Chapter 9
Wilhelm sat in his office, absorbed in work, handling reports that had come in from the territories under his management.
Knock, knock.
A light but somewhat urgent knock reached his ears. Wilhelm looked up and spoke in a deep, dignified voice.
“Enter.”
As the door opened, his young daughter, Aiana, stood there. Behind her was Diabel as well. Wilhelm gave a faint smile and set down the documents he had been holding.
“Aiana. Did you enjoy the party?”
“Yes, Father. It was lovely.”
“I see. But what brings you all the way to my office? Is there something you wish to discuss?”
In response to Wilhelm’s question, Aiana nodded. The expression on his daughter’s face was quite serious, and Wilhelm’s own expression darkened.
“Sit down and tell me. Diabel, please step out.”
“No, please let Diabel stay.”
Aiana said urgently, and Wilhelm looked puzzled. Nonetheless, he nodded as if to say he understood.
The air grew rather heavy. Even after sitting down, Aiana remained silent. Her expression was still grave.
“Speak, Aiana.”
Wilhelm’s low voice resonated. Aiana bit her lip several times before finally opening her mouth.
“Today, while visiting House Rosell, I heard something disturbing.”
Instead of answering, Wilhelm quietly gazed into Aiana’s eyes. She took a deep breath, like someone trying to calm their shock.
“I lost my way and overheard Ansgar Rosell talking with his subordinate. In one month, on June 30th, they plan to… attack House Rihaf.”
Aiana paused for a moment. After a brief silence, her voice came out, faintly trembling.
“That’s what they said. An attack.”
At the word ‘attack’, Wilhelm’s eyes widened. Silence. No one moved, as if time had stopped. Then Wilhelm’s voice was heard.
“I suspect you might have misheard.”
His voice was extremely calm. His startled expression had already subsided.
“No. I definitely did not mishear.”
Aiana said firmly. Wilhelm stared intently at his daughter.
She was a cheerful child, but she had never played mean tricks or told lies. Yet an attackāit was simply too preposterous.
Ansgar of House Rosell had been a vassal under the late king. They had raised their voices at each other a few times due to conflicting opinions, but those were trivial matters.
They had never done anything to earn particular enmity, nor could Wilhelm think of any reason House Rosell would go out of its way to launch an invasion.
His daughter had no reason to lie, and Rosell had no reason to attack. Perhaps the child had misheard some other word and was misunderstanding things on her own.
Women often did that. It was their specialty to spin a novel out of a single meaningless word.
Just as Wilhelm was lost in such thoughts, Diabel stepped forward.
“I apologize for interrupting, but there is not a shred of falsehood in Lady Aiana’s words.”
His voice was sharp. Wilhelm looked at Diabel.
“Diabel, did you hear this as well?”
“Yes, I was also listening.”
His expression was resolute and solemn. He looked exactly like someone telling the truth. Aiana smiled bitterly.
He really is a masterful liar.
There is an old saying: if three people gather, they can conjure even a nonexistent demon.
What is needed to deceive someone is not truth, but persuasiveness. That was why Aiana had gone to Rosell Castle.
If she claimed to know the future, she’d be treated like a madwoman. If she said she’d happened to overhear Ansgar’s conversation while walking, Wilhelm would never believe her.
But if she said she’d heard it at Rosell Castle, Wilhelm was likely to pay attention. If only one person spoke, he might not believe it. But with two, the chances of Wilhelm dismissing it were low.
Since there was the clear truth that Aiana had visited Rosell Castle, she could simply fabricate the lie that followed.
Because Father has no way to verify the truth.
As expected, Wilhelm, who until a moment ago had been puzzled, now wore an even more serious expression. Diabel continued.
“I heard there would be about twenty armed men. They plan to spike the food with poison and take advantage of the ensuing chaos.”
Wilhelm was silent for a long while. Yet he did not seem dismissive. At some point, his brow had furrowed and he was deep in thought.
After quite some time, Wilhelm brushed back his platinum-blonde hair, now streaked with gray.
“If poison is involved, does that mean there’s a traitor among the servants?”
“That seems highly likely.”
Diabel said in a slightly subdued voice. Wilhelm nodded as if convinced.
Aiana felt relieved at that. At the same time, seeing Diabel lie so naturally left a bitter taste in her mouth.
If Diabel lied to me, I probably wouldn’t be able to tell.
Her mouth felt dry. Wilhelm’s expression was also dark. He looked at Aiana and forced a smile.
“For now, go back and rest today, Aiana. Do not breathe a word of this to anyone.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Same goes for you, Diabel.”
“Understood.”
Aiana nodded slightly and left the office. As the heavy door of the office closed, Diabel spoke.
“That was an excellent performance.”
“So was yours.”
Aiana exhaled deeply. A sigh mixed with relief and frustration. Diabel gazed at her quietly and said,
“The matter is resolved, yet you look unhappy.”
“Yes. One thing is solved, but…”
Aiana said with a slight frown.
“There are still many problems left to solve.”
“Hmm. What kind of problems?”
Diabel said, as if listening to an entertaining story. In response, Aiana put a hand to her forehead.
“…My damned fiancĆ©, that’s what.”
3. The Young Lady, the FiancƩ, and the Enemy
A young maid was walking briskly down the corridor. Soft velvet carpeting muffled her footsteps. The maid stopped in front of a door and knocked lightly.
“Come in.”
As the maid carefully opened the door, she saw Aiana sitting in a chair, facing away.
“Jane, is it that time already?”
Aiana glanced back and stood up. She had been sitting before an easel.
