Chapter 4: 3

(3rd person pov)

‘Are you really crazy?’ Mariel thought.

Otherwise, why would she do this?

Her hands were still trembling.

The lethargic eyes that looked down at her and the smile from Daphne were all still in her head.

Those disharmonies created fear in her.

‘What if I said I would not do what she said…?’

“No!”

Mariel clenched her trembling hands.

She is an aristocrat, and she still couldn’t believe that she was afraid of a mere commoner.

It was absurd.

Despite such denial, Mariel was diligently waiting for someone for that was what Daphne had told her to do.

How long had she been standing in the corner and waiting?

Squeak-

She then heard a servant opening the door and welcoming someone.

‘Did you come…?’

Mariel stuck her head out.

The person who slowly walked down the hallway was Count Corman.

He was famous for his integrity and for giving advice since the days of the previous emperors.

‘…I can’t believe he really came. How did she know?’

From the looks of it, it seemed that he had come to see the emperor alone.

How did she know the time of the meeting when only the emperor and the count themselves knew?

The emperor’s servants are famous for their sealed lips.

Mariel quickly bowed her head and called the Count.

“Count Corman.”

She spoke the lines that Daphne had ordered her to.

“My master is calling the Count.”

It was an arrogant and sudden invitation that did not even say who the master was or what the purpose was.

‘Hmm.’

It wouldn’t be strange if he just ignored the maid, but the count stopped.

‘The only people the maid will call as master would be the royal family.’

He knew all the maids of the imperial family.

However, it was the first time he had seen this maid.

“I’ll guide you there.”

Whoever it was, he could not ignore the calls of a member of the royal family.

Since he arrived a little earlier than the meeting time with the emperor, the count nodded.

“Sure. Go ahead.”

The maid opened her eyes wide as if she were a little surprised, and soon guided the count to one place.

It was not long before they arrived at the end of a remote hallway.

It was a good place to talk for a while because people don’t come there often.

Someone was standing in the shade at the very end.

“Count Corman.”

As soon as the young girl’s voice was heard, the count immediately greeted her.

“I’m seeing your Highness, Princess Daphne.”

“You recognized me right away.”

Daphne slowly walked out of the shade.

The count’s eyes narrowed.

‘Oh my, is that what the royal family looks like?

After hearing about her being adopted, he hardly heard anything else about her, so he was curious.

But he couldn’t believe she looked as bad as an orphan on the street. His mouth became bitter.

‘I have to say one more word to His Majesty besides the tax case.’

The reason why the count came to see the emperor today was because of the tax increase.

A few years ago, the emperor raised taxes to the maximum, and now he plans to raise it again.

Most of the vassals came forward and voted in favor.

The only person that opposed it was Count Corman.

“If you raise the taxes, the lives of commoners will collapse.”

This time, a friend told the Count to vote in favor of it, but he flatly refused.

And today…

He came to the imperial palace on his own to persuade the emperor.

Although he would be more hated by the emperor, he could not bend the will he had inherited from his mother.

‘But even the Princess looks like this.’

How could a child the same age of his daughter look so skinny and haggard?

The Count became confused by the guilt that was rising from within him.

“Because the only members of the royal family this young are Prince Claire and Princess Daphne.”

Swallowing guilt and sympathy, the Count smiled.

Daphne also smiled in response.

“Count.”

The starlight eyes narrowed.

“Are you going to see the Emperor?”

“How did you know that?”

Daphne’s head tilted slightly. Her hair fluttered in the rushing cold wind.

“You’d better change your words about taxes, because you alone can’t stop him from raising them still.”

At Daphne’s words, the count’s eyes widened in surprise.

“I can’t! Parliamentary bills cannot be passed without everyone’s consent!”

The count shook his head.

“How did you know? It is confidential!”

“Count.”

Unlike the count, Daphne was calm and quiet.

But her words that were spoken next were not.

“When a bird that sings alone is hunted, the forest becomes quiet, right?”

A bird that sings alone.

Count Corman’s pattern was that of a chirping bird perched on a branch.

But he wasn’t aware of the hunters.

“His Majesty the Emperor… Are you saying he will destroy my family?”

“Yes, His Majesty has already prepared the arrows to shoot the birds.”

From those words, the count swallowed his breath.

It meant that the emperor would kill the count and make all the agendas and plans unanimous in the future.

Because he was the only one who disagreed with the emperor.

“Then…”

The count swallowed his saliva, but soon shook his head as if he had come to his senses.

“How did Your Highness know that?”

Daphne looked up at his eyes that could not let go of the doubt until the end.

“If I tell you the truth, will you believe me?””

Daphne laughed loudly.

“Honestly, what I’m saying is sudden, and you might not believe it.”

Daphne was only a 13-year-old princess who was not properly educated.

If such a kid suddenly said this, yeah, it can be suspicious.

“However, count, you already know that for yourself.”

Daphne looked him in the eyes and said.

“That the emperor is preparing something.”

Count Corman has long survived this brutal world.

Wouldn’t such a person really not have noticed that the emperor was preparing to kill him?

He must have been suppressing his anxiety, thinking it wouldn’t be him.

‘That’s why he’s a more precious and valuable person than the emperor who is like a fool.’

He was a loyal person who went on the path he had chosen for the greater good despite his anxiety.

“However…”

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Daphne grew the seeds of anxiety planted by Count Corman himself.

