CH 126

‘What was that reaction?’

‘Has he been asked a sensitive question? Or is it a meaningless facial expression change?’

“Well… Innocent dying, there’s no way?”

“……”

After answering, Johann glanced over at Berylia.

But it was difficult for him to look inside. This was because, unlike himself, she was usually too expressionless.

Now, there was almost no change in her expression.

Johann added quickly.

“Oh, but I’ve tried it.”

“An experiment?”

“It’s so amazing that it withers away when it gets close to evil powers, so when I brought the ‘harness’ that had been sealed with a demon… it really withered.”

Johann said, stroking his lips with his long, sensitive fingers.

“Fortunately, I managed to revive it by attaching a holy object.”

It was an excuse he made up in case she had seen something.

It was almost perfect.

Wouldn’t a normal person fall for it?

“Oh, it’s a really fun experiment.”

As Berylia smiled softly, Johann felt more relieved.

But the next moment.

She muttered, not too loudly, holding up her teacup.

“But, if you had just prayed, it would have been fresh because of the goodness of Archduke Marquis…”

“……”

Johann’s stomach felt uncomfortable as if he was having a stomachache. It stung.

Was he too sensitive?

Those words sounded like, ‘If you were kind, you wouldn’t need holy objects.’

But Johann did not show such feelings,

He put on his characteristic good-looking smile and spoke naturally.

“Of course, I prayed earnestly. But it was a gift from Your Majesty the Queen… I didn’t want to leave it withered for long.”

That was a reasonable excuse.

“Well, the effect is quick, Archduke.”

“The original effect is as expensive as it gets.”

At his usual playful remarks, Berylia burst into laughter.

Johann thought with a wide smile on his face.

‘What the hell is this conversation…’

Did she notice something?

Could that be it?

He spent decades in this palace with a good face, pretending to have no desire for power, and thoroughly acting.

During that time, no one noticed his true identity. Everyone was just praising him.

But what if Berylia really noticed his existence?

‘Really, if that’s true…’

“……”

Johann bit his lips and looked at Berylia, sitting on the other side with a strangely piercing gaze.

……It meant that he had chosen the woman very well.

The thought of her being suspicious of him sent shivers down his spine.

He was so excited that he burst into laughter.

From now on, he might play fun games with her.

He looked forward like a hunter with a big bow.

Berylia spoke with an unsuspecting, pure deer-like face.

“It smells delicious.”

Johann immediately opened his palms and escorted her with a clean smile.

“I have prepared a lot, especially for the Queen. Shall we go eat?”

“Yes, I’d like that.”

I followed him lightly.

As we walked, I glanced at him slightly.

‘As expected, something is suspicious.’

If what he said about Innocent was a natural explanation, it could be taken that way, but……

For some reason, it didn’t sound like an ‘explanation’ but an ‘excuse’, and even that excuse felt like it was missing a part.

‘But I can’t just pry into this and that, can I?’

I wanted to hide the fact that I was suspicious of him as much as possible.

An attack when the opponent was unaware and careless was the most effective.

‘Let’s not ask too much.’

…The conversation about Innocent should end here.

So I made up my mind.

However.

“By the way, Your Majesty… Why did you suddenly ask about Innocent?”

As soon as Johann sat down at the table, he dared to bring the topic up again.

With a blatant expression of ‘Why, are the words ‘bad guy’ written on my face?’

I was inwardly bewildered, but I didn’t budge; I replied as I naturally picked up the dishes.

What should I say?

“Actually, Innocent has a secret that is not known to the public.”

“Hmm.”

“The plant withers once and then is artificially revived… The stems will be very thick and tough.”

Johann raised an eyebrow.

“I see.”

“Yes.”

‘No, that’s a lie.’

But wouldn’t it be impossible to remember the original stem thickness of Innocent?

Innocent originally had thick stems.

Fortunately, Johann continued to eat as if he was convinced.

A natural and enjoyable mealtime.

The atmosphere was quite friendly. Though the parties involved had different thoughts in their minds.

The two held a lasso to trap and a spear to pierce their opponent behind their backs.

They ate a tense meal with a smile on the outside like warriors.

There were hardly any offensive conversations.

Only once, in the middle, Johann could not suppress his curiosity and asked about ‘Margot’s Pendant’,

Again, I did not answer properly.

Johann was no longer obstinately inquiring; he knew in the first place that the chances of me telling him were slim.

After eating dessert like that, I wiped my lips and stood up.

“I’ll see you soon, Archduke Marquis.”

‘It’ll be appropriate to go now, right?’

