Chapter 45

Malena’s voice made Giselle turn around. Meeting Giselle’s gaze, Malena bowed deeply and continued speaking.

“If only I hadn’t failed back then.”

Giselle, her anger somewhat cooled by the sight of Malena, ran her hand through her hair. She moved to the sofa by the window and leaned back. The early spring breeze ventilating the bedroom seemed to soothe her mood. Giselle shook her head.

“…No.”

After learning that Dostern had been captured, Giselle disguised Malena as a maid and brought her into the Princess’s Palace. 

Malena had once been a skilled operative who made a name for herself in the information guild. While her ability to plan and execute missions was not extraordinary, she excelled at identifying and immediately recruiting people who could be useful to Kopenbach. Her ambition for a new world was boundless, and she quickly rose to a senior position within Kopenbach. This was why Giselle had used her in the surprise attack against the Duke of Rosenheim.

Although they had never seen the Duke’s magic firsthand, it was Malena’s intelligence that had enabled them to push him to the brink of death. Even so, the mission’s failure was not solely Malena’s fault; the Duke’s strength had far exceeded what their gathered information had suggested. 

Moreover, Malena was discreet. She never spoke of carrying out Giselle’s orders and even endured blame on her behalf. This loyalty, despite failing twice to kill the Duke of Rosenheim, was why Giselle couldn’t abandon her.

Having cleaned up the broken porcelain pieces, Malena left briefly and returned with a silver tray holding warm water and a towel.

“Your Highness, allow me to give you a massage.”

When Giselle nodded slowly, Malena knelt before the sofa. Lifting the princess’s voluminous skirt, Malena gently removed her white socks and dipped Giselle’s feet into the warm water infused with green tea. She began massaging the top of her foot with her thumbs.

“The mercenary guild matter has been resolved. Everyone, including the guild leader we hired, was killed on the spot.”

“I wish my brother would turn his attention toward that direction.”

“All connections to the guild, except for the information handed over to Sir Dietrich, have been severed. Additionally, the focus has shifted from the Duke of Rosenheim to Rothschild, so it should have some effect.”

Malena carefully massaged each of Giselle’s toes. Soothed by Malena’s gentle touch, Giselle relaxed further into the sofa. Her clear voice echoed above Malena, who kept her head bowed.

“I see. So, we’ve bought some time…”

“I will continue to monitor the situation.”

Giselle nodded slightly and leaned her head back.

“That was close.”

The sound of Dietrich’s voice overlapped with the spring sunlight falling on her closed eyelids. He, who still kept his claws hidden, was always cautious. From the moment they first met at the opera house to the time Giselle willingly became part of the organization, there had been many events, big and small. 

But from the moment Giselle targeted the Duke of Rosenheim, Dietrich had approached her with even greater caution. Of course, targeting one of the only two dukes in Rohadin was no ordinary matter.

However, Giselle knew. Despite some setbacks, Erhen Rosenheim would inevitably die by her hand. From the moment his face was illuminated by moonlight as she cursed him, it had become her mission.

Look, Dietrich. I am not dangerous. So, do what you must.

***

The sky had begun to turn red. With the delayed sunset, it seemed winter had fully retreated.

The palace Erhen took Charlotte to was a place no one visited anymore. The exterior of the building showed no signs of maintenance over the past few years.

The Seine Palace. 

This was the place where Michael, as a child, stayed with his uncle, the late Emperor, when he visited the capital. It was also where the late Emperor’s sister, Drianne, the former Grand Duchess of Düsseldorf, and Michael had stayed.

When Rufus, who had always envied Michael, ascended the throne after the late Emperor’s death, he banned the Düsseldorf mother and son from entering the capital and left this palace abandoned.

This part of the story was not covered in the novel, so Charlotte, tilting her head in curiosity, wondered if it held sentimental value.

“More than that, I think he didn’t want his childhood memories tarnished. Despite appearances, the interior is maintained by preservation magic.”

