I Won’t Accept Your Regrets

Two days later.

Several interesting documents have just arrived from the Phoenix organization at the Empress' palace.

Opening the envelopes and checking the contents, I immediately went to meet with Marquis Paren.

"Hail Her Majesty, the Moon of the Empire."

"We haven't met for a long time. How have you been?"

"I don't know how the day goes these days, Empress."

The Marquis laughed mischievously as he looked around. Lots of papers were now piled up on one side of his desk.

In addition to being prime minister, many important things happened in those days. His work must have doubled from all our misadventures.

And I couldn’t hide a smile, because right now I was going to slip him even more work.

"I’m grateful for your help, and I apologize."

"I’ve been in the game for more than ten years now, so I think I'm working a lot. It's my job, so you don't have to apologize, Her Majesty."

With a sweet smile, the Marquis invited me to sit down.

When I sat down on the sofa, he gestured to the tea tray.

I shook my head and immediately brought us closer to the point.

"I had to disturb you with an unexpected visit, but I’m concerned about the case of Sios. Have the interrogators returned with results?"

"I've already rummaged through all the books and documents from the Marquis's mansion."

"Is there anything that could be called evidence of an assassination attempt?"

"…Nothing. So, now we are thinking over how to change the direction of attack. My apologies."

It was unfortunate, but I wasn’t very upset.

I didn't expect to find direct evidence in the Marquis' house.

If Sios killed Freud Drua, of course, they decided to blame all the sins on the murdered one.

I slowly opened my lips, looking at the Marquis.

"What do you apologize for? This only represents to us how scrupulous Sios is in their business. It will take more time."

"Yes. I know."

Marquis Sios will now insist even more resolutely about his innocence.

The morning newspapers were full of reports that investigators were scurrying around the Sios mansion.

Nevertheless, if nothing good comes out, the nobles will be forced to surrender to the arguments of Sios.

And Marquis Paren knows it well too.

When the face of Marquis Paren, already showing extreme fatigue, darkened more than ever, I glanced at Helen, who was now with us in the office.

Helen laid the envelopes on the table.

The brows of Marquis Paren went up to his forehead, as if thehey saw a real miracle.

"What is it? Your Majesty, you…"

"This is for Sios."

"Yes?"

" Not a big crime. But there are records of banal tax evasion and illegal trade."

"How did you… No, wait. You got this before the investigation began?"

"From the moment of my father’s trial until now, things have not gone very well. So I thought, this time I need to prepare in advance."

“…”

I told Lumont to prepare before the aristocratic conference.

It wasn’t too difficult to get such small materials, because he had been digging around Sios for a long time.

"These papers are enough to buy us time, right?"

Even if the punishment for Sios is weak, crime is a crime, and the Marquis won’t be able to throw out a new trick, tied hand and foot.

And while Marquis Sios is under investigation, I will put my own plan into life.

"Yes, that seems to be enough."

The Marquis of Parang nodded and I now got up.

Carlisle will be waiting for me after the etiquette lesson is over.

"I don’t want to waste time from such a busy person, so I have to go."

"It's okay. Have a safe return journey, Empress."

* * *

At that time when Ellie was meeting with Marquis Paren.

After the etiquette lesson, Carlisle said goodbye to his teacher.

"Then, Your Highness, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Please return safely, ma’am."

It was more important now to acquaint him with the life of the palace and noble manners than with anything else, and classes were held every day.

At first, Baroness Bastein was worried about the prospect of failure, because Carlisle had previously grown up as a commoner.

It was hard for such a child to soon learn the manners of high society.

However, the pace of Carlisle's training became such as if he didn’t come from this world at all.

Baroness Bastein smiled proudly as she watched her work pay off day by day.

After the departure of the Baroness, Carlisle turned to Pailin, his personal maid.

"Pailin, umm… Where is my mom?"

"She moved to the palace, saying she had a business. She also said to bring you the puzzle when the lesson is over. One sent by Duke Croft."

Pailin, with her light blue hair, smiled tenderly at Carlisle.

"Today, Pailin, I want to do something other than puzzles."

"Something other?"

"Let's go to the flower garden with a fountain."

Behind the Empress' palace there was a flower garden with a fountain.

As soon as Carlisle first saw this place, it sank into his soul deeply.

