Chapter 177
Sophia questioned the count and countess coldly, causing Count Fraus to cough uncomfortably.
“Yes, that’s right. Princess Sophia…”
Count Fraus, trying to calm his twitching cheek, replied respectfully.
Countess Rubisella, flustered by Sophia’s attitude, fanned herself continuously.
“Your Highness is such a wonderful person. I trust you won’t forget the Fraus family.”
The count humbled himself, abandoning his pride.
Rubisella glanced at the count and sighed deeply before nodding.
“Of course. After all, Your Highness has spent almost 20 years with our Fraus family.”
“If it weren’t for our family, I dare say Your Highness wouldn’t be enjoying your current glory. Haha!”
Rubisella said with a nasal tone, and the count laughed heartily.
Killian was irritated by their shameless remarks, but Sophia grabbed his hand and smiled.
“Indeed. I owe a lot to the Fraus family.”
“Yes, yes!?”
Sophia’s nod made the count’s eyes sparkle.
Sophia approached the count.
“Therefore, I would like to give the Fraus family a personal gift.”
“A gift…! Haha, we didn’t raise you expecting anything in return!”
The count laughed loudly, but Sophia leaned in and whispered in his ear.
“There will soon be an investigation into how the deposed former Empress Beatrice obtained the rosary pea. Consider this a heads-up.”
The count’s face turned pale at Sophia’s low voice.
“Th-that is…”
“Isn’t this enough to repay your past kindness?”
Sophia smiled as she distanced herself from the count.
The count, lips trembling, stepped back.
Rubisella asked what was going on, but the count did not answer her, his lips still quivering.
“Th-thank you, Your Highness.”
The count hastily offered his thanks and left in a hurry, probably to clean up any records related to the rosary pea.
Rubisella, not understanding the count’s sudden actions, chased after him.
“What did you say to make the count run off like that?”
Killian asked, watching the count disappear.
“Oh, I mentioned the rosary pea.”
“Isn’t that a settled matter?”
Killian tilted his head.
It was already known that the rosary pea Beatrice obtained came from the Fraus family.
The ledger Sophia had taken was now in Mikhail’s hands, and Mikhail had secured evidence and testimonies through ‘Logan’.
The royal family decided not to hold the Fraus family accountable, considering Ian’s merits and the fact that they raised Sophia, but they would revoke the Fraus trading company’s monopoly on southern trade.
“Effectively losing the monopoly would leave the Fraus family with little to boast about.”
Ian could still flaunt his association with Ruchtainer, but it was a lenient punishment that was far from lenient.
The results would likely be communicated in a few days.
“A few days of fear won’t hurt.”
Considering what Sophia endured, it was a mild revenge.
Although she could seek greater vengeance, Sophia didn’t want to waste her time on the Fraus count and countess.
At that moment, Sophia felt a gaze from the direction the count and countess had disappeared.
She turned to see Ian standing there.
Ian quickly turned away when their eyes met.
“Ian!”
Sophia urgently called out to him, stopping his steps.
“You came all the way here; are you just going to leave?”
Sophia asked.
It was the first time she saw Ian since that day.
If he attended her celebration, it was likely to see her.
Ian turned back towards Sophia, standing beside Killian.
‘…I made a foolish mistake.’
Ian clenched his teeth.
He wanted to stop Sophia and Killian’s marriage, revealing Sophia’s origins to the empress.
But in the end, he only put Sophia in danger, and Killian saved and stayed by her side.
Even though he knew Killian wasn’t the Black Moon, he still couldn’t look favourably at Sophia being with Killian.
‘Coming here was a mistake.’
Why did he come?
Ian blamed himself for reluctantly coming due to his parents’ insistence.
He wanted to formally apologise to Sophia, ask about her well-being, and confess his feelings now that she was no longer part of the Fraus family.
He knew she wouldn’t accept his feelings, but…
The words he thought of couldn’t come out of his throat.
He felt out of place among the people gathered there.
“Congratulations, Your Highness.”
Ian briefly bowed his head and followed his parents out.
Sophia watched Ian’s back for a long time.
“Does it bother you?”
“A little. Ian is like a hedgehog to me.”
“Excuse me?”
“He pricks with his sharp spines, which is annoying, but I also feel a bit sorry for him.”
Ian didn’t seem like a man to her.
He was more like a troublesome little brother she couldn’t help but keep an eye on.
“Perhaps he’ll grow up eventually.”
Sophia took her eyes off the place where Ian had disappeared.
* * *
“Your Highness?”
