Chapter 18: RMLIP

Chapter 18

In the end, Rishid could only bitterly watch as his aide, Cassel, was intimidated by the western nobles at the banquet, unable to step forward himself.

Then the young lady had boldly stepped between them and rescued Cassel.

No one had asked her to do it.

He certainly hadn't.

She had acted entirely of her own accord.

Rishid couldn't help but be surprised by such unexpected assistance.

Especially when she had subdued the crowd with nothing more than a fan...

'That felt incredibly satisfying.'

He hated to admit it, but for a moment...

She had even looked rather impressive.

Even though he used to despise that fan so much.

'The more I think about it... it wasn't bad.'

In truth, although he had told Airel there was no other reason, this was why he had chosen to remain by her side.

He needed to break the curse and uncover the culprit as quickly as possible.

To do that, he needed someone who could move freely through high society and mingle naturally with people.

"I-I suppose it can't be helped then... In any case, I'll be staying in the capital for a while as well. If Your Highness needs anything, please contact me here."

Cassel had ultimately backed down as well, admitting that there was no one in the North who could move naturally through aristocratic society.

Moreover, after what had happened today, it seemed Airel had been right.

The emperor did not appear to be the one benefiting from Rishid's disappearance.

'It would be better to investigate Marquis Langard and the western nobles more thoroughly.'

At that point, Rishid generously acknowledged something.

Airel Blandiche might turn out to be a far better partner than he'd expected.

"...Lady."

"Yes!"

Unaware of what was on his mind, Airel looked at him with a bright smile.

Rishid clenched his fist tightly before forcing himself to say words that refused to leave his lips.

"...For what happened today..."

"I'm truly... grateful to you."

Silence filled the carriage.

"...G-Good heavens... what did you just say?"

After blinking several times, Airel clasped both hands over her mouth, looking utterly overwhelmed.

How many times in his life had he sincerely thanked someone?

Only after the words had already left his mouth did Rishid wonder if this would make the young lady fall for him even more.

But it was too late to take them back.

"...Isn't it rather warm?"

Feeling his face growing strangely hot, Rishid abruptly stood and threw open the carriage window.

A cool breeze flowed inside.

As his black hair shifted in the wind, his ear, previously hidden beneath it, became visible.

Unable to speak, Airel screamed internally.

The tips of Rishid's ears—

As he stood awkwardly gripping the window frame—

Had turned the most unsuitable color imaginable.

A beautiful...

Cherry red.

* * *

Kate, Briana's head maid, strode straight toward Airel's room the moment she arrived at the ducal estate.

"V-Vice Head Maid?"

Several of Airel's personal maids hurried after her in confusion.

Kate stopped before the door with a stern expression.

"Open it."

"B-But, Vice Head Maid! Lady Airel ordered that no one be allowed inside before she left and locked the room herself. May we ask why...?"

One maid hurriedly blocked the doorway.

Kate merely jerked her chin toward the door.

"It is Madam's order."

"..."

"Lady Briana has ordered this room searched. If you don't have the key, break the handle if you must. Open it immediately!"

The maids turned pale at the sharp command.

Servants soon gathered.

It took only a few minutes to smash the locked doorknob.

Pushing open the damaged door, Kate surveyed the room.

Airel's bedroom was unexpectedly plain.

'How strange. I remember Miss Airel being terribly extravagant when she was young...'

Naturally, Kate had no way of knowing that Airel had already removed nearly all the decorations to suit Rishid's tastes.

'Well, either way, this should make it easier to find what we're looking for.'

She called all the trembling maids inside.

"Search Lady Airel's room thoroughly. If you find anything related to dolls, send every single item to Madam's office."

"Yes..."

"We don't have much time, so hurry!"

Kate pulled out her pocket watch and checked the time.

It had been an hour since the young lady left the banquet.

If she finished her business quickly, she'd be back at the estate before long.

Kate had deliberately assigned only Airel's own maids to avoid rumors.

Still, it would be troublesome if Airel returned before they finished.

"Open every drawer. Check under the bed and behind the wardrobe. Don't overlook even the smallest space!"

"Y-Yes!"

The maids immediately began searching.

'Even if that half-blooded lady returns, she won't be able to defy Madam's orders.'

No matter how influential Airel had become in noble society, she was still nothing more than the duke's illegitimate daughter.

No one understood better than her own attendants how illegitimate children were treated in this household.

"Be thorough. The honor of House Blandiche is at stake."

As soon as Kate invoked the family's honor, the hesitant maids worked much faster.

After all...

The young lady had no allies in this mansion.

Having served Briana for many years, Kate felt an odd sense of exhilaration as she emptied another drawer.

But...

"You still haven't found anything?"

"N-No... We're sorry..."

Despite considerable time passing, not a single suspicious object had been discovered.

With Kate watching them personally, there was no reason for the maids to lie.

'That can't be right. Did she deliberately hide it?'

The possibility that there had never been anything suspicious in the room never crossed Kate's mind.

Lady Briana was far too cautious to issue such an order without absolute certainty.

Then...

Kate's eyes landed on the tall wardrobe.

There was enough space between the top of the wardrobe and the ceiling to hide a decent-sized box.

A feeling struck her.

"...Bring me a stool."

"A-A stool?"

"Now!"

"Y-Yes!"

At her shout, the youngest maid hurried off and returned carrying one.

"H-Here it is, Vice Head Maid..."

The trembling maid set it down.

Kate immediately climbed onto the stool and reached toward the top of the wardrobe.

* * *

"So you've finally gone mad, Airel!"

The furious shout struck like thunder the moment I returned to the ducal estate.

I folded my hands neatly over my stomach and bowed respectfully.

"...I'm sorry."

"I warned you over and over not to disgrace our family! Yet you dared attend the imperial banquet wearing that ridiculous toy of a hat?"

The duke, who had been standing beside his wife in her office, threw the flower hat at me with a flushed face.

"Do you have any idea what kind of humiliation you've brought upon us?!"

The hat hit my shoulder before falling to the floor.

"I'm sorry. Even if I had ten mouths, I'd have no excuse."

Strictly speaking, I'd only worn it because of Rishid.

Still, I silently lowered my head.

I'd expected this the moment I put that flower hat on.

I felt sorry for the duke and duchess.

But what was done couldn't be undone.

People would forget that ridiculous hat soon enough, and the duke and duchess would probably end the matter by punishing me.

The bigger problem was...

'I stepped on Marquis Langard's foot in a fit of anger.'

Honestly, stepping on his foot wasn't enough.

Even now, I felt like I'd only be satisfied after pulling every last hair from that ungrateful marquis's head.

But these two would be furious over the foot alone.

Sure enough, while the duke continued scolding me, the duchess, who had been sitting gracefully the whole time, slowly rose from her chair.

"The real problem isn't that, dear."

"It isn't? Then what is it?"

Passing by the duke, the duchess stopped in front of me and let out a quiet sigh.

'Here it comes.'

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Now she'd start talking about Marquis Langard and the western nobles, scold me, and demand to know how I intended to fix this...

"You gave the High Priest a flower in front of everyone."

...What?

'Where did the flower suddenly come from?'

Startled, I looked up.