Chapter 155

Nerys glanced at the ring of knights outside her carriage window and let out a quiet laugh.

At dawn, an imperial order had arrived: she was to “enter the palace immediately for questioning.” When she left the ducal mansion saying she would comply, the Duke of Elandria had sent a large escort, as if afraid she might run away.

In truth, they were also protection. If Camille made another attempt on her life, the more knights nearby, the better—and Nerys hadn’t refused.

‘Camille must have stirred up quite a storm yesterday.’

In this life as well, Camille had tried to deal with her at will, only to have her slip away at the last moment.

Adrian would have sulked in his usual way—’I did as I was told and killed the marquis, what am I, your servant?’—while lacking the brains to carry out even a simple order when immediate gain was in sight. Camille, meanwhile, knew it was still better to keep using him than to throw him away, simply because he was royalty.

Nerys remembered how many times in her past life Camille had seriously considered killing Adrian, only to give up.

‘It was ridiculous.’

Seeing her smile, Nellusion asked kindly,

“Something amusing, Nerys?”

She wasn’t the only one bound for the palace. As her nominal guardian, Nellusion was riding in the same carriage.

From the family’s perspective, this was a great courtesy, but Nerys knew the real reason.

‘Surveillance.’

And a statement to the imperial court: she belonged to the Elandria family.

With a shy look, she said,

“I know this is a very serious matter, Brother… but being with you, I don’t feel so afraid. The thought of entering the palace actually has me a little excited. I’m being childish, aren’t I? I know I am…”

And indeed, Nellusion thought she was childish. This wasn’t a party—she was going to be questioned on suspicion of murdering a high-ranking noble. No, childish was putting it mildly; it was downright odd…

But something inside him rose up to defend her. Childish, yes, but not impossible. How much could Nerys, the innocent bookworm, know about the intimidation of imperial investigators?

Once the questioning began, she’d likely be so overwhelmed she’d cry.

Nellusion knew he was smarter than most, even most adults. Confident in his conclusion, he spoke to her even more gently than before.

“Most people would be terrified, but you seem brave. That reassures me. I think you’re remarkable.”

“You’re only saying that because you don’t know better, Brother. Once I’m inside, I might cry. But just knowing you’ll be nearby makes me so happy and grateful.”

She met his eyes with an earnest gaze, cheeks faintly flushed. Nellusion smiled.

“Hearing that makes me feel both flattered and sorry. I wish I could be right beside you during the questioning, but I can’t.”

“You’ve said you believe I’m innocent. Honestly, I’ve already faced what’s truly frightening. I think I’ll be fine.”

Her face paled slowly, the earlier warmth fading. Nellusion’s voice softened with sympathy.

“Thinking about the Duke? Don’t worry, Nerys. No matter how high his rank, his authority is absolute only in his own lands. We’re here now—no one will take you against your will.”

“But Brother, I…”

Her voice wavered and her eyes glistened. As if embarrassed by her own tears, she quickly dabbed at them with a handkerchief, trying to muster a bright smile.

“I’m sorry… You and Their Graces have been so kind, and here I am…”

“Thinking about your mother?”

Nerys lowered her head miserably.

“Yes. I don’t know if she’ll be all right without me. I was so happy to learn she was alive, but I never thought we’d be parted again so soon. Brother, what if that man hurts her in a fit of anger?”

“He won’t. I won’t let him. Do you trust me?”

After a moment, she ducked her head shyly in assent.

Nellusion was satisfied. Of course the Duke would kill Nerys’s mother—he was a bloodthirsty madman. If he hesitated, unable to let go of her, Nellusion had already sent people north the night before to handle it.

Either way, Nerys would have no one left to rely on and would hate the Duke all the more. Offer her revenge, and she would agree to anything.

Before long, the carriage arrived at the palace. The door was opened from outside.

“We’ve arrived.”

The man opening it with exaggerated formality, like a coachman, was Joseph Caron—Nellusion’s trusted knight, the man who had nearly killed Cledwyn a few years back, and in her previous life had escorted Valentin to the prison, ensuring poison reached Nerys’s lips in the end.

He was now close to the man she’d last seen in that life. Meeting his watchful gaze, Nerys smiled sweetly on purpose.

Joseph turned his head slightly away, expression stiff.

“Do you remember Joseph?” Nellusion asked with a smile.

“Of course. How could I forget?”

She ignored Nellusion’s reproachful glance toward Joseph, cheerfully taking the reluctant man’s hand to step down.

The heart of the empire.
Where countless ambitions and lives were born and extinguished.
And where she had met her end in her previous life.

“Lady Truydd.”

