I Became The Younger Sister Of A Dying Woman - Chapter 56

56. Your loyalty runs deep

Izekiel left the drawing room first, Hernan and I remained seated.

“Your Highness Hernan. Do you have any plans for the afternoon?”

“Even if I did, I would obey your wishes.”

It was a truly blind answer.

Even if I were to ask, “Can you give up the position of Crown Prince for my sake?” Hernan seemed like he would kindly reply, “I will do so.”

To let someone else’s will stop him from achieving something he’d wanted all his life.

Is it love or obsession?

Or does it mean something else?

Does Hernan really like me?

On the other hand, if Hernan were to say, “I wish you would stop trying to save Letty for my sake,” could I accept his words?

I can’t.

I was able to make a decision without much hesitation.

My feelings could not match Hernan’s feelings.

To me, Letty was more precious than Hernan.

“…Why are you making that expression? Did I say something wrong?”

Did I have a sad expression?

I forced a smile.

“No, it’s just that I’ve been talking a lot, and I feel a bit drained.”

“I see. Would you like to return to your chamber and rest?”

I shook my head.

It was still bright outside. There was a long time before the sun would set.

“I’ll be fine after a little rest.”

And I had work to do.

“Your Highness, after taking a short rest, I will go visit your vassals.”

“……My vassals?”

“Yes.”

There are some things I need to receive.

I couldn’t help but chuckle without revealing everything.

“Since we didn’t properly exchange greetings last time, I wanted to meet again.”

“Sure. I’ll arrange for the carriage.”

Hernan didn’t seem to doubt my excuse in the slightest.

* * *

Hernan had three vassals in total.

Two were viscounts and the third was a baron, and the three of them were said to meet frequently at the residence of Viscount of Flan, who was the center of their circle.

As such, Hernan and I were on our way to the viscount’s residence.

Of course, I could have summoned the vassals to the palace.

But I remembered what the vassals looked like at the hunting tournament.

Their flashy attire and the scent of money.

Hernan was surrounded by rotting furniture, and I found it odd that they all smelled of money.

It was a bit unsettling, so I wanted to go and personally, with my own eyes, confirm the viscount’s influence.

I wanted to see if it was as splendid as they say, and how much more I could rip off…….

To be honest, all of this was for Hernan, who seemed to be enduring all this mockery.

The Valencia Duchy was known for its wealth, so I had more than enough money to spare.

The carriage we rode left the palace and entered the city.

Normally, I would have talked this and that to Hernan, but I kept my lips sealed.

My condition had deteriorated significantly since leaving the palace.

Hernan had taken the time to come out to meet the vassals, and I hoped that my strength would be enough to keep me from returning to the palace.

“It’s okay to go back to the palace.”

“…Really?”

Hernan seemed to have sensed my condition early on. Perhaps because he had an animal-like sense.

“Cough, cough. It’s fine.”

“Linzel, when will you be honest with me?”

“What?”

“You can be honest with me… at least about this. If you’re in pain, say so. If you’re struggling, say so.”

“But if I say I’m struggling, you’ll make me rest even forcefully, won’t you?”

Hernan couldn’t answer.

As if acknowledging my words.

I stared intently at Hernan’s deep crimson eyes.

“I’m still okay. If I’m really struggling, I’ll let you know. I’m not foolish enough to push myself to the point where my life is in danger.”

“…Alright.”

Hernan reluctantly replied, his face full of concern.

What came to mind in that moment was Hernan’s tearful expression.

In fear that something might have happened to me, Hernan had burst into tears.

I wiped away the dry corners of Hernan’s eyes.

“I’m not getting worse.”

I’m struggling alongside you for that reason. Our efforts won’t be in vain.

Our gazes remained locked for a long time.

Until we arrived at the viscount’s mansion. Continuously.

The viscount’s mansion we arrived at was as grand and splendid as the Valencia Duchy’s.

‘Does the influence of the viscount’s house rival that of a Duchy’s? It reeks of something fishy.’

We were greeted by maids and servants because we had sent a message before coming.

However, by the time we entered the mansion, neither the viscount nor the baron was in sight.

Their attitude was quite different from Miller, who had come to welcome us with great enthusiasm.

No, even though Miller held a much higher rank, neither of them were anywhere to be seen?

These guys. Perhaps they lack enthusiasm.

I shook my head left and right.

All the talking in the carriage had restored my strength.

I had enough energy to face the vassals.

As we walked to the reception room where the vassals were supposed to be, something caught my eye.

It was the splendor of the hallway.

The carpet laid in the hallway, the occasional paintings on the walls, the decorations displayed on one side… Everything looked luxurious.

It was the complete opposite of Hernan’s palace, which was shabby and had almost no decorations.

They must have spared no expense to decorate the viscount’s mansion. Tsk.

I looked at it all in displeasure.

‘Advertise that you have a lot of money.’

By the way.

How did they accumulate all this money?

The foul smell that had been present since we entered the viscount’s house seemed to intensify.

Eventually, we arrived at the reception room.

As we entered, three men stood up from their seats.

