Chapter 65: Puppet Show

He spoke with an infinitely caring face, as always.

“The body was badly damaged, but… It was well escorted to the Count’s estate.”

I see.

“So you don’t have to worry too much.”

As soon as he walked in, the first thing he said was about the least curious issue. Instead of Wilhelm, who was being mysterious, I was the first to reveal what I was thinking.

“Long time no see, my lord. How long has it been? I thought it would be at least 10 days later when I’d see you again.”

But Wilhelm burst into laughter. It was a laugh that burst out of nowhere, as if waiting. The chilly atmosphere froze in an instant. Those who followed silently began to look at him. Ha. Wilhelm let out a long sigh, as if savouring the joy, and met my eyes again.

“I’m sorry. I never meant to laugh at you. It’s just….”

After laughing to his heart’s content, I listened carefully because I wondered what he would say. But Wilhelm swallowed the words and changed them.

“I know you’re not involved in this case. But I wanted to tell you that my trust is not enough to persuade others. Those who found you and your maid yesterday.”

Wilhelm’s words were meant for the people who were standing behind him. After looking through the hard-faced aristocrats, I asked Wilhelm.

“Why did you come to visit His Highness at that hour?” (nobleman)

“We’ve been drinking together. We can meet each other anytime, anywhere.” (Wilhelm)

“But I was the only one who went to see His Highness from six to seven in the evening. For four days.” (Susan)

Wilhelm answered with an embarrassed smile.

“I also wanted to apologize for that as well. I’ve been very rude to you during the four days.”

“You’re very conceited for that.”

I sounded pretty cocky, so one of the nobles scolded me.

“His Highness is in front of you. Watch what you say and do.”

I asked, looking up at Wilhelm in a condemning way.

“Am I rude?”

“No. Viscount Cheneva, I’m fine, so I hope you don’t say anything.”

“His Highness says so, Viscount Cheneva.”

I smiled broadly using all the muscles in my face. Of course it wasn’t fun at all. I thought there was no need to drag it on. I brought up what Wilhelm was waiting for first.

“What should I do to prove my innocence?”

He answered directly without hesitation.

“There are many ways. First of all… there should be no private meetings with Vivi after today.”

My expression was crumpled, but for now I closed my mouth. However, it was very surprising that Vivianne’s nickname came out of his mouth. Wilhelm, who was looking at my expression with a calm face, continued.

“There is no problem with your friendship with Vivi. It’s simply because that’s the biggest reason for why they don’t trust you..”

To openly say that I was pretending to be with Vivianne.. I wondered how he would have seen me and her hanging out.

“I understand. What’s next?”

“That’s everything.”

This time I couldn’t help but open my mouth.

“Are you saying that that alone can erase the stigma of murdering the former Count of Belbourne?”

“Yes.”

“It’s hard to understand.”

“Do I need to convince you? You are not the culprit in the first place.”

There was not even a slight tremor in Wilhelm’s expression and voice. It was already in his head, it seemed that there was a huge wall between me and Vivienne. It was difficult to acknowledge his claim. However, I could roughly guess what Wilhelm intended to create in this situation.

I couldn’t be certain that he was responsible for the murder of Belbourne. But there were times when a sharp, heart-stabbing intuition dominated reason.

Just looking at the prohibition of private meetings with Vivianne as a condition of acknowledging my innocence seemed so natural. Wilhelm was claiming ownership over me. However, I was curious about the reason for doing this. Turning my head, I asked Viscount Cheneva.

“Viscount Cheneva. If I cut off my acquaintance with Vivianne, will you be able to admit my innocence then?”

“We are just following the words of His Highness Wilhelm.”

“You’re loyal.”

It was a routine answer, as if it had been painted on his tongue. Wilhelm asked me again.

“So what’s your answer, Agrane?”

Anyway, the only answer I could give was yes or no. I asked Viscount Cheneva once more to get one more thing.

“Viscount Cheneva. If you don’t mind, can I explain my situation to Her Highness Vivianne? I have no other intention. I think it would be a courtesy to her highness Vivianne.”

The Viscount of Cheneva looked away from me with a subtly embarrassed face. There was a short silence. His eyes turned to Wilhelm.

“That’s…”

“Agrane.”

Wilhelm’s soft voice called my name.

“If you’re really asking, I’d say no.”

His eyes were firm.

“But you don’t have to worry. Vivi… I’m sure she would know enough without you even mentioning it.”

