That's amazing. It feels like I just woke up from a short nap, but it's been three years. It's amazing."
"It's been a long time."
There was a lot of meaning in Leabrick's words. While Veronica remained unconscious, all sorts of ugly rumors, falsehoods, and false accusations against her were flooding in, and the succession composition of the Grand Duchy was shaken. There had to be a way for Grand Duke Friedrich and Leabrick to break the ice. They were willing to go through the hardships of traveling to the duchy located on the other side of the continent and brought Elena to take her place, and here they were.
"I had a dream."
Veronica continued, flipping her messy side hair over her shoulder.
"I was standing in a field of flowers, looking at all the gorgeous blooms, when a butterfly flew in and sat on the back of my hand."
"A butterfly?"
"It had glittering emerald wings, but it was very mysterious. I was lost in its graceful flapping of wings, and I followed it. Then, as I was leaving the flower garden, the butterfly sat on the back of my hand."
'Butterflies are symbols of hope.'
In principle, Leabrick did not believe in superstitions or beliefs. Think thoroughly rational and reasonable, and that was the way she lived. However, the culture of the empire, which uses the Gaia Church as a state religion, could not be seen separately from faith and superstition. It occurred to her that when the unconscious Princess Veronica woke up, the butterfly's contribution may be great.
"But the butterfly… bit my hand."
"It bit it? The butterfly?"
"It hurt like a thorn. Something so beautiful."
Veronica must have thought of the pain at that time, so she laughed.
"So I grasped the butterfly tightly. I looked at it, and I grabbed one wing and pulled the other wing."
"…"
Veronica showed off her vision as if she were tearing a piece of paper with her hand. In a cruel manner.
"After stepping on the tattered butterfly's wings, the darkness suddenly hit me. And I opened my eyes, and I saw the ceiling."
In the Gaia Church's Bible, the butterfly was also expressed as a messenger of an oracle. Tearing and killing such a butterfly was very bad from a faith perspective.
'It's just a dream.'
Leabrick cast off superstition.
"A dream is a dream. The night breeze is colder than that. How do you feel about lying down?"
"No, even the cold wind is good. It makes me feel alive."
Veronica took a deep breath. The night breeze blew through the inner corners of her blonde hair and curtains.
Leabrick held back her anxiety, thinking of dissuading her once more. Veronica, poisoned by a mysterious poison, has passed the critical point of life and death dozens more times. Even though doctors who walked in the name of a doctor came up with a way to put their heads together, they failed to make an antidote. It was best to keep one's breath at bay.
In the end, Leabrick was forced to gamble with Veronica's life. Fighting fire with fire. She had no choice but to make a bold but reckless choice to get rid of the poison with poison, and thanks to the good fortune, it managed to save Veronica's life.
"My father told me. I have a stand in, it's a pretty useful doll."
Doll. For Veronica, even calling her by her name was a waste.
"Yes, more than I thought. Because she looks like the princess, even the aristocrats don't doubt her."
"Liv."
Veronica lowered her voice and spoke.
"Can you please not say she looks like me? It's very insulting to me because I feel like I'm on the same line as that low one."
"… I made a slip of the tongue."
It was their first meeting in three years, so Leabrick forgot. How much authority and privilege Veronica had in front of her. Veronica's way of speaking changed once she was upset.
"I heard that, too. Even though it's been three years, no killer has been found."
Leabrick's face stiffened. It was the first mistake and failure in Leabrick's life. The beast left no trace. Three years later, she still has not figured out how Veronica was poisoned.
"It's because I'm not good enough. I'm sorry."
"I've always liked looking ahead, Liv."
Veronica, who was talking with the wind blowing from the window, turned her head. Veronica's moonlit eyes were cold.
"But this is a bit of a problem. It's been three years and nothing has been revealed."
"…"
"Isn't that right, Leabrick?"
Veronica coldly accused her with her real name, not her nickname. Leabrick's work, which made her miraculously survive, did not matter. Everything that Leabrick has been doing so far has been, a matter of course for a vassal. Veronica, whose time had stopped at the point when she became addicted to poison and lost consciousness, did not understand that she still had not found the person who poisoned her.
"It's my fault. I'm sorry."
Leabrick bowed her head. Veronica looked down at the Leabrick for a long time with a gruesome, expressionless face.
"One disappointment is enough. Always keep in mind that my father's days are numbered."
