# 31
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Episode 31
* * *
After a while, the noise subsided.
One of the royal guard knights guarding the balcony pointed, and Gallion opened the door slightly.
“The culprit who attacked the vehicle has been arrested.”
The knight spoke in a serious tone.
“As we expected, more important?”
“Yes, they were dressed as priests.”
Ruelia's eyes widened. Are they real priests or disguised as them?
However, their presence here means that Countess Bellona may be involved in the attempted assassination of the Crown Prince.
'Is that why she made that suggestion to me?'
But why?
If she wanted to turn Ruelia into a figure in the Imperial Palace to control, there was no need to attack the Crown Prince.
“Very bold.”
“Duke Abert asked Your Highness to attend.”
"Good."
Gallion turned around.
“Wait a minute, I'll make sure it's safe.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Proceed with caution.”
Ayla nodded quietly. Once Galleon left, she closed the balcony door again without any fear.
She looked confident and bold.
“Miss Ayla.”
Ruelia tried to get closer to her.
But she tripped and crashed into the table.
"What is this? How much wine did you drink?"
Ayla's eyes widened. She shook her head, then approached and helped Ruelia sit on the sofa quietly.
“Okay...”
“Was it so unpleasant to be thought of as the Duke’s mistress?”
"What?"
“Okay, I don't mind.”
Ruelia's eyes widened.
'Do you mean that Ayla has feelings for the Duke?'
But her hopes were dashed.
“I thought you were capable of greater things.”
“You talk just like Countess Bellona.”
Due to the influence of the wine, Ruelia spoke in a harsher tone than usual.
“Oh my God, did Countess Bellona also tell you to join the Imperial Palace?”
Ayla said, opening her eyes in surprise.
"What? Did she say that to you too?"
“Yes, she said she would help me become the highest woman.”
Both girls formed similar wrinkles on their foreheads. But it was Ruelia who softened her expression first.
She collected her thoughts and tried to ask politely.
“Miss Emile, don’t you want to become an empress?”
"Empress? It's wonderful. But I want to live like Countess Bellona, keeping my name and family, not as someone's wife."
“As Countess Emile?”
“No, I won't stop there.”
Ruelia looked at her, and Ayla winked.
“I should be Duchess Emile, haha.”
"amazing!"
Ruelia clapped in admiration.
Ayla smiled seeing Ruelia's sparkling eyes.
“To achieve my dream, I need great talents. Unfortunately, you are Duke Aber’s talent, so I cannot have you. But fortunately, the Duke allows our communication.”
Ruelia's thoughts ran quickly.
It seems like Ayla won't become the Crown Princess, but...
“Does the Duke know about your dream?”
“Yes. He said there would be opposition and difficulties, but he encouraged me to try.”
“What about His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“I made a deal with him. In exchange for helping him with his love, he guaranteed me the position of head of the family. A kind of protection.”
"What?"
“Hush, this is a secret. Only you know.”
Does the Crown Prince have a mistress?
'What is this? Has the future changed?'
An unexpected result, but it seemed to preserve her function...but something was troubling.
She felt that she understood the reason for the anxiety, so she felt a little dizzy.
'Is it glut?'
Maybe she drank too much champagne, her mind didn't work well. She felt hot late, as if a hot breath was going to come out of her mouth.
Of course, I had a headache too.
“Can I come and get advice from you every now and then?”
Ruelia smiled happily at Ayla’s question.
“Of course, it would be an honor.”
Ruelia felt exhausted after her anxiety, which had lasted for more than half a month, was resolved.
Maybe there was something dangerous going on outside.
"But I'm a little tired. I'll close my eyes. Can you tell me when the Duke comes to get me?"
“Yes, don't worry and relax. It seems like things are almost out of control.”
“Thank you, Miss Emil… No, Ayla. You are truly my savior.”
Ruelia rubbed her sleepy eyes and answered with difficulty.
Ayla allowed it as a matter of course, and sat down next to her, supporting Ruelia's head on her shoulder.
“We will remain friends from now on.”
"Yes, of course."
Ruelia closed her eyes.
She felt like she closed them for a moment, but then she fell into a deep sleep.
* * *
The party guests were crowded to one side under the watch of the royal guard.
The Aber Knights were pointing their swords at people kneeling in the middle.
“So, these are not priests?”
Galion asked in a cold tone to the person kneeling in front of him.
Ruilia's classmate from the academy replied, trembling.
“No, they are not. Why would the temple attack Smoke Chariot? We are definitely not involved. These are not on the list of priests. We can prove it.”
He pressed his head to the ground as he spoke, and Galion looked at Caelus.
Caelus alternately looked at the arrested people and Countess Bellona next to them.
She didn't seem disturbed despite the strange incident at her party.
The meaning was clear, but there was no evidence.
“We will know whether they are guilty or not after the investigation.”
“If she hadn't shown up in time, something terrible would have happened.”
Of course, this was pre-planned.
Thanks to Caelus' action based on the information of the Aber Knights, the damage was reduced to only the cart wheel.
“Count Emil accused us without knowing the existence of the real criminal.”
At Gallion's groan, Caelus hardened his gaze, as if to say that this was not the time for such talk.
“But, Countess Bellona.”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“Why did you invite the priests to the celebration party?”
“Since the temple has helped us a lot recently, I wanted to give them a chance to collect donations from the nobles.”
answered the countess fluently.
In fact, the priest who had disappeared for a while came back to communicate with the nobles.
So, they couldn't deny her words.
“Okay, then I'm sorry for ruining your party.”
“People have attempted to assassinate a member of the imperial family infiltrating the Count’s residence. Please hold me accountable for my negligence in security.”
The countess bowed deeply.
Galleon and Caelus snickered, but they didn't show it.
“No, thanks to your knights’ cooperation, we caught those who tried to assassinate me, so I will give you a reward.”
Under the leadership of Gallion and Caelus, the situation was quickly brought under control.
The criminals who attempted to assassinate the Crown Prince were taken to the dungeon of the Imperial Palace. The innocent priests were released after being compared to the temple list.
The atmosphere was no longer suitable for continuing the party, so he decided to end it like this.
“I will now return with Ruelia.”
Caelus turned towards the balcony where Ruelia was. Gallion followed him.
"What? You two? No way."
"why not?"
“You should take me with you.”
“Didn't the guards bring a new vehicle?”
“They took the criminals out.”
Caelus glared angrily at Galleon's insolence, but followed indifferently.
“You have a duty to protect me safely all the way to the palace. And Miss Emil must be delivered to her home.”
They could have ordered two carts from the start.
Kyles knocked on the balcony door.
Ayla opened the door carefully, raising her finger.
“Hush, Miss Ruelia is asleep.”
Ruelia's sister said that she didn't sleep yesterday because she was nervous about the party.
“I'll carry it.”
“Yes, do that.”
Ayla blinked happily.
As Caelus strode forward, Gallion quickly followed and asked again:
“You're going to take me with you, aren't you?”
Caelus shoved Galleon with an angry look. At that moment, Ruelia opened her eyes, as if she had woken up.
She extended her hand with a bright smile.
“Sir Duke!”
As if she was asking him to hug her.