The count was shaking dangerously.

‘Okay, let’s push it bit by bit.’

“Count.”

Daphne whispered softly.

Although Count Corman opposed the raise of taxes, the emperor will somehow still do the opposite.

And then the emperor will get revenge for bothering him.

“Don’t miss the only chance to avoid the arrow.”

Continuing on, Daphne looked at the count’s face.

His facial expression looked completely heartbroken.

‘It’s natural for him to have that expression because of the betrayal in the end.’

She felt sorry for the count, but it was not over yet.

“On top of that, His Majesty intends to send the daughter of Count Corman to Archduke Bertrand.”

Kael Bertrand.

As a 15-year-old duke, numerous rumors followed him.

A person who killed his mother and took over the duchy. 

A lord who rules the land of forever winter and the demons.

A product of unbreakable curses and madness.

A person who hates the imperial family.

A monster that quenches thirst from blood.

The color on Count Corman’s face disappeared at the story of sending his daughter to such a person.

‘How can a person look so pale?’ Daphne thought.

“The count knows better than me what His Majesty is thinking of when he sends your daughter down there.”

The count closed and opened his eyes slowly as if he understood the current situation.

He had a lot of things he valued.

Family, beliefs, and those who followed him.

But if he had to pick the most precious thing, it was his own little daughter.

Didn’t he raise his daughter who he and his wife were barely able to receive because of their late age with utmost sincerity?

But what about his daughter now?

“According to the will of the Emperor, you will be taken advantage of and die.”

Daphne said his life and death will then be taken advantage of.

“No.”

His shrill voice trembled.

“That can never…”

The count gasped for his breath.

How could he let his child go before him?

“No no. I can’t let my daughter go before me…”

Daphne stared at the count, who shook his head while repeating the same words.

‘Is that what an ordinary parent looks like?’

A person who abandons the beliefs he cherished for his daughter’s protection

It was the second time she saw it.

Didn’t the count cry thank you for saving his daughter even in her last life?

‘At that time, I was envious of Miss Corman.’

I was jealous of his daughter who had parents like him and his wife.

‘Why can’t I think of anything now…’

Maybe it was because she realized she couldn’t have parents like that.

Forever.

Daphne raised the corners of her lips and smiled.

“That’s right.”

Daphne smiled as she looked down at the count who had completely collapsed.

“It will never happen if you say yes to the raise of tax.”

“But if taxes go up, the lives of commoners will be…”

“Count.”

Daphne looked straight into the Count’s eyes, sighing deeply as if frustrated.

“The Count has only two choices.”

Daphne continued.

“First, follow the will of His Majesty the Emperor.”

Taxes will go up, but the count and the countess will be safe.

“Second, you continue to disobey the will of the Emperor.”

It will be the worst ending.

Taxes will rise, and both the count and the countess will die.

“There are no other options than that. I’d personally recommend the first one. It’ll be a little sad when everyone dies, rightt?” 

“Ha, ha, ha, ha…”

The count only smiled and laughed bitterly.

However, he did not say that he would not follow Daphne’s will.

“May I ask you why you gave me such valuable information, Your Majesty?”

Finally, the long-awaited words came out.

“There’s something I want.”

Daphne looked at the count with a completely different look from before.

“If you follow His Majesty’s will, your daughter will be safe. Then bring up Duke Bertrand’s story.”

The emperor needed someone to go and watch the duke.

“Can you recommend me to go there?”

By myself.

“…Your Highness the Princess?”

“Yes, that’s right. Someone has to go. It’s His Majesty’s will.”

Daphne smiled brightly.

“…”

The count had no answer.

He remained silent for a long time. If he doesn’t agree here, the person who would be in danger the most would be his daughter.

“You don’t have to feel guilty, count.”

In her past life, the count saved his dying daughter and family, and he followed Daphne and became Alan’s strength.

Since he’s from a prestigious family famous for integrity, he supported Alan and helped him a lot.

‘The emperor is also stupid.’

I couldn’t believe I missed such a person in the original and my previous life.

It’s hard to find a person who doesn’t spare advice.

“There are only two paths left for me anyways. Either for me to be left unattended like this and die, or getting sold abroad when I’m all grown up.”

The count agreed in silence.

“It’s better for me to go to the archduke. At least we can communicate. And who knows? I might survive.”

Daphne laughed as if she were really okay.

“I get what I want, and the count protects his precious family and daughter.”

The count, who had been silent for a while, exhaled loudly.

He rearranged his clothes and swept away his messy hair.

“It will work out the way Your Highness wants.”

The count, who took a light courtesy, walked back to the hallway to honor the emperor.

Daphne and Count Corman talked about only a dozen times.

Just from the minutes she spoke with him, he bent his will which had never been shifted before.

He must have been in agony over the emperor’s betrayal and was in a situation where he couldn’t sacrifice his daughter to die.

‘Now the count won’t forget me.’

In an instant, Count Corman owed Daphne a huge debt.

‘So, under any circumstances, Count Corman will act for me.’

There must be at least one nobleman in the capital to move for her.

It felt a bit bitter, but it was a satisfactory result. Daphne smiled and left.

After seeing only the results without hearing about the encounter details of the count and Daphne, Mariel followed in astonishment.

A few days after Daphne had met the count.

“Go to Duke Bertrand.”

The desired command has been issued.

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