The Bad Ending of an Otome

Grand Duke Franz arrived in the capital for the first time in mid-June. 

He was known for avoiding the capital to avoid checks and balances, so he came up alone, leaving his family behind.

Cassio Brahamdorff and a few others had previously met Grand Duke Franz in secret in the capital, but they all assumed this was their first meeting. 

Officially, Grand Duke Franz had arrived to see the ill king, carrying valuable pharmaceutical substances with him.

“There are two possible outcomes. Either the Grand Duke will be accused of poisoning the King with the ‘medicine’ he provided, causing the King’s health to deteriorate.”

“Or they’ll accuse me of attempting to assassinate my frail brother on the spot. Both stories are credible.”

Grand Duke Franz sighed and shrugged.

“Have you considered joining forces with Her Majesty the Queen?”

“How so?”

“Perhaps by agreeing to be a regent until the young prince comes of age.”

“Speak sense.”

“Well, it’s a ludicrous idea, I admit.”

Cassio burst out laughing as if it were a joke. 

If Grand Duke Franz had been unmarried at the time of the king’s death, he may have remarried the Queen to establish legitimacy. 

Grand Duke Franz, on the other hand, was married to Lady Letti, the daughter of Count Letti, and had children. 

Count Letti’s private army was to be considered. 

Although they couldn’t be completely mobilized because they were designed to protect the borderlands, that didn’t imply there were no reserves.

Even if Grand Duke Franz arrived in the capital alone, it was the social season. 

All of the nobles had assembled in the capital. 

Numerous invitations poured in. 

Cassio and Grand Duke Franz had a private rendezvous in the salon of the highly regarded Countess Kisha.

Countess Kisha, a supporter of the arts, had partitioned off a few rooms in her home to ensure that whatever was recited or played within could not be heard outside. 

This setup accidentally makes it ideal for private chats. 

Of course, Countess Kisha most certainly considered this function while creating the rooms.

“The Queen’s side would probably wish for a divine miracle to heal the king.”

“Is that it? I’m sure they were aware of my impending presence. Yet they didn’t call for me until nearly a week later.”

Grand Duke Franz was granted an audience later. 

Even the king’s closest confidants were claimed to have been unable to judge the king’s condition accurately. 

Even if the king had died, they would have done all possible to keep it a secret.

In actuality, Grand Duke Franz’s reason for visiting the capital was simple:

To see if the King was still alive.To assess the Queen’s faction’s attitude.

These were the two most important elements he needed to confirm. 

Finally, it seemed worthwhile to take the risk to find out.

 He didn’t bring his entourage because he was afraid of getting kidnapped.

“What about the movements of the Glamis Knights?”

“They’re quiet.”

Grand Duke Franz’s brow developed a wrinkle.

“Dangerous, extremely dangerous. We can only keep them in neutral for a short time. Right now, the Queen appears to be the legal authority…”

“They will not take your side hastily, Your Grace. What are your plans?”

“One should not covet a sword that cannot be used.”

Grand Duke Franz stroked the back of his neck.

“My father-in-law will undoubtedly offer assistance, and the lords on my side will bring their private soldiers, but we must avoid a clash with the Glamis Knights. Or, at the very least, we must ensure that House Windrose and Raretis Hope leave this position.”

“A suitable bait is needed then.”

“But hastily kidnapping family members will only complicate matters later on…”

Cassio Brahamdorff, sitting across from Grand Duke Franz, had an enigmatic smile. 

Grand Duke Franz frowned when he saw this.

“Cassio, you’re not thinking stupid thoughts, are you? As if you were a double agent.”

“Of course not. I don’t have two lives to play such a risky game.”

“What about your father?”

“Certainly, my father always makes sound decisions. I choose the best investment times, and my father always believes in my judgment.”

“Tsk… Alright.”

“At the current House Windrose are the Marquis and Marchioness, Raretis Hope, and a young lady named Elodie.”

“Hmm?”

“Your Grace, you must have heard. She’s the most talked-about flower in the social circle this season. Elodie, Lady. She arrived at the city alone and instantly became a guest of the Marquis’s household. She resembles the late Marchioness’s daughter, and the Marchioness treats her as if she were her own.”

The Grand Duke blinked as if he was thinking.

