Belinda waved to the servant behind her a sign that she wanted to talk privately with the duke.

Although he wasnt her servant, he took the order because of her higher status.

The duke sat down and raised his teacup with a trembling hand. However, he coughed before he could drink any because of Belindas next remark.

What did you do to my sled?

Belindas doubts turned into conviction when she saw his reaction. No matter how much she thought about it, it was strange. They were dogs in charge of the royal familys sleds, so surely they would have selected the best trained ones. Their violent reaction was a sudden, unexpected incident.

Belinda recalled that day at the forest cabin, then remembered how long Duke DeHill spent looking at her dogs.

It couldve been a trivial thing, but the fact that he was Adelais closest ally and had negative feelings for her troubled her.

The dogs were running around like crazy, with bloodshot eyes! It was like they were drugged or something!

Mazettos past words were also very concerning.

She was testing the duke. If he gave a nonchalant response, shed leave, but otherwise

I didnt do anything to the sled! I dont know what youre talking about!

The Duke sprang up from his seat and answered with a bit too much excitement.

It wasnt difficult for Belinda to read the horror and embarrassment in his eyes.

After all, how many years had she spent in the back alleys?

Reading peoples emotions was an art form, one she had to understand to avoid the innkeepers blows.

Belinda put down her cup. As expected, her suspicions seemed to be correct.

Did it bother you that I humiliated you?

No, no, thats not true at all!

It must have made you feel very bad.

No! Absolutely not!

Duke DeHill shook his head as she went on. The self-control of the powerful man, who had always lived an easy life, began to disintegrate when faced with an unforeseen situation.

You must have tried to kill me because you felt so bad.

The dukes eyes widened and he urgently waved his hands around.

As far as killing?! I would never! Huck.

He stopped talking and took a step back. He realized the meaning of what hed just blurted out without thinking.

Belinda had led him to confess his sins with his own mouth.

She nodded and sat up.

All her doubts were resolved. She never meant to ask him what he had done she didnt doubt that for a second.

Maybe he was just a fool whod fallen for Adelais tricks.

Turning around, he desperately shouted at Belinda.

Please forgive me! I didnt do it out of malice! I never meant to do it!

Belinda turned around and stared at him as he kneeled on the floor and put his forehead against it. Both of his hands were shaking. Knowing the gravity of his crime murder of the toyal family he couldnt even keep his body in check for fear of being pushed out.

Belinda left the room without saying a word.

Even after she left, the duke couldnt get up. He was frustrated.

As soon as she left the room, Belindas expression hardened.

Duke DeHill wasnt acting alone. It couldve been one of Adelais tricks. She could have found out if she pushed the duke further, but he didnt reach his limits.

It didnt matter the truth would be revealed anyway.

The half-blood princess and the princess who earned all of her fathers love. After the facts were revealed, would the Emperor throw Adelai out for her?

No. Maybe it would be the other way around. Even if hes started showing affection for her, it was nowhere near that level.

Knowing that, she decided to keep it under key and lock at first. However, the resentment in her heart was too great to forgive.

She recalled Lucys crying and Aymons face as he collapsed into a hug.

She made her person sad. She tried to kill her.

Adelai.

Belinda swished the name around in her mouth and took a quiet step, her lips sealed.

***

Adelai calmly shouted towards the door as she wandered around the room nervously.

Call in Count Otoman.

Soon, the Count entered the room, where she was standing by the second-floor window looking down at the royal familys tearful reunion.

Sensing someone behind her, Adelai turned around.

I should kill Belinda right now.

Princess.

The count looked up and saw Adelais face, frozen with anger. She sweeped the curtains shut to block the view.

We could use Joseph to control the leopard who was with the lowly princess! So that the beast kills her!

Count Otoman turned around to make sure the door was closed, then shook his head.

The jewel hasnt settled into Josephs stomach properly yet. What if he manipulates the Shinsu into starting a rebellion, knowing my power? When we cant control him, hes just as dangerous as the Shinsu.

Just kill them, then! Kill them all!