“Ah, Lady Estelle.”
Mikhail stood up from leaning against the window when he saw Estelle.
Estelle looked around the empty, somewhat dark corridor.
Starlight shone through the window, and the distant noise of the celebration could be heard.
“I didn’t expect to find Your Highness here…”
“Ah…”
Mikhail smiled silently.
He found the celebration uncomfortable and had stepped out for a moment.
After Beatrice’s downfall, there were many rumours about Mikhail.
‘Father, am I fit to be the crown prince?’
‘Mikhail, no matter what happens, you are still my son.’
Despite Beatrice’s dethronement, the emperor kept Mikhail as the crown prince.
But Mikhail still doubted himself.
With everything that happened, is it right for me to remain here?
Does the dethroned empress’s son have the legitimacy to inherit the throne?
“May I stay here for a while?”
Estelle asked Mikhail.
“Of course. But why are you here?”
“Sophia is so popular that I felt it was impolite to monopolise her. Oh, should I not call her Sophia anymore?”
Estelle awkwardly added, “Princess Sophia.”
“Did Princess Sophia consider it disrespectful?”
“No, she seemed too busy to correct anyone.”
“That can’t be true. I saw her correcting other nobles earlier.”
“Really?”
Mikhail nodded.
“Is it okay to call her Sophia…? No, I should probably change it.”
“It will naturally be decided as you spend more time together.”
Mikhail smiled at Estelle.
Estelle stared into Mikhail’s blue eyes.
“Even in such a situation, you listen to my worries, Your Highness.”
“In such a situation?”
“In such a situation.”
Estelle gestured to the bustling celebration and the quiet, dark corridor.
Normally, the crown prince wouldn’t leave such a place.
Mikhail understood Estelle’s meaning and smiled wryly.
“I thought my presence would make everyone uncomfortable.”
Having the dethroned empress’s son at a celebration for Sophia and Killian didn’t feel right.
Although Killian seemed to understand his regret, it was still hard to be at ease.
‘If Sophia is recognised as a princess, shouldn’t I step down from the crown prince position?’
Wouldn’t that be the right way to apologise to them?
Staying as the crown prince after all this might seem hypocritical.
“Sophia said she plans to go north with the Grand Duke after the wedding.”
Estelle said, pretending to be upset.
“It seems Grand Duke Rivelon requested to return to the grand duchy, saying he had neglected it for too long.”
“Is that true?”
Mikhail’s eyes widened.
He hadn’t heard about this.
He thought Killian and Sophia would stay in the capital, especially since Sophia was now recognised as a princess.
“The grand duchy is still supported by those loyal to the late Viscount Percel.”
“But Sophia just gained recognition as a princess…”
He thought she would stay close to the royal family to solidify her position and enjoy the rights she hadn’t before.
The emperor would likely do everything to support her after all she went through.
“Yes, I thought she would spend at least a few more months establishing herself as a princess, but it seems that’s not important to her.”
“…I see.”
Mikhail lowered his head.
He had been thinking about how to act around Sophia if she stayed in the palace, whether to attend their wedding, and even if she should inherit the throne.
“You seem to have a lot on your mind, Your Highness.”
“Ah…”
“Everything will naturally resolve itself as you go along.”
Estelle returned Mikhail’s earlier advice to him.
“Do you think so…?”
“Sophia and the Grand Duke are both generous people. Just like you, Your Highness.”
Mikhail smiled at that.
* * *
“Aren’t you tired?”
Killian asked Sophia, who had been greeting nobles for hours.
Though she had recovered enough to lead a normal life, Killian still worried about her health.
Sophia stood on tiptoe and whispered in his ear.
“I’m exhausted. Very.”
Dealing with insincere flattery and people she didn’t know was draining.
“Shall we step outside for a bit?”
Killian winked at her.
Sophia looked at him, wondering how they could leave through the crowd.
Killian smiled softly.
“At times like this, the best way is to be brazen.”
He then took her hand and walked confidently through the crowd.
‘This isn’t a matter of shamelessness…!’
People who bumped into Killian’s large, strong body had no choice but to get out of the way.
This is a strategy that can only be achieved by being ‘tough’ rather than ‘shameless’.
Moreover, as he suddenly pushed his way through the crowd, the people panicked and got entangled with each other, and did not follow him.
Some people even chased after them tenaciously, but when Killian looked back, they stopped in their tracks and froze.
Sophia wondered what kind of gaze he had that made them fall out in one go, but soon Killian’s gaze looking at her was as gentle as usual.
