My Sweet Deceiver - Chapter 62

‘I don’t think you’re asking because you really don’t know.’

 

Dennis almost laughed at Elliott’s words. But he tried to swallow it down his throat and replied politely.

 

“Your Majesty, In an urgent situation, my palace was not suitable for accommodating a large number of people, so I had to open the main palace gate. I ask your forgiveness for acting without asking Your Highness’ permission.”

 

“…”

 

Elliott had no answer.

 

He just looked at Denis.

 

After a while, only one word came out of Eliot’s mouth.

 

“Really?”

 

However, Elliot’s gaze was cold.

 

It was never the way he looked at his own children.

 

Instead, it was the face when facing a hostile opponent.

 

“…”

 

People only noticed each other in the hall’s atmosphere, which quickly cooled down.

 

It was a good thing if it was settled safely. What was a big deal about opening the meeting room of the main palace? Some people thought so.

 

This riot was clearly an opportunity to gauge Dennis’ abilities. He showed his ability to rule, which was hidden in the King’s shadow, without filtering.

 

In a word, it was reasonable and thorough.

 

A fire that burned half of the capital’s slums. The number of dead and injured numbered in the hundreds.

 

In an emergency situation where the claim to dismantle the royal family could arise like wildfire, he handled the work as if unravelling a tangled thread one by one.

 

Dennis set up a large tent on the site of the medical centre, which was still under construction, and took care of the wounded.

 

Also, when there was a shortage of doctors, he sent royal physicians to the palace to take care of the patients.

 

In addition, the deceased was notified to the bereaved family. And to pay appropriate consolation money and proceed with the funeral process.

 

It also captured supporters who set fires and protested in the square.

 

Those who would be released according to the seriousness of the crime were released, and the extremists who needed additional punishment were detained after a detailed investigation into the names of the crimes.

 

Because the punishment was outside the realm of Prince Dennis.

 

That’s what the King and the Ministry of Justice should do.

 

The incident in which republican supporters tried to enter the castle at dawn was resolved by releasing additional troops to suppress it and strengthening the castle’s vigilance.

 

In addition, a curfew was imposed in the capital to limit the radius of their behaviour so that Republican supporters could not wander around recklessly.

 

However, some food was rationed to prevent people from going to work and losing their livelihood.

 

Even though there was no famine, those who were distributed food were surprised and sincerely thanked Dennis for his delicate consideration.

 

Afterwards, the curfew was lifted, people went about their everyday lives, such as going to work, and the incident was quickly resolved.

 

It all happened in just one week.

 

It was a moment when the ability that was hidden behind the King’s appearance was noticed again.

 

It was also the moment when those who vaguely supported him because he was the son of a saint completely fell in love with Dennis and fully supported him.

 

One regrettable thing was that he failed to capture the disturbing forces’ leadership, which is why the King was so angry.

 

It would have been better if the King hadn’t given any excuses for catching the pod.

 

They might have caught the lead if it had only been a few more days. However, the full authority was returned to the King.

 

While Dennis showed his ability to win people’s admiration and support, the situation was a severe loss for Fabrice, who showed no significance.

 

Many people realized that Fabrice and the throne were not a suitable combination.

 

In that sense, the incident was a boon for Dennis.

 

As Dennis bowed his head in silence, the King evoked the atmosphere and said, “If you say so, yes. Let’s all leave now.”

 

People got up from their seats.

 

It seemed that it would be beneficial for Dennis to get out of this suffocating space quickly.

 

Dennis was about to get up too, but Fabrice glared at him.

 

It was a look of resentment at him for not being able to go to the fire scene.

 

On the one hand, he had an expression as if Dennis had betrayed him.

 

When Dennis greeted her with a smile, Fabrice turned his head visibly and ignored his greeting.

 

He smiled with one corner of his mouth up, then exited the conference room.

 

As he walked through his hallway, his steps seemed to stagger for some reason, perhaps because he was relaxed.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

Sylvan supported him from the side.

 

“Yes. What about the Princess?”

 

“The curfew has been lifted, so they are all safe.”

 

“What time is it? It will soon be sunset.”

 

He said, looking at his watch.

 

“Until then…”

 

He turned his steps towards her palace.

 

He thought that he could see her face before he left.

 

When he arrived at Tehez’s palace, the palace was strangely cluttered.

 

The courtiers were running frantically, and the door to the largest hall in her palace was left open.

 

“Ah. The Princess’ birthday banquet is just around the corner. But is it okay to hold a banquet in such a chaotic atmosphere?”

 

Sylvan said he was reluctant to hold a banquet in such a disturbing atmosphere where a large fire broke out and people were injured or killed.

 

Dennis counted the days. Her birthday banquet was just a few weeks away.

