✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
Translated by: Alina
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
I opened my mouth with a smile.
“That’s impossible. You are my knight escort. Besides, that cake is a gift for Parakel, so I really need it.”
Upon hearing that, Janet seemed to cheer up and smile.
“Right? I knew you would never abandon me, someone who has sworn loyalty to you, Madam.”
While we laughed together, I still felt a sense of doubt about her words.
‘But I still don’t understand. Why did she suddenly swear loyalty to me?’
It’s certain that she hasn’t reported my survival to Erich yet.
If she had informed him, that man wouldn’t be fruitlessly searching the river.
‘Is his goal to reduce the Grand Madam’s sentence? Of course, being the dutiful son he is, he might do that, but is there really a need?’
Anyway, with the current evidence, they won’t be able to impose a harsh punishment on the Grand Madam.
Although a tea bag hidden by the maid in my room came out, there was no clear evidence that she intended to harm my child.
Furthermore, the herb was not only for abortion; it also served as medicine for menopausal women, so if she claimed to have taken it herself, it would be enough.
‘And the tests on the tea I drank at Twinkle didn’t detect any poison, either.’
However, the letters exchanged between the Grand Madam and Medelin still remained.
‘The letter Medelin scrawled, expressing her eagerness to see me bleed.’
Of course, she could also attribute it to Medelin’s instigation, and she could claim she didn’t actually do it.
‘But the circumstances are still quite suspicious, so she won’t be able to avoid punishment. And from now on, she’ll be ostracized from high society.’
Furthermore, the Emperor now has grounds to pressure the Blant ducal family, so it will be difficult for them to wield power as they once did.
‘Since his mother won’t be subjected to severe punishment, why is that person going through such a troublesome act?’
Suddenly, the words I heard in the salon came to mind.
“Well, I wonder if he’s finally starting to regret it now.”
Recalling such an absurd idea, I let out a hollow laugh.
‘Regret? There’s no way that could be true.’
Erich Lennon Blant regrets my death? That’s something that could only exist in my imagination.
The reality I had witnessed in the future was that he was relentlessly pursuing me, trying to kill me by any means.
“If there’s a reason for him to search for my body, it’s probably that.”
Erich Lennon Blant is someone who cares greatly about public perception.
That’s why he’s clearly trying to prove that he has no involvement in the crimes committed by his mother.
‘That way, his perfect heroic image won’t be tarnished.’
Momentarily pausing my laughter, the carriage came to a stop.
“We have arrived.”
I found myself in front of the workshop.
As I entered the workshop, Nancy, Parakel’s assistant, greeted me.
“Welcome back!”
At first glance, her greeting seemed sincere, but her gaze was fixed on the cake Janet had brought.
“Where is Parakel?”
“The master is working in the research lab.”
‘It’s best not to unnecessarily disturb him.’
He was likely busy producing the firearms and developing the bulletproof vests I had previously requested.
Since the matter I wanted to discuss with Paracelsus was simple, there was no need for me to meet him directly.
“Nancy, could you please convey a few things to Paracelsus for me?”
“Of course! By the way, it’s amazing how just a change in your hair makes such a difference in your appearance.”
Well, I’ve changed not just my hair, but my entire outfit, and even my makeup. However, I didn’t directly respond to that and simply smiled in reply.
“It’s all thanks to the medicine you provided.”
‘After all, thanks to the transformation potion from the workshop, I was able to change the color of my eyes and hair and safely escape Twinkle.’
At that moment, Nancy asked with a smile,
“So what message would you like me to convey to the master?”
“Well, that…”
Suddenly, Parakel’s voice was heard from afar.
“My lord, please wait a moment!”
Soon, he came rushing towards me. His neatly combed dark green hair and the ever-present monocle contributed to his cold, stern appearance.
But shortly after, he looked at me with tears in his eyes.
“I’m hurt. You’ve come here, and yet you didn’t even call for me…”
Seeing this, a sight I could have never imagined in the past, I sighed as I recalled the events from a few days ago.
‘Well, he was quite a sight a few days ago.’
For the sake of my plan, maintaining secrecy was crucial, so I had instructed everyone except Sardin and Janet to keep the plan a secret.