Apparently she had been deeply absorbed in drawing, for her hands were smudged heavily with graphite. While Aiana approached a washbasin to clean her hands, Jane peeked around the easel.
“Wow, my lady. The drawing is wonderful.”
On the paper was a beautiful pencil sketch of a lobelia garden. Without much response, Aiana silently washed her hands.
“You seem to have really thrown yourself into drawing lately. I was a little worried because you stay in your room all day.”
As Jane said, Aiana had been focusing on drawing these days. Not that Jane needed to know what exactly.
What Aiana had been drawing were interior layouts of Rosell Castle. Using memories from her previous life and her recent visit to Rosell Castle, she had been reconstructing maps. They were not perfect, but having even partial information might someday prove useful.
“Yes. Somehow it’s coming along well.”
“Goodness. You’re truly talented at everything, my lady.”
While Jane peered at the lobelia drawing, Aiana sat down at her vanity.
The maid began braiding Aiana’s hair, sneaking glances at her. Until recently she had just seemed like an immature girl, but over the past few days she had acquired an alluring air.
“You look especially pretty today. Perhaps because Lord Mel is coming?”
At those words, Aiana smiled faintly. That mature smile made the young maid’s heart flutter for no reason.
“They say a woman changes when she’s in love. I guess it’s true.”
Jane chattered on somewhat impolitely, but Aiana did not bother to correct her. After fixing her hair and retouching her makeup, she left the room.
Though a guest was expected, the mansion’s atmosphere was not much different from usual. Passing by the bustling servants, Aiana headed slowly toward the lobby.
There, a guest had already arrived. Blair. Blair, who was the same age as Aiana, was mature beyond his years.
Her younger brother, who had been sitting in a chair reading a thick book, sensed her gaze and glanced at Aiana. Cold eyes gleamed behind his glasses.
“You’ve come, sister.”
“When did you get here, Blair?”
“I arrived this morning.”
Blair attended an academy in a neighboring city. Since it was some distance away, he stayed at the academy dormitory during the week and came home every weekend.
Aiana flopped down beside Blair. Soon enough, Blair had become engrossed in his book again. She stared at her younger brother and asked,
“Why are you reading here? Your room would be more comfortable.”
“I heard Mel Iveck is coming, so I thought I’d at least greet him.”
Blair wore a sour expression. Looking at that face, an old memory suddenly surfaced.
“What’s this? You usually can’t stand Mel Iveck.”
“I still don’t want to see that scoundrel’s face, but since he’s your fiancĆ©, I ought to offer a greeting.”
Blair said in a cold voice. That irritated faceāit was the same expression he wore every time Mel Iveck visited.
Even in her previous life, Blair had disliked Mel Iveck. Understandably so. Everyone knew he was a playboy who had made many women cry.
Yet Aiana had been smitten by his handsome looks and ignored Blair’s advice. She had even fought with Blair over it.
Looking back, that was so foolish.
Aiana smiled bitterly. When she had needed help the most, Mel Iveck had turned his back on her.
Before being married off to House Pasito, Aiana had fled from pursuers and sought refuge with House Iveck.
She believed that if she met Mel Iveck, everything would be solved. He was her fiancƩ, after all. He had said he would even give his life for her.
She believed in his love. But the gates of House Iveck remained tightly shut against her. They would not even show their faces.
Instead, when she tried to make a commotion, she was threatened that they would contact House Rosell. In the end, Aiana had no choice but to leave Iveck Castle behind.
And soon after, House Iveck and House Rosell formed an alliance.
Given loyalty, it was an unconscionable act. Why on earth had she been engaged to such a man?
“Indeed, I should have listened to you.”
At that, Blair stared at Aiana. His eyes seemed surprised.
“What’s come over you, sister? You used to throw a fit whenever I criticized Mel Iveck.”
“I suppose I’ve come to my senses a little. My heart wants to break off the engagement, but it’s probably too late, isn’t it?”
“…If you break off an engagement on a simple whim, it could cause major problems.”
Blair was right. Breaking an engagement solely because one didn’t like the other party could escalate into a dispute between the two Houses. That was one of Aiana’s current concerns.
I need to find a way to end the engagement without any damage.
She smiled bitterly. Watching her silently, Blair gave a small sigh.
“But your life is the most important, sister. If you want to break it off, just do it.”
That was an uncharacteristic statement from Blair, who was always cold and rational. Aiana was momentarily stunned.
Then she smiled softly and gently ruffled Blair’s hair. He pushed her hand away as if annoyed.
“Are you treating me like a child?”
“You are a child.”
“We’re only one year apart.”
Though they were the same age in terms of birth year, to Aianaāwho had once been in her thirtiesāBlair now seemed like just a child.
Seeing Aiana smile with fondness and pride, Blair frowned. Just then, the head butler entered the hall and bowed his head slightly.
“Lord Mel Iveck is expected to arrive shortly.”
“All right.”
The siblings rose from their seats and headed toward the entrance. Before long, a noisy sound began to come from outside.
The rumbling of carriage wheels. Soon the sound stopped, the door opened, and a man stepped inside.
“Oh, Aiana, my little rabbit!”
He was a handsome young man with blue hair. The man saw Aiana and approached with a bright smile.
“Aiana! You’ve grown even more beautiful in my absence. Even the flowers blooming in your mansion would recognize their place and drop their petals when faced with your beauty.”
Every time Mel opened his mouth, it was as if cheap candy was falling out. Aiana barely managed to suppress the urge to clench her fists.