 

Dennis looked at the busy courtiers and defended.

 

“They can’t know what’s going on in the palace from outside the palace. It’s an event that has been held every year, so I can’t tell them not to do it.”

 

It was.

 

No matter how much the commoners living in the capital opened their ears and were curious about the stories inside the palace, most of what happened inside it was covered in a veil.

 

And her birthday banquet was an event that only happened once a year, where she was the main character.

 

Tehez did not usually enjoy social events, so she was reluctant to go to places where many people gathered.

 

She attended all official events, but when it came to gatherings to interact with noble ladies, she did not participate unless there was a specific purpose.

 

But at her birthday banquet, she invited her fellow nobles, and enjoyed food and music. It really was one day a year, a day for her.

 

Contrary to Dennis’ thoughts, however, Sylvan shook his head.

 

“I’m sure the Princess is also thinking about it, and maybe she is busy trying to reduce the banquet size.”

 

“…”

 

Then, on the central stairway, the sound of shoe heels clicking was heard.

 

Dennis casually raised her head to the source of the sound and saw Tehez with a shawl wrapped around her fur coat.

 

Tehez’s face was white as she hurriedly descended the stairs.

 

The sound of heels hitting the steps sounded like a cacophony.

 

“Ah, Prince.”

 

Tehez looked at Dennis and opened her mouth. It was a hoarse voice.

 

“I will go to the Ingeliger Mansion. They say the Marquis has woken up.”

 

* * *

 

Only a few months after the attempted assassination, the Marquis came to his senses.

 

Tehez continued to feel uneasy after Marquis fell unconscious.

 

Should she say she had a complicated mind?

 

Her hope was that the Marquis, the source of her pain, would never wake up, and her heart wanted the Marquis, who had been punished for his crimes, to wake up, repent, change his mistakes, and treat her warmly.

 

So, if they can be a harmonious family like when she was little, and her mother was alive.

 

‘If you ask for forgiveness, I will forgive you willingly.’

 

Of course, that would be close to the ideal.

 

But ending this with nothing resolved wasn’t the outcome she hoped for.

 

Tehez was confused.

 

The desire to settle down everything so far and cover it all up was reversed several times a day.

 

In the end, Tehez wasted months without coming to any conclusion.

 

She mocked herself and laughed forlornly.

 

She couldn’t make any decisions on her own.

 

She was still a child.

 

Tehez watched without any emotion as the scenery outside her window flowed by.

 

“We are here.”

 

As soon as she heard the driver’s words, she threw open the carriage door.

 

Then she ran straight into the Marquis’ bedroom.

 

The servants greeted her with surprised faces when they saw Tehez, but she only nodded roughly.

 

People were already there when she opened the door to the Marquis’ bedroom.

 

It was Richard and Max.

 

“Brother!”

 

Richard smiled and took Tehez’s hand.

 

“Tehez! Are you hurt?”

 

“I am fine, brother. I haven’t even stepped out of my palace. Is everything all right with you?”

 

“We are stuck in a mansion, so what kind of trouble would it have been?”

 

The one who answered Tehez’s words was Max with a rough voice.

 

Even though it was the first time in six years, he had an unreserved attitude as if he had seen her yesterday.

 

“…Brother Max is also here.”

 

Tehez pretended to be friendly.

 

“Yes.”

 

Max responded casually to Tehez’s greeting.

 

The brother and sister’s reunion greeting was very short. Tehez gave the Marquis a look.

 

However, the news that the Marquis had woken up was overshadowed by the unwavering closed eyes.

 

“Father…”

 

Richard answered Tehez’s question.

 

“He woke up a little while ago and went back to sleep. The doctor said the wounds are all healed and that he will gradually stay awake longer.”

 

“Ah…”

 

Tehez responded reflexively.

 

She couldn’t tell herself whether she felt sorry or happy.

 

“I’m so glad, though. As soon as the curfew was lifted, he awoke.”

 

Richard smiled at her kind face.

 

Tehez approached the bed the Marquis was lying on and looked down at his face.

 

The Marquis lay motionless as if in a deep sleep.

 

A slightly dry and rough-looking face, an eye patch that is now familiar to one side.

 

And the rising and falling of his chest seemed to tell him that he was alive.

 

“Since I saw him, I’ll be on my way, brother.”

 

If the Marquis woke up again, she didn’t know what to say in front of him.

 

It was certain that her heart, which had calmed down a little, would shake violently again when she stood in front of the Marquis.

 

Tehez wanted to avoid that moment as much as possible.

 

As Tehez turned and tried to leave, someone grabbed her by the collar behind her.

 

“Hasn’t it been thirty minutes since you came? What many things do you have to do as a Princess?”

 

It was still Max with a croaky voice.

 

(To be continued in the next episode)