The Grand Duke’s Fox Princess

Episode 47: When the Princess is Away, the Bad Guys Come Out to Play (IV)

“The wizards were ones called by the Imperial Knights who were in charge of the search for the Princess Palace.”

“Then there’s no evidence related to black magic?”

“For now, the problems relating to the wizards’ evidence are so big that there is no news released.”

It was a result that caused some to be nervous and others to anticipate.

But when they opened the lid and checked the contents… Joy and sorrow crossed.

Rowen’s report was not over yet.

“A video documenting an accident that Count Wessler caused while he was still a trainee…”

Rowen continued talking, in a manner that was as if he was in shock.

“A voice recording of the state of affairs when Count Brooks’ infidelity was discovered…”

“What is all that?”

“These are evidence of irregularities and various crimes by other wizards from the Imperial Palace.”

“…….”

In an instant, Heinricion and Charlotte became indignant. In contrast, Eristella and Sonia were calm.

“It’s said it’ll take a little longer to investigate the truth. This, too, could not be overlooked, so for a while, they were distracted by the summons investigation.”

Heinricion’s gaze automatically turned to the side upon hearing Rowen’s report. It landed on the fox, Eristella, who was giggling with her front paws covering her mouth.

“All of them are wizards who strongly insisted on the search for the Imperial Palace this time.”

It couldn’t all be a coincidence, could it?

The dark history of wizards.

Their disgrace, and the evidence to prove it.

Things they never thought would be there appeared.

*******

Tiredness was prominent on the faces of the wizards who ran after receiving a call from the Imperial Knights.

Their hands were trembling and their pupils were shaking aimlessly.

“It’s not what they should have gotten out of there!”

“That, that…!”

The wizards were all busy trying to run away, one by one.

As a result, the original purpose of searching the Princess Palace was completely forgotten.

Countless rumors were born, and everyone was busy discussing the topic and gossiping about it.

It was truly a mess.

The wizards were in a dilemma when their disgrace was unexpectedly revealed.

On the contrary, they were forced to cover up the search results of the Princess Palace.

“I can’t believe she kept it. I didn’t think the princess would be so mean…!”

“If I had known there was such a thing, I would never have pushed for a search. It was like I was spitting on my own face.”

“It’s a terrible feeling, it’s as if the princess is right next to us.”

They were the ones who had suffered because of Princess Eristella at least once.

“Wait a minute! That, that… Didn’t that come out?”

It was not that they pushed for the search for the Princess Palace without any preparation.

They themselves had created something which they could believe in. Hence they waited for the results without worrying.

“Was there nothing found?”

The wizards had created evidence implicating the princess’s collusion with black magic, and secretly hid it in the palace.

‘At least with that, we can sort things out somehow…’

The wizard checked with the feeling of grasping at the last straw.

“There’s definitely something they should have found. The things of the wizards.”

“…….”

Why? Why? Where did it go… 

“It seems as though we fell into the witch’s trap. How can she have such a strong presence even when she’s not here? I’m terrified and tired of it.”

“It feels like the princess will appear right away. Ugh…”

There was no hope for the wizards. Only the shame of not being able to raise their faces remained.

*******

Unfortunately, the evidence that wizards so desperately sought was not in the Princess Palace, but with Eristella.

“I have stronger connections to the palace than they thought.”

The corners of Sonia’s lips crept up. It was she who intercepted the items secretly placed by the wizards in the Princess Palace.

There were several people in the Imperial Palace who had been helped by Sonia. It wasn’t very difficult for her to get things like that.

“And I moved the objects that contained the past of the wizards so that they could be easily found.”

Charlotte burst out laughing, and the old congestion seemed to ease away.

On the other hand, Heinricion was half astonished and half surprised. And he had one question.

“But why on earth do you have those things?”

[…I knew a day like this would come?]

Heinricion’s eyes narrowed at Eristella’s calm reply.

He had a strong conviction that it would never have been for such a meticulous reason.

