Chapter 119
Jessica’s face turned ashen.
On her expression, filled with fear of possibly displeasing Nanael, there was no trace of her former confidence.
All this time, she’d been acting arrogantly with Nanael backing her, and yet she’d been left unchecked.
‘The villainess’s habits are showing again.’
It was the composure of someone who knew that even if they stopped being kind to Jessica, she couldn’t leave.
The most ridiculous part was Jessica herself, stubbornly staying by her side despite being ignored.
A few days ago, Jessica had officially become Cesare’s fiancée.
It was a showy engagement to put an end to the rumors of his affair with a courtesan.
Jessica seemed to have accepted it to save face, even knowing the prince was using her.
Having been sued, she was practically backed into a corner.
At least, thanks to the engagement with the prince, investors hadn’t pulled out despite the feud with Peris.
Throughout the prayer meetings, Nanael openly humiliated and disregarded Jessica.
The other maids pretended not to notice, as if it were a familiar occurrence, and Jessica’s expression grew increasingly sour.
Among the reasons she endured such humiliation, there must be pressure from the count as well.
‘I wonder how she’ll react later when she learns that business is riddled with problems.’
After Alferen reviewed the flaw-ridden proposal and investigated.
It turned out that most of the businesses the count had invested in were tied to the consort’s slush funds.
In particular, some were mixed in with places secretly training private soldiers without the emperor’s knowledge.
‘It would have been better if he’d just abandoned his greed and returned to his estate.’
Now, all that remained was for them to be inescapably branded as a traitorous house.
As if I felt no pity at all, I covered my mouth with my hand and giggled.
After the prayer meeting ended, during the light refreshment time, Nanael said hypocritically.
“You look particularly unwell these days.”
“I’ve been unable to sleep at all.”
The Crown Princess replied slowly, her face pale.
In truth, thanks to periodically infusing the rosario with purifying power, there was nothing wrong with her body.
But the makeup making her appear ill to convince the consort’s side that the sorcery was taking proper effect had been quite successful.
Some time later.
Several more prayer meetings were held, and eventually, Nanael stopped attending altogether.
Having confirmed with her own eyes that the Crown Princess’s condition was worsening, there was no need to waste time anymore.
After the consort’s suspicions were lifted as intended in this way.
“Alright, shall we begin?”
As if I’d been waiting, I started the operation to hunt down the curse dolls.
Under the pretense of strolling with the Crown Princess, I located the spots where the curse dolls were buried one by one.
As a member of Lavernin, the Crown Princess actively assisted so that I could detect the sorcery.
As time passed and we sealed all the sorceries, the Crown Princess said with a relieved expression.
“Now I can rest easy. It’s all thanks to you, my lady.”
“It’s thanks to you trusting and entrusting it to me. From here on is the most important part.”
“Don’t worry too much about that. Since marrying into the imperial family, I’ve become quite skilled at acting.”
Currently, the Crown Princess was pretending that her health was gradually deteriorating.
To make the consort mistakenly believe that the sorcery was working effectively.
“Today is my last day entering the palace. From now on, I thought we could exchange messages through here.”
I handed over the business card for Rosie’s Dress Shop that I’d prepared.
After checking the contents, the Crown Princess blinked in surprise.
“Oh my, isn’t this the dress shop that’s popular among young ladies these days?”
“Yes. My friend works there. Please contact me through that friend from now on.”
Dress shops had the advantage of nobles frequenting them, making it easy to pick up rumors.
Especially villains had the habit of blabbering without caring if underlings overheard.
Loti had sharp ears and a good memory, often helping Summer when she was in danger in the original story.
The reason she hadn’t revealed that she was the heir to Rosie’s Dress Shop was precisely to act as an informant.
“I’ve been needing maternity clothes anyway. Ordering from here will make it natural to stay in touch.”
Rosie’s Dress Shop was now known to everyone in the capital.
To the point where you couldn’t even get clothes without a reservation.
