Garden Of Poison-Chapter 226: Responsible Princess

"I must be getting influenced by your company," Emily muttered as they began to walk down the corridor.

"It doesn’t sound too bad at all, does it, Princess?" Raylen asked her, his blue eyes shining with mirth. Although he smiled at her, his mind was preoccupied with thoughts of his past from last night, which had kept him awake. Unlike her, who had fallen into a sound sleep, as evidenced by the light snores he had heard coming from the room next to his.

It wasn’t that Raylen was disturbed by the past, as he didn’t hold bitter feelings towards it. Instead, he had built fond memories upon it and had found the closure he believed he had sought. The archdemon went by his saying: why be miserable when you could make others miserable?

"Also, calling me an idiot is not very nice, especially after I’ve been so nice to you," Raylen said, his eyes narrowing slightly. He watched her hazel brown eyes widen in surprise, as if she hadn’t considered he would be able to hear her. He saw her press her lips together, and he asked, "Regretting it?"

"I would have kept my thoughts to myself if I had known you were in the next room," Emily admitted honestly. He had always been a bit odd, but his insistence on tucking her in last night had been especially peculiar, and she decided not to broach the subject. Instead, she inquired, "When is your birthday?"

The look on Raylen’s face turned curious as he read Emily’s expression, and he replied, "A little late to ask now. It just passed."

"It did?" Emily asked, as she hadn’t noticed any celebration. Besides, the man ate cake so frequently that she wouldn’t have discerned a birthday cake from any other.

Raylen nodded and said, "Remember the day I joined you for breakfast, and you initially refused to eat a slice of my birthday cake, but then, with a little persuasion, you did?"

The memory of that day dawned in Emily’s mind, and a troubled expression crossed her face. She was quick to apologise, saying, "Forgive me. Had I known, I would have eaten it without any initial refusal."

"But where would the fun have been in that?" Raylen asked mischievously. He enjoyed vexing her because he always made her blush and burst into a pretty array of colours that pleased his eyes. He then questioned her, "What are you sorry about, Princess?"

Emily took a second before replying, "Birthdays are meant to be celebrated. Not quietly, but grandly. I think it is sad when a person is surrounded by others, yet their birthday is treated as if it’s insignificant and not celebrated."

"It appears that you enjoy birthdays despite your limited enthusiasm for cakes," Raylen remarked, raising one of his eyebrows as he looked in her direction.

Upon hearing his words, Emily smiled and began reminiscing, "Back in Versailles, we used to celebrate everyone’s birthdays, regardless of their significance. Especially when it was Brother Dante’s birthday. Grandmother and I would organise everything together." She fondly recalled the memories she had built with her family. Her father didn’t acknowledge her eldest brother’s birthday, but the others always made sure to. She continued, "I believe it is more exciting to host and organise a celebration and witness the joy it brings to others than to celebrate my own."

Raylen observed the content smile on her lips as she spoke of her family. He murmured, "Sounds peaceful. Why did you inquire about my birthday? To rub in my loneliness?" His eyes only appeared to sparkle even more as her face reverted to a troubled expression.

"No, that was not my intention," Emily replied with an awkward smile. "I was actually thinking of giving you a cat. What?" she asked upon seeing him give her a blank stare.

"Alice was a one-time thing. Unless you want me to go through grief when the next cat eventually dies?" Raylen questioned her. He went on to say, "Attachments are the worst," because he tended to get too attached to things and found it hard to let go. Although on the surface, the man appeared calm and unaffected by things, turbulent waters ran deep.

And as careful as the archdemon had been to keep his distance, his initial amusement had unexpectedly transformed into a delicious curiosity, which he was indulging in even now. His eyes flickered towards the princess as she animatedly talked about gifts. He observed her hair, which was styled differently today, with strands of hair framing the sides of her face. Her soft lips moved gracefully, not too wide, and her lively eyes were bright and clear after the good night’s rest.

"A little too indulgent," Raylen murmured, catching Emily’s attention. Was it the proximity of death at her door that made her look pretty to him? His thought brought a smile to his face, earning a questioning gaze from the woman beside him. He continued, "If you want to give me a gift, how about a lifetime deal involving your blood?"

"Thankfully, you didn’t ask for my soul," Emily joked, and she noticed a fleeting glint passing through the archdemon’s eyes.

"Perhaps I should ask for it. You do possess a quality soul that could be sold for a high price at the black market." Raylen’s lips twisted into a smile, and Emily shot him a small glare in response.