“Even so, she’s not a blood relative; she’s just someone who looks like her. Using her as leverage sounds a little far-fetched…”

“There’s no need to stress about getting her on our side. Just confining her enough that she can’t move freely would suffice. As for a major bait neither on our side nor the enemy’s, it could be advisable to get rid of it immediately before it falls into someone else’s hands.”

Grand Duke Franz smirked.

“Are you aware of what you’re proposing? The commander of the Glamis Knights is at the House Windrose. It’s too dangerous to treat it like a chess piece.”

“The Queen most likely covets that piece the most.”

“I heard he refused the offer to be the Princess’s partner?”

“The Glamis Knights’ ultimate loyalty is to the king. Even if he is bedridden and unable to issue direct commands, how can the knights verify the veracity of that command if he briefly regains awareness, instructs a servant, and then loses consciousness?”

One of Grand Duke Franz’s main concerns was this. 

If the Queen, tired of waiting, faked the king’s order to attack Grand Duke Franz first. 

There was a chance the Glamis Knights would defy such a mandate, but nothing could be assured. 

It was a situation in which both parties were constantly arguing over legitimacy and justification.

The only thing that remained was everyone’s naïve confidence that no one would try to cause trouble during the busiest period of the year, the social season. 

A blunder that results in violence could significantly increase the number of victims.

“And in fact, a weakness isn’t a weakness anymore once everyone knows it.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“The Queen, more than anyone else, is concerned about the Prince’s safety, right? She has painstakingly scrutinized everyone, from parents to siblings to grandparents, to choose the most trustworthy. She has erected an unbreakable security wall even among her closest colleagues.”

“So? Is that to say that if the young prince is hurt, everything becomes easier?”

“It means the Queen doesn’t even trust the Princess.”

Suspicion is similar. 

When you can’t trust yourself, you begin to believe that others are the same. 

When faced with the potential of the throne, it’s best to be skeptical of everything.

Cassio Brahamdorff was spitting statements that contradicted his inner beliefs. 

He knew the House Windrose’s true weakness lay elsewhere, well hidden within his mansion. 

It would not flee in fear in the face of danger nor consider itself a weakness of the House Windrose. 

It is more likely that something else is being suspected.

“It is foolish to target a target that everyone is carefully guarding. We should ignore it until a chance presents itself or find another strategy.”

Cassio Brahamdorff grinned, a frigid winter smile and a moist summer smile.

 

My life has changed significantly since the tea gathering at the castle.

“A letter from the House Windrose.”

“…”

The first alteration was the unexpected appearance of the letter. 

Mrs. Nelly’s note was given to me with a bitter expression on my face. 

The letter was sent from:

‘Elodie Dienta, a guest at the House Windrose under the Marquis and Marchioness Windrose’ patronage.’

What is she doing now? 

We need to be closer to playing friendship games. 

Kitty flinched as she noticed my hard look, and I gathered myself to appear calm.

‘Are you afraid that keeping me close will blur your memories of Lady Ophelia?’

In my thoughts, I saw her face, teary-eyed but firm in front of me. 

Was the player always this way? 

Her face was familiar, transparent and cool like a glass lily, always smiling. 

But that was the end of it. 

It wasn’t like her to approach someone avoiding her, especially if it meant imposing a burden. 

I felt a quick pang of anxiety, but I carefully ignored it and turned away. 

Another letter was on the tray.

“And this one is from Count Gloucester.”

I had sent a brief note to Count Gloucester after returning from the tea party, giving a time and location. 

The response was vehement. 

When the letter was opened, it revealed a few lines in excellent handwriting.

‘I will not be late on the day mentioned by Lady Emilia…’

That’s exactly what I expected. 

Nothing more, nothing less than a blend of acceptable politeness.

“And this one is from Baron Heath.”

The sender, however, was ‘Lady Beth of the Count’s House.’ 

The same young lady who had inquired about the novel ‘Amy something’ during the palace tea reception. 

She had lamented how difficult it was to approach the close-knit group of young ladies and had written me a note as soon as we separated. 

She appeared innocuous enough that keeping in touch wouldn’t be a problem. 

The letter emphasized her pleasure at our recent meeting and her desire to prolong our friendship.

There was also the second.

“And this, Lady Emilia, is a gift I brought you.”