Chapter 32

“Princess Juana was imprisoned under the guise of protection by the emperor. Who do you think rescued her from there?”

“Well, it seems like someone who wished for the death of the princess and the baby in her womb.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Because when the child was born, there was the Day of Entrustment. Since they couldn’t easily kill the woman holding the emperor’s child, they might have driven her out to be killed outside.”

Moreover, they said that this entrustment was spread for everyone to hear.

As Doha continued speaking, she realized the identity of the one who drove them out.

“The empress.”

Angelus was surprised.

Not only did he understand what she was saying, he even immediately inferred the answer.

He couldn’t shake off the feeling that he was teaching someone who already knew ten things when he taught one.

‘She’s such a smart kid.’

But how could he not have known until now?

He had been fooled by the cunning of Liden and just went along with it without trying to investigate properly.

‘What if I had assigned a proper teacher to this child?’

If he had followed the lessons as well as he did now, Angelus would have considered Barney admirable.

He wouldn’t have been confined to the palace and tower, and there wouldn’t have been maids stealing money.

He wouldn’t have been ignored by the maids, and he could have enjoyed many things just like any other noble.

‘Is this my doing…?’

There was no denying that he was indirectly responsible. He was the one who hired Liden.

Angelus gazed at Doha with various complex looks and replied.

“Yes, that’s right. Her Majesty the Empress.”

“….”

“Cradle City, representing neutrality, is keeping neutral, but already two major aristocratic factions have sided with the prince.”

“….”

“In a situation where they have seized the throne succession rights, they cannot sit idly by as the number of princes increases to six, increasing the risk.”

As Angelus continued his explanation, Doha’s face gradually turned pale.

It was just as he said.

Previously, there wouldn’t have been time to care about a child thrown into the garbage dump while restraining five princes.

They would have just waited for him to die with his legs injured.

But what about now?

‘He didn’t know how to survive until his ninth birthday.’

They would have left him to die because they didn’t want to dirty their own hands.

Damian was like a chicken trapped in a coop. He could be strangled at any moment if they wished…

Doha wondered what might happen.

He had survived well even in harsh environments, so she hoped he would continue to survive this year. She believed he would be safe.

Until he found out he was a prince.

‘The empress will use her own hands.’

That might be the reason why Damian’s fortune for this year, his “fate,” was ominous.

So, if he hadn’t received any contact…

‘She might have already used her hands.’

He might already be dead.

‘Ah….’

Feeling parched, Doha pressed her lips with her tongue.

‘The hidden prince.’

An infant of noble lineage, untouched by any faction, untouched by anyone’s influence…

‘Moreover, he was the only one with the qualities that the emperor should possess.’

Was it actually because of this reason that she had been constantly worried and preoccupied?

Despite her ongoing concerns, he was the only person indispensable to Doha.

The only lifeline. The only salvation.

If she let go of the child now, such an opportunity would not come to her again.

‘I have to catch him.’

No matter what means necessary, she had to save him, even if it meant gambling with her life.

* * *

As soon as the class ended, Doha sent Candice on an errand.

“Summon a suitable designer from a suitable dressing room in the capital.”

“A suitable… do you mean?”

“Summon a designer who can start working immediately in a dressing room that doesn’t require reservations.”

In other words, it meant to inquire about a place where business was slow and they were willing to take on any job.

“Oh, I understand.”

“You don’t need to address them formally. I want the dress to be made as quickly as possible.”

Doha handed her the black card, or rather, the proof document she had put in the drawer.

It was something Angelus had given her before.

“Use this to buy a dress.”

“You’re not going to try it on?”

“No.”

Doha explained quickly.

“The fabric doesn’t need to be luxurious. Since the fabric won’t be visible anyway, I want tiny diamonds packed all over the dress.”

The budget of the Grand Duchy was the budget of a nation.

Therefore, everything was meticulously recorded in the accounts, and even as the Grand Duchess, she couldn’t spend as she pleased.

“So, we should avoid very famous jewels that can be traced back to specific craftsmen.”

Like the Twilight Starlight or Tears of the Sea.

Jewelry with grand names attached could be traced back if sold recklessly.

Small, nondescript gems dotted all over the dress were just right.

So, as a means of escape.

“If the designer seems hesitant, tell them the Grand Lady said the diamonds should gather like stars and shine brightly like the Milky Way in the night sky.”