[What is the importance of knowing? In the end, the key is that it was put to good use.]

Eristella’s shoulders rose.

Actually, the reason was simple.

‘I was too lazy. So I forgot. And just left them there.’

Well, she remembered it at the right time.

[Since I’m dead, they probably convinced themselves that their secrets would be buried forever.]

This was why she deliberately told Heinricion to allow her palace to be searched.

To let them know that even if she couldn’t appear in front of them right now, it didn’t mean she couldn’t do anything.

It was a warning – to fear the traces left by the princess as if they were her shadow.

“Even if you solve it this time, you do know that it will not be the end, right?”

[I guess so.]

“The purpose of searching the Princess Palace is not just to falsify evidence.”

[Are you saying there is something they want?]

The black wizards were looking for something in the Princess Palace.

“Can you guess what it is?”

[Not at all. I don’t know.]

Eristella was the owner of the Princess Palace. However, she couldn’t think of something that black wizards would covet.

But obviously, there was something.

The last time was the Count and Countess of Azurdi… And this time…

As such events were repeated, she was convinced.

The Princess Palace had something they needed.

‘But what in the world is it?’

*******

Ultimately, it was the emperor who granted permission to search the Princess Palace. Of course, the results were also reported.

“It’s noisy because something like that came out of the Princess Palace.”

“Yes, it’s now been turned upside down by that incident. What should I do?”

“What to do. It’s too old to be punished now, so leave it alone. They will do it on their own.”

“Yes. I will.”

As his aide left, the emperor rubbed his forehead with his right hand and muttered to himself.

“By the way, what has the princess been doing all this time?”

A wrinkle crept between the brows of the contemplative emperor. Then his face crumpled, and he grabbed his head in agony.

He didn’t want to think about anything with such a terrible headache.

It would have been useless anyway.

The emperor thus erased his thoughts about the princess’s deeds.

*******

But things turned in the wrong direction. The Imperial Palace was turned upside down by one piece of news that someone had brought.

“A person turned up, saying he had witnessed the princess.”

A witness appeared not far from the Prouthu territory.

“If she is really alive somewhere, won’t she not appear because she has colluded with black magic?”

“Your Majesty. The matter is serious. It should not be passed lightly.”

“We have to find out what happened the day the princess went missing. It is all the more necessary if you believe in the innocence of Her Highness the Princess.”

Very fluently.

As if they had rehearsed their words, the wizards continued to speak one after the other and pressed the emperor.

“Even more so because of her symbolism in the empire, it should not be overlooked. An investigation into that day is needed to prove that she did not join hands with black magic.”

The wizards continued to shake the emperor. So that distrust of the princess would build up, creating a reasonable doubt in his mind.

The emperor, who had been holding his forehead all this while, narrowed his brows and opened his mouth.

“Do an investigation.”

It just seemed tedious and annoying. The emperor’s words fell.

It essentially meant that the emperor was suspicious of the actions of the princess.

*******

Apparently, it was decided at a meeting that Heinricion did not attend.

Heinricion, after knowing the situation late, had no choice but to laugh out loud.

“Prove that the princess is dead, or…”

Were they saying there was no choice but to confirm exactly what happened the day the princess disappeared and verify that she did not work with black magic?

It seemed that there were clearly two options, but in reality, there was only one.

Because Princess Eristella was alive, not dead.

It was impossible to prove her death.

Naturally, Eristella also learned about the circumstances.

There would be several political interests involved.

Among them, there could also have been a belief that lowering the princess’s authority would be effective to raise the emperor’s status.

After all, the relationship between the emperor and Eristella was strained for a long time.

However, Eristella’s reaction, which had been carefree no matter how the situation had unfolded so far, was strange.

The fox pretended everything was fine, but Heinricion could see that it was drooping.

To her, no one else, the current emperor was her family and her brother. It was completely different from what others suspected.

To her, he was the only family she had left. 

It was the only thing she cared about.

Watching the scene, Heinricion slowly opened his mouth. There was no way to avoid it anymore.