I felt weird. The relationship between Vivianne and Wilhelm as I remember them was a vertical relationship with no error. But now, wasn’t Wilhelm acknowledging Vivianne’s abilities? I suddenly wondered. How did Vivianne, who was like Wilhelm’s dog, get to that position?

“Well, I can’t help it. Because my life is more precious to me. But if my innocence is proven, what will happen to the former Count of Belbourne?”

“We’ll have to find the criminal from now on.”

“Then, when I go to see His Highness, will I not have to wait any longer?”

Haha. It was less than before, but Wilhelm’s laughter certainly sounded like he was enjoying the situation.

“I have nothing to apologize for in that regard. I promise there will never be any in the future.”

It was a promise whose trust did not feel weak. As if to leave the room, Wilhelm rose from his seat when he gently nodded his head. There was really only one thing I could see. As I turned and stared at his back, I opened my mouth to the schedule that came in suddenly.

“Oh, come to think of it….”

I made a troubled expression towards Wilhelm, who turned his back straight away.

“Tomorrow’s hunting competition. I’ve been chosen as the partner of Lady Hillmartino… What should I do?”

Since Hillmartino was Vivianne’s closest confidant, I had to get Wilhelm’s permission. It was a very short break, but I could see the crack of his good-natured impression. But Wilhelm answered with a quick expression on his face, as if something had happened.

“I can’t move on to issues that have already been decided. I heard that Miss Agrane has been practicing a lot lately. The Marquis of Hillmartino is also very talented, so there will be good results.”

Sometimes it was unbelievable. A man with such an honest face and who only spoke good things……

“Thank you for your kind words, my lord.”

Used to do crazy things to me without hesitation. The air in the room became rather gloomy after Wilhelm and his aides left. Valeria, who was terrified, let out a barely audible sigh of relief.

‘There was no way out.’

This time it had been used perfectly. Rather than feeling humiliated, I felt like I was awakened.

“Now I can’t even go to other people at ease. Isn’t that right, Valeria?”

With a shady face, Valeria answered quietly.

“I heard that Her Highness Vivianne cares a lot about you. I’m sure she’ll be depressed.”

“If I’m worth that much to her, she’ll do something for me.”

“…what if she doesn’t?”

Hearing her faintly trembling voice, she seemed anxious that I might be abandoned by Vivianne. I couldn’t bring myself to make fun of her face saying ‘I like to be given up on’.

***

It was cloudy the next day, too. The sky was so dark that it would not be strange if it rained, but the competition was not cancelled as the day was here.

“I heard that today is 10 days before His Majesty’s birthday. It’s a celebratory event, so unless there’s a thunderstorm, there’s no way it’s going to be cancelled.”

Valeria, who followed me to attend, whispered softly. Not the day before, but 10 days before?

‘They all are making a fuss.’

As soon as I got on the prepared horse, Valeria also followed and climbed into her saddle. It felt like I did a good job teaching her horseback riding, taking the time in between. The atmosphere of the competition was the most lively among the atmospheres of the imperial family I had ever seen. Have they regained their vitality that they never realised they had after seeing blood?? Whether they knew their partners, they moved one by one to form a team. I didn’t have to search for Hillmartino. This was because, not far away, a beautiful woman on a large, handsome black horse appeared vehemently.

“Hello, beautiful Agrane. Did you practice a lot?”

Hilmartino wore black, even in her riding suit. I remembered the scene where she cut the servant’s finger with a casual face in the birch forest. Did she like to wear it to do things in the dark without being noticed?

“I’m sorry, but I haven’t been able to practice well recently. I’m afraid I’ll only be a burden.”

“It’s surprising. Even if you work hard, you will still be a burden. Don’t be too gloomy, because it’s useless no matter what you do.”

With the corners of her lips raised up as if seductively, she blamed casually.

“My beautiful lord is looking at you with a sickly and dying face.”

“You’re looking at Her Highness, instead of me.”

Hilmartino’s eyes were somewhere over my shoulder, no matter what I said. I became an animated face that was left unanswered.

“How tender-hearted are you? It is also pitiful to see you not being able to say a word to someone who has abandoned you.”

Vivianne, who was mentioned by Hilmartino’s mouth, was often, if not mostly, unsympathetic. There was nothing soft-hearted about her. Although the Vivianne from the side was attractive enough in terms of feminine beauty, such descriptions did not fit her.

‘You can’t fool the bloodline.’

The emperor was a bastard, and his son was a bastard, but only Vivianne, a blood relative of the two, could not be different. At least I thought so. Even if, in Hillmartino’s eyes, she looked like the angel of the century.