CHAPTER 19
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t think of anyone who would pull something like this.
“How much is the investment amount?”
In response to my question, the host held up a blank sheet of paper.
“At the investor’s request, we’ve recorded it as ‘amount undecided’ until the initial contract is finalized. But as you can see…”
He projected a copy of a pre-submitted bank statement into the air.
Within the magic circle, a balance appeared, and the digits seemed endless.
“They possess a considerable amount of capital, so they easily passed the consortium’s screening criteria.”
Seriously, who is this person?
I’d like to believe someone recognized my genius and boldly invested in me… but let’s not forget where our firm ranks.
Maybe their hand slipped while trying to invest somewhere else — that actually sounds more plausible.
“Anyway, as long as I get my benefit, it’s fine.”
Thanks to the perfectly timed appearance of the investor, I got out of this situation without lifting a finger.
I cast a victorious smirk at the now-useless voting slips.
“I’m the one who’s actually here to make money. I even skipped the Imperial Palace’s martial arts gala, which I usually attend religiously, just to be here. That makes me the perfect candidate for today’s agenda. Kicking someone like me out would be your loss, don’t you think?”
“What a sharp young lady!”
It was the royal aunt who spoke.
The elderly woman was watching the banter between Prince Zikren and me with great interest, her eyes sparkling.
“Compared to her, our prince still lacks maturity. Didn’t you promise me to stay hidden for a bit longer? But just because someone you don’t like sat next to you, you immediately show your temper?”
“That’s not it. I was just trying to follow the rules.”
Zikren pointed begrudgingly to one side, where pamphlets were stacked.
“Can’t you even see that? You’re supposed to go grab a copy yourself—one per person.”
“Oh! I didn’t know that.”
I casually went and picked one up, then opened it wide to block Zikren’s burning glare.
“There’s even a feature here on Lady Royal Aunt’s music boxes? They’re so pretty! Very traditional and clearly handcrafted with great care!”
“Yes, indeed. Music boxes from other workshops aren’t as intricately made. You can hear the difference in the sound, so there are many who seek out only ours. Of course, the high-rolling merchants gathered here today might see it as a trivial product.”
The royal aunt nodded as she spoke.
“That’s what I wanted—to talk business like this. But things seem a bit overheated now. Let this old lady offer a suggestion: how about everyone calms down a little before continuing? I’ve been thirsty for a while anyway.”
“Understood, Lady.”
The sweating host quickly accepted her advice.
“Everyone, there’s a cocktail bar set up on the terrace to the right of the assembly hall. As per Lady Peruvia’s suggestion, let’s all take a short break there to refresh ourselves before we resume.”
“That sounds great!”
Prince Zikren shouted enthusiastically, and then immediately turned to me, his golden eyes ablaze.
“Lady! We need to talk!”
“Oh, I’m not thirsty, actually.”
Still holding the pamphlet, I slipped away like an eel and ran.
Meanwhile, Zikren got surrounded by a crowd.
“Your Highness! Give us a hint about the top-secret project!”
Everyone was buzzing with excitement.
No way he’s getting out of that quickly.
Glancing back occasionally, I exited the building entirely.
“Scary. That was scary.”
Thinking about the power Zikren had shown during the clash earlier sent chills down my spine.
Following the rules, my foot. Since when did he care about rules? He just didn’t like me sitting next to him, that’s all.
“Still, unleashing his power the moment we meet? That’s just overkill.”
Just like Aldencis said, I guess all his injuries were long healed. The guy really is ridiculously sturdy.
As I grumbled internally, I suddenly came to a halt.
“Wait. Now that I think about it, about that injury…”
I recalled what Duke Canel had said to Ruelian in the sanctuary’s chapel.
“On the night of July 13th, the same day my daughter ran away and plucked the flower, the second prince was involved in some sort of armed altercation. I believe it may have been a duel.”
A chill ran down my spine.
What if it wasn’t a duel? What if Prince Zikren had gotten into a physical confrontation with someone — and that someone was Aristina?
“An accidental killing during a scuffle? Or even a premeditated one…?”
