Chapter 100

It seemed to be a rather urgent matter, as the butler, pale-faced, approached immediately after getting off the carriage.

"Your Highness, do you remember sending a knight to the Countess Verdikt a while ago?"

"Oh, right. I did."

Come to think of it, I couldn't hear her reply because I followed Cessi.

"Did the knight bring back the Countess Verdikt's reply? What did she say? Will she cooperate?"

"The knight who was sent to deliver the letter has gone missing. He was a low-ranking knight who had just joined the order. Since he hadn't been assigned any duties yet, I had him run the errand..."

What? I turned to look at the butler with a bewildered expression. However, the butler's face remained stiff.

"Other knights from the ducal family were searching for him, and we just received news."

"Did they find him?"

The butler nodded solemnly and then unfolded the newspaper he had been holding tightly, handing it to me. Before I could read the headline on the front page, the butler's voice reached my ears.

"The knight, and the Countess Verdikt herself."

My eyes read the largest headline.

"They are both dead."

It was an article about the death of Countess Verdikt. I was so shocked that I stopped in my tracks.

"What... what is this?"

And with trembling hands, I covered my mouth and quickly scanned the article. It said that Countess Verdikt, who had disappeared a few days ago, was found dead in an alley. After telling the Count that she would visit the temple, she went missing, and the article added that her body was found cold and lifeless, causing great sorrow. The carriage she usually rode in was found in a mess, as if it had been attacked, and the servant who accompanied her was also found dead.

"This can't be..."

When I confirmed with the guard who accompanied her to the temple, he clearly said that Countess Verdikt had managed to escape safely. She had left the temple alone and descended the mountain safely in her carriage...

'Who could have killed Countess Verdikt... and why?'

I folded the newspaper and handed it back to the butler.

"Didn't you say that Countess Verdikt didn't reply even when I sent the first letter?"

"Yes."

After saying she would visit the temple, she went missing? Then she didn't come down the mountain safely. Something must have happened to her from that point.

'Could she have been killed on her way down from the temple?'

Who could have killed Countess Verdikt, and why? Was it the work of a believer? Or perhaps Dodelea...

"Where was the knight who was sent to deliver the letter found?"

"He was found in the mountains beside the Verdikt estate. It's not a mountain one has to pass to reach the estate, and it's so steep and dangerous that everyone avoids it. Why he was found dead there..."

The culprit who killed Countess Verdikt must have also killed the ducal family's knight.

'If this happens, we won't have any evidence to put the princess on trial.'

I gritted my teeth. To prevent Dodelea from wandering around relying only on the Emperor, we needed to strip her of her power. To do that, we needed solid evidence or testimony, not just suspicion.

'Is there any place where we can find evidence?'

"Oh, right... the temple."

I stopped walking towards the mansion. Gloria had clearly said that Dodelea was only wandering around near the royal palace, not going to the temple. There might still be some evidence left there.

"Your Highness? Why are you stopping?"

"I need to go somewhere immediately. Prepare the carriage for me."

"Where are you going...?"

"The temple. There might still be something left there..."

"Where are you going?"

Before I could finish speaking, a familiar voice came from behind. I turned my head to see Terdeo looking at me disapprovingly from his horse.

"Did I just hear something strange?"

Terdeo dismounted and approached me. He grabbed my waist as if he wouldn't let go and tilted his head.

"You promised me that you would never meet that princess alone."

"Theo."

"Did you forget that promise?"

Terdeo growled, his face showing anger. He seemed to have misunderstood that I was going to meet Dodelea alone at the temple.

'How cute.'

His worried expression was endearing, but that wasn't the priority right now.

"I'm not going alone..."

"What did you hear?"

"Theo, I was going to ask you to come with me. I was going to ask you to go to the temple together."

Terdeo's harsh expression softened when I linked my fingers with his.

"I believe you."

Terdeo adjusted his grip and kissed my hand deeply.

