Chapter 236. Disclosure, Part VII
Translator: Khan
Editor: Aelryinth
"Yes, I think she was angry about this incident. She was angry that they didn’t care about killing innocent people by disguising the poison as an infectious disease. So she said she can’t let Miss Regina take over the real power of the Kiellini family, and be recognized as an adopted daughter. That was what the Duke of Kiellini wanted. But she decided to use the name of the late Duchess, because she thought it would be a problem to use Phoebe’s name as it was."
"I see. In fact, no matter how she would be treated as an illegitimate child, I didn’t want her to have the real power of the Kiellini family."
As soon as Adam returned from Bertino, he had come to Tilia and did not hear what had happened in the meantime. Just knowing that they would send Regina to Bertino for the time being, he nodded loudly and welcomed the news.
"Originally, the Duke hid his illegitimate child for fear of threatening his sick daughter, but decided to admit her when he was in danger of passing the duke title to his relative, Sir Raven, due to the engagement with the royal family. Then the poisoning incident occurred, and the Duke committed suicide after proving at the Vicern Temple that his illegitimate child was his biological daughter."
As Sir Caden finished, Adam turned to Dian, who stood quietly in the corner. He looked closely at the maid who could not conceal her confusion.
"As we promised before, Miss Dian will be introduced to the social world of Austern as a noblewoman of Bertino."
There should be a reasonable reward and a conciliatory approach to everything. Moreover, he could not ignore a woman’s jealousy. It was Dian who had gone through hardship, caring for Regina here. She might be tempted to take a change of heart if Phoebe were to become the illegitimate child of the Kiellini family and inherit everything. Therefore, he had to award the appropriate thing to prevent an unstable situation in advance.
"You will be the maternal cousin of Valerian. The Valerian family has an extensive history, and his maternal uncle is a man of dignity. Count Valerian himself is a cousin of and the closest aide to Prince Killian, so it’s a good place to be noticed in the social world."
Of course, it was a position incomparable to the Kiellini family, who was a founding contributor to Austern. Furthermore, it’s not Valerian’s, but his cousin’s. It was the family of a humble Baron of the maternal side of Valerian, which had no descendants. No one was interested in the family because they did not engage in active exchanges with the nobles and did not make their way into Austern.
Only in case of such a humble family would people not recognize who she was, even if she suddenly appeared.
Adam kept an eye on Dian, whose face flushed with joy. It was a position that was not comparable with being the illegitimate child of a Duke.
’Now she is unconditionally happy as she was raised to the status of a noble, but she would soon realize how much Phoebe has. Will she ever realize it and then live in appreciation of what she has, without being greedy or jealous?’
For now, he emphasized that her status was more valuable and higher than an illegitimate child’s so that she would not feel it.
"Thank you very much. Even if you make me an unnamed noblewoman, I am greatly indebted to you, but I am the cousin of Count Valerian! I’m glad to hear that."
At her face of pure joy without calculation, Adam softened his doubts. However, it was too early to let go of his thoughts.
He looked at Sir Caden, who was delighted to say congratulations to Dian, and then had eye contact with Valerian. Valerian also offered his congratulations, as if he had noticed his intention.
"I’m happy to have such a beautiful cousin. As your older brother, I’ll try to marry you off to a good family as soon as this matter settles down."
"First of all, Miss Dian takes Miss Regina to Bertino, and then heads straight to the Chartreu Dress Shop in the capital. You can stay there for a while to dress up and get some education. You can move to Valerian’s mansion as soon as you’re ready."
Dian didn’t know what to do at the honorific expressions, which were significantly different from the previous ones. "Please lower your words. I’m not even a noble yet..."
"What did you say? Now you need to get used to this kind of honorific expressions and hospitality. Now, Miss Dian, get ready to leave Tilia."
Dian, whose face was red, ran out of the office.
"You will go to Baden Territory immediately after Miss Regina has left, arrest the Count, and go to the capital."
Valerian nodded at Adam’s words.
"Wouldn’t it be better to kill Miss Regina?" Sir Caden suggested, since he thought it would be better to kill her, leaving no seeds of future trouble.
"I haven’t got the permission of His Highness yet."
When Adam sighed, Valerian replied, "He must have delayed that decision because of the princess. Actually, she thought about making Miss Phoebe an illegitimate child, but she seems to have hesitated. She seemed to feel guilty because she thought all this had happened because of her role as a substitute. So, it’s going to be hard for her to accept Miss Regina’s death."
"That kind of sympathy or guilty mind could make things go wrong. By any chance, if there’s something wrong, we’ll kill her right away and make it look like she died of a disease," Adam said, and held out the two papers he was holding. "Now, there’s a family registry application and a blood certificate. In addition, I want you to deliver Sir Caden’s opinion on the killing of Miss Regina. I also think it’s good to be clean and tidy, and not to leave seeds of future trouble."
Adam added as his brow furrowed, as if he didn’t like anything, "As for Miss Phoebe... maybe there will be a lot of people out there who recognize her, but it’s not for us to decide. His Highness will judge."
Valerian took the papers and slipped them into his jacket.
Caden also nodded as if he were in favor of Adam’s words, went to his desk, took out a thick pile of papers, and returned. "This is a report sent to me by a person who monitors the town for any suspicious people, as His Highness ordered."
Adam’s eyes grew bigger as he silently looked at the documents that Sir Caden had given him. "There was a man questioning closely about the princess. Isn’t this a report that came a few days ago? Why haven’t you reported this to His Highness yet?"
"I only saw it today, because I went to Vicern with the Duke and returned. I’m sorry."
Many things had happened at once, and it seemed that an important report had been missed.
There was no guarantee that this kind of thing would have only happened here. Thinking that he should check the whole reporting system, Adam went through the report once again.
’Was it a simple investigation to ask about the princess? Or did someone do it with suspicion? Who the hell asked him to investigate?’
"Valerian, I’m going to head to the capital. I need to report this to His Highness right away. I don’t feel good about."
Caden had simply thought that it was an investigation of a person wondering about the princess, and he was surprised when Count Adam took it sensitively.
"Isn’t it that people wonder about the princess? I guess it was because the princess’s sudden debut made headlines."
Who would think this would happen? Adam shook his head even after Sir Caden said he didn’t think it was that much of a deal. "It doesn’t apply to the princess. Even if they ask a simple question, some people might feel strange at the ordinary story. Sir Caden, if you go up to the capital now, you will serve His Highness Killian near him. The Imperial Castle is a scary place, where even the slightest thing can turn into a big one. You have to be in the habit of questioning everything and looking at it again, without slowing your tension and vigilance, if you wish to protect His Highness."
Even the mental attitude of Adam was different from Caden’s mindset. Adam didn’t say that he would be safe. He said that the only way he could protect His Highness Killian was by doing so.
Caden sincerely regretted it. He felt ashamed of himself for neglecting the report which had been on his desk since yesterday, and only submitting it now.
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