~Chapter 91~
“Could it be that Count Rohiltern is dying from some incurable disease?”
Armians twisted his lips into a cold smile.
“To do something like this, yet still walk around with his head held high.”
His smile was beautiful enough to make hearts flutter, but his retainers kept their eyes down, not daring to meet his gaze.
They could hear the grinding of his teeth, full of rage.
And truly—Armians was furious.
It was the anger of a man bitten by vermin that should never have dared to climb up to him.
It was, in short, sheer insolence.
The only reason he had left Count Rohiltern alive until now was for Bella’s sake. If he killed them recklessly, even the smallest harm might fall upon her.
But whether it was Charlotte or the Count and his wife, they had only ever harmed Bella’s life, never helped. Why keep them alive any longer?
“Summon the knights. Gather them fully armed in the training yard.”
One retainer asked carefully,
“Your Highness… do you intend to wage war against House Rohiltern?”
“For what reason?”
Armians gave a mocking laugh. The retainer sighed in relief.
‘So he hasn’t gone completely mad after all.’
But then—
“I could just go kill them all directly. Why bother with such a hassle?”
‘Never mind. He’s gone mad. Completely turned around, only seeming sane.’
Cold sweat ran down the retainer’s back.
Every person, at least once in life, harbors murderous thoughts. But they hold back, knowing the consequences.
“Your Highness, forgive me for speaking so boldly, but killing nobles of the Empire without reason is against the law. Even royalty would be condemned for it, and it could lead to Your Highness being stripped of your title as Grand Duke.”
“There is a reason.”
“As expected! You already have a plan… What excuse do you intend to use?”
“A criminal suspected of spying for another kingdom fled into House Rohiltern. While pursuing him, the Count and his wife got caught in the middle.”
“But, Your Highness, there is no such criminal in the Empire! If you claim something like this, people will demand to know where the criminal went. How will you explain it?”
“The criminal was so elusive that he escaped through the knights’ encirclement and vanished.”
“Absolutely not! Do you take the people of the Empire for fools? Even a three-year-old would not believe that.”
The retainer almost choked. Who would believe that the undefeated knights of the Grand Duke had failed to catch a single criminal? And of all places, why would a spy hide in the Count’s home?
The whole thing reeked of fabrication.
“Your Highness, it’s fine if you want them dead, but there must be legitimate grounds. With Viola Miolen, we had the excuse that she threatened Lady Bella and was running illegal businesses. But this time, there is nothing!”
And besides, behind the Count and his wife stood Marquis Blancia, a man desperate to bring Armians down. Even the smallest slip would be torn apart.
The retainer thought perhaps Marquis Blancia was deliberately using the Rohilterns to provoke Armians—since they were so stupid and greedy, they made perfect pawns to be discarded.
“…Haa.”
Armians let out a long sigh.
Once his head cooled, reason began to return. Recklessness would not do.
“Yes. Using the knights would be too noisy.”
“Wise judgment, Your Highness—”
“An assassin would be better.”
Though his reason was… still pointing in the wrong direction.
‘We’re doomed. Completely doomed.’
‘Please, I just want to go home… when can I leave?’
Just then, a voice came to their rescue.
“My lord, the lady has arrived.”
“Bella?”
Armians’s expression melted instantly.
The retainers quickly ushered Bella inside.
The man who had been threatening to tear apart everything in sight instantly forgot his fury the moment he saw her. But then he noticed Madam Hilton following behind Bella, and his brows knit together.
It was clear why Bella had come.
“The mansion seemed noisy, so I asked and found out what happened. Please don’t blame Madam Hilton.”
“…Bella.”
“My name is still Bella Rohiltern. As long as the name Rohiltern follows me, this matter can never be separate from me.”
“I know. I only wished you wouldn’t trouble yourself over such petty things.”
There was no other intention in his words.
The roaring beast, ready to shred all before him, was gone. In its place was only a wolf courting his mate.
The retainers were stunned—but also relieved. This might just save them.
One by one, they quietly slipped out, shutting the door behind them until only the two remained.
“Your uncle has claimed custody rights, hasn’t he?”
Armians gave a bitter smile and offered Bella a seat. Since she already knew, what was there to hide?
“Yes. He says I’ve been imprisoned, that our vows are invalid, and he demands I be returned.”
“My uncle always treated me like baggage thrown in with House Rohiltern. Even if he takes me back, he has no intention of granting me the title. But if I marry you, he gains nothing—so instead, he pretends to oppose and tries to make a deal out of it.”
“That is likely.”
“…Ha. I really am angry now.”
Bella clenched her fist tightly.
“Your Highness may think me soft, but I never hated them so much that I wanted them dead. All I wanted was to stand in a place where they couldn’t harm me anymore. I thought if we ignored each other’s existence, that would be enough…”
[Because I wanted to win.]
[With my own strength—I wanted to prove I could defeat people like them.]
Armians remembered the Founding Festival. Perhaps this was Bella’s own form of tolerance.
But Bella’s jaw trembled with rage. Just seeing her made his heart ache.
He reached out without thinking—but then paused when he saw the determined light flickering in her eyes.
“I must take revenge after all.”
“Well decided.”
That was an unshakable will.
“How many assassins do you want me to send?”
“I will become Count Rohiltern myself.”
The two spoke at the same time, then froze, staring at each other.
Bella gave a small laugh.
“No matter how angry, assassins… that’s too extreme.”
“The dead have no custody rights. Nor can they make demands.”
“I know. But still…”
Bella hesitated. She feared her next words might displease him.
“If I resort to that, I don’t think I could stand by your side anymore.”
“!”
“I want to stand beside Your Highness, not hide behind you as if I need protection. And certainly not live like a shadow behind you.”
Armians felt ashamed. He had only thought of solving Bella’s problems for her, never considering her own wishes.
But she had always wanted to stand on her own. He had been holding out a crutch, thinking it kindness—when in fact, it was only in her way.
“And besides…”
Unaware of his self-reflection, Bella continued.
“This is also what my parents intended. The fact that I know every secret passage of House Rohiltern proves it. Why else would they teach me, unless they wanted me to be the heir?”
Then, seeing Armians remain silent, she quickly added,
“It’s not that I want to escape you by becoming Count.”
“I’ve never thought that.”
Armians placed his hand gently over hers.
“Let’s find a way to make you Count together. The Empire has many laws, and my retainers are resourceful. We’ll find a way.”
