CH 90

The day came for her to speak with Royal Princess Veloche.

Before going to the imperial palace, Charelize took the diamond necklace out of the jewelry box. She thought it was simply a keepsake, but it wasn’t. It was worth her mother’s life.

What appeared lonely at that time looked different when she found out about everything. She stared at it for a long time, then hung it on her neck as if she had made up her mind on something.

“Your Highness?”

Since her mother’s death, she hasn’t even looked at that diamond necklace. Wearing something like that, Hailey, who helped her dress up, asked with a puzzled expression.

“…It’s nothing.” She said nothing more.

Charelize couldn’t figure out how to express her emotions right now. As a result, the inside of the carriage was filled with awkward air. With a complicated mind, Charelize involuntarily let out a deep sigh.

Having arrived at the imperial palace in that state, Hailey said she would be waiting in the carriage. Charelize patted her on the back because she understood that what had happened to Lari had also hurt her.

The moment she went alone and took a few steps, from afar, she found the chief chamberlain, who had come to meet her.

“Greetings to the little Duchess. May the blessings of the goddess Resina reach you.”

“May you be protected too. Did His Majesty send you?”

“Yes. Your Majesty is waiting for you at Bachelat Palace…”

While bowing politely and greeting, the chief chamberlain stopped talking.

“… What’s wrong?”

“No… it’s nothing. Let’s go inside.”

The chief chamberlain’s face was still mesmerized. Even his hand trembled slightly.

“You’re here.”

“Greetings to Your Majesty the Emperor.”

“Come on, sit down.”

Harbert IV gestured with a most friendly smile.

“Your body… is it okay?”

“Is there any reason not to be okay? I received a good wine through Her Royal Highness, and since Your Majesty must be busy, I stopped by just to say thank you.”

“I see. Do you like the wine? Veloche said that you drink the whole thing in one shot.”

“I still have a few bottles left. I will ask someone to bring it to me, so would Your Majesty like to have a shot with me?”

“That’s a good suggestion, but… what should I do? I have an urgent schedule a little later, so it will be difficult. It would be better to make an appointment for the next time.” Harbert IV cleverly avoided it.

Charelize almost laughed at the funny way he tried to escape, fearing that his stubborn refusal would reveal that the wine was poisonous. She managed her expression with difficulty and went out.

While she was in the imperial palace, she headed to the Florence Palace for the first time in a long time. She was greeted by the knights guarding the place, went inside, and heard footsteps of someone following her.

“As if it’s not enough to follow the little duchess’s footsteps, you dare to enter the tomb of the imperial family without fear?”

“…I apologize, Your Highness.”

The owner of the voice was none other than the chief chamberlain.

It was strange that the knights didn’t block his entry even though the imperial family could only enter this place. Moreover, his complexion looks paler than before.

“His Majesty… has given me permission to enter this place. As you know, he gave me an unconventional offer even though only members of the imperial family were permitted to enter. Only a few people know about it.”

“Rather than that, why did you follow me?”

“That diamond necklace… Did Her Royal Highness Princess Yekaterina give it to you?”

“Yes. Why are you asking that?”

“When Empress Roxana had Crown Princess Elizabeth… It was handcrafted by His Majesty the Emperor as a celebration gift.”

In other words, the emperor’s seal was contained within it from the beginning. Charelize could understand why he reacted that way when he saw her early.

“If he handcrafted it… It could be said that she was appointed as the successor from the beginning. Why did the former emperor choose Crown Princess Elizabeth?”

“…His Royal Highness Prince Harbert was born with many blessings. Even if his birth mother, Queen Catherine, was a dancer… He was truly a prince who endured everything.”

The chief chamberlain called Harbert IV a prince.

“Even His Majesty cherished him greatly; thus, Royal Prince Harbert grew up with an exceptional temperament from a young age. Nevertheless, His Majesty considered him as the future emperor and provided education accordingly…”

Charelize didn’t know if calling ‘Royal Prince’ was intentional or if the words came spontaneously out of reminiscence. Still, the chief chamberlain continued to call Harbert IV that way.

“The year when His Royal Highness was 15 years old, he killed one of his servants who made a small mistake. To His Majesty’s question as to why he did that, he said that servant is a commoner… so it doesn’t matter.”

“…What a sight.”

“Just in time, Her Majesty Roxana got pregnant, and His Majesty personally put the emperor’s seal on the diamond necklace. He said nothing, but I could tell he had chosen Crown Princess Elizabeth as his successor.”

The chief chamberlain’s attitude now was unlikely to tell Harbert IV that the emperor’s seal was here.

“Even so, why do you serve the current emperor?” So, although it may be a bit sensitive, Charelize asked a question about what she must know.