"Ah, well… Your Highness, how about heading there when Her Majesty arrives?"

Pailin hid her embarrassment and smiled awkwardly.

Although the flower garden with a fountain was located near the palace, it wasn’t considered the territory of the Empress' palace.

The knights of the escort hadn’t yet been appointed, and she didn’t want to make a sortie without the permission of the Empress.

"I want to go with Pailin right now! It's boring to stay here."

And Pailin's heart fluttered at the sight of the puppy's eyes.

She had been told to take proper care of His Highness, but they had never been told that they were forbidden to leave the palace…

And besides, who in the Imperial Palace would dare to harm the prince?

"Then we will play a little and go straight to the palace, okay?"

"Yes!" shouted Carlisle with sparkling eyes.

Pailin took Carlisle's hand and walked to the flower garden with a fountain.

Carlisle arrived at the flower garden, hand in hand with Pailin, and smiled brightly when he saw the boy standing among the beautiful yellow wildflowers.

"Brother!"

Surprised by the scream, Edmund pulled back, and Pailin couldn’t hide her new embarrassment.

"Your Highness, you can’t run away like this…"

But before Pailin had a chance to finish, Carlisle had already let go of her hand and ran to Edmund.

Carlisle greeted him brightly, adding to the awkwardness of the scene.

"Brother, I missed you so much!"

Edmund smiled and looked embarrassed at the screaming Carlisle.

‘I didn't expect to see him all of a sudden… What do you mean you missed me?'

These words were unknown to the first prince, who received a strict education from the moment he began to speak.

It was even more embarrassing to see how sincere Carlisle's shining eyes were.

When Edmund backed down from such an unexpected meeting, Pailin, hurrying to Carlisle, prepared the first prince a courtesy.

"Greetings to His Highness the First Prince, Star of the Empire."

Edmund, awakened by Pailin's voice, hid the emotion from his face.

"Rise up."

And, looking at Carlisle, he smoothly began small talk:

"How are you doing, Carlisle?"

"I'm good! And how are you?"

It's only been two days since their first meeting, or so, but Carlisle seems to be very attached to him…

The very next day after meeting with Carlisle, the front pages of the newspapers filled with articles that the investigative team, dispatched by the Emperor, had swooped down on the Sios estate.

His grandfather was accused of attempting to kill the imperial family.

The suspicion arose that the late Duke Drua and Marquis Sios were working together.

Upon learning of this, Edmund was dumbfounded.

Understandably, he couldn’t believe that his grandfather was accused of such a grave crime. After all, before the prince, the grandfather was always gentle.

It was also shocking that his servants deliberately hid newspapers on the orders of his mother.

The reason Edmund didn’t know what was happening until now was that the maids only slipped into him those newspapers that came out without articles about Marquis Sios.

However, after a new investigation, there were no such newspapers left that didn’t include a word about Sios.

And if he was innocent, why did they hide everything from the prince?

Edmund ordered to bring all the newspapers so far, a and he was confused about his grandfather and mother?

Because of all the confusion, he was confused and canceled today's lessons.

"Brother?"

Carlisle called again to Edmund, whose face was hardening.

"Are you sick?"

Carlisle's clear black eyes showed concern.

‘Did they really try to kill you?'

Edmund's heart felt even worse at the sight of an innocent child.

"No. I'm fine."

"I was worried! Brother, if you're not busy, play with me!" Carlisle said, grabbing Edmund's hand.

Edmund flinched at this sudden warmth.

Pailin, who had seen everything, sighed and walked away in embarrassment.

And she felt the curious glances of the courtiers.

They contemplated how the relationship between the two princes would develop.

These were the glances of familiar, but unpleasant people.

Edmund felt strange when a small hand squeezed his hand, and he had nowhere to hide from prying eyes.

If the grandfather is under suspicion of an attempt on his life, and the first prince now shows hostility to Carlisle, then much more dirty rumors will spread.

Edmund said to Carlisle with a feigned smile:

"Carlisle, why don't we go to my palace and play?"

"I like it!"

* * *

Meanwhile, the carriage of the Sios House entered the Imperial Palace, spurring the courtiers to a new round of gossip.

However, the Marquis' carriage quickly crossed the gates of the palace, not noticing the whispers around it.

She then stopped in front of the first prince's palace.