TRETTHD 76

#76. Good News

It was complicated. Her mouth tasted bitter.

She couldn’t bring herself to face Khalid.

“Belia. Lift your head. Why are you like this?”

Belia didn’t answer.

Yet Khalid pulled her into his arms, keeping her seated posture intact. Then, leaning down, he placed soft, fleeting kisses atop her bowed head and whispered:

“It’s not your fault. You showed kindness, and that woman betrayed it.”

“…It wasn’t kindness from the start.”

“So what? That’s something only you and I know.”

Khalid smiled broadly, cupping Belia’s face in both hands and lifting it gently.

“We joined hands from the start for your revenge. We plan on doing worse things too, so don’t be hurt by something like this, Belia.”

“But you’ll suffer too…”

“You’re already facing the emperor’s coldness because of me. And everyone looks at you with suspicion just because you’re marrying that reckless prince. Do you want me to feel guilty and apologize for that?”

“…No.”

Tears slipped from Belia’s eyes as she met Khalid’s gaze.

At that, Khalid’s brow furrowed.

“…Even now, I have no intention of letting that woman leave here unscathed. And she has to be part of your revenge, doesn’t she?”

What on earth was he planning?

Belia looked at him worriedly, and Khalid smiled reassuringly.

“Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll handle it. I’ll make sure she leaves unharmed, so you don’t need to worry.”

His words only made her more anxious.

But this incident had already slipped from her hands. The knights and servants had seen Erze enter Khalid’s room. It was beyond what she could control now.

Honestly, she no longer wanted to hear anything about Erze. She didn’t even want to see the smallest trace of her. She wanted to erase the name “Erze Kinetra” completely from her life.

Belia rested her face fully in Khalid’s hands and closed her eyes.

“…I’m sorry. Please, take care of it.”

“Alright. Then you rest peacefully.”

Khalid held her close, cradling her face. Once she was out of sight, his expression turned cruel.

With an unreadable, cold look, he quietly held Belia and patted her back.

By morning, Erze had returned home in the same simple attire she had worn to the palace.

Belia watched the carriage retreating from the palace through the window and sighed deeply.

Earlier that morning, Khalid had gone to see Erze, and they had a short conversation. Afterwards, all Belia heard was that loud crying had been heard from Erze’s room.

Erze had quietly packed her things with a swollen face, told Belia she would leave now, and apologized.

‘What could they have talked about?’

Belia was curious but decided not to ask.

She drew the curtains and turned away. She would never meet Erze again. Their long-standing ill fate would finally end.

‘But… the rumors.’

Even though she no longer had dealings with Erze, Belia couldn’t stop thinking about the rumors Erze had mentioned yesterday.

‘Am I really leaving Raoul any room…?’

She needed to investigate the rumors further. She knew there had always been talk about Khalid, Raoul, and herself. But she had thought most of it had died down after everyone saw how close she and Khalid had become.

“Haa…”

Belia covered her face with her arm and let out a deep sigh.

Nothing had ever been easy. Since returning, it had felt like walking on a razor-thin line every single day.

Belia wiped her face with her hand and sat at her desk. Khalid had told her to rest and not do anything, but she couldn’t completely let go.

She didn’t overwork herself like before, though.

“Good morning, Princess.”

“Rachel, welcome.”

Just then, Rachel entered Belia’s office with a bright smile.

Belia had recently asked Rachel if she could assist her, and Rachel had gladly agreed. Khalid had recommended her, and Belia had felt confident leaving the matter in Rachel’s hands. She was thrilled when Rachel accepted her proposal.

Of course, due to confidentiality, Rachel couldn’t be involved in everything. So, she was limited to assisting with charitable work.

“The palace seems a bit chaotic today. Was something happening?”

“Maybe because it’s the day the Baroness Kinetra returns home.”

Rachel, organizing the papers on her desk in the office, nodded as if realizing it now.

“Oh. Today’s the last day, then.”

While Erze stayed at the palace, Rachel had been on a short leave, so this was her first visit in a while.

“Did the Baroness Kinetra fare well while here?”

“Well… there were a few issues here and there.”

Belia’s meaningful response made Rachel frown slightly. She set aside the papers she was organizing and approached Belia’s desk.

“By the way, she seems a bit thinner… Was she unwell?”

“Ha. Rachel, you really can’t be fooled. I wasn’t feeling well for a few days, but I’m truly fine now.”

