CH 61

“Princess, Princess? If you’re not dead, please answer me.”

“If she died, she won’t be able to answer you.”

“Is she really not going to answer? Did she die?”

“She is breathing…”

After ruining the luncheon, he had with other Dukes, he had been thinking about the Princess all the way returning and processed his thoughts. And as soon as he returned, he found her. However, when it was reported that she had gone out yet haven’t returned, he confirmed her whereabouts with the ring.

‘She’s in the basement?’

Maybe the reason she was there because that was the place he used to catch bad guys?

“……What are they doing?”

Seeing her limp, surrounded by his crows, his spirits plummeted. A terrifying purple aura bloomed all over his body.

His purple flame sparkled and crackled.

“Gasp.”

“Hiccup.”

The crows, who made a fainting impression, stood upon noticing his attention. They made excuses while stuttering.

“As you know, someone who was neither a Silkisia nor Esland wandered around the Black Moon place, so I tried bringing that person…”

“Crow asked for help, saying he couldn’t do it alone, so I went to help…”

Verndia moved closer to her. Here and there were located bruises and some wounds that blood dripped from.

“……”

The crows were terrified by the nearing death that seemed to be oppressive.

“I only fought with her using my bare hands.”

“Croa said that if we can’t catch her, we will kill her instead.”

“I did it because we were in a hurry.”

“When did you? You never did.”

“I didn’t want to hurt her but Croa kept telling me to do so.”

“I never did!”

“I thought she was the Princess. But Croa threatened me, so I couldn’t help it. All of this is Croa’s fault.”

“Hey! Crow! It was your job from the start! You asked for my help!”

“Don’t stab me! Lord, I am innocent.”

“I’m more innocent.”

“I am twice as innocent as Croa.”

“I’m three times more-”

“Get out.”

“Yep.”

The two crows left in a dash but they didn’t stop whispering telling each other who did mistake and good job.

‘Sooner or later, I’ll catch them.’

Verndia stared down the aisle where her crows had disappeared, then embraced her dearly. Even then, Psychke had not woken up. Despite wearing the brooch, he gave, she didn’t get smaller.

The side effect of using the broach for more than 12 hours was absolute sleep. As falling into a sleep from which one could not wake up, or one could wake up only after sleeping twice the time limit passed.

* * *

Fluttering.

The regular sound of paper turning was heard.

Psychke opened both of her eyes.

‘… What is this place?’

There was a strange ceiling from above.

She was not staying in the guest room, incomparable to her room, this one was elegant, sophisticated, and well-groomed just like an office.

“Are you awake?”

Hearing that sound directly near her, she jumped up. A familiar blanket, no, actually a handkerchief fell from her body, and the brooch was removed making her body smaller.

“You should sleep more.”

A long finger pressed her forehead.

“It’s not over yet.”

Oh oh oh, while he was doing that, her head touched the pillow. Her eyes narrowed at the soft touch she felt and upon waking up, she rubbed her eyes and looked at him.

“Duke?”

“I heard what happened. The Crows said they attacked without knowing that you were the Princess.”

It was absurd to think about it again. He let out a long breath.

“I’m sorry. Are you feeling well? The doctor said you weren’t seriously hurt.”

“Yes, I’m okay.”

“It’s been a while since your body got bigger and you already got out…. Please drink some. You always get hurt every day.”

He shouldn’t have given her the brooch then that way, she wouldn’t have gone out. Verndia grumbled annoyedly and flipped what he was looking at.

She was awake and her head was blank. She struggled to lift her eyelids which were about to close. She followed the sound of paper fluttering with her eyes.

Then she discovered something strange. Mirror?

No, that’s-

“…!”

It was a portrait of herself that Verndia had taken to her office when she was wearing doll’s dress.

Her sleepiness went away, and she was jolted awake.

She jumped up and furiously pushed the frame of her portrait off his desk.

“What are you doing?”

But before her hand could reach her, Verndia lifted her portrait. She reached out her hand and even tiptoed, trying to snatch it somehow. Her face flushed hot as if she was about to explode.

“Why do you still have it?”

“To see and laugh when I’m depressed.”

“I’ll give you something else to make you laugh, so throw it away!”

“Nope.”

Verndia smiled and placed her picture frame on his windowsill. It was out of her reach.

“Come to think of it, I forgot to put on the bell on you. Princess, that cherry-like—“

“No, I do not want to!”

“…. Hmm.”

He made a sad face.

“Looking at it like that, the frame doesn’t break, so you should get some more sleep. Aren’t you sleepy? The artifact must make you sleepy.”

“I am not sleepy.”

