“Misunderstanding?” Leonard raised an eyebrow. “Allowing my daughter to stay in the Tower of Silence even while violating the imperial regulations is a misunderstanding?”
“…”
“And dismissing the nobles whenever they bring up even a spherical agenda that they think is excessive is another misunderstanding?”
“Aah, right. I did that.” Lark averted his eyes slightly.
In response to his suspicious appearance, Leonard added more persistently and interrogatively, looking suspicious. “Some of the aristocrats said nasty things about how light the disposition was, but honestly, it wasn’t something they couldn’t say. There was no need to get worked up about it.”
“…”
“Although I have lived in seclusion for a long time, I have heard a little about Your Highness from my eldest son. He said even as undisputed heir to the imperial family, you’re the kind of person who is wary of dictatorship…”
“…”
“That’s why you’re more lenient to noble officials than anyone else. No verbal or power pressuring.”
Lark felt cold sweat running down his back.
“The reason such a person dared to use his hand excessively in the trial outcome, even abandoning his cause and image…”
“…”
“Do you have ulterior motives toward my daughter?”
“Hahaha…” Lark, who tried to smile, shook his head lightly. “That’s a real misunderstanding. As the head of the investigation for this case, I’ve learned a lot and become the person who can be more certain of the princess’s innocence than anyone else. So, I just didn’t want to make the princess take responsibility for something unfair.”
“Thank you, but you didn’t have to try so hard. It doesn’t feel good to be in debt.” Leonard’s eyes were still full of doubt. “I don’t like the situation of having to repay someone in any way later.”
“…”
Reflecting on his words, Lark thought to himself.
‘What’s this… Does this mean that I should not even dream of stealing his daughter after giving a little help?’
Seeing Leonard’s terrifying expression, it seemed like the right interpretation.
“Yes, I understand what you said, but as I said, this is a misunderstanding…” Lark, who was trying to reassure Leonard, who looked displeased, stopped talking for a moment.
He would continue to help Rubette and protect her from any possible threat. Wouldn’t it be a problem if Leonard gets offended and intervenes like this every time?
“Misunderstanding…”
“…”
“… It may not be, yes, to be honest.”
“What?”
Lark pretended not to notice when Leonard’s expression suddenly became stern.
“Since you’re her father, you must know best that the princess is a pretty charming friend.”
“Excuse me, Your Highness.”
“I mean, well… Even though she’s your daughter, she can’t live by your side for the rest of her life. When the time comes, she will marry and give you grandchildren…” Surprised by Lark’s clever reply, Leonard’s mouth slowly opened. “Of course, I won’t hold on to someone I don’t like, so don’t worry about that.”
“What do you mean? So it’s true you have ulterior motives toward my daughter?”
“Mm-hmm.” Lark, who had been lightly tapped by Leonard on the shoulder several times, hurriedly left. “See you later.”
“Your Highness! Finish what you say before you go!”
Lark, who was scolded from the back, was holding back laughter at his uncharacteristic reaction.
‘Ulterior motives?’
To be more comfortable next to Rubette, he was afraid Leonard would misunderstand, but…
‘Well, maybe it’s not exactly wrong.’
Lark shrugged as he recalled Rubette’s face.
***
Servants were busy moving my luggage back and forth between the mansion and the carriage.
I was now preparing to leave for Lubon.
“This is someone who will support you in Lubon from now on. Her name’s Sienna.” Viego, who had been directing the servants by interrupting them with a worried expression, introduced someone who had just arrived at the mansion.
“My name is Sienna Tristin, my lady. I will serve you wholeheartedly.”
“Ah, alright. It’s nice to meet you. But…”
A chic cut hairstyle that exposed her ears. An indifferent expression on a pretty face. A comfortable trouser suit for women. Although we didn’t run into each other very often, the familiar girl was Sienna, Viego’s competent secretary.
“… Isn’t she your secretary? Why is she going with me?”
“How hard it must be for you to live alone in Lubon. Sienna is a capable and clever resource, so she will help you.”
“Someone would think that Lubon is a coal mine in the mountains if they heard that. You would be uncomfortable without Sienna, Brother. I’ll be fine with Rebecca.”
“I’m fine. It’s better for you to be at least a little comfortable.”
“No-”
“I’m counting on you. If something happens to Rubette, report it to me right away.” When Viego spoke, ignoring my rejection, Sienna nodded. Ultimately, I just shrugged with a sigh because I was never going to reverse it.
“It’s time to depart, but Father isn’t coming out.”
“I already said goodbye to Dad. We can leave immediately.”
Perhaps not liking the one-year quarantine even though it was just a short distance away, Dad had been in a daze all the way back.
“Keep in touch.”