Adelai picked up her dress and huffed. In spite of her nervous yelling, she knew that it wasnt the right time yet.

The jewel planted in Josephs stomach was connected to the one shed swallowed, but they werent properly established yet.

It was boring to wait until the jewels could root properly and their lives would be connected, letting Adelai use him freely.

It was obvious why theyd used the jewel, the price of which couldve bought a mansion, in such a man so she could control him effectively before telling him he was the only person who could control the Shinsu.

They had no way of knowing if hed become a dog that bit its owner.

Adelai took a deep breath to calm herself down.

Even with her status, if it got out that the incident stemmed from her malice, shed be in danger.

She wished Belinda had died. Her returning alive just complicated the situation, without Adelai gaining anything.

We should kill the DeHill siblings first, princess. We have to get rid of any seed of uncertainty.

The siblings? Theyre my people.

Its better than killing the royal family. If you go for Belinda, whos already in danger, and really kill her, wouldnt His Majesty start investigating?

Adelai thought about Count Otomans advice for a moment.

Soon, she realized he was right and nodded. Shed been impatient and tried to make a hasty decision.

All right. We have to stop the DeHill siblings before they cause a fuss.

Theyd kill them with no rush, when the opportune moment arose.

After Belinda disappeared, Adelai thought she was dead and tried to take it easy, but..

The slightest slip can put me in big trouble.

Seeing the reaction of the Emperor, her father, would be an extraordinary feeling.

If they discovered her trails, shed have trouble fixing the situation. Shed have to be the emperor in the future, and she didnt want any blemishes on her track record.

The best opportunity to kill the siblings would be the moment when they stopped hiding behind the shield of being a dukes children.

Yes, we should kill them first.

Count Otoman had been silent for a while, thinking about something. He bowed his head.

Ill take care of it right away.

It wouldnt be difficult to cover up the murder with an accident. Finishing them off properly so no one could trace it to them would also be easy.

The count left his seat.

Left alone, Adelai massaged her temples, as if she had a headache. She bit her tongue as she thought of Ruberos and Claire DeHill, the siblings shed just told the count to kill.

They might have been on my side, but it cant be helped. Theres many others out there.

Trying to rationalize her decision, she drummed on the chairs armrest. The wrinkles on her forehead smoothed out and she stood up.

***

During a two-day extension of their stay on the peninsula, Belinda fed Lucy herself. It wasnt something a princess was supposed to do for her maid, but she didnt care.

Belinda held her hand as she ate and when she took walks outside.

As if she couldnt believe that shed returned, she held onto Belindas hand in pain, as if it was her last lifeline.

Just like Aymon, Lucy was devastated by her absence and seemed to have developed trauma.

However, Belinda stuck to her the whole two days, smiling and reassuring her until she relaxed, like ice melting after a long winter.

While Prince Lart breathed a sigh of relief, Aymon, unhappy with the situation, sulked.

Two days ago, he was jealous of the emperor hugging Belinda, and now he felt like he had to compete with her maid.

He was dumbfounded by his own behavior.

The route back to the empire was smooth. At least it seemed smooth they went back by the same route they came and stopped to rest once in a while.

The unfortunate incident happened towards the end of the journey.

It happened while they were passing through a road high in the mountains. After the usual 20-minute rest, the DeHill siblings approached the edge of the cliff for some reason.

The servant explained that they must have gone to admire the view.

And that was the end for them.

They went to look for them since theyd been gone for a long time, but only found one of Claires gloves caught in a bush.

They didnt even find their escort driver. After searching for the siblings all day long, the knights came to a sad conclusion.

The DeHill siblings had tripped and fallen off a cliff, along with the escort who tried to save them.

First Belinda, and now the DeHill siblings it was proving to be a difficult trip in many ways.

The Emperor consoled the duchess with a somber expression, along with Adelai.

This might be no comfort at all, but Ill take very special care of Berthe DeHill, whos next in succession, for the sake of my dead friends.

The duchess wept loudly at Adelais words, wetting her handkerchief.

Adelais expression was more cruel than ever.