I thought so, but for some reason, Johann said with a sad, clinging look on his face.

“Why don’t you stay a little longer?”

“…I’ve been here for a long time.”

‘I’m sick of it.’

Still, I decided to calm him down a bit.

“We can eat together again next time, so don’t be sad. Archduke.”

“I always feel so sad.”

“…Don’t be sad.”

It was during the time when I turned around after soothing him.

“Your Majesty the Queen.”

At that instance, as I was about to leave, a large, soft hand grabbed my wrist.

“!”

As if overly surprised by the warm body temperature, the queen brought her hand to her chest and held it with the other.

Her big eyes, as if frightened, were revealed at that moment.

‘It works.’

For a moment, Johann’s heart was thrilled.

The hot blood from his stomach warmed his whole body and made him excited like crazy.

When he came into contact with his own bride, engraved with the blue roses, his bride would feel the power of ‘Toulouse’.

It must have flowed in, at least a little, from the last contact.

If the two of them mixed their bodies, she would slowly receive that power too… 

Then she would want the same things as him and would change to have the same desires.

Just as the two pure wings of an angel blackened as it degenerated into a demon.

“I’m sorry.”

Johann put his hands behind his back and bowed his head politely.

“I was in a hurry, so my hands went out first again.”

It was hard to bear the twisted corners of his lips.

It was then. Berylia’s index finger sharply pierced his chin and held it up.

Johann’s head seemed to be broken and lifted. It was a pretty humiliating attitude.

The odd-eye that came into contact with him was colder than ever.

“Never.”

She chewed and spit out the words very clearly, one syllable at a time.

“Never touch me again, Archduke Johann Marquis.”

A thrilling sensation licked up Johann’s spine.

“……”

Earlier, Berylia used formal speech as a sign of respect, but…

It was just respect.

She was clearly higher in rank compared to him. She seemed to be reminding him of that.

Johann said softly.

“I’ve had no manners as a friend, I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

At Johann’s attitude to express himself as slightly equal, Berylia relentlessly trampled on him.

“Don’t get me wrong. It’s an order.”

“……All right.”

After hearing a docile reply, the queen immediately let go of his chin and left.

With a more respectful attitude than ever before, Johann saw her off.

After a while.

Melfis brought Berylia to the front door.

There, Beryllia walked to her carriage with her own maids.

Johann watched as she climbed into her carriage, and quietly looked out of the window.

His mouth was covered with a hand, and his face was somehow rosy.

Johann whispered lowly with deep-set eyes.

“…It’s really crazy.”

This was really so.

It was like a woman was sent down by heaven to make him go crazy.

‘You told me not to touch you.’

‘I’m going crazy because I want to touch you more?’

Tok, tok—

At that time, Melfis, who finished sending the queen off, knocked on the door and entered.

Melfis stood beside Johann as the latter watched the carriage leave.

“Her Majesty the Queen seems to be starting to doubt.”

“…Well, it won’t be a big deal anyway, because there’s no clear evidence.”

Johann’s lips were strangely twisted.

“I was the only one having fun.”

“But you better be careful. She must have become particularly sensitive after the blue rose mark was engraved on her body.”

With a low laugh, Johann pulled out the Dew of Montaigne’s cork with his teeth.

Then he swallowed the whole bottle.

Gulp—

The bones of his neckline wobbled clearly, and the liquid spilled.

Then he looked at Melfis and said happily.

“No matter how keen and vigilant she may be, the blue rose is meant to dominate her slowly anyway.”

“……”

“She will eventually come into my hands…”

Johann sat on the sofa in a daze and shook his head.

“I wish that day would come sooner. Looking at her today, I like her even more.”

“…Is that so?”

“It’s the first time I’ve heard anyone’s orders in my life.”

The action that Berylia had tried to put him off instead provoked him.

“It’s so lovely.”

Johann rolled his eyes and smiled kindly.

“Ha, really crazy.”

“….…”

“How much prettier would she be if she cried in front of me?”

Then, giiik—

The closed door opened and a breeze came in.

“…….”

Melfis quietly approached the door and checked the hallway. And when seeing there was no one outside, he shut the door firmly again.

Returning to his master, he said politely.

“You’ll get it soon.”

“I should.”

Johann’s eyes were wet with lustrous desire.

* * *

I walked out the door of Johann’s drawing room, slowly, very slowly… 

And I took off the invisibility cloak.

Insane rage, trembling, excitement, and frustration swept through my body.

‘There’s a man I want to kill.’

In there. He was in there.