"I'm always worried about what you might do when I can't see you."

"I'm not a child left at the market."

"I'd rather you shrink and fit in my pocket."

Terdeo rubbed his face against my hand, which he had kissed. Ugh, my heart always aches when he does this.

"Please stay where I can see you."

"Then you should keep your eyes on me all the time, Theo."

"…That's a good idea."

Terdeo nodded seriously, as if he had just realized a profound truth. He pulled me tightly into his embrace, and I could feel his firm body.

"Should I find a proxy to take care of everything and return to the duchy to spend my days watching you?"

"You'll fall out of favor with the Emperor."

"Being in your sight would be the greatest honor."

Terdeo kissed the corner of my eye playfully. His soft lips took away all my worries. Just knowing he was beside me made the anxiety and restlessness I had felt moments ago melt away like snow.

"After we resolve everything."

Terdeo murmured with a heartfelt wish.

"Then let's go to a place where it's just you and me. I don't care if we give up our titles or everything else."

"Are you willing to give up everything for me?"

"Yes."

Terdeo buried his face in my shoulder, his large hand sliding up my back. A shiver ran through my body, and I curled my toes without realizing it.

"As long as you're with me, that's all I need. Only you."

It was a sweet thing to hear. I lightly placed my hand on his neck and replied with a voice filled with joy.

"I only need you too, Theo."

So, we needed to lift the curse on the Lafiron family as soon as possible, so he could stay by my side and share the same time.

"I met Adeus today."

Terdeo, who was about to kiss me, frowned.

"Was it the first time since you saw him on the mountain?"

"The first time I saw his face."

"To have the nerve to show his face after lying to you. He's quite shameless."

As expected, Terdeo dislikes Adeus. I quickly got to the point before Terdeo's mood worsened.

"Adeus gave me a dagger as a gift."

"…A dagger? What kind of dagger?"

"A dagger that I can use."

I recalled the light dagger I had once held.

"It seemed to be made to fit my hand perfectly."

"Did he give it to you to use on me?"

"He said I should use it to protect myself."

Terdeo's expression was clearly displeased.

"Since we don't know what might happen with the princess, it might be necessary to protect myself."

"Did you accept it?"

Terdeo asked calmly, trying to hide his emotions. His tension was evident.

"What do you think?"

"…If it's a dagger, it was probably made to be light and easy for you to use."

Terdeo ran his hand through his hair irritably.

"Don't accept it."

His red eyes were clouded with possessiveness.

"I don't like the idea of you carrying something he made with such care. Besides, that gift has other meanings... No, forget it. You don't need to know."

Terdeo tightened his arms around me. His initial firm refusal had disappeared, and his voice was fading.

"…But if it's for your safety, it might be right to accept it..."

His pouting face reminded me of how he treats Selphius, and I couldn't help but smile.

"If I urge the blacksmith to hurry, it will probably still take some time to complete."

I chuckled, and Terdeo buried his face in my neck.

"Damn, I should have given you one first."

I smiled at Terdeo's always considerate heart. I wrapped my arms around his waist and replied with a voice full of laughter.

"Then when it's finished, give it to me as a gift. I'll wait."

"…What?"

"I said Adeus gave it to me, but I didn't say I accepted it."

Terdeo's eyes, which had been buried in my neck, lit up with joy.

"…Really?"

"Yes, I returned everything."

I felt bad for ignoring his gesture, but it's better to avoid confusing the other party.

"I already told you."

I placed my hand on Terdeo's cheek.

"I only need you, Theo. And I want to always carry a gift from you."

"…Shasha."

Terdeo stroked my head affectionately. Smiling, Terdeo bent his head and wrapped his arms around my waist, naturally finding my lips. I, who would have been surprised and flustered in the past, now closed my eyes and welcomed him. The butler, who had been watching us, quietly said, "I'll prepare the carriage," and quickly disappeared.