My Sweet Deceiver - Chapter 77

Tehez was riding a carriage to the Marquis’ residence. Yesterday, since midday with Dennis, she had been doing various things in his office, so she almost couldn’t make it to the departure time.

 

In the end, it was only after hearing her words that she would stay in the same palace, Dennis let her go.

 

Tehez was tongue-tied at his persistence.

 

“I’m busy right now, so I’ll move to the Prince’s palace after the New Year’s banquet.”

 

Having said that, with what expression did he look at her? He said, squeezing her fingers as he smiled broadly.

 

“There’s no talking back.”

 

“I will be kind, Prince.”

 

It might be written in the history books that they were a particularly rowdy couple. A royal couple sharing the same room.

 

She smiled and looked out of the window. The sun was shining through the clouds after a long time.

 

However, the dreary atmosphere flowing through the capital was not covered. The fountain statue of the first king, who guarded the centre of the square, had its neck broken by the protesters.

 

Tehez frowned at the broken statue. Due to the suppression of the protests, the road to the Marquis’ residence was blocked and had to be detoured. It was the first time that the road she always took seemed so far away.

 

“We have arrived.”

 

When she opened the carriage door, the butler came out and greeted Tehez.

 

“Welcome, Princess.”

 

Tehez nodded and entered the mansion. It was an unchangingly quiet mansion.

 

“Where are my brothers?”

 

“They are in the greenhouse.”

 

As the butler guided her into the garden, the flowers in full bloom greeted her. The warm greenhouse all year round was the only space she liked, and the Marquis had no place in her mind. Richard and Max, who were sitting in the middle of the greenhouse, stood up.

 

“Tehez! Welcome. Wasn’t it difficult on the way?”

 

“You are here?”

 

Richard patted her on the and hugged her lightly, and Max with his gruff voice also greeted her.

 

“Yes, brother. I was a little late because the road was blocked.”

 

“Yeah, it must have been hard. Have a seat, Tehez.”

 

When Richard sat down in the seat of authority, something was already set on the table. In addition, fresh flowers that looked like they had just been picked were placed in the middle of the table.

 

Tehez looked straight at Max, who was sitting next to her.

 

“Brother Max is leaving the country already?”

 

“I came to watch over my father on his deathbed, but since he woke up, shouldn’t I go back now?”

 

Max had a calm face. When he left the country this time, he really intended not to set foot in Valloise again until the Marquis closed his eyes.

 

“When are you going?”

 

“I’ll be leaving in two weeks.”

 

“So fast? Did Father approve it?”

 

Tehez asked in a surprised voice. She thought she was a little closer to Max now, but if he left in two weeks, she wouldn’t see him for another few years. Maybe she won’t be able to see him forever.

 

When she thought of that, Tehez felt regretful.

 

Even so, Max replied in a nonchalant voice.

 

“Did I ever see someone to get approval to go around? I’m just going.”

 

“…Right.”

 

While locked in silence, Richard spoke as if to refresh the atmosphere.

 

“Tehez, you must be very busy with the New Year’s banquet.”

 

“Come to think of it, isn’t the Ministry of Home Affairs the busiest, brother? How are you outside the palace at this time?”

 

Richard shrugged her shoulders.

 

“I left early to see you.”

 

“Really?”

 

When she asked, Richard closed her eyes and replied with a smile.

 

“I’m kidding, Tehez. I came out for a while because I had work. Don’t worry, I’ll go back soon and work overtime, even all night.”

 

Come to think of it, Richard’s hazel eyes were full of tiredness. Besides, his face seemed to have thinned out a little, and his chin seemed to be pointed.

 

Even though he was not doing anything related to the mansion now that his father was awake, Richard had been a lot busy around this time.

 

It was because of preparations for the New Year’s banquet. Even if each department prepared the banquet, the department in charge of the banquet was the Ministry of Home Affairs. So, above all else, her brother’s hard work would be great. In addition, it would have been like a thunderbolt as they had to prepare for the ceremony of the Crown Prince.

 

Tehez intended to prevent Fabrice from being appointed as Crown Prince, but that did not prevent the ceremony itself.

 

“I see…”

 

“More than that, Tehez. The atmosphere is grim these days, so if something happens, don’t delay and come to the Marquis’ house. We can handle just one for you.”

 

Max nodded his head as if agreeing with Richard’s words.

 

“Yes. Even if I’m away, you have another brother, so feel free to contact him if you have anything to discuss.”

 

“…Do you think the protests will intensify?”

 

Richard sat up and looked at Tehez. Richard’s affectionate eyes showed concern for her.

 

“If the protesters storm the Royal Palace. I asked the Prince to send you to the Marquis’ house, but he refused.”

 

“Did you make that request? Why…? I decided to be with the Prince. And where will the Prince go if I leave the palace?”

 

Tehez didn’t even know that his older brother had made such a request.

 

‘Is that why he told me to go down South on my own the other day?’

 

‘In order not to be sent to the Marquis’ residence?’

 

Tehez lost consciousness and immediately after waking up, she remembered what he had said.

 

“Why are you taking care of an idiot who can’t properly explain what people are chewing on?”