“And the one managing that preservation magic is you, Erhen?”

“In a way, yes.”

Charlotte laughed brightly. 

“So, you’re using it for mischief like this?” 

She giggled, and Erhen couldn’t help but smile as he watched her laugh like a child.

He couldn’t bring himself to say that he, too, had memories of this place with his brother. With Maximilian, Michael’s friend, who treated him roughly as if he were a younger brother. 

This was why the palace was accessible only to Michael and himself. And now, he had turned it into his secret rendezvous spot, swearing that Michael must never find out.

As the Seine Palace was located on the outskirts of the royal castle, Charlotte and Erhen soon found themselves on the road leading to the palace gates. The area near the castle’s main gate was bustling with departing court officials and carriages ready to take them home.

Knowing she would soon stand among them, Charlotte hesitated and spoke.

“…You must have been upset earlier because of my brother.”

“You’ve been wanting to say something since earlier, and that’s what’s been bothering you?”

“It’s not something to just brush off. Well, I’ve been granted a noble title, but Lucas is still a commoner…”

Charlotte added in a small voice. Before coming to the castle today, she had been confined at home by Lucas, left to stew in her thoughts. She understood her brother’s perspective but still felt it was too much.

Seeing her hesitation, Erhen stopped walking and pulled her hand toward him.

“I’m fine.”

“Why are you always fine?”

“Because what matters is that you’re here in front of me.”

His kind words made Charlotte purse her lips. Erhen chuckled softly and ruffled her hair with one hand, silently telling her not to worry.

As she stood still under his touch, Charlotte suddenly grabbed his wrist. Surprised by her sudden action, Erhen looked at her.

“Oh, really. I want to hug you so badly, but there are too many people around.”

Charlotte pouted, clearly annoyed by the crowd. Then, as if she couldn’t stand it any longer, she grabbed his arm and began walking briskly.

As they approached the line of carriages waiting for passengers, the eyes of court officials and nobles turned toward Erhen. It was unusual for him to leave work at such a busy time, attracting even more attention.

“It’s the Duke of Rosenheim!”

“Oh my, he’s so handsome!”

Among the gazes, many came from women admiring Erhen. Charlotte silently vowed never to leave at this time again during their remaining courtship period. Whether he noticed or not, Erhen simply found her fiery glare at the onlookers endearing.

It didn’t take long for the carriage to arrive. With Erhen’s escort, Charlotte climbed aboard.

“Take care.”

“You, too, Erhen. Don’t work too late.”

“You always say the sweetest things.”

Charlotte chuckled softly.

After a brief farewell, the door closed. The crack of the whip signaled the carriage’s slow departure.

If only she had been braver back then, perhaps her parting words would have been, “See you at home.” It was a useless thought, but the regret lingered.

Erhen watched the carriage disappear down the long avenue lined with plane trees, then turned back toward the palace.

***

In the underground conference room of Morgen Palace, where Michael resided.

Knock, knock. The sound of a knock broke the silence, and the door opened. All eyes in the room—Michael’s, the Commander of Kaiserliche, and Walter List—turned to Erhen as he entered.

After confirming who was already seated, Erhen gave a slight nod to Michael at the head of the table.

“You’re here.”

“I just arrived as well.”

Michael nodded in acknowledgment. Once Erhen took the seat next to him, Walter began to speak.

“Our investigation reveals that the owner of the general store Dostern frequently visited is now unaccounted for.”

Over the past month, Kaiserliche’s investigation into Dostern’s activities in Singgred had yielded almost nothing. Instead of pursuing Dostern’s ideology, they had shifted focus to tracing his actions.

Their inquiries revealed that Dostern, once a pâtissier, frequently visited a particular general store. However, after Dostern’s capture, the store changed ownership, and the previous owner had since disappeared.

Michael’s golden eyes glinted as he looked at Walter.

“What’s the owner’s name?”

“Malena Sean.”