Chapter 77
“Yet you did tell Vaileon and Sir Beers, didn’t you?”
“Beers does well, you know.”
Odette replied calmly.
“If you squeeze too hard, it will burst; if you blow on it, it’ll fly away. You’re going to put your precious little Marien Didi in front of the attacker as bait, and right now, there’s no better plan. But I’ll concede this much—you take the blow at the decisive moment. You should have seen Beers’ face when I finished explaining.”
Odette let out a small, exasperated laugh.
“My long-time friend looked desperate to say this: ‘Can’t His Highness just take the stab instead?’”
“Tch, as if.”
“He really said it.”
Odette spoke as if it would be absurd to think she’d lie.
“He looked like he was ready to abandon the grand cause and drag you back to the Count’s estate if that meant keeping you safe. But Beers is… well, Beers. Even with rage boiling to the top of his head, he still managed to put on a flawless act. As the attack time drew closer, he wouldn’t even glance in your direction.”
Marien’s mouth slowly fell open.
“So that’s why back then…! Even though I kept looking at him so anxiously—”
“He was probably screaming in agony inside.”
Odette shrugged.
“The point is, you can’t act. Beers can. And he’s very good at it. Anyway, the one who actually got hurt wasn’t you—it was Beers.”
Marien couldn’t just let that go.
“I got hurt too!”
Odette looked unimpressed.
“Sir Beers took a serious wound and is recovering at home. But I also hurt my arm, you know…”
Marien lifted the very arm that had become a symbol of her supposed loyalty.
Fresh bandages wrapped her forearm, faintly stained with reddish color. It was actually just the disinfectant soaking through, but from a distance, it looked like blood.
“Look at this. I was cut by a dagger. It really hurt.”
Odette crooked a finger at her, beckoning her closer. Marien, lips drooping, approached—only for Odette to press down hard on the bandage before she could react.
“KyAAAH!”
“Stop exaggerating.”
“H-how could you! Ahhh… it feels like the wound tore open!”
“Didn’t the imperial physician say you didn’t even need stitches?”
“He was just being nice! Hnghh…”
Odette muttered, baffled.
“Imperial physicians don’t ‘just say things.’ They’re not quacks in some back alley.”
“I don’t care! It hurts like I’m dying!”
Marien grabbed her arm and whimpered. Suddenly, the parlor doors burst open and Kain stepped inside. He didn’t even bother greeting the princess.
“I heard a scream. What happened?”
“That one.”
Odette jerked her chin at Marien.
“Didi’s scream.”
“I know who screamed. I’m asking why she screamed.”
“Oh, why she screamed? Then answer him.”
Marien glared at Kain. She had no desire to explain—but Odette had ordered her, and Kain wasn’t the type to leave without an answer.
“Her Highness pressed directly on my injury.”
Kain frowned sharply.
“It sounded like you were gravely hurt or shocked.”
“It hurt!”
Marien snapped stiffly. Kain turned toward Odette.
“Why did you do that?”
“Hm.”
Odette slowly adjusted her posture.
“Are you interrogating me now, Duke?”
“You deliberately pressed an injury. You must have had a reason.”
“I was telling her that I understand her devotion, but she needs to stop exaggerating.”
Odette didn’t change expression as she continued:
“Marien Didi, you may not have a prince on a white horse, but you’ve gained a duke on a black horse. He came running the moment he thought someone was tormenting you.”
“I NEVER asked for that.”
“Many things in this world work that way. Some give everything and still never get what they desperately want, while others get things they never even wished for.”
Marien’s mouth twitched uncontrollably.
What she wanted was to make a dramatic fuss about her injury—to whine to Odette until she couldn’t feel the pain anymore.
But Kain barging in ruined everything. The more she complained, the darker Kain’s expression became.
And he was, officially, Odette’s fiancé.
Sending expensive gifts to his fiancée’s aide was already questionable. Even if Odette tolerated it, ignoring her in front of all three of them was unacceptable.
This isn’t helping me at all… he’s just acting on his own stupid impulses…
Worst of all, the pain hadn’t even faded, yet she now had to stop acting hurt. It was infuriating.
She could have whined for at least fifteen minutes.
“Since we’re all gathered, I’ll say this now. Fourth Princess, once our alliance ends, please allow Aide Didi to relocate to the ducal estate.”
This insane man—wait, WHAT!?
