CH 80

Nothing has changed since the last time I saw you… So pathetic. Charelize thought as she watched the back of Iris as she walked away.

It was strange that she was the one who poisoned Charelize at the succession ceremony of Grand Duke Innovestin. Had it been reported that the wine was poisonous, it was clear that Harbert IV would withdraw his hands.

The accusation of trying to poison little Duchess Marsetta, a member of a semi-imperial family, could have been a bad situation for Lillian. It could also harm her, so there was nothing to be gained.

However, Charelize didn’t understand why she was talking about something that didn’t need to be said. She wasn’t in the same class as those stupid people who talked thoughtlessly. It didn’t seem that Iris was just trying to tell her about insane people.

“Your Highness?”

Just in time, Hailey, carrying the necklace from Lari, found Charelize with a serious expression on her face.

“Ah, you’re here. What about Lari?”

“As Your Highness said, I came after seeing her carriage leave.”

“Well done.”

Hailey handed the necklace she was holding in her hand to Charelize.

“The butler must have had a hard time.” Charelize, who saw it, left a brief review.

Seeing it, Charelize left a brief review.

“Did… something happen with Lady Luxen?”

“?”

“I heard from the daughter of Marquis Hadil and daughter of Count Neve while on the way, and I heard that the atmosphere wasn’t good.”

Hailey, recalling the time Charelize was in danger because of Iris, put on a worried expression.

“Recently, she succeeded to the title and became a marchioness. It was surprising that she succeeded like that without anyone noticing.”

“No matter how much she was reinstated, there are rumors that she is favored by His Majesty… Could it be that the stigma of being a traitor, once engraved, cannot be erased, so she had no guests to witness it?”

“I don’t know. Rather, everyone must be desperate to go. Aren’t they people who can’t stand curiosity? Just looking at the rumors about her being favored by the emperor… They only told what they wanted to see and hear.”

“That means…”

“Of course, she said something strange, but it was quite different from her reaction back then. Like someone preparing for something…”

“What?”

At Charelize’s words, Hailey tilted her head and asked.

“Come to think of it, it’s strange. She tells me things that don’t even need to be said, and why… didn’t she stop Lillian’s behavior in advance?”

With many eyes around her, Charelize didn’t say anything directly.

“Ah, are you referring to Marquis Pasimello?”

“Yes.”

After thinking for a moment, Hailey remembered the time she had given the potion to the predecessor Grand Duchess Innovestin.

“There’s no way to find out.”

Charelize wondered if Iris really cared for Lillian.

Lillian could be blamed by the predecessor Grand Duchess Innovestin, who came to her senses. Even if it wasn’t the case, it was useless unless those around her felt that Lillian resembled the deceased Princess Penelope.

Charelize wondered why a person who was thorough enough to even develop a poison that didn’t exist in the world yet and had lived in hiding for the past years was just watching it. If Iris had thought about the future, including Lillian, it would be normal for her to stop Lillian.

Anyway, the priority was to give Royal Princess Veloche the necklace now, so Charelize headed to where she was.

“Greetings to His Majesty the Emperor, the brilliant sun, father of the Elioter Empire.”

“…”

“Greetings to Her Royal Highness Princess Veloche, the shining star of the Elioter Empire.”

“…Thank you for coming today, little Duchess.”

She felt sorry when she remembered that she had been invited by Royal Princess Veloche, but couldn’t go because she lost her mind.

“You… what did you come here for?” Harbert IV asked, frowning.

“Her Royal Highness sent me an invitation, so I attended. May I ask if I’ve come to a place I can’t come?”

“You’ve never… Never mind. It’s nothing.” After swallowing those words, he shook his hand and shut his mouth.

“This is a small token of sincerity for Her Royal Highness.”

“Is that an emerald necklace?”

The awkward atmosphere seemed to be somewhat calmed down by Royal Princess Veloche.

“Yes. I obtained it because of Her Royal Highness’s birthstone. Do you like it?”

“I like it. It’s such a deep green color.”

“It’s fortunate, Her Royal Highness.”

“I… will leave now.”

Raising one corner of her lips towards Harbert IV, Charelize took her steps.

“Marquis.”

Charelize found Marquis Pasimello still drinking wine. Unlike earlier, Marquis Pasimello’s pupils were somewhat hazy because no focus was clearly specified somewhere.

I found the Marquis of Pasimello still drinking wine.

“Marquis Pasimello?” Feeling suspicious about it, Charelize called him again.

