Chapter 14
Yann's eyes, reminiscent of Valentina's, met mine again. I smiled and got up, holding an empty basket. He rose as well.
“I've noticed for a while now that a shady-looking guy is lurking around here. Is it safe to just ignore him?”
“Please.”
“Whatever the case, stay cautious. If anything happens to you, two certain individuals will really end up killing me.”
“Those two individuals being…”
“Who do you think? Naturally, it's my friend and Noona.”
Just then, the bishop, who had been observing the church where love and kindness flowed with a contented smile, approached us.
“I will pray for the protection and blessings of the saints for the Serpente duchy.”
"Oh, thank you, Bishop.”
“I saw you distributing gifts to the children. Your inner beauty is as radiant as your external appearance. You'll surely find your place in Heaven.”
Can one see that? Heaven or Hell, does it really matter?
Oh God, on the day of your judgment, let me be with just one person.
After a while, I walked out of the church's main gate alone. With the police officers patrolling around, not a single child could be seen.
Instead of heading directly to where my carriage was parked, I pretended to admire the angelonias blooming in the flower bed along the wall.
However, I was soon caught off guard by someone sneaking up on me.
“His Highness wishes to see you.”
I deliberately widened my eyes and turned my head. Contrary to the consistent accounts from Knoxus and Yann, the man didn't seem too far away from the norm.
He appeared rather ordinary, with no particularly distinguishing features.
“His Highness…”
“Meet him at the Andalus Library. Say you're looking for some magazines and come over.”
With that, the man disappeared. A smile formed on my lips. Is he genuinely that concerned about me, even going so far as to provide an excuse for the coachman?
In any case, I boarded the carriage and directed it toward the Andalus Library. It was situated right next to a department store on Astoria Street, one of the busiest streets in the Imperial capital.
Upon entering the artistically designed building, filled with rows of bookshelves, a sense of unease naturally crept over me.
I disliked the library—not just the library itself, but also the sensation of being surrounded by tightly-packed shelves, as if I were trapped.
What a ridiculous excuse, me looking for a magazine… Does he even know that the latest issues are delivered to my office each week?
As I perused the magazine stand, under the watchful gaze of a staff member, the man from earlier reappeared and walked past me.
We traversed numerous staircases and a corridor lined with bookshelves, leaving about a three-meter gap between us.
Finally, we exited through a discreet back door that would have gone unnoticed. The narrow alleyway beyond led to a shabby teahouse.
Inside the teahouse, which had seen better days and sported wooden walls stained with oil, there was no one else present. The man guided me through a small door near the counter.
What on earth is going on here? This place doesn't seem particularly noteworthy. Well, it's still too early to tell...
Seated at a long oak table, I observed the dimly lit room, devoid of windows and illuminated only by candlelight. Familiar footsteps echoed behind me, and I turned my head as I heard a voice I recognized.
“I'm glad you came.”
“…What a terrible taste, Your Highness.”
“As I mentioned before, I'd rather meet you outside the snake's lair."
Responding with a casual tone, the Prince approached from behind. Instead of immediately looking back at him, I let out a resigned chuckle.
"I don't feel much safer here either."
“It's not everything it seems. Snakes have eyes everywhere. Did you think I'd invite you to the Imperial Palace? Trust me, you're safe here.”
At the sound of a clinking glass, I turned my attention to the table in front of me.
Knoxus poured emerald absinthe into a glass filled with ice, seemingly materializing it out of thin air, and pushed one toward me.
"Care for a drink?"
"I don't have time for that. I really don't have time for this…"
"Then why did you follow him here?"
That's the million-ducat question. As I turned my head and pursed my lips, Knoxus held a single-shot glass up to the daylight.
Then, amid the chill, he crunched down on the ice and swallowed, murmuring suggestively.
"It's the first time I've seen you wearing a scarf."
"Because it's cold…"
“Every excuse can sound convincing.”
He roughly set the empty glass down on the table. I shrugged my shoulders and took a slight step back.
His purple eyes, which had been burning with intensity due to my startled expression, immediately softened.
“Damn, sorry. My temper just flared…”
“…”
“You look a bit worn out. Are you feeling unwell?”
“It's just…”
“What's it got to do with me? Damn it, Juan did something foolish last night when he was drunk. And that sister-in-law acted ignorantly. Tell me, what did that snake brat do after he dragged you away like that?”
Oh, the embarrassment floods my cheeks all of a sudden. I turned my head and coughed awkwardly.
“Nothing happened.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Did you summon me here just to interrogate me?”
