kscans

Chapter 16 - Lies and Truth

"What did you say?! Is that true, Father?"

"It is, Valona."

"Oh my, oh my," the Queen murmured, her hand to her mouth. The King, his expression grim, watched the proceedings in silence.

"All of you, look closely. Lady Sumika’s invitation has no scrivener’s name written on it!" The letter ended with Tagi’s name.

If Spirld had ghostwritten the invitation, his name should have been noted on the paper as the scrivener.

But it wasn’t there.

"The Royal Family’s letter paper appears to be authentic, but I have no doubt it was stolen through some underhanded means," Duke Philbard said with contempt.

"Perhaps she coaxed that attendant over there into doing it."

"What?!" Touli’s cheeks flushed with anger. He shook his head violently.

"I would never do such a thing! Steal? Never!" His mouth couldn’t keep up with his raging emotions. Duke Philbard gave a faint, cruel smile.

"It seems I’ve hit a nerve. If an attendant commits a crime, his master is equally guilty. No, the crime is even greater."

"Ah, don’t worry about me."

At Litt’s nonchalant attitude, Duke Philbard’s brow furrowed.

"Have you forgotten, Your Grace, Duke Philbard?"

"What?" A glint like a blade flashed in his green eyes.

"This letter requires no scrivener’s name."

"What do you mean by that—"

Litt raised an index finger to his lips, cutting off the Duke’s protest. It was a gesture for secrecy, or silence.

"I wrote it," Tagi himself confessed.

"Tagi?"

"It’s true, brother. I sent the letter on my own initiative, without consulting His Majesty." Raoul’s eyes widened slightly.

"…However, I didn’t know what to write, or how to write it. I sought Litt’s advice through another Court Secretary." Litt smiled.

"It’s very well written, Your Highness Tagi. I only advised you on the necessary points to include, yet the passion of youth comes through vividly in your words."

"Litt, you bastard!" Duke Philbard roared.

"Have you forgotten the duties of a Court Secretary, Your Grace?"

His smile vanished, replaced by a voice of absolute zero. Cold, green eyes. The spines of everyone present went cold. Duke Philbard’s breath caught in his throat with a gasp.

"It is an honorable position, responsible for the Royal Family’s correspondence. Of course, that includes ghostwriting invitations for night parties. In such cases, the scrivener’s name is included to denote responsibility." Litt paused.

But there was an exception.

"—A letter handwritten by royalty would not have a scrivener’s name." If the letter Sumika received was written by Tagi himself…

"So it’s real!" Touli shouted, his face beaming.

"That explains why her name wasn’t on the list! Even without her name on it, Lady Sumika can attend the party with a handwritten invitation from His Highness Tagi!"

Having said this, Touli realized his master was looking at him with a faintly mocking expression.

"Huh? Did I say something strange?"

"Your reasoning is flawed." Litt sighed deeply.

"She has the invitation, and she’s here at the Royal Castle. So why wasn’t she checked off the guest list that Spirld altered?"

"Oh, right." Litt tapped Touli on the head.

Sumika, the focus of everyone’s attention, looked down. Her hands, clenched in the fabric of her dress, trembled like a small rabbit.

"Sumika." Tagi took her hand.

"It’s alright. No matter what happens, I will protect you."

"Your Highness…" The Second Prince and the Viscount’s daughter gazed at each other, transcending their difference in status.

"I don’t like to spoil things," Litt said, cutting through the sweet atmosphere.

"You came in through the Shirone Gate, not the Shirogane Gate, didn’t you?" That was the castle’s back entrance.

"Why?" Litt asked.

"I-I misread it. They sound so similar."

Shirogane Gate and Shirone Gate. The names were similar, but their purposes were completely different.

The main gate of the Royal Castle was the Shirogane Gate.

Naturally, since invited guests entered through the Shirogane Gate, the officials checking attendance were stationed only there.

"So that’s why you weren’t marked on the guest list. Hmm…" Sumika bravely met Litt’s probing gaze.

"I thought it was a consideration from His Highness Tagi, to ensure I wouldn’t be obstructed upon entry."

"Ah, because you’re a guest not even on the invitation list." Sumika glared at him.

"Nevertheless, I have a formal invitation from His Highness Tagi!" Tagi nodded deeply, looking at Litt with a puzzled expression.

"Is there a problem?"

"I have a question." Litt raised his right index finger.

"Why would a Viscount’s daughter, a noble no matter how minor, know about the back Shirone Gate?"

The air froze in silence.

"…Umm, well, I mean… wait a minute." Touli, though stunned, managed to speak.

"Lord Litt, you use the Shirone Gate too, don’t you?"

"I have no title. I’m not a noble, so using the back gate suits my station. Even if I hold an honorable senior position, I’m still just a worker—a laborer."

Those words were not humility. They were imbued with pride in his own duties.

"That’s why I’m a little ticked off that my work was criticized."

"Not just a little, I think…" Touli muttered in a barely audible voice. He’s angry. Royally angry.

Litt’s expression was calm, but his eyes were not smiling at all. His green pupils held a sharp, dangerous glint, like a drawn blade.

"The talented lady who corresponds with a neighboring country." Jin’s eyes widened. Why was that relevant now?

"Hey, Litt."

"You’re the one who told me, my friend." Litt’s lips twisted into a smirk.

"Is your correspondent the Third?" At the sound of the word "Third," Raoul looked up as if struck.

"…Yes." Sumika gave a weak nod.

"In that case, I understand about the Shirone Gate. The Third told you about it, didn’t he?"

"Yes. And that with a handwritten invitation, I wouldn’t be questioned even if I wasn’t checked off the guest list."

"Hmm. How kind of him. Speaking from experience, perhaps?" Litt glanced at the King. The King said nothing.

"Well, whatever." Litt turned back to Tagi.

"So, Your Highness. Joking aside, are you truly considering annulling your engagement to Lady Valona?"

"Yes. My heart will not change."

"How could you—"

The black ostrich Crim fell from Valona’s hand with a soft thud. Duke Philbard caught his daughter as she was about to collapse.

"Pardon me, Your Majesty. My daughter is not feeling well." He glared at his brother-in-law as if to bite him.

"I will have her rest in another room." Without waiting for the King’s permission, Duke Philbard led Valona out of the Hall of Crests.

In their wake remained the Royal Family, the Viscount family, the Vice-Captain of the Royal Knights, and the Court Secretary with his attendant.