Episode 62. D-day 60(2)

“So? How was it resolved? Why did that person die?”

“It wasn’t just one person. There were several bodies.”

“You don’t need to be that detailed!”

Hearing that there were multiple bodies was even more terrifying. Surely, the bodies weren’t buried while I was living there? It’s a wonder there weren’t any ghosts.

I was scared to death, but Percy, who was delivering the news, seemed a bit bored. He crossed his arms and answered,

“The investigation has been concluded. His Majesty ordered it to be so. Normally, I would oversee such cases, but this time I was completely blocked from intervening.”

“So it’s just going to be concluded like that? Everyone will just stay quiet?”

“Yes. It will disappear as if it never happened.”

That statement felt like a heavy stone was pressing on my chest. No matter how powerful the emperor was, it was absurd.

Even during the time when all roads led to Rome, the emperor didn’t have the power to kill innocent people. I frowned and asked,

“I can’t understand. He’s not a good emperor, this is practically tyranny. Why doesn’t anyone advise him against his wrongdoings?”

Percy’s answer was simple.

“Because he kills anyone who does.”

That might be true for commoners. But the emperor’s chamberlain wasn’t a position for commoners.

“But such coercion wouldn’t work on the nobility. You, for instance, wouldn’t stay quiet if you were wronged.”

“I have to stay quiet.”

“Why?”

His answer was contrary to the confident demeanor I had seen from Percy. At my question, Percy tilted his head and spoke in a strangely subdued tone.

“Well, according to legend, the five warriors who hunted the dragon divided its body into five parts and buried them in their own territories to prevent its resurrection.”

He was talking about the founding myth of this country.

“Zulatán took the heart. Perhaps because of that, we, the four dukes, must obey the emperor unconditionally.”

I blinked at Percy’s words. Unconditional obedience? Despite that, didn’t he manage to get me out of the imperial palace easily?

‘Wait a minute. Now that I think about it, Percy was always very respectful to the emperor.’

Even in unreasonable situations, he would cleverly get me out while pretending to support the emperor.

As if he couldn’t defy the emperor directly.

Can that be called loyalty? How is that different from pretending to obey while actually resisting?

Can this world be considered normal?

“That’s… that’s a bit strange.”

“Yes, it is strange.”

Percy nodded calmly. His slightly darkened red eyes glimmered like blood.

“I am interested in the heart that Zulatán possesses.”

His words were also strange.

‘But what does he intend to do with that heart?’

Can the dragon’s heart from the founding of this country still exist intact? Even if he finds it, what then?

‘What exactly does he want?’

Only then did I realize that he hadn’t shown me any of his true intentions. As I was about to ask more, his finger touched my lips. When I closed my mouth, he winked and changed the subject.

“First, let’s finish our meal and head to Count Bohan’s estate. One might be forgiven for forgetting a joyous occasion, but never a funeral.”

As if to say we couldn’t discuss it any further.

* * *

Though it was frustrating, we had to urgently attend Count Bohan’s funeral as Percy suggested. It was a matter of etiquette towards the deceased, but it was also for my personal reasons.

Inside the carriage heading to Count Bohan’s estate, I rested my chin on my hand and sank into thought.

‘In the original novel, Count Bohan was one of the male protagonists.’

There were three male leads in the game I played, [Victorian Love]: Count Bohan and his two sons. But now, one of the male leads, Count Bohan, was dead.

‘I only played for about 15 minutes. I barely saw the introduction, so I don’t know how Count Bohan’s route unfolds.’

But it couldn’t be normal for one of the male leads to die.

‘Does this mean that route ended in a bad ending?’

If it’s a bad ending, what happened to the female lead, Beth?

‘Depending on Beth’s situation, my fate as the villainess will be decided. So I have to figure out what’s going on with her.’

I need to avoid my bad ending in 60 days.

Since there was no way to get answers just by worrying, I decided to attend the funeral to gather information. Fortunately, Percy had directly suggested it, making it the perfect opportunity.

“We have arrived.”

Percy, now quite accustomed to me, effortlessly helped me out of the carriage and held my hand.

