Chapter 13

※This is a story from Serius's perspective.

Late at night, I sighed when I saw the face of my friend who had come through the secret passage.

I knew the result I wanted to know from that expression.

Again, I thought.

I sank deeply into my chair.

"Did the culprit confess to Octavia's name again?"

"...Unfortunately."

My friend, Derek Knightfall, who had taken his seat, frowned unhappily.

"On the contrary, it's too obvious to be suspicious. The actual perpetrators who targeted Sil's life all confess to Octavia's name as the mastermind. It's clearly a setup."

Derek scratched his head and shook it slightly.

"What if it's just the truth?"

"Hey, Serius."

"Any lead is valuable, no matter what. If there's any doubt, even a sister shouldn't be excluded. Even if it's not Octavia herself—what about the 'lover' Octavia speaks of? It's not even certain if they are a lover."

"Starting from there? I've heard the story, but it's not strange for Lady Octavia to have a lover. You and Sil are in love, after all."

"Isn't it strange that a lover exists but never becomes the subject of rumors? No one knows anything about the man, not even his face or name. In this castle."

"Isn't that because it's Lady Octavia? She must have kept it perfectly hidden."

Given who my sister is, it's not surprising that she could keep it hidden.

But—

"There's also the possibility that there is someone, but not a 'lover,' rather some kind of collaborator."

"If that's the case, why tell you about a lover at all? It would be better to keep it secret."

"It might be Octavia's way of declaring war."

Derek looked up at the ceiling and sighed.

"I agree to keep a suspicion, but I think you're overthinking it. She's just using the name as a cover. Lady Octavia's name is a good shield just by being mentioned."

He's saying that I'm being misled, too.

The people around me are generally wary of Octavia.

Among them, the exceptions are my lover, Sil, and this Derek.

"...Is your defense of Octavia because of the Duke of Knightfall?"

The Duke of Knightfall doesn't openly exercise power but wields immense influence behind the scenes. Octavia, for some reason, is close to the Duke, who dotes on her like a daughter. Derek is the Duke's eldest son. His brown hair and eyes resemble the Duchess, and his personality is like the Duke's.

"My father is close to Lady Octavia, but I'm not. We haven't spoken much in recent years. In fact, my strict father was lenient with Lady Octavia. I used to bully her out of jealousy."

"...Is that so?"

Derek made a strange face for a moment.

"Yeah. I bullied her, and when I got caught, I got a severe scolding from my father and you. I was so scared that I developed a long-term, indirect fear of Lady Octavia—"

Derek cut himself off mid-sentence.

"Serius. What do you think of Lady Octavia? Tell me."

What do I think of Octavia? It's obvious.

"...I've always disliked her."

My sister probably dislikes me too.

Yes, I've always disliked my sister.

Goodwill deserves goodwill, and enmity deserves enmity. The world isn't that simple.

Just because Octavia dislikes me doesn't mean I can't handle it. But with Octavia, it hasn't worked out.

"...Always?"

Derek sounded puzzled.

"What's wrong?"

"Have you forgotten? In the past, you were so..."

So what?

"What?"

"It's the opposite. You tried to get along with the cold Lady Octavia. ...You couldn't help but dote on your sister, even when she rejected you. You liked her."

"—I liked Octavia?"

Even saying it out loud, I can't believe it.

"Hey, have you really forgotten? When I bullied Lady Octavia as a child, it wasn't just because of my father. I also didn't like your attitude. When I deliberately made Lady Octavia fall, you—"

"...What did I do?"

"You got so angry that you got into a big fight with me. Lady Octavia went to get my father to stop us. I got a severe scolding."

"...You're kidding, right?"

If I had seen that scene, I would have scolded Derek. But getting angry for my sister?—Impossible.

"That's what I'm saying, Serius. If you doubt it, ask my father. When did you start forgetting? What was the trigger? Do you remember anything?"

"There's no... trigger..."

Just as I was about to say that there was none, something, someone's figure, flashed in my mind.

'××××—'

But it faded like a mist, disappearing quickly.

"......?"

"Serius?"

"Ah, yeah."

I shook my head.

"—It's from childhood. Memories can become hazy. Even if you tried to be a good brother to Octavia in the past, it's different now. That's all. ...More importantly, I want to ensure Sil's safety. The attacks resumed about three months ago."

Sil was being targeted. The threat was supposed to have ended with the death of the mastermind.

But three months ago, Sil started being targeted again.

I don't know why. I haven't identified the enemy. I'm always a step behind.

