‘Has he been asked a sensitive question? Or is it a meaningless facial expression change?’
“Well… Innocent dying, there’s no way?”
“……”
After answering, Johann glanced over at Berylia.
But it was difficult for him to look inside. This was because, unlike himself, she was usually too expressionless.
Now, there was almost no change in her expression.
Johann added quickly.
“Oh, but I’ve tried it.”
“An experiment?”
“It’s so amazing that it withers away when it gets close to evil powers, so when I brought the ‘harness’ that had been sealed with a demon… it really withered.”
Johann said, stroking his lips with his long, sensitive fingers.
“Fortunately, I managed to revive it by attaching a holy object.”
It was an excuse he made up in case she had seen something.
It was almost perfect.
Wouldn’t a normal person fall for it?
“Oh, it’s a really fun experiment.”
As Berylia smiled softly, Johann felt more relieved.
But the next moment.
She muttered, not too loudly, holding up her teacup.
“But, if you had just prayed, it would have been fresh because of the goodness of Archduke Marquis…”
“……”
Johann’s stomach felt uncomfortable as if he was having a stomachache. It stung.
Was he too sensitive?
Those words sounded like, ‘If you were kind, you wouldn’t need holy objects.’
But Johann did not show such feelings,
He put on his characteristic good-looking smile and spoke naturally.
“Of course, I prayed earnestly. But it was a gift from Your Majesty the Queen… I didn’t want to leave it withered for long.”
That was a reasonable excuse.
“Well, the effect is quick, Archduke.”
“The original effect is as expensive as it gets.”
At his usual playful remarks, Berylia burst into laughter.
Johann thought with a wide smile on his face.
‘What the hell is this conversation…’
Did she notice something?
Could that be it?
He spent decades in this palace with a good face, pretending to have no desire for power, and thoroughly acting.
During that time, no one noticed his true identity. Everyone was just praising him.
But what if Berylia really noticed his existence?
‘Really, if that’s true…’
“……”
Johann bit his lips and looked at Berylia, sitting on the other side with a strangely piercing gaze.
……It meant that he had chosen the woman very well.
The thought of her being suspicious of him sent shivers down his spine.
He was so excited that he burst into laughter.
From now on, he might play fun games with her.
He looked forward like a hunter with a big bow.
Berylia spoke with an unsuspecting, pure deer-like face.
“It smells delicious.”
Johann immediately opened his palms and escorted her with a clean smile.
“I have prepared a lot, especially for the Queen. Shall we go eat?”
“Yes, I’d like that.”
I followed him lightly.
As we walked, I glanced at him slightly.
‘As expected, something is suspicious.’
If what he said about Innocent was a natural explanation, it could be taken that way, but……
For some reason, it didn’t sound like an ‘explanation’ but an ‘excuse’, and even that excuse felt like it was missing a part.
‘But I can’t just pry into this and that, can I?’
I wanted to hide the fact that I was suspicious of him as much as possible.
An attack when the opponent was unaware and careless was the most effective.
‘Let’s not ask too much.’
…The conversation about Innocent should end here.
So I made up my mind.
However.
“By the way, Your Majesty… Why did you suddenly ask about Innocent?”
As soon as Johann sat down at the table, he dared to bring the topic up again.
With a blatant expression of ‘Why, are the words ‘bad guy’ written on my face?’
I was inwardly bewildered, but I didn’t budge; I replied as I naturally picked up the dishes.
What should I say?
“Actually, Innocent has a secret that is not known to the public.”
“Hmm.”
“The plant withers once and then is artificially revived… The stems will be very thick and tough.”
Johann raised an eyebrow.
“I see.”
“Yes.”
‘No, that’s a lie.’
But wouldn’t it be impossible to remember the original stem thickness of Innocent?
Innocent originally had thick stems.
Fortunately, Johann continued to eat as if he was convinced.
A natural and enjoyable mealtime.
The atmosphere was quite friendly. Though the parties involved had different thoughts in their minds.
The two held a lasso to trap and a spear to pierce their opponent behind their backs.
They ate a tense meal with a smile on the outside like warriors.
There were hardly any offensive conversations.
Only once, in the middle, Johann could not suppress his curiosity and asked about ‘Margot’s Pendant’,
Again, I did not answer properly.
Johann was no longer obstinately inquiring; he knew in the first place that the chances of me telling him were slim.
After eating dessert like that, I wiped my lips and stood up.
“I’ll see you soon, Archduke Marquis.”
‘It’ll be appropriate to go now, right?’
I thought so, but for some reason, Johann said with a sad, clinging look on his face.