With the power of a Transcendent, it would be entirely possible to take someone’s life without leaving a scratch on their body.
Horrifying thoughts passed through my mind.
“And I didn’t even get to see Zikren’s reaction properly earlier.”
Zikren is a terrible liar.
If he had killed someone and then suddenly came face-to-face with them at an event? Even if he had already heard rumors that I was alive and well, he would’ve been visibly shaken in that moment.
But just my luck, Zikren had his face covered with a straw hat, pretending to be asleep, so I didn’t see his initial reaction.
“And what if he picked a fight over the pamphlet just to cover up that reaction?”
A shiver ran through me.
Zikren was already a prime suspect, but now there was also the matter of his uncertain alibi.
“As if we didn’t already have a bad relationship.”
Memories from the past floated up.
As a child, Zikren was a fairly cute boy — bright red hair, golden eyes, chubby cheeks.
He used to follow Aristina around like a puppy, being a total nuisance. And then…
“Hey! Aristina!”
Just like always, Zikren swaggered over with his hands in his pockets.
But oddly, his cheeks were tinged with a rosy hue, as if his baby fat hadn’t quite faded.
Looking off into the distance, he spoke.
“You…”
“What?”
“I mean, you…”
After a long pause, he closed his eyes tightly and blurted it out.
“Would you maybe want to be my princess consort? I’ll be really good to you.”
“…What?”
Young Aristina was appalled.
“No! Who said I wanted to marry you, Your Highness? I’m going to marry the Crown Prince!”
Zikren’s face turned so red it was hard to distinguish it from his hair.
“What the—?! Well, I hate girls like you anyway!”
That day, the two of them had one of the most legendary fights in Imperial Palace history.
Even afterward, every time they ran into each other, it was nonstop bickering…
And when Aristina debuted in high society, incident after incident followed, only deepening their conflict.
I recalled their last conversation.
“Watch yourself. My older brother has dignity to maintain, but I don’t. I’ve got nothing to hold me back.”
As Zikren turned away, golden eyes ablaze, Aristina shouted at his back.
“Oh yeah? So what? Are you going to kill me or something? Go ahead, try it!”
Ugh. My mouth! This damn mouth!
I smacked my own lips in regret.
“…?”
Passersby stopped and stared at the sound.
But when they realized it was me, they quickly looked away.
As if to prove this wasn’t just any day, people were dressed to the nines in elegant outfits. Some even wore small masks to cover their eyes.
Probably came out for a bit of air between dances.
When I looked at them, they flinched and backed away. But what I was thinking was completely different from what they imagined.
“Phew. There’ve been too many scary things today. I’m just glad there are so many people at the palace. Thank you, everyone.”
Noblemen and ladies sat chatting in groups on benches, sharing laughter or hushed whispers.
I quickly claimed an empty bench for myself.
Maybe because I was surrounded by people, my anxiety melted away, and I felt more positive.
“Nothing’s confirmed yet. There’s no solid proof that Zikren is the culprit. It’s just an ambiguous situation.”
And what could he even do, acting all scary toward me? With the royal aunt and others watching, he couldn’t lay a finger on me.
If I stay out here and go back in once the assembly resumes, what could even the mighty second prince do?
“Forget it. I’ll just focus on my own stuff.”
I opened the pamphlet I’d taken from the venue and began reading it carefully from the beginning.
But then…
Just as I finished one full round and was about to review it again, someone spoke to me from behind.
“Miss Merchant, would you like a useful piece of information?”
“Not buying.”
The snappy reply came out automatically — and then I froze.
“Wait. This voice…”
It wasn’t unfamiliar. No — it was unmistakable.
A voice that absolutely shouldn’t be heard in this place.
I slowly turned around.
“My god…”
People passing by all stopped and stared with open mouths. A tall man stood before me.
Though he was dressed in high nobility fashion rather than sacred priestly robes, completely different from the last time we met…
His alluring black hair and purple eyes were unmistakable.
“Unbelievable. I dodged one lunatic, only to run into an even crazier one.”
But stay calm.
I had expected we’d meet again eventually.
I tightened my grip on the bag in my hand.
“That’s why I came prepared.”
