My Sweet Deceiver - Chapter 85

With Delphine’s help, Tehez’s life outside the palace was settling down. However, the atmosphere in the capital was still uneasy, and She didn’t even know what to do.

 

Lost in purpose like a wandering child, her sole aim was always Dennis, but now, with that reason lost, she found herself unable to decide anything for herself.

 

She returned, thinking it was cowardly to run away, but then what should she do?

 

‘Should I just sit and wait like this?’

 

Jacques couldn’t be contacted, and it was certain that there was a spy in the flamingo where Melby was.

 

And her attendants couldn’t even confirm whether Dennis was alive or dead. She just believed he would be alive and well.

 

Tehez clasped her hands together, enveloped in a sense of desperation. Losing her purpose was heart-wrenching, but the thought of others possibly losing their lives was unbearable. It seemed that she would never be able to forgive herself for her incompetence. A feeling of uneasiness wrapped around Tehez’s ankles.

 

Seeing that distressed look on her face, Delphine said with her worried face.

 

“Princess. Did you get a good night’s sleep?”

 

“Of course.”

 

Tehez readily answered Delphine’s question. But Delphine noticed she was trying hard to pretend she was okay. But she just looked at Tehez with a worried expression.

 

Tehez had a grim expression on her face. It was an action to look relaxed, but it had no effect. Instead, the shadows under her eyes seemed more pronounced.

 

“Well, then… what will you do now?”

 

It seemed that these were the words Delphine had been hesitating to ask for the past few days. A roaring fireplace filled with firewood warmed the room. Tehez looked at the burning flames and answered.

 

“…I will have to think about it.”

 

That question was an unanswered question even to Tehez. As she was busy moving, the thoughts she had put off for a while came rushing in like waves as she had more time to spare. A sense of loss and helplessness.

 

‘What am I to do if I can’t put him on the throne?’ It was a question without an answer, a question that was essentially about her existence.

 

Like ‘Why do I live?’.

 

Tehez tried to smile. She didn’t want anyone to see her weak side. And the fact that she had lost her purpose.

 

“I genuinely wish for you to pursue what you truly desire.”

 

Tehez asked back at Delphine’s words.

 

“Truly desire?”

 

Delphine looked at Tehez with pitiful eyes. She gently stroked the back of Tehez’s hand.

 

Delphine’s gestures seemed to convey all her worries and regrets about Tehez.

 

“It might be early to say this, but you haven’t done anything for yourself until now. Among the things you have handled, was there any for yourself other than the work for the family and the throne?”

 

Tehez shook her head. There has never been a thing she had to do for herself, and there never will be.

 

She affirmed, looking at Delphine.

 

“The position of a Princess is where you have to endure everything. I made the choice knowing that.”

 

“Then what will you do when you are no longer a Princess?”

 

“That…”

 

Tehez tried to answer in a panicked voice. It wasn’t something she hadn’t thought about at all. She, too, at times wondered what she would do if Valloise became a republic.

 

But her conclusion was always the same. Tehez was in the position that such a thing should not happen. Even though it had already happened.

 

Having been accustomed to a country ruled by Kings from the day she was born, Tehez found it difficult to imagine a Valloise without a King.

 

“The rebels say they will establish a republic. So there would be no Princess.”

 

Delphine answered in a firm tone. Tehez looked at Delphine’s face intently. Delphine looked at her, waiting for her words without moving. Tehez’s attitude must have been frustrating for Delphine. She might think Tehez was indecisive, unlike her.

 

Tehez threw a tantrum.

 

“What if we drive out the rebels and take back the palace again?”

 

“Do you think that would be possible?”

 

Delphine raised her voice.

 

Sounds impossible.

 

If the King was silent, there was a high possibility that the Royal Palace was also in the hands of the rebels.

 

There were soldiers armed with guns and knives over there, and no matter how many enlisted soldiers they collected, there would be only a few dozen of them. The organisation she created was originally an intelligence organisation, not a military force, so she had nothing to say.

 

“I should have created a military force if I had known this would happen.”

 

Tehez said as if talking to herself. Of course, it was an impossible assumption. If rumours had spread that she was amassing her privates, she might have been accused of treason and hanged by the guillotine.

 

That would be a truly dangerous endeavour.

 

With no answers to her questions, Tehez sighed. Delphin also looked at her, feeling frustrated. She had always believed that money could solve any problem.

 

Delphine felt disappointed that she couldn’t be of more help to Tehez. She was used to solving difficult problems with her financial resources, but when faced with a problem that couldn’t be solved with money, she felt at a loss.

 

Tehez’s worries returned to square one.

 

Then Danielle, who had been out, came in. And behind them stood familiar faces. They were her handmaidens.

 

Tehez looked at her handmaidens with an ecstatic face. When the girls saw Tehez, they burst into tears and embraced her.

 

“Princess!”

 

“Do you know how surprised we were?”

 

“It’s a relief that you’re safe!”

 

“I’m so relieved. Everyone is safe.”

 

Tehez’s voice was trembling. She checked the faces of her handmaidens. No one was hurt or killed.

