Chapter 27
Reina gazed quietly at Kaiden, who now exuded an even heavier atmosphere.
In truth, right after meeting Baron Clam, Reina had realized the reason behind the unease she’d felt while observing Lady Mernie all this time.
Three years from now, the North was slated to erupt into internal division centered around Dalia Crencia.
The reason for the coup: the claim that Kaiden had abetted Aiden Crencia’s death.
Having lost his beloved wife, Aiden had thrown himself recklessly into his research.
He hadn’t hesitated to venture personally into areas teeming with monsters, and he succumbed to some unknown endemic disease, losing his life.
Then, less than two years after his death, a rebellion broke out with Dalia at its core.
While Kaiden was away subduing isolated monster species, they seized the castle, only to be suppressed within three days of the subjugation party’s return.
“Isn’t it all quite amusing, inside and out? Poor Duke Crencia. To think he’d get stabbed in the back so thoroughly by the very Northerners he tried so hard to protect. Hahaha.”
Recalling how the Emperor at the time had chuckled with amusement, Reina grew even more serious.
Dalia was only nine years old. As the price for the rebellion, Dalia Crencia was stripped of her heir status and confined to a tower.
By rights, she should have been purged, but he had insisted on ending it with confinement.
However, Dalia soon took her own life, leaving Kaiden with no remaining kin in a tragic turn of events.
It was such an old incident, one that had passed like a mere happening, so she hadn’t remembered it right away.
Among the families involved in the rebellion at the time, the Mernie family had also been listed.
“Emotional abuse is still abuse, after all. Dalia seemed overly conscious of Lady Mernie’s gaze. It was as if she needed her permission for every single action. There was probably ongoing brainwashing involved.”
Kaiden asked with an angry expression.
“Did you have a reason for thinking that?”
“To some extent, yes.”
Those who had been abused could recognize it best in others.
“The nanny said I shouldn’t interfere in adults’ matters.”
“Is this another one of those adult circumstances?”
You could tell from the phrases she used so frequently.
Reina herself had been gaslighted in the same way by the Emperor.
“It’s still just circumstantial evidence for now, but if we investigate the newly replaced tutors, we’ll catch something. There are bound to be people closely tied to the Mernie family involved.”
“We need to root them all out immediately.”
As Kaiden moved to rise abruptly, Reina held him back.
“No. For now, just investigate. If we rashly separate them from Dalia, there’ll definitely be strong resistance. And Dalia might get hurt in the process.”
“But we can’t leave suspicious elements by Dalia’s side any longer.”
“I feel the same. But I don’t think rushing to handle it will lead to the best resolution. In situations like this, it’s better to proceed slowly.”
At her calm demeanor, Kaiden reluctantly sat back down.
“So, what’s your plan, then?”
“I think….”
As Reina lowered her voice and leaned in closer, Kaiden instinctively tilted his upper body forward as well.
After hearing her entire proposal, he asked with a surprised look.
“Are you serious?”
“It’ll look better if I do it myself rather than you handling it directly.”
“But if things go wrong, it could lead to bad rumors about you.”
“Don’t worry about that sort of thing. Believe it or not, I’m quite used to playing the villain.”
As Reina smiled brightly, Kaiden wore a displeased expression.
It was all the more so because the words came from a face that seemed utterly unsuited to the role of a villain.
“That’s not my way. I don’t like the idea of rumors spreading about you for no reason.”
“You’re right. This is my way. Still, please trust me and watch over it. I don’t care about others misunderstanding me.”
“But I do.”
Kaiden frowned in complaint, and Reina let out a soft laugh.
To him, who had always stood at the forefront, protecting his subordinates without fail, her proposal seemed anything but comfortable.
But in this life, it was her turn to protect him.
With a heart full of apology and gratitude, she would do everything in her power to shield his people from the Emperor.
Reina spoke with firm resolve, as if to make it clear she had no intention of backing down.
“All I need is for you to believe in me, Kaiden. Even if no one else understands, as long as you do, that’s enough for me.”
Kaiden wore a dazed expression.
The way she trusted him so utterly and naturally was astonishing.
How could she act like this when he hadn’t shown her anything yet?
Of course, the feeling of becoming someone reliable in her eyes wasn’t entirely unwelcome.
He averted his gaze and muttered under his breath.
“You sure know how to handle people.”
“Coming from you, Kaiden, that actually makes me feel good?”
As Reina teased him playfully, Kaiden let out a short laugh and added.
“If you need any help, just say the word anytime.”
Chapter 3 . Reshuffle
A few days later, a social gathering for the northern noble ladies was held.
The host of the event was Reina Crencia, who had recently married into the north.
Since it was a soiree thrown by the most talked-about figure in the north lately, nearly all the northern noblewomen had gathered in one place.
Mrs. Merry was no exception. She scanned the desserts arranged in the greenhouse, inwardly sneering.
‘Just as you’d expect from royalty—showing off the moment she arrives. Outside, northern folk are starving to death in the cold by the droves, yet here she is, utterly carefree all on her own. Tsk!’
Thanks to the recent incident, she’d developed a deep-seated grudge against Reina, making her view the woman even less favorably.
Yet Mrs. Merry herself had never once donated to aid the north, all while badmouthing Reina.
Still, she’d had no choice but to accept the invitation, if only to outwardly flaunt some semblance of a connection with Reina.
Judging from that past event, she was not an opponent to be taken lightly.
“Oh my, there are names written here.”
At that moment, those who had approached the table let out exclamations of admiration.
On each chair, alongside a nameplate inscribed with a name, a welcome gift had been placed.
The gift was a brooch crafted from the opals Reina had brought as part of her dowry.
“Goodness, just look at this iridescent color.”
The guests were all busy admiring the brooches, one after another.
Seeing this, Mrs. Merry also began searching for the chair bearing her name.
Naturally, she’d headed toward the seats of honor, but her expression grew increasingly dark.
No matter how much she looked, her name was nowhere to be found.
‘This can’t be right?’
While anxiously scouring for her name,
Mrs. Merry was furious when she finally spotted it in a middling position.
It was worse even than the seat of Baroness Brington, whom she had always considered beneath her.
‘How can I be seated behind her? I’m the nursemaid to Miss Dalia, who will one day lead Crencia!’
This was as good as a deliberate insult to her.
It was just as Mrs. Merry hesitated, unable to bring herself to sit down right away.
“Oh my, Mrs. Merry. It’s been a while.”
Baroness Brington greeted her, covering her mouth with her fan.
Then, after taking her own seat, she pulled out Mrs. Merry’s chair and smiled.
It felt exactly like mockery, so Mrs. Merry struggled to conceal her trembling hands.
‘So this is how she’s playing it, huh?’
Her pride was already battered beyond repair from the recent whipping incident.
Mrs. Merry fought to suppress the rage boiling inside her.
Simply separating Reina from Dalia wouldn’t be enough to satisfy her anymore.
‘I’ll show that fox-like princess that the north isn’t so easily fooled.’
It was while she was grinding her teeth inwardly like this.
Just then, today’s main figure, Reina, entered the greenhouse.
