56
After
that, having been told by Hugo to stay in the Violet Palace for a
while, Candice was lying in bed without understanding the reason.
（Why did things turn out like this……?）
The
day after the kidnapping incident, with nothing to do, Candice was
reading a book on the bed. Even if she tried to go outside, she was told she
couldn't without getting Valentin's permission, so she was completely
shut up in the room. Even when she appealed that she was already feeling
better, she was not released.
Valentin brought documents into the room
where Candice was, and was writing something down while sitting on a
chair.
（Uu…… why is he here! I have to stay
quiet.）
Looking
restlessly around the area, the books placed on the side table caught her eye.
As she read a book in silence, sweets and sweet milk were placed in front of Candice.
Because she occasionally felt his gaze, Candice was forced to spend her
time feeling tense.
Told
to 「Eat」
by Valentin, she once again brought a cookie to her mouth. Her cheeks
felt like they were going to melt from the sweet milk and the cookie kneaded
with chocolate.
At
that time, a blood-covered Hugo, apparently having finished his torture,
came to Valentin's side to report while floating the same sweet smile as
usual. Due to the excessively shocking visual, Candice ended up dropping
her half-eaten cookie with a plop.
「Hugo, do not show such an appearance in
front of a child.」
「What are you saying? Didn't even
Your Majesty the Emperor cut off heads right in front of Her Highness Candice,
Imperial Princess?」
「She…… couldn't see that.」
「I think she undoubtedly saw it,
though.」
Falling
silent at the sweetly smiling Hugo, Valentin cast a fleeting
glance at Candice. Being sent a gaze that seemed to ask if she had seen
it, she hesitated on what to do, but honestly nodded.
「…………」
「See, isn't that right?」
It
was a proud-looking Hugo, but being glared at piercingly by Valentin,
he cleared his throat. Although it was in front of Candice, perhaps
thinking she wouldn't understand the contents, Hugo indifferently
continued his explanation.
It
seemed the culprits who tried to abduct Candice were members of a bandit
group committing fraud against nobles, and they had apparently sneaked in and
were looking for an opportunity near Candice, who was rumored to be the Imperial
Princess with the absolute worst personality and the thinnest security. And
then, with maid recruitment being held at exactly the right timing, and hearing
that Candice was looking for an instructor, they successfully pulled
their accomplices in. Then, they would kidnap, demand a ransom, return the
child after receiving a large sum of money, and disappear. Their modus
operandi was apparently the same as in Candice's case.
It
seems such damages were occurring frequently among the Imperial nobles.
However, thanks to making them spit out information, they were finally able to
capture all the members of the culprit group, and it seems they are currently
investigating everything from the location of their hideout to the whereabouts
of the stolen money. Candice listened to Hugo's report while
pretending not to notice as she read her book. Hugo and Valentin
surely must not think that Candice understands the meaning of this
conversation.
「Hugo…… don't tell me you let them roam
free knowing it would turn out like this?」
「…………No?」
「……」
「I will ensure that something like
this never happens again, so could you please not point the tip of your sword
this way?」
Before
she knew it, Valentin was pointing a sword at Hugo's throat. Candice's
shoulders gave a large jolt, but Hugo was waving his hand dismissively
with an expression of composure while floating a smile.
（As expected, Hugo is no
ordinary person……!）
From hearing this conversation and from Hugo's actions, a certain thought crossed Candice's mind. She had been faintly feeling it, but it seemed Candice's thoughts were not mistaken.
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