 

“Now that we’re all together, shouldn’t we have something to do?”

 

Tehez looked at Danielle with a questioning expression.

 

“We have to save His Highness, The Prince.”

 

At Danielle’s words, Tehez blinked. That’s right. If she couldn’t reclaim the palace, at least she could try to save him. Tehez’s eyes lit up as she found her purpose again.

 

“Of course.”

 

Tehez nodded vigorously. Her response was similar to what she told Delphin earlier, but her expression was different.

 

It marked the end of her short wandering.

 

* * *

 

As everyone gathered in her room, the space became lively and bustling. Normally, one might find it noisy, but Tehez was delighted. Even when their superior was away, they didn’t let their duties and work. Among them, Eli spoke to Tehez first.

 

“After the news spread that the rebels attacked the palace, I entered the palace the next day as usual. New faces at the entrance were checking identities. The palace looked as if it had been hit by shells, as if they came to find you, Your Highness.”

 

The girls each added their own words as if they were agreeing.

 

“His Majesty the King and the First Prince are confined to the palace.”

 

“So that is true.”

 

Tehez replied with a sad face. Delphine’s words a few days ago were correct. He was indeed imprisoned in the palace.

 

The only consolation was that his life was not in danger even though he was confined. She heard that the rebels provided him with meals every day, so he must be alive. Just knowing that he was alive made her feel relieved.

 

“But the problem is that breaking into the Prince’s palace is difficult because the security is tight.”

 

“That’s true.”

 

Tehez agreed. It must have been for a purpose that he was imprisoned, so the rebels would be on high alert so that he could not escape and also keep him away from any help.

 

“How many enlisted soldiers are operating in Jacques’ upper ranks?”

 

“Less than thirty. And that’s including the five who followed Jacques to Herzan. There won’t be enough to infiltrate the Prince’s palace.”

 

Danielle was speechless.

 

Wouldn’t it be possible for them to break into the Prince’s palace and get him out with twenty soldiers?

 

Tehez considered various possibilities.

 

“How many rebels entered the palace? How many guards are there in the Prince’s palace? What are the conditions of the rebels? Do you know anything?”

 

“Princess!”

 

As she ceaselessly inquired of her maids, Delphine raised her hands and restrained her.

 

“Everyone, you’ve just been reunited with the Princess, and all you do is keep giving her tasks? Take a break and have a meal. Let’s all enjoy ourselves.”

 

Delphine winked at the maidservants, cutting off the overwhelming workload. She had an amazing ability to understand people’s psychological states. It was indeed a characteristic befitting the owner of the largest department store in the capital.

 

“Our dear Princess should take some time to relax and work with ease, right?”

 

“No, that’s…”

 

Tehez tried to retort her words to Delphine, but Delphine stood her up.

 

“Oh, you have to do this to get up!”

 

In the end, Tehez reluctantly rose from her seat. When she went downstairs, a steaming meal was ready. When everyone sat down, the table was full.

 

“Doing this makes it feel like a year-end dinner.”

 

When someone said that, Eli replied.

 

“Because it’s almost the New Year, that’s right!”

 

Upon hearing Eli’s words, Tehez snapped out of her thoughts and counted the dates. With so many things happening all at once, she didn’t even realise time was passing.

 

It’s a new year soon. Every year on New Year’s Day, the Hall of the Sun was opened, and a grand New Year’s banquet was held. Now that the situation had come to this, assuming there would be no New Year’s banquet would be correct.

 

The Royal Palace was occupied by the rebels, the King and Dennis were confined in the palace, and the whereabouts of the Second Prince, who fled, were unknown.

 

And Tehez herself was in a state of disappearance from the outside world.

 

“Are you going to stay still? It’s an end-of-the-year dinner, but you should at least say a toast, Your Highness.”

 

Delphine raised her glass and urged Tehez on. Tehez, lost in her thoughts, rose from her seat. Then she looked at the faces of those who sat around the table again. Everyone was waiting, staring at her.

 

She lifted a glass of water. Since alcohol was not a commodity, there wasn’t even a single bottle in the mansion. Still, it was a way to lift their spirits.

 

“I’m so glad to see everyone again. Time flies by so quickly, it’s hard to hide that thought. You’ve all worked hard throughout the year. I should individually acknowledge and toast each of your efforts, but please forgive me for using this toast as a substitute for a supervisor’s formal gratitude. Once the uneasy times are over, I promise to reward your hard work generously. For now, I hope you’ll assist me with all your might in this crucial moment.”

 

“Are we talking about work again here?”

 

Delphin playfully retorted, causing everyone to laugh out loud. Tehez smiled and continued her toast.

 

“But for this moment, forget everything and eat and drink to your heart’s content. Let’s celebrate our reunion!”

 

“To the celebration!”

 

As she raised her glass, those sitting at the table also lifted their glasses and responded. The dining room soon filled with cheerful noise.

 

A celebration of reuniting with precious ones and a brief moment of relaxation.

 

It was time to work again.

 

(To be continued in the next episode)

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