"You would sell it?" Emily asked incredulously, her disbelief evident in her tone. What purpose could he possibly have for selling it when he already possessed enough wealth as it was? Unless it wasn’t about wealth at all?

"Or I could keep your soul for myself."

As Emily saw Raylen staring at her, the smile on his face faded, the previously playful look in his eyes replaced by something unreadable. Before another word could be exchanged between them, Westley arrived and bowed at them.

"Master Raylen, the carriage is ready," the servant informed.

Raylen nodded at Westley before turning to look at Emily. He remarked, "It seems like you have plans to go somewhere as well. I hope you remember that Westley will be accompanying you." He didn’t need to ask to know where she was going, considering how things had spiralled the previous day. Princess to the rescue, he thought wryly, his lips twisting.

"I remember," Emily replied, feeling grateful that she would have someone stronger than her maid to accompany her. Curious, she inquired, "Where are you headed to?"

"There’s someone I need to meet, along with some inspection work to be done as there have been a few deaths in the neighbouring towns and villages," Raylen answered.

"Deaths?" Emily asked with a frown.

"Mm. I need to investigate whether they were caused by the lowly demons or someone else, as the men are unable to identify the culprit," Raylen explained to her briefly and saw her nod in acknowledgment. "I should be back by evening," he added, his gaze lingering on her a second longer before he walked away from her.

When Raylen reached the waiting carriage, his footsteps paused at the door, and Westley, who followed him, stopped walking as well. The servant gazed silently at his master, appearing as though he was contemplating something.

"Did you forget something, Master?" Westley inquired politely.

Raylen turned to his servant and remarked with a crooked smile, "You ask an interesting question, Westley."

He did? Westley questioned himself, watching as Raylen climbed aboard the carriage and departed from the castle.

"He is smiling a little too much," Westley murmured in a dull voice as he stepped back into the castle. Typically, smiling was considered a positive expression, at least in the living realm. However, when his master smiled, it usually meant that something terrible was about to happen to someone else.

Inside the castle, Emily was strolling along one of the corridors when she caught sight of two servants carrying what appeared to be stacks of invitations. The servants were led by Lauren, who, upon sensing her presence, respectfully bowed in her direction.

"What are those?" Emily inquired with curiosity.

"These are invitations that must be sent out by this evening, Princess," Lauren answered, before adding, "They are for the celebration of Master Raylen’s birthday."

"The one that has already passed?" Emily asked, and she saw a smile form on the head servant’s face.

"The one that is upcoming in a week, milady. He thought it would be good to celebrate it together with Hallow’s Day," Lauren replied, noticing the princess pursing her lips as a dry expression briefly crossed her face.

Emily reached for one of the envelopes and read its contents, confirming that Raylen had once again attempted to pull her leg. She rolled her eyes and, as if taking note of something, murmured, "It’s a ball."

"It is, milady," Lauren answered. "I have informed Mr. Hatt that we will be making a visit today to organise your attire and mask for the ball."

"That is thoughtful of you, Lauren, thank you," Emily expressed her gratitude for the assistance. She couldn’t believe how scheming Raylen was when it came to his attempts to obtain her blood.

Lauren asked, "When would you like to visit Mr. Hatt’s store?"

"At noon," Emily replied. "I have plans to visit someone and will return for it."

"That works perfectly," Lauren responded with another bow, grateful for the time it would provide her to send out the invitations.

Soon after breakfast, and with the expected interruption that had been a frequent occurrence at this time of the morning conspicuously absent, Emily boarded a carriage with Westley and departed. During the journey, her companion acted non-existent, remaining utterly still and silent, not moving an inch. Even when she stared at the demon servant, he never once looked her way, though she could tell he sensed her gaze.

As the carriage continued its journey along the winding roads, it eventually entered a town, and on their way, the vehicle slowed down enough for Emily’s attention to be diverted by a small crowd gathering up ahead. She craned her neck to peer out of the window to see what the commotion was.

"Get out of here!"

"You are no longer welcome here! Leave!" Angry voices reached Emily’s ears, and she frowned and said,

"There’s a disturbance going on," which was unpleasant. "Let’s find out what is happening."

Once Emily disembarked the carriage, Westley dutifully followed her, as his master had instructed him earlier that morning. As she moved closer, her eyes fell upon the crowd encircling a woman who appeared on the verge of tears.

