Chapter 50
“I understand what you’re saying, but with just that, we can’t arrest Marien. It’s all circumstantial evidence, and there’s no concrete proof.”
As soon as I arrived, Asel rushed over.
He was disappointed to see that I hadn’t brought the information he was hoping for, but still answered the questions I asked.
His visible discomfort was embarrassing, but there was nothing he could do about it.
The extension of our contract or the matter of officially becoming the crown princess hadn’t been considered yet.
‘Right now, this issue is more urgent anyway.’
If it was true that Marien had intentionally spread cholera, it meant she could do it again and again without hesitation.
“So, I’ve been thinking of another way.”
“What’s that?”
“I want to use rumors.”
Since rumors weren’t something only Marien could spread.
“I see.”
Asel looked at me with impatience and unease.
“Is there… anything else you want to say?”
There was.
“Where did Lord Angel go?”
The person who had been following Asel closely, keeping three steps behind him, was nowhere to be seen.
“…He’s on leave.”
Asel’s loyal subordinate, Lord Angel, had been absent for over four days.
“Have you heard the news? The recent epidemic was apparently caused intentionally by someone.”
“What? Isn’t an epidemic something like a punishment from the heavens?”
“I’m not sure, but my brother saw it. Apparently, someone wearing a black hood went to the well, poured something in, and then disappeared.”
“I heard the investigation bureau is almost certain now. They’ve secured evidence and testimonies.”
“Then they know who the culprit is, right? Why haven’t they arrested them?”
“They say the culprit might have fled to another country.”
The maids chatted as they moved through the hallways.
Marien, feeling anxious, nervously closed the window.
That wasn’t enough, so she even pulled the blanket over herself.
She couldn’t ignore the fact that every new piece of information coming her way seemed to point toward her.
‘Why do I have to hide? The villain is Laura…!’
She suppressed her frustration inside.
If she said the wrong thing, it could be revealed that she was the one who poisoned the well.
Given the number of deaths from this incident, if the truth were uncovered, even Marien could face a heavy sentence.
In the worst case, she might follow Malken’s fate.
However, remaining in hiding didn’t seem to be a solution.
The imperial family was discovering new clues every day.
It was possible that, one morning, investigators would burst into her room and forcefully arrest her.
‘I need to get rid of this.’
At the bottom of the closet where she kept her dresses, there were the clothes she used to disguise herself when she poisoned the well and the water container used for the contaminated water.
She had stored them there, thinking they might search her room, being a guest.
The risk was that if anyone saw her dispose of them, it would be even more dangerous.
But she couldn’t wait any longer. The imperial investigation net was tightening, even at that moment.
“Got it, Benny? It’s the trash dump in the commercial district. Just mix it in with the other trash and leave.”
There were many people throwing away trash, so she wouldn’t be caught.
Benny, trembling with fear, left after Marien urged her to go.
However, Benny did not return.
“Princess, could you spare some time?”
Asel, the Crown Prince, arrived accompanied by two imperial knights.
He took Marien to an investigation room.
The room was large and clean, with magic lamps so bright they almost hurt the eyes, but there was a stuffy, confined air to it.
Asel, placing the knights behind him, sat down with his back to the door and gestured for Marien to sit.
“Sit.”
It felt ominous.
The items that had been discarded by Benny were now neatly laid out on the table.
“This morning, the Princess’s maid was seen leaving the North Gate of the palace and throwing away these items. Was it something you ordered?”
“What? My maid?”
Marien was taken aback, clasping her hands in front of her chest.
Asel, with his chin propped up, gazed at her with a sharp look.
“Are you saying that the Princess has no connection to this incident?”
“Of course not. I didn’t even know Benny had these things.”
Marien drew a line between herself and her maid.
“Then you don’t know what these items are? To put it simply for you, these are items suspected to have been used by the culprit behind this incident.”
“I never imagined Benny would do such a thing. I’m sorry for the trouble she caused to the Empire. What should I do…?”
Marien muttered with her head bowed.
“Since your maid is the criminal, I think it’s only right that we hear your thoughts on what punishment she should receive.”
As Asel had concluded Benny to be the culprit, Marien’s eyebrows subtly relaxed.
Of course, she still couldn’t be fully relieved.
Because Benny was still alive.
“Since she harmed the noble citizens of the Empire, I believe she should be punished with the highest penalty…”
“Lies!”
With the sound of running footsteps, the door burst open.
Benny, with her face flushed and tears streaking down her cheeks, ran in.
“Y-You’re here? How did you…?”
Before Marien could finish her sentence, Benny started speaking rapidly.
“It was the Princess who planned everything! I just followed her orders!”
Marien, startled, quickly put on a sympathetic expression.
“Benny, denying your mistakes is wrong. Of course, I feel bad thinking about you being executed in a foreign country. But we cannot ignore the truth. You must admit what you did.”
“Admit? The one who needs to admit is you!”
Benny didn’t even look at Marien.
“The Princess has been jealous of the Lweyze lady for a long time and has wanted to become the crown princess. I have proof. She’s the one who poisoned the seafood at the banquet!”
“Wh-What nonsense are you saying…?”
“It was the Princess who handed over a recorder with a message suggesting that the Lweyze lady was committing immoral acts to Prince Malken. If you open the recorder, you’ll see that it has the same gemstone used in the low-temperature storage…”
“S-Stop it! Ungrateful girl! How dare you!”
Marien tried to silence Benny, but failed.
She was grabbed by the knights and had to endure the barrage of Benny’s accusations.
Some of the revelations were things Asel knew, others were things he hadn’t even imagined.
The scope of the accusations was so wide that even the knights were left speechless.
Meanwhile, Laura, who had been waiting with Benny in the next room, shook her head quietly.
“Well, this is a mess.”
After Benny’s confession, Marien was left in a wrecked state.
It seemed that the resignation of knowing everything was over had crushed her.
Marien slumped in the chair, and when the knights came to drag her out, she suddenly started struggling and shouting.
Her target was me.
The villainess who had so easily gotten what she wanted—Laura Lweyze.
“Do you think I wanted to end up like this? If I had been born in a warm, comfortable place like you…”
“Sorry to say, but if we’re talking about being born with privileges, Your Highness was born in far superior circumstances than me.”
Laura was an orphan. Furthermore, until I possessed her, she had been used by her foster father, so her situation wasn’t much different from Marien’s.
“Of course, I admit that I was lucky.”
She had the innate talent of a Spirit Mage, plus she knew the future.
But that didn’t mean Marien was completely disadvantaged.
She was born into royalty.
She had the appropriate education.
Loyal maids.
Activity funds supported by her father.
And she had even escaped her father’s grasp and was placed in a new environment.
Everything could have been an opportunity for Marien.
“But you, Your Highness, didn’t do that.”
Marien could have taken the money and run away, or she could have informed Asel of everything and sought asylum in the Empire.
Despite all the choices available, Marien chose the path of taking others’ things and living a comfortable life.
“What happened to you, Your Highness, is entirely your own fault. It means it’s your own mistake.”
“Shut up! What do you know…?”
Was it desperation from knowing it was the end that gave Marien incredible strength? She shoved the knights away and charged at me.
“I, Your Highness…”
It was Asel who was hit by Marien.
Marien, startled, didn’t know what to do.
“I… I did it because I loved you! I hated that woman who took you from me…”
“Why doesn’t the Princess understand yet?”
Asel clicked his tongue.
“You didn’t love me, did you?”
What she wanted was not love, but a protector to shield her under the name of love.
