For the heart - Chapter 37

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 37

* * *

The next day, at the ministerial meeting held in the Imperial Palace, Count Puaco, the chief administrator of the Imperial Treasury, cried out in anguish.

“Last night, my daughter was found dead in her bed with her throat slit!”

“Good heavens! Did an assassin break into the Count’s mansion?”

“It was definitely Princess Nina who killed my daughter!”

His words, filled with rage, caused a stir throughout the entire meeting hall.

The Emperor, who had been listening quietly, frowned.

“Count Puaco, what do you mean by that? Are you saying Nina slit your daughter’s throat?”

“Yes, Your Majesty! Not long ago, Princess Nina cut off my daughter’s hair with her sword. She even threatened to cut off her head! And within just a few days, she actually killed my daughter!”

The rumor that Nina had cut Michelle’s hair had been circulating secretly among the nobles.

But until then, people had only clicked their tongues and weren’t greatly stirred up.

It was because more than a few people had seen Michelle crossing the line with Princess Nina since she was young.

‘She’ll get what’s coming to her someday.’

Everyone had expected trouble to arise at some point, but they all showed shocked faces at the fact that she was actually found dead with her throat slit.

“Princess Nina has become like a murderer from repeated killings on the battlefield! Just yesterday, didn’t she cut off the head of a monster that was to be used as a weapon in one stroke!”

“Count! Watch your words! Princess Nina is the Knight Commander of Arsed and someone who is dedicating herself to the unification of the entire continent!”

Viscount Rodian Bronte, who served as Arsed’s Deputy Defense Minister and tactical advisor, opposed Count Puaco’s claims.

“If Her Highness really intended to kill the Count’s daughter, why would she have warned her by cutting her hair? I understand your grief at losing your daughter, but don’t make such unreasonable accusations before His Majesty.”

“Everyone knows that Princess Nina has always disapproved of my daughter! And several strands of short blonde hair were found on the bed!”

“Do you have proof that blonde hair belongs to Her Highness?”

“Besides that, the footprints that came through the window were much smaller than a man’s feet. How many women in Arsed could secretly climb over the high walls of a Count’s mansion in the middle of the night?!”

Viscount Bronte grimaced as he watched Count Puaco, who was wild-eyed and screaming.

He was already convinced that Nina had killed his daughter, and his eyes were boiling with rage toward Nina.

“Your Majesty, please investigate Princess Nina. I beseech you to thoroughly investigate and resolve my daughter’s unjust death! If this case is not properly investigated, I will abandon everything and leave Arsed. And I won’t leave quietly after losing my daughter.”

Count Puaco declared this while adding that he would cut off even his own retreat.

The Puaco County had long been a family with great influence over Arsed’s commerce and trade.

Their accumulated wealth was among the top five in Arsed, and part of the empire’s tax revenue was under Count Puaco’s jurisdiction.

In particular, the current Count Puaco had tremendously increased the Imperial Treasury’s wealth as chief administrator for the past 20 years.

There was even a saying behind the scenes: ‘If Count Puaco closes the lid of the Imperial Treasury, even the candles in the palace will go out,’ showing how completely the Emperor depended on Count Puaco for personal finances.

‘There’s nothing more troublesome than making an enemy of Count Puaco.’

The Emperor knew that the Count was aware of many of his secrets, as they had secretly committed illegal acts together to increase his wealth.

And he also knew that the Count possessed a ledger of those secrets.

For such a person to declare he wouldn’t leave quietly was nothing short of outright ‘blackmail.’

A threat that if he didn’t cooperate, that ledger of secrets would be made public.

Having lost his only child and beloved daughter, Count Puaco would stake everything to bring Nina to court.

“…I understand. Today’s meeting ends here.”

Emperor Rainer left the meeting hall with a deeply furrowed brow.

First she had upset Desmorak by beheading Kushis, and now Count Puaco too.

“Bring Nina here! With continental unification right before us, what is this!”

