The Grand Duke’s Fox Princess

Episode 39: Of Old Friends and First Love (III)

At that time, she was Delilah, not Charlotte.

She thought she already knew the reality and was prepared enough, but that was a foolish illusion.

She didn’t truly know what her father was planning to do to keep her.

Inevitably, they were members of the imperial family, and they had the right to immunity unless it was a severe punishment.

Moreover, the essence was a matter of the individual family, so neither the emperor nor Princess Eristella could mediate by force although they were the main powers of the imperial family.

Therefore, Eristella had no choice but to negotiate with Charlotte’s inheritance, which was the best she could do.

“Why didn’t you explain anything to me then?”

Charlotte would not have resented Eristella if she had clarified what was going on.

[All you wanted was to stand alone.]

“…….”

[But if you know that I will help you, you will think of me whenever you are in trouble. Then even if you are out of the imperial family, you will be tied down again.]

So Eristella’s role was to help Charlotte stand on her own.

In the shadows, Eristella simply watched Charlotte without her knowing so that she wouldn’t be in a worse situation.

‘I mean, there would come a day when Charlotte would hate me anyway, so I thought it wouldn’t matter if she misunderstood.’

‘I had to keep it a secret because Charlotte would likely show her temper as soon as I said it.’

Charlotte stayed still for a moment, digesting Eristella’s words. But she soon spoke to her friend in her usual tone.

“It’s as you expected. As you can see, I held a grudge against you, and I’m doing well like this.”

Charlotte was wearing her characteristic arrogant yet charming smile.

“That’s why you helped me.”

‘I’m indebted to her.’

‘Without knowing that, I blamed her for betraying me.’

“At first, I pretended not to realize because I was embarrassed and ashamed.” 

Overcoming her embarrassment, Charlotte confided her true feelings.

As the atmosphere naturally became serious, Charlotte, who did not like this situation, changed the mood with a very bright voice.

“I did ‘Marionette’ a few months ago. It was what I wanted to do the most.”

Eristella knew that too. It’s been Charlotte’s favorite show since she was little.

“It was absolutely terrific.”

Recalling her wonderful appearance on stage, Charlotte enjoyed the lingering imagery.

“I was going to invite you then…”

Charlotte swallowed her remaining words. The moment she decided to seek reconciliation, her friend disappeared.

“I thought it was too late.”

Charlotte’s gaze turned to the fox. There was a sense of relief in her eyes.

“Come to the next show. I’ll give you an invitation.”

She suggested with a light smile.

“It’ll be even better then.”

The charming smile full of confidence was enough to raise expectations.

Eristella didn’t answer, but she accepted Charlotte’s invitation in her heart.

—I will definitely go.

—You have to come and watch how well I am doing with your own two eyes.

A promise was made between the two of them, who reconnected after having been cut off for years.

“And so?”

Charlotte’s gaze changed.

“What am I supposed to do from now on?”

The singer pressed, her eyes bright.

She said ‘anything’. She was full of confidence that she would be able to do anything.

And Eristella was sure that Charlotte would keep her word. That alone was reassuring.

Thus, the fox’s gaze also changed.

‘I’m not going to turn down that offer, so please take good care of me.’

She would take it very well.

Ehehehehehe. A sinister laugh rang out.

There were many things to be done.

But one of the most vital things to do right now was… 

[Please keep an eye out for trends in the social world.]

“I am invited to all kinds of banquets and tea parties in society these days. I will take a look there.”

[Focus especially on various gossip and other similar content.]

Charlotte’s eyes narrowed when Eristella specified and demanded. Soon she let out a low laugh and said,

“I know what you mean. That’s what I should do, right?”

[Yes.]

“It’s not difficult.”

Charlotte rolled her eyes and replied confidently. Eristella wasn’t worried either, as Charlotte’s speciality was to incite; It didn’t stop at simply stirring up the social world.

[And, if possible, find out about the people taking advantage of my vacancy in the social world.]

After the incident with the Count and Countess of Azurdi, Eristella realized something.

Those involved in black magic might be trying to make the most of the opportunity due to her absence.

However, since they wouldn’t make it obvious, the possibility Eristella would find out from her current position was low.

