Things went on while Dian was puzzled, not knowing what the Proof of Blood was. This time, without the archbishop's prayer ceremony, the priest came right up and bloodied Dian's hand. The priest put Dian's blood on the pen point and put out a certificate before her.

When Dian hesitated, looking down at the lightly golden paper, Killian's order fell, "Sign your name."

When Dian, who had been hesitating, finished her signature, Simone came up and finished her signature. The s.h.i.+ny gold paper did not turn the letters blue like before. The archbishop lifted up a clean sheet of paper with nothing written on them.

"Arrest them." Killian's cold voice rang in the temple.

Valerian, who brought the Knights Squad, arrested Duke Dudley and Dian immediately.

The Duke of Dudley exclaimed unjustly, "I'm not guilty. The woman came out of nowhere and insisted that she was Princess Kiellini. Your Highness was embarra.s.sed yesterday because you had something on you." The Duke seemed to have not missed out on the feelings that Killian had shown for a moment.

Killian looked back at the archbishop, thinking the Duke was not a pushover. "Have you ever seen the dead woman who was called Regina?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"When did you see her?"

"She just came here recently with the Duke of Kiellini for the Proof of Blood as an illegitimate child of the Duke."

At the Archbishop's words, the face of the Duke of Dudley turned ghastly pale.

"I couldn't help but be surprised that the illegitimate child of the Duke of Kiellini, who was supposed to be in the Imperial Castle at His Majesty's call, appeared in the Vicern Temple and made a fuss, saying that she was the real daughter."

"But why didn't you tell me that yesterday?" Duke Dudley cried out.

Killian laughed at the angry remark of the Duke of Dudley. "I didn't I have to show such generosity to you, who believed what the woman said and dared to claim my fiancée was a fake! Take him away! Send him under arrest right back to Austern!"

In an instant the knights rounded up Dian, who didn't know what had happened. She pleaded with Julietta when she realized she had been caught lying. "Miss, forgive me. Regina told me to do it all. She threatened to kill me if I didn't listen to her. Save me!"

Dian was dragged away by the knights, but Julietta turned away coldly at her wailing cry. After she received struggling Manny in Oswald's arms, Julietta glanced after her and murmured, "Find out for yourself what the cost of betrayal is."

As the Duke of Dudley and Dian being dragged out, the case of Princess Kiellin was safely settled. The chatter of the n.o.bles filled the Temple.

------

Phoebe and Maribel decided to stay at the Asta Palace.

Maribel quietly observed Phoebe, who had been unusually quiet and withdrawn since meeting Christine. Maribel came up with a way to resolve the order that His Highness Killian had given her.

"Phoebe, I want to give this to you." Maribel pulled out the sapphire headdress.

Unlike a usual headdress, which consisted of two hairpins, the headdress that Maribel gave Phoebe had only one. In addition, the tip was as big and blunt as a finger.

"Why are you giving this to me?"

At Phoebe's bewildered look, Maribel took back the headdress and pulled out the long hairpin.

Phoebe thought that part of the pin was long… because there was a thin dagger in it.

Holding up the s.h.i.+ning dagger, Maribel said. "It's for use in self-defence. You don't know when you'll be dragged and raped by a beast-like man again. Use it for yourself."

Phoebe received the dagger and sheath that Maribel handed her, her hands trembling. Maribel picked up the cup of tea, looking at Phoebe for some time, as she stared at the dagger.

"Phoebe, if Lady Anais recognized you, you know that I can't keep you next to Julietta until this is settled."

Maribel looked at Phoebe lowering her head for a long time, and uttered her last warning, "Think about what to do."

Then she got up from her seat, leaving Phoebe alone. "Tomorrow, Julietta and His Highness will be back, so let's rest early today. Wasn't it a tiring day?"

After Maribel went into the bedroom, Phoebe sat alone for a long while.

------

Francis woke up late and met with his waiting mother. She announced that Marquise Anais, her sister, had committed suicide because of the things Christine had done.

"Is it true that you're behind the kidnapping and poisoning that Christine did? Are you out of your mind? Now that Killian's about to be named the Crown Prince in recognition of being a Prince of the main line of descent, you've done all that to kill a girl?"

Francis swept his hair up as if irritated by his mother's scolding. "She's not just a girl, so I made her do it. She is Princess Kiellini and Killian's fiancée."

"What's the point of it? As long as Killian turned out to be a Prince of the main line of descent, there was no need for the background of the Kiellini family."

Francis shut his mouth at the scolding from the First Queen. If he said that when Christine had told him about the kidnapping of the princess, he had not guessed Killian's true ident.i.ty, it would only prolong the argument. "So, are you saying that Christine was called to the main castle and she is now there?"