“His Majesty also usurped the Tithena I, who was his half-sister. Externally, she abdicated because her body was weakened during the war with Risperan Kingdom… In fact, that wasn’t the case.”

“Is that why you said it was His Majesty’s will the other day?”

“Yes, that’s right. I also understood His Royal Highness Harbert because he himself ascended the throne through a similar experience. No… rather than understanding… you could say it like father like son.”

“…”

“But… I have never acknowledged Royal Prince Harbert as the emperor.”

“Those words… Why are you saying that to me?” Charelize, who thought for a moment after hearing what the chief chamberlain said, responded sharply with resentment.

“I knew that His Royal Highness Harbert was involved in the death of Her Royal Highness Yekaterina. I’m sorry… I couldn’t tell you in advance, little Duchess.”

“Apologizing doesn’t justify what you did, and my mother is already dead.”

“I know. It’s not that I wish to ask for your forgiveness.” The chief chamberlain bowed deeply and apologized.

“…Then?”

“A dog saved by someone and writing a new life follows only one owner for the rest of its life.”

The chief chamberlain bowed twice in the direction where the previous emperor was sleeping.

“My master still hasn’t changed, Your Highness. If that necklace is with you, it was your destiny from the first time it was made…”

“…”

“I will turn a blind eye to what the little Duchess is going to do in the future.”

It seemed that he already knew what Charelize was going to do. Nevertheless, the chief chamberlain said he would turn a blind eye without informing Harbert IV.

“You mean you’ll close your eyes no matter what happens?”

“I didn’t even hear what you just said either.”

“…That’s good. I hope you’re not lying to me. I don’t want to kill you and close your eyes. And I don’t want to commit such disloyalty to the previous emperor.”

“This is where His Majesty the former emperor resides. I don’t make promises I can’t keep, Your Highness. Again, I have no eyes to see what you’re going to do and no ears to hear what you have said.”

As if giving a definite answer, the chief chamberlain knelt down and bowed his head.

“The day of Grand Duke Innovestin’s succession ceremony. The wine that was given to me was poisoned. Were there any employees of the duchy who were his spies?”

“It is prepared in case the poison Iris gave doesn’t work. Considering Royal Princess Yekaterina had a grape allergy, it seems he thought that Your Highness might also have it. He didn’t plan any spies.”

“I will believe in the loyalty of the dog that was said to follow only one master.”

“Little Duchess. What… wild you do with Royal Prince Harbert?”

“That’s… Why are you asking?”

“…He’s the bloodline of His Majesty the Emperor. Please don’t be too harsh.”

“Well, I can’t give you a definite answer to that. Don’t you know who I lost?”

The chief chamberlain went outside without asking further questions. It wasn’t a very pleasant conversation, but Charlize knew she was all set now. She then moved to Ramiere Palace, where Royal Princess Veloche was staying.

“Little Duchess, what brings you here…”

“I was bothered by Her Royal Highness’s complexion last time. Is Her Royal Highness inside?”

Seeing Charelize, Sera asked cautiously.

“Yes. S-she is here. I will take you to the parlor.”

“Her Royal Highness will come, so you can go now.”

Following Sera’s guidance, Charelize, who went inside the parlor, waved her hand.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Seeing Sera’s feet heading out to the Bachelat Palace, Charelize smiled slightly.

Royal Princess Veloche, who entered the parlor, sent all of her servants away.

“…I’ve talked to the imperial doctor,” said Royal Princess Veloche, who sat across from her.

“You won’t regret it, will you?” Knowing that her mind was complicated, Charelize asked again.

“If you’ve done something unspeakable… I think it’s also the duty of your child to prevent it from continuing. I don’t regret it. And… Even then, I said I could do anything to save my mother.”

The words of Royal Princess Veloche, spoken in a low voice, strangely stuck into her ears. Charelize envied that her mother was alive and that she still had a chance to protect her. From that, she was able to carve determination in her heart.

* * *

I got a letter from Baron Alec stating that my nanny’s condition had worsened. Before she could read all of it, Charelize headed to the Viscounty Rael. Arriving there, a gloomy atmosphere fell in that place as if preparing for the viscountess’s death.

The suffocating air was terrifying. That’s why Charelize rushed to the room where her nanny was. There she saw Baron Alec narrow his brow as he felt her nanny’s pulse.

Charelize had no choice but to approach with staggering steps. It was similar to the day she sent her mother away.

“Baron Alec.”

“You’re here, Your Highness…”

“You must be… No. So… Ah. What about Nanny…?”

“It’s almost impossible to get her pulse. Therefore… it seems difficult for her to make it through tonight. I’m sorry, Your Highness.”