CHAPTER 74……………………………………
“The king will come this afternoon.”
Hubert said as he took off his gloves and handed them to me.
Why give them to me when the chamberlain is perfectly fine over there?
‘Ah, I’m still the obedient Egrain, then.’
I quietly took his gloves and tucked them away.
“The king himself?”
“Yes. Not her biological mother, but still, since the elders of the Lorenst family have passed, he’s coming to show respect to me.”
“I should give him a proper reception.”
“Exactly. He’s greatly disappointed in our family because of Aris. We have to host him without any mistakes.”
Is he really showing signs of tension?
‘I kind of want to mess this up then.’
I restrained my heartbeat and watched him. Hubert clicked his tongue.
“If only my father were here. His heart is too soft.”
The Marquis of Vakenin, who had been the first to witness Lady Emerne’s death, left for his friends’ estates as soon as her coffin was buried, refusing to enter the room alone.
It had been several years since we used separate rooms, yet it still felt unusual.
‘Ominous.’
Even for a distant family, it was hard to remain indifferent when a spouse had committed suicide.
‘This guy…’
I glanced at him, his usual cheerful face intact.
‘He looks perfectly fine.’
“My father is away, Aris has fainted, and right now the only ones keeping their wits about them in the family are you and me, Egrain.”
His voice was not just deep but almost greasy as he called me, grabbing my shoulder.
“You know how much I rely on you, right?”
Really?
I smiled faintly.
“I know.”
Hubert, who should have been reassured by my loyalty and devotion, unusually kept his gaze fixed on me.
His green eyes, which I once thought shone like jewels, now felt sticky, like a lake with algae.
A bad sensation crept up from my elbows.
“To think I’d feel this secure with you.”
He murmured softly and placed his hand on my cheek. Goosebumps rose instantly.
‘What’s gotten into him?’
I clenched my fists, resisting the reflex to push him away.
“For some reason, you feel incredibly lovable.”
“……”
“Your dyed hair suits you… you’ve become beautiful…”
He leaned slightly and kissed my cheek.
Soft, moist lips.
Yet, to me, they felt as cold as snake scales.
I froze stiffly and stared at him.
Seeing my face, he exhaled lightly and chuckled.
“Why so surprised? I used to do this often.”
“Oh, right.”
I forced a tight smile.
“It’s been a while.”
“That’s my fault. I’ve been neglectful of you all this time.”
Hubert murmured self-reproachfully, stroking my cheek tenderly.
“Then as now, the only person I truly trust is you.”
‘Go die.’
I clenched my fists tighter and maintained my smile.
“I know.”
I understood the urge to slap his cheek.
“I will live up to your trust, my lord.”
The old-fashioned title made a soft smile spread across Hubert’s lips.
“It reminds me of the old days. I miss that time.”
His emerald eyes were hazy and wistful, as if truly longing for his childhood.
I shook my head silently. This scene would be over soon.
“Lady Emerne didn’t commit suicide. She was murdered.”
‘You said you’d live up to my trust.’
The king’s gaze, a mixture of anger and surprise, fell on me as I interrupted his consoling words.
I smiled inwardly at Hubert. His cold, fixed eyes were full of confusion.
‘Much better than the fake, tender gaze he usually gives.’
Even meeting the king’s frown, my chest felt strangely calm.
The scenario I imagined—Jenny survives, Lady Emerne dies—was unfolding.
This was my opportunity. A chance to corner Aris.
Just as in my previous life, I would brand Aris as a traitor. If my fate could overwrite Aris’s…
The thought alone thrilled me, my heart racing.
To feel excitement at the thought of killing someone…
To catch the selfish Aris, I had to become even more ruthless.
“Will you repeat that?”
Of course, this would completely alienate me from the Lorenst family.
But until now, my life had been filled with devotion to the House of Lorenst and Hubert.
And now I had waited for this exact moment: to defy the House of Lorenst and pull Aris and Hubert down.
“Lady Emerne was murdered.”
This was my gambit. I would corner Aris.
The trial was held three days later. It was surprisingly smooth.