“Greetings to Your Highness Hernan and Linzel.”

Two viscounts and a baron greeted us.

“It’s the first time we’re meeting since the hunting competition.”

There was a hint of anger in Hernan’s words.

It seemed he hadn’t forgotten how I had pointed out the vassals as the archer who aimed at me during the hunting competition.

Even if the suspicion was cleared later.

“We apologize, we should have visited you first. We should have gone to Your Highness first to greet you as well…….”

It was Viscount Flan who spoke on behalf of the vassals.

“Forget the pretense. If you were going to visit, you would have done so already.”

Without realizing, I blurted out a sarcastic remark.

They had noticed the glance I gave them, and Hernan…

“It would have been proper for you to come earlier.”

He wholeheartedly agreed with my words.

I smirked and looked at each of the vassals in turn.

The gaze seemed to convey the message, ‘Hernan is completely on my side.’

“How long are you going to keep us standing, let’s take a seat.”

Hernan and I sat down on the sofa, and the three men took seats across from us.

“Your Highness, what urgent matter brought you here? If you had informed us in advance, we would have gone to the palace.”

This time again it was Viscount Flan who spoke.

He emphasized the word ‘urgent’ to prevent us from reprimanding them.

“But haven’t you often promised to visit and then not shown up?”

I couldn’t hold back a burst of laughter.

“Pfft.”

Hernan…… Anyway, this honest little devil.

Caught off guard by the unexpected timing, viscount Flan stumbled over his words.

“Well, it’s just that unavoidable circumstances have arisen from time to time…… and we are ever grateful to your Highness for forgiving us.”

“There you go. Late apologies are unnecessary.”

“…….”

An uncomfortable silence ensued.

I decided to step in gradually.

“That aside, I’ve been thinking as we walked here. The viscount’s mansion is quite splendid. The decorations in the hallway were extremely expensive, weren’t they?”

“Yes, they were. Their market value is astronomical…”

Viscount Flan, having gone that far, hastily redirected his words as if he had misspoken.

“…People naturally like grandeur.”

“You seem very domestic, Viscount.”

“Thank you.”

“But here’s the thing. My Lord……. is the domestic aspect more prominent, or is your loyalty to His Highness Hernan stronger?”

“…Pardon?”

“As someone close to His Highness Hernan, I was just curious.”

I gazed at viscount Flan with a sidelong glance.

He flinched under my gaze and hesitated to answer.

The silence lingered, and Hernan’s voice, laden with authority, spoke out.

“Answer quickly. Linzel asked something, didn’t she?”

Hernan. Very nice.

A well-timed prompt.

Only then did viscount Flan clear his throat to respond.

“…Certainly, my loyalty to His Highness Hernan is greater. Please do not doubt our devotion.”

“I see. Greater loyalty, huh…”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“In that case, can the opulent decorations from the viscount’s mansion be sent to the Eastern Palace? His Highness seemed to like them.”

I gave a quick wink to Hernan.

Hernan could be a bit clueless at times, and he might not understand what I was trying to do.

But it didn’t really matter.

Hernan will agree with what I say, even if I call the moon dirt, because that’s how he is.

And sure enough, Hernan nodded as if my words were correct.

Caught off guard, viscount Flan was in a dilemma.

“That, that’s not a person……….”

“Why, I thought you said your loyalties were greater than your domestic needs?”

I laughed innocently as if I knew nothing.

A bitter smile played on viscount Flan’s lips.

“I… understand. If you speak of the items that pleased you, I will make sure to send them all to the Eastern Palace.”

Great, great.

Those items will adorn Hernan’s Eastern Palace.

Now, should I proceed with the main reason for visiting this place?

It would be truly disappointing if I thought it ended here.

I addressed viscount Flan once again.

“And I read the letter you sent as well.”

“Huh? What letter are you referring to…….”

“You mentioned that you wanted to, belatedly, if necessary, congratulate our wedding grandly!”

Of course, that was a lie.

Extorting money from a vassal…… No, more like a prelude to extortion.

“Your Highness, when did I…….”

I interrupted viscount Flan’s stumbling words.

“Cough, cough. I apologize. The shock from the hunting competition hasn’t worn off yet, and I’m not feeling well.”

“…….”

“But it’s been said that the culprit who threatened me still hasn’t been caught… Thinking about it again, I seem to have seen someone’s silhouette…”

My acting skills were improving by leaps and bounds as the days went by.

Viscount Flan’s face turned pale as he seemed to understand what I was implying.

If he didn’t deliver the promised funds from the hunting competition, I might accuse him of being the one who threatened me.

“That’s right! I indeed sent such a letter. As a vassal, it’s my duty.”

“Right? Your loyalty runs deep.”

“Yes…”

“So, how much have you prepared?”

“W-Well, that…”

“Cough! Cough!”

“I will prepare with all my heart, Your Highness!”

That’s how it should be.

I sent a mouthed, silent message to the vassals.

‘Ignore His Highness Hernan, and you’ll all die.’

They bit their lips tightly as they understood my words.