GTMDWH | Chapter 99

~Chapter 99~

A few days later, Isabella left for the western villa with Penelope.

Johann had gone to the imperial palace early in the morning for a government meeting.

“Rafi, are you really okay staying by yourself?”

“Yup! I’m fine!”

Leah was also ready to head to the Magic Tower after getting a message from Dorothea.

“Really?”

Leah asked again just to be sure.

“Yup! I’ve got Master Veronica here!”

Raphaella had gotten really into sword fighting and horseback riding lately, so instead of going on the trip, she decided to stay home.

Since both Veronica and Helen were with her, Leah wasn’t too worried.

Still, Leah felt a little sad—Raphaella used to always want to tag along.

“My baby’s all grown up now.”

Leah hid her feelings and kissed her daughter’s cheeks.

“Hehe, I did grow a little!”

Raphaella grinned proudly and kissed Leah’s cheek back.

“Have fun while I’m gone, okay?”

“You too, Mom!”

“Veronica, Helen, please take care of her.”

Leah said as she climbed into the carriage.

“Don’t worry, Lady Leah.”
“Yes, we’ll take good care of her.”

Reassured, Leah headed for the Magic Tower.

She knew Dorothea had been working late nights, so she came right up to her door.

“Yaaawn… Leah, how was the banquet?”

Dorothea, hair messy and tied back, welcomed her.

She looked like she hadn’t slept, eaten, or bathed properly for days.

“I’m good. How have you been?”

Leah handed over a basket of snacks from home.

“Thanks to the Duke, I haven’t had to worry about money or materials. I’ve just been focused on research. Time flew by!”

Dorothea smiled like she was in heaven.

They grabbed a meal together at the Tower’s dining hall, then went back to Dorothea’s room.

They cleared off a messy couch filled with research notes and tools, and sat down for tea and snacks.

“Huh? Leah, I think you look prettier than before.”

“Maybe it’s because Paula helped me get ready today.”

Leah scratched her nose shyly.

“No, I mean like someone in love. You’ve got that glow.”

“…Huh? No, no way!”

Leah waved her hands, flustered.

‘Did she notice I’ve been softening up to him?’

“You’re denying it way too hard. That’s suspicious!”

“It’s really nothing…”

All she did was drop her “I’ll never fall for him” mindset.

Leah scratched her cheek awkwardly.

“Okay, I’ll believe you. But if something good happens, you have to tell me.”

Dorothea teased with a grin.

“…Sure.”

“Oh right! Didn’t you say you had something to ask me in your letter?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Ask away.”

Dorothea popped a madeleine in her mouth.

“When did you start working at the Imperial Magic Tower?”

“…Cough—what?”

Dorothea choked and took a sip of tea.

“Were you working there when Her Majesty the Empress passed away?”

Leah asked, getting straight to the point.

“…Huh?”

Clink!

Dorothea dropped her teacup.

“Dorothea, are you okay?”

Leah stood up, surprised.

“Y-Yeah. My hand just slipped, that’s all.”

But Dorothea was shaking like a leaf.

Her face had gone completely pale, like she’d seen a ghost.

‘Why is she reacting like this to my question?’

Leah took a broom and cloth to clean up the broken cup while Dorothea stood there frozen.

“S-Sorry, Leah. I should’ve cleaned that up…”

Dorothea’s voice trembled.

“It’s okay. Are you uncomfortable with what I asked?”

Leah looked at her with concern.

“You’re shaking a lot. I’m worried.”

“…No, it’s not that.”

Dorothea looked like she was about to cry any second.

Leah’s heart hurt seeing her like this.

She gently walked over and hugged her.

“I don’t know what happened back then at the Imperial Magic Tower, but if it’s too painful, you don’t have to tell me today.”

“Huuhuh… I’m sorry, Leah…”

Dorothea burst into tears in Leah’s arms.

“…It’s okay.”

Leah softly patted her back.

If Dorothea was working at the Tower back then, she might know something really important.

But with her in this state, there was no way Leah could push for answers now.

‘She’ll tell me once she’s ready.’

“…Leah, I’ll definitely tell you next time.”

After crying for a while, Dorothea wiped her eyes and spoke.

“I feel like I can trust you with that story.”

“Really?”

“Sniff, yeah.”

Dorothea blew her nose.

“Thank you, Dorothea.”

Leah held her hands tight.

“No, thank you for not forcing me to talk.”

Leah left the Magic Tower early so Dorothea could rest.

She looked exhausted from all the crying.

‘I hope she’ll give me a clue next time…’

And if Dorothea knew something big, Leah would have to go straight to the Crown Prince and tell him everything.

—

Meanwhile…

“You’re sure the Blumhardt estate is empty right now?”

“Yes, Your Highness. Our spy just came back and confirmed it.”

The maid answered confidently.

“Good. Then let’s get moving.”

Patrizia walked quickly and climbed into the carriage.

“While I mess up her room, you hide this earring and pretend to ‘find’ it later, got it?”

She handed one of her favorite earrings to the maid sitting across from her.

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

The maid nodded nervously.

“Don’t screw this up.”

Patrizia reminded her sharply.

Her mother told her to stay quiet, but she was too angry to sit still.

‘Mother can handle it her way—I’ll handle it my way.’

This wasn’t some huge crime like drugging the Duke like last time.

She was just going to frame that commoner woman.

Even if her mother found out, it wouldn’t be a big deal.

Besides, Patrizia refused to acknowledge that Leah was now a noble.

‘Let her suffer from dry, patchy skin too, like me from all this stress!’
It was truly torture!

Patrizia clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms.

“Your Highness, we’ve arrived.”

Finally, after riding for a while, they reached the Blumhardt estate.

“Tell them I’m here.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The maid opened the window and told the knight at the gate.

“…Princess Patrizia?”

The knights at the gate looked confused.

Johann had strictly told them not to let any royal family members in.

“I’m sorry, but you’re not allowed to enter.”

One of the knights said stiffly to the maid.

“What? But Her Highness must go inside!”

“We only follow Duke Blumhardt’s orders.”

As the maid failed to convince the knight, Patrizia got fed up and stepped out of the carriage.

“How dare you tell me I can’t go in?”

“I’m sorry.”

The knight answered with a stiff face.

“I’m not here to see the Duke today.”

“Even so—”

“I’m here to find an earring I lost.”

Patrizia cut him off.

“…What?”

“I lost it the last time I came here, but didn’t realize it until I got home.”

She put on a fake sad expression.

“It was a precious gift from my father—a family heirloom from the imperial palace.”

“…”

The knight she was speaking with, Chris, hesitated.

He was experienced but not very good at handling royals.

He’d gotten advice from older knights before, but thankfully had never caused trouble.

Until now, he always worked alongside senior knights.

But today, he was the most senior here.

The others were out on an escort duty.

He didn’t want to ask Veronica—she was way younger than him.

And the Princess’s pressure was intense.

“If you don’t let me in now, I’ll have to bring imperial guards next time. Then things will get messy.”

Patrizia smirked.

“…”

Chris’s mind went blank.

If he made the wrong choice, everyone here could get in serious trouble with the royal family.

“…Do you remember where you lost it?”

Chris gave in to the pressure and asked.

“Of course.”

“Then please, just find the earring and leave immediately.”

The other knights watched quietly from behind.

They weren’t sure this was okay…

But none of them had the guts to stop either Chris or the Princess.

“Sure thing.”

Patrizia smiled sweetly, her eyes glinting.