Chapter 236
Chapter 236
Artizea returned to the mansion with a heavy heart. And after washing her hands and face, she went to see Leticia’s face first.
She wanted to regain her balance of mind.
Mielle came out to meet her with a worried face.
“What happened?”
“It’s no big deal.”
With a light answer, Artizea sat down by Leticia’s cradle.
“Do you want to hold her?”
Marcus asked. Artizea shook her head.
And she asked Mielle,
“Didn’t you go home? I told you to go.”
“When I went home, my mother was not there.”
“Still, wait at home. You’d better stay home for a few days.”
“Is it that dangerous? Or is it because it seems unnatural for Hazel to go home alone?”
Artizea looked at Mielle with a subtle face.
Mielle spoke maturely,
“I’ve been home once, so it wouldn’t seem too strange for Hazel to leave. And I like the Princess, Your Grace, and the people of the Grand Duke’s residence.”
“…… thank you.”
Artizea lowered her eyes.
Leticia smiled at her mother who didn’t hold her in the cradle.
It would be really appreciated if Mielle went to the Imperial Palace with that kind of heart.
As a Guard Knight, Keshore is one of the pillars of the Imperial Palace’s security. Few people will be as safe as Mielle in the Imperial Palace.
‘I thought Leticia had to be at least three years old for the topic to come out.’
Moving to the Prince’s Palace was another matter even if they had an adoption relationship.
Considering safety, of course, Grand Duke Evron’s residence was better.
So she thought Leticia would not leave it until she was of a stable age.
It wasn’t until she reached the age at which she wouldn’t need her parents that Artizea thought he would bring the couple into the Prince’s Palace to carry on the lineage and then get rid of them.
But when he told her to come into the Prince’s Palace, it really meant that Cedric was going to be the Crown Prince.
‘If I had consulted with the Empress, I would have heard the story first.’
On the positive side, he may have decided to reconcile, since he had no other choice anyway.
It wasn’t even that unlikely.
The 1st priority heir to the throne. The only competitor is the baby in the cradle. Anyway, it’s still Cedric’s child.
It was obvious how it would look to other people.
‘If it’s not Lord Cedric, it’s a perfect situation to be swayed by.’
Since the Emperor is old, those who lust for power and are greedy for achievements will say that it is for the sake of the Empire to inherit the throne as soon as possible.
But Cedric isn’t like that.
Because the Emperor knows that he is the one who gives back to his opponent as much as he receives; both affection and trust.
If so, that was really good.
‘If possible, it is better to make the hierarchy itself peaceful. If His Majesty falls right now, the South will be at war.’
Cadriol will never miss that opportunity.
There was also a high possibility of civil war in the East. Among those who want to suppress the dominance of Marquis Luden, there must be some who would take sudden action.
That is why the chief attendant is maintaining the Emperor’s health in this critical situation.
If even a single drop of a risk factor is dropped, it will collapse immediately.
‘In the end, he will have to enter the Prince’s Palace. If His Majesty also feels that his health is limited, he will hand over the internal affairs to Lord Cedric.’
Cedric only needs to take control of the bureaucrats while the Emperor cleans up Southern affairs.
And he himself will become a useful limb of the Emperor. So that there is no reason to throw him out.
If the Emperor changed his mind, he could be overthrown at any time.
“Peekaboo!”
Mielle covered Leticia’s face with a thin silk handkerchief, then lifted it up.
Leticia laughed softly. Artizea looked into her face.
“Ah! Ma! Ma!”
Leticia smiled as she shook her arms and legs. There was no worry in her smile.
Artizea looked into the baby’s face and smiled at her as she was in a strange mood. As she put her hand in the cradle, the smooth hand grabbed Artizea’s finger.
“It will be fine.”
Artizea murmured.
“By the way, Mielle, have you ever had an audience with the Empress?”
“Yes. I went there twice with Hazel. I couldn’t help you prepare for the birthday party.”
“Let’s go take Leticia with us once. I’ll go with you at first, but after that you take the initiative to enter the Palace whenever you can afford it and show Her Majesty Leticia’s face.”
“Me?”
Mielle made a nervous face.
“Although her nanny is Marcus, Marcus alone can’t have an audience with the Empress, right? I’m busy too, and if I go to see the Empress, I have to pay attention to the outside gaze in various ways.”
“I see what you mean.”
Mielle nodded her head with a determined face.
She understood that she should be able to take Leticia with her to the Empress’ Palace and ask for her protection in case of trouble.
Artizea said,
“No need to worry so much. There are now two ladies your age in the Empress’ Palace, and the Empress also has a favor for Leticia.”
“Yes.”
“Do you think you will go to the Imperial Palace?”
Marcus asked with a worried face.
