The Grand Duke’s Fox Princess

Episode 65: A Ghostly Reunion (V)

In despair, Greta confessed.

“I… I stole the princess’s property.”

Confessing what she had done, she slowly closed her eyes.

‘Now, it’s over.’

Suspicions of her involvement in black magic would disappear completely, but at the same time, she would no longer be able to set foot in the social world. Not only that, she would lose everything.

“I also devoted my time and youth to serving the princess for a long time… Can’t I want to be paid like this?”

It was a meaningless complaint. On the contrary, she knew they were words that gnawed at her more, but she just couldn’t swallow them back.

“I was so desperate.”

She didn’t regret taking what Sonia or anyone else had, even if it meant stealing it.

Her eyes were still glistening with desire.

Eristella, in the form of a fox, calmly stared at Greta, who had resigned herself to everything.

All of the wealth that Greta stole was what Eristella intended to give to Sonia.

She must have used it to solve the financial problem of the Marquisate of Lateran, laying the foundation for the family to recover.

That’s why she expected that Greta wasn’t entangled in black magic.

‘I can’t forgive you.’

‘You’ve owned it unfairly for so long, so you’ll have to spit it out. Also, at the right price.’

The gaze of Eristella’s towards Greta subsided coldly.

*******

The case regarding Greta Lateran was concluded and the items of the princess she had fraudulently stolen were returned to their rightful place.

“A letter from the princess was found in her palace, stating that Sonia is to be given all these funds and reasonable rights.”

Of course, it was something that Eristella had written down secretly.

As a result, what Greta Lateran had done was revealed in detail and things went back to how they should be.

“But there is no evidence of anyone involved in black magic.”

Greta Lateran’s crime was made known and Sonia’s rights were restored, but the black wizard who brainwashed the emperor had not been found.

However, that did not mean that there was no harvest.

“I got a clue.”

Although it was not obvious, Eristella seemed to have an inkling of the person in connection with the black wizard who had brainwashed the emperor.

“What?”

“Lateran.”

Eristella replied with a meaningful gaze.

“Lady Greta clearly had nothing to do with black magic.”

“Yes. She doesn’t. But the Marquisate of Lateran is related.”

“No, what does that mean? Make it clear…”

Charlotte, who was watching Sonia and Eristella’s conversation, intervened, unable to bear the frustration.

“Could it be that Lady Greta lied that day? It didn’t look like a lie then.”

Charlotte murmured in confusion. On that day, Lady Greta’s reputation fell to the bottom, but her innocence regarding black magic was established.

That’s why the words of the Marquisate of Lateran being involved were even more confusing.

“I’m sure Greta didn’t know. The things she has done so far probably have nothing to do with black magic.”

Greta didn’t know anything, but it didn’t mean the marquisate didn’t have any involvement.

Indeed, Marquis Brandon Lateran was working with black magic. And he was most likely connected to the black wizard who brainwashed the emperor.

“There was a suspicious incident, and I confirmed it this time.”

During banquets or events, Eristella roamed the hall in the form of a fox.

Most people did not notice the fox’s presence, but some did. Still, they only glanced at the wandering fox and didn’t care.

Thanks to this, Eristella was able to pick up a lot of information. When she placed all the little pieces together, it formed a story.

In the meantime, a few things stood out.

What was particularly helpful was the careless chatter of Leila Lateran, Greta’s half-sister.

She boasted that she was a more beloved daughter than Greta, and complained that her father would not show the auction items even to her, whom he cared so much for.

Her complaints didn’t end there. She found fault with the auction, spilling several clues along the way.

That was the first misgiving. Additionally, since Sophia Haveling’s most recent exchange with Heinricion, Eristella became suspicious of Marquis Lateran.

So, in addition to the auction, she secretly investigated the business Marquis Lateran had been doing, and there was a link with Count and Countess Azurdi.

She was even able to confirm that Marquis Lateran had joined hands with the black magicians much earlier than expected.

“Perhaps Marquis Lateran is also connected to the black wizard infiltrating the Imperial Palace.”

This was the reason they needed to check on Greta, who led the auctions by stealing the princess’s belongings.

Whether she knew of the existence of black magic and was actively assisting, or whether she was moving without knowing anything about it.

“But will Marquis Lateran move easily?”

What they needed to do now was to uncover the identity of the black wizard infiltrating the Imperial Palace through Marquis Lateran.

To do so, they had to find evidence that Marquis Lateran was directly connected to the black wizard.

“But just by looking at it… Marquis Lateran’s mental capacity is not average. I’m sure he’s already expecting that.”

It was crucial to catch the black magician who brainwashed the emperor as soon as possible. Thus, to bring out Marquis Lateran, another method was needed.

“We have to recruit someone who will move the Marquis of Laterne.”

“Who can do that…”

When Sonia and Charlotte were contemplating, Eristella let out a sinister laugh.

“Are you thinking of recruiting Lady Greta? How?”

Understanding Eristella’s intentions, Charlotte asked, surprise laced in her voice.

“Lady Greta must be holding a lot of poison right now, would she cooperate?”

Greta must be resenting the people who pushed her, so she might choose evil and sabotage them instead.

“I have to convince her. So I’m going to meet her in person. In my true form.”

‘Showing her that I’m alive, not dead.’

Eristella intended to reveal her identity to Greta in the form of a princess.

“I will go alone this time. That much is necessary to start a proper conversation.”

“From the moment you reveal your identity, it will become dangerous if she doesn’t welcome it.”

“It’s okay because I’m going to bring her over somehow.”

Eristella was confident that she would convince Greta Lateran.

As she had learned something new about her former lady-in-waiting while roaming around in the form of a fox.

—Greta Lateran is pretending to care about her half-sister. She is enduring strong resentment towards the marquis while playing the role of a good daughter trying to impress him.

And there must be a good reason why she had been acting like that until now.

*******

Greta Lateran was shutting herself in her room.

No one ever came to visit anyway, so she decided to hold on until she was forgotten to some extent.

If not for an uninvited guest who burst in the middle of the night.

“…How are you…?”

“Are you wondering how I am alive? Are you curious why I came to see you?”

Greta’s eyes, which had been widening to the point of popping, narrowed.

“Well. It’s more strange for Your Highness to die like that. Why did you come to see me?”

What happened to Eristella? How was she alive and not dead? Where had she been and what had she been doing?

Normally, one would be full of questions. But Greta realized there was only one thing she needed to know.

“You’re here to make an offer.”

Casually sitting across from Greta, Eristella responded.

“Oh, you’ve already guessed it?”

Even if Greta initially didn’t know, she would have gradually noticed Marquis Laterna’s connection to black magic.

She had that much intelligence.

“Are you telling me to betray my family and my father now?”

‘Not only did you realize, but you also guessed why I came here.’

The corners of Eristella’s lips rose significantly.

“It’s true that you should betray Marquis Lateran, but that is not the same as betraying your family.”

“Is that a difference?”

“Sure. There definitely is one.”

Eristella answered firmly.

“The reason you followed the instructions of Marquis Lateran wasn’t due to a humanistic reason such as a daughter’s love for a father, was it?” 

“…….”

To Eristella, who implied she knew why Greta did everything she did, Greta affirmed silently.

“This could be an opportunity.”

So, Eristella pushed the point further.

The Marquisate of Lateran had a fairly complex family history.

It was related to Greta’s desire to become the center of society, and why she coveted Eristella’s stuff.