Chapter 65

Lilianne was out of breath, her heart hammering as she sprinted up the rugged, sloping road.

She deactivated her magic, letting her unnaturally spread hair fall loose as she scrambled toward the designated meeting point in case of an emergency.

“What should I do? I failed… even after Lord Robin asked so much of me.”

The house of Baron Kigyonne was among the nobles who supported Robin, and they shared a close relationship with Robin’s family.

That was why, despite being located in the frontier of Sutrena, they maintained such a defiant attitude toward the Lord.

…It seemed the Baron’s daughters hadn’t been told anything about this matter, though.

She envied those ignorant girls, pampered and spoiled by the Baron.

Lilianne, having been pulled into this incident, knew the truth. She knew the secret of this town—

In the town of Catena, magical beasts appeared with a frequency that defied comparison to any other place.

There was a reason for it.

The cause was a secret pact between Baron Kigyonne and the Lord of Zazame, Earl Apo.

The mediator was Robin’s father, Baron Revision.

Both territories bordered the forest where magical beasts dwelled, and originally, the damage they suffered had been equal.

However, ever since Baron Kigyonne took a request from Earl Apo a few years ago, the damage on the Sutrena side had grown exponentially.

In exchange for gold, Earl Apo had shoved all his magical beast-related troubles onto Baron Kigyonne.

Since then, Baron Kigyonne had been intentionally luring the magical beasts from the Zazame territory toward the town of Catena on the Sutrena side. He did this by scattering potatoes—the favorite food of these beasts.

That was why, even while the town suffered from food shortages, the Baron’s manor and storehouses were always stocked with a massive supply of ingredients.

The magical beasts, having grown fond of the taste, appeared in the streets of the Sutrena side every single night.

Of course, it was the townspeople who suffered the consequences, while the Baron lived a life of luxury inside his sturdy stone walls.

Thanks to this arrangement, the damage in the Zazame territory was significantly lower.

A portion of the funds obtained from Earl Apo also flowed to the house of Revision as the introducers.

The reward was a promise that Baron Kigyonne’s family would receive preferential treatment once Robin became the Prince Consort.

Lilianne’s chest throbbed with a dull ache.

“Robin is the Prince Consort, the fiancé of the Princess. I know that.”

She knew the reality that, no matter what, he would never be hers.

Someone like Lilianne was just one of many young ladies.

She knew better than anyone that she had no value beyond her status—and now, even that status had been stripped away.

She had nothing left to lose.

And yet, the desperate desire not to be hated by Robin dominated her entire being.

Robin’s kindness and his empathy had seeped into her like a poison… For Lilianne, who had never been cared for by anyone before, it had made her so happy.

“I can’t let myself be caught.”

Ignoring her aching legs and screaming lungs, Lilianne ran with all her might to the rendezvous point.

Finally, she linked up with Baron Kigyonne, who had arrived ahead of her. Standing there as well was their collaborator, Earl Apo, who had also been invited to the manor.

This entire incident had been orchestrated by the Earl and the Baron together to eliminate the current Lord, Nazelbart, who was obstructing their plans.

Lilianne was the executioner.

The plan was for her to run through Nazelbart, then flee and be taken into protection by their allies.

After that, she would change her name and live a quiet life with Robin’s help… That was the promise.

“You’re late, Lilianne. You finally showed up, I see.”

“My sincerest apologies. I… I failed the mission.”

Still gasping for air, Lilianne looked up at the Earl and the Baron.

The two men exchanged a look and nodded to one another.

“Um, is something…?”

In response to Lilianne’s hesitant question, the two men delivered a heartless declaration.

“It’s fine. Lord Robin gave us strict instructions on how to proceed even in the event of a failure.”

“I see. And those instructions are…?”

As she answered, Lilianne sensed an unsettling shift in the air surrounding the Earl and the Baron.

She felt a sinister presence emanating from them… a malice directed at her.

It was the same aura she had felt from her parents and the servants back at her family’s estate—the vibe of people who looked down on her and intended to hurt her.

“Lord Robin told us quite clearly. If you failed, we were to pin the entire crime on you, Lilianne, and dispose of you.”

At the Earl’s words, the Baron gave a heavy nod of agreement.

Lilianne’s mind went completely blank.

“That’s a lie! Lord Robin… that kind Lord Robin would never say such a thing!”

As Lilianne argued while stumbling backward, the Baron delivered the finishing blow.

“Well, actually, he told us that even if you succeeded, we were to frame you as a lone murderer and finish you off anyway.”

Thump… Another shockwave ripped through Lilianne’s heart.

“Liar! I don’t believe you!”

“Believe what you want, young lady, but we cannot afford to let Nazelbart uncover our crimes now.”

“But… isn’t it impossible to blame this entire incident on the whims of a single noble girl?”

“Lord Robin will handle that side of things smoothly. He has the Princess and the Queen behind him, after all. A few minor issues can easily be hushed up.”

Earl Apo and Baron Kigyonne would undoubtedly claim they had simply ‘organized a banquet to welcome the Lord together,’ pretending they had absolutely no connection to Lilianne.

“Lord Robin would never order such a horrible thing!”

“How pathetic. Face reality. You were a disposable pawn from the very beginning. Now, you’ll die here and become bait for the magical beasts, and all evidence of this incident will vanish.”

As Baron Kigyonne spoke, a group of masked men emerged from behind the two nobles.

They were likely hirelings brought in to handle the dirty work.

“…!”

Lilianne scrambled to run in the opposite direction of the group.

However, her exhausted legs gave out, and her heel caught on a stone, sending her off balance.

“Kyaah!”

As Lilianne collapsed onto the ground, the masked men closed in, silently drawing knives from their coats.

Thinking this was the end, Lilianne closed her eyes. But at that exact moment…

The sound of forest trees snapping, the startled cry of a crow, and a familiar, booming voice echoed through the air.

“LILIANNEEEEE!!!!”