Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Rumor
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It was still a day when snow fell alongside the cold wind.
Bang!
The door flew open as if it might shatter, and a masked man rushed in. The young blond man wearing a monocle scowled and spoke.
“What is it? If it’s not a major incident, I’ll have you executed on the spot.”
The man slammed the documents he’d been reading onto the desk. Startled by his intensity, the masked intruder flinched and proffered the papers he’d been clutching.
“I-I’m sorry. But urgent information has come in...”
He fixed the kneeling masked man with a cold stare, then roughly snatched the documents from his hand. Peering through his glasses at the text, he read the part that caught his eye.
[Suspected leak of some organizational intel. Keyword: Queen’s assassination seven years ago]
[Investigator: Lainen von Luminir]
[Identity: Crown Prince of the Luminir Empire]
The man scowled at the paper, reading it again and again. But the contents didn’t change. Crumpling the sheet in his fist, he growled in a guttural voice like a beast baring its fangs.
“Lainen von Luminir is investigating the Rasoni Kingdom queen’s assassination from seven years ago? Why the hell would he?”
Seven years had already passed. The incident had long faded from people’s memories, so why was the crown prince digging into it now? Was there even the slightest connection to him back then?
The man pondered deeply but could find no link between the event and the crown prince. One thing was clear, though: this was a crisis. He didn’t know why the crown prince was pursuing it, but if everything came to light, it was over.
Cold sweat beaded on his skin. His own fate didn’t matter. But if the full truth emerged, the organization would collapse, and the leader wouldn’t escape unscathed.
The man didn’t cling to his own well-being. But if the leader was in danger, that changed everything. The leader was the benefactor who had transformed his life—he’d give his own in service without hesitation.
“Convene the executive meeting. The agenda is ‘eliminating the threat endangering the organization.’”
The man’s orders were relayed at once, and the executives hurried to the hideout.
“Let’s begin the meeting.”
* * *
Carnivella fell gravely ill. When she finally rose after about a week, the maids’ demeanor felt off. As if they were hiding something.
“What’s going on?”
Her voice cracked as she asked. At her words, Eora choked up.
“Y-Your Highness... Sob sob.”
“Tell me.”
“I-It’s that Your Highness...”
“...lost the imperial heir.”
The palace physician said gravely. She stared down at her flat belly. It didn’t feel real. Where had that other life she’d felt go? Where had her happiness vanished to...? Was it truly never meant for her...?
She stared blankly ahead for a long while, then forced her unmoving lips to part.
“Everyone... out.”
She lay back in bed. Memories from before she lost consciousness resurfaced one by one: the queen’s death, Lucamin’s death, and Lainen’s involvement...
It was a truth she desperately didn’t want to believe. She wanted to deny it. Lucamin dead...? Why? How?
[Let’s both survive the fight and meet again.]
[Yes, I understand.]
The loyal knight who’d given everything to turn those words into truth for her sake... The shock was devastating.
And she refused to believe Lainen had been involved—or hidden it. Her one true love, her refuge, her future—how could he!
She wished it were all a dream. It was too much to bear; she wanted to lie down and sleep forever. Happiness always slipped away just as it seemed within reach.
“Sob...”
Alone in the empty room, she wept. She longed to sob outright, but she’d suppressed it for so long that even that small release was denied. Tears simply dripped onto the covers.
She gazed at them for a time, then wiped them away and rose.
‘I’ll trust Lainen to the end. Until he admits it himself, I won’t believe it.’
“Your Highness, it’s Ray.”
“Come in.”
She’d dried her tears and received him. In Ray’s hands was tea she hadn’t requested. She looked puzzled.
“What’s this?”
“I thought it might soothe Your Highness’s mind and body, so I prepared it.”
She’d always felt closer to the consistently calm Ray than to Eora. The unexpected kindness lifted her spirits. The tea’s color was a murky brown, a bit odd, but herbal remedies were rarely palatable, so she drank without suspicion.
“Are you all right?”
“...Yes.”
Her slightly unfocused eyes refocused. She donned a light indoor dress and left the room. The palace was still in disarray—her miscarriage had been such a shock.
“Your Highness...”
“Are you okay? Sob sob.”
Even though it wasn’t their loss, pity shone in the maids’ eyes. Some sniffled as they gazed at her.
“I’m fine.”
She forced a smile at their worried faces. The miscarriage was shocking enough, but Lucamin’s death—and Lainen’s role in it—was the truth she least wanted to accept.
No one knew she’d disguised herself as ‘Lucia,’ Lucamin’s sister. Still, she felt it was time to reveal it somewhat. Otherwise, they might grow suspicious of why she cared.
She immediately began gathering rumors through the palace servants: Lucamin’s execution, those involved, Rasoni Kingdom’s ties to Lainen. At first, they claimed ignorance, but her leading questions drew out everything they knew.
“Well, they said the knight’s crime was treason.”
“I heard he was ordered to kill that kingdom’s queen.”
“They said he meticulously planned a brutal assassination.”
