The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 104

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

The silence was brief.

The murmuring voices of people spread like wildfire.

“I knew it. I thought it was suspicious when someone who isn’t even a noble was at the eve party!”

“But who did she get the invitation from? That girl is a commoner.”

“I, I saw that girl acting familiar with Her Highness the Princess yesterday, so could it be that…”

Among the chattering people was Edwina, sneering as if pleased.

Everyone cast cold glances at Elisha.

Ailen’s gaze was also directed toward her.

Elisha was neither flustered nor surprised. She simply stood still, quietly looking up at the dais.

‘That can’t be true. It’s a terrible false accusation. I clearly saw last night, but…’

Last night.

Ailen bit his lip.

There was one more person besides himself who knew about Elisha’s whereabouts yesterday.

‘No.’

Having grasped the situation, Ailen urgently gestured to lower the amplified voice signal first, but unfortunately, the Princess’s words came first.

“I have no idea what you’re all talking about. Elisha stealing Mother’s tiara? That’s impossible!”

“Your Highness, wait…!”

Elisha, who had remained calm even when accused of theft, finally showed a surprised expression and shook her head.

It meant not to say anything, but Katarina, overcome by anger, didn’t see it.

“At the moment the attendant mentioned, I was also by Elisha’s side!”

“Your Highness!”

Then.

Crodil asked.

“Ah, so the Princess is vouching for that woman’s innocence?”

“Yes! I swear on the name of Katarina Presslipe that this child stole nothing!”

“But listening to this, doesn’t something seem strange?”

Crodil approached the trembling Katarina and spoke slowly.

“Our Princess being there at that moment, and vouching for her innocence.”

Thud.

Katarina stopped.

She looked like she had just realized her mistake.

“The person who has the duty to guard the treasury personally brought that woman of uncertain identity into the treasury… that’s how it sounds.”

Crodil, who had been staring at her pale face, soon showed an exaggerated smile.

“Isn’t that right, Count Airen?”

“…”

“But since Her Highness vouches for her, there shouldn’t be any problem. So let’s search the belongings of this Miss Elisha. If nothing comes out, I too will gladly apologize on my name.”

Crodil, who had been speaking theatrically, turned his gaze.

“However, if by any chance the attendant’s accusation is correct.”

Crodil, looking at Ailen whose eyes were bloodshot, whispered eerily.

“‘Someone’ who stole the tiara will have to pay the price for that crime, thoroughly.”

*

Tesagh squeezed his eyes shut.

The result was obvious without looking.

If the cunning and cautious Crodil had come this far, he must have already fabricated evidence.

‘But the Captain of the Royal Knights cannot refuse Crodil’s words.’

It wasn’t simply because Crodil was the Regent King.

Since Princess Katarina had defended Elisha by staking her own name, Ailen had the responsibility to prove the Princess’s words in a public setting.

If they switched to a private investigation, the Princess would naturally face attacks of ‘what are you trying to hide because you’re guilty?’

Moreover.

Crodil had said that ‘someone’ must pay the price.

‘To prevent the worst-case scenario of the Princess taking responsibility and falling from grace… he’s telling them to pin all the blame on Elisha and make her a scapegoat.’

This was separate from the Captain of the Royal Knights’ personal character.

He was someone who had to protect his lord by any means necessary.

Knowing this, Crodil had thrown out that devilish question.

Could Ailen Hugo Radeyan really throw an innocent citizen into the fire for the Princess’s sake?

「Am I allowed to be in a place like this?!」

Tesagh recalled the conversation he had heard through the sword.

Though there was too much interference to hear everything, he could understand the general situation.

Elisha hadn’t gone to the treasury of her own will.

Judging by her hesitant tone, she seemed to have anticipated that it could be problematic.

「…Lina… will it be displayed tomorrow?」

「…No, this is too precious…」

What else had shocked Elisha yesterday?

And why.

‘Why isn’t Elisha saying anything?’

Even while watching Ailen finally permit the search and knights pour out her bag contents on the dais.

Even while facing all the hostile gazes and suspicious looks, Elisha’s profile remained calm.

Despite being in the position of being observed, she seemed to be carefully observing something herself.

