Translator: Nox

Chapter 24

'I'm screwed. Should've gotten caught earlier when the aides were still here. As expected, can't fool a dragon bloodline's eyes and ears.'

My vision went dark, but I opened the closet door and stepped out anyway.

Aldensis threw a contemptuous gaze my way.

The kind, gentle mask he showed ordinary people was nowhere to be seen. Flames of cold cruelty blazed unfiltered in his blue eyes.

"I don't believe a speck of the Duchess's nonsense anyway, but did you really need to prove it was all lies this quickly?"

"......"

An suffocating pressure crushed me.

He knew full well how burdensome it was for an ordinary person like me to have him release his aura from this close range.

Was he too blinded by rage to notice? Or doing it on purpose?

Either way, consciously or not, he clearly saw someone like me as disposable dust.

'How could anyone crush on a jerk like this?'

Whatever affection I'd never had drained away even more. And I was scared.

'He could kill someone with a flick of his finger.'

In that vague terror, I scraped together every ounce of courage in my heart.

If he caught on that I was afraid, my gut said I'd crumble to powder right here.

'Can't let him notice.'

I met Aldensis's eyes and opened my mouth.

"I won't make excuses."

"You can't."

"No. I won't? You'll just plug your ears anyway."

That fired me up. I mustered more courage and stared straight into his eyes.

"Your Highness, did you know? You have a serious illness. Prince syndrome... oh, right, you are a prince? No, axe syndrome. Axe syndrome. Know what that is? It's this severe condition where every woman in the world is out to get you."

By now, he had to notice my attitude was different from usual.

Normally, I'd fawn to win his favor, then throw tantrums when ignored. Never started off this defiant.

Aldensis spat in disbelief.

"How can every word and action be so vulgar? You truly know no shame to the end!"

"The one who should be ashamed is you, Crown Prince. You'll regret this moment forever, when you cornered me based on your own delusions."

I spoke clearly without raising my voice, as if utterly unafraid. Meanwhile, I subtly inched toward the exit unnoticed.

But then, I nearly bumped into someone at the door.

"Aldensis? Duchess Aristina? You were here?"

My body froze at the casual voice. The Crown Prince paused too.

"Luellian?"

A tall black-haired man with violet eyes, jacket with gold trim draped over his shoulders, standing casually.

True to form, he'd appeared out of nowhere.

"Thought you'd gone home after leaving the ball early saying it was boring. Still in the palace?"

The rage and contempt in the Crown Prince's blue eyes vanished in an instant.

The Crown Prince brothers and Luellian had to maintain formal courtesy publicly.

But with familiarity from childhood, they were relatively casual in private, or so I'd heard.

"Was just checking one thing before leaving. But this man was looking for the Duchess......"

Luellian glanced back.

A plump man popped out. I scowled.

"Isn't that the jeweler from earlier?"

"Y-Yes."

The jeweler bowed to the Crown Prince, then turned to me.

"The lumber merchant you asked about? Turns out he's been jailed for trying to bribe the treasury. That's why you couldn't find him even turning the palace upside down."

The Crown Prince's expression shifted.

No way—my innocence cleared this fast?

For that moment, the chatty plump jeweler looked beautiful.

"Crown Prince, hear that? Believe what I was doing now?"

"A misunderstanding."

The Crown Prince admitted readily, but still shot me a cold glare.

"Looks like you two are done. I have business with the Duchess too."

Luellian grinned mischievously as he said it.

Aldensis in front, Luellian behind. The pressure was suffocating.

But positively speaking......

Better than being alone with either. At least I could use this situation.

I spun around with a smile and extended a hand to Luellian.

"Fine. Since you're begging, I'll stop playing hard to get and accept your date invitation."

Luellian's expression flickered faintly. He hadn't expected this sudden turnaround.

"Hm?"

Aldensis looked puzzled.

"Date invitation?"

"Exactly that. Yeha said he wants to get close to me."

"Duchess, such tricks won't work. Why would God's proxy—who must cherish and love only his lifelong mate—ever......"

"Ah! Right! That's true!"

I cut Aldensis off like I'd just remembered.

"No wonder it felt like lies. Yeha was trying to drag me back to the Holy Church again with those words. Determined to make me repent, even sitting sweetly beside a wretch like me! You work so frighteningly hard. But now I know your intent, so no falling for it."

"No, I......"

"Don't talk to me. I don't want to repent."

Pretending utter ignorance of his true motives, I threw up an ironclad wall.

Hoping they'd all realize I was trickier now.

"......"

Silence fell briefly.