“It’s not confirmed, but you should be mentally prepared.”
Artizea only spoke that much.
As the Emperor said, it was as if it had been decided. But she found it difficult to speak to anyone before consulting with Cedric.
The maid came knocking on the door, and she handed Artizea a letter.
It was Hazel’s letter.
Mielle asked,
“Hazel is late, is something wrong? Will she sleep at home?”
“Um, I don’t know.”
Artizea answered and opened the letter. After a brief greeting, it was written:
Father wants to see you.
Below it was a drawing of a map.
Artizea sealed the letter with a new envelope, adding that she would meet as soon as she was ready.
And she stood up, leaving the maid to send it to Hazel. It was time for her to go out again.
* * *
The shop designated as the meeting place was a place that sold tea by day and alcohol at night to poor commoners.
It was not a place to sit down and eat properly, but to take a sip while standing to appease your weary body with warm tea or cool alcohol for a while.
Of course, it was difficult to say that it was clean. It was difficult to even enter the bustling store without wrinkling and rubbing the hem of someone else’s clothes.
The bar was made by cutting a large tree into barrels, and stains from tea and alcohol were piled up on top of each other.
Fortunately, unlike in a tavern, the smell of food did not sting.
“Uhh.”
Alice made a sound that showed her dislike. She also worked in a store like this until she became Artizea’s maid.
But she hated it either way.
“It’s unbelievable to come to a place like this.”
Alice didn’t say the word madam, and complained.
“There must be a reason for coming all the way to this place.”
Artizea answered.
She borrowed Alice’s clothes and wore a hood.
It was because it seemed that there would be a problem here even if she wore her old clothes. The poor fallen nobles were the perfect prey in a place like this.
Belmond editor-in-chief came into the store when Artizea was contemplating whether or not she should really drink the tea she ordered here.
“You are here.”
Belmond editor-in-chief said.
He was modest but neatly dressed. Hazel, who was following him, was also wearing a tweed jacket and trousers, looking quite like a reporter.
People gave them a brief glance, but soon lost interest. It wasn’t uncommon for reporters to come to these stores to find something to cover or to meet with an informant.
Belmond editor-in-chief recognized Artizea immediately.
He was not excessive. Because he was in trouble when he stood out in the eyes of others.
“I’m sorry for making you come all the way to this place.”
“There must have been a reason for that.”
She was to be treated with respect, but Artizea responded with a respectful tone.
It was also to be inconspicuous.
Belmond editor-in-chief smiled. He didn’t know Artizea would adapt to the situation that far.
It was something that could have failed if she stood out. But even if Artizea failed because she stood out, the responsibility would be hers.
Few high-ranking nobles do this. In fact, she had never seen the Belmond editor-in-chief before.
Belmond editor-in-chief guided Artizea toward the corner. And he gave Hazel a few coins and made her buy clean water from somewhere else.
“Looking at how you’ve called, it looks like you’ve found it.”
“Because you gave me the correct name. It wasn’t that hard to track.”
“Even so, it took less than a day, so I know enough that you are a capable man.”
Belmond editor-in-chief bowed his head slightly in gratitude.
“You go back now, Hazel.”
“No, Father. I came all the way here.”
Hazel complained.
Belmond editor-in-chief tried to rebuke his daughter, but before that, Hazel said as she leaned closer to Artizea’s side.
“I am the lady-in-waiting of Her Grace. It is of course the first priority to serve Her Grace.”
“Shh, Hazel.”
Hazel shut her mouth quickly and looked around. Fortunately, her voice was lowered. No one seemed to have heard.
Belmond editor-in-chief sighed, and Artizea gave a bitter laugh.
Suddenly, Belmond editor-in-chief’s face grew fierce. Artizea glanced back at him.
A woman hugging a large basket came in and entered the bar.
Belmond editor-in-chief took the lead and walked out of the store. Artizea followed him at a brisk pace.
Belmond editor-in-chief, who had already known the back door, entered the alley without hesitation.
The woman who escaped through the back door of the store entered the warehouse building.
Belmond editor-in-chief followed the woman with unsuspecting speed. Then he pulled out a lockpick from his pocket.
Hazel’s eyes widened as she saw her father open the locked door at once.
Belmond editor-in-chief said in an excuse,
“When you’re working as a journalist, you know, all sorts of weird things happen.”
The warehouse was empty. As if it was originally used, a lot of dried hay and trash lying around on the ground.
“What should we do?”
Belmond editor-in-chief asked.
“There’s no need to go in and fight. If that was the case, I would have brought Sir Alphonse.”
Artizea said.
And she raised her voice and called out.
“Marchioness Camellia, if you open the door, I will give you a chance to rescue Grand Duchess Roygar!”
The sound echoed in the spacious warehouse.