Chapter 80
“Please, Cloise.”
“Just go.”
Leaving Marien behind and stepping out of the ballroom, his heart felt like it was shattering.
But that was nothing compared to what truly awaited him.
A dark room at the end of a winding secret passage. Odette, standing silently in the middle of the unlit room, gave a warning before getting to the point.
“Prepare yourself, Beers. What you’re about to hear will shake your composure just by listening.”
Vail Leon didn’t utter a single word until Odette finished her explanation.
“If you have questions, ask now. Swear or vent your resentment—anything is fine. Speak now if you must.”
Her reasoning was simple:
“There’s little time.”
Reassigning seats without upsetting the guests was more difficult than one might think. If someone in the front were asked to move back, they might take it as an insult. If even one person protested with displeasure, all eyes would turn, whispers would spread, and soon the Second Prince’s faction would grow suspicious.
Thus, tonight, only the minimum number of trusted people could be involved.
After sending Vail Leon back, Marien and Cain would need separate instructions—time was truly pressing for Odette.
‘For something improvised, this plan is astonishingly brilliant.’
Odette, as expected. To think she would turn the Second Prince’s plot against her into a scheme to annihilate the remnants of the Crown Prince’s faction…
If the Crown Prince were falsely accused and imprisoned in the tower, he wouldn’t survive mentally. His precious son in that state, and the Empress herself would be equally distraught. Her desperation would overwhelm reason. She wouldn’t know what to say or what not to say to her husband.
Since becoming Crown Princess at twenty-four, she had been the de facto ruler of the inner court. Now, all that power would be stripped, leaving only her move to the ashen palace where her son had resided.
Given the Emperor’s temperament, she likely wouldn’t be deposed immediately. Removing both the heir and his mother at once could create the impression of internal instability. Vail Leon estimated the deposition would come around this time in the next year or two.
Then, both the Empress and the Crown Prince’s faction would vanish from the Rose Imperial Family.
The Second Prince failed in eliminating his half-sister but had gained elsewhere, and would thus relax, oblivious that he himself was the next target. He would unknowingly step deeper into the trap.
‘No matter how many times I think about it, this plan is stunning. If I had read it in a book, I’d have marveled at the audacity…’
Logically, it was perfect. Odette had crafted a remarkable strategy in an incredibly short time. Even Vail Leon couldn’t find a flaw.
It had to proceed exactly as planned.
Naturally.
There was no other choice.
‘But still… to make Marien face a blade with nothing but her body…’
He didn’t even want to imagine it. His anger twisted him inside. He was thankful he hadn’t eaten before leaving the mansion—otherwise, he might have thrown up right then.
“You said to speak, and yet you’re cursing with your eyes.”
Odette handed him a wide silk belt, similar to the one Vail Leon already wore. Trembling slightly, he took it and felt the thin layers of something inside.
“I layered several sheets of oiled paper, sewed it into the inside of the belt. It won’t stop the blade entirely—and it shouldn’t. But it will reduce injuries while avoiding suspicion from the Royal Guards.”
She added that she had made it for emergencies but hadn’t expected to use it tonight.
Vail Leon silently removed his ceremonial coat and adjusted the belt. Discussion of his own potential injuries didn’t faze him. Even tasked to face trained assassins’ blades, he remained calm.
Odette quietly murmured:
“You still don’t care about your own safety, do you?”
As expected, he didn’t answer, simply ensuring the belt’s protective insert covered his abdomen properly before putting the coat back on.
Odette handed him a sheet of paper.
“These are what they look like. Memorize their features in the secret passage, then burn the paper. You must spot the ambushers hidden among the guests first, then inform the Duke. It would be too chaotic for you to fight them alone.”
“What about Blackwood?”
Vail Leon spoke for the first time.
“Duke Blackwood will subdue the ambushers you identify and escort the Royal Guards out of the ballroom as quickly as possible.”
“Understood.”
“Didi has been taking self-defense lessons with the guards, right?”
“Not long enough.”
His tone stiffened automatically.