And with that one sentence, Dad returned to his confinement room as soon as he got home.
“Rubette!”
“Rubyyy…”
“Are you going now?”
I was shaking my head, thinking about my dad, when the nasty voices hurried down the stairs rumbled in my ears.
Molga and the twins.
It was absurd that everyone had tears in their eyes.
“What the hell is going on here?” A stream of tears trickled down from Molga’s eyes as she mumbled and covered her mouth.
Viego sighed. “Grandma, don’t worry too much.”
“How can I not worry…”
Wow, as expected, Hollywood-level acting skills. I could have bet my entire bank account balance that Molga’s mouth was about to rip open from laughter under the hand that covered her face.
<She’s having a blast.>
<I guess so.>
Wishit, who was next to me, smiled and sent me a transmission, and I agreed with the ridiculosity.
Since I, who came back to life after death, became a mad dog, Molga must have been very worried. Gone are the days when I could be bullied with peace of mind as I became a ticking time bomb who might tell my dad nonsense.
How happy she must be to have such a person vacate the house for a year.
<Her face is full of thoughts about making a good move while you’re away.>
<My words.>
I shook my head inwardly as I watched the crying girl and Viego soothe her.
“Rubette… Should I contact you?”
“Tell me if you want something to eat. I’ll send them over by the servants.”
Little devils Lillia and Ricky also helped.
“Yes, take care.” I smiled kindly as I watched the devils swell with futile dreams of taking over this house again.
It’s about time…
“The Imperial Investigation Team came to pick up the princess.”
“Sigh.”
They’re here. When one of the maids informed me of the Investigation Team’s visit, Molga sobbed even more and hugged me.
“How can we send our Rubette there alone!”
“I’m fine, Grandma.” I smiled and patted the arm of Molga, who was holding me.
Soon the door opened, and the investigators rushed in. At the forefront was Lark, the head of the investigation.
“Princess, are you ready?”
“Yes,” I replied with as much sullen expression as possible.
“Alright. Let’s take over from here.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
“Yes!”
Lark ordered the investigation team members who came with him, and they quickly scattered throughout the duke’s residence. The number of heads reached twenty.
“…?”
Molga and the twins were taken aback when the investigators suddenly came in and took their positions.
“Um, what’s going on? Why are the investigators-”
“Oh, didn’t anyone tell the madam?” Lark shrugged and added, “While the princess is being quarantined, 20 members of the investigation team under my command will live in the duke’s mansion.”
“…? What’s that?”
“Well, it is a matter of course. There’s a suspicion about the princess. She may be able to communicate with the culprit through the main house, and evidence of the crime may remain, so the team came to this decision.”
<Puhahaha…! Look at her expression!>
While snooping beside the contemplative Molga, Wishit grabbed their stomach and giggled.
“E-Even though the convictions have not been confirmed, the investigation team is going to live in our duchy’s residence?”
“Mm? The duke and the young duke have already agreed to cooperate, though?” Lark turned to Viego carefreely.
“It’s probably pretty unpleasant because it’s kind of surveillance, but don’t worry, they’re hand-selected by me and will concentrate on the investigation without any other inspection. Thank you for your cooperation.”
“No, Your Highness. Cooperation is a matter of course. Not to mention it is to make sure that Rubette is innocent.”
“Yes, yes.” Lark laughed and patted Viego on the shoulder.
The faces of the twins and Molga were so dark that they couldn’t get any darker.
They must’ve thought that the time bomb was finally gone, but no way. How could I let Molga be free while I was gone? I had already informed Lark about the deaths of my family members and asked him to protect my dad.
“… Can you help me? When I go to Lubon, I won’t be able to watch my grandma, and I worry about my father.”
“If your suspicions are true, isn’t the madam a criminal? It’s not a matter of helping or not; it’s something I have to do. We should not only monitor but also secretly investigate.”
Aside from his sense of justice, Lark was naturally enraged and decided to monitor Molga while I was away from the capital closely. So, the investigative team that came to my house right now was actually not to investigate my charges but to investigate the corrupt house and block nonsense in advance.
“Grandma must be uncomfortable because of me…” I opened out my mouth and grabbed Lark’s hem. “Your Highness, do you really have to do this?”
“Yes, I have to,” Lark pretended to be firm, and I let out a deep sigh.
“Our girl did nothing wrong! And she’s a little kid who didn’t know what she was doing-!”
“That’s right. Since they could be more certain of the princess’s innocence than anyone else, the duke and the young duke had readily agreed to the investigation team. We also kindly ask Madam for your cooperation.”
Molga became speechless before Lark, who was smiling.
“Grandma, I shouldn’t have…” I ran over to her and grabbed both of her hands, and added with a smirk so that only she could see. “… I’m sorry, okay?”