Marien, still sulking, jerked her head up.
His shamelessness was unbelievable. She never imagined he’d demand that in front of Odette. She had underestimated the madman from the North.
“I object! I absolutely do not want that!”
Marien’s voice rose in panic. Kain responded with maddening ease:
“She says that now, but she’ll want it soon enough.”
“Order that shameless mouth CLOSED, Your Highness!”
“If Your Highness allows Aide Didi to move to my estate, I will grant you anything else you desire. Absolutely anything.”
Marien’s eyes widened.
That was an astonishing offer from the head of House Blackwood. Even the calculating Odette would be tempted.
And indeed, her eyes lit up instantly.
“Anything?”
“Yes.”
“Then can you nullify the clause exempting Blackwood lands from taxation for the next hundred years?”
Of course Odette would go straight for the throat.
House Blackwood owned the largest territory in the Empire. Naturally, the Emperor would hate losing such massive revenue.
Conversely, the tax exemption was an incredible privilege for the Blackwood family—one they’d enjoy for a century.
Kain might be one of the richest people on the continent, but even rich men hated paying taxes.
Marien held her breath.
“It’s possible.”
“You’re insane.”
“If that is Your Highness’s wish, then I will confirm it here and now.”
Marien grabbed a decorative cushion and hurled it at him. The round cushion with tassels flew straight at Kain’s face—but he swatted it away effortlessly.
He blocked the second and third cushions the same way. Odette murmured:
“You really do move well. Even though the duke is quite far from you right now…”
“Your Highness, I just thought of something. You promised to bear the heir of House Blackwood. But if I’m forced to go to the ducal estate, a terrible disaster will occur.”
Marien threw the fourth cushion—this time aiming directly at Kain’s groin. She’d have thrown the dagger Vaileon had been stabbed with yesterday if she could.
“I’ll raise the child into a COMPLETE idiot!”
“No one expected you to raise a genius anyway.”
Odette replied almost sweetly.
“And if the duke is sane, he’ll hire the best tutors for each subject.”
“You still don’t get it? That man is insane. He isn’t even close to sane.”
“Hm.”
Odette stared at Marien.
“What’s with that look?”
“Hm.”
“You think I’m no better?”
“…I didn’t say anything.”
The princess sipped her tea while Marien fumed.
“Honestly, I’d prefer the heir of House Blackwood not be too clever. Even if I give birth, that child won’t be mine—it’ll be the Blackwood heir. Only the child I have afterward will truly be mine. The brilliant child meant to inherit the throne.”
…So that’s how it is. Marien put down the fifth cushion.
It was always difficult talking to a genius. Every threat she came up with got crushed instantly.
“Anyway, wouldn’t you rather be a duchess than a countess?”
“Ha! You think he’d give me a title?”
Marien jabbed a finger at Kain.
“You heard him yourself! He asked to relocate me, not make me his duchess. That means he wants me as a concubine, not a legitimate wife!”
“That depends on how you behave.”
With every word Odette spoke, Marien’s anxiety spiked.
No. She had to go nuclear.
“Your Highness…”
She moved behind Odette’s sofa. Odette glanced back, irritated.
“The Duke of Blackwood is hiding a MAJOR secret from you.”
Kain took a few steps forward, face darkening. He clearly feared she was about to reveal that secret.
“It’s a fatal weakness. As long as you hold it, the duke will never turn his back on you.”
“Marien Didi.”
Kain’s voice dropped even lower.
“Shut your mouth.”
“If you cut his hair, he loses all his superhuman strength. If you don’t believe me, cut half of it as a test. If you can manage it, that is.”
Threatened, Marien only spoke faster. She might have lightly bitten her tongue, but she didn’t care.
This was her style—if the opponent offers something too huge, reveal the weakness you’ve been saving.
Morality? She didn’t know it. And even if she did, she wouldn’t waste it on Kain Blackwood.
“Your Highness, you don’t actually believe that nonsense, do you?”
He glared daggers at Marien, trying desperately to recover control.
“This isn’t some barbaric kingdom of magic or witchcraft. Her claim is utterly absurd.”
“Well. Let me ask you this instead—Is what she said true, Duke?”
Odette’s eyes gleamed like a predator spotting fresh prey. She spoke with keen amusement:
“If it’s truly nonsense… then you won’t mind if I cut your hair to shoulder-length right now, will you?”
I really love her boldness haha