70 - The Bride of the Great Lord is a Warrior from Hell
The Grand Duke's Bride is a Warrior of Hell 70
Baroness Kvant's private room was located in the back of Union Atelier, the largest porcelain shop in Baden.
It was the scene of the affair between the Baroness and Gregory Barker.
Baron Kvant, a high-ranking military officer in the Southern Border Command, threatened the naked Gregory Barker and his wife with a sword and chased them out into the street.
Thanks to this, there was no one in the Imperial Capital who didn't know about the scandal.
After thoroughly humiliating the two, Baron Kvant gave Gregory Barker his clothes and sword and challenged him to a duel.
A duel request from an active soldier was like a death sentence, meaning he would kill you.
The duel was carried out immediately.
Gregory Barker couldn't even swing a sword properly and was hit by the Baron's every move.
In the end, he suffered an irreparable injury that left his legs unable to straighten.
In aristocratic society, it was common for husbands and wives to have their own lovers.
Baron Kvant's anger at his wife's infidelity was said to be because he loved her very much.
Baron Kvant was a man of action who had adopted the Baroness, whose origins were ambiguous, into a noble family and married her.
The scandal that rocked the Imperial Capital had a major impact on the former Alicia Lane.
It was an event that shook Alicia's entire life.
So Alicia knew the full story of the events.
Marquis Reine.
Count Barker, one of the most powerful families in the Imperial Capital.
Baron and Baroness Kvant.
Porcelain collectors.
The scandal scarred many people.
In this life, Princess Josefina was highly likely to be caught up in it.
Since she had a close relationship with the Emperor, Josefina's engagement could be easily arranged.
However, Alicia couldn't help but feel sorry for the person who had been caught up in an unsavory incident because of her actions.
If Josefina was interested, she could easily access the meeting place by tracking the information she had just heard.
Alicia didn't regret it, even though she was nervous about saying something that might change things.
"This way."
Just when the atmosphere needed to change, the door to the drawing room opened.
"Lady Josefina, Lady Alicia."
The maid tried to introduce the later guests to the person in the drawing room first.
"Josefina. Lady Alicia, this is Octavia Given. Thank you, Taya."
The new guest entered the drawing room and greeted them.
Whether it was her affable personality, Octavia showed her friendliness by calling the name of the maid who had brought her.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Octavia."
Alicia made eye contact with Octavia and greeted her.
"Please wait a moment, ladies."
The drawing room door closed.
Octavia struck up a light conversation with Josefina, as if they were friends.
Josefina didn't seem to dislike her friend, as they exchanged words related to the Zephyr Clan.
Soon, the drawing room door opened.
This time, it wasn't a maid.
It was Countess Istevna.
In the meantime, her pregnant belly had grown larger, and Pauline's dress top fit snugly.
"Ladies, thank you for waiting."
Pauline, who had an introverted personality, greeted them shyly but formally.
Her voice was much louder than when she had seen her last time.
"Countess Istevna."
The three ladies in the drawing room greeted the Countess.
"Princess and Lady Octavia, please wait here a little longer. Lady Alicia, shall we go?"
Pauline, who spoke to Josefina and Octavia while looking at the air, barely made eye contact with Alicia.
"I'll go first."
Josefina saw Alicia off with a smile.
"See you later. Your dress is pretty today."
She seemed to be in a better mood than when she first entered the drawing room.
"See you later."
Alicia turned around, following Pauline, and her eyes met Octavia's.
Whether it was her kind personality, Octavia waved her hand in a friendly greeting to Alicia, whom she had just met.
Alicia envied her affable personality that everyone would like.
"We parted in a hurry last time."
Pauline said in a cautious voice as she left the drawing room and entered the hallway.
"Yes, you did. Did you get back okay?"
Alicia wanted to be as affable to Pauline as Octavia was.
She used to be too timid, and now she was too headstrong.
Like Octavia...
Alicia paused, thinking of the owner of the enviable personality.
Octavia Given?
Something was about to come to mind, but it was blocked.
There were too many things to remember and too many people to remember in Imperial Capital Baden.
What was it?
While Alicia was lost in thought, maids carrying velvet-covered trays approached from the opposite side.
On the fancy trays were even fancier golden candlesticks and candles.
"Countess. Lady Alicia."
The maids, who recognized Pauline and Alicia, stepped aside and paid their respects.
Ladies and noblewomen with good memories and good personalities would sometimes call the names of the Imperial maids who showed them respect to show their friendliness.
Alicia didn't remember all the maids.
There was too much else to remember besides that.
Pauline seemed to know the other person, but she was too shy to call her name, so she just greeted her with a nod and passed by.
Alicia followed Pauline, gave a silent greeting, and passed the maids.
The maids who had stepped aside moved again.
Alicia knew about the golden candlesticks and candles on the tray.
It was a gift from Duchess Belz.
Among the Imperial family and nobles, they would use or present something that the other person had given them when they met to show their friendliness and respect.
"Countess, did Duchess Belz come today?"
"Ah. No. The maids must have put them out in case Duchess Belz came, but they are taking them away because the Duchess didn't come."