Clergy enjoyed immunity in most matters as symbols of the kingdom.
That Aris, nominally a cleric, could be brought to trial was not due to my mere appearance.
[What do you mean by that?]
The king’s lukewarm, uneasy gaze swept over me when I mentioned Lady Emerne’s murder. I noticed immediately.
The king knew Giovanni had no intention of marrying a kingdom woman.
Any suggestion that Giovanni might marry a kingdom woman had been only a pretext for staying in the kingdom, so a king who isn’t foolish would see through it.
This realization made my position precarious.
‘The king no longer needs me.’
Yet I could put Aris on trial because I publicly mentioned Lady Emerne’s suspected murder.
You can’t cover up a noble’s death without verifying it.
Though my title as princess was meaningless, I was still an official member of the House of Lorenst.
In reality, I was little different from the chamberlain, just a polished shell, but I could still weigh in.
Hubert got angry, questioning how I could make such unverified claims before the king, but I expected that.
‘He wouldn’t want to make a fuss over Lady Emerne.’
Exactly what I wanted.
Make a big deal, so Aris loses all influence.
At least I’d feel satisfied if she were locked away in a room.
I looked toward the gallery. The obnoxious Lorenst father and son were seated side by side.
The former count glared at me with a gaunt face, Hubert cold.
[We are greatly disappointed in you, Egrain. Was this how you meant to live up to our trust?]
Whatever.
Disappointed? All the effort to please Hubert has paid off.
The former count and the Marquis of Vakenin were furious.
[We barely forget our grief, and you throw fuel on the fire? Are you sane?]
As expected.
Hubert leaned forward as our eyes met.
What is he going to say?
Thunk!
The heavy doors opened.
Treading footsteps.
Three judges entered and took their seats.
Hubert now stared straight ahead, as if he hadn’t noticed me.
Following the secretary’s guidance, everyone in the gallery, including me, rose and bowed to the judges.
“Please be seated.”
The murmuring ceased as the judges took their places.
“We will now begin the trial regarding the murder suspicion of Rosaline Emerne Lorenst.”
The presiding judge in the center called Aris’s name in a flat voice.
Aris, glaring furiously at me from across, stood.
“That person is a murderer?”
Some in the gallery murmured at her delicate, beautiful appearance.
The judge adjusted his glasses and glanced at a paper likely containing her details.
“Defendant, where were you at the time of the victim’s death?”
“I was sleeping in my room.”
Her quiet, composed reply, as if she hadn’t even looked at me, made her appear fragile yet poised.
Her pale face made her look even more innocent.
She clearly wore makeup—or perhaps had showered with cold water.
“I still do not understand why I am sitting here accused of murder.”
Aris wiped her tears with her fingers.
‘It’s begun.’
Exactly as I expected.
“Lady Emerne was my respected guardian. She cared for and protected me until the very end. How could I ever harm her?”
“This trial is conducted under lawful procedure. Kingdom law allows qualified individuals to request an investigator to file a charge.”
The judge’s emotionless tone shocked Aris; she clenched her fists tightly.
Her small, trembling frame evoked sympathetic tutting from around the gallery.
“If a qualified person requests it, even an innocent person can easily become a criminal.”
Her voice was almost resigned.
Though whispered like a monologue, it carried to my seat and probably to parts of the gallery.
Some even murmured in agreement, “Who put this poor girl in that position?”
The judges continued dispassionately, unaffected by the mood.
“Investigator, begin questioning both sides.”
“Yes.”
A stern, thin man rose.
I watched him calmly as he approached.
“Miss Egrain Lorenst, you raised the murder suspicion against Lady Emerne to His Majesty and requested this trial. Correct?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“State your reasons.”
“Lady Emerne was not my blood, but she was my mother. I know she would never make that choice.”
At the word ‘mother,’ Aris snorted.
“Do you have evidence for that statement?”
I nodded.
“Lady Emerne enjoyed gardening. She kept up her hobby until recently.”
“……”
“For someone like her to suddenly commit suicide?”
I furrowed my brows, as if perplexed.