Among them, they offered house calls only to five VIP customers with substantial purchase histories, and I was one of those customers.
I’d heard that Nanael had been visiting frequently lately to build up her purchase history.
She still didn’t know that Loti was Cassandra’s daughter.
Unlike the original, Loti’s time as Nanael’s doll had been short, but Cassandra was surely already sharpening her knives.
‘No matter how many outfits she orders, they’ll never treat her as a VIP customer.’
The day Nanael, infuriated by this, caused a scene would be the monumental day she got banned for disrupting business.
The Loti who once couldn’t tell her parents and suffered alone was gone!
Thanks to me, Loti had escaped from Nanael early and was now healthy in both body and mind.
‘She volunteered to help with this matter too.’
After the fake lady incident last time, Loti had quietly come to me and handed something over.
‘In case it helps during the trial.’
‘What is this?’
‘A list of people who agreed with Jessica Miranda’s words and spread rumors, along with the contents. I heard this kind of thing is a big help in trials.’
To me, flustered by the unexpected help, Loti said shyly.
‘I wanted to do something to help when my friend was facing injustice.’
Since then, Loti had been passing rumors to me from time to time.
It felt strange.
My words about not making friends like that had become meaningless; before I knew it, there were so many good people by my side.
‘This is why you shouldn’t make absolute statements about anything.’
Thanks to my reliable friend, it had become even easier to monitor movements while evading the consort’s eyes.
It was as I was leaving the palace.
‘Huh? Isn’t that Edwin?’
I saw Edwin clinging to the wall, dressed like a ninja.
He’d always practiced wall-climbing, but his tailing was oddly peculiar.
Wearing clothes close to camouflage, I wouldn’t have noticed if I hadn’t looked closely.
The one he was tailing was none other than Pierre.
He was accompanied by people in uniforms.
‘That one looks like Cesare’s attendant.’
It was someone I’d encountered before, so he stuck in my memory.
For Cesare’s attendant, who always followed him around, to meet Pierre outside the palace.
Their intimate exchange of conversation seemed suspicious.
At that moment, Pierre glanced toward the wall.
‘It seems Pierre has already noticed Edwin eavesdropping.’
It was clear from how he kept paying attention to the wall.
Well, anyone who knew Edwin well couldn’t miss it.
I quietly instructed the coachman to stop and got out of the carriage.
Hiding behind the wall, I placed my hand on the ground as the Crown Princess had taught me.
Fortunately, it was a dirt floor.
At the contact infused with Ordell’s power, I instantly sensed all the presences stepping on the ground.
Just then, Pierre, having sent away the person he was conversing with, looked toward where Edwin was.
I focused my energy there and eavesdropped on the conversation.
“Edwin, come down and let’s talk.”
Edwin, who landed smoothly on the ground, asked in an interrogative tone.
“Were those people sent from the palace?”
“And if they were?”
“Surely you’re not involved in the matter of the Crown Princess’s worsening condition?”
“Do I have to tell you even that?”
“Lord Pierre!”
At the vehement outcry, Pierre scanned the surroundings and pulled Edwin further inside.
“Sigh, that’s not something I was involved in.”
“Then does that mean you were involved in other matters?”
“That’s…”
“Are you perhaps being blackmailed by the consort? If that’s the case, I’ll help—!”
“You’ll help? With what means, exactly?”
In that instant, Pierre’s aura turned fiercely menacing.
“You, with the blood of the empire that massacred our clan flowing through you. Do you really think you can help me?”
“I’m just worried that you might die, Lord Pierre…”
The flustered Edwin muttered in excuse, furrowing his brow.
Gazing at this coldly, he said.
“My death is already inevitable. So don’t even think of interfering with my mission. Even if it’s you, if you become a hindrance, I might kill you.”
With those words, Pierre left.
Edwin, standing there blankly, slumped to the ground, ruffling his hair and spitting out curses.
At a glance, his inner conflict appeared severe.