 

Max said in a disgruntled voice. Then Richard cracked down on Max.

 

“Max! Watch your mouth.”

 

At Richard’s words, Max frowned at him and loosened his tie as if frustrated. Then he gulped down his tea.

 

Richard held Tehez’s hand and spoke in a gentle voice.

 

“I was going to send you to the estate. It won’t be affected by the protesters, Tehez. Don’t worry about it if you feel responsible for the position of Prince. I’ll send a divorce letter to get you out, I’ve been preparing for a divorce right away without the permission of the temple.”

 

Richard said, laughing as if it were a joke. However, the face Tehez looked at was sincere.

 

In Valloise, the permission of the temple was required for divorce as much as couples became husband and wife with the permission of the temple. Except for a few disqualifying grounds where divorce without permission was possible. Among the reasons for disqualification, the representative was the other party’s infidelity and infertility.

 

Even so, the fact that her brother was preparing her divorce papers was the first time she had heard of it.

 

Tehez was in a state of surprise inside, but she didn’t show it.

 

It would have to be a reason for disqualification to divorce immediately without permission from the temple.

 

Because both infidelity and infertility were irrelevant to her.

 

Because in Valloise, men are not held accountable for infertility. If so, infidelity?

 

‘Was he thinking of blaming Dennis for cheating? How far have you been preparing?’

 

Tehez looked at Richard in a new way.

 

“…”

 

Next to Richard, Max helped.

 

“Yes. I didn’t like that kid from the start. Don’t worry, your brother has prepared your divorce paper since last year.”

 

“At that time, brother Max was abroad, so how do you know about it?”

 

To Tehez’s words, Max replied that he knew about the news, thanks to his frequent correspondence with Richard.

 

It was unexpected for Tehez, who only knew Max had left Valloise without any news.

 

Tehez searched for her memory.

 

Wasn’t it last year when they were playing the role of a loving married couple? There were no accidents or incidents.

 

As she looked at Richard with a questioning expression, he said with a puzzled face.

 

“Don’t look at me like that because I prepared to get you out before my father hurt you. Anyway, if you are in danger, I will.”

 

“When you say ‘in danger’, you think the royal family could be disbanded.”

 

“Yes. You know very well, Tehez, what happens to the royal family members when the royal family is disbanded.”

 

“…”

 

Max slurped the cold tea and set the cup down.

 

“Everyone dies. Whether you get shot or hang on the guillotine.”

 

“Yes. Max is right. Because I can’t lose you in vain, Tehez. This brother will put your safety first.”

 

“Thank you so much for your concern, brother. But I am-”

 

Richard cut her words, “Tehez. I know very well that I am an older brother who lacks a lot. Under the guise of education, our father… Even when I treated you carelessly, I was silent.”

 

“…”

 

Richard said in a calm voice.

 

“I looked back on myself after my father lost consciousness. Meanwhile, I was cowardly, hiding behind you. I had a lot of conversations with Max, who made me realize that. We’ve cleared all the filth we’ve accumulated over the years. Isn’t that right, Max?”

 

When Richard asked, Max shook his head roughly and nodded. It seemed embarrassing to be in a harmonious atmosphere. Richard said with a big smile on his face.

 

“So that’s our conclusion. I will not leave you alone in a situation where your life is at stake. In the name of Inseliger, I will definitely protect you. Got it?”

 

Tehez felt like she was about to burst into tears. So she forced herself to answer.

 

“…Yes, brother.”

 

Tehez learned a lot of things she had not known.

 

She never dreamed that Richard and Max were thinking about her so much.

 

Even when she thought she was alone, she wasn’t.

 

Richard handed her more warm tea. It was evident that he had noticed Tehez’s insistence on rejecting his offer to be protected by Ingeliger. Thanks for his suggestion, Tehez still had a lot of work to do in Lubern. That was why she couldn’t leave.

 

They talked to each other for some time, sharing each other’s current situation. The chaotic situation and topics such as the royal family were very casual conversations that were deliberately excluded.

 

The trivial stories of the employees of the Marquis’s residence, the good places to go when spring stops snowing, and the people Max met overseas.

 

It was just a story they brought up to be in the same space at this time. If they broke up now, it would be a long goodbye again. They had been parting for a long time without showing such regret.

 

Before Tehez set out again for the palace, Richard called her.

 

“Tehez.”

 

“Yes, brother.”

 

Richard handed her an old, worn out piece of paper.

 

“Here. It’s a map with a secret passage. It connects to your palace and the outside. Evacuate this way in case of an emergency.”

 

“Thank you, brother.”

 

Tehez did not ask how he got the map, but put it in her pocket and took good care of it.

 

Richard held her hand once and shook it. Max saw her off too, standing beside her. Tehez laughed out loud when he saw Max’s face.

 

“Did you have a good time?”

 

Danielle asked.

 

“Of course. I’m going to see Max off when he says he’s leaving the country in two weeks.”

 

Tehez pulled her lips together and smiled. It was a smile with a hint of sadness.

 

Through a small window, she looked at the two figures until they became small dots.

 

(To be continued in the next episode)

 

***