‘Is this not it?’
What did I miss?
There didn’t seem to be any particularly misleading words. The thought didn’t last long.
Julion spoke in a low voice.
“Didn’t you say it didn’t work because you developed a resistance to it?”
“Oh, right. That’s why I’m trying to create something new.”
“Something new… Is there a way to do that?”
“Yes, there is. I told you not to worry too much.”
Hoping to dispel any misunderstandings, I smiled cheerfully.
But that only made Julion’s golden eyes grow heavier and heavier.
‘Could this be… not it either?’
What else am I supposed to say?
Unable to figure it out, I decided to change the subject.
“Um, anyway. Why did you come looking for me?”
“…The punishment for Yeffa Cassian has been decided. I thought you might be curious.”
This is truly the news I wanted to hear.
I should have asked first.
“Of course! How did it go?”
As I asked eagerly, Julion blinked and averted his gaze elsewhere.
“She will be sent to the southern labor camp.”
“When is it?”
“It’s set for a week from now, but it could change.”
“Then…….”
I stopped myself from asking for more details.
Even if this were my palace, there are always listening ears around.
“Instead of discussing this in the hallway, let’s go to my office.”
I grabbed Julion’s and pulled him along.He followed me easily, and we quickly made our way to the office.
“Your Highness, shall I prepare some refreshments?”
As we entered the office, Hemion immediately offered to prepare tea.
I shook my head and gestured for Hemion to leave.
I smiled at Julion, who looked at me questioningly, and took out a sound-blocking pill.
“I think important matters should be discussed in a way that puts our minds at ease.”
After placing two pills on the window sill and one at the door, I sat on the sofa.
Tap, tap. The sound of pills burning echoed softly as the smoke began to rise.
“By any chance, has there been any unusual activity from Cassian?”
Julion’s eyes widened slightly in surprise at my question.
“How did you know?”
“Of course. Father wouldn’t just let Yeffa go like this.”
“Well, she’s his daughter, so he’ll find a way for her to survive…….”
“No, not for that reason. I mean that my father needs her in another way.”
Naturally, Julion didn’t understand my words.
Yeffa was a part of Father’s ongoing ‘business.’
She was a chess piece that still had an important role to play, and there was no way he was going to throw her away for something like this.
“Well, it’s a long story. First, tell me exactly what movements there are.”
“……Of course.”
Julion unfolded a paper on the table.
It was a map of the empire, with several circles marked.
“This is Roxis’…”
“Yes, that’s the information you provided. Upon verification, it turns out Roxis’ subordinates were indeed staying there. So, we’ve been keeping a close eye. However, their movements have been suspicious for the past few days.”
“Tell me more in detail.”
He unfolded a few more maps and began his explanation.
As his explanation continued, I strongly felt the need to meet Yeffa.
“Julion, can I meet Yeffa for a moment?”
“Now?”
I nodded in response to Julion’s puzzled question.
“If you’re worried about something like what happened with the chief physician, we’ve prepared thoroughly, so it should be okay.”
“That’s not it. My father needs Yeffa, so I don’t think anything will happen to her in prison like it did with the chief physician.”
“Then why do you want to meet her? I’ve questioned her several times before you woke up, but there was no significant result.”
“I think it would be faster and more accurate to show you than to explain it here.”
Julion smirked, as if he couldn’t resist my persistence.
“Very well. Let’s go.”
Julion seemed to think I was going for an interrogation, but I had no such intention.
‘I have a rough idea of why she did such a thing.’
I didn’t directly interrogate her, but judging from her personality and behavior patterns, my expectations are likely correct.
In my perspective, she committed the crime without realizing that it would be exposed right on the spot.
Even if I could figure out that it was Elento, I wouldn’t have known that they have canaries here. And without Julion, I would have faced difficulties.
‘I was so naive to think that everything would go smoothly as the crown princess.’
Anyone could have fallen into the water.
