The Abandoned Princess, Yet She Is Loved - Chapter 83
“Father, I heard Grace came to visit!”
Late in the afternoon, Diana and Sarah barged into Duke Reinhardt’s study, demanding answers. However, the Duke remained calm and nodded without hesitation.
“Yes. She visited a few days ago.”
“Why in the world would she come here?”
“I invited her. It seems we’ll need to maintain some connection with her going forward.”
Was her father out of his mind? Did he just say they needed to associate with that illegitimate child?
“I offered a brief apology for what happened in the past. Fortunately, she accepted it.”
“F-Father, why are you doing this?”
Diana’s voice cracked with disbelief.
“From now on, treat her kindly in social gatherings.”
“Why… why? She’s just a lowborn bastard!”
“Because that is what His Highness Prince Vladimir desires.”
Prince Vladimir? Why would he—
Diana and Sarah felt their blood boil.
The Crown Princess and the Imperial Princess had already taken a suspiciously protective stance toward Grace, which had irritated them to no end. And now, hearing that Grace had even been invited into their mansion by their own father—it was beyond shocking.
“Remember this. Do as I say.”
“…Hah…”
“I hope I’ve made myself clear.”
Diana and Sarah let out a deep sigh. They couldn’t understand why they were supposed to be nice to that illegitimate girl, but defying their father was not an option.
“What are we supposed to do now?”
Once they left the drawing room, they began whispering amongst themselves.
“We need to get rid of her immediately. No—erase her from this world.”
“Do you have a plan?”
Sarah asked worriedly, glancing at Diana’s determined expression.
“I have something in mind.”
The next day, Diana visited the Imperial Princess’s palace.
“Good afternoon, Lady Penton.”
“You’re Lady Reinhardt, correct? Are you here to see Her Highness?”
Amelia Penton, the chief lady-in-waiting of the Imperial Princess, asked about the purpose of her visit. There had been no prior notice of a tea time or social meeting with noble ladies today, so she needed to double-check.
“No.”
Diana shook her head.
“I came to ask you a personal favor.”
“A favor… from me?”
Amelia looked puzzled. She couldn’t think of any reason Diana would ask her for a personal favor.
“Yes, it’s a bit discreet. Could we speak somewhere more private?”
“……”
“You won’t regret hearing me out.”
Amelia’s curiosity was piqued. Diana’s persistence made it hard to ignore. She looked around to see if there was an empty room nearby. Fortunately, one was available.
“Shall we… head over there?”
“Yes, let’s talk in that room.”
A knowing smile curled at the corner of Diana’s lips.
“It’s done.”
Grace smiled softly, pleased with her completed handkerchief.
“Not bad at all.”
On the Imperial Princess’s handkerchief, she had embroidered irises in a vase. The petals, a blend of navy blue and violet, fluttered delicately across the fabric.
When she was first asked to make it, she wasn’t sure what kind of design to choose. But after being told the princess especially liked flowers, she decided to go with that theme. While it might have been a bit cliché, she made up for it by using rich, vibrant colors.
“Please deliver this to Her Highness.”
“Of course.”
After heading to the princess’s palace, Grace handed the handkerchief to her lady-in-waiting.
“Thank you for your efforts.”
“It was no trouble.”
“Her Highness will be thrilled. She’s been eagerly looking forward to receiving your handkerchief.”
“She has? I’m honored.”
Grace smiled and stepped back.
The next day, while she was training at Panbion—
“Is Madam Winstaine here?”
Royal guards suddenly stormed in. The first thing they did was look for Grace.
“Yes. Is something wrong?”
Royal guards? Was this about Frederick? Grace looked confused.
“You are under arrest for the attempted assassination of Her Highness the Imperial Princess.”
“…What?”
She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. The people around her gasped sharply.
“Why would I ever try to harm Her Highness—”
“We have an answer. Traces of poison were found on the handkerchief you gave her.”
“…What? What are you saying?”
Grace was frozen in disbelief. The Armento around her were equally stunned, murmuring in confusion.
“I never did anything like that.”
“You can explain later. For now, come with us.”
The guards seized her arms and twisted them behind her back. In a flash, her hands were tightly bound with rope.
“Your fate will be decided later.”
Who could have done this?
Grace tried to think as she was dragged away, but nothing came to mind. The only person she’d handed the handkerchief to was the princess’s lady-in-waiting…
But I’ve never had any bad blood with her…
She had no known connections or grudges with the lady-in-waiting. No matter how hard she thought, she couldn’t come up with a logical reason why the woman would frame her. And so, she was taken away—clueless and stunned.
“My wife was arrested for attempting to assassinate Her Highness?!”
Frederick repeated the news in disbelief when it was finally relayed to him.
“Yes, sir. She’s been taken to the underground prison and is expected to stand trial soon.”
“Who authorized this?”
“Phillips and Morion, sir.”
Ned Hassler spoke cautiously. They had acted without his approval as captain of the knights, so this was bound to upset him.
“They said they acted under direct orders from Her Highness the Imperial Princess and had no choice but to report afterward. The evidence… was quite damning.”
“What kind of evidence?”
“They say poison was found on the handkerchief Madam gave Her Highness.”
Ned watched Frederick’s expression carefully.
The accusation alone was shocking, but the fact that the suspect was the wife of the commander of the Royal Knights made the situation even more scandalous. It made even delivering the report feel painful.
“I’ll look into it. You may leave.”
“Yes, understood.”
Ned quickly bowed and exited, not wanting to stir Frederick’s temper further. Left alone, Frederick began pacing the room in frustration.
“…This is absurd.”
“……”
“What reason would she possibly have to harm the princess?”
Someone had framed Grace. He was sure of it—but no clear suspect came to mind.
“What are you embroidering so intently?”
“Her Highness asked me to make this for her.”
Just a few days ago, he had seen Grace quietly embroidering in their room at night. Someone must have tampered with the handkerchief after she handed it over.
There must be a way…
Attempted regicide meant the death penalty. Even though Frederick was a war hero and duke, it wouldn’t be easy to save his wife if she was suspected of trying to harm royalty.
He let out a long sigh. Sitting back and doing nothing wouldn’t change anything—he had to find a way.
“Understood. You’re dismissed.”
“Yes, Captain!”
With Frederick’s dismissal, Ned and the other knights bowed quickly and left. Frederick watched them go, then turned his gaze out the window.
Grace sat in a daze, staring through the bars of her cell.
The underground prison was dark and damp. Even the air felt sticky and unpleasant. She had spent the night here.
“Why was I sent straight to this place…?”
“Prisoners accused of serious crimes are brought here until their trial.”
That was the answer she got from the jailer when she first arrived. Since then, she had lost all sense of time.
Am I… going to die now?
The charge was attempted regicide. If she couldn’t clear her name, execution was inevitable. Even without knowing much about the law, she understood that much.
There’s still so much I wanted to do…
She hadn’t painted nearly enough. She still wanted to grow as an Armento. But if she was executed as a would-be murderer, her dreams would vanish like mist.
Was everything up until now just a dream?
Grace sat and stared upward. A faint ray of sunlight streamed through the small, palm-sized window in the ceiling.
I feel so sorry… for Frederick.
If she died, he’d forever be labeled as the man who married a criminal.
Did the princess lie to have me killed?
The thought crossed her mind, but even that didn’t make much sense. What reason would the princess have to want her dead?
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