The young woman clasped her hands together, feeling daunted by the people surrounding her, and said, "This is a misunderstanding. He would never do something like that. I am here only to collect the ration—" freēnovelkiss.com

"The market is closed to your family! You have the audacity to ask for anything after what happened!" a woman scolded, wearing an appalled expression filled with disgust. "Tell your family to leave the house. We don’t need murderers in our midst!" The people showed no compassion, looking at her with accusatory eyes, as if they would set her on fire at any moment.

"Olive!" Emily heard a familiar voice, and when she turned, she noticed the crowd parting to make way for Julius.

"Look, the murderer himself is here!" Whispers circulated through the crowd as they glared at him with contempt.

"Are you alright?" Julius asked his sister, who nodded, a wave of relief washing over the young woman’s face at her brother’s arrival. He turned to face the people and warned, "Stay away from my sister! She did nothing, and neither did I. You have known us for so long, and yet you are so quick to jump over a mere rumour."

"That is what you say. Leave our town!" someone from the back of the crowd shouted.

Emily’s hands clenched at the sight and the words, and before she realised it, her voice rang out loudly, "King Raylen has issued an announcement." Everyone’s attention shifted to her.

"Who’s that?"

"Is it the woman who was with Julius? So she’s the reason he committed the murder, and now she’s defending him."

"I am Princess Emily Blackthorn of Versailles," Emily introduced herself in a voice filled with authority. She continued, "I am here to inform everyone that the murderer of Marshall Travis has been caught, and Julius Ardolf is innocent in this matter. The guilty man will soon die for his crime. It would be wise of you to keep your hasty judgments to yourself, unless you wish to spend some time confined in a dark dungeon."

The crowd fell mostly silent, only whispering amongst themselves.

"Isn’t that the kingdom where the king had four women? Do you think she’s the illegitimate woman’s daughter?"

Emily was well aware of the burden that came with being a princess of Versailles, and she had accepted it long ago. She had concealed her identity for far too long, and she no longer wanted to do so. She said firmly,

"If you are done with the morning witch hunt, you should return to minding your own business. There’s nothing to see or hear here." She then turned to look at Westley, who had been staring at her. As if understanding what she wanted, he stepped forward to silently convey the king’s authority. The crowd quickly scattered, though many couldn’t resist casting one final glance at the princess before leaving.

When Emily approached where Julius and his sister stood, he expressed with a touch of embarrassment, "Thank you for that... even though you didn’t have to do that." He offered her a deep bow, and so did his sibling.

With people still looking at them from the corners of their eyes, Emily suggested, "We should take your sister back home."

"Yes," Julius agreed, and they soon arrived at the Ardolf’s residence.

Emily had suspected that things wouldn’t be going well for him, but she hadn’t expected to stumble upon such a scene. Currently, she sat in the living room, with Westley standing discreetly at the back, and she could hear whispers emanating from the kitchen, where Julius and his mother were engaged in a hushed conversation.

Olive came into the room, smiling awkwardly, and said, "The townsfolk aren’t usually like this. There have been a series of deaths and it has left them anxious..."

Emily had heard about the situation from Raylen. Although she was involved in Marshall’s death, she didn’t like to see innocent people being dragged into it. She said, "Hopefully, they will let it go and won’t harass your family again."

The young woman, who appeared younger than Emily, smiled appreciatively. She said, "We are truly grateful for your help today, Princess Emily. Julius didn’t tell us that you were a princess, and we’re unable to offer you tea or coffee..." because there was no milk in the house.

"You don’t have to fret about it. I drank plenty of tea before coming here," Emily reassured her with a kind smile, not wanting to trouble the already troubled.

Shortly afterwards, Julius’s mother entered the room, with Julius following right behind her. The woman looked thrilled to see Emily in her living room and introduced herself, saying, "I am Esme Ardolf. Julius and Olive’s mother."

Emily rose from her seat, offering a polite bow and replied, "Emily Blackthorn. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Julius’s mother couldn’t believe that Emily, a real princess, was in their home displaying such humility. Esme expressed, "I have been eager to meet and speak with you, Princess. You are truly beautiful! I don’t think I have ever seen a woman as pretty as you."

"Thank you, Mrs. Ardolf," Emily replied, noticing the palpable excitement bouncing off from the woman.

"We can catch up later. Olive, come help me in the kitchen." The older woman beckoned her daughter to join her, and they left like a whirlwind.

