Chapter 52. Calen Castle, Part XIII

"I was nearby yesterday."

As Christine spoke as if she were telling a very big secret, Oswald, who was sitting in a sulky position, flashed his eyes.

Unlike Oswald, however, Killian gave a slight nod, telling her to keep talking, without changing his face.

After a moment's embarrassment at his reaction, which was different from what she had expected, she did not feel small, but began to talk firmly about why she had come all this way.

"I can testify that your maid never did such a thing."

When Christine said that, Oswald looked at Killian without realizing it. Now a fake witness appeared on her own, as if she knew they were secretly trying to make a witness.

"Do you mean you witnessed it?"

Christine laughed at Oswald's question.

"The Marquis and His Highness know that it can't be true, but do you think it's possible? If I had seen that scene yesterday, I'd have gone out right away."

"So, are you going to give false testimony about something you haven't seen? Why?"

"Don't you know why?"

Oswald was disturbed when he saw Christine's shy smile. Pretending not to see him, Christine looked at Killian, who still sat expressionlessly.

"It's nothing if you get a new maid, but it's not a good thing if a maid is executed for assaulting a noblewoman. Even more so, it might be troublesome at this important time for His Highness. The behavior of a maid has an effect on the fame of the master. This Christine can't forgive anything to be the slightest bit of flaw to His Highness."

"So?"Oswald became nervous when the cold, shortened words of the Prince indicated that he was not feeling very well now. Christine, however, did not care.

"For your sake, I will give up the honor of the family of Anais and give false testimony. It's only from my heart that I care about Your Highness."

"Is it only from your heart that I should be grateful?"

"Yes, Your Highness. I just want you to think of me before anyone else, who will stand by your side in the future." Christine smiled broadly and looked at Killian. No one was present who could not grasp the meaning of her laughter.

"Thank you, Lady Anais. I understand your heart well, so go back."

"... Your Highness..."

Oswald got up quickly after she called on Killian, who had shut his eyes condescendingly despite her commendable offer.

"The heart of Lady Anais is so moving. But His Highness is very tired now because he's been staying up all night doing the work of Calen Castle and the Bertino Business Group. We'll discuss your proposal later." Oswald reached out to Christine with a polite, but irresistible manner. He raised Christine, who hesitated but eventually gave her hand, escorted her to the door, and sent out as if ejecting her.

When Oswald, who closed the door, unwittingly brushed his hands off, Valerian's expression turned strange as he held back his laughter. When Killian opened his eyes and stared at them, Oswald returned to his seat in a casual way and sat down.

"It's not bad if Duke Martin doesn't arrive in time. Lady Anais's plan is obvious, but if you're going to get married anyway, then she isn't bad."

At Oswald's words, Killian closed his eyes again.

********

Oswald set off in a colorful orange carriage to meet the old dwarf living outside the castle. Pamela saw him off politely, then looked toward the Oval Office where the Prince was, and thought for a moment.

Due to the new project, the Prince and his aides had stayed up all night, continuing their secret meetings. She waited in the morning for any word on the punishment of the maid in prison for assaulting a noblewoman, but the door to the Oval Office was still closed after Oswald had left. After only Albert and his servant visited the office and banned other users from entering, Pamela decided that she could not wait continuously.

She had heard that the girl was a temporary maid, but the Prince did not seem to pay any attention to her. It was not desirable for the maid to be executed while he was being distracted from the public's interest. Of course, she could avenge Jeff's injury, but that was only half the purpose.

Pamela herself couldn't come forward, since she had to be a thorough stranger in this matter. After a moment of thought, she sent a message to the residence of Chaister.

Sylvia refused to let the Viscount know the burden she had for lying, but in the present situation, there was no one as suitable as Viscount Chaister himself. If the Viscount visited the Prince and asked for strong punishment for his daughter after being assaulted by a commoner, it would not be buried quietly.

******

"Your Highness, Viscount Chaister is here for you."

It had not been long since Marquis Oswald had left Calen Castle. It was too early for the Marquis to return, and whether Adam and Duke Martin would arrive on time was also a question. He thought they'd arrive at least by evening, but he couldn't delay the matter any longer if Viscount Chaister visited.

Killian was lost in thought for quite a long time after Valerian reported darkly, and finally opened his mouth.

"Bring in Marquis Anais and his daughter, Lady Anais. Let those who are involved in this wait in the hall for, except Julietta. Bring along Viscount Chaister, too."

"Your Highness!"

Albert was distressed that his precious Prince was ready to show his weakness to Lady Anais to save such a humble maid, and exclaimed bitterly, but Killian's face was expressionless. Albert noticed the dreadful anger on his expressionless face, couldn't say anything, and hurried to enforce the order.

---

Viscount Chaister was in quite a bad mood. The Baroness's letter, which had arrived around the end of lunch, contained an absurd content. As soon as he confirmed the letter, he set off for Calen Castle in a rage.

Although he did not ask for a visit in advance, he thought the Prince would understand the matter, as it was a serious issue. Of course, he also thought that this might be an opportunity to get closer to the Prince. The Viscount waited for the call of the Prince with a great deal of steel in his shoulders.

He waited for a long time in the waiting room, but contrary to the expectation of a one-on-one meeting with the Prince, he was led straight to the hall without any word.

Though he was the Prince of the Austern Empire and King of the Principality of Bertino, he was neglecting the Viscount, so he was even more angry at the affront. He came here for nothing else but to see the Prince after his private maid had assaulted his daughter.

Except for the purple velvet chair for the Prince on the podium, the spacious hall was empty. The Viscount had to stand in the hall waiting for the Prince, like the knights and servants and maids, and his face began to turn red with anger.

---

Moments later, Marquis Anais and Christine arrived at the hall, and then the Prince came in with Count Valerian and Albert.

"Your Highness, I haven't seen you in a long time. How have you been in the meanwhile?"

The Viscount greeted Killian with a red face, as his anger still lingered. However, Killian openly ignored him, responding to the greetings of Marquis Anais and his daughter, who stood to one side.

"Welcome, the Marquis and Lady."

Christine comforted herself by watching Killian overpowering everyone. There had been no particular message from the Prince since her visit in the morning, but when she saw this call, she thought he had accepted her offer. The future that she had dreamed of was coming before, and the corners of her mouth turned up at the edges. She suppressed it and waited for the time to act quickly.

"Bring Sylvia Chaister." A cold voice echoed through the hall. Christine frowned slightly when she saw Sylvia on standby being called out in front of the podium.

She felt sorry for the daughter of the Viscount, who had been beaten by a cheeky maid and would suffer a great deal from her testimony. But she decided to think it was her fate, just as Christine's own destiny was gaining an edge over other competitors by taking the opportunity to come to Bertino.