It meant to speak as if the client was an inexperienced young noble who believed that sparkling meant top quality.

“Yes, understood.”

Candice replied without hesitation. She didn’t ask for a reason.

It was indeed a strange request, but she judged that Doha wouldn’t make such a request without a reason.

The influence of saving her almost-dead brother’s life was significant, but it was also Candice’s innate personality.

“I guess I’m good at judging people after all.”

Doha smiled with satisfaction and suddenly confessed.

“I’m going to cause a stir.”

“…What?”

“But before that, I feel like I should get your permission in advance.”

Candice’s momentarily blank face soon regained composure, and she nodded firmly.

After Candice left, Doha immediately called Ruby.

Soon, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor. It was completely different from Candice’s composed stride and exceptionally noisy.

“Yes, you called?”

Ruby opened the door without even knocking, her cheerful voice filling the room.

If Candice were here, she would have been frowning and lecturing sternly.

“I heard a rumor that a wandering mage appeared in the Grand Duchy. Do you know anything about it?”

“Wow, of course!”

Doha expected Ruby to be interested in rumors.

‘So, the Grand Lady is interested in wandering mages!”\’

More precisely, she wanted artifacts made by that wandering mage.

No matter how skilled Benny was at escaping, it was difficult to escape without the power of magic.

‘Teleportation magic as well as offensive and healing magic would be necessary.’

Of course, she couldn’t use artifacts made by the mage residing in Kredel Castle.

Using such items would be no different from running away with a tracking device attached.

The artifacts made by the mage in the Imperial Palace tower couldn’t be used either. So, there was no choice but to rely on wandering mages.

“Well, yeah. Tell me some information.”

“He’s handsome.”

Oh, that wasn’t the information she was interested in.

“His hair is as red as roses, and his eyes are emerald, shining even from a hundred meters away…”

Doha interrupted Ruby’s words with a wave of her hand.

“Other than that.”

“He fought and defeated a bear.”

Exaggeration?

Suddenly, Doha felt her trust in the wandering mage plummeting, but she held back and asked.

“How skilled is he in magic?”

“I’m not exactly sure, but as a wandering mage, he’s probably not as good as the resident mages in the castle.”

The wandering mages in this world were more like entertainers than mages. They sang like bards and told rumors and adventure stories.

Ruby’s description of the mage’s appearance was probably just a random embellishment.

‘Well, I can’t help that.’

Unfortunately, there was no time to inquire about the wandering mage now.

A wandering mage was literally someone who traveled the world, enjoying adventures.

Unless he happened to stay in a village for a while, it was difficult to contact him, let alone meet him.

It meant that if she didn’t act now, she might have to wait indefinitely.

Doha asked Ruby, “Which territory is he in?”

* * *

“Here you are.”

Doha, who was hurrying towards the Department of Magic building, was startled.

It was because Angelus had approached from behind and started talking.

‘It’s not a ghost.’

It was one of the several flaws of Kredel. The lack of any sense of presence.

With a smile as if she had been practicing it skillfully for about ten years, Doha turned around.

“Are you looking for the temple?”

In his hand was a bracelet that seemed to have been prepared by himself. It was for Bunny.

‘It’s obviously a high-end product.’

Even if she didn’t know much about it, it seemed like it would have a title like “The Masterpiece of the Legendary Craftsman Renowned Worldwide.”

Currently, it was the number one item that Doha should avoid at all costs.

“Oh.”

Doha let out a short exclamation of appreciation, then smiled at him, just like before.

“Thank you so much.”

“…Sure.”

Bunny resembled Ophelia. So much so that even family members thought so.

Angelus, who had always been greeted with Ophelia’s sincere and bright smile, keenly noticed that Bunny was forcing a smile.

If that sight wasn’t bittersweet, it would be a lie, but it was the result of his own actions.

Who could he blame? He hadn’t even expected a good response from Bunny.

‘I’ll protect her.’

When the drug incident was revealed and Leiden escaped.

Angelus gave Bunny an artifact with a summoning spell.

It had been kept in a drawer’s jewelry box for a long time.

He had always regretted it.

If only he had given something like this to Ophelia earlier. Then she wouldn’t have been in danger….

But this time would be different. No matter what happens, he’ll protect her.

Until then, Angelus didn’t know. That it would be the last time he saw Bunny before she disappeared.

And he definitely didn’t know he would discover the bracelet untouched in her room drawer.