Chapter 53

"Femina, stop it. There's no need to lie anymore."

"…Mother…?"

Daleria gazed at Femina and slowly closed her eyes. She exhaled deeply and lifted her eyelids, opening her lips.

"It was I who ordered the kidnapping of Cordelia's cat and the sending of the threatening letters."

"Mother!!"

Femina let out a scream.

"No!! I did the kidnapping of Nini! Mother has nothing to do with it!!"

"Stop joking around."

Daleria firmly said.

"Femina, you are too soft for someone of the royal family. Foolishly so."

"N-no… such…"

Femina, denied by her mother, shed even more tears and sobbed.

"To think about your political rival Cordelia and act on your own is foolish and overly kind…"

Even as she called Femina foolish.

Daleria's eyes, when looking at Femina, were gentle.

"Even if you say you kidnapped Cordelia's cat, no one would believe you. I did it, and Femina is not involved."

Daleria reached out and took Cordelia's hand from Femina.

"I won't run or hide anymore. You can do as you please, whether you put me in prison or anything else."

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Daleria, who admitted her guilt.

Femina seemed to realize that she could no longer protect her mother. After carrying the exhausted and seemingly unconscious Femina to the bed,

Cordelia, along with Leonhardt, faced Daleria in a separate room.

(…She looks so dignified.)

Daleria showed no sign of remorse or regret.

Her graceful posture, sitting in the chair, was that of a queen who had held the highest position in the country for over ten years.

"Do you not regret it, Lady Daleria?"

"What do I have to regret?"

Daleria smiled slightly.

"Trying to eliminate a troublesome political rival is only natural, isn't it? It's unfortunate that the plan failed due to lack of power, but I have no intention of apologizing to you."

It was a refreshingly honest confession.

For her own and her family's sake.

She would ruthlessly push aside anyone who got in her way and wouldn't hesitate to use any means as long as it didn't become public.

To Daleria, it was just that simple.

(…That's why I was surprised earlier.)

Daleria had protected Femina, who was trying to take the blame.

(If Princess Femina had continued to claim that she was the culprit…)

It would have been less damaging to Daleria herself and the Daulz family.

The young Femina would have been unlikely to receive severe punishment.

While Femina would be treated as a criminal and her future would be affected, it wouldn't have had such a serious impact on Daleria or the Daulz family.

If the Daulz family prioritized their interests, the best choice would have been to let the matter be vague and cut ties with Femina, presenting it as a "young Femina's outburst."

As Cordelia pondered this, Daleria relaxed her lips.

"Are you surprised that I admitted my guilt?"

"…Yes, I am. Lady Daleria used the harassment by Princess Femina as a cover to kidnap the cat and ultimately harm me. With the kidnapper caught and the plan failing, I thought you would cut ties with Princess Femina to protect yourself."

"Yes, that's true. I intended to do so, but…"

With a sigh of exasperation and fatigue,

Daleria sighed softly.

"That child, Femina, is just too foolish and kind."

Even as she mocked herself for the disrupted plan,

Daleria seemed to have no regrets, as she had said earlier.

(…She is a cruel person who can trample on others without hesitation and used Princess Femina… but…)

Still, she genuinely loved Femina.

(And because she was loved by her mother, Lady Daleria, Princess Femina tried to protect her…)

Cordelia felt a slight envy at this mother-daughter relationship.

Cordelia's mother had never loved her, and their relationship had ended in a breakdown.

She didn't wish for her mother's love or to repair their relationship now, but she couldn't take her eyes off Daleria, who loved her daughter.

"…We are also consulting with my father regarding the punishment for this matter."

Leonhardt, who had been watching over Cordelia, shifted his gaze to Daleria.

"What did His Majesty say?"

"He said he doesn't want to make a big deal out of it. If we accept the punishment we propose, he said it won't be made public."

"What are the conditions?"

"There are two main points. First, the Daulz Duke's estate will increase the royal family's share of the tax revenue by 10% for the next 10 years. Second, Lady Daleria will move to the detached palace for health reasons."

Ten percent of the tax revenue from the vast duchy.

To Cordelia, who came from a minor baronial family, it was a staggering amount of money, but considering the cover-up of a queen's scandal, it was a bargain.

The exile to the detached palace was also a lenient measure, as it didn't involve the loss of the queen's position.

(…They are the Daulz family, one of the five great duchies. It would be more beneficial for the royal family and the country to impose light conditions that can be easily met rather than harsh conditions that would worsen relations.)

Cordelia watched the two as she considered the political dynamics of the country.

"Also, I don't think I need to say this, but all the perpetrators and accomplices of the kidnapping will be reported to the royal family and their punishment will be left to us."

Daleria was likely able to kidnap Nini through Femina, who knew the layout of the Guenberg baronial residence and the blind spots in the security. Among the maids who accompanied Femina to Cordelia's residence, there were probably people involved in the plan.

"Yes, that's only natural. I will comply."

Cordelia relaxed her shoulders as Daleria accepted the conditions.

(If we secure the evidence from the perpetrators and accomplices, it will be difficult for Lady Daleria and the Daulz family to harm Cordelia and Nini.)

This would make it difficult for Daleria and the Daulz family to harm Cordelia and Nini.

Thank you for reading.

The next update is scheduled for Tuesday.