Chapter 251
Chapter 251
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 251
Chapter Title: Between Love and Friendship -3
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The culprit is right here among us.
No random thief who's reached the pinnacle of enlightenment would happen by and sabotage things out of blind rage against couples. The letter killer has to be one of those fools wandering around inside the mansion.
And catching the culprit is dead simple. Just ask Neriel who she had deliver the letters.
Pinpoint that bastard and follow the trail up, and the truth comes out clean. No complications.
Once you weed out the meddler in the middle, run the couple through a quick therapy session, and everything's golden.
So...
"Neriel, could you open the door? Neriel?"
"......"
All I need is this firmly shut door to open.
I must have spent about an hour wailing her name in front of it. But she just stayed silent, no real response.
If I focus my magic on my ears, I can hear the rustle of blankets or faint breathing. She's in there. Just ignoring my calls because her heart's wounded.
I get it. Gotta be scary.
Her lover's mistress showing up and knocking. Whether I apologize or barge in boldly, it'll only deepen her pain.
Maybe she needs time to sort out her feelings.
I'll give her some space to think alone. Then when she's feeling better, come back and explain everything.
I slowly backed away from Neriel's door...
Ha.
I charged, leaped, and slammed a dropkick into the door.
Bam-!! Crash crash crash!
The hinges shattered, and the door tumbled across the floor.
Like hell I'd give her thinking time.
I've read enough romance fantasies to know better. If you "respect her hurt feelings" and let misunderstandings fester, it snowballs into a full-on house fire.
Put out the flames when they're small.
Neriel, huddled under the covers inside, yelped in shock at the sudden door breach.
"Wh-what?! What is this?!"
"You know, it would've been nice if you'd just opened up when I asked nicely."
I dusted off my hands with a satisfied grin.
Neriel stared blankly for a moment before anger slowly crept into her expression. Probably thinking, Now he's barging into my room too?
"I ignored you—that means don't come in! How far are you gonna humiliate me?!"
Regular words don't work on someone brimming with rage and sorrow. And the situation's delicate too.
If I say, "Daisy and I are just friends," she'll snap back with "Lies have limits!" or "So I'm less than a friend as your wife?"
No matter how many 108 reasons I list why Daisy and Heart are friends, she won't buy it.
So what do you do?
Hit her with something shocking enough to evaporate the anger and grief in one go, backed by ironclad proof that supports my claim. Lucky for me, I've got just the tool.
I looked at her seriously and spoke.
"Neriel."
"Stop, just stop. Whether it's excuses or apologies... I don't want to hear a word from you...!"
"I'm married. And I have a daughter."
"...Pardon?"
Got her.
I seized the opening, slid over, and sat beside her. Then I pulled out a photo album from my robes (painstakingly made an hour ago).
I flipped to a magic photo.
There we were: Evil God-chan, my main body, and Heart—all making V-signs together in a happy family shot. Snapped with illusion magic.
I pointed as I explained.
"This one's my precious loved one, and this is the little life I created."
"...Uh, um."
"Lately, she's hitting puberty or something—won't listen worth a damn. My hubby just teases her nonstop... What do you think? Isn't our girl adorable?"
"Ah, y-yes. Wait, really...?"
No lies. Pure sincerity.
Play the doting parent loving her family, wait for the mood to thaw. Now we're ready to talk. Neriel had softened up a lot.
A woman who loves her family this much suddenly cheating with some northern grand duke? Doesn't add up.
Time to elaborate.
"Daisy and I are strictly friends. Met him five years ago."
"...Five years ago. And Heart. Are you that famous illusory woman from back then...?"
"Spot on. I used to sell stories. Got along great with Daisy back then too, but never crossed the line. Had someone in my heart already."
"I heard rumors you retired chasing true love... So it was this guy. The crow lookalike."
My past "indiscretions" lent credibility. Who knew the nonsense rumor of vanishing for love would help here?
"I came north because I needed Daisy's help. My hubby got really sick... Down to a thirtieth of his strength."
"...That's suspiciously specific."
"I know a top-notch healer..."
That sells it: I'm no heroine chasing the duke. Here to nurse my ailing main body, Daisy's friendly because we're pals.
Neriel's face filled with regret.
"Sorry, Heart."
"Totally understandable mix-up. My bad—I should've come clean sooner."
Next step.
I didn't want to see her all mopey. She'd shown me kindness, so I owed her some strength in return.
Her biggest pain? All her hard work wasted.
She poured her heart into it, but Daisy never noticed. But there's a reason her efforts went unrewarded.
I cut straight to it.
"Neriel, someone intercepted your letters. I asked Daisy—he says he never got a single one."
"What?! No way..."
"Who'd you entrust delivery to?"
