Chapter 65
Chapter 65
Chapter 65
At my urgent cry, Declan quickly removed the box away from him.
“Why?”
“Erica said it’s dangerous.”
As Mason hardened his face and rubbed his hand, the black smoke soon returned to the brooch.
…Phew, that’s a relief.
“I think there is some magic on this brooch. Since the doll is always with Your Majesty, is that what she was aiming for?”
“It’s magic, but how can you tell if it’s dangerous or not?”
Sheesh, he was sharp.
Thankfully, knowing that this day would come, I had already prepared excuses before.
“When I went to spy, I saw Princess Medicis chanting a spell. Something like smoke came out of her body.”
Of course, it was a lie. Nonetheless, there was no other way to explain that Jennifer was a wizard. Then, I glanced at Declan. He didn’t seem to question my answer either.
“A spell…?”
Mason took a few steps back from the brooch, startled as if he had never thought of it.
“Was it like a magic spell aimed at me?”
“What is this. There is even the marriage union proposal…”
Mason didn’t seem to understand the situation.
“She can’t kill me with an assassin, so she sent magic to kill me…? Very cheeky.”
Declan crossed his legs and twisted his lips.
“Well, maybe she doesn’t mean to kill Your Majesty.”
“How do you know that?”
I couldn’t say, ‘Yes, because I read the original story,’ so I whispered.
“She always said that she was in love with Your Majesty. If such a person used magic, I think she would have used some kind of magic of delusion.”
“…What?”
Declan’s expression wrinkled fiercely at my words.
‘Is the magic of delusion more upsetting than assassination?’
I thought I had to calm him down, so I pretended it was a woman’s intuition.
“Mason, now, find out what kind of spell is on this brooch.”
“Is there some kind of dangerous magic on it?”
Although Mason asked the question with concern, Declan showed only displeasure but did not respond.
‘Hey, that stubbornness!’
In the end, Mason’s expression changed strangely when I wrote it down on a piece of paper and reported it.
“I don’t think it’s a very unlikely story since she expressed it so openly.”
“Sounds useless. That girl just wants to have the Emperor of the Empire.”
His head tilted as he stared at the brooch with contemptuous eyes.
“It could be that he really likes you.”
From the outside, Jennifer seemed to fall in love at first sight.
“I know by looking at them. There’s no affection in those eyes. They only shine with dirty possessiveness.”
Was that visible…?
I marveled inwardly at his keen insight. After all, it seemed that the Emperor was not something anyone could be.
“You did a good job in rejecting the marriage union in many ways.”
“Whatever it is, she has to pay the price for doing this kind of thing,” Declan murmured sullenly, tapping his knee with his fingers.
“Your Majesty, I have one more urgent matter.”
It was for this reason that I asked to see Mason in person.
“Princess Medisis gave Princess Este a scented candle. But, there’s sleeping poison in it.”
Obviously, I added that I overheard Jennifer and her handmaid talking.
“Ha, that’s a lot.”
There was little worry and anger in Mason’s eyes when he learned the full story of the incident.
“…I really can’t leave her alone.”
Even though he always looked calm and polite, it was the first time I had seen Mason growling in anger like this.
‘He seems to have a pretty good crush on Stella.’
I was still looking for a way to save Stella, though I thought it would be a good idea to connect him with her.
“If Your Majesty goes out, Princess Medicis will be suspicious, so I think it would be better for the Chancellor to go.”
Declan, who had agreed, immediately instructed Mason.
“Just wrap it around and collect it.”
“I will take action immediately.”
At that, Mason asked for an excuse and went out.
“Hmm.”
Declan let out an inexplicable sigh as he looked at the door Mason had left.
“The Chancellor seems to be very worried about Princess Este, right?”
“He’s definitely different than usual.”
Glancing away from the door as if he didn’t know anymore, he patted my head and spoke, “You worked hard.”
“It’s my job.”
When I smiled proudly, he burst into a smile.
“Your Majesty, shouldn’t we also come up with a countermeasure?”
“Do you have any good ideas?”
“It seems to me that Duke Otien and Princess Medicis have joined hands.”
Declan gave an interested look.
“It’s suspicious to call a meeting all of a sudden, and to want to leave Princess Medicis in the Empire.”
