Chapter 73
“Now that the evidence has come to light, there’s no turning back. Especially since His Grace the Grand Duke found it himself.”
Delani’s voice, gentle yet firm, reached my ears.
How did she get in here? Entry should be strictly prohibited.
Did she bribe the servants again?
Well, considering how long she’s lived here, bribing them would be a piece of cake for her.
“Damn it, then how the hell…!”
“I plan to persuade Axel.”
“…What?”
“The head of the Aulus family has agreed to help. If we frame Axel as the culprit, you’ll be able to walk free.”
At that, Somerset’s face lit up.
“Ah, right! Axel! It must have been him! Mother, I’m sure of it! He was trying to set me up!”
“Yes, I think so too. That cunning little thing.”
Delani’s soft whisper carried a hint of irritation.
Is he really her son?
Why does she treat him like that…?
No, I shouldn’t care about him.
The real problem was Somerset trying to escape again and the Grand Duchess.
I clutched my hair in frustration.
“Ugh! I should have found Delani’s weakness!”
For the past four years, I had tried to uncover information about Arnold, Gemma, and the Grand Duchess, but I hadn’t been successful.
That man had completely vanished since then—he was nowhere to be found.
Should I have kept the secret passage hidden from the Grand Duke?
‘No.’
I couldn’t leave potential dangers unchecked just to uncover a weakness.
“Stay safe, my dear.”
Delani looked at her son with a pitying gaze, gave him a brief hug, and then left the room.
I immediately headed to Axel’s quarters. He was sitting quietly in his chair, unmoving.
Moments later, Delani entered the room. Axel didn’t even look at her.
“Axel.”
“…”
Creak.
Axel stood up. The moment I peeked out to see his face, I flinched without realizing it.
I had no idea what had happened while we were locked up, but Axel’s eyes were completely lifeless.
Even Delani frowned at the sight.
“What’s with those eyes, Axel?”
“Madam.”
Gemma, who stood beside her, carefully tried to calm her down. While Delani suppressed her irritation, Axel spoke first.
“The hallucinogenic powder—I spread it on Dedrick.”
“…What?”
Delani and Gemma both turned to him in shock, but Axel remained indifferent.
“Isn’t this what you wanted? I’ll do as you wish. But I have one condition.”
“…Go on.”
“Leave Dedrick alone.”
“Huh?”
Had he lost his mind? What was he saying…?
“Do you even understand what you’re saying?”
Axel calmly brushed off his mother’s sharp tone and continued.
“Were you really planning to target Dedrick in this situation? Father, who always stood by and watched, stepped in to protect Dedrick. If anything happens to Dedrick while Father is away, then you, me, and my brother are all finished.”
Well, he wasn’t wrong…
Feeling a bit dazed, I studied Axel.
Was he siding with Dedrick because he had lost his mind, or was he truly concerned for his mother and brother?
But if it were the latter, this wasn’t like him at all. In the past, he would have been the first to torment Dedrick just to gain Delani’s approval.
“Who are you doing this for?”
“For my family, of course. The moment my brother’s probation is lifted, he’ll go after Dedrick again. Don’t you understand, Mother? Now is the time to lie low. Almost all of the retainers, except for the head of the Aulus family, have already sided with Dedrick.”
There wasn’t a single flaw in his reasoning.
“You always told me to support my brother—that it was my role. That’s what I’m doing now. Tell me, was anything I said wrong?”
“…No. But your sudden change is strange.”
“I simply realized my place after the recent duel with the Black hawks. Of course, the head of Blackwood should be my brother.”
Axel smiled—too brightly, almost unsettlingly so.
“Mother, I’ll support my brother diligently from now on. But for that, I need your help. You understand what I mean, don’t you?”
Finally, Delani let out a relieved sigh and smiled.
“Yes, you’ve finally come to your senses. You made the right choice. I’ll take care of this matter.”
“Yes, Mother. Please make it look like I planted the powder in my brother’s room out of jealousy.”
“Of course. Somerset will never forget this favor.”
With that, Delani left the room. Axel’s smile disappeared in an instant, his face going blank as he sat down at his desk.
That was even scarier.
I quietly moved toward a nearby wardrobe and slipped out, following the Grand Duchess from a distance.
For once, she spoke in a cheerful tone.
“Axel has finally come to his senses.”
“Indeed, Madam. To think that Young Master Somerset worried him so much that he would even sacrifice himself first—it’s truly fortunate.”
“I agree.”
She could say that only because she had been paying attention to Axel more than anyone else.
How could she be so indifferent even when he had changed so drastically…?
“Miranda, call the head of the Aulus family. We must claim Somerset’s innocence.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Delani entered her room, and I quickly followed her inside.
She picked up a magazine, but her previously pleased expression darkened almost instantly.
“Madam, shouldn’t you be happy? Your eldest son will be released soon.”
Gemma gently prodded, trying to lift her spirits. Delani tapped the armrest of her chair before speaking.
“That’s a separate matter. There’s still something bothering me.”
I swallowed dryly and focused on her words.
“The day Dedrick showed symptoms, someone coughed up blood in my room. You remember that too, don’t you, Gemma?”
“…Yes, Madam. What could it have been? Should we call a mage?”
“Those people rarely leave their towers. It would be difficult.”
Closing the magazine, Delani stared directly at the exact spot where I had collapsed.
“Someone vomited blood in my room, and Dedrick went mad. There must be a connection.”
“…Could it be a ghost?”
“Ha!”
Delani let out a short, incredulous laugh—but it quickly faded.
“That’s completely ridiculous, yet…”
She fell silent, lost in thought. Frustrated, she tossed the magazine onto the table and stood up.
“Once Somerset’s matter is settled, I should go shopping.”
“Yes, Madam. I’ll make the arrangements.”
She couldn’t have sensed my presence. But still, I held my breath, just in case.
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• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Freya• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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Advance chapters of this novel are available of my kofi channel
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