SWWYV CHAPTER 160

Chapter 160

“That’s what I think.”

“What was Grand Duke Killian Rivellon doing at that time?”

“He was with me and saved Lady Sophia from being crushed by the chandelier. If it weren’t for Killian, she could have been seriously injured.”

“…Hah.”

Ian ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.

He was relieved that Sophia hadn’t been hurt, but the fact that Killian had saved her made him feel disgusted. 

He should be grateful to Killian, but he wasn’t at all. 

If only he had been there instead of Killian, everything would have been much simpler.

“Just seeing someone up there isn’t enough to prove it was intentional. Why do you think the chandelier fall wasn’t due to negligence?”

“Traces were found showing that the chandelier’s cord was deliberately cut. It was no simple accident.”

“Cut?”

“The cut was clean, as if done by a knife. If it had snapped naturally due to weight, it wouldn’t look like that.”

Ian pondered Mikhail’s words.

So… did Killian arrange this accident to create an alibi for himself? 

But for that to work, it should have been framed as the work of the Black Moon. 

Yet, the chandelier incident is known as a simple accident, providing no support for Killian’s alibi. It’s contradictory in many ways.

Therefore, Ian concluded that the chandelier incident was unrelated to the Black Moon.

“The motive, the purpose, and the method are all different from the Black Moon’s previous actions. Even if it was intentional, it’s separate from the Black Moon.”

“But as you know, Sir Ian, not many in the palace are capable of such deeds. Think back to when the Black Moon killed Sir Liam…”

“It could be the work of someone who became bold after seeing the black moon.”

Ian drew a line through Mikhail’s speculation. If it wasn’t Killian, it must be someone else, but not the Black Moon.

‘…Whether it’s the Black Moon or not, the problem is Killian.’

Ian tried to shake off thoughts of Killian and Sophia, but Mikhail’s continuous talk about them made his mind more tangled.

“I heard the royal family is actively supporting the Grand Duke’s wedding.”

Ian decided to address what he was curious about now that Mikhail was here.

“It’s also Lady Sophia’s wedding.”

“…Do you know why His Majesty arranged the engagement between the Grand Duke and Lady Sophia?”

Ian’s eyes bore a hint of resentment as he asked.

“Since His Majesty arranged it, I’m not entirely sure. Honestly, I had my doubts when the engagement was first mentioned.”

At first, he was disappointed, thinking Sophia was unworthy of Killian. 

But since Killian didn’t object, he respected his choice. Now, he believed the marriage between Killian and Sophia was a very good thing.

“The Empress was wise. Whatever the reason, the two get along well and make a good match, don’t you think? I understand they went to look at dresses together today.”

Mikhail’s words made Ian recall this morning.

Recently, Sophia had been openly avoiding him. 

From the early dawn when he trained to the late morning when he went to Ruchtainer, she always pretended to be asleep and never came out. 

She skipped breakfast and only emerged to meet Killian after Ian had left for Ruchtainer.

“It seems Killian will officially propose once the wedding date is set.”

Mikhail’s words hardened Ian’s expression even more.

Though the marriage was already discussed, a proposal was a significant step towards the wedding. 

Typically, proposals accompanied engagement ceremonies, but since Killian’s engagement was arranged in writing, he hadn’t formally proposed yet.

‘…I thought it was just a political marriage.’

In purely political marriages, proposals were sometimes skipped. 

But Killian seemed to be planning a proper moment for Sophia after all. 

A proposal announced love publicly and confirmed their bond, making it a small wedding itself. 

Society treated those who received proposals as already married.

‘Once he proposes, it’s irreversible.’

Ian clenched his teeth. 

If that line was crossed, there would be no turning back. He needed to do something before it was too late.

* * *

“Where’s Mikhail?”

“He returned from meeting Sir Ian of Ruchtainer this morning.”

Mikhail was more aggressively investigating the Black Moon case than expected. 