He forced her eyes away from her portrait and bowed her head. She thought he had abandoned it a long time ago. She was embarrassed and couldn’t lift her face. Her sleep was also gone.

“Then let’s come and see this together.”

Tak, tak, tak.

There were small footsteps. She stood in front of the papers, trying as possible to see him.

Verndia corrected her holding posture so that she could see it better.

“This… Silkisia’s family tree? Why is this…”

“Because of job. You have memorized the family tree, right?”

“Yes.”

“Tell me if there is anything wrong.”

Flutter, flutter.

For a while, the office was filled with only the sound of paper being turned. In the last chapter, after confirming the names of Logan Silkisia and his children, Psychke opened her mouth.

“All is correct.”

“That’s right.”

Verndia tapped his desk like he was playing the piano.

“I’ve definitely wiped out the records of Silkisia. In that case-”

He muttered something into his mouth and folded his fingers and after that, his purple eyes reached Psychke.

“I want to ask the Princess about four questions. I want her to answer without hiding anything but If you don’t like it, say no. Don’t lie.”

What question are those?

His expression was so serious that she became very nervous. Straightening her back, she nodded her head.

“Question number one. Name before adoption. Do you remember?”

“No.”

“It wasn’t Psychke, was it?”

“Yes. It was made by my father.”

“Do you remember anything? Only a part is fine.”

“Uh… no.”

“Hmm. Why can’t you remember, too?”

Verndia narrowed his brows with those meaningful words.

“Next question. Why did you go to the craft shop and the black moon?”

“That.”

How should she organize it? It was a long story, so she couldn’t answer right away and hesitated. Mistaking that hesitation for not wanting to talk, she put something on Verndia’s desk.

It was the Emerald that Psychke stole from the craft shop. It was not that he didn’t search her body that could hurt her, but he just gently rolls her body while taking care of her.

“I knew that Princess Lillian was making her necklace.”

“Yes?”

Psychke was startled. How?

Did Miss Lia commission him to investigate this, just like the auction house?

“I was going to wait until the right time and attack. When the Princess is involved, things get complicated. Why did you go?”

“I am also investigating the Leas case.”

“The Princess does? Why?”

“As I said before, Aiden said I was a victim of the Leas case. I wanted to know what that meant.”

That is because unable to unveil the truth will be the death of her. To explain this, she had to explain her regression, so she answered with an additional reason.

“Tsk.”

Verndia clicked his tongue. It was a good sign that she took an interest in the case herself. Maybe even after she knows everything, her memory will be fine.

However, it was Aiden who brought about this change in her, so he hated it. He should have done that first.

He grunted.

“So, what did you find out?”

“The real Keitan’s necklace is said to be in Lillian’s possession.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“He said that he would let me know when I visit the guild with the Duke.”

“Did you believe that?”

“No. But I think it’s worth going.”

Verndia touched his mouth. Lillian Silkisia and the real thing. This was an unexpected combination. Sometimes the unexpected turns out to be the answer. As the Princess said, she deserved to be recognized.

“Okay. We’ll talk about that later. Third. What did you talk about with Widnix? I’m not here to help.”

“That’s… I’ll tell you later.”

Psychke averted her gaze. It was a story related to her regression, so she couldn’t tell him everything that easily now that nothing has been resolved. Even if she tells that, he won’t believe it, anyways. Since she was looking the other way, she didn’t see Verndia’s face harden.

“Eastern East after the breakup……”

“No.”

“Don’t cheat……”

“Not even that.”

“Can you give me a hint?”

“Sorry.”

“…….”

Verndia looked like a person who had lost his country.

“He didn’t gossip about the duke. You don’t have to worry.”

“I’m not worried about that.”

“What about the last question?”

She felt sorry for continuing to refuse to answer him so Psychke changed the subject. It wasn’t polite to pry someone who didn’t like it. And he said she could refuse if she doesn’t want. She doesn’t want to, but what can he do? He sighed and touched his face dry to let go of his lingering feelings.

And he spoke in a hard tone like a soldier on the verge of going to war.

“Are you free tomorrow? No, even if you are not, you should be. Because it’s important.”

It’s like trying to prove something important. Among the previous questions, the expression on his face now was the most serious she had ever seen.

Suddenly, her body stiffened. Did something big awaits her?

“What are we doing?”

“Date.”

“……? Yes?”

She got embarrassed because she thought she misheard it. What date is he talking about? It may be out of the blue, but why is he saying that with such an expression?

Blinking his eyes, she asked again, and he answered with an uncharacteristic seriousness.

“I have something to confess to the princess.”

(TN: … OH? Confession? Hmm… Interesting… )