expected.”

Seeing him admiring me, a sense of pride spread throughout my body and I answered proudly.

“I told you I was the best person in terms of a lifeline. Now you know my worth?”

“Yes, I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you. It’s very reassuring.”

Noticing Declan’s smiling face made me smile as well.

“Now that we have this information, let’s make our own trap, shall we?”

A very tight and strong one.

“That would be fun.”

We gazed at each other and smiled like a villain.

Three days later, we sat down with Gerald again.

“I don’t even know how time passed. How have you been?”

Gerald greeted politely.

‘You must have been a little busy. Making poison or preparing for today’s performance?’

I glared at Gerald cunningly.

‘That’s the face of a money hungry.’

His face seemed to be brighter than a few days ago.

“Thanks to you, I slept comfortably. The thought of meeting Chloe again made me excited.”

“I can’t tell you how thrilled it was to see the reunion of the Princess and Your Majesty.”

“I can’t wait any longer. Come on, let’s meet Chloe.”

When Declan urged him as if he couldn’t stand it, he was satisfied and performed the same spell as the last time.

“Brother, it’s so good to see you again.”

The fake Chloe was glad to see him with her eyes curled up nicely.

“I wanted to see you, too.”

I turned my head towards him at the voice that was somehow hoarse.

Nostalgia was deep in his green eyes, and I held his hand quietly. Then, Declan turned his head slightly and smiled faintly.

‘…I can’t believe he’s still digging through the wounds of a hurt person with Chloe.’

Seriously, I can’t wait for Gerald to get caught.

Meanwhile, Declan naturally continued the conversation with the fake Chloe.

“Your Majesty, I’m thirsty because I’ve been concentrating on magic. Could you give me a cup of tea?

“Oh, I didn’t even notice since I was watching Chloe.”

Noah, who came to Declan’s call, prepared a tea soon.

“Please.”

“Thank you.”

Gerald leisurely raises his teacup, and Chloe speaks in the meantime, “Because it’s like this, it reminds me of the time we had tea together. Do Brother remember, too?”

The fake Chloe glanced down at Declan’s teacup.

“Well, of course, I remember. Tea time with Chloe was the most enjoyable.”

Seeing Declan soaking with sorrow as if reminiscing on the past, my heart sank heavily.

“I liked that time the best, too. Brother, shall we do the same then?”

“Like back then?”

At that, Declan tilted his head.

“Brother brought me a new tea every time.”

At her words, he nodded his head slightly.

“I can’t drink tea right now, but I’ll pretend I’m drinking. So, brother, drink it.”

Fake Chloe smiled and moved her hand to pretend to be holding a teacup.

“Um, what kind of tea is this? It has a mild scent, similar to chrysanthemum, and tastes like…”

She pretended to be sipping tea.

“The first taste is savory, and the end tastes a bit bitter. How about it?”

When Chloe asked with a gleam in her eyes, Declan quietly looked into the teacup before turning towards me.

I nodded my head slightly.

“Well, I don’t know what tea tastes like.”

“Why? You can drink it.”

The fake Chloe put on a sullen look.

At that moment, Declan’s eyes shone sharply.

“It’s very sad that our Chloe is trying to kill this brother.”

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