“The crown prince was involved? ...It’s plausible enough.”
“The crown prince doesn’t act without gain. He’s not the type to meddle in foreign affairs out of mercy.”
“He wouldn’t have time for that.”
“But I once heard him say he’d do anything if he could keep Your Highness all to himself here.”
“Your Highness, I really don’t know much.”
“...”
The testimonies varied wildly. She’d acted directly but gained nothing. As she pondered, Ray approached.
“Your Highness, is something troubling you?”
“...Something I don’t want to believe. So I tried to prove it wasn’t true.”
“But what common folk say often becomes the truth.”
Ray didn’t ask what she refused to believe. He simply shared his own thoughts.
“I want to prove it isn’t true.”
“Whatever it is, I hope the truth you seek to prove holds.”
Ray stared straight into her eyes. For some reason, she felt an inexplicable trust in him. Even as she spoke, she wasn’t sure what she was saying or thinking.
“I see... Ray, could you look into this for me?”
She revealed she was actually Lucia, Lucamin’s sister from Rasoni Kingdom, executed recently. She asked him to investigate Lucamin’s death and the ties between Rasoni and Lainen.
Asking Kashan would’ve been ideal, but as Lainen’s closest aide, he’d taken over duties while Lainen was away on Sistia diplomatic matters—leaving him swamped.
Besides, he always eyed her with displeasure, making her hesitate. He might twist the info if she asked, given his position and his hints that he wished her gone.
Decisively, the entire crown prince’s palace was chaos over Sistia. Even seeking Lainen led to a weary Kashan barring the way.
“...”
Continued rejection. Caught in the tangle, she hadn’t glimpsed Lainen’s hem lately.
Timing to clear misunderstandings slipped away, fueling her doubts and mistrust. Worse, Ray’s findings stoked them further.
“...Is this true?”
“Yes. From the intelligence broker.”
Her hand trembled holding the paper. Her expression hardened. Ray subtly observed, then bowed his head.
[Lucamin Takirai assassinated Rasoni Kingdom’s queen. Followed by trade rights deal with Luminir Empire. Instigator: Lainen von Luminir]
“...Which broker gave you this?”
She spat the words like they were bitter. Was all this really true?
“A rising new shop. The Remiachi family wouldn’t leak anything damaging to the imperial house, so they targeted elsewhere.”
“...I see.”
She desperately wanted it to be lies—hoped Lainen would come explain himself and firmly deny it. That he’d never do such a thing.
But this slapped her faith hard.
“Ha...”
Rage made her tremble. A horrific feeling invaded her body, murder in the air. Her unrecovered form screamed in protest, but it was nothing compared to her betrayal-torn heart.
How could you?
Love’s flower wilted in her heart instantly. Hatred’s roots plunged deep and bloomed.
Ray felt crushed by the overwhelming killing intent. How did the crown princess harbor such power?
“Please calm down, Your Highness.”
Ray steadied his shaking body and soothed her, brewing that same tea again. She sipped the bitter brew for a long time. It was as if the tea understood her mood, easing her mind.
Her vision blurred briefly, then cleared. Ray watched her eyes, then spoke.
“Are you calm now?”
“Yes.”
Somewhat settled, she considered her future. Marriage to Lainen was for her protection. But if ties linked Rasoni and Lainen, her identity could be exposed.
‘...I need to hide.’
Escape was her choice. Circumstances had changed since entrusting herself to the Luminir Empire—staying meant only danger.
With her decision made, she sought an audience with the emperor. He wondered why the crown princess, who avoided him outside meals, suddenly appeared late at night.
“What is it?”
“To the point: Your Imperial Majesty, grant me leave for convalescence.”
He knew of her miscarriage—it was infamous, the crown princess palace steeped in grief like its mistress. Even the empress worried subtly, and he did too.
But this sudden convalescence—alone, without Lainen, to an unseen place? It felt off.
Her aura had shifted too: darker, damper than before...
Yet he didn’t pry. Disappointment crept in. She couldn’t endure by Lainen’s side after all.
‘The girl you brought is only this much.’
He loved Lainen, his sole remnant with the late empress. He’d indulged him as much as possible. He’d tolerated this crown princess he’d insisted on, for his son’s sake.
But now she was leaving—abandoning Lainen, the imperial house. It irked him, but he didn’t want an unfit girl as next matriarch.
This gave him pretext to expel her. Even if Lainen used Marquis Epsillot to legitimize her, she offered no political value.
It suited him perfectly. Nobles and crown prince factions clashed endlessly. Despite vows not to elevate Raibus, they refused to listen.
Her proposal fit ideally.
‘They’re all the same.’
She saw through his scheme but said nothing. No energy to mock, and she’d soon cross continents anyway—to settle and pursue her mother’s killer anew.
‘I lost Lucamin. I’m all that’s left... to find the truth...’
“When do you plan to leave?”
“Right now.”
“Granted.”
“Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty.”
She packed minimally before departing for convalescence under the emperor’s auspices.
Two days before Lainen’s return.