When Pride Fell At My Toes - Chapter 77
Only Noblemtl
#77. Clue
2024.03.17.
“Actually, if it weren’t for this article, I wouldn’t have come. I don’t want to keep in debt.”
Vivian, who was sitting quietly next to Ricardo, muttered with a sigh. Annoyance flashed through Enrico’s eyes as he looked at the two sitting next to him.
“Madrid Decap, the Viscountess of the Kingdom of Carnth, is a member of the party that came with the princess, but her whereabouts have been unknown for the past five days. Since she wasn’t an official member of the party, I was secretly investigating her in case she was kidnapped, but the article came out first because I don’t know where they got the source.”
“Did you contact the reporter first?”
“First, someone close to the princess approached her, but she said she wouldn’t cooperate. She said she had everything she wanted to say since she had already received permission from above.”
Since an article about a foreigner could turn into a diplomatic issue unless it was a good thing, it was necessary to check with the higher-ups first, and that was approved. It was an ambiguous situation for Ricardo to step forward so late.
Ricardo had been away from the Kingdom of Treano for a long time, so it was safe to say that he had almost no close associates, and the biggest problem was that he was not very free because he was under Alexander’s surveillance.
In the first place, Ricardo had assumed that the throne was Alexander’s, and had obediently followed him on his study abroad trip that he had sent away, so there was no way he could have come up with another plan
. It could have been a mistake to trust him and leave him, knowing Alexander’s cruel nature. Alexander, who was flashy on the outside but not on the inside, would not have left Ricardo alone.
Because of Alexander’s subordinates who attempted assassination whenever they got the chance, Ricardo felt increasingly limited, and while he was contemplating whether to go back and negotiate, it was Enrico who reached out to him, which he had not expected at all.
“To be honest, I am currently powerless, and since I am in a situation where I cannot come out on the surface, there was nothing I could do.”
Ricardo spoke calmly and quietly looked at Enrico, who had been in a bad mood since he came in. Enrico was smoking a cigarette lazily, crossing his legs.
His noticeably sunken purple eyes gave off a different feeling than his usual indifference, but he couldn’t figure it out, so he had no choice but to check his reaction.
Enrico sighed and exhaled the smoke from his cigarette. Ricardo, who was watching the white smoke spreading faintly, glanced at Vivian, who was sitting next to him.
“Can I give you a handkerchief?”
“Why all of a sudden?”
When Vivian blinked, Ricardo carefully took out the handkerchief from his bosom and pretended to hold it near his mouth.
“Ah- because of the smoke? As expected, you’re such a kind person. I can’t help but feel better when this isn’t the time.”
Ricardo handed over the handkerchief, his ears turning red at Vivian’s honest words.
“You guys are having fun.”
The sharp voice froze the dreary atmosphere coldly. Ricardo glanced at Enrico with an embarrassed expression. Enrico’s eyes, staring at the two of them as if he was openly displeased, were close to contempt.
“Your Majesty, even though we’ve talked about various things, don’t you think our speech is becoming too comfortable?”
“Did you give me a handkerchief so that
I wouldn’t smell the cigarette smoke?” Enrico asked softly, tilting his head slightly as if he was assessing something, regardless of whether Vivian glared or not. Ricardo blinked twice,
confused as to whether she was being sarcastic or genuinely curious because the question was so unexpected. Enrico
didn’t correct his words or sarcastically respond to Ricardo’s blank stare for a moment, but simply waited quietly.
“Yes… … . I think it might be a little difficult to breathe.”
“Does that make you feel better?”
This time, the question was directed at Vivian. Her eyes, which had been wondering why that person was acting like that, opened dimly.
“I guess it’s good, right? It means you care about me that much?”
“It could just be a compliment.”
Ricardo snapped at Enrico’s words.
“That’s not it!”
“It could be that you want to please me enough to say something nice. People can surprisingly be swayed by such seemingly trivial and subtle considerations.”
“… … I want to please you, but it’s not a compliment.”
“Oh, of course I know. A man who is nice to everyone is unattractive, isn’t it?”