"Sophie. But she swore she delivered them..."
Suspect number one: Sophie.
Funny how handy it is remembering names. I mentally pinned "Sophie" to my whiteboard.
"Neriel, let's go see this Sophie maid. Sounds like she owes us an explanation."
"But Sophie's my maid from my family home. The others, maybe, but she's on my side. Must be a misunderstanding..."
"If it's a misunderstanding, we gotta clear it up. Face-to-face."
"...Give me a sec to change. Um, Heart? Could you help me into a dress?"
Of course.
We summoned the maid Sophie and grilled her.
She denied delivering the letters at first, but when I said I'd checked with Daisy directly, her face went white and she confessed.
"...Emma said she'd deliver them instead. So..."
"Hold up, Sophie. Emma's the first wife's maid. And you just... handed my letters over?"
"S-sorry, ma'am! But I had no choice. If I didn't listen, Emma would've made my life hell...!"
Outsourcing the outsourcing.
Neriel softened, pitying the trembling Sophie—seemed ready to forgive the maid who'd screwed her over.
Not me. How could I?
"That means you sold out the mistress you serve."
"I-it's not..."
"Neriel's too kind to forgive you, but I'm not. You saw the grand duke being chummy with me at the entrance? Pull that crap again, and your name goes straight to his ears."
"Eek...!"
I gave her a solid scare and sent her packing. Borrowed Daisy's name for the threat since it'd hit harder, but next time? Straight to him, no mercy.
Or I'd smash her skull with a picture frame myself.
Neriel gave me an odd look, then murmured a barely audible thanks. Probably glad I'd raged for her sake.
"Next stop's set. Follow me, Neriel."
"...Gonna grill Emma?"
"Nope. Straight to the first wife's room."
"Huh?"
Why bother with the minions? Go right for the head—faster, cleaner.
Confront her directly, and no more sneaky maid sabotage.
"...But the first wife is a big deal, Heart. Charging in like that could be dangerous."
"What does she do?"
"She's the head of the Alchemist's Guild. Word is, she's tight with the imperial family—lots of back-and-forth."
An alchemist.
Alchemist's Guild head with imperial ties? High status for sure. Miles above Neriel, the duke's minor northern estate girl.
But who am I?
"I've got imperial backing too. First Princess, Second Prince, Third Prince—all of 'em."
"......?"
Neriel looked like she'd misheard. Sounded like bravado, but said so confidently... maybe true?
I grabbed her hand and strode forward.
"Let's go. Tell me about the first wife on the way, Neriel."
"O-okay..."
Arte Lopelman.
Head of the Alchemist's Guild. Married Northern Grand Duke Elbillion Julius five years ago. One son and one daughter. Son's the first in line; daughter's off at a convent to consolidate power.
"...Hang on, Neriel. The timeline's off. I saw the young lady, but she didn't look five at all."
"Not sure myself. Something about magic methods..."
Many in the duke's house suspected the sudden births and rapid growth.
But Daisy officially acknowledged them as his blood, and doubts sank below the surface.
Imperial-connected alchemist. Accelerated growth.
For some reason, Capital Knights' Captain Kim Lulu came to mind.
Following the explanation, we reached First Wife Arte Lopelman's room. Neriel was shivering with nerves, so I patted her shoulder for courage.
A maid stood guard at the door, eyes sharp. She scowled at us and spoke first.
"The mistress is busy. Leave."
Not even stating our business. One strike.
I pulled Neriel back and politely asked the maid.
"...Second Wife Neriel Breneu wishes to see First Wife Arte Lopelman. Please go in and inform her."
"I said she's busy. Barging in unannounced is rude—don't you know that?"
"That's why I'm asking you to check."
"Fine, I'll check. But not now. She said no visitors. Come back later."
Lies.
I read it in her eyes. No "no visitors" order. Just a lowly maid fabricating to dismiss us.
Treating us like trash.
Strike two.
"Then we'll return. When's good?"
"Who knows. Day after tomorrow maybe... Keep dropping by daily, you'll catch her eventually."
Strike three.
"You're telling the grand duke's second wife to come begging on foot every day? Instead of just saying when she's free?"
"She's swamped. Anyway, not today—leave..."
Crack!
I yanked a picture frame off the wall and clocked the rude maid over the head. She crumpled, out cold. Refreshing as hell.
Words fail? Use force.
"Whew... Feels good. Shall we?"
"...H-Heart. Why're you still holding the frame?"
"Can't have the first wife mouthing off either."
"......"
Now that I've jumped in, the grand duke's mansion ain't romance fantasy anymore—it's thriller time. Words don't work? Get a frame to the face. Duchess, maid, knight—doesn't matter.
Even the Northern Grand Duke himself!