“What are you planning to do?”

So Tesagh asked.

He was anxious. He was worried.

It felt like all the emotions Elisha should rightfully have had transferred to him.

But before that, he was curious.

What this woman was thinking, and why she remained so detached despite having fallen into an obvious trap.

Elisha’s lips parted.

“You believe I didn’t steal it, Alter?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“Why? All the kindness I’ve shown Her Highness until now could have been part of my grand plan to steal Her Majesty the Empress’s tiara.”

Tesagh recalled when he first met Elisha.

The moments when he had suspected and condemned her as Eivor’s accomplice and a collaborator with criminals.

Elisha had always answered his questions with dignity, but perhaps.

“Yes, someone might think that way.”

It had been hurtful deep down.

Tesagh swallowed and slowly continued.

“But not me. I know you. …I know what kind of person you are now.”

Only now could he see it.

Despite her calm face, Elisha’s hands were clenched white with tension.

Tesagh gently took her hand and said firmly.

“I believe in you. Elisha.”

Then Elisha, who had been looking ahead the whole time, slightly turned to look at him.

Her smile, more radiant than ever, was directed at Tesagh.

“Thank you, Alter.”

It was an incredibly vivid smile that made even her gorgeous dress pale in comparison.

As I stared blankly at that sight, a loud voice rang out from the stage.

“Here it is! The Empress’s tiara!”

With the knight’s shout, the tiara that had been hidden inside the rolled-up clothes came tumbling out.

At the same time, knights approached Elisha.

With evidence revealed, their movements suggested they would arrest her immediately.

“Oh my, oh my.”

Crodil spoke in an elegant but sarcastic tone.

“It seems I won’t be the one taking responsibility after all, Katarina.”

“This is… this is a frame-up. Elisha would never do such a thing!”

Katarina raised her voice, but was blocked by her maids.

Several of the maids fell to their knees.

“Th-the Princess knew nothing at all. That person must have stolen the key from the Princess’s bedchamber last night!”

“That’s right, Your Highness was simply being kind to a friend! That person took advantage of her kindness!”

“What are you all saying! You know Elisha isn’t that kind of person!”

Katarina’s shouting mouth fell silent.

“Princess, please…”

Tears welled up in the eyes of the pleading maids.

Seeing this, Katarina staggered and collapsed to her knees.

The result of the maids racking their brains to protect their master, the Princess, was precisely this.

‘Claiming that Elisha acted alone.’

Cutting off the tail.

Tesagh, breathing harshly, shot to his feet.

The false accusation was one problem, but such flimsy defense was no help to the situation at all.

“Ah, so the Princess had her commoner friend sleep in her bedchamber last night? Can she really be said to bear no responsibility?”

“R-Regent King!”

Just as Crodil was now speaking sarcastically as if he had been waiting for those very words.

“Count Airen, what are you waiting for? The culprit has been revealed. Shouldn’t you arrest her? If you just stand there, it looks like you’re trying to overlook this ugly crime for someone’s sake…”

‘I have no choice. Even if it means revealing my identity, I must stop this situation!’

Just as Tesagh, grinding his teeth, was about to step forward.

Elisha grabbed his sleeve.

Why?

“It’s okay. More importantly, do you see that light?”

“Light?”

Tesagh asked back, not understanding what she meant as she pointed toward the tiara.

Light? What light?

However, Elisha seemed satisfied with even that response.

Tesagh asked Elisha, who appeared to be thinking deeply about something.

“Regardless of trusting you, I don’t understand what you mean by ‘okay.’ What are you thinking right now?”

“Something that Alter would be pleased to know.”

“I can’t even begin to guess what you’re thinking.”

Elisha winked.

“Hmm, the thought that I should catch the mastermind who dared to scheme such a thing?”

Tesagh asked as if to confirm.

“Right here, right now?”

“Yes. Right here, right now, immediately.”

Elisha left only those words and strode purposefully toward the dais.

Left behind, Tesagh let out a hollow laugh.

‘She’s going to catch the culprit right here.’

Elisha was right.

Truly, it was a conclusion that pleased Tesagh’s heart.

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