“Self-defense is just that—defense. It doesn’t mean she could stand against a trained killer.”
“Of course.”
Odette didn’t try to soothe him with apologies or reassurances. She knew that even a moment of hesitation could mean life or death.
All four lovers could be hurt, perhaps seriously—but this critical opportunity couldn’t be missed. She expected Vail Leon’s resentment but didn’t attempt premature comfort.
“We can’t let anyone know we anticipated this.”
“I understand. The Chancellor of the Empire must be wounded enough tonight to unsettle His Majesty. He must fear that the blood on the floor might even be His.”
Odette meant he should not rush to Marien out of concern.
Vail Leon readied himself to return to the ballroom. Odette asked one last question:
“Beers, can you jump in on time?”
Had he had any composure left, he would have smiled wryly.
To face the blade in place of Marien—that was the moment he had been waiting for.
◇ ◆ ◇
Vail Leon followed Odette’s instructions meticulously.
Identifying the four disguised ambushers was easy. Offering Marien a snack without revealing anything was more challenging.
When Marien, sensing something amiss, desperately sent him a pleading look:
‘Please…’
It would have been easier to swallow a fistful of thumbtacks.
Her gaze conveyed every ounce of anxiety, worry, and desperation, and Vail Leon had to ignore it.
‘I’m sorry.’
Her eyes made his skin tingle.
‘I’m sorry, Marien.’
He waited for the painful minutes to pass, hoping that when it ended, he would find himself stabbed in the abdomen instead. He clenched his fists so hard his fingertips went numb.
Bang!
The ambushers’ second signal followed a shout about discovering blood—the attack was now fully underway.
“Cloise, anyone hurt?”
“I’m fine. But Assistant Didi…!”
“I’ll get her. You go first. Watch your dress, and don’t come back.”
As explosives went off, Vail Leon stopped Cain from running to Marien, reminding him to subdue the ambushers instead.
“Don’t kill them. Don’t cut out their tongues. Just knock them out and bring all the Royal Guards.”
“And the doctor?”
“Don’t make me repeat myself, Cain Blackwood.”
Had Cain argued, Vail Leon would have struck him. But Cain obeyed. Vail Leon begrudged that he didn’t get to see the blood firsthand.
Cain, sensing danger, moved toward Marien without hesitation. Vail Leon envied his decisiveness.
He wished he could act freely without considering consequences—if only he could care only for his beloved, regardless of what happened to others.
But Vail Leon was not Cain, and he could not ignore the fallen old lady before him.
“Can you walk? Stand up. Follow the wall to the exit. Straight ahead.”
The panicked guests were shouting, pushing, and scrambling in every direction. Understandably, they didn’t know if more explosions would follow.
Even while helping the trampled lady, Vail Leon never lost sight of Marien.
‘There… pink hair.’
Somewhere, his lover had acquired a staff and approached Odette. Marien’s full attention was on Odette. But Vail Leon first noticed a man in a white ceremonial coat.
His heart sank.
He moved toward Marien, but she noticed the ambusher. The man drew two daggers.
Surprisingly, Marien defended herself.
She blocked both daggers repeatedly with her staff. Shocked, Vail Leon looked at Odette, silently asking if he should intervene.
Her answer: ‘No.’
He must wait until Marien faced mortal danger. The ambusher would shout that he sought revenge for the Crown Prince—people had to hear it.
Each passing second was pure torture for Vail Leon.
Words like “anxious” barely covered it. He wished he could take the daggers and stab himself instead.
“Kyah!”
When Marien’s arm was cut, his mind went blank. Could he even twist the man’s neck when he reached him? He had no confidence.
Blood dripped down her arm, and his hands trembled uncontrollably.
“For the revenge of the Crown Prince!”
Finally, the moment came. Vail Leon threw himself in front of Marien. He felt the blade pierce his abdomen—yet felt nothing but elation.
Now he could break the man’s arms and hear his agonized screams. Vail Leon was ecstatic.
“Don’t worry too much.”
Marien cried, looking down at him, unharmed. Vail Leon felt deep relief.
