IBDSID Chapter 139

139. The Snake That Slips Away

The Emperor looked down at Alphonse with a heavy, lowered voice.

“Can you swear on the blood of the imperial family?”

At the solemn question, Alphonse pressed his lips together tightly before bowing his head and muttering,

“I swear on the blood of the imperial family. I received help from no one.”

At Alphonse’s grim vow, Roselia’s gaze instinctively turned toward Grand Duke Rubelio.

Rubelio was watching the trial as calmly as before, wearing that same relaxed, almost detached expression.

As she looked at his face, anger surged within her and she clenched both fists tightly.

As if sensing her state of mind, Johannes gently laid his hand over hers.

Startled, Roselia turned her head, only to meet Johannes’s serious eyes.

It was a silent signal—don’t act rashly.

When she turned her head back to the front, she saw the Emperor and the senior imperial ministers murmuring quietly, as if exchanging opinions.

Behind them, the Empress sat with a calm expression, while Empress Consort Gwenhella anxiously fidgeted with her fingertips beside her.

Soon, having seemingly reached a decision, the Emperor looked down at Alphonse and spoke in a ringing voice.

“To attempt to harm the daughter of the House of Euciliod, who is kin to the Crown Prince, and to murder a criminal who should have been judged by the imperial court—these actions are deemed an attempt to usurp the succession rights of Crown Prince Aaron, the rightful heir to the throne. Therefore, Prince Alphonse shall be stripped of his title and sentenced to one year of seclusion.”

A wave of murmurs rippled through the courtroom.

It was an official declaration of a prince’s deposition.

Upon hearing the Emperor’s words, Empress Consort Gwenhella fainted on the spot.

A shocked Consort Sabina and Princess Tania rushed to her side, and the attending officials hurried over.

In the midst of the chaos, the Emperor remained firm, looking down at Alphonse with unwavering eyes.

“The deposed Alphonse shall spend one year in seclusion at the Tower, and regardless of what occurs afterward, he shall never again reclaim the title of prince. Furthermore, he is stripped of all titles and lands that he would have been entitled to as a royal.”

It was practically a death sentence in royal terms.

The concubine faction sat in stunned silence, devastated, and even the Empress’s faction was thrown into confusion by the sudden turn of events.

Johannes offered Roselia a brief word of excuse before heading toward the nobles of the Empress’s faction who were calling for him.

Amid the chaotic stir of the courtroom, Roselia’s gaze followed Grand Duke Rubelio.

Why, even now, had the prince refused to name him?

Could it be… that in exchange for staying silent, he had been promised something?

While everyone’s attention remained fixed on Alphonse, the Grand Duke, having heard the final verdict, was calmly exiting the courtroom as if he had just finished watching a play.

Roselia quickly moved to follow him.

Unlike the pandemonium of the courtroom, the hallway outside was quiet.

No one had yet stepped out, still reeling from the Emperor’s shocking declaration.

Staring at the Grand Duke’s retreating figure, Roselia clenched her fist without realizing it—and called out, unthinking.

“What exactly did you do?”

At the familiar voice, the Grand Duke, who had been walking away casually, came to a stop.

He slowly turned around, and upon seeing Roselia, gave her a lazy, sly smile.

“I should be the one asking what you mean, my lady…”

At his feigned innocence, Roselia clenched her fists tightly.

The Grand Duke had always been involved in every incident, yet he always managed to slip away like an eel. It was infuriating.

What angered her even more was that unless solid evidence or a witness willing to testify emerged, there was nothing she could do.

As if reading her frustration, the Grand Duke looked down at her with relaxed amusement and spoke leisurely.

“I truly have no idea what the Marquess’s daughter is accusing me of.”

Roselia’s shoulders trembled.

It was him—he was the one who sent the letter from the deceased Viscount Bernas to Count Bernas. The one who branded her a traitor in Rugbeljet and had her dragged before the imperial court. The one who orchestrated her abduction and tried to hand her over to the concubine faction.

And as if that weren’t enough, he had discovered her blood relative Nora, goaded Alphonse into action, and tried to use him to bring her down again.

Despite all that, she still couldn’t get a hold of his tail. It made her feel useless and furious.

The Grand Duke looked down at her with a condescending gaze.

“You really don’t seem to like me, my lady. What a shame. I happen to like you.”

But the chill in his eyes belied his words, sending a cold shiver down Roselia’s spine.

It felt like she was a mouse caught under a serpent’s unblinking stare.

And just then, another predator stepped between them, blocking that icy gaze.

“You’d best withdraw that interest, Your Grace.”

The only person in this empire who could so boldly issue a warning to someone of imperial blood.

Klaus—feared not only in Rugbeljet but even in Raphelios—had arrived, and the once-composed Rubelio’s expression stiffened with displeasure.

Like a leopard baring its teeth to protect its mate, Klaus glared openly. The Grand Duke sneered and responded with mockery.

“So the Duke of Rugbeljet, bewitched by a foreign woman, no longer cares what happens to his own duchy?”

Roselia turned to Klaus at the sudden remark.

Klaus’s expression remained calm, as if he already understood what the Grand Duke was implying.