An imperial investigator, flanked by two soldiers, approached. Having arrived in an Elandria carriage with Nellusion, there was no need to ask who she was.

Nellusion smiled pleasantly at the man.

“Unfortunate circumstances aside, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Please take good care of my sister.”

The investigator’s brow twitched; he caught the warning beneath the words: ‘Harm her and answer to me.’

“I wasn’t aware you had another sister.”

“You’re slow on the news. Did you not know Ja’an belongs to the Elandria family?”

Indeed, as they passed through the palace gates, people were murmuring about Nerys’s eyes. Seeing the gathering crowd, the investigator decided nothing good could come from sparring with Nellusion here.

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Good. Go on. Nerys, I’ll wait for you. Just answer their questions honestly—it’ll be over quickly. No one will punish you for a crime you didn’t commit, all right?”

‘If you say so.’ She feigned unease, then smiled demurely.

“Yes, Brother. I’ll remember.”

❖ ❖ ❖

The questioning took a long time. The moment she sat down, Nerys knew they intended to drag it out—repeating “Confess your crime” like a parrot.

It was expected. She endured a few hours of meaningless back-and-forth in the drab little room.

She was tempted to use the Jeweled Eyes to shut the fool up, but with Camille likely watching from somewhere, she restrained herself.

Finally, worn out, she left the room. She was headed for the reception where Nellusion was waiting when—

“Well, look who it is.”

The cheerful tone reflected the speaker’s self-satisfaction more than the situation. Nerys now found that voice instantly irritating.

“So it really is the Jeweled Eyes.”

Abellus, clearly loitering near the questioning rooms on purpose, leaned in rudely.

“The most noble sapphire,” or so his navy-blue eyes were praised, roved over her. Nerys lifted her skirt in a curtsey.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“I’d heard rumors, but thought they were a joke.”

He ignored her greeting as always, idly stroking his chin.

A smirk tugged at his lips.

“And you’ve grown even more beautiful.”

Nerys was so offended she nearly threw her handkerchief at him.

‘Who does he think he is?’

Not that he meant it. In her last life, Abellus had constantly complained about how little her looks suited his taste. Unless he’d been cursed to go blind overnight, his aesthetic sense hadn’t changed.

‘Trying to win my favor, is he?’

As the Crown Prince, he’d never needed to court anyone’s favor before. He must be hoping to secure a warmer relationship with the Elandria family—or information about her eyes.

Not that it came from any great political insight; Abellus acted on impulse. Normally obedient to Camille, he could be as petulant and stubborn as a child when something caught his fancy. Perhaps it was an imperial male trait—Adrian was the same.

But she was not the naïve girl to be flattered into foolish hopes by a royal compliment. That he didn’t know this only proved how little attention he’d paid her before.

“I’m honored, Your Highness.”

She managed a polite reply just as footsteps approached.

“Well, look who we have here.”

The same words Abellus had used, drawled lazily. Nerys drew a sharp breath.

Cledwyn, in a dress uniform trimmed with gold cord and a cape, came around the corner, Aidan in similar attire at his back.

“Your Grace.”

Abellus’s face twisted with sudden loathing. Nerys found his scowl delightful.

“Your Highness.”

Cledwyn inclined his head just enough to pass for a greeting. Abellus bristled.

“Insolent! Is that your idea of a proper bow?”

“Was that not a bow?”

“Do it properly! Unless you mean to insult the imperial family!”

‘How entertaining.’ Nerys was genuinely amused.

She’d heard endlessly how Abellus disliked Cledwyn, but she’d never seen them meet in person. Had it been like this in her last life?

‘If so, it must have been the best show in the palace.’

Overflowing with confidence, Abellus couldn’t hide the constant flare of inferiority when facing someone of lower rank. It was almost embarrassing to watch.

She sent her condolences to the late crown princess of her past life, who had missed this spectacle. But when Cledwyn turned his gaze to her, she couldn’t help feeling a little awkward.

From the moment she’d been taken from the meeting room until now, they hadn’t exchanged a word. She hadn’t expected to see him at the palace today—no sensible person would.

‘And that look…’

She hadn’t expected it either. As if he’d been worried, waiting to see her the moment she emerged from questioning.

That alone could cause trouble with Nellusion. She averted her eyes, feigning a touch of fear, and stepped back before Cledwyn could speak.

“There you are, Nerys. I waited, but when you didn’t come, I came looking.”

Nellusion’s voice came from right behind her.

His calm tone suggested he’d heard Abellus and Cledwyn were both present and had hurried over. Nerys forced herself not to grimace as she greeted him brightly.

“Brother!”

Both Abellus and Cledwyn fixed their eyes on her smile.