Beatrice was not pleased with her son’s involvement in this matter. 

He had met with Killian yesterday, and she couldn’t guess what he had heard. 

What if Killian had planted suspicions in Mikhail’s mind and was using him to track her?

Beatrice anxiously licked her lips.

“Keep monitoring him.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As soon as the knight left, Beatrice stood up and threw open the window, feeling suffocated.

“Why did Mikhail have to be the one to see someone up on the chandelier that day?”

If it had been someone else, she could have silenced or misled them quietly.

‘And on top of that, one of the rosary peas we were supposed to receive from Fraus has gone missing…’

Even after shouting orders to find it immediately, she felt uneasy.

The most important thing now was to get Mikhail to drop this case.

‘He said he met Ian.’

Since he wasn’t particularly close to Ian, he must have gone to ask about the Black Moon.

Beatrice wondered what Mikhail might have found out from Ian.

Perhaps Mikhail had talked about what Killian had told him during their conversation.

Growing anxious, Beatrice eventually called for a maid.

“Summon Sir Ian.”

She planned to disguise her concern for her son and find out what Ian and Mikhail had discussed.

If she could persuade Ian well enough, she might get him to investigate the Black Moon case alongside Mikhail as a cover, placing him close enough to monitor Mikhail.

She might also get closer to information about the missing rosary pea from Fraus.

Later that afternoon, Ian arrived at the Empress’s palace in response to her summons.

“Welcome, Sir Ian Fraus.”

Beatrice greeted Ian with a perfect mask of calm, hiding her anxious face.

As she led him to a seat, Ian looked somewhat uncomfortable as he sat down. He seemed more solemn than usual.

‘It looks like he has something he wants to say.’

Ian, being awkward in social interactions, was easy to read.

“You called for me, Your Majesty.”

“Yes. I heard you met with Mikhail today.”

Beatrice smiled as she offered him tea.

Ian responded briefly that he had.

“You don’t seem to be close to Mikhail…”

“No.”

“I’m curious about what you talked about.”

“Is that why you called for me?”

Ian asked without touching the tea.

“Mikhail has been diligently investigating the Black Moon lately, and as a mother, I’m worried. Being the Crown Prince, I fear he might become an easy target for such a killer…”

Beatrice subtly probed Ian by expressing her concern for her son.

“Besides, with Mikhail taking such an active role, I can’t just stand by and do nothing.”

Beatrice asked Ian to relay what he and Mikhail had talked about.

Ian didn’t like having to repeat the conversation about the Black Moon to the Empress, but he couldn’t refuse a direct order.

“Mikhail asked about the Black Moon, but I didn’t have much to tell him.”

Ian repeated what he had told Mikhail.

“I also mentioned that the chandelier incident seems unrelated to the Black Moon.”

“Indeed… that makes sense.”

Beatrice pretended to agree, taking a sip of her tea.

It seemed Mikhail was still only looking at the surface of the case.

‘It’s not something to worry about just yet.’

Feeling relieved, Beatrice looked at Ian.

“Sir Ian, it seems you have more to say?”

She observed Ian, who had seemed deep in thought since arriving.

Could he have discussed something inappropriate with Mikhail?

“Don’t worry, go ahead and speak.”

She encouraged Ian, fearing she might have missed something.

After a few moments of reassuring him and coaxing him to speak, Ian finally spoke again.

“Your Majesty, you arranged the engagement between Sophia and Grand Duke Rivellon, didn’t you?”

Contrary to Beatrice’s expectations, Ian brought up Sophia and Killian’s marriage.

“Yes. It’s one of the best decisions I’ve made.”

Beatrice masked her surprise and put on a gentle, motherly expression.

“Sophia had never shown her face in society before. May I ask why you chose her to be engaged to the Grand Duke?”

“At the time, I thought the Fraus family and the Rivellon Grand Duchy would make a good match. As you know, we often arrange marriages that way.”