NMRJKM Chapter 96

 

Ariadeline secretly traveled back and forth to the imperial palace, striving to heal Dorothea with her divine power.

Fortunately, she was able to use the holy relic to prevent the black magic from spreading throughout her body, but she could not awaken Dorothea.

“Phew… I think that will be enough for today.”

“…I want to express my gratitude to you.”

The crown prince’s face was becoming more gaunt as time passed. Ariadeline looked at him with pity. She could tell how much he loved Dorothea.

“…She will definitely wake up.”

Ariadeline gently patted the crown prince’s shoulder, who was tightly holding Dorothea’s hand. His eyes were always bloodshot.

After comforting the crown prince, Ariadeline quietly left the room. The fact that Dorothea had been cursed was still kept secret.

‘Does the crown prince know? That it was the Princess of Yermondi.’

Ariadeline still hadn’t been able to tell the crown prince the truth.

First, she needed to convince him that she was not the one who cursed Dorothea, but given the crown prince’s current state, he was unlikely to accept that.

‘Still, I guess it’s fortunate that he doesn’t think I’m the culprit.’

Perhaps Dorothea’s efforts were behind it all. Ariadeline quietly left the crown princess’s palace and returned to the mansion.

When she returned to the mansion, Carlothian was there to greet her. Ariadeline approached Carlothian and spoke.

“Is everything I mentioned ready?”

“Yes, I have ordered all those among the knights who can participate in the banquet to attend.”

“It seems difficult to get help from His Highness the Crown Prince. He’s not in good condition.”

“I understand.”

“I’m not exactly sure it will turn out that way.”

Ariadeline said. Even Carlothian, who had heard a little about how things might unfold, honestly had no certainty.

Surely, it was hard to believe that anyone would do such a thing within the imperial palace, no matter how crazy they were.

However, having decided to trust Ariadeline, Carlothian wanted to help her as much as he could.

“By the way, how’s the search for the person who ordered Index to act going?”

Carlothian shook his head.

“Unfortunately, not well.”

“No progress, then.”

Ariadeline nodded. She linked her arm with his as they climbed the stairs.

“Right now, there are more important things. It’s okay to take your time finding them.”

Carlothian narrowed his eyes.

“It’s aimed at you.”

“Well, isn’t it okay now? You declared that if I were attacked, the Denaves family would take revenge.”

Ariadeline smiled. When she smiled, Carlothian’s expression seemed to improve somewhat. Ariadeline found it fascinating and often looked at him multiple times.

“It’s really amazing. Thinking back to when we first met.”

“When we first met…”

“Yes, at the lake…”

Carlothian then spoke with a puzzled tone.

“I don’t think our first meeting was at the lake.”

Ariadeline made a face as if she had just realized something. Carlothian and Ariadeline were arranged to marry, so their first meeting was at the Duke Denaves’ mansion.

“Aha, so you mean the time we met with a new mindset?”

Ariadeline deflected the question and turned her gaze away. Carlothian quietly looked down at her and soon recalled their actual first meeting.

‘I am Ariadeline Atlosia, Your Grace.’

The face that had smiled brightly at him. Her sparkling blue eyes. She looked like a girl who had just fallen in love.

And the first words he had uttered to her were:

‘You.’

It had been exceedingly rude.

‘Do not expect anything from me.’

‘…What?’

‘I mean, do not expect anything more or less from me than the position of the Duchess.’

She likely never imagined she would be so disregarded, even in an arranged marriage. Ariadeline, who had been cherished as the youngest daughter of a duke’s family, felt her eyes waver.

‘All you can leave behind is your name.’

Their first meeting lasted less than five minutes. He had finished that sentence and left the room. He couldn’t dare imagine how Ariadeline felt being left alone in that spot.

Carlothian looked down at Ariadeline, who was smiling while linking her arm with his.

He had much to repay. He had caused her a lot of pain for a long time.

But whether she knew that or not, Ariadeline immediately opened a book about the imperial palace as soon as they returned to the room.

The venue for Princess Yermondi’s upcoming birthday celebration was the Diamond Hall.

The large hall, consisting of five floors, was, as the name suggested, the largest and most luxurious of all halls.

People whispered that this was likely to be an event to find a match for Princess Yermondi.

But Ariadeline did not think that way. She spread several books related to the imperial palace on her bed, trying to understand the locations and sizes of the palaces, the number of terraces, and the exits.

As she was doing this, Carlothian sat behind her and pulled her into an embrace.

“What are you looking at so intently?”

“I’m trying to examine the exits as thoroughly as possible so that people can be safe. But the details aren’t as clear as I expected.”

“The map of the palace is quite confidential. It’s only because this is the Denaves family that such books exist.”

“Hmm, is there nothing more detailed? This is a bit lacking. Ugh…”

While holding Ariadeline, Carlothian nibbled on her ear. At that sensation, Ariadeline instantly flushed and turned to look at him.

“Wh-what are you doing? I’m busy!”

“I know. Just keep doing what you were doing.”

“Y-you jerk…”

Ariadeline struggled to focus more on the book. As his breath tickled her ear and reached her neck, her face began to turn red.

‘Don’t pay attention. Don’t pay attention.’

Ariadeline bit her lip and stubbornly stared at the exits of each floor of the Diamond Hall.

Then, at that moment, Carlothian pressed his lips deeply against her neck.

“Ah…!”

Ariadeline’s moan was met with a faint chuckle from Carlothian. She turned away from him in annoyance.

‘Focus on the book. Focus…!’

But with his lips persistently teasing a single spot, Ariadeline’s shoulders began to tremble slightly. She bit her lip.

“W-why are you interrupting me…”

“I don’t think I’m interrupting anything.”

“How shameless…”

Ariadeline turned to him with eyes that seemed about to cry. Carlothian looked down at her quietly and then pointed to a spot in the book with one hand.

“The stairs in the Diamond Hall are arranged in a curved format in the center of the hall. So if people crowd there, they’re likely to fall.”

“I see. Ah…!”

Ariadeline twisted her shoulder at the sensation of him biting her nape. But Carlothian whispered near her neck.

“However, the terraces are wide and numerous, making it a good escape route.”

“Ah, wait a minute…”

Ariadeline started to make soft sounds. Then, as if to escape, she grabbed the sheet and leaned forward.

Carlothian covered her back with his body as if to say there was no chance of escape.

He let out a short laugh. Ariadeline’s face turned even redder at the sound of his laughter, and she could only stare at the bedsheet.

“I’m curious about what you’re wearing today.”

“Why are you bringing that up…?”

Carlothian, looking at Ariadeline’s flushed ear, slowly licked the outer edge of it.

As the wet sound filled her ear, a faint moan escaped from Ariadeline’s throat.

Ariadeline tightly gripped the sheet and pressed her forehead against the bed. Naturally, Carlothian’s breath touched her nape as he followed.

He clicked his tongue. Lately, it annoyed him that Ariadeline seemed busier than he was and didn’t pay much attention to him.

Even though they finally had time alone, she was just staring at that book.

Carlothian pushed the cluttered books aside. The sound of them tumbling to the floor was heard, and only the two of them remained on the bed.