The crucial thing was instilling the perception that unfortunate events kept happening where the Crown Princess was present.
First the wedding, then the spring banquet, then the boat ride.
This was the third time it had happened.
Even if it were concluded to be a mere accident, rumors would have spread about the unlucky Crown Princess.
It was obvious.
This was a method Yeffa had been using since my time at the Ducal Castle.
Back then, I preferred being alone, so I let her do whatever tricks she wanted.
But things are different now.
Yeffa wasn’t a foolish child, and she must have realized sharply how our circumstances had reversed.
“It’s this way, Rohiriel.”
The surroundings of the underground prison were much stricter compared to the chief physician’s incident.
As we went deeper, a chilling cold enveloped our ankles.
A nauseating smell. Intense scent of blood. And faint sounds of someone’s feeble breath.
“Yeffa.”
At my call, Yeffa, who had been bowing behind the bars, flinched as I approached.
Her once-proud golden hair was now dirty and tangled from days without washing, and her dress, torn by the Canaries, remained in pieces.
As I waited silently, Yeffa slowly lifted her head.
When our eyes met, I felt the venom hidden in her eyes.
“…Rottie?”
However, that venom melted away in an instant, and suddenly Yeffa transformed into the innocent face of a younger sister.
“Sis, why are you here now? I was so scared. Please save me. Please?”
Yeffa crawled closer, gripping the bars with trembling hands.
Her tearful eyes seemed genuinely frightened.
“Yeffa, your wrongdoings have been exposed to everyone. How can I save you from that?”
“But you’re the Crown Princess…! You could help me a little. We’re sisters!”
Despite being less than ordinary sisters, the façade of sisterhood was worn only at times like this. When I didn’t respond, Yeffa reached out beyond the bars.
Grabbing the hem of my dress, Yeffa tearfully begged.
“Sis, I’m so cold and hungry. Can’t you please let me out?”
Yeffa’s voice went beyond desperation, almost pleading. Raising one corner of my mouth in a mocking smile, I pulled Yeffa’s hand away from my dress.
“It’s early summer; what do you mean, cold? If you’re hungry, eat the bread over there.”
I pointed to the dry bread thrown in the corner. It was the kind of bread given to prisoners, so it wasn’t visually appealing.
It was the kind of food Yeffa had never touched in her life.
Nevertheless, she must have been very hungry, as there were traces of someone having nibbled on it in the corner.
‘Seems like she couldn’t stomach even a bite.’
Her hunger must not have been that severe yet.
In my obvious mockery, Yeffa’s face wrinkled without hesitation.
“Why are you doing this to me? What did I do so wrong?”
Then she let out an indignant yell.
Even Julion, who had been silently observing, couldn’t help but chuckle at her genuinely aggrieved expression.
With no significant response from me again, Yeffa unleashed another accusation.
“Father… He will definitely save me. What happened? Did Cassian promise to get me out?”
“No, Father abandoned you.”
“Hmm, there’s no way you’re telling me the truth. Father said he would save me. Yeah, that’s why you came here to mock and ridicule me! You’re trying to make me suffer, right?”
Yeffa chuckled to herself, weaving delusions.
Her slightly deranged appearance made both Julion and me squint in disapproval.
She seemed to have gone off the rails for a moment under the mental pressure she was experiencing for the first time in her life.
Waiting for Yeffa to calm down a bit, I spoke again.
“Again, Yeffa, Father abandoned you. You’ll be sent to the southern labor camp soon.”
“Do you think I’d believe that?”
“I’m serious. You know Father’s personality. He throws away what is useless.”
“That… that can’t be true. There’s no way I’m useless…”
Yeffa’s pupils trembled as if an earthquake had struck.
Not missing the opportunity, I leaned closer to Yeffa’s face.
“But, Yeffa, it’s not entirely hopeless…”
Then, I whispered softly.
Yeffa’s eyes blinked in confusion as she absorbed my words.
