Nathaniel said his goodbyes to the rich man whom he met again in a soft voice. And the darkness in which they were contained was folded away forever.
[Note: Until now Gladioso never rested in peace, he was stuck in that black world of Nathaniel, but now he might rest in peace with his father. Also those tiny eyeballs are of those people whom Nathaniel killed, yes they are still suffering, so, if yâall think Nathaniel ends things just by killing people, it is not]
***
The next day, the Marquis of Vermont, Valencia, was found dead in prison.
âDid he commit suicide?â
Kyrie asked fiercely. Dr. Poe, who looked like a huge bouquet of flowers from a purple satin vest with green feathers, nodded his head in embarrassment.
âYes. Iâm sure. There was no sign of anyone breaking inâŠâŠ.â
âShouldnât you take away the weapon?â
âIt seems that someone who was watching him pretended to faint and let someone who was watching in. Marquis of Vermont has a good physiqueâŠâŠ.â
âDo people with a good physique faint?â
âI heard he struggled after being bitten by a centipede. Thatâs how the watchman testified. He said he was following orders.â
Kyrie paused for a moment.
âThe order isâŠâŠ.â
âAfter the lady collapsed and rested, the Legendary Lord saidâŠâŠ.â
Dr. Poe slowly took a look at Kyrie. If there are two superiors, itâs hard for the subordinates. Kyrie understood the hardship and shook her head.
âYes, I know, so I canât help it.â
âAre you in good health? I heard that the work is very heavyâŠâŠ.â
âItâs okay.â
Kyrie answered firmly. It didnât look good to anyone, but Dr. Poe bit his lips. That was the life of aristocrats. He took a step back, vowing to work hard at whatever he was assigned to do.
âThe servant who was in charge of the watch seemed to be unconscious, so I let him rest. Would you like to meet him?â
âAfterwards.â
Kyrie covered her mouth with a pen.
âThings got complicated.â
The Marquis of Vermont died in the Grand Library of Pronoia, so anyone can see that his opponent killed him. The plan to escort him to the capital went awry.
âGive me one person to protect the watchman. Without him, we will be framed.â
âW, what if that happens?â
Dr. Poe fidgeted and twitched his fingers. Kyrie put down her pen and sighed.
âItâs war.â
âHick!â
âThe vassals of the Marquis of Vermont are all warriors. We got into trouble.â
Each of the seven major families has a different focus area. The Duke of Edenhall are the inland traders, the Count Barbiti is for the mining industry, and the Count Archibald is for the tourism industry. In the past, Buchanan was a wizarding family, but todayâs Buchanan is a family that thoroughly competes in personal battles. Close ties and support with the local nobility are at the heart of Buchananâs strength.
The Marquis of Vermont, on the other hand, is surprisingly focused on force. Of course, if there is a war, Buchanan is at a disadvantage. It wouldnât matter if there were two Transcendents, but she didnât want to attract them.
Kyrie leaned against the back of her chair, pressing her forehead against the migraine.
âI have no choice but to ask the Emperor for mediation. I have to go to the capital.â
Dr. Poe looked at Kyrie with a face that was terrified. Kyrie laughed bitterly.
âDonât worry too much. This behemoth was probably for the personal sake of the Marquis, and the Marquis doesnât have a successor now. And knights do not obey orders unless they have the rightful masters. Thereâs a good chance itâll be uproar about who the next Marquis of Vermont will be.â
âIs that so? I donât know much about politics.â
âYour role is in academics, not politics. Are you okay? There is a lord to do that.â
The last sentence came out quite playfully. Thanks to this, Dr. Poe returned safely.
Kyrie, who sent him, covered her eyes with the back of her hand.
âIs it really suicide?â
As soon as Kyrie heard that the Marquis of Vermont had died, she thought it was obvious what Nathaniel had done.
But given the circumstances, there is nothing suspicious about it. Locked jail, fainted watchman. She was in a similar situation when she left Clementz Castle. It is said that only the wounds that the Marquis had stabbed in the neck remained on his body. It was not Nathanielâs way. He had always done things big and flashy on purpose, and if he did, the corpse of the Marquis of Vermont should be hanging at the entrance to Pronoia by now.
Knock Knock.
Snapping out of her thoughts, someone knocked on the door.
âMiss B, Buchanan? A guest has arrived.â
âGuest?â
âYes, a guest!â
âThis voice?â
Soon after, a bright yellow blonde popped out from behind the door. Rubinia Cassner, who stood proudly, smiled broadly.
âMiss Kyrie! I miss you so much!â
She was so surprised that her face turned cold in an instant. Rubinia entered the room like a little bird.
âWhat, you donât have to be so serious! You didnât want to see Ruby?â
After Kyrie barely managed to overcome her surprise, she ordered the servant to leave. Rubinia watched the servant close the door with her smiling face, and when she was alone, she opened her eyes like a wildcat.
