CH 66

“…Do as you please.”

After thinking for a long time, Lanensia Xavi’s permission was finally granted.

“The Badiljez Palace will be closed after this time.”

“Are you saying… we should go back right now?”

“Among those who came as guests, there could be the culprit, so how can we just let them go? Marquis Anasia?”

“That’s a little too much!”

They last saw Countess Youseph at the Royal Princess Casilla’s palace, and Viscount Ameline was at Badiljez Palace. Upon hearing that, Royal Princess Ioella ordered Badiljez Place to be closed.

“For the time being, it would be better to stay with each family you’re familiar with.”

That’s how Badiljez Palace was closed by Royal Princess Ioella. Those who stayed there chose to stay by renting a nobleman’s house or a mansion with which they were acquainted. Since Charelize was staying at Royal Princess Casilla’s palace, she didn’t need to leave the palace.

“This is the order of Her Royal Highness Princess Ioella.”

The knights came and surrounded Royal Princess Casilla’s palace and began investigating every servant. Princess Casilla was absent as she directly cared for Emperor Akan I, and Countess Youseph, one of the prime suspects, belonged to Lanensia Xavi. The authority to conduct the investigation naturally passed to Royal Princess Ioella.

Charelize didn’t understand what Royal Princess Ioella was doing right now. What she did was an act of turning everyone into enemies just to find the culprit. And there was a high possibility they would resent her. Just because she did something like this doesn’t mean the culprit will turn themselves in.

If the culprit had been found out immediately after the investigation, the culprit wouldn’t have tried in the first place. In order to poison the wine consumed by the nobles, who would be the father-in-law of the royal princess and the emperor, they had to act meticulously. Furthermore, torturing the suspects and shutting down the palace won’t make you find the culprit. Royal Princess Ioella seemed deliberately poking around here and there.

When Lanensia Xavi offered to interrogate them directly, Royal Princess Ioella explicitly mentioned that Countess Yoseph belonged to her palace. All the authority was passed to Royal Princess Ioella. If Lanensia Xavi stepped forward recklessly, it could cause unnecessary misunderstanding.

Lanensia Xavi didn’t impose any restrictions on what Royal Princess Ioella was doing. The more she didn’t do something, the more Royal Princess Ioella acted like a contributor, making holes for the culprit to escape.

“Lady Hailey Jesi ra Kabe, right before the ceremony started, where were you?”

“With the little Duchess…”

“Are you sure? If you’re lying, answer honestly right now.”

“…It’s really not like that.”

“If you don’t want to be separated from your neck, think when you talk.”

Seeing Hailey looking troubled, Charelize coldly sighed.

“…I apologize, little Duchess.”

“Isn’t your subject of apology wrong?”

“I… apologize, Lady Kabe. We got the order from the Second Royal Princess, so I hope you understand.”

Seeing Hailey being interrogated harshly when she didn’t even have any correlation with the incident, Charelize went to visit Royal Princess Ioella.

“Except for the fact she comes to Royal Princess Casilla’s palace every day, I can’t understand why my exclusive maid, who was with me, is being treated like that.”

“…I’m sorry, little Duchess. His Majesty Father collapsed and hasn’t regained consciousness, and I’m in a hurry. I will tell the knights to be extra careful.”

“…”

“If you’re having trouble, why don’t the little Duchess and Princess come to my palace?”

“…Your Royal Highness, right now I’m—”

“His Royal Highness Princess Arensis has arrived…”

At that moment, the maid of Royal Princess Ioella came in and announced the visit of Arensis. Even before Princess Ioella could answer anything, Arensis opened the door himself and came in.

“What are you doing, Older Brother?”

“I know you hate to think and don’t think about the consequences when making decisions, but what are you doing to the delegation of the Elioter Empire, the little Duchess who has been invited by our Sister?”

“Those words… you’re going a little too far, Older Brother.”

Seeing that, Royal Princess Ioella clicked her tongue and narrowed her brows.

“The little Duchess said she was uncomfortable being in Sister’s palace, so I was kindly suggesting how about moving to my palace… Lin.”

“Did you call for me, Her Royal Highness?”

The maid of Princess Ioella, who was restless to block Arensis from entering, answered her call immediately.

“Right now, can you ask Princess Marsetta to come here?”

Whatever she was thinking, Royal Princess Ioella called Lillian through her maid.

“Yes, Princess.”

“Ioella, you—”

“His Royal Highness, please wait a moment.”

