Her screams made my heart clench. Although Mercedes killed someone and intended to harm me, in terms of cause, it was not all for personal gain or fame, but simply for Cesar.
Even though the way she did it was completely wrong, she really wanted to protect Cesar. Perhaps the pity I felt for her was inappropriate.
But I still can't completely hate Mercedes. Maybe because I saw her tragic past and felt deep sympathy.
I shook my head as if to get rid of those idle thoughts.
"But you've gone too far. Do you know that your actions will only make Cesar more uncomfortable?"
“Ah, ah…….”
Hearing me mention Cesar, she shook her head vigorously.
“Does Cesar really want you to kill the four prince concubine candidates?”
“N-No……. I didn't kill…….”
Mercedes' eyes became cloudy and distorted. She clutched the bars and shook her head violently.
“No. You have already killed five people.”
“Ah, ah……. I don't remember…….”
“Don't remember……?”
For some reason, I feel that Mercedes' words are not a lie. I ask again:
"Do you really not remember anything? About how you killed those four girls?"
“It's true. Believe me. I really don't remember anything…….”
“Don't remember anything……”
Suddenly, Richard's words appeared in my mind.
‘Sure enough, it makes sense. If it were just a personal deviation, that woman would have gone insane.'
I decided to help her revive her memories.
“Remember, Mercedes. The first Prince Consort candidate slipped and fell, hitting her head on a broken vase, then you stepped in and covered her mouth with a pillow until she died.”
“H-How do you know……?”
She seemed scared when I told her the details of the incident. Mercedes trembled and collapsed to the floor.
I continued to tell her about the deaths of the remaining candidates. What I have seen through Wisdom Eye of Heaven, and also what I have experienced myself.
"What I'm most curious about is the fourth candidate. Marquis Peregrino's only daughter, who was poisoned."
"Fere… grino? Poisoned?"
Mercedes' pupils fluctuated violently. She muttered as if something vaguely appeared in her memory, then suddenly held her head and groaned.
"She died of poisoning. The Canelé cake you gave her was poisoned."
“H-How do you know all that……?”
Mercedes was shaking so pitifully. She looked like she was about to faint. I raised my voice:
"Remember! That poison. Where did you get it, from whom?"
That was information that even Tue Nhan Thien Manh couldn't tell me. Of course, Tue Nhan's ability is still not perfect, partly because I don't control it well, but this alone is not due to my incompetence.
Every time I tried to understand the origin of that poison, my vision was obscured as if there was an invisible black curtain blocking it. The only clue I have now is Mercedes' statement.
“D-Don't know. I don't know…… Ah, ah ah. My head, it hurts…….”
She tried to grit her teeth and bear it, but the headache seemed so overwhelming that she scratched the floor with her bare hands.
“Where did you keep that bottle of poison?”
Mercedes now couldn't hold back the pain and screamed miserably. I continue to press:
"We have to know that to find the real killer. Please!"
Someone helped Mercedes kill someone. If my guess is correct, then that person secretly helped and manipulated her mind. If so, then everything will make sense.
I will find out the reason why a weak and timid Mercedes would cruelly kill so many people.
"In, in my room, the third drawer of the desk has a secret compartment. There……."
Mercedes tried to remember and struggled to utter each word.
“Do you remember who gave it to you?”
"It's just that, one day…… it was lying in front of the door. It was a poisonous type that couldn't be detected by any testing method……. It was a gift, from, God……."
“A gift from the Gods?”
How suspicious. A bottle of poison was lying in front of the room's door without Mercedes suspecting it, proving how unstable her mind was at that time. Even using it to kill someone without anyone detecting it.
“The only person who can do this is…….”
A name popped into my head. There are too many suspicious details. A person capable of controlling everything and covering up evidence. One person has enough power and ability to do that.
But I don't have any proof.
“Maybe investigating that poison bottle will find the answer.”
Having obtained the necessary information, I planned to leave.
"Wait!"
Mercedes called out from behind. Her thin hand grasped my ankle tightly. I stood still waiting for her to continue.
“Please……. Please protect Your Highness……. Your Highness Cesar. Please protect Your Highness.”
I bent down and took her hand. And then I said in a very determined voice:
“I will definitely protect Cesar.”
Right. No matter what happens, my determination will not change. As if sensing my sincerity, she slowly released her hand from my leg.
I turned back and said one more time:
“I promise to protect him.”
Mercedes nodded repeatedly and sobbed. Perhaps I will never forget this image.
Until I left the North Tower, Mercedes' cries echoed along the hallway. That cry haunted my ears for a long time. It was like a thorn sticking to my shirt, like a grain of sand stuck in my shoe, like a splinter stuck in my skin, making me restless and uncomfortable.
The bottle of poison that Mercedes said was still not found. Even though she searched her desk drawers, bookshelves and all her meager belongings, the bottle of poison still had no trace. I don't know if Mercedes remembered wrongly or someone quickly killed him.
Only unsettling doubts remain.
Dusk fell, and as planned, Mercedes was executed, disappearing like morning dew. The execution of rebels was considered a form of deterrence, so the execution took place right in the city square.
Even though I knew it was impossible, I felt like the crowd's cheers echoed all the way to my bedroom at Luc Ngoc Palace, making my mood gloomy all day.
Delfina asked while changing my clothes:
“Now that the person who intended to harm Your Highness is no more, don't you feel more secure?”
Of course Delfina also understands that things don't stop there. But I still can't escape the feeling of boredom.
"No, I don't know. Is it really over yet……"
There is still so much darkness that has not been brought to light. The disappearance of the poison bottle, Mercedes's vague memories, her sudden change in personality…….
All are suspicious. But if you think about it another way, maybe it's all just my paranoia. That it was just a wrong deviation from Mercedes. That she was inherently that kind of person.
But now, all speculation is meaningless. Mercedes is no longer in this world, and the case is closed. I shook my head vigorously as if to dispel those thoughts.
“No. Definitely…….”
An indescribable feeling kept boiling in my chest. The insecurity keeps rolling endlessly.
"Lace."
At this time, Cesar sat next to me and gently held my hand. I looked at him blankly. Does he understand Mercedes' death?
But for some reason, I didn't tell him about her fate. Maybe in my heart I thought he could vaguely guess, or perhaps it was my selfishness, wanting to cover his eyes and ears from the dirty and ugly truth, to keep his pure innocence.
No matter what, I was determined to protect Cesar. Because I promised Mercedes. My chest felt hot.
Seeing that, Cesar hugged me.
"What's wrong?"
“…….”
He didn't answer. But without words, I still feel something. Maybe we'll be okay. I also wrapped my arms tightly around him.
“Come on, Cesar. Listen carefully.”
"YES."
Cesar nodded with a serious and tense expression.
“Now I will trim your hair a bit.”
“Ugh.”
“This pair of scissors will move back and forth in front of you, is that okay?”
"UH……."
When I brought the scissors closer to my face, Cesar bared his teeth. But he still made a face trying to hold back. Eyes closed, cheek muscles twitching, clearly scared but still trying to endure.
"It's okay, just trim a little. Then Cesar will be much more handsome."
"Handsome?"
Hearing the word "handsome", Cesar's eyes widened. I nodded vigorously.
“Yes, it's so beautiful that everyone will fall in love with it.”
To cheer up Cesar, I gently kissed him on the cheek.
“Can you do it?”
“Uh yeah…….”
He nodded a bit hesitantly.
“So while I cut my hair, I'll hold your hand.”
Seeing that he seemed afraid of scissors, I decided to use a secret trick. Immediately, Cesar's face brightened.
"YES."
“So, let's get started.”