Translator: Nox

Chapter 58

Episode 58. Madman

2023.10.28.

Ivan, seated on the throne, looked at the scene before him and thought.

Madman.

Herdin del Mark was a madman.

No ordinary madman would beat a noble heir black and blue in broad daylight and drag him to the imperial palace like this.

No matter how grave the crime, personally laying hands on a noble family's heir risked escalating into a feud between houses. Herdin couldn't have been unaware of that.

Thus, dragging the family's successor here meant he was prepared to clash with the Baldwin Marquisate entirely.

‘The Baldwin heir is one thing, but…….’

Ivan narrowed his eyes at Rachel, standing pale-faced and frozen beside the battered Wesley.

To think he'd even drag in Rachel, his own cousin and close kin to the imperial family.

Pressing his throbbing forehead, Ivan reconfirmed what Herdin had said moments ago.

“So, to clarify, Wesley Baldwin and Rachel plotted to rape Blair at the hunting tournament to spark a scandal? And in the process, Blair escaped and got lost?”

“Yes. Everything Your Majesty has heard is correct.”

Ivan eyed Wesley and Rachel with clear annoyance.

As their eyes met Ivan's, Wesley spoke up.

“Th-the Duke's account differs from the truth! It's true we aimed for a scandal, but we never intended actual rape!”

Instead of refuting Wesley, Herdin presented Ivan with a small vial and parchment. The chamberlain beside him took them and offered them to Ivan.

“This is the vial held by the kidnapper, bribed with money from the Baldwin heir. The buyer was confirmed as Wesley Baldwin himself.”

Ivan frowned upon reading the drug's purpose on the parchment. Wesley hastily explained with a desperate face.

“It was just meant to scare the Duchess! I swear, we had no intention of defiling her body.”

As Wesley defended himself, Rachel—who had been silently terrified—gazed at Ivan with piteous eyes and spoke.

“I-I only lent him the money. I truly had no idea what it was for! I thought it was just for his usual gambling.”

Herdin, listening without turning, asked coolly.

“Then how do you explain your false testimony that the kidnapped Duchess vanished with a knight, my lady?”

The sheer intimidation in his voice made her flinch.

Rachel's lips trembled as she hesitated before making excuses.

“I was hurt by the Duchess and lied out of spite to tarnish her reputation. I swear nothing else was my doing. Please believe me, Your Majesty!”

Wesley snorted and interjected.

“Ha! Planning to weasel out alone like that?”

“It's not weaseling—it's the truth!”

Rachel felt wronged.

He'd said he'd handle everything when borrowing the money, but now that it failed, she was dragged into this too.

Wesley sneered at her.

“Hurt, my ass. After spewing nonsense like 'lend me your husband.'”

Rachel's face flushed crimson at his words.

“Don't make up lies!”

“Ha! Who's the one lying now?”

The two began raising their voices at each other, on the verge of blows, forgetting entirely whose presence they were in.

Ivan swallowed his irritation, regarding the pair with utter disdain.

‘These idiots…….’

If they were going to scheme, they should have cleaned it up properly.

Still bickering like children over whose fault it was?

If Herdin's goal was to annoy him, it had succeeded.

As Wesley and Rachel's voices grew louder, Ivan spoke.

“Enough!”

Only then did silence fall over them like cold water poured between.

Ivan asked Herdin with evident annoyance.

“So, what is it you want?”

“I request Your Majesty personally judge these two and mete out fitting punishment.”

Ivan glanced disdainfully at the pathetic pair behind Herdin but had no desire to punish them harshly.

Wesley was one thing, but Rachel was his cousin, close since childhood.

‘Blair always had that subtly irritating way about her despite pretending to be gentle, so she must have clashed with Rachel over that.’

But leniency only for Rachel would prompt complaints of unfairness from the Baldwin Marquisate, so a moderate scolding and release would suffice. It would also let him boast to the Baldwin Marquis.

“I sentence Wesley Baldwin, heir of the Baldwin Marquisate, and Rachel Selden, eldest daughter of the Seldon family, to one month of house arrest.”

Herdin's face hardened at Ivan's ruling.

Ivan offered a conciliatory measure even to Herdin.

“The Baldwin and Seldon families shall compensate del Mark appropriately for the mental distress caused by your heirs' childish prank.”

But Herdin's expression remained unchanged.

“Though their inability to restrain private emotions ruined an imperial event is deplorable, the matter escalated beyond their original intent.”

“So you judge the crime lightly since it wasn't intentional?”

“Precisely. Blair emerged unscathed in the end, so wouldn't ending it here benefit del Mark as well?”

Benefit.

At the word, Herdin sneered.

Did he know how close his sister came to scandal and danger, yet weigh mere gain?

Ivan didn't forget brotherly concern for Blair.

“Punishing blood kin would trouble that child's heart too, you know.”

“Is that truly sufficient for Your Majesty?”

Herdin's cool gaze held profound meaning.

“The Duchess is Your Majesty's sole sister and a noble of imperial blood before being del Mark's lady.”

“…….”

“Your Majesty's judgment on this incident will set a precedent of leniency toward those who dared harm imperial blood.”

Only then did Ivan grasp Herdin's intent.

“When someone insults or harms Your Majesty in future, will you issue the same ruling as today?”

It seemed concern for imperial prestige and Ivan, but Herdin's eyes held naked threat.

Ivan frowned at the impudence, then shifted to a peculiar glint.

‘He's going this far for Blair?’

For an unwanted wife, daughter of his enemy, whom he should resent?

Things were turning more interesting than expected.

“Upon reflection, meting out soft punishment swayed by personal feelings seems unwise. You are right, Duke. Rebels deserve fitting penalty.”

Ivan eyed Herdin with interest before granting his wish.

“Though Rachel is close kin, daring to harm my sister cannot be overlooked.”

As the rebels panicked at his sudden reversal, the emperor's verdict fell.

“Wesley Baldwin, Rachel Selden. I hereby issue permanent banishment for you both.”

* * *

After her bath, Blair returned to the bedroom with Rina and Melly.

They helped her into nightclothes and led her to the vanity.

Rina brushed Blair's hair, checking her complexion before asking cautiously.

“Madam, are you less tired today?”

“Yes. After days of deep sleep, I truly feel fine now.”

Her hypothermia had fortunately left no major aftereffects. Rina, who had teared up blaming herself, finally relaxed.

But the sudden temperature shift had exhausted her body, leaving her in a daze, sleeping for days.

‘Still, recovering before Rina's worry deepened again is a relief.’

Glancing idly into the mirror, Blair spotted the table behind Rina and Melly and spoke as something occurred to her.

“Oh, right. I've been eating the marshmallows you left. But no need from now on.”

“Marshmallows?”

“Yes. You left them on the table every morning.”

A few days ago, waking late, Blair had found a bowl of marshmallows on the table. Thinking it a snack from Rina or Melly, she ate them.

The fluffy morning treat had sweetened her mood.

Yet the next day and beyond, the dish appeared like a gift.

But Rina and Melly exchanged puzzled looks, tilting their heads as if hearing it for the first time. Recalling the small empty bowls left on the table recently, they let out small exclamations.

“Ah, those were marshmallow dishes?”

“……Not left by you?”

“We never entered before you called for us, Madam? We thought you brought them.”

Blair's eyes widened.

Not her, the room's mistress, nor Rina or Melly—only one person could leave marshmallows daily.

“Then good night, Madam.”

As Rina and Melly finished their duties and left, the faint chime of the grandfather clock signaling ten o'clock drifted through the door crack.

Blair gazed at the table where the marshmallow bowl had sat each morning, thinking of the one who must have placed it there.