CH 55

“No way…”

Charelize noticed that it was the name of the head of Lebanon.

Lebanon. It was a group that was formed a long time ago. They led the commoners to do noisy things and buy and sell information to their customers.

“On the day of the Grand Duke’s succession ceremony, I went to rest on the terrace… Princess Lillian and Marquis Pasimello were talking loudly as if they didn’t hear me coming…”

“Marquis Pasimello…?”

“They exchanged a glass bottle of blue water. Just in case, always be careful when Your Highness eats something.”

Charelize recalled what she had heard from Countess Ermano. But, first of all, how did Lillian and Marquis Pasimello know each other and have such a conversation at the succession ceremony of Grand Duke Innovestin? It was more important to know the identity of the bottle of blue water they had been exchanging.

“Come to think of it… Isn’t his residence near Hasen Square side leading to Rivier village?”

“Your Highness, if it’s Rivier village…”

“That’s right. It was where Chenia went secretly at night.”

“Your Highness was poisoned during His Excellency’s ceremony… Could it be related to him, including Lady Luxen too?”

Hailey suspected Marquis Pasimello.

“To poison the wine, you need the emperor’s cooperation. At least, he didn’t have the intention to hold that hand.”

Charelize shook her head. In her previous life, she had seen Harbert IV troubled by them.

“First of all, Lillian wouldn’t have met Marquis Pasimello without the consent of Lady Luxen. At least the two are related…”

“There is no reason for Marquis Pasimello to be on the side of Lady Luxen. No matter how much he becomes the head of the family…”

“Either the man in the city was deliberately sent by someone, or it must have been something his subordinate said arbitrarily out of anger. Since the name Dian was revealed… it is highly the latter, but the possibility of the former cannot be ruled out either.”

“That means…?”

Charelize put two cases to see who took the lead in it.

“Things are getting more and more interesting…”

“…”

“Hailey.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Soon… It looks like we need to get ready to receive guests.”

“What do you mean…?” Hailey, who didn’t immediately understand what Charelize said, only blinked.

“Isn’t it the same as saying that to you, my exclusive servant,  that he is watching me?”

“Ah…”

“If I want to create a path that brings him directly, it would be better to keep stimulating him.”

“If so…”

“Do something eye-catching, but in a way that doesn’t bother too much. It would be better if it could attract his interest like now.”

Charelize picked up withered petals from the floor. She immediately placed it on her palm and then blew it.

“I will be back with some good news, Your Highness.”

As soon as Hailey saw the flower gently floating into the air, she bowed her head as if she had belatedly understood Charelize’s intentions.

* * *

It was three days after that. Charelize was preparing to go to a tea party hosted by the predecessor Grand Duchess Innovestin. She barely fell asleep late in the morning, and since she woke up early in the morning, she wasn’t feeling very well.

A letter arrived, which made Charelize feel better at once. It was said they needed her help with the trading business they were working on. They asked permission to visit Duchy Marsetta for some advice. It was sent directly from Marquis Pasimello.

“I was really curious when I would see a reaction… It looks like he has been using his brain quite a bit to make an excuse.”

“What shall we do, Your Highness?”

“What do you mean?”

“Meeting him in person… It can be dangerous.”

Following what Charelize had said, Hailey had continued digging for information on him in the meantime, although she intentionally left her mark. When the letter arrived, she didn’t look overjoyed. She seemed to recall what had happened at the succession ceremony of Grand Duke Innovestin.

“I have a question. What on earth could this person gain by being on Lillian’s side?”

“That…”

“How dare he do anything to me? It’s going to be okay… That’s right. Send the letter saying it’s okay to visit right away tomorrow.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Hailey, ordered by Charelize, closed the door and left to write the reply.

“I braided your hair to make it easier to move. What do you think about it?”

“That’s okay. Good work, Martin.”

Martin, who was next to her, had a proud expression as she finished getting her hair done.

“By the way, Your Highness. My father is supplying tea leaves to the top run by Marquis Pasimello.”

“…Is that true?”

“Yes. There seems to be something else besides that… the top name… is…”

As if she overheard Charelize’s conversation with Hailey, Martin told her about Marquis Pasimello. She added that her father, Viscount Rale, supplied various items to the top run by Marquis Pasimello.

“Ah! Lauren. The top name is Lauren.”

“Lauren?”

After much consideration, Martin continued with a serious face as if it finally came up to her mind. “Isn’t that… a name with the meaning child born in the sunshine? Anyway, it is an unusual name for a top to be named, so I memorized it.”

Lauren… if it’s Lauren… Charelize felt familiar with the name Lauren she had heard somewhere.

“What’s wrong, Your Highness? Should I ask my father about it?”

“It’s not like that, I don’t know… but it is strangely familiar.”

