Chapter 21

The young Gesualdo shyly gazed at the veiled bride.

His face was filled with joy, and he seemed to be feeling the happiness of a groom.

The bride's expression was not visible, but she remained bowed, surely blushing.

From the outside, the two looked like a happy bride and groom.

“――What the heck is this!”

Lilith, who had been watching from the side, shouted that as soon as she woke up.

The idea that the cold Gesualdo had once been so innocent was hard for Lilith to believe.

（So, the prince still can't forget Queen Corina...?）

Thinking this, Lilith became curious about what had really happened back then.

But she couldn't ask Gesualdo.

As she was pondering what to do, Tena peered out from the waiting room, looking worried.

“... Lady Lilith, are you alright?”

“Yes, I'm fine. I just couldn't be a mere observer.”

Lilith smiled and answered Tena, who had called out to her after confirming she was awake, and then stood up.

It was a bit earlier than usual, but today her brother Eam was setting off for Freud.

Lilith intended to see him off properly, dressed as the Crown Princess of Aeras.

To reassure her brother, who always worried about her, she steeled herself.

“... Hey, Tena, Rese...”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Um, I know it's a bit much to ask, but... could you gather some rumors for me?”

“Rumors, you say?”

Tena and Rese, who were preparing her, were surprised and looked up.

Despite her hesitation, Lilith continued.

“I want to know... why Queen Corina died...”

“Well... I have heard about it a few times...”

“Really?”

“Yes...”

Lilith was surprised by Rese's hesitant words.

From Tena's reaction, it seemed both of them had heard the rumors.

“So, what's the content?”

“The content...”

“Well, it's more like various speculations mixed together, and the official reason is that it was an accident. However, many people believe that Queen Corina was murdered.”

“Murdered? By whom?”

Tena, speaking briskly in place of the hesitant Rese, emphasized that it was just a rumor.

But Lilith frowned at the content.

She had heard from Freud's king's father that Queen Corina had taken her own life, so the rumors seemed unreliable.

“Lady Lilith, making such a face will ruin your makeup.”

“Oh, sorry.”

“... No, don't worry about it.”

It was not common for a princess of a country—let alone a Crown Princess—to apologize to a maid, but Tena said nothing about it.

Since everyone in the Freud royal family was like this, scolding Lilith now would be pointless.

Tena swallowed a sigh and continued.

“According to the rumors, someone who held a grudge against Prince Gesualdo infiltrated the palace, or Queen Corina herself... chose death. But most people believe that Prince Gesualdo, in a fit of rage, was the one who...”

“Prince Gesualdo in a fit of rage? That's impossible.”

In the dream Lilith had, such a thing was unthinkable.

Gesualdo had been desperately trying to save Corina.

“Of course, we believe in you, Lady Lilith. But it's said that Queen Corina, shortly before her death, repeatedly said, ‘I will be killed by the Grim Reaper.’ Also, since the prince doesn't deny the rumors, people believe them even more.”

“I see...”

“But I think Queen Corina might have been a bit... off.”

“Off?”

Lilith responded absentmindedly to Tena's words.

She felt that Gesualdo had accepted everything and given up.

But hearing Rese's unusually harsh tone, she snapped back to reality.

“After her marriage, Queen Corina often secluded herself in her room. Even when she appeared in public, she neither spoke nor smiled. People rumored it was a curse, but the maid who served Queen Corina said that before her death, she suddenly started laughing and crying uncontrollably.”

“... So, if I seclude myself in my room, people will say it's Prince Gesualdo's curse again...”

“To be honest, that rumor is already out there. Plus, we are worried about you too.”

“Oh...”

“So, we told them that Lady Lilith has always been reclusive, and while you are physically weak, your heart is strong enough to repel any curse.”

“Oh..."

Though it didn't feel like a compliment, it was the truth, so she couldn't say anything.

She decided that today she would laugh freely in front of everyone.

But the farewell with her brother Eam was still painful, and tears welled up in her eyes.

“Brother... please be careful on your return. And tell Father and Mother, Spirit, my sister-in-law, Daria, Rino, and everyone in the castle that I'm fine.”

“Got it, Lilith. I'll tell them all, so don't worry.”

Eam gently wiped away Lilith's tears, smiling in a way that suggested he was at a loss, then hugged her lightly.

“But, Lilith, you don't have to push yourself. If it's too hard, if you can't bear it, come back to the country without hesitation. We'll take care of everything, so don't worry.”

“Brother...”

Lilith was surprised by her brother's words whispered in her ear.

Eam's face showed no hint of joking.

Lilith felt like crying again but quickly turned her face into a smile.

“Don't worry about me, Brother. I'm fine. Really...”

“... Yeah, you're right. Sorry for saying something silly. Just live well. We always think about you.”

“Thank you, Brother. Take care.”

“Yeah, see you.”

With a smile, Lilith was able to say goodbye to Eam.

The people of Aeras felt even more sympathy for Lilith, moved by her touching farewell.