Father, who had been staying in the main residence, ran through the pouring night and arrived at the villa in the capital.
It was dark everywhere in the mansion, and it was terribly quiet. There was an atmosphere where everyone couldn’t even breathe properly.
Hamilton, Caesar, and I were sitting in the drawing room. We just sat impatiently, and no one spoke hastily.
“Your Highness.”
Before long, the living room door opened, and my father appeared before the three of us spoke.
“Father.”
“Helena. Are you alright?”
“I’m—”
The word okay couldn’t come out of my throat, so I shook my head.
Anger and guilt swirled dizzily. I couldn’t get rid of my anger.
Then my father embraced me tenderly.
“I’m glad you’re alright. I’m relieved.”
There was no resentment towards me in my father’s voice.
It was beyond my comprehension. Why don’t you blame me when we suffered damage because of me?
“Duke.”
“Your Highness, thank you for coming at such a late hour.”
The father also did not forget to greet Caesar.
His voice was so calm that I wondered if he had heard the news.
“I’m ashamed. It’s all my fault.”
Caesar bowed his head in agony. Instead of scolding Caesar for that, my father patted him on the shoulder as he did to me.
“No, it’s fine. Nothing has happened yet, Your Highness.”
Has nothing happened?
Leonard was currently under arrest by the White Knights.
They wouldn’t make things hard for a high-ranking aristocrat, but it was impossible to predict how much impact this would have.
“Come on, let’s sit down. Let’s sit down and talk.”
At Father’s suggestion, the three of us sat down again with guilty feelings.
In the indignation that hadn’t subsided, I ground my teeth.
The empress’s expression was still in front of me, and Yulika stood by her with a stupid look.
‘How cowardly.’
The anger didn’t go away.
“Are you sure Sir Horio has joined hands with the empress?”
It was Hamilton who answered Father’s question.
“That is our question as well. There was no sign of that.”
“It’s not that they’re on the same side. It might be that their weakness has been caught.”
Caesar mumbled that with a sad expression on his face.
“Most of the nobles in the gray zone leaned toward us. It doesn’t make sense to use such a mean move and stick with the empress.”
Caesar’s words were valid.
They attacked Peresca by framing Leonard.
In other words, if Leonard’s innocence were revealed, the damage Horio’s family would receive would be more significant.
‘The empress wouldn’t have made such a big move if there was nothing to gain from it.’
If there is no benefit, it must be because there is harm.
What is the harm?
“As expected, I’m sorry. I should have doubted Sir Horio’s invitation.”
I covered my face and sighed.
“It’s not Helena’s fault. The fact that Horio was attached to the empress’s side was information we didn’t even know.”
“Yes, Princess. You can’t doubt everyone, can you? Do not blame yourself.”
Caesar and Hamilton comforted me, but it was no use.
My father groaned low and agonized for a while, then he spoke again in a serious voice.
“I doubt it’s the Peresca that the empress is after.”
“I think so.”
Caesar agreed.
And I, too, think so.
‘The Red Knights stole the documents because they were wary of the White Knights… that’s a small thing that can be covered up to an extent. That’s not going to hurt Peresca or Caesar.’
Although it could damage Leonard’s reputation, the case was weak enough to attack Peresca as a whole.
“What was the biggest blow to the empress?”
Father asked.
It must have been a question that my father himself already knew the answer to.
I replied blankly as if muttering to myself.
“The monsters subjugation…”
That’s right. It’s me.
The crown princess candidate who appeared like a comet. An influential person who overcame the monsters. Favored by the emperor and became the main character of the party hosted by the imperial family.
“But if she was targeting the princess, she could have pretended that the princess had stolen her papers. The princess was also in the room.”
Hamilton objected.
But Caesar shook his head.
“Helena has no reason to pursue the White Knights’ documents. On the flip side, it would’ve been more plausible if it was the young duke.”
“If this is true, they’ll be asking for a deal soon.”
Father took Caesar’s words and concluded.
“Helena.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Don’t respond.”
“… What?!”
Caesar, Hamilton, and I were all surprised. I thought my father had made a slip of the tongue.
But Father’s expression was firm.
“Once you respond to the cowardly means, the other side will continue to attack you like this.”
“But then, Brother—!”
“It’s embarrassing, but it’s not a big deal. There will be plenty of opportunities to restore our honor and to reveal our innocence.”
My father was calmer than I thought.
No, he’s not.
When he came running through this heavy rain, there must have been that much anxiety and impatience. Why wouldn’t there be?
“It must have been one of the servants who put the papers in the young duke’s cloak. We will find someone who will confess if we go through them.”
Caesar said sarcastically. His voice was low and hoarse, but everyone could feel his suppressed anger.
“Thank you for coming out, Your Highness.”
“It happened because of me. Of course I have to step up.”
“It will be fine. Leonard is not that weak,” said Father.
It must have been a word to soften the atmosphere, but now even such words fell to the bottom like a lead.
I touched my forehead. I felt a throbbing sensation in my head.
***
“Helena.”
After the guests left, Father called me up when I was about to return to my room.
“You look lost.”
“I’m sorry.”
I bowed my head again.
My father hugged my shoulder and said affectionately.
“Don’t worry about anything. You don’t have to do anything. Stay safe until the job is done.”
“… What?”
I lifted my head again at the unexpected words and looked at my father. I felt a strain on my forehead.