That’s why it seems Parakel truly believed I was dead.
<Boo hoo, nothing matters anymore. The one who recognized my worth has passed away, so why should I continue my research?>
Apparently, after hearing the news of my fall from the cliff, he had stopped eating and drinking and spent his time crying.
When I arrived at the workshop, his neatly tied dark green hair was in disarray, and his glasses were missing.
Most striking of all were his swollen, puffy eyes.
He looked at me with eyes that barely seemed to focus, and then promptly fainted.
“A, a ghost!”
Uttering such a foolish statement.
‘Well, he must have been crying because he was worried about not getting the funding for the bulletproof vest development. But still, it wasn’t a bad feeling. After all, someone shed tears for my death.’
Chuckling briefly, I said to Parakel,
“It’s nothing major, but I’m planning to leave the country soon, so I’d like you to make a lot of the transformation potion that I’ll be using. And if there are any other individuals besides me who show interest in the red vials, please let me know.”
Parakel made a puzzled expression, then slowly nodded his head.
“Yes, understood. If such a person exists, I’ll contact you promptly.”
Momentarily, Parakel looked at me with a hint of regret.
“By the way, are you really planning to leave the capital?”
“Yes, it would be problematic if someone found out that I’m still alive while staying here.”
“But still… wouldn’t it be possible for me to come along?”
Seeing Parakel look at me with pleading eyes, like a puppy, I gave a slight smile.
“You want to come with me? I’m heading east; can you manage that?”
“Yes!”
Expectation filled his eyes, but it quickly faded away as I continued.
“No, it’s not possible.”
It couldn’t be helped.
After all, Parakel needed to remain here to inform me about the secret instigator of the rebellion within the country.
‘Before my return, the rebels had procured their weapons from this place. So, it’s clear that the instigator will once again request weapons from Parakel.’
The masterminds behind the rebellion are still unknown. Of course, it could be that Fritz is an incompetent ruler, which might have sparked the rebellion, but I think differently.
‘Those many firearms couldn’t have been prepared if they hadn’t been arranged before the Emperor’s passing.’
In other words, the instigator had likely planned the rebellion in advance, anticipating the Emperor’s death.
‘However, in this lifetime, that rebellion won’t succeed. I’ll make sure to thwart it.’
As I clenched my fist unconsciously, Parakel asked with a sigh,
“When are you planning to leave?”
Smiling wryly, I replied, “In three days.”
“What? But the trial is coming up soon. Aren’t you going to wait for the results?”
“No, I already know the outcome.”
Although my body is missing, Medelin has at least shown intent to harm me.
And that’s because I had orchestrated it to appear that way.
‘I told you, if you touch my child, I won’t let you off the hook.’
Medelin was aware of the Grand Madam’s plans, yet she chose to turn a blind eye to them all.
No, she even went a step further.
Not only did she try to kill my child, but she also wanted to render me infertile for life.
‘Moreover, when that chandelier fell, she appeared both delighted and saddened.’
And I didn’t even need to ask what she was so saddened about.
It was my demise.
So, I simply pretended to be dead.
I merely made it appear as though the murder she had contemplated in her heart was her own doing.
While the evidence is weak and my body is missing, which would likely exonerate her of the murder charge, the mere suspicion of Medelin’s involvement in the death of a royal like myself would still result in her facing punishment.
‘However… since the Emperor wants to maintain the House of Arzen, she won’t receive a harsh punishment.’
What the Emperor wants is the presence of a relative who will support Fritz, not the downfall of the Marquis of Arzen.
Therefore, I provided the necessary justification for the Marquis of Arzen’s persecution.
‘Well, at least I got to witness that brat suffer. Given my uncle’s temperament, it’s evident how we will manage the family embarrassment.’
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
Ceaseless wails could be heard from the Marquis of Arzen’s residence.
“Honey, Medelin is our daughter! Do you really intend to just leave it like this? Try bribing someone, or appeal to His Majesty the Emperor; do something!”
Despite his wife’s anguished cries, the middle-aged man with silver hair and green eyes responded coldly.
“So, are you telling me to risk the downfall of our family just for that one child?”