âWhat kind of dress is that?â
She still couldnât adapt to her changing attitude. Kyrie put a faint smile on her lips.
âBecause Iâm not in a situation where I can wear a dress.â
âAnyway, it is. Ugh, thatâs terrible. Itâs a fabric that was popular two years ago.â
âIt is inevitable that the culture here is behind the capital.â
âThis lace is new. Gigi Micheleâs work. Pretty, right?â
âYou are pretty.â
It was a bland reaction but Rubinia gave a coy look.
âWhy are you here? Heh, Iâm here to announce that Iâm married.â
âYes?â
It was an outrageous confession. Even Kyrie lost her composure for a moment. Seeing that, Rubinia smirked. She had a white parasol and wore a cherry blossom-colored dress, smiling like a spring fairy.
âThere are times when you canât even be cool! I think I won for the first time!â
âAre you married? With whom?â
âHey, itâs the prince. I am the Crown Princess now. Officially.â
Then she took out her ring to prove that she was a member of the royal family. The green complementary color sparkled with a dazzling light from above the ring. Kyrie rolled her eyes. Then she got up from her seat and bent her back.
âYou are a royalâŠâŠâ
âEww! please! Canât you stop? Itâs disgusting!â
âThen Iâll pass this on.â
As if she had waited, she looked at Kyrie sitting in her seat again, and Rubinia put on her tired expression.
âAre you going to be polite? Do you think your ego is detachable?â
âThatâs what the social world is like. Did the Crown Prince also come with you?â
âWe came together only on paperwork. Honeymoon.â
(T/N: she is saying from outside they came together here but in reality they didnât, only Rubinia came)
The condition is still bad. Receiving Kyrieâs gaze, Rubinia shrugged her shoulders.
âEden isâŠâŠ..Not good. I guess his pride must have been one with the soul.â
While grumbling, her expression was brighter than before. Having obtained the position she wanted, there will be no more regrets. Kyrie smiled silently. As she looked at her, Rubinia rolled her pale green eyes with aggression.
(T/L: lol Rubinia never loved Eden)
âWill you? Are you going back to the capital?â
âI have to go back.â
âAre you with the Legendary Lord?â
In Rubiniaâs words, Kyrieâs movements while organizing her papers stopped for a moment.
âI donât know.â
A look of wonder appeared on Rubiniaâs face. When Rubinia saw that she was doing her work she thought Kyrie had somehow agreed with him.
âDonât tell me youâre stillâŠâŠreally? Incarceration? Pets? Youâre still tied up, arenât you?â
Tok. Kyrie deliberately put her papers up and organized them. She smiled vaguely.
âWould you like to look around before lunch? The Pronoia Grand Library has the largest collection of books in the country, so I think your royal highness will like it.â
From the look of her smiling face, she could see her resolute determination that she didnât want to tell this story any more. Rubinia rolled her eyes for a moment, and then she smiled sweetly and cutely.
âDamn it. âYour Royal Highnessâ. Itâs very creepy.â
âDamn, thatâs not very elegant.â
***
As expected by Kyrie, the Marquis of Vermontâs army was at a loss for what to do when they lost their leader. They camped in front of Pronoia for several days, then withdrew.
âStupid guys. Tch.â
The Crown Princess looked at them and snorted. She was like a woman who walked in and out of the royal library.
She spent several days looking at Kyrie in the office, and Rubinia, who seemed to be living in the Pronoia Grand Library, grew bored.
âAre you working again?â
âIâm working again.â
Kyrie answered without stopping her pen. Dressed in a glamorous dress that didnât suit Pronoia, Rubinia distorted her face.
âWhen are you resting? Are you secretly resting without me?â
âIt never happened, so donât worry.â
As she answered, her gaze did not leave the document. Rubinia approached and slammed her desk with the palm of her hand.
âItâs weird no matter how you think about it.â
âWhat?â
âThe answer is festivals. Festival!â
âThere is a gap in your logic, my dear.â
Kyrie lowered her gaze to the papers veiled by Rubiniaâs fingers.
Would it be blasphemy to the royal family if I touched her hand and removed it?
âBesides, I canât afford it nowâŠâŠâ
âFortunately! I donât think youâre going to have to hold it. I heard that the citizens are doing something on their own.â
âHow did you find that information?â
âBecause Iâm pretty, people open up to me!â
Rubinia put up a nose and shrugged exaggeratedly, but Kirie was genuinely impressed. Itâs definitely her talent.
âIâve been looking around a bit lately, and the city is so stagnant. Even though we won with almost no loss, we only lost contact with neighboring cities for a while, so we should make them feel better. It raises morale and shows that you are still in good health!â
Rubinia, who had been speaking softly as if giving a speech, stopped and looked back at Kyrie.