[Chapter 155] Moreover, You've Really Become Beautiful <<<

Nerys chuckled as she looked at the knights surrounding the carriage window.

From the crack of dawn, a decree had come from the palace, "Enter immediately for questioning." Concerned that Nerys might try to escape or avoid attending the investigation, the Elandria Duke sent her accompanied by numerous knights.

In reality, they were also acting as a guard. If Kamil were to target Nerys's life again, it was better to have many knights around, so Nerys did not refuse.

"Kamil must have turned everything upside down yesterday."

In this life, Kamil also tried to handle Nerys as he pleased, but it seemed he missed the opportunity.

Adrian would have likely reached out, saying, "I killed the viscount as instructed. Am I your servant?" 

Adrian could only act as directed and often failed to do so properly due to immediate gains, while Kamil, knowing that following orders was his only intelligence, continued to use him rather than discard him, despite being aware that it was better to do so.

Nerys remembered well the many times Kamil had seriously considered killing Adrian in their previous life but ultimately gave up.

"It was a ridiculous sight."

Seeing Nerys's smile, Nellusion affectionately asked, "Is there something amusing, Nerys?"

Today, Nerys was not the only one going to the palace. Nellusion rode in a carriage as the guardian of the still young Nerys.

From the Duke's perspective, it was a significant favor to have him accompany her, but Nerys knew the reason he came along.

'Surveillance.'

And it was an act of asserting ownership over her to the royal family.

Nerys spoke shyly.

"I know it's a really serious situation, Uncle... But being with you like this doesn't scare me much. I feel a bit excited at the thought of entering the palace. Am I too naive? I know..."

As Nellusion thought, Nerys was considered naive. It wasn't like attending a party; she was going to be investigated for high-ranking nobles' murder charges, right? No, it wasn't just about being naive; it was a bit strange...

However, something in Nellusion's heart suddenly defended Nerys. She might be naive, but it wasn't impossible. How much could innocent and studious Nerys understand the fear of being investigated by the royal court officials?

In reality, if she could go through the investigation without being shocked and crying, it would be fortunate.

Nellusion knew he was cleverer than his peers and most adults. So, without doubting his conclusion, he spoke even more kindly to Nerys than before.

"Usually, one would be scared and not know what to do, but you seem very brave, Nerys, so I'm relieved. I think you're really remarkable for that."

"Uncle... You're just pretending not to know, right? I might even cry when I enter the palace. I'm so happy and grateful to have you by my side. Thank you."

Blushing slightly at his words, Nerys met Nellusion's sincere gaze. Nellusion smiled warmly.

"By saying that, you make me feel embarrassed and sorry. I just want to be by your side even during the investigation, that's all."

"You believed in my innocence. Actually, what's really scary... I've already experienced it. I think I'll be fine."

Nerys's face slowly paled. Seeing her tiny face stiffen unlike before, Nellusion asked with a voice full of sympathy.

"Are you thinking about the Duke? Don't worry, Nerys. No matter how high the Duke's status is, he's absolute on his own land. Now that we're by your side, no one can take you away recklessly."

"But Uncle, I... "

In the end, Nerys's voice trembled, her eyes glistened. Surprised by the fact that she was shedding tears, she quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe them away. She then tried to force a faint smile.

"I'm sorry... Uncle, Your Grace, for treating me so well, and I..."

"Are you thinking about your mother?"

Nerys nodded cautiously in response to Nellusion's careful voice.

"Yes. I'm not sure if Mom will be okay without me. I was so happy to know she was alive, I didn't expect to part like this. Uncle, what if that awful person harms our mother in anger?"

"It won't happen. I won't leave it be. Do you trust me?"

After hesitating for a moment, Nerys shyly nodded her head.

Nellusion was satisfied. Of course, the Duke would undoubtedly kill Nerys's mother. He was a madman who enjoyed slaughter. In case he couldn't let go of his grudge against Nerys and sought revenge, arrangements were made last night to send people to the north.

Either way, Nerys would lose all support and come to deeply resent the Duke. If revenge was offered as a price, she would comply with anything.

After a while, the carriage arrived at the palace. The door opened from the outside.

"We've arrived."

Joseph Caron, who opened the door politely and spoke as if he were a coachman, was the one who said this.

Nellusion's trusted knight and the man who nearly killed Cleddwyn a few years ago. He also executed Valentine, who had come looking for Nerys up to the prison in a previous life, ultimately poisoning Nerys.

Joseph had also aged a few years since becoming an adult, resembling the last time he was seen in the previous life. Nerys offered a confident smile in response to his observant gaze.

Joseph, with a stern face, slightly averted his gaze from Nerys's smile. Nellusion asked with a smile, "Joseph, do you remember?"

"Of course. How could I forget?"

How much debt had been accumulated.

Pretending not to notice Nellusion's reproachful look towards Joseph, Nerys naturally took his hand, which he hesitated to offer, and gently lowered it.

The heart of this country.

A place where countless desires and lives are born and extinguished.

Nerys had finally returned to the place where she met her end in her previous life.

"Lady Trued."

A man dressed as a royal investigator, flanked by a soldier on each side, approached. Riding in the Elandria family's carriage and accompanied by Nellusion, there was no need to ask who he was, as his natural title indicated.

Nellusion greeted the investigator with a smile of satisfaction, saying, "Although we meet under unfortunate circumstances, it's a pleasure to greet you. Please take care of my sister."

