Helene dismissed Lady Cynthia’s meaningful words as nothing more than a loser’s provocation. She was that confident that her own reasoning was correct.
Helene turned to the crowd and presented her irrefutable evidence.
“When I was young, I found records related to the royal family’s inheritance among my mother’s belongings.”
She took out a pocket watch from her bosom. The portrait of Princess Margarita was painted on the watch’s cover.
‘So that’s where that went.’
Count Queensguard clicked his tongue.
Numerous people were focused on Helene’s every word. The royals, the Dowager Duchess, and the Princesses were no exception.
Helene continued, feeling as if she were a queen.
“When I opened the back cover of the watch, there was an inscription. ‘The inheritance of the Bariesa Dynasty can only be found by the bloodline of the Snow Queen. Glory of the golden day shall return to the true heir.’ The meaning of Diem, where the gold mine was discovered, is ‘day.’”
Emotions of hope and despair crossed among the crowd.
“Does that mean the Duchess is the true heir of Bariesa?”
At someone’s question, Helene covered her mouth and answered modestly.
“It’s just a possibility.”
Prince Sylvar, who had been quietly observing, tilted his head slightly. He wore a strangely thoughtful expression.
While the Diem investors were in a celebratory mood, the Nox investors were either tearing their hair out in despair or beginning to cling to any hope they could find.
“Brigadier General Vicente, what is the meaning of this? Were you truly deceived by the Princess?”
“No, no. Just because there’s a gold mine in Diem doesn’t mean Nox is fake.”
In the end, the Nox investors swarmed in, demanding answers. Masera lowered his posture towards Lady Cynthia and whispered softly.
“They’re easily swayed, so I’ll resolve this quickly.”
Lady Cynthia watched Masera head to a different location with the investors.
‘……Is he trusting me? Considering Helene’s confidence, he has every reason to doubt me.’
As she thought, some were openly criticizing Lady Cynthia.
“Seriously, how are you going to take responsibility for deceiving the Medea royal family?”
“Brigadier General Vicente’s sense of betrayal must be considerable.”
Just then, Major Rodriguez, who had attended the engagement ceremony, approached Lady Cynthia.
“Lady Cynthia, it might be good to step outside for some fresh air.”
“Ah, yes. That’s a good idea.”
As Lady Cynthia, who had been standing blankly, was about to leave the banquet hall with his escort, a noble man began to cross the line, spouting nonsense with a snicker.
“There are rumors about her private life, too, you know? They say her conduct is as light as a feather. I haven’t said anything until now, but she even gave me a flirty smile once.”
The man, who had been giggling, snapped his mouth shut when he saw Lady Cynthia stop walking.
Lady Cynthia looked at him with a bright smile.
“If I smile the same way to everyone and you misunderstand, isn’t that your problem?”
“What else is it if not vulgar to throw smiles at just anyone?”
When the man flared up and questioned her, Lady Cynthia suddenly turned serious and stared at him.
“That’s why no one smiles at you. Your features look like raisins that were chewed and spat out.”
Laughter burst out from the surroundings. The man’s face turned red with humiliation.
Lady Cynthia turned her head primly and continued walking.
‘Don’t mess with a language-based combat people who have the most insults.’
You will definitely suffer mental trauma.
Major Rodriguez looked at her with a smile.
“You’re very spirited.”
“The criticisms of weaklings who are swayed like reeds are nothing. It’s not like bombs are pouring down from the sky.”
The Major could sense that she had lived a lonely life. The only reason she could be so unfazed by criticism was because she had experienced it so much.
As a comrade and friend, he wanted to let her know that she was not alone.
“I was contemplating what violent words to throw at that man, but I was a step too late. I have much to learn from you.”
“It’s because you’re not at the stage of being deployed in actual verbal combat yet.”
Lady Cynthia, who had been sighing and looking down, raised her head when she saw shoes approaching her.
“Can we talk for a moment, you two?”
Helene stood there with a relaxed smile.
***
I followed Helene towards the garden fountain.
Was she perhaps planning to throw me into the fountain? As I imagined retaliating with a splash, I let out a sigh of relief when I saw the fountain was frozen solid.
Helene haughtily raised her chin.
“There’s no way Father would give you and the Brigadier General the real inheritance, right? You should be grateful that I revealed it so quickly.”
“It’s not like you did it for my sake. What’s there to be grateful for?”
“Father is planning to kill you. He intends to take back Nox, which will be developed with the railroad.”
Should I pretend to be surprised?
Helene, who had been studying my indifferent expression, put her hand on her hip and said,
“Your defeat was predetermined from the start. So stop clinging to false hope and run far away. I’ll generously turn a blind eye to the sins you’ve committed.”
I laughed so hard that my shoulders shook.
“You’re packaging your lack of confidence as generosity.”
“What are you talking about? I’ve already won.”
“Don’t you know the saying, ‘It ain’t over till it’s over’?”
“Can’t you grasp the situation? Even the Brigadier General will turn his back on you. You’re completely alone now.”
I could feel her projecting her own situation in her increasingly agitated tone.
I stared intently at Helene.
“You’re alone too.”
Because she had been running alone, turning the people around her into enemies.
Helene, who had been momentarily stunned as if struck by my words, twisted her lips.
“What do you know?”
“I know that you place the value of your life on proof and recognition. But that’s an act that destroys not only others but also yourself. The value of life is not determined by the evaluation of others, but by how you define it yourself.”
She seemed to be moving forward, only looking at the high sky. Not even knowing that there was a cliff edge beneath her feet.
Helene frowned with a displeased expression.
“It’s utterly disgusting to hear you talk like some kind of saint. Don’t regret not listening to me.”
“You’re the one who will regret today.”
I continued in a low voice.
“Today, in front of dignitaries from various countries, you insulted not only the Prime Minister but also the Medea royal family.”
Because she had treated them as incompetent royals who had been deceived by fraud.
Helene’s cheeks turned white for a moment, as if she had recalled the expressions on the faces of the Medea nobles. Her lips trembled, and she turned away abruptly.
***
Left alone, I looked up at the night sky and fiddled with the necklace.
‘There’s a record in the heirloom? This is also an heirloom, so should I look at it with a magnifying glass?’
Did they write down something like, ‘So-and-so’s land belongs to so-and-so!’
I was looking at it so closely that it seemed like I would put it in my eye when someone tapped me on the shoulder.
Was it Major Rodriguez, who said he would be waiting at the entrance?
When I raised my head, I saw a man dressed in a fancy suit. It was Marquess Aidan of the Lumantis Empire.
“Oh, Princess. I was just looking for you.”
“What’s the matter?”
He approached me, reeking of strong alcohol.
The distance was too close, so I slowly backed away.
“Indeed, you have a figure as white and beautiful as the moon. I’ve been looking for an opportunity to talk to you since earlier.”
“And, why is that?”
Marquess Aidan, who came closer as I retreated, smiled lecherously.
“Since I run a large auction house, I have a knack for recognizing jewels. I heard you’re about to get divorced, and I’m the only open-minded man who can accept someone like you.”
“Just stop right there.”
Ugh! Just looking at the age difference, it’s two cycles of the zodiac, what nonsense is he spouting?
The Marquess sent me a greasy wink, thinking he was exuding his own charm.
“At this age, I don’t find playing hard to get very attractive. I’ll show you the true value of a mature man, different from those young guys who buy you fake diamond necklaces.”
He called the Princess’s heirloom fake after looking at it? His discernment is terrible.
I glanced at his head and said cheerfully.
“Your hair looks fake.”
I couldn’t help but point out his toupee, which opened and closed like a lid in the wind.