Wondering what else the Royal Princess Ioella would do, Charelize stopped Arensis from saying something.

“I know the little Duchess entering the same academy with my older brother, but you two seem that close.” Royal Princess Ioella, who saw it, laughed interestingly.

“Greetings to Royal Princess Ioella.”

“Princess, welcome.”

“I heard you called for me.”

“Ah, how about moving the princess’s room to my palace? The little Duchess said she doesn’t like it.”

“…It’s an honor for me, Her Royal Highness.”

Moments later, when Lillian came inside, Royal Princess Ioella told her what she had said to Charelize. Lillian looked at Charelize and smiled shyly as if there was no greater honor than that.

“Lin, give the Princess a room. Bring her things little by little.”

“I will take your orders, Her Royal Highness. Princess, you can follow me.”

“…I will leave first.”

What on earth did Royal Princess Ioalle think when she summoned Lillian and gave her room? Unable to understand, Charelize slightly lowered her head and left.

Seeing that the royal princess called Arensis as older brother, he must have been born earlier. Even though the royal princess looked so young, it seemed she got out of the way when the situation was against her. Charelize couldn’t grasp what she was thinking.

“I will apologize in her stead, little Duchess.”

“…No, it’s okay.”

“Until Sister Casilla comes to her senses, no one can control that child. She doesn’t even listen to me.”

“If so…”

“Come to my palace. Even if she neglects you, she won’t be able to touch the guests staying in my palace easily.”

Following Charelize, Arensis, who caught her, made a tempting offer. She had a lot of thoughts, but she felt like she could find her lost memory while staying in his palace.

That’s how she moved to Arensis’s palace, but only a few knights stood guard at his palace. There were no servants to wait or work for him.

“Are you… really alone?”

“It’s more comfortable, and it’s okay when you get used to it.”

After staying in Arensis’s palace for a few days, all of the people she met had their tongues cut out and couldn’t speak. It was so frightening. Charelize didn’t say anything more.

This situation was like someone deliberately created an isolated environment and threw Arensis into it. In an intentional situation, Charelize felt sorry for him. He took this for granted, but Charelize felt uncomfortable hearing him being comfortable with this environment.

Among the four children of Emperor Akan I, he was the only illegitimate child. His relationship with Royal Princess Casilla seemed pretty close. Since Royal Prince Edenberg died at a young age, he became the one and only prince. But it was embarrassing seeing him being treated like this.

“Even if you lose your memory, you’re no different than when you were a child.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Aren’t you angry at the mediocre treatment I receive here?”

“I didn’t say anything, but how…”

When you’re angry, you don’t say anything, just like now… But you press your fingernails against your skin.”

Charelize belatedly realized it at Arensis’s words. She then relaxed her hand. Holding her slightly reddened hand, Arensis muttered something in a small voice. With a bright light, Charelize’s hand returned to its neat shape as if something didn’t happen before.

“I can’t say… that I want… to go back… to the past. It’s okay… if you don’t remember.”

“…”

“…But I don’t want… to be a stranger… with you.”

“…”

“…Just that.”

Charelize could not blame Arensis, who spoke his innermost feelings, for treating me carelessly again at this time. She would rather him get angry or cry because she couldn’t remember. That way, she could coldly cut off their ties and push him away.

However, every corner of her heart ached as she struggled to hold back the tears that seemed like they would burst out any moment. It was to the point of misunderstanding that she still could empathize with the pain of others, driven by emotion rather than rational thinking.

“Your Royal Highness Prince… Why do you call me… as Your Highness?”

Charelize wanted to pat him on the back, but she didn’t do it. She didn’t have anything particular on her mind, so she asked whatever came to her mind.

Arensis called Charelize just like how her subordinates would call her. Except for the nickname Lize he sometimes called, he was being too polite.

“…When I was a student at Rosielt Academy, there was a time when we had to collaborate with the Faculty of Political Science on our assignments.”

“…”

“I’m afraid that if someone else finds out I’m acquainted with you, you’ll get in trouble… I spoke with honorifics… but Your Highness laughed it off. It’s awkward, but…”

“…”

“When I went to a place where I had no choice but to use honorifics, Your Highness did the same.”

“…”

“When I speak in honorifics, there is a unique way to talk, so it’s easy to distinguish from others and… I think I will never forget it.”

Charelize asked it to ease the awkward atmosphere, but an unexpected answer came back.