“You’re sharp.”
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Hearing me, he shrugged his shoulders with a proud look.
“So, that’s why. I’ve got something to suggest to Your Majesty.”
Now was the time to use the original story’s information in earnest.
‘I’m going to confide in the trivial details of the original story and screw them both.’
I clenched my fists at my burning desire and explained the plan.
* * *
Recovering the scented candle from Stella went smoothly.
Mason had informed about Stella’s request for an audience and was about to arrange a meeting a day later.
“Thank you for listening to my request.”
Stella still couldn’t make eye contact with Declan. Still, seeing that she did not tremble was a great development.
“What made you want to see me?”
“Did you not pass by where I was staying yesterday?”
“I never did.”
“Really?”
Disappointment and confusion were oozing out at the same time.
“Princess, there is something I need to tell you.”
Declan, who spoke like that, glanced at me, who was sitting next to him.
“Don’t misunderstand the goodwill that made you stay here. I have no feelings for you.”
Stella blinked her eyes silently, then opened her eyes wide.
“Have, have I ever committed any other disrespect?” Saying so, she was anxious about being expelled from the Empire even at this moment.
“Isn’t that your question? Like someone expecting something.”
“Oh, no! Absolutely not. How could I have such a heart for His Majesty? …I didn’t mean to ask like that.”
“If not, that’s good.”
Contrary to her embarrassment, Declan slowly drank the tea.
“Then, why are you asking that?”
“That…”
Stella’s red face, which seemed to have calmed down a little, gradually regained its color.
“Did you decipher Epist?”
Declan opened his mouth slowly as though trying to gauge her intentions for a moment.
“Yes. If we know the meaning of a few words, I think we can fully interpret them.”
“Did, did you meet someone who decoded it?”
“Why?”
“There is something I must check.”
Stella’s eyes grew bigger than before.
“Not allowed.”
“Ah.”
She was at a loss for what to do with Declan’s firm answer.
“Please. It’s really important to me.”
“I already paid for the information. You also told me whether to interpret Epist, which can be said to be a top-secret matter.”
Stella cried as she was told not to cross the line any longer. Judging by her nature, it seemed that she was very desperate to hang on to it like that.
“Your Majesty, it must have something to do with Perseum.”
He made a small impression that he did not like the repeated request.
“Do you really want to know?”
She nodded slightly, and he turned his head to me, who had been watching quietly. Stella wasn’t as surprised as before, as if she had gotten used to Declan talking to the doll.
“Princess, the person you want to meet is precious to me.”
…Important person.
Had he ever expressed his feelings so directly? Normally, I was not sure what kind of heart the favor came from or how deep his heart was. However, to be a precious person…
When I turned my head, I saw his warm, twinkling eyes.
‘Can I look forward to it? Is that so…?’
I wanted to confess my heart right away and ask him — Did he have the same mind as me? — Still, thinking about my condition, I hesitated.
‘We cannot discuss the future in this state.’
Let’s be patient a little bit. Just find Perseum and find the way.
‘If I become a person, then let’s confess.’
I struggled to contain the emotions that seemed to be pouring out at any moment.
“So, I can’t expose them to danger recklessly.”
Declan continued his words, keeping his eyes on me.
“I can’t grant you the request unless you explain the specific reason.”
Stella hesitated for quite a long time at the serious words, and then slowly opened her mouth, “…The words I want to tell you now are as important to me as life.”
“I promise to keep a secret under the name of the Emperor.”
Stella, who had been fiddling with her necklace for a moment, raised her head. Her gold eyes were trembling with fear, but within them was a glimpse of her strong will.
“This necklace is a keepsake of my mother.”
Stella untied the necklace from her neck and placed it on the palm of her hand while uttering. She continued, “I have promised that I will help this necklace find its owner. It is my mission to fulfill that will.”
“The owner of the necklace…?”
Declan grabbed it and asked while looking at the necklace.
“What does that have to do with decoding Epist?”
“Because my mother said that the person who can decipher Epist is the owner of this necklace.”
…Whoever could decipher Epist was the owner of the necklace.
‘Then, it means that I am the owner of that necklace.’
I gazed closely at the necklace.
—