HBWnovel Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Minoya walked very, very slowly. If this had been any other time, she would have already returned with a severed head, but this time, it seemed like she was waiting for something.
As Minoya reached the door, Mepeilu called out to her, "Wait."
Mepeilu took several deep breaths, forcing herself to calm down. She couldn't let anger control her now.
She was the heir to the Lisat Kingdom. She had to take responsibility for her actions.
"Have you calmed down, Princess Mepeilu?" Minoya looked at her with slight anticipation.
"This is the middle of a banquet. Many nobles from the Venus territory are here, and even aristocrats from other territories have come because of me."
"If Countess Ruth were to be killed now, it would definitely cause panic among the other nobles. More importantly, within the Venus estate, there truly isn't another person who could immediately take her place."
"Liana is out of the question. Eileen might have potential, but she's still too young. That would definitely cause dissatisfaction among some people."
"Moreover, in the eyes of outsiders, Countess Ruth is a dedicated and responsible ruler, while Liana is a wicked noblewoman. If people had to choose between the two, no one would pick Liana."
"Countess Ruth is smart. In just three years, she has gained the trust of the Venus territory. Because of this, we can't act against her recklessly."
"If it were anyone else, people would trust my judgment. But Ruth is different. She's not an ordinary person—she's the wife of a hero and the acting lord of Venus. On top of that, I'm helping Liana."
"The trust the Venus territory has in her is the best weapon protecting her. We still don't have absolute proof. Just Liana's testimony and our suspicions won't be enough."
"If I were to make that decision now, I would absolutely lose my position as heir."
"This was a test for me, wasn't it?"
Liana must have known that if she told me everything, I would do whatever it took to help her. But she didn't. Was this her concern? Was she protecting me...?
I am the heir to the Lisat Kingdom. Every action I take is being watched.
Besides, who would believe that a young noblewoman who had been a menace for years suddenly claimed that it had all been an act?
Liana had a history of scandals.
If she had truly been framed by Countess Ruth, why didn’t she say so from the beginning? Given Mepeilu and Liana’s relationship, how could Mepeilu not have helped her? If Liana had spoken up earlier, surely someone would have sided with her. Why endure three years of suffering only to expose everything now?
This was what Mepeilu couldn't understand.
Why did Liana wait three years? She had so many opportunities to tell me the truth in private.
If she had spoken up from the start, someone would have supported her.
There had to be something more to this.
Only by finding Liana could she learn the truth.
"I am not just a knight of the Lisat Kingdom. I am your guardian knight, Princess Mepeilu."
"So, I have been protected all this time... by both Liana and you, Minoya."
"This is why you disappeared for a month, isn't it, Minoya?"
Minoya nodded.
Mepeilu finally understood. A month ago, Minoya had said she had something to take care of. It turned out she had gone to the Venus estate to investigate Liana.
"You even lied to me."
"I'm sorry, Princess Mepeilu. Most of the time, you can remain calm and make rational decisions. You are composed, and your ability to judge situations is exceptional. But when it comes to Lady Liana, you always lose control. You act irrationally, like just now, when you ordered me to kill Countess Ruth."
Mepeilu was aware of this flaw in herself.
"That decision would have temporarily solved Lady Liana’s predicament, but what about after? Countess Ruth’s death would throw the Venus territory into chaos. Everyone would fight for power, and by then, you would be held accountable by His Majesty. You would be unable to escape the consequences, and Lady Liana—powerless and already despised—who would protect her then?"