* * *

Princess Lillien’s dressing room.

Ivana was selecting a mask for Lillien to use at the Lantern Festival.

The Lantern Festival was one of the empire’s major events, held once a year for the deceased.

On the day when the sun was shortest and the night was longest, people would float lanterns in the darkness to light the way for the dead to ascend to heaven.

It was said that if the deceased saw the faces of the living, they couldn’t let go of their attachments and couldn’t leave this world, so people wore masks before floating the lanterns.

Long ago it had been a solemn and reverent ceremony, but now it had become a bright event where people gathered in the town square to watch the beautiful sight of colorful lanterns rising, make wishes, and pray for the deceased to find peace in God’s embrace.

Nobles were also invited to the Imperial Palace to strengthen their connections, and since they danced while wearing masks, it was the imperial event most anticipated by young nobles and their daughters.

But Ivana lacked energy, her usual bright demeanor having disappeared.

Lillien, who had been humming and looking in the mirror, spoke to Ivana.

“Oh, Ivana.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I need to find one more lady-in-waiting. Do you know any suitable young ladies?”

“Ah… I’ll look into it, Your Highness.”

“Good. I can’t wait too long, so select a few good candidates.”

Ivana forced a smile.

Michelle had been a friend who had accompanied her to the Imperial Palace since she was nine years old.

Unlike Ivana’s sad heart at losing an old friend overnight, Lillien was acting as if Michelle, who had served her for nearly 10 years, had never existed from the beginning.

“You fool! The method to keep Duke Montregger from even approaching the Satellite Palace was just this pathetic thing?! Because of you, I had to suffer such humiliation!”

“I-I was wrong, Your Highness.”

“I can’t forgive you! Get out of my sight! I want to tear you to pieces right now! Ha, it would have been more helpful to me if your throat had been slit instead!”

After Nina’s visit, Lillien had hurled harsh words at Michelle.

When Michelle had told her the plan, Lillien had said it was a good idea and to proceed as quickly as possible, but when the results weren’t good, she had instantly turned on her.

“Do you think I’ll let this slide? I’ll repay today’s humiliation no matter what it takes. I’ll make her into someone unworthy of being not just a princess, but even a Knight Commander!”

Lillien’s words, spoken while fuming, came back clearly after Michelle’s death.

Even the recent sight of her attendant Banir secretly reporting something to Lillien in whispers too quiet for them to hear – many things seemed suspicious.

‘If Princess Nina didn’t kill Michelle…’

No way. It can’t be.

Ivana kept having frightening thoughts.

How could she kill a playmate and maid who had stayed by her side since childhood?

And still act like nothing happened after that?

Chills ran down Ivana’s spine.

Knock knock.

“Come in.”

“Your Highness, His Majesty has just summoned Princess Nina to the Audience Chamber.”

“Really?!”

Lillien smiled brightly as if she had been waiting for this and rose from her seat.

With a face full of anticipation, she left the room and walked almost running toward the Audience Chamber.

A moment later, when Lillien encountered Nina entering the corridor of the Main Palace, she met her eyes with a face that already looked victorious.

“I heard the news. How does it feel? To become a murderer overnight.”

“I wonder. How about you? How does it feel to kill a companion and maid who served as your hands and feet for 10 years?”

“What?”

“On the battlefield, they call moves like this ‘suicidal moves.’ Because they’re shallow, obvious, and sloppy.”

At Nina’s response, Lillien glared at her fiercely.

Nina stopped walking and met Lillien’s eyes.

“Lillien, I told you. You’ve never once brought me down. And you never will. So if you want to become Emperor of Arsed, don’t kill your people—protect them. That’s the last advice I can give you as your sister.”

Having finished speaking calmly, Nina turned away from Lillien.

“Ha! Sister? Advice? How dare a mere…!”

Lillien, who had wanted to go to the Audience Chamber to see Nina get crushed by the Emperor with her own eyes, gritted her teeth and whirled around.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————