Enrico, who had been quietly watching Vivian and Ricardo gradually becoming more and more lost in their own world, looked down at the cigarette hanging between his fingers.
“Be considerate… … .”
The two of them naturally shut their mouths at Enrico’s muttering with an unreadable expression.
They wondered why he was asking such a question, but since the atmosphere was somehow ambiguous, they recalled their original purpose.
“By the way, the police are telling me about the progress, but it feels like they’re only telling me a part of it. I’d like to hear everything about the current situation, would that be possible? I think it’s hard for me to completely trust the Duke, so I hope you understand.”
Vivian carefully opened her mouth, controlling her expression. Enrico’s gaze briefly touched Vivian’s, then stared into space as if thinking about something. Soon, his eyes slowly closed and opened, looking at Riccardo.
“Of course. It’s not that hard to share the progress of the investigation. Instead… … .”
Enrico hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly.
“Prepare a constitutional amendment for the family succession law.”
“… … Yes?”
“So that women can also inherit the family.”
“Yes?!”
“The crown prince is said to be preparing it, so you’d better hurry.”
“Are you telling me to propose that constitutional amendment? You know very well that I currently have no say.”
“Just prepare it. I will take action so that you have the right to speak.”
Ricardo sat forward with a puzzled expression.
“Why, instead of doing it yourself, are you trying to do it through me?”
“If you prepare well first, it will pass without a hitch. The crown prince’s side must have agreed to support the constitutional amendment.”
“That means I will only support it if my brother does it… … .”
“The crown prince should have supported it first. If he opposes it, I can just relay the news as it is.”
“… … To whom?”
The cigarette that had been burning alone was barely on the verge of dropping ashes. Enrico glared at the cigarette, sighed, and muttered.
“There is. Someone who doesn’t want anything to do with me… … .”
The red ash that was rubbing against the ashtray slowly turned gray.
***
Emilia headed to the carriage as usual after practice. She held the handle of the carriage door and briefly glanced at the sky covered in red sunset.
The scenery that was so splendid and eye-catching seemed similar to the painting that hung in Enrico’s mansion.
The painting that was so vividly drawn as if it were real must have been painted looking at this sky, and the question naturally followed whether Enrico would think the same thing as she did when he saw this scenery.
‘… … What does it matter if we had the same thought?’
Emilia sighed as if she was pathetic and grabbed the handle.
“Shh.”
But Fabio was sitting in the carriage that should have been empty. Emilia, who almost screamed reflexively, took a deep breath when she saw Fabio putting his index finger to her lips.
‘But what about Enrico?’
Emilia’s expression hardened as she was shocked for a moment, but regret quickly washed over her.
‘What are you thinking about?’
Why did she keep thinking about Enrico? She wished she had decided to act decisively and become more determined, but it was frustrating that things didn’t go as planned.
Perhaps misunderstanding her expression, Fabio politely gestured inside with an apologetic expression.
She stared at Fabio for a moment, then opened the carriage door, and as soon as the door closed with a bang, the carriage departed without even needing to knock on the window.
“I apologize for surprising you.”
“… … What’s going on all of a sudden?”
This was the first time Fabio had waited in the carriage, so he was flustered. In fact, he wanted to avoid coming near the theater as much as possible, so it was awkward to suddenly get into the carriage like this.
The members’ glances from the rehearsal were still continuing, and although he hadn’t made it clear, everyone guessed that Enrico and Emilia were in a sponsorship relationship, so he didn’t want to give them any more room to maneuver.
“The Duke ordered us to have someone accompany us when we commute to and from work.”
“Yes?”
“I guess it’s because Deshiro has been in turmoil recently due to various incidents, so he’s telling us to be prepared for any eventuality.”
“… … Is it because of the blonde woman incident?”
“Yes. “We have placed security personnel around the mansion, but if we keep following you around the carriage, it might attract unwanted attention, so I would like your understanding that we just sit inside the carriage.”
Suddenly, I wondered what she was talking about. Was she worried because I was blonde? But it was also a notice that she would be monitored almost 24 hours a day, so I was at a loss as to how to take this.
In fact, since it was almost a notice, I knew that I had no choice in the first place.
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