Wearing a black dress and low-heeled black shoes, I looked around.

‘There are a lot of people here.’

It felt more like a party with a black dress code than a funeral. People didn’t seem particularly solemn.

‘This is strange too.’

Is this the local custom? Feeling a strange sense of incongruity, I walked hand-in-hand with Percy towards the cathedral where Count Bohan’s coffin was laid.

As we approached, people in the cathedral’s wide garden began to recognize us and greeted us.

“Oh my, Your Highness.”

“It’s so nice to see you again after meeting you at the Marchioness Verita’s party.”

They were people I had met at the Marchioness Verita’s party.

I responded in a haughty and mischievous tone.

“I’m not happy to see you.”

It was a response intended to annoy them, but people, having become accustomed to my tone, burst into laughter.

“You’re still the same.”

“I think your way of speaking might become a trend soon.”

Don’t let this become a trend. It’s not like I’m doing this because I want to.

While other people surrounded me, Percy released my hand and bowed politely.

“I will go meet the head of the Bohan family.”

The head of the Bohan family. Since Count Bohan was dead, it must be his eldest son, Daniel Bohan.

‘He was originally Sienna’s fiancé, wasn’t he? If so, I should have been standing here as the chief mourner at this funeral.’

It felt strange to attend this funeral as someone else’s fiancée now that the situation had changed.

‘Would Daniel be relieved that I’m not by his side? He didn’t like Sienna, after all.’

I recalled Daniel’s confession that he liked Sienna only after I suggested breaking the engagement. I clicked my tongue.

‘If he had said so earlier, it would have been a happy ending. People always realize the importance of something only after losing it.’

Anyway, Percy’s decision to enter the cathedral alone was considerate of me. Seeing Daniel’s face was indeed awkward for me, so I stayed quietly in the garden.

With so many people talking to me, I didn’t have a moment to feel bored.

“When are you two getting married?”

“Aren’t you practically married already? I heard His Majesty approved, and you’ve moved into the Stewart duchy.”

We were supposed to have the wedding within a month. Come to think of it, Percy hadn’t told me the official date. I shrugged.

“Well, we’ll do it whenever. It’s not like I’m particularly concerned about it.”

To be precise, I hadn’t had the time to be concerned about it. I had been treated like a pampered pet at the Stewart duchy.

Even though it wasn’t a particularly impressive answer, people laughed heartily. Then they started pouring out blessings for our couple.

“I’ve never seen Duke Stewart so affectionate.”

“Yes, he’s always been immaculate in appearance but so stern that no one dared to approach him.”

“Maybe he kept his distance because he had his heart set on Princess Sienna.”

Could that man really have such deep emotions?

‘I don’t think so. There’s quite an age difference between us.’

When he became an adult, Sienna was just a girl having her first menstruation. Could there really have been no romantic incidents between the two?

While I was indifferent, people around me exaggerated and accepted it as the truth.

“Oh my, was he waiting for her to come of age? How romantic.”

“A wonderful man should know how to wait.”

‘It’s embarrassing that they’re interpreting this so positively.’

Compliments can only be tolerated for so long. After a while, I grew tired of listening to such things and turned my head. Then, I saw an unexpected figure and widened my eyes.

“Huh?”

A man with neatly pressed brown hair and an ordinary appearance.

“Julius.”

It was my brother, the crown prince of this country, Julius Zulatan.

“Oh.”

Julius also recognized me. Excusing myself from the others, I ran towards him. Despite my initial intense dislike for him, seeing his face felt like meeting a real family member.

“I didn’t expect to see you here. I thought you were dead but it seems you’re alive.”

“Your sharp tongue is still the same.”

Julius smiled faintly. The dark circles under his brown eyes made him look even more haggard.

I frowned and asked,

“Why do you look so weak? You were stabbed in the arm, not the stomach. You look like you haven’t had a decent meal.”

“How do you know I’m weak?”

Julius asked back with a somewhat sad expression. I chuckled and patted his shoulder.

“How could I not know, you fool? I can tell just by looking at your face.”

Though my answer was scathing, Julius looked like he was on the verge of tears.