Chapter 128. Secret, Part IX
Translator: Khan
Editor Group: Liber Reverie
"... the princess?"
She, who had always paid attention to her conduct to be the model of the nobility, came toward the garden of Asher with a shocked face. Her hurried steps seemed to represent her condition. Coming out into the garden with an incredible face, she said, omitting her greetings toward Asher,
"I just wanted to see who else was possessed by the bad girl as she came out with a blushing face... I never dreamed that Your Highness would be here."
In the harsh and frivolous words of the noble lady to emerge from her mouth, Asher frowned. Isis's eyes turned toward the garden where Asher had come out. It was because the woman's footprints were stamped around him.
"How could Your Highness do this?"
It was Asher who was embarrassed in her words that condemned him. It was questionable whether she had been deranged by the power of the Aristocratic Party.
"I don't understand the reason that the princess is going to hurt."
"If Your Highness causes a scandal with 'the woman'... and of course it will ruin my fame!"
She raised her voice as if she couldn't really beat the shame. She looked as if she were unpleasantly in a fever of excitement. It seemed insane not to hesitate in harsh language. It was because the people around her were taken away not once, but twice by the woman of no value. Asher spouted a fake smile on his face.
"Really? I don't know why my relationship with a woman is so bad for your fame."
"Are you going to pretend you don't know? Don't tell me you're going to take her as a concubine? Do you think it's possible, don't you?"
Asher smiled sarcastically to her who was saying as if he needed her permission. 'Do you know where your position is and what you are talking about?'
"I'm worried if the princess is delusional."
"... Your, Your Highness? What are you...?"
When he uttered the same level of vulgar language, the princess was embarrassed and narrowed her eyebrows. She was so excited that she forgot what she had said herself, that she seemed shocked as if she had never known that he would say it.
The shock doubled because he had let the Aristocratic party run wild. She didn't know that it was a beast of prey for the moment.
"Why do I need such permission?"
"Well, that's it. You're the one who's going to be engaged to me...!"
"Oh, you're under a great illusion. It's very sad."
"Your Highness...!"
It was true that words about their engagement had gone by, but it had not been established. It was just a claim from the Aristocratic Party that had maintained its ascendancy all along the way.
But their existence was no longer a great threat because now he was able to build up his power and disrupt the Aristocratic Party. If he built a school here and even absorbed the investor group, he would be able to build a huge force merged over identity and age.
Of course, there was no big problem even if it didn't. The reason for reaching out to the meeting was to create a backdrop where no gossip would dare come up, no matter which woman he would choose as the wife of the Crown Prince. And the woman wasn't the pervading villain in front of him.
"Maybe I'd rather live alone for the rest of my life than marry the princess."
"How, how could you say such rude things?...!"
The princess's face turned as white as the snow that had just fallen, in response to an unexpected attack. It was also because the future which was to come without fail was denied, and which she did not doubt.
"That's what I'll say. I hope you don't offend me anymore with false rumors."
"False rumors...!" As she could not believe Asher's words, Isis asked back in a quivering voice,
"Are you asking because you don't know? I mean the false rumors that the princess and I are going to get engaged. I've never expressed any affirmation."
Isis's face collapsed at the cold and clear answer of Asher again. It was because the goal that must be achieved was negated. No one would follow her anymore if she was not the wife of the Crown Prince. Everyone admired and followed her because she was the one who would be the future Crown Princess.
Isis stood like a statue without saying anything for such a short time, then soon clenched her teeth and said cursingly to Asher,
"I'm sure Your Highness will regret what you just said."
It was a curse without even a shred of regret. It was like a warning that she would make it that way. She seemed to think she could really do that. The foolish appearance made Asher laugh.
'How shallow have I been?' It was sad that she did not hesitate to say and act presumptuously toward the royal family, even though she was only the Duke family's daughter. She didn't know what was coming. So he added a small warning as if he were using caution. He knew that she would not be able to deal with it anyway.
"You still don't understand the situation, do you? There are rumors that the names calling on the streets that were written on the accounting book are not everything."
"... what do you mean?"
Isis's eyes swayed. She had thought it would be him who would continue to shake herself and the Aristocratic Party, but she had dismissed it as only a short time. And now that he was so confident in threatening herself... The cold blue eyes moved as if to devour her.
"Well, that's all my kindness here, so let the princess figure out the rest for yourself."
Isis was shaking, biting her lips on his back which turned around with any regret as always. It was because she couldn't stop her anger. As she grew older, the boy, who she thought he was her own, grew further away from her, and now he showed disgust at every passing eye.
'I'm sure it's a bluff. Run wild, but there's not a single person that will give you strength. I'll make you never think of such terrible things again.'
It was Isis's miscalculation, though she tried to dismiss the anxiety as a rootless bluff. Asher had the last card to destroy the Aristocratic Party, which she thought was solid, and soon she could know.
"That's ridiculous! Why, why am I involved in that?!"
Later, there was no mention of her name in the accounting book of Viscount Vigue, but there was a rumor that she had ordered the work. Rumors had it that he had only deleted the name of the princess in case of a possible situation.
The rumor without proof instantly covered the entire capital city through gossip. It was because the fall of a reputable person was just as interesting. Of course, it was more believable because there was a witness.
"What the hell does that motherf*cker know?!"
The glass thrown by Isis hit the wall and broke into pieces. A local nobleman, who she had only had a few cups of teas as he had presented gifts, was presented as a witness and sided with the Crown Prince. Even anonymous casino workers gathered to talk, calling it a fait accompli.
On the surface, she made excuses, with a casual face, but only a few believed. Although it must be the Crown Prince's ruse, doubts grew as there had been already the internal division within the Aristocratic Party. Some of them joined the Crown Prince's side and fattened the gossip about the Aristocratic Party and the princess.
It was certain that with the witness alone she would not be punished at all anyway, but the scandal would continue in the meantime, although it would be proved that she was innocent. Such a solidly built castle tower would fall.
It was clear that the Crown Prince was after it. The servant, who had noticed such a thing, carefully announced Mielle's arrival as he could no longer delay it.
"Well... miss, Lady Roscent has arrived."
In fact, it had been quite a while since she had arrived, but he had made her wait on the pretext of getting ready, because she had been in a state of composure he could speak to.
"... Oh, I did. I was going to call Lady Mielle."
Fortunately, she was an intelligent person who was able to discern her own interests, so she soon stopped her anger and returned to her original form. This was not the time to be so angry.
Isis, who straightened her face and arranged her manners, headed to the lounge. Mielle, who would later become Duchess, was savoring tea with a graceful figure worthy of her.