The Grand Duke smirked, then added with biting finality:

“Well, perhaps it’s for the best that you stay buried in this foreign land. Don’t bother returning, Duke. That may be better for both sides.”

With a twisted smile, the Grand Duke turned and walked away with composed steps.

Klaus stood in silence, his shoulders tense, blocking Roselia as if shielding her.

Roselia stared at his rigid back, then hesitantly asked,

“Is something wrong in your duchy?”

Without turning around, Klaus answered flatly,

“Don’t worry about it.”

The cold edge in his voice sent an unexpected chill through her chest.

Unaware of Roselia’s unease, Klaus kept his face forward, making sure not to let his hardened expression show as he continued.

“I didn’t come here expecting things to be easy anyway.”

Just as Klaus began to turn away, Johannes’s voice called from behind.

“Roselia!”

Out of breath, Johannes approached—clearly having had a hard time finding her.

“I told you to wait—I said I’d come back for you.”

At his reproachful tone, Roselia offered a guilty smile.

“I was only gone for a moment…”

While she turned her attention to Johannes, Klaus gave a small bow and silently left.

Roselia’s gaze remained fixed on his back as it grew farther and farther away.

* * *

After the chaos of Alphonse’s trial, the days passed in a blur, and peace returned to the Raphelios Imperial Court.

With Prince Alphonse—once a central figure—deposed, the concubine faction naturally lost its momentum, and Empress Consort Gwenhella seemed to be lying low, her claws temporarily hidden.

Roselia had just returned from an audience with the Empress and Crown Prince Aaron, accompanied by Johannes.

The Empress looked far more at ease than before, and Aaron, too, now appeared more composed and mature as he sat upright.

“Welcome, Roselia.”

The Empress greeted her with a gentle smile, and Roselia bowed respectfully.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Majesty the Empress, I am honored to see you.”

Johannes, who had been proudly watching Roselia lift her dress hem with practiced grace, offered his greeting right after her.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Majesty the Empress, I greet you.”

The Empress glanced at Johannes, who was looking at Roselia with affection, and smiled warmly.

“You two always seem so close. It’s easy to see how much the Marquess cherishes his lady.”

At those words, Roselia glanced sidelong at Johannes, who responded with a soft smile.

“Come, have a seat. I made a point of having something special prepared for tea today. We just received a new specialty tea from the Kingdom of Mule—it has the most delightful aroma.”

It seemed Bellog had visited recently. A teapot steeping Mule’s famous floral tea sat at the table.

As Roselia and Johannes took their seats, a maid nearby poured a modest amount of tea into each cup.

“The Bellog merchant venture is proceeding smoothly, isn’t it? I heard Zelos has also joined the trade effort.”

To the Empress’s warm inquiry, Roselia replied calmly,

“Yes, Your Majesty. Zelos expressed a strong interest in participating, so the plan is to start by salvaging a ship of theirs that sank near the Sea Fortress.”

“The Sea Fortress may be a natural barrier, but that doesn’t mean it’s impenetrable. Progress has simply been stalled all this time because Zelos wasn’t willing to engage. If both continents work together instead of relying on one-sided passage, we may be able to chart a sea route through the weaker currents around the fortress.”

Crown Prince Aaron nodded in agreement with the Empress’s words.

“The imperial historical records don’t rule it out entirely, either. It’s a difficult endeavor, but even the fact that Zelos sent envoys regularly shows there’s precedent.”

Pleased with Aaron’s thoughtful insight, the Empress nodded approvingly.

“That’s why Zelos’s willingness to cooperate is so important. And in that regard, Lady Roselia, winning over their envoy is quite an achievement.”

Flustered by the praise, Roselia lowered her gaze, blushing.

“You flatter me, Your Majesty.”

“No, I’m being quite sincere. You had the foresight to support Marquis Bellog’s venture, you’ve caught the eye of Prince Asif of Benuve, and even that formidable Duke of Valtazar can’t seem to resist you.”

At the mention of Klaus, Roselia’s face turned even redder in embarrassment.

The Empress, watching her fondly, gave her a knowing smile and said meaningfully,

“So—who is it?”

Roselia’s eyes widened.

“Pardon?”

“Between Prince Asif and Duke Valtazar, who’s your choice? Or… should we be including the envoy from Zelos as a contender too?”

“Y-Your Majesty!”

Roselia’s face flushed deeper at the teasing, while the Empress rested her chin on her hand with a playful glint in her eye.

“My, poor Roselia must be so overwhelmed. Personally, I think wealth and power make the best men. Perhaps that’s why I became the Empress—hohoho.”

The rare light joke from the Empress showed just how much more relaxed she was these days.

Even young Aaron looked so uncomfortable that he quietly muttered, “Your Majesty, please…” trying to stop her.

As Roselia gave an awkward smile, the Empress smoothly shifted the topic.

“More importantly, it seems the Duke of Valtazar is preparing to return to his homeland soon. What a shame.”

At those words, Roselia, who had just reached for her teacup, flinched and froze.

Noticing her reaction, the Empress blinked in surprise and continued,

“Oh my… don’t tell me you didn’t know?”