Chapter 34: I Killed People 

Count and Countess Phineas couldn’t close their mouths when they saw Clive at their audience with the Emperor. His smiling face, like someone watching an amusing spectacle, contrasted sharply with his cold, sunken eyes, creating an unsettling impression. 

The Count had hoped Clive hadn’t told the Emperor, but it was too late. The Emperor already knew everything.

“I heard from the Grand Duke. Your cousin stood in for your daughter while she was ill, correct?”

Though Eirene had been Aishe’s stand-in, somehow the positions had reversed, making it seem like Aishe had been acting as Eirene all this time. To the Emperor who brought this up first, Count Phineas could only bow his head deeply and beg forgiveness.

“Frankly, I felt betrayed and quite displeased by a count I trusted. You deserve to be brought to trial, but since the Grand Duke approves, I have no choice but to grant permission as a father.”

The Emperor also emphasized that, considering the Count’s past service, he wouldn’t press charges, and requested that Eirene visit with the Count before the wedding. 

Count Phineas hadn’t wanted things to turn out this way. He wasn’t afraid of a trial; the temple could have intervened before he was brought to court anyway. It would have been perfect if the trial were suspended and he could reject the Grand Duke’s proposal on grounds of impropriety. 

But Clive had stepped forward, seemingly waiting for this moment, allowing the Count to achieve only half his purpose in meeting the Emperor. 

Had the Grand Duke predicted he would seek an audience with the Emperor?

“Still, I feel relieved that His Majesty knows. It’s better than living in constant fear of being discovered, isn’t it?”

The Countess, unaware of her husband’s uneasiness, sighed with relief in the returning carriage.

“I’m not concerned about the Emperor because His Holiness Sebastian can handle him. But the Grand Duke is another matter.”

“Don’t worry too much. Once they’re married, we just need to wait for the right opportunity to switch Eirene and Aishe, and there won’t be any problems.”

“What if Eirene never leaves Dervel Palace?”

“She won’t stay in the palace forever. After being confined to the basement for so long, she’ll want to go out. She’s already doing that now. If she really doesn’t move an inch, like you say, we’ll have to find a way to make her come out. And if that doesn’t work, we can ask Siaran for help.”

His wife was right. Though he felt uneasy not knowing Clive’s true intentions, all they needed to do was let Eirene marry and live her life, then switch souls with Aishe.

“What you and I should be concerned about now is how much Eirene has told the Grand Duke.”

Clive seemed too calm, suggesting he might not know yet, but the truth was uncertain.

“Even if not now, she’ll tell him everything eventually.”

“Even if Eirene tells him everything, she won’t say she’s not of Phineas blood. It wouldn’t benefit her at all if the Grand Duke knew.”

“What if she told him the rest?”

“Even the Grand Duke can’t interfere in family matters. What could he do about an older sister helping her sick younger sister?”

Count Phineas scratched his head irritably. The situation felt thoroughly tangled. Logically, they just needed to wait and switch Aishe’s soul, but something still felt off. 

He always told his daughter not to worry, yet now he was troubled by an inexplicable concern.

* * *

“Why did you ask me to come here instead of the Imperial Palace?”

Clive crossed his legs, showing his annoyance.

“The Imperial Palace has too many listening ears. What’s this about your fiancée being switched?”

“It’s already reached your ears, sister? It was supposed to be highly confidential.”

Angela, Clive’s sister two years his senior, once a princess of the Bainfelt Empire and now the Marchioness of Dike, wore a serious expression.

“Florian told me. The poor boy was pale with shock.”

“It was only temporary.”

Clive explained briefly. He omitted the details, saying only that the person who held the engagement ceremony and the person he would marry had been switched. 

He explained that Eirene, the subject of the portrait, had been ill, and to maintain their relationship, her cousin had taken her place until the engagement ceremony. 

He added a small lie that when he was invited to the Phineas Mansion, he met the recovered Eirene, recognized the switch, and fell in love at first sight.

“Fell in love at first sight? You? Clive Bainfelt? Anyone who doesn’t know you would think you’re a romantic. I’d sooner believe the rumor that you’ve become impotent.”

Angela waved her hand in disbelief.

“Don’t make up things that aren’t true.”

“That’s how ridiculous it sounds! You, who’ve lived like a womanizer, falling in love? Come on. Tell me. Were you blackmailed?”

“You can say what you want in front of me, but watch your words in front of my future wife.”

Clive’s eyes narrowed, though he had been smiling and responding playfully. Seeing his sudden coldness, Angela wondered if he really had fallen in love.

“Have you settled things with all the women you’ve been seeing?”

“Angela.”

“Alright, stop glaring at me. So who was this person who stood in for your fiancée?”

“Aishe Baix.”

“I didn’t know the Baix family was related to the Phineas family.”

“They’re distant relatives, so few people in society know them, or so they say. Believe it or not.”

Though he spoke casually, the atmosphere around her brother felt unusual. She had known he was scheming behind the scenes but had pretended not to notice. Now she couldn’t ignore it anymore. 

Though she lived outwardly focused on supporting her husband, she had always been wary of the temple and kept a close eye on imperial affairs.

