TPOSAWB 70

The Price of Saving A Wicked Beast

Translator: Rae

Although spring had only just begun, it rained all day long as if the early summer monsoon had already arrived. The search of the valley was completely suspended. When Roem, soaked through by the rain, entered the manor, Elise hurriedly dried his hair with a thick towel.

A tragedy. It was nothing short of a tragedy.

The first thing Roem heard upon returning from Clayton in time for the young Grand Duke’s wedding was the news that the carriage carrying his younger sister had fallen from a cliff.

Roem looked ready to do anything to find Adelaide. Though everyone warned him that the river had swollen and was dangerous, he stubbornly returned there again, searching for any trace she might have left behind.

“At this rate, something terrible will happen to you as well.” Elise said, her eyes brimming with tears.

Roem looked ready to do anything to find Adelaide. Though everyone warned him that the river had risen and become more dangerous than before, he stubbornly returned there again, searching for any trace she might have left behind.

She was just as grief-stricken. If only they had taken Adelaide to Clayton somehow, if only they had pulled her out of the Crown Prince’s grasp. Then none of this would have happened.

After Roem returned, the count’s household began a late dinner. The count and countess looked as though they had forgotten how to make faces. Their blank faces seemed devoid of any remaining attachment to life. Adelaide’s death had left an unhealable wound in many people’s hearts.

Though the dinner was well prepared, no one savored its taste. 

The countess idly stirred her cold soup before excusing herself for lack of appetite and retiring to her room. The count did the same.

Only Roem and Elise remained seated side by side at the table, silently staring at their plates. Just then, the butler suddenly approached Roem.

“Young master. Someone wishes to see you.”

"Who is it?”

"I've never seen her before, but she brought this.”

The butler quietly showed him the item. Roem’s eyes widened. In the butler’s hand was a single pearl earring. It was unmistakably the one he had given Adelaide.

“She says she wishes to meet you discreetly and has something to say. What shall we do?”

“Take her to my study. I will be there shortly.”

The woman who came to meet Roem was a Northerner. Her hair had been dyed a deep blue, but her eyes were not so easily changed. Roem regarded her with suspicion, wondering why a disguised Northerner possessed Adelaide’s belongings. The woman bowed deeply and introduced herself.

“Pleased to meet you, Young Count of Afort. I am Marcella, a maid who served Her Highness the Crown Princess.”

“A maid who served Adelaide? But, aren’t you a Northerner?”

“There is not enough time to explain everything in detail. I will tell you only what matters most. Her Highness the Crown Princess is alive.”

Adelaide was alive. Roem’s mouth fell slightly open at Marcella’s unbelievable words.

Marcella briefly relayed to Roem what had happened in the imperial palace. The d*ath of the marquis’ daughter, Marquis Brundell’s betrayal, and even the carriage accident that had been staged like a carefully crafted play.

Roem let out a long sigh. He had to work his mind hard to comprehend the immense events Marcella was confessing.

“Let us say I believe you. Then where is Adelaide now?”

“Her Highness is currently hiding in Marquis Brundell’s residence.”

TBecause Marquis Brundel had turned to Adelaide’s side, Fabian’s plan could finally be uncovered. His scheme was designed to trigger simultaneous chain reactions throughout the empire.

First, under the condition of handing over key border strongholds to Serrem, which resided at the western frontier, the grand ducal house formed an alliance with them. Before long, the Grand Duke would lead troops from the North toward the West. Caught in a pincer maneuver, Marquis Romeo’s knightly order would be annihilated, and the Deirdre ducal house would take its place.

House of Dared’s forces would disguise themselves as western border guards and march on the capital alongside Serrem. Fear that war might break out would turn into distrust of the current emperor, and with Killian believed to have been d*ad, there would be only one successor the emperor could choose.

“This is only one of many plans. If circumstances turn unfavorable, it is also possible to launch an outright rebellion from the North.”

Marcella spoke in a calm tone, but none of it was trivial. Cold sweat ran down Roem’s back.

“At this rate, is the outcome not already decided?”

Marcella nodded at Roem's murmur.

“Yes. That is true. But if the young count helps us, there may yet be a way.”

Marcella told him about Adelaide and Killian’s plan. As he listened, Roem’s expression grew increasingly serious.

*** 

“Your Highness was right. He reacted to the mention of returning to the North.”

Realizing that the grand ducal house’s influence had reached deep into his own household, Marquis Brundell, following Killian’s instructions, dismissed everyone except those he trusted most, sending the rest back to the North.

Killian said that Fabian would not allow the marquis to return to the North. With his suspicious nature, Fabian would never overlook the sudden leave of the agents he had planted. And reality unfolded exactly as Killian had predicted.

“Have Fabian come here at an appropriate time. Until I confirm it with my own eyes, I will not trust you.”

“Understood.”

They were staying in the basement of the mansion. No light was visible from the outside, so there was little risk of being discovered. While Killian was deep in conversation with the marquis, Marcella returned.

“Your Highness, I have brought a letter from the young count.”

Adelaide opened Roem’s letter. There was nothing written on it.

“Ah. He said the contents would appear only if the letter were heated. He mentioned that ever since leaving for Clayton, he always uses specially made ink.”

Following Marcella’s words, Adelaide held the letter over the candle flame and gently waved it. As the paper became warm, letters began to emerge. After reading it, Adelaide turned to Marcella.

“Marcella. You said it was specially made ink, right?”

"Yes. Your Highness.”

“And you said he always used it after leaving for Clayton.”

"Yes, that is correct.”

Adeleid frowned slightly. 

That’s strange. The letters I received from my brother before weren’t written with this kind of ink. Marcella, do you remember?”

Marcella let out a small gasp and nodded.

“That was Milnyme’s work. He’s a craftsman the Grand Duke favors greatly, especially skilled at perfectly imitating handwriting and seals.”

“Then those letters back then…”

“I’m sorry. They were forged.”

Marcella lowered her head, looking ashamed. Then, as if realizing something, she let out a low murmur.

“I see. Thinking back now, it seems even the letters the young Grand Duke claimed were from Lady Katharina were all forged as well.”

Killian, who had been listening to their exchange, turned his gaze to Marquis Brundell.

"Marquis. Do you know about this as well?”

“Yes. This is the first time I’ve heard the exact name, but I was aware that such a person served under the young Grand Duke.”

“Then it’s highly likely that he was the one who made the posters bearing Viscount Romeo’s name.”

“Yes. That’s correct. I recall hearing that he was kept somewhere in the capital in preparation for just such a situation.”

examined the poster placed in the corner once more.

“He can replicate seals perfectly.”

“Yes. But the seals he makes are not flawless. If compared with the real ones, the differences will surely appear.”

That was because seals were heirlooms passed down through generations. Even if a seal had once been new, over time it inevitably gained distinctive wear and flaws. No matter how deliberately Milneim damaged his forgeries to make them resemble the originals, comparing the countless documents stamped over the years would eventually reveal which was real.

“…Doesn’t something feel off?”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

Instead of answering the marquis’s question, Killian sank into deep thought.

What happened in the Glass Garden must have been an accident Fabian never anticipated. The false posters bearing Viscount Romeo’s name were a hastily devised solution to deal with it.

Then what had Fabian’s original plan truly been? Lost in thought, Killian let out a heavy murmur.

“Marquis. We must find that man at once.”

If his suspicions were correct, Milnyme was the most crucial figure in Fabian Nachtmann’s scheme.

***

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