Then...... an enigmatic smile rose on Luellian's face.

"Right. The Duchess is spot on."

He said that and turned away briskly.

His demeanor felt leisurely.

Like a beast sated but toying with prey for fun, then abandoning it. So casual it left me baffled.

"Wait, Luellian. Mother said she wants your opinion on interpreting the oracle......"

The Crown Prince—who'd watched us blankly—followed him out.

After doggedly tailing me all evening, suddenly withdrawing satisfied?

'Then maybe......'

The moment they vanished completely, I checked my bag.

Sure enough. My pouch was gone.

It had been there before entering, but now vanished.

Obviously, when I nearly bumped into Luellian at the door earlier—he'd slyly swiped it. So he withdrew cleanly.

'As expected, Luellian was after that. Suspected I picked it up. And yes, it's important.'

All my 'maybes' turned to certainties.

Touching the pouch would feel just like that silver fragment. Only opening it at home would reveal the trick.

But so what?

'I snuck your pouch, but the thing I'm desperate for wasn't inside.'

Go ahead and complain—what'll you do? Fume silently, unable to show it.

I'd just keep denying ignorance.

'Delicious. So delicious.'

Another exquisite escape.

I dusted my hands and stepped out.

Unexpected obstacles delayed me, but I'd sorted it quickly enough.

"Good work, jeweler. I'll contact you soon."

"Thank you, Duchess!"

The one last hope, the lumber merchant, jailed tonight of all coincidences?

If not a plot, even a passing dog would laugh.

But not the worst. Not just me—everyone failed.

No time to despair. Find another way.

'Out of my way! This Music Box business is mine!'

Exchanging fiery glares with dashing S- and A-ranks while heading to the office.

Someone paced in the front courtyard.

Our merchant group's sole employee. Benjamin.

"Merchant Leader!"

He spotted and ran to me.

"Found one more lumber shop with walnut maple stock!"

"Oh? Knew you earned your raise, Benjamin!"

"But there's a problem......"

"Tell me on the way!"

I boarded the carriage he'd prepped. It departed immediately.

"What's the issue?"

"Well, other merchant leaders already tried contracting there before us, but the owner flat-out refused."

"Why?"

"Too stubborn. Says premium processed wood can't go to frivolous luxuries like Music Boxes. One leader lied to snag a deal and got chased out empty-handed."

"What's wrong with luxuries? What a weirdly twisted guy."

"Time-waster, right? Turn the carriage?"

"No!"

What choice? Only one source with stock now. Had to try something.

In the carriage, Benjamin and I prepped contracts.

The speeding carriage soon reached the shop.

"Here."

Opening the door with Benjamin, something flew and smacked my head.

"You lot! One blink and you trash the place again then flee? Why can't they catch you despite reports!"

The old lumber merchant had thrown crumpled paper. Benjamin kicked it aside.

"Old man, no idea what you mean. Here for wood—why the fuss?"

The old man's face, which had glanced curiously, soured instantly.

"With those merchant leaders from before? Out! I decided not to sell to Music Box hacks like you! Not even for 10 million phel on 1 million worth!"

Did a Music Box kill him in a past life?

As rumored, the old man was iron-willed. Money wouldn't budge him.

But what now? Money's all I have.

'Any way around this?'

Stepping inside, scanning around. Then, something crunched underfoot.

The paper the old man crumpled and threw.

What's this?

I picked it up and unfolded. A flyer promoting protests by a religious group. 'Elf Cult' jumped out. Familiar name.

'Ah, that cult?'

When I stood trial for picking Amarancia flowers, I'd seen them.

Fanatics demanding my execution for plant abuse, chased off by reporters.

Preaching return to nature, clad only in leaves, circling passersby to sing.

Treating wood processors like child-murderers.

Of course the Elf Cult wouldn't leave a lumber shop alone.

Top of their blacklist, plastered everywhere boldly.

'No wonder the old man crumpled and tossed it in rage.'

I stared in disbelief too...... then lightning struck my mind.

'Maybe this could work?'

Worth a shot. I confidently stepped forward.

"Old man!"

Amid stacked lumber, the infamous villainess advanced clack-clack, red eyes gleaming wickedly.

It'd look exactly that, and the stubborn old man flinched slightly. But he hardened again.

"Useless! Not even for 10 million, 20 million on 1 million worth!"

"Then 100 million?"

100 million phel for 1 million worth?

The nervous employee started hiccuping. The old man eyed me dubiously......

"No way in hell! Once no is no! Not to you lot even for 100 million!"

I scoffed.

"When did I say I'd give you that 100 million?"