After Eristella requested all the necessary information from Charlotte and gave her advice, Sonia asked Eristella.

“Then what shall I do?”

Yes, there was one more thing Eristella needed help with, and she thought it would be better to ask Sonia for it.

[May I know what’s going on in the Imperial Palace?]

Apparently, she was concerned about the situation in the Imperial Palace.

Among them, in particular, the stories about the emperor that were sometimes told.

She wanted to know a more inward change rather than a superficial problem. To know that, she needed information that only insiders knew.

However, since Charlotte had left the imperial family, she could not access the Imperial Palace, and Heinricion was unsuitable because his presence was too great.

So Eristella had to leave this job to Sonia.

However, since it was a sensitive matter to obtain information about the imperial palace, Eristella was hesitant to ask because she thought it would be burdensome.

“Don’t worry. There are still quite a few people in the Imperial Palace who I’m still in touch with. So I can find out.”

Sonia confidently agreed to the request.

Regarding the imperial family, the information from the maids and attendants was the most accurate. Fully aware of that, Sonia felt a sense of responsibility.

After the work distribution was settled to some extent, Charlotte asked what she was curious about.

“Now it’s your turn to give me information.”

[…….]

“Since when have you been aware of the existence of black magic?”

Charlotte was very eager to know the answer to that question.

In the meantime, Eristella had been dodging this topic. But now she really had to reveal it.

[It has been a while since I noticed the existence of black magic. I’ve encountered the forces of black magic several times.]

“Why didn’t you tell me that?”

Heinricion asked with a slightly miffed expression.

[Because there will be confusion, like now. That doesn’t help in the least to solve the situation.]

As if to prove what Eristella said, the social world was chaos itself.

[And since the traces have long since disappeared, I don’t really know anything. I thought gathering information was a priority.]

However, the more information she gathered and the more she learned about the existence of black wizards, the more she could not tell.

[Black magic did not spread by accident.]

If it had been a clumsy incident caused by the personal greed of a few, Eristella alone would have been able to subdue and sort them out.

But the more Eristella realized that their existence was bigger and more dangerous than she originally thought, the more she became afraid.

[They have been moving systematically for a long time. There must be a central point.]

Eristella’s eyes grew cold.

That was why she couldn’t move recklessly.

What kind of picture are they drawing? She hadn’t yet deduced their final goal.

Plus, about their central point and the existence that turned her into a fox…

Eristella couldn’t tell.

*******

A hideously ordinary mansion a little far from the heart of the imperial capital.

As it was a neighborhood mainly inhabited by wealthy merchants and renowned craftsmen as well as nobles, various people came and went.

A place that was not strange at all to anyone.

The most covert and secretive things were going on there.

Inside the mansion, where protection magic was applied, there were several unique patterns that could not be seen in the empire.

A twisted aura different from normal magic. Its identity was black magic.

“Marquis Decayden is also gone. He must have been taken by the Grand Duchy of Adelasia, but I have not been able to find any exact evidence.”

“It’s the Marquis of Decayden. He was a useless person anyway.”

“The problem is that it seems to have come from the Grand Duchy of Adelasia. I didn’t know they were already moving…”

Declen, who was listening to the three of them, parted his lips softly.

“It’s faster than I thought.”

Declen, their focal point, said.

He was still relaxed and cool. It seemed as if he was making fun of those who were nervously chattering.

“I can’t hide it any longer, so what’s the point in saving yourself?”

“Then…?”

“Let’s change directions.”

Every time Declen, the youngest of them, spoke, everyone shut their mouths in tension.

The eldest among them looked at Declen and cautiously asked,

“But uh… Is it true that the princess is really dead?”

“Then?”

“It’s not that I don’t trust Lord Declen, but…”

He looked restless for fear of sounding suspicious.

So he disclosed what he was uncomfortable about, which he was going to keep buried, even though he was afraid that it would go against Declen’s will.

“It’s the same with the case of Count Azurdi, and the fact that the princess’s body has not yet been found even though we have been searching for it… It’s kind of concerning.”

“If she is still alive…”

Fear appeared on their faces.

A being who they couldn’t win against even though they had powerful black magic in their hands.

—Princess Eristella René Leonard.

Watching the anxious bunch, Declen gave a significant slow smile.