The investigator's eyebrows twitched. He understood the implied warning behind Nellusion's words, 'I won't stand idly by if you act recklessly,' well.

"I didn't know you had another sibling."

Nellusion replied with a smile.

"You're slow with news. Didn't know that the adoption was for the Elandria family."

Indeed, as they passed by the entrance to the palace, people exchanged glances with Nerys. Sensing the growing crowd, the investigator decided it was not a good idea to have a confrontation between Nellusion and the crowd here.

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Good. Hurry on. Nerys, I'll wait for you to come back, so don't worry and return safely. If you answer the questions sincerely and well, it will be over quickly. No one will punish you for a crime you didn't commit, right? Got it?"

Of course. Nerys initially showed a slightly anxious expression but then smiled obediently.

"Yes, Uncle. I'll remember."

The investigation took quite a while. As soon as Nerys sat down in the interrogation room, she could tell that the interrogator intended to drag out the process as long as possible. The interrogator kept repeating, 'You confessed to your crime,' like a parrot.

That was within the expected range. Nerys went through meaningless questioning with the investigator in the small, stuffy interrogation room, repeating the process over and over.

She felt tempted to use her abilities to shut up this fool, but the likelihood of Kamil watching made her endure patiently.

Eventually, feeling quite exhausted, Nerys left the interrogation room. She headed towards the palace reception room where Nellusion was waiting.

"Who's this?"

A cheerful voice was heard.

The cheerful voice was, in other words, about the speaker's perspective. Nerys was now irritated just thinking about the owner of that voice.

"Really a gem."

Abelus, who had been deliberately loitering near the interrogation room, rudely turned his face away.

'The most noble sapphire,' the royal blue gem admired by many, scrutinized Nerys from head to toe. Nerys curtseyed in response.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

"I heard rumors, but I thought it was a joke."

The rudeness of not responding to Nerys's greeting persisted. Abelus absentmindedly stroked his chin a few times.

A smile crept into his coarse eyes.

"Moreover, you've really become beautiful."

Nerys was so uncomfortable with that statement that she almost threw her handkerchief in annoyance.

'Where to throw it?'

It probably wasn't sincere anyway. Abelus had always complained about how much he disliked Nerys's appearance in their previous life. Unless she suddenly fell under a curse affecting her looks, her sense of beauty wouldn't have changed.

'He seems to be trying to win favor in his own way.'

Was there a time when I needed someone's favor first, being His Highness the Prince? Abelus seemed to want to establish a slightly better relationship with Nerys through compliments. The goal was probably...

'A better relationship with the Elandria family. Or information about my gem.'

It wasn't likely due to some great political judgment. Abelus tended to act impulsively. While he usually listened to Kamil, if he had his own desires, he would reach out and make a fuss like a child. Adrian was the same, perhaps a trait inherited by royal men.

"However, unlike the naive girl who would have been deluded by a single compliment from the noble Prince as Abelus imagined, Nerys was not one to dream up unnecessary fantasies and apologize. The fact that she completely ignored this revealed just how little interest he had shown in Nerys all this time.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

Nerys replied quietly. Then, the sound of footsteps was heard.

"Who is this?"

A sluggish voice, echoing Abelus's earlier words, followed. Nerys held her breath at the sound of that voice.

Cleddwyn appeared around the corner in a formal attire with gold cords and a cloak. Behind him, Aidan also wore a formal attire suitable for his status.

"Your Grace."

Abelus suddenly gritted his teeth and twisted his face. Nerys felt pleased as Abelus's face contorted.

"Your Highness."

Cleddwyn nodded slightly, almost as if acknowledging a greeting. Abelus was furious.

"Arrogant! Don't you know how to greet properly?"

"Wasn't what I just did a greeting?"

"Be polite! Unless you're insulting the royal family!"

Interesting. Nerys genuinely thought so.

While it was well-known that Abelus disliked Cleddwyn, she realized that she had never actually seen the two of them come face to face in private settings. Was it the same in their previous life?

"It would have been quite a spectacle."

Abelus, who usually exuded so much confidence that he was a nuisance to those around him, couldn't hide his inferiority complex towards someone of lower rank than himself and exploded with it every moment. It was embarrassing for anyone watching.

Seeing this spectacle, Nerys sent a silent comfort to the deceased Prince's wife, unable to help feeling slightly awkward when Cleddwyn turned his gaze towards her.

From the moment she was dragged out of the conference room until now, Nerys had never had a conversation with Cleddwyn. She hadn't even considered the possibility of meeting him at the palace today. It was something that anyone with common sense wouldn't have thought of.

'That kind of gaze...'

She hadn't expected to receive it. It was a look that seemed to worry about her, as if she needed to meet him as soon as possible after coming out of the interrogation.

In this way, she ended up being influenced by Nellusion's words. Nerys deliberately avoided eye contact with Cleddwyn, taking a step back with a slight sense of fear. Before Cleddwyn could say anything,

"You're here, Nerys. I waited for you but you didn't come, so I came to find you."

Nellusion's voice came closer from behind Nerys.

Listening to his calm tone, it seemed that someone had quickly heard about the presence of both Abelus and Cleddwyn here and hurried to follow. Nerys tried to greet Nellusion without forcing a bitter smile.

"Uncle!"

Abelus and Cleddwyn's gazes were fixed on Nerys's bright expression.