CH 65

Chapter 65 – A daughter in despair and a set-up plan (Lilianne’s Point of View)

Lilianne was out of breath and running up the bumpy hill.

She broke the spell, shook out her hair, which was spread haphazardly, and went to the meeting place that was set in case things went wrong.

"What should I do, I screwed up ...... even though Robin asked me to do it..."

The Baron of Quiggionne is a member of the aristocracy that supports Robin and is close to Robin's family.

So, despite being in the frontier Sutrena, they were defiant to their lord.

.... His daughters have not heard anything about this case, though.

She envied those ignorant girls who were carefully pampered by the baron.

Lilianne, who was involved in this case, knows. The secrets of this town ――

In the town of Cattena, magical beasts appear in unparalleled numbers.

There was a reason for this.

The reason was a secret agreement between Baron Quiggionne and Count Apeau, the lord of Zazam.

The intermediary was Robin's father, Baron of Revisión

The two territories are adjacent to a forest where magical beasts emerge, and the damage was originally equal.

However, after Baron of Quiggionne accepted Count Apeau's request several years ago, the damage on the Sutrena side became even greater.

In exchange for money, Count Apeau forced Baron Quiggionne to take care of the magical beast-related matters.

Since then, Baron Quiggionne has been intentionally luring the Zazam beasts to the town of Cattena on the Sutrena side. He scatters potatoes, the beasts' favorite food.

So, even though the town is short of food, the baron's house and pantry are always stocked with a large amount of them.

The magical beasts that got a taste of it came out every night all over the town on the Sutrena side.

Nevertheless, it is the townspeople who suffer, and the baron lives a life of luxury in a sturdy building.

Thanks to this, the Zazam territory suffered much less damage.

Part of the funds obtained from Count Apeau also went to the family of Robin, who was the introducer.

In return, Robin will be given preferential treatment by the Baron of Quiggionne when he becomes the king's consort.

Lilianne's heart throbbed.

"Robin is the royal consort, the princess's fiancée. I know that."

Lillianne was not the only one who knew that she could not have him, no matter what.

Lilianne is just one of many young ladies.

She knows better than anyone that she has no value other than her position. Now even her position has been taken away from her.

She has nothing more to lose.

Still, her whole body was dominated by the feeling that she did not want Robin to hate her.

Robin's kindness seeped in like poison, and his empathy made Lillianne happy, as she had never been cared for by anyone until now.

"I can't get caught."

Ignoring her aching legs and struggling lungs, Lilianne ran as fast as she could to the meeting point.

Finally, she met up with Baron Quiggionne, who had arrived earlier. Also standing there was his collaborator, Count Apeau, who had also been invited to the mansion.

The incident had been arranged by the count and the baron together to get rid of Nazelbert, the current lord who was interfering with their plans.

Lilianne was the executor.

After stabbing Nazelbert, she was going to escape and be protected by her allies.

Then she would change her name and live quietly, with Robin's help...... that was the idea.

"You're late, Lilianne. You're here at last."

"I am sorry. I failed in my mission."

With a broken breath, Lilianne looked up at the count and the baron.

The two men looked at each other and nodded.

"Um, what is it ......?"

In response to Lilianne's question, the two men told her ruthlessly.

"I'll be fine. I have been instructed by Master Robin on what to do in the event of failure."

"Oh, I see. So, what are we going to do?"

She feels a sense of ...... ill intent from them toward her.

It was as if they were trying to hurt Lilianne, just like her parents and the servants in the mansion.

"Lord Robin has spoken to us. If we fail, he wants us to cut Lilianne out of our lives and put all the blame on her."

The baron nodded his head at the count's words.

Lilianne's mind went blank.

"No, it's not true, Robin, that sweet Robin would never say such a thing!"

Lilianne retorts as she backs away, but the baron presses on.

"Well, even if you succeeded, I was told to frame you as a murderer and have you taken care of."

A shock strikes Lilianne's heart again.

"Lies! I don't believe you!"

"That's your choice, young lady, but we can't let Nazelbert expose your crimes like this either."

"But isn't it impossible to attribute this incident to the sole discretion of the Lady?"

"The matter will be well taken care of by Her Highness Robin. He has the princess and the queen behind him."

Count Apeau, as well as Baron Quiggionne, would probably complain that 'they were only having a feast to welcome the lords' and pretend to be someone who had nothing to do with Lilianne.

"Robin would never have ordered such a terrible thing!"

"Poor you, let's face it. You've been a disposable pawn from the start. And you will die here, become food for a magical beast, and the evidence in the case will disappear."

As Baron Quiggionne said this, a group of masked men appeared behind them.

They must be the ones they hired to do their dirty work.

"......!"

Lilianne fled in the opposite direction.

But her tired feet got tangled up and her heels hit the stones, causing her to lose her footing.

"Kyaaaah!"

The masked men approaching Lilianne, who has fallen to the ground, silently pull out knives from their pockets.

The moment Lilianne closed her eyes, she knew it was over.....

Then she heard the sound of trees snapping in the forest, the cries of startled ravens, and a familiar voice.

"Lilianne wooooooooooooooo!!!"