Belia said, smiling brightly. Rachel scrunched her brows and scolded her.

“I’ve told you from the start that you’re overworking…! I’ve asked you to rest, but you never listen!”

Belia looked around awkwardly and scratched her cheek, thinking that Rachel would be furious if she knew Belia had collapsed.

“Hmm… thanks to that, Khalid scolded me quite a bit too.”

“And yet you’re sitting at your desk now… really…!”

Rachel put a hand to her forehead. Realizing she had to get up before more scolding, Belia hurriedly stood and led Rachel to the sofa.

“Ha. Alright. Let’s have some tea and chat a little. It’s been a while.”

Rachel finally relented and sat opposite Belia. Soon, a maid brought warm tea and placed it on the table.

Belia sipped the tea and quickly changed the topic to prevent further scolding. It seemed a good opportunity to naturally ask about the “rumors.”

“How have you been while resting?”

Rachel sighed deeply.

“Well, the same as always. My brothers kept pestering me to play with them, my father got annoyed that I went out often helping the Princess… it was exhausting.”

Belia had heard that Rachel was particularly cherished by the Marquis of Caprie’s household. Despite appearances of a happy family, Rachel clearly had her own struggles.

“It’s really tiresome.”

“Ha ha ha. Still, it seems like a harmonious family, so that’s good.”

Listening to Rachel, Belia felt a pang of longing for her own family. Her family would visit the Ingot Empire soon for the wedding, but her affection for them was always deep.

“They’re so meddlesome at parties. Complaining my dress shows too much, or why I’m dressing up… How old do they think I am…”

“They probably worry about you,” Belia said.

Rachel pouted.

“They just want me to stay home. I recently found out they secretly handled all the proposals I received. It’s unbelievable!”

Rachel expressed her anger boldly. Belia laughed at her, finding her cute. Given Rachel’s status and age, she should have been engaged already.

“Have you met anyone?”

Belia’s eyes sparkled.

“If I had, that person would have run away because of my father and brothers’ pressure,” Rachel replied.

Belia laughed, imagining the scene vividly.

“Stop laughing, Princess. I’m serious,” Rachel said.

“What about the Marchioness?”

“She just clicked her tongue, looking disappointed, and told me to wait,” Rachel replied.

Belia nodded. It seemed Rachel would have good news soon.

“If the Marchioness intervenes, it will be resolved quickly. She’ll surely find a good match.”

“That would be wonderful…”

Rachel fiddled with her teacup and murmured softly.

“Watching you and His Highness, I hope to meet someone I truly love someday too.”

Belia smiled warmly.

“You’re a good person, Rachel. I’m sure you will.”

“Thank you, Princess.”

Rachel blushed slightly while sipping her tea.

Belia gently traced the teacup with her finger and asked:

“Rachel, could you honestly tell me what rumors are circulating about me in society?”

“Rumors? Hmm, well…”

“For example, that I’m leaving room for the First Prince…”

Rachel paused, realizing the weight of the question, and became serious.

“I think I’ve heard something like that. But it’s only among people close to the princess. I haven’t heard it from anyone else. The lady seems to have a particular grudge against you.”

Rachel frowned slightly, recalling Elin Canterif.

“From what you and the Second Prince have shown, everyone sees you as a loving couple. Most people think that, and they assume the lady feels inferior to you, so you don’t need to worry much.”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

“Did you hear anything specific?”

Belia shook her head lightly. Observing this, Rachel didn’t press further and changed the topic, standing up.

“Oh, wait a moment.”

She retrieved a letter from among her papers and handed it to Belia.

“I was sorting the letters that came to you on the way here and found one from the clinic, so I brought it.”

“From the clinic?”

Belia opened it with a curious expression.

The letter mostly contained ordinary notes on winter preparations, but hidden within was a brief encoded message stating that the drug development had been completed.

‘Finally…!’

Belia’s face lit up. Rachel, noticing, asked curiously:

“Does it contain good news?”

Belia carefully folded the letter and replied:

“Yes. Winter preparations are progressing smoothly. This winter, we’ll have everything we need.”

“Wow. That’s a relief!”

“Then let’s finish only the orphanage work today. We should reconsider the scale and method of support. We need to manage operational funds transparently too.”

“Yes! Leave it to me.”

Everything was proceeding according to plan.

Belia and Rachel smiled at each other.