It was only recently that we managed to capture a perpetrator who named Octavia as the employer. The second one we caught a few days ago did the same.

Just now, Derek reported that the latest one also named Octavia.

I can't take it at face value. I understand that. The culprit might have lied. They might have been told to lie.

Then, is Octavia innocent?

"Three months ago—do you want to connect it to Lady Octavia's knight?"

"Clifford Alderton. The attacks on Sil started when Alderton came to the castle."

"There's no suspicious movement from that knight. Don't say it's suspicious that he always guards Lady Octavia? Besides, Sil said that he resembles the man who saved her four years ago. If it's the same person, he might be an ally."

"...You're too optimistic."

An ally?

—A messenger from Ongarnu?

I held back from saying that. It's not something I should say, even to Derek.

Father must know. But he didn't tell me.

I found out from a completely different source.

The fact that I know must be kept secret. Contacting Alderton himself, given that he is Lady Octavia's knight, is also difficult.

A messenger from Ongarnu.

The man who killed Nathaniel, the rebel against our royal family, who once ruled the top of the Sazar religion.

This Nathaniel was the mastermind behind the threats to Sil. Asking why Nathaniel targeted Sil is no longer possible.

—Still, with Nathaniel dead, Sil should have been safe.

But someone is still trying to kill Sil.

Can I say it's not Octavia?

What if Octavia has been connected to Clifford Alderton—Ongarnu's messenger—long before three months ago? Wouldn't that give a different meaning to Nathaniel's murder?

There are rumors that Octavia is plotting to become queen. My younger brother, Alexis, would be the logical contender, but the rumors about Octavia sound more credible.

Octavia has the qualities to make people think so, and Father's attitude plays a role. Father tried to strip Alexis of his right to the throne. He changed his mind because of opposition from the nobles, which could have led to conflict. This made it clear to the nobles that Father didn't intend to make Alexis king.

Father's decision to strip Alexis of his right to the throne was a rare lapse in judgment, possibly due to his birth circumstances.

—Is that really the case?

Is it just because Alexis is the result of a one-night mistake that Father dislikes him? Is that all?

Regardless, this is why rumors of Octavia becoming queen are more prevalent than Alexis becoming king.

The next king is chosen and decided by the current king, Father.

Alexis has the right to the throne, but there's no hope for him. The nobles' whispers have spread, mixing with rumors about Octavia, leading to the current situation. The failed attempt to strip Alexis of his right to the throne is a key factor.

Of course, Alexis could become king.

He could lead an army against Father. But does he have the will to do so?

What about Octavia?

Father has never mentioned her right to the throne. He hasn't said he would strip it. There's still a possibility she could be chosen. In fact, he's keeping that possibility open.

If I die, it will likely be Octavia, not Alexis, who becomes queen.

If Octavia openly showed such intentions, it would be easier.

In reality, Octavia's actions have never exceeded those of a princess.

But if she has ambition and sees me as an obstacle to her becoming queen—she would target my weakness.

My weakness is Sil.

Losing Sil would be like losing myself. Killing me directly isn't necessary. Her target is correct.

In response to my silence, Derek continued.

"What do you think about the times Octavia helped Sil? You haven't forgotten that, have you?"

"—I haven't forgotten."

My relationship with Octavia isn't good. She doesn't approve of my relationship with Sil. But there have been times when Octavia gave me advice that prevented a crisis for Sil.

Sil wasn't being targeted, but it helped expose internal enemies after Nathaniel's threat was gone.

—The information was frighteningly accurate.

"Octavia knew too much. How did she find out?"

"Maybe she has a skilled spy."

"What do you think about the fact that the advice stopped three months ago?"

Derek sighed dramatically.

"No matter what, you seem determined to make Octavia the mastermind, Serius."

Rather, why can't I say Octavia is uninvolved? The pieces fit too well.

"Her refusal to reveal her 'lover's' name at the dinner party also bothers me."

"So you're trying to drag the person out under the pretext of an introduction. The servants' gossip has already spread throughout the castle."

"Convenient."

"What if it's just a lover?"

"—I'll bless them."

Of course.

"And you'll support Lady Octavia's marriage and take her child?"

His tone was mocking.

"I'm not thinking about that."

No, I'm not.

"Then?"

"If I could... "

The whisper faded in my throat.

After a while, Derek spoke.

"I didn't expect you to agree."

My friend continued.

—Serius, you really have forgotten.

The next morning, I learned that Octavia had set a date for the introduction of her lover in thirteen days.