𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟖𝟏: 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
Suddenly, a hand is extended in front of me.
Covered in an elegant lace glove, it was, upon closer inspection, a large, rugged male hand.
Looking up, Princess Marion was smiling beautifully at me.
It seemed like he was telling me that everything would be okay, and I almost cried.
I took that hand, and I stood up.
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Princess Marion pulled me to his chest and glared sharply at Prince Ghodrove.
Noticing his gaze, Prince Ghodrove started to speak, as if to cover up.
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“Ma, Marion, Mrs. Dosa is a wicked woman, and you must not touch her.”
“She’s not a wicked woman, nor is she Mrs. Dosa. Her real name is Graciela・De・Mendoza. She’s a high-ranking noble of Vulcano.”
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With Princess Marion responding in a low, masculine voice, those unaware of the situation seemed surprised.
Is it okay for his true identity to be exposed? I looked up at Princess Marion, now known as Lord Montyver.
Then, he only nodded as if to say it was fine.
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“She is a woman who came to Binemöer, barely escaping from her uncle, who was plotting to take over the Duke Mendoza family. Right, Gael・De・Mendoza?”
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The owner of a familiar noisy voice came, all tied up in ropes.
Without a doubt, it was Uncle Gael.
Seeing me, my uncle screamed.
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“Graciela!! What have you done to me!! Because you froze the Duke Mendoza family’s title and fortune, I couldn’t inherit what was supposed to be mine!!”
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Lord Montyver whispered in secret.
It seems that my uncle was wandering around the royal capital of Binemöer, searching for me and Florenci.
I couldn’t believe that my uncle had come so close. . . . . .
If I had come to this country as Graciela, I would have been found right away.
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“Prince Ghodrove—―Uncle was conspiring with this man to frame Graciela, and planning a wicked act. That’s right, isn’t it, Gael・De・Mendoza?”
“Y, Yes, yes, that’s right! Ghodrove promised that if I listened to him, the Binemöer army would invade Vulcano, and after the conquest, he would give me a high-ranking position!”
“D, Don’t lie!! There’s no way I would think of invading Vulcano, right?!”
“You were thinking about making your son, Prince Engelbert, a puppet once he ascended to the throne, weren’t you?”
“—―?!”
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Lord Montyver exposed and brought to light the queen’s biggest secret.
Something even the king didn’t know.
The queen seemed resigned and listened quietly.
On the other hand, the king questioned Prince Ghodrove with a shocked expression.
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“H, Hey, Ghodrove, this is a lie, right? Engelbert was your child?”
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The king’s extended hand was slapped away by Prince Ghodrove.
He seemed to have thrown away his facade of being a good person.
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“Yes. . . . . .Your Majesty, didn’t you know? Engelbert was the child born between the queen and me.”
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The king, like a puppet with cut strings, weakly fell to his knees on the spot.
He had just learned that Prince Engelbert, whom he thought was his son, was his brother’s child. It was not unreasonable for him to react this way.
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“Ghodrove, wh, why did you do such a thing?”
“You may not understand, having had everything, but for me, who had nothing, this was the only way to get everything.”
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What Prince Ghodrove wanted more than anything else.
That was the throne.
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“As the child of a concubine, I was not given the right to inherit the throne. Even if I killed you, Your Majesty, I could never become king.”
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Even if he usurped the throne, it seemed he knew that the subjects and citizens would not acknowledge him as king.
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“So, I thought I would take away what you cherished most. Yes, that’s what I was thinking.”
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What the king cherished most was the queen.
And the person surprised by that was the queen herself.
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“Oh my, hadn’t you noticed? His Majesty has been in love with you all this time.”
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Because of cherishing too much, the emotional distance couldn’t be shortened—―For many years, there was only a quiet longing.
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“The modest king did not seem to know how to deal with a stubborn person like you.”
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Ghodrove, who became involved with the queen in an adulterous relationship, realized it.
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“If rights are not granted, then they should be taken by oneself.”
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From then on, Ghodrove acted in secret while wearing the mask of a virtuous younger brother to the king.
He apparently planned to have Engelbert ascend the throne, control him as he pleased, and eventually invade Vulcano.
It seems that connecting with my uncle was for fulfilling his ambitions.
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“I was thinking of making that man Duke Mendoza and taking control of Vulcano, but I can’t believe it failed. . . . . .”
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Since I froze the title and assets of the Duke Mendoza family, Ghodrove’s plans in Vulcano seemed to have fallen apart.
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“It was almost going well, but because of that woman—―!”
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Ghodrove drew the sword at his waist and approached me.
But the blade did not reach me.
Lord Montyver held a knife that had hidden and knocked Ghodrove’s sword away.
Not only that, but he also pierced his dominant hand with the knife.
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“Guh—!! You, damn you!!”
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The queen’s voice resonates.
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“Catch that man!!”
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Ghodrove was surrounded by knights and restrained.
He was taken away, screaming resentments.
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Next, my uncle was also taken away by the knights.
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“What?! Why are you treating me so roughly?! This is not what was discussed!”
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One of the knights shouted.
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“You are being arrested for fraud and theft within Binemöer!”
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It seems my uncle had been involved in various misdeeds in Binemöer. A shame for the family.
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“Lara—―no, Graciela, are you alright?”
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Lord Montyver was peering into my face with concern, but he looked pale.
Even with makeup on, if he looked this pale, he must have been ashen-faced.
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“You’re the one who’s—―”
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The moment I started speaking, I noticed Lord Montyver pressing his abdomen hard.
His Snow White dress was dyed bright red.
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Lord Montyver’s body tilted heavily.
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“S, Someone, call a doctor!!”
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It seems he was truly in a life-threatening situation.
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