Veronica warned clearly. Now, with the trust of Grand Duke Friedrich, Leabrick wields full power, but one day Veronica would inherit the Grand Duchy. In the days of Veronica, which would be coming soon, Leabrick's position was not guaranteed. Because there were plenty of geniuses to replace her vacancy in the Grand Duchy.
"I'll keep that in mind."
"I want to rest."
Veronica seemed to be full of energy, even though she talked a lot in the cold wind for a long time. After collapsing onto the bed with a weak walk, she fell asleep.
Leabrick closed the nightly window and left the room quietly.
"What's the state of the princess?"
"The poison has not been completely neutralized and is still in the body, so we need to wait a little longer to see what happens. It's too early to be reassured."
Leabrick nodded and turned away at the doctor's report. Leabrick, who was walking along the corridor along with Lorentz, said in a low voice.
"We might have to burn the doll faster than we thought."
"What about the doll?"
Lorentz glistened his eyes and Leabrick spoke coldly.
"You don't have to keep a doll when the play is over, do you?"
Sect 15. Pitch Black"Social activities?"
Leabrick was talking to Madame de Flanrose and Elena at her office.
"Yes, Her Highness the Princess here has fully understood the etiquette and manners, the moral qualities that a young lady must possess, and has made a lot of progress. From now on, we need to learn through full-fledged social activities."
Madame de Flanrose constantly appealed to Leabrick as part of the lady's process of maturing the importance of social activities. Elena, who was sitting next to her, slowly cheered on Madame de Flanrose while savoring black tea.
'You're doing great, Madame.'
Elena felt limited in going out frequently as an excuse to buy art. As it was, it was thought that there was only a difference in timing, and Leabrick's doubts could not be avoided. So, the method she came up with was full-fledged social activity. According to the original history, as soon as Sian graduated from the academic institute, Cecilia was elected as the Crown Princess, and the plan of the Grand Duke was changed. As a result, Elena was allowed to engage in social activities in earnest with the promise of the day.
History had changed, however, and the Crown Prince's wife was still vacant. For Leabrick, rather than sending Elena to social gatherings, she thought it would be better to quietly educate her and make her the Crown Princess.
So Elena used Madame de Flanrose. She decided to make a bet with Madame de Flanrose, whose pride in manners pierced the sky and accepted the favor of the winner. Although childish, as a result Elena won the bet and asked Madame de Flanrose. To ask the conservative Leabrick to allow her to socialize.
"I wonder if it's necessary. The princess will soon become the Crown Princess. I think it's better to keep in shape and refrain from talking about things."
Madame de Flanrose responded to Leabrick's plea without losing out.
"That's just a narrow view. Looking back on the past, there have been many times when the princesses and the empress who have not been supported by society have been eliminated. I'm sure Leabrick knows this."
"That's true, but…"
"Here are some young women who are about the same age as Her Highness the Princess, and value the virtues of women. I'm sure it'll help if she communicates with them."
Despite the plea of Madame de Flanrose, Leabrick continued to worry. Now that Veronica woke up, she hesitated to let Elena go to social activities.
'What's wrong with her? I don't think it's a matter to worry about?'
Elena felt something strange. Leabrick was a woman who could clearly distinguish between gain and loss. It was very important to draw support from society through social activities for the appointment of the Crown Princess. Why did Leabrick, who couldn't not know about it, hesitate so much?
"… I see. Her Highness still lacks many things, so please help her."
"Well thought. Birds in a cage can never fly far."
Madame de Flanrose, who succeeded in carrying out her will, gave Elena a look. It was as if it was done. Elena answered with a smile, and they left Leabrick's office together.
Outside the mansion, Elena stepped out to see Madame de Flanrose go back in the carriage.
"I'll ask you one more time. Your Highness, do you really want to have your first social gathering with the young women you mentioned earlier?"
"Yes."
Madame de Flanrose made a strong impression. Unlike her appointment with Leabrick, Elena asked for direct selections of the young women and social gatherings.
"I repeat, they're not good-behaved young women."
Elena held back the laughter that almost burst out. Who points out who does what.
"You have to go through muddy water for a clear stream. Don't worry about it and arrange it. That was the deal, wasn't it?"
"I won't say it anymore because you said so."
When the word "deal" came out, Madame de Flanrose climbed into the carriage with an unpleasant face. Eventually, the horses whinnied and Elena bowed as the carriage departed. There is a saying that they play among themselves. Elena was thinking of getting along with them in order to dig into the corners.