“Li… ra…”

Marquis Pasimello muttered something. It was a voice too small to be heard.

“I heard that hallucinations make it impossible to tell who is who. Even if it’s your parent or your enemy.”

Iris’s words about hallucinations flashed through her mind.

“No way…”

When Charelize took the glass he was holding and checked it, there was white powder floating around that hadn’t even melted. Only then did she know. Iris put a hallucinogen in the wine he was drinking. Because of that, the current Marquis Pasimello was out of his mind.

While she was thinking about how to deal with this, Marquis Pasimello muttered something.

“Die… you must die… you…”

When she listened carefully, it seemed he was going to kill someone.

“Marquis.”

Charelize met his gaze. Marquis Pasimello’s eyes were still empty.

“If you don’t want to see Lauren with your throat being cut… don’t do anything…”

“Lau… ren?”

Before she had finished speaking, Marquis Pasimello responded to the name Lauren.

“Why… why did you leave me first…”

“…”

“Didn’t you die… Lauren…?”

He had a headache. It seemed he had mistaken Charelize for Lauren.

“It hurts… don’t leave, Lauren…”

Biting his lips in embarrassment, Marquis Pasimello eventually burst into tears.

“Little Duchess?”

“Isn’t that person Marquis Pasimello, who took his father’s place?”

“What are the two doing over there…”

Some people who heard their conversation whispered.

At that moment, a man grabbed Marquis Pasimello, who was about to slump down because his legs were weak. He wasn’t a face she knew, and at first glance, he didn’t seem to be a noble. He had wounds everywhere. The man knocked Marquis Pasimello, who was still calling Lauren, with a slight knock on the back of his neck.

“It seems that the Marquis has been very drunk. I apologize, Your Highness.”

“Let’s go say our greetings to Her Royal Highness, Marchioness Siona.”

“Yes, Countess Razbel. I thought something was happening between the little Duchess and Marquis Pasimello, but it wasn’t a big deal.”

It was an action done so quickly that in the eyes of others, it looked like that man was supporting the marquis, who had been drunk.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Lord Dian’s subordinate.”

Charelize looked at the man’s face and understood why Hailey had said that before.

“I think I should take Lord Dian first.”

“I see. When he wakes up, tell him I want to meet him.”

“I will, little Duchess.”

The crisis seems to have passed, so Charelize let out a sigh of relief.

“In the hand of Lady Luxen…”

“G-go away… dodge it!”

For a while, the surroundings were visibly noisy. Charelize looked back and saw Iris holding a dagger in her hand.

“Lady Luxen. Put it down right now…”

The knights who discovered it approached and tried to stop her, but Iris’s hand was faster. She threw the dagger at Charelize.

“Your Highness!”

“Now… what… is this…?”

“S-someone has been stabbed…”

At that moment, there wasn’t enough time even for Charelize to twist her body. Someone quickly wrapped Charelize around as their brown hair fluttered. Charelize opened her eyes, which had been tightly closed by the familiar scent.

“Did you… get hurt… Your Highness?”

It was Lari. As if she didn’t care about the dagger stuck in her back, Lari was worried about Charelize.

“…Lari. You… Why… are you here?”

“Your… Highness… haven’t… taken… your… medicine.”

“Medicine…?”

“I… forgot… to… give… you…”

Lari took the medicine case and gloves out of her arms. Examining it with her trembling hand, it was her allergy medicine.

“Did you… come back… to give me this…?”

“Because, Your Highness said… there shouldn’t be anyone… know about your weakness… so…”

It was just a passing remark to Lari, who was concerned about her taking allergy medicine. Yet, Lari remembered it.

“Why did you… do that…”

“Regarding Your Highness, I… remember… every single… detail…”

“…Why?”

“…Your Highness.”

“…”

“Lauren is already dead, but… if I can protect Your Highness… I… I won’t regret… the same.”

“…”

“Be happy. Our Highness… you must… be… happy,” said Lari, putting her hand on Charelize’s cheek. After saying that, Lari closed her eyes. Her little hand fell limply into the floor.

“La… ri?”

“…”

The one who didn’t answer changed in an instant.

Charelize hugged Lari’s body. She was still warm. Her warmth still remained. But Lari didn’t breathe. It was more shocking than the blood that was still flowing from her was on her face.

Charelize then put her ear to Lari’s heart. It didn’t beat. No matter how long she waited, the result was the same. Her eagerness to hope somehow was trampled upon.

Soon after, Charelize burst into tears. It was the first time she had shed it in front of many people.