Alicia and Pauline arrived in front of the Empress's Audience Chamber.
Oh no...!
Alicia then realized.
The current Empress was pregnant with the child who would become the Crown Prince.
Countess Istevna Pauline was also pregnant.
If they were separated like this, even for a short time, it was difficult to be sure of Josefina's safety.
The door to the Audience Chamber opened.
"Go in, Alicia."
"Yes, Countess."
"Ah, um, Alicia. It's, it's okay to just call me by my name."
Pauline asked with a shy face to call her comfortably.
Alicia was embarrassed, but she thought that this might be the process of making friends.
"I will, Pauline."
She answered happily and felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility.
As she entered the Audience Chamber, the Empress, sitting at the head of the table, greeted her with a smile.
"Welcome, Alicia."
Marquis Lennox was sitting one step below the head of the table.
"Your Majesty, I greet the honorable one. Marquis, it's been a while."
"Take a seat."
At the Empress's command, the maids brought Alicia's chair.
The Empress's eyes were full of affection as she looked at Alicia.
"Thank you."
Alicia expressed her gratitude and sat in the chair.
In front of her, the Empress was looking down with warm eyes, and next to her was Pauline, with a shy smile.
The number of people she wanted to protect was increasing.
But she didn't know who the enemy was.
The countless people spread throughout the Imperial Palace could become enemies at any time, harboring unknown feelings in their hearts.
Alicia recalled everything she knew to distinguish the enemy and avoid danger.
Her head felt like it was about to explode.
Opera of the Night, 2 hours before the performance begins.
Grand Thicket Theater, in front of the fountain.
Alicia Lane was spouting prophecies.
"You have to believe everything I say."
Reikart was contacted by Juan while he was on official business.
Alicia was waiting for him at the Grand Thicket Theater.
He was scheduled to take the Lady home after the opera.
Wondering if something had changed in escorting her, he headed to the Grand Thicket Theater as soon as he received the message.
"Please follow my instructions exactly."
Before spouting prophecies, Alicia spoke like a cult leader.
"Please, please, just do as I say without asking or questioning."
Alicia's expression and attitude were earnest, but no matter how you listened to it, it was a great statement from a cult leader.
Reikart knew about Alicia Lane, so he nodded obediently.
"Please assign someone to Princess Josefina to take care of her. The Princess must not notice the person watching over her. It may not be, but Princess Josefina is in danger of being pushed down the stairs and injured today."
Prophecies limited to once a season flowed smoothly from her pink lips.
She said to take care of her, but in reality, it meant to monitor her.
"I will do so."
Reikart agreed without question.
Because Alicia's words would probably become reality.
"Please inspect all the chandeliers in the opera house. Especially the chandelier near the stairs leading to the stage. You have to handle it discreetly."
Alicia didn't allow questions, but Reikart asked anyway.
"Is the chandelier going to fall?"
"Yes."
Her voice was full of conviction as she answered.
Prophecies that were said to be impossible more than once a season flowed out smoothly.
"I will do so."
The general manager of the opera house was Marquis Lennox.
He would be busy flattering the Emperor until the performance, so he would be able to bypass the person in charge and take a good look.
"If Pierre Gick is among the people coming to see the opera, get rid of him."
Alicia asked him to put surveillance on Josefina, but she wasn't relieved.
"Count Gick's son?"
"Yes."
"I will."
Reikart asked the question, but he easily accepted Alicia's request.
It was a little strange that Reikart knew about Pierre Gick, who wasn't even a knight yet.
"The opera house royal box..."
"Is there more?"
"Yes. Please check the royal box."
Alicia had a puzzled look on her face as she spoke.
Josefina is pushed and injures her ankle, becoming acquainted with Pierre Gick and building a friendship.
The chandelier near the stairs almost fell when the Empress tried to go up to the stage.
So far, it was certain.
It was difficult to know the exact details of the incident when it was reported that there was a commotion in the royal box surrounding the second floor of the opera house, and the guests were surprised.
Reikart expressed his dissatisfaction with the vague request.
"There's so much."
He often spoke particularly briefly when he grumbled.
Alicia wanted to say confidently that this was all for the Imperial family, but she stopped because she felt like a cult leader.
"I'm sorry."
"Wouldn't it be better not to have the opera performance today?"
"The guests are already here. How can we cancel it?"
It wasn't that Alicia hadn't thought about it.
There were too many minor incidents, and it was beyond her ability to handle them all alone.
So she was telling Reikart everything she knew and forcing him to help.
"How about reporting to His Majesty that traces of an assassin's infiltration have been found and chasing everyone out?"
Reikart took out his pocket watch, checked the time, and made a reckless remark.
"That would make things difficult for the Empress."
"I guess so."
Reikart replied to Alicia's point with a face that said it was a shame.
It was a face that regretted missing the opportunity to chase away all the people who had dressed up since dawn and come to the Imperial Palace.
"I know I'm asking for too much. But you have to follow my instructions, Your Highness. If you grant my request, anything I can do..."
"Will you grant me a wish?"
Reikart interrupted Alicia's earnest words.