“The top run by Marquis Pasimello is not very well known, as very few people knew about it…”

Even when she finally went out, the strange feeling of deja vu remained unresolved. As Charelize sighed, Lillian climbed into the same carriage. It felt like she was going to have a headache, so Charelize opened the window to get some fresh air.

“…”

“Lillian.”

“…Yes?”

“Have you lost anything? You’re trembling. Sit still.”

She didn’t look at her blatantly, but it bothered her that Lillian kept looking out the corner of her eyes. When Charelize spoke her words, Lillian’s expression became even more serious than before. Charelize even could hear the sound of biting nails, as if it was a habit she had when she was anxious. Lillian seemed to have noticed belatedly that she had lost the bottle.

“I-it’s nothing.”

“It’s nothing?”

“I’m sorry for bothering you.”

Lillian even waved her hand like a thief making excuses for one thing or another.

“At the Grand Duchy, you’ll have to be extra careful about your behavior.”

“I will keep that in mind,” Lillian said these words with the feeling that something was going to happen.

“There will be nothing for Your Highness to worry about.” Unlike before, Lillian showed a relaxed smile as if she believed in something.

As she grew more anxious, Charlize put on a puzzled expression.

Before long, horses gradually slowed down at the coachman’s command. Soon after, the carriage stopped as if they had reached their destination.

“Greetings to little Duchess and Princess Lillian.”

When she opened the door and went outside, the servants of Grand Duchy Innovestin were waiting in line.

“May Goddess Resina’s blessing reach little Duchess and Princess Lillian.”

“May you be protected.”

“I am the head of the maid who serves Her Excellency, the predecessor grand duchess.”

“My name is Albert, the butler of Grand Duchy Innovestin.”

At the forefront, there was a head maid who had a kind impression and the butler whose hair was styled to the back.

“I’m so happy to receive your hospitality.”

“It is an honor to meet you. I will guide you to the garden.”

Following the guidance of the head maid, she saw a garden exuding a peaceful atmosphere.

“Little Duchess!”

“Marchioness Hadil, long time no see.”

“I see you’ve been invited too.”

“I didn’t expect to see Lady Banet in here.”

Most of the guests who arrived first were friends or already knew Charelize.

“That person…?”

“Oh my…”

They let out a gasp as their gaze turned to Lillian, who had followed Charelize. Lillian couldn’t do this or that because she was paying attention to Charelize.

“Lillian, say hello.”

“…My name is Lillian Ludisa von Marsetta. Please take good care of me today.”

“It hasn’t been long since she was registered as a princess, and her etiquette is still not that good, so I hope everyone will be generous.”

Charelize didn’t mind it. However, she didn’t want any gossip about it later, so she brought that up first.

“My name is Alisse Lape de Haien, the eldest daughter of Count Haien.”

“Greetings, Princess Lillian.”

At their initiative, Lillian, who made friends with some of the noble ladies, smiled brightly.

“By the way, the host is very late.”

“It’s been a while since she stopped her secluded life, and it’s her first tea party after coming back, so it can’t be helped.”

“Even so…”

“When I first received the invitation, I was so surprised that I couldn’t believe it.”

Each of them told the story about being invited.

“Thank you all for coming.” The predecessor Grand Duchess Innovestin walked from afar.

“Thank you for the invitation.”

“The flowers in the garden smell good.”

“You seem to be in good health. I’m relieved.”

“I’m glad… you seem to be… having a good time.”

The predecessor Grand Duchess Innovestin responded casually and seemed to be looking for someone.

“Penelope.”

Soon after, upon hearing the words predecessor Grand Duchess Innovestin, everyone showed signs of being puzzled. It was because she called for Princess Penelope, who had already passed away a long time ago.

“Suddenly what…”

“…Isn’t that the name of the deceased princess?”

The predecessor Grand Duchess Innovestin didn’t care what they whispered right in front of her. The place where her steps stopped was in front of Lillian.

“Baby.”

“G-greetings, Your Excellency.”

Lillian seemed equally puzzled.

Charelize was trying to figure out what had happened to this situation. She saw Lillian raise the corners of her mouth slightly for a moment. The pupils of the predecessor Grand Duchess Innovestin were cloudy. It seemed her gaze, which was shaking lightly, was insane.

If Princess Penelope and Lillian looked alike, they would have understood it to some extent. Aside from hair and eye color, the two were distinctly different. However, no one was able to directly ask the predecessor Grand Duchess Innovestin. Because they too, were mothers with children and someone’s children.

How much did the predecessor grand duchess miss the deceased Princess Penelope? When she saw Lillian, who didn’t even resemble Princess Penelope at all, they only felt sorry for her, wondering if she was mistaken.