"Sorry about my mother. She has trouble containing herself at times," Julius said. "Would you like to take a walk outside, where we can enjoy a quieter atmosphere?" he proposed, knowing his mother would listen in on their conversation otherwise.

"Alright," Emily agreed, and they stepped out into the backyard, with Westley quietly following at a distance where he could keep an eye on them.

Emily noticed Julius appeared a bit quiet, not knowing how to start the conversation. She shifted her attention to the garden in the backyard and complimented it, saying, "You have a lovely garden."

"Thank you. My mother is very fond of plants and flowers, so she plants whatever she comes across," Julius explained as they strolled through the open space. He added, "It rained quite a lot yesterday, so they aren’t in their prime, and some have wilted from the hailstorm."

"Yes, the hailstorm," Emily replied, remembering her broken window and her injured foot, which was currently bandaged and tucked inside her stocking and shoe.

"About yesterday—"

"There was something I—"

They spoke at the same time, and they smiled at each other. Julius offered, "After you... Princess Emily."

"I wanted to apologise, and on behalf of King Raylen too, for not revealing the truth about us not being related," Emily said, wanting to reduce the growing pile of secrets between them.

Julius shook his head. "You don’t need to apologise. It seems that King Raylen was only protecting your reputation, especially given the reputation he himself holds in the kingdom when it comes to women." Though it was odd, he thought. Not because of the charade itself, but because the king had cared enough to fabricate such a story in the first place, which was unheard of. "I did wish I knew you were a princess."

"You would have behaved differently if you knew. So would the others," Emily responded, and Julius nodded in acknowledgment.

"I see the reasoning behind it, and I can only hope it served its purpose," Julius said, pausing his footsteps and turning to face her. "Forgive me for not informing you before I left the gathering yesterday. Everyone seemed to conclude that I killed Marshall, and I didn’t want you to see me in that light as well... I feel ashamed now. I am grateful to the King for catching the culprit," he added, offering an awkward smile as he glanced in the opposite direction.

Emily smiled awkwardly as she realised she had to speak to Raylen about this as soon as possible. Because, so far, they hadn’t found a suitable candidate to be framed for punishment. She said, "I am just glad that the townsfolk won’t harass you and your sister anymore. I am sorry that you had to go through those false allegations, Julius."

"Me too. Me too," he repeated, as if the weight of yesterday had drained him. "This is my home, and I don’t want to leave it. But I was concerned about Olive’s future." He paused for a moment before he continued, "I thought you didn’t want to speak to me after those allegations. At first, I assumed you were upset about something I said. Forgive me if that was the case."

Emily remembered how she had spent most of her time with Raylen during the gathering while ignoring Julius, only for him to be subsequently treated like an outcast. She said, "I learned about the allegations late. What happened yesterday, let us put it behind us."

"I would very much like that, Princess Emily," Julius responded with a smile. "Would you be interested in playing the piano together? I’ve missed giving you piano lessons."

Emily quietly nodded in agreement, noticing Julius’s mood visibly improving. After another five minutes of strolling, they returned inside. While Julius taught her a new piece of music, she chose not to mention Raylen, who had told her he would teach her as well.

Emily spent another hour more at the piano and a few more minutes conversing with Julius and his family before deciding it was time to return to the castle, as she didn’t want to make Lauren wait.

"Thank you for coming by. It was very thoughtful of you," Julius expressed as Emily was about to climb inside the carriage.

"It was nothing." Emily smiled at the man. She added, "Thank you for having me."

Before the carriage could depart, Julius inquired, "May I accompany you to the ball next week?" While he knew the polite princess wouldn’t decline, a hint of fear about the king’s presence crawled into his mind.

"But I live in the castle," Emily reminded him with a chuckle, because he couldn’t pick her up and bring her to her own residence. "Have a good day, Julius."

Julius bit his lip for the slip in his choice of words. He had intended to convey his desire to accompany Emily as her dance partner throughout the entire ball. He would have to express himself more clearly the next time they met, he said in his mind, silently watching the carriage leave.

In the carriage, Emily felt a little more at ease after making sure that Julius and his family were doing well. She doubted she would have been able to sit still without that knowledge. Upon their return to the castle, she stepped down, with Westley following close behind.

But as Emily entered the castle, her ears detected a faint commotion taking place inside, and she wondered what was happening. Following the sound, the frown on her face only deepened as she approached the source of the disturbance and caught sight of the person standing before Lauren.

"Mother...?"