~Chapter 117~
“You suddenly barge into my home, and now you’re asking me about my former fiancé? That’s ridiculous.”
I rubbed my arms, not bothering to hide my displeasure.
“…So you’re saying you don’t know Ricardo’s whereabouts? And you expect me to believe that?”
“Then let me ask you the opposite.”
I stepped closer to Erkessian. The playful curve of his lips shifted into something more like mockery.
“What reason do you think I would have to hide Ricardo?”
“The two of you… no words are needed between you. To my eyes, you looked exactly like lovers.”
“I don’t know what made you think that. But when I say ‘no words needed,’ I mean it in an entirely different way.”
Erkessian didn’t reply. Or maybe he couldn’t. His gaze just lingered on my face, unreadable and chilling.
The silence was heavy, until—
“Your Highness! Please, you must come to the fourth floor!”
A knight shouted from the staircase. Erkessian, who had been staring at me, turned and went upstairs without the slightest hesitation.
“The fourth floor…!”
Allen tried to block his path, but I stopped him.
“But, my lady, up there—”
“We’ll go too.”
I cut him off, and Allen reluctantly let go of his sword hilt. I patted his shoulder before following Erkessian up.
The knight led us to none other than the room on the fourth floor.
“This is outrageous! This is Lord Bluea’s chamber!”
The family doctor, who had been caring for my grandfather, was panicked, trying to stop them alone.
The knights hesitated to step into the sickroom.
“What are you waiting for?”
Erkessian’s sharp voice lashed like a whip, and the knights, startled, rushed inside.
Even with the noise filling the room, Grandfather didn’t open his eyes.
I desperately prayed he wouldn’t wake to see this scene, covering his ears with my hands.
Erkessian approached and gave me a cold warning.
“…If what I’m searching for is here, you won’t escape punishment either.”
“Thank you for reminding me of something everyone already knows.”
Then the knights put their hands on my grandfather’s bed.
Anger flared within me, and I couldn’t stop myself from speaking.
“Show respect to the former Marquis!”
“……”
“Do not forget what he meant to the Empire.”
The knights faltered at my words. Erkessian stroked his chin and replied with a heavy voice.
“You still don’t understand the situation you’re in…”
But I didn’t look away from his eyes.
“No matter what glory a hero once had, such arrogance cannot stand before me.”
“Lady Bianca!”
Atticus’s voice rang out. When I turned, I saw Cedric behind him—his face pale.
But the moment our eyes met, Cedric regained his composure instantly.
“Marquis, aren’t you late?”
He strode forward without hesitation, pulling me behind him and stepping between me and Erkessian.
“Representing House Roygin, I greet you.”
“Finally, someone reasonable. Judging from your face, you’ve already heard the news?”
His crooked tone told me his anger might now shift onto Cedric.
I tried to step out from behind him, but Cedric held me back.
“Your Highness, your grievance is understood. But letting that anger go astray will only worsen things.”
His voice was calm, steady.
“If your goal is to find the traitor, then first you must respect the dignity of the hero lying here.”
At that, Erkessian gave a short, bitter laugh, rubbing the back of his neck.
“If the search was your true aim, it could have been done with respect. My sister only pointed out that fact.”
“……”
“Her words came from love for our grandfather. I ask Your Highness to show her leniency.”
Cedric then gave Atticus a quick glance.
“I will personally accompany the search of Lord Bluea’s chambers.”
“Good.”
Erkessian’s eyes turned to me again—not as if to scold me, but as though searching my face for guilt, trying to see if I really had hidden Ricardo.
But I could tell he wasn’t certain.
He had come here only on suspicion, without real proof.
If he had evidence, he’d have thrown it in my face by now—or acted even harsher.
I opened my mouth.
“I have no reason to help the Duke of Hessen. As Your Highness said, I’d be punished too if I did.”
“……”
“Everything I need to protect is here, in House Roygin. I would never do anything to endanger my family.”
Erkessian’s brows furrowed. His eyes moved from me, to my grandfather, and finally to Cedric.
“Very well. House Roygin will cooperate with the search as the Empire demands.”
He chuckled quietly after a long silence.
It was a laugh with a meaning I couldn’t quite place.
Time passed. Erkessian and his knights ransacked the mansion, but of course they found nothing.
“…So I was wrong, then. I thought your ties ran deeper.”
“Haha.”
“That will be all for today. Thank you for your cooperation. I’ll remember your house’s innocence.”
Erkessian smirked.
“I hope there won’t be a need to confirm it again.”
“……”
“If there is… you won’t get off so easily next time.”
The warning sounded deadly serious.
Then the crown prince and his knights marched out of the estate.
Thud!
The moment they were gone, my legs gave out, and I collapsed to the floor.
They’re really gone, right…?
Ricardo’s safe, isn’t he?
Even though I knew he was, facing Erkessian had still felt suffocating.
I panted, staring blankly at the floor.
“Bianca!”
My hands were ice cold, my body trembling. Cedric rushed toward me.
I curled my shaking fingers into a fist and forced a weak smile.
“Brother.”
“……”
“…I did well, didn’t I?”
“You did well.”
Cedric answered immediately, his firm voice washing me with relief.
“Haa…”
Yes. That was enough.
It was the best I could have done.
I didn’t slip up… did I? Did my face give anything away?
A thousand thoughts swirled in my head.
“…!”
Then Cedric carefully pulled me into his arms. He was trembling too.
I widened my eyes in surprise. Then I heard his low voice, heavy with regret.
“Sorry I was late.”
His hand patted my back awkwardly, out of rhythm. Clearly, he’d never comforted anyone before.
His face, I glimpsed, was pale as snow.
“You’re really bad at this…”
But that clumsy touch was so very Cedric. I pressed my face against his shoulder.
