Chapter 232
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
“Actually, I didn’t plan on coming back.”
If it weren’t for the royal knights, she might never have returned to the mansion.
“Hmm. Do you regret it?”
“I don’t know.”
Boestin would be surprised if she saw Mikhail’s changed behavior.
“He seems to have come to his senses… though he still gives you a hard time. You know, he was pretty harsh with you.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“You know I’m always on your side, right? If you want to run away, just say so. I know a place where no one can find you.”
Boestin’s eyes sparkled. She really seemed ready to hide her.
“Thank you. I think I’ll be leaving here soon, going somewhere else.”
“I know. I’ll be coming with you.”
“…You’re coming too, Miss Boestin?”
“It’s lonely alone. I heard Dahlia and Byne are coming along as well.”
“Then is Mikhail staying here alone?”
Boestin shook her head.
“No, he won’t be alone. There’ll be others with him and the Duke’s knights as well. Are you worried?”
Emilia smiled faintly. She still didn’t want to leave him behind.
“Think about the baby. He’s tough — he’ll somehow survive.”
“How do you know that…?”
“Mikhail asked me to stay close to you. Otherwise, why would I come, right?”
She sipped her tea casually.
“I came because of you, Emilia. You’re my friend. I was so worried when I didn’t hear from you.”
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t contact you because if I did, Mikhail would find out immediately.”
“No need to apologize! It was my selfishness. I’m just glad you’re safe. That’s enough for me.”
Boestin shook her head.
“I think I’ll stay here until the day you leave.”
“Is it okay for you to stay here?”
“Of course. The country I’m starting a business in is in turmoil, so I want to see how things unfold. The fall of the Bartsch monarchy is serious, but many neighboring countries have already gone through it, so it should be alright.”
Boestin was calm.
“The chaos will be unforgettable. It’ll be a hell worse than just a change in monarchy. If it’s something we have to endure, we have no choice but to accept it.”
She shivered, then held Emilia’s hand and said,
“It’ll be alright.”
Her words brought peace to Emilia’s heart, and only then did she smile comfortably.
“By the way, don’t you think Dahlia and Byne actually go well together?”
“Yes, I was surprised too. They seem to suit each other better than expected.”
“Oh, Dahlia’s engaged… she doesn’t give you a hard time anymore, right?”
Mikhail wasn’t the only one who had changed. Dahlia’s behavior toward her was also different.
“Yes, both of them have changed a lot.”
“You’re the one who made that possible, Emilia.”
Boestin said, amazed,
“That idiot — no, that crazy guy — well, anyway, both Mikhail and Dahlia have changed a lot. I was skeptical, but surprisingly, they changed in such a short time.”
She seemed lost in thought for a moment, then smiled slyly.
“Aren’t you curious what Mikhail was like when you weren’t around?”
“…Mikhail?”
“He was half out of his mind. He searched the entire capital, even trained dogs, hoping they’d catch your scent and find you. Watching him was scary — that’s how desperate he was.”
“…Really?”
Boestin’s stories were hard to believe.
“Absolutely! He swore so much, but didn’t seem shaken.”
She smiled even wider than before.
“He even told me flat out that guys like him are the worst. Which is true, isn’t it?”
She shrugged, and Emilia couldn’t deny it.
“So don’t forgive him so easily. He deserves to suffer a bit more.”
Boestin still made her smile. Her straightforward way with words was refreshing.
Emilia could finally laugh comfortably after a long time.
❖ ❖ ❖
Lady Luther returned to the palace and, in irritation, threw her jewelry aside.
“The tide seems off now.”
She trembled recalling the humiliation she felt at the banquet.
“Mother, I think Duchess Heinrich knows about the Spiegel newspaper.”
“…If you’re not certain, don’t say a word.”
She was fed up with the rumors circulating lately. The truth about the Jalliar and Loren families had stirred up everyone.
“The people have found out, so there’s no more way to stop it. If we stay like this, everything will be taken away.”
Lady Luther swept objects off the table with her hand.
Breaking and destroying things didn’t ease her anger.
She huffed in fury, while the maids bowed their heads and closed their eyes.
“You’re satisfied now that you’ve stirred things up as you like.”
“Mother, you’re no different. You were raised this way, so there’s nothing to be done.”
Adrian smirked. He had tried to reduce his mother’s influence, but it hadn’t worked out well.
“The situation is serious. The anti-royalist group will gradually take advantage of the current atmosphere.”
“Yes, so we can’t stay still. We need to immediately mobilize the royal knights and arrest them.”
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