“Interrogate? If I was merely interrogating you, you wouldn't be here. Don't you think so?”
“…I appreciate Your Highness' concern for me. But really, I don't…”
“I understand your worries. But if we put our mind to it, there are plenty of ways for you to escape.”
Knoxus circled the table and reached out to grip my shoulder. I shook off his hand and turned away.
“Please, stop this. If your intention is to console me, you've chosen the wrong person.”
“Console you? Do I look like I'm here for that reason alone? I told you yesterday, I can't leave you like this.”
“Your Highness, you have no way to defeat the Ducal Prince. I say this with the knowledge of him that I possess. At this point, please stop concerning yourself with me and avoid getting involved. Please.”
“Being afraid of him…”
Knoxus appeared on the verge of exploding, but he managed to rein in his emotions, clenching his teeth. After a moment of silence, his impassioned voice broke the stillness.
“That bastard isn't a deity. He's not some invincible entity. Do you think he's the only one in the Imperial Capital with a connection to the Night Butterflies?”
"Your Highness…"
“Even if the Dallas Club seems impressive right now, they're amateurs at best. When those snakes fall, they will naturally crumble together. But every time I see you, I become more resolute about annihilating them. Is there any reason why I shouldn't?”
“…The Duke and the Ducal Prince have been part of my life since I was young.”
“Do you mean to say you cling to them merely out of familiarity? To a man who exploits you in such a manner? Do you believe this situation can endure? You don't truly comprehend the kind of person he is. He will continue to toy with you as he does now, and when you're utterly ruined, he'll sell you off to some commoner or elderly pervert. He will sell you off to get rid of you.”
"Enough…"
"Before that happens, regain your senses and hold my hand. Or should I go tell him to leave you alone? Then you'll have a clear understanding of the potential consequences. Given his nature, he might even try to make a sight of you in front of me, just to provoke a reaction from me. Can I bear to watch you suffer? Or perhaps not…”
"Please, stop!"
I yelled in exasperation, and he pulled me into a tight embrace. I struggled to break free, but my efforts were futile. The scent of citrus, absinthe, and tobacco wafted into my nostrils.
“Become my ally, Sasha. You know it's the only way.”
“…”
“I will never betray you. It won't harm you either."
After a prolonged silence, Knoxus finally released me and studied my face. Strangely, his eyes contained a mixture of anger, concern, and longing.
“Tonight, that idiot Juan will come to apologize to you. I can't predict how much it will help.”
“… … .”
“Reflect on what I've said today. Whether you choose to believe me or not…because I won't let you out of my sight."
Will your entourage permit you to bring me along? Naturally, their opinion doesn't hold much weight.
Regardless of any objections or any hidden tales you might hear about me, you won't be able to let go of me until the very end.
The perception you hold of me isn't something that just anyone can influence, nor is it a mere illusion that can be easily dismantled. It has been firmly established by your own mind and actions.
Consequently, Juan didn't show up that day to apologize for his transgressions from the previous night.
By the time I returned home, trembling in the carriage, news of Duchess Pare's passing was already spreading throughout the Imperial Capital.
* * *
The time of her stepmother's death in the original storyline, the Duchess of Parke, was towards the end.
In the original narrative, despite her deteriorating health, she managed to leave an apology and support for her stepdaughter, albeit in a state of delirium due to her prolonged illness.
However, in this alternate scenario, her death occurred almost half a year earlier than in the original timeline.
Regardless of her less-than-stellar reputation, the funeral of the Duchess of Parke was attended by many of the upper echelons of society, paying their respects.
The day was uncharacteristically sunny for a funeral, and the attendees appeared more interested in speculating about the future of the striking younger stepbrother and older stepsister than reminiscing about the deceased.
The outcome of who would take over their household, Juan, who bore the stigma of being born out of wedlock despite his parents' official marriage, or Adriana, who was being considered as a potential Crown Princess, remained uncertain.
Had the events unfolded as per the original story, Adriana would have become the Crown Princess, and Juan would have assumed the seat of the Duke of Parke.
"I hate to say this, but it's getting hard to breathe."
"I know, right? Honestly..."
"It's not even hot today, so why..."
Whispered conversations began to ripple through the crowd, the topic rapidly catching on.
A pungent odor emanated from the open casket, adorned with wreaths, so strong it seemed to possess a malevolent curse.
This foul smell only served to further tarnish the reputation of the deceased, who was already surrounded by rumors of various scandals, including alleged involvement in her husband's assassination and attempted harm to her stepdaughter.
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