“There was something suspicious about Lady Baix.”

“In what way?”

“The main purpose of debuting in society is marriage, right? But Lady Baix seemed more interested in playing with men than in marriage. Most people are careful at balls before marriage, but Lady Baix wasn’t. She seemed to treat herself carelessly? Maybe I was just being overly sensitive.”

“You weren’t wrong in what you saw.”

He rested his elbows on the chair’s armrests and interlaced his fingers. Both Clive’s toes and fingertips twitched simultaneously.

“Clive… you’re up to something, aren’t you?”

“Nothing at all.”

His eyes rose and fell briefly, then he smiled again, looking like he had never glared at her.

“I’m worried you’ll put yourself in danger again.”

Long ago, Clive had seemed unstable for a while. During what she thought was just his adolescence, he returned one day covered in blood. With vacant, unfocused eyes, he mumbled before Angela: Sister. I killed people. An innocent family. 

He fainted immediately after saying those words. The next day, he woke up and relinquished his position as Crown Prince. Though she could recall it calmly now, it had been shocking. He never answered when she asked why or what he was thinking. 

When she shouted in frustration, asking if he had gone mad, his response was utterly cynical: Sister. I’m more sane than I’ve ever been. 

After that, Clive lived chaotically. She had been relieved that rumors about him had decreased recently, but also anxious, and now it seemed something was starting again. She could see the same look he had before returning covered in blood. 

No, he was calmer and more composed now, which made her even more anxious.

“The problem is that you can see right through me, sister.”

“I can only read you particularly well. You have no idea how much information I gather from the ladies and young noblewomen.”

“Why collect information? Just enjoy your life.”

“I am enjoying it a lot. But don’t I need to have something in hand for my children’s future?”

If the empire’s power shifted to the temple, the imperial family would be in the greatest danger.

“The Empress Dowager is fine. I wish His Majesty would also suspect what the temple is plotting, but he’s just so innocent in front of the Pope.”

“Don’t blame Father. Blame the people who take advantage of his vulnerable moments. He was strong until Mother passed away. But now I see you take after Father? How can you fall in love at first sight?”

For Angela, who understood people by observing them closely and gradually developing feelings, this was completely incomprehensible.

“I don’t know either.”

A faint smile spread across his face, which genuinely looked bewildered.

* * *

Eirene found one document with her name on it. She quickly copied it onto a blank paper and went back into the secret space to search for more, but the volume of documents was overwhelming for one person. 

There must be more records with the same name, but when would she find them all? 

In the end, she only found one document today. She had spent too much time in the office and needed to leave before arousing suspicion. 

She firmly gripped the few documents she had seen beneath the office floor and the paper where she had copied the personal information with Eirene’s name, careful not to lose them. She wanted to take these straight to Dervel. 

Not only the current Pope Sebastian, but the temple and the Phineas family had been connected for a very long time. The temple selected children, and the Phineas family brought them in and sold them. 

The proceeds were divided between the temple and the Phineas family. To think that a place like the temple would engage in such activities! 

It wouldn’t be strange at all to say they served demons rather than gods.

“Gemma, prepare for an outing.”

“Where are you going?”

Gemma matched her pace with Eirene, who was walking quickly.

“The café.”

“We’ll arrive after lunch, closer to dinner. And it will be the middle of the night when we return.”

That didn’t matter. If she was lucky enough to meet Clive, that would be fortunate; if not, she could at least see him by lunch tomorrow.

* * *

The afternoon café was bustling with customers. Many people now recognized the future Grand Duchess, and the customers’ gazes turned toward Eirene.

“Lady Phineas!”

An unfamiliar noblewoman approached, pretending to know her. This prompted other noblewomen and ladies who had been sitting and watching to rise from their seats one after another. 

Eirene thought she should have worn a hat. She had decided to go without one, hoping to become familiar to more people, which would put pressure on Count and Countess Phineas and Aishe. 

But in urgent moments like this, a hat was necessary. She needed to ask the manager to contact Clive as quickly as possible, but time was wasted receiving greetings.

“What brings you here?”

“You look beautiful every time I see you.”

“It would be an honor if you would join us for tea.”

With everyone saying different things at once, it was hard to understand. Though they maintained proper etiquette, the many staring eyes made it difficult to breathe. 

Her mind was filled only with the documents she had found in the mansion’s office, and just listening to their requests gave her a headache.

“I’m sorry. I have a prior appointment and can’t spare the time. Manager!”

Most retreated after her polite refusal, but the noblewoman who had first approached her didn’t give up.

“I can wait.”

Just as Eirene, her nerves on edge, was about to say something sharp:

“Don’t wait. I’m her appointment.”

Clive gently took Eirene’s wrist and pulled her to his side. Only after he kindly asked the noblewoman not to steal time from his fiancée did she finally leave.

“Clive! How did you know to come?”

Eirene asked as they moved to a private room.

“I didn’t come knowing you’d be here; I was already here on business. But why are you so happy to see me?”

“I have something to tell you.”

Though calm, Eirene’s voice held a tremor. She had never been so glad to see him before.