Chapter 27

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 27

Chapter Title: Lily Key

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It was impossible not to feel a thrill of excitement. Even though it was still under the same Litton sky, just stepping out of the hotel made it seem like a whole new life was about to begin. Olivia's heart raced at that small change.

The stop where they arrived to catch the carriage to Riverside 3rd Street was deserted, as if one had just picked up passengers and left.

Should they wait thirty minutes or so, or hail a passing private carriage? As Olivia pondered, her eyes caught sight of a newspaper stand next to a streetlamp.

[Duke Johann Edinburgh Leopold Engaged to Princess Irene de Krantz of Tanesia]

'No way!'

Olivia's eyes widened at the unbelievable headline.

Her gaze, captivated by the lead story for a moment, slowly drifted down to the large photo dominating the front page below it.

The woman wearing a tiara on her head was a beauty with refined features. And beside her was a photo of Johann Leopold, placed side by side.

Olivia's mind went blank for a moment.

Marriage.

Of course, Johann Leopold would get married. To Clara Saint. So this woman, the Krantz princess, shouldn't be the one.

'It means he doesn't care who it is.'

Olivia clasped her trembling hands tightly together, chills running down her spine.

It was this world's unyielding determination that a villainess was absolutely necessary to make the heroine, Clara, shine.

To that end, the role of Johann's wife who persecutes Clara was crucial, and it seemed to say that it didn't have to be Olivia Blanchett specifically.

The area quickly buzzed as people gathered one by one to board the carriage. The noise buzzed in Olivia's head. She felt dizzy.

"Are you alright? ...Miss?"

Anne, who had been watching for the carriage, was startled by Olivia's suddenly pale face and hurried over. Following Olivia's gaze, Anne covered her mouth as it fell open in silence.

Miss...

Anne looked back at Olivia with worry. Her face was heartbreakingly pale, drained of color.

Of course, Olivia was shocked for entirely different reasons, but Anne, unaware of that, saw it as the young lady crumbling at the news of her beloved husband's engagement.

How deeply she must have loved him.

A love that meant nothing to the duke had been everything that sustained the young lady's life. Even if that love was painful and cruel. Emotions like that wouldn't vanish in an instant just because a signature was scrawled on a piece of paper.

"Shall we rest somewhere for a bit? How about over there?"

Anne pointed to a coffee house across the street.

"...No need. I'm fine."

Olivia barely managed to curl the corners of her lips.

Just then, the carriage arrived. As the door opened, people surged forward. Olivia boarded, swept along like driftwood in a wave.

The carriage departed, and the newsstand receded from view outside the window. But in Olivia's mind, the image of the Krantz archduchess smiling brightly like spring sunshine was etched crystal clear.

No way.

「Duke Johann Edinburgh Leopold Engaged to Krantz Archduchess in Surprise Announcement」

This couldn't be happening.

Diane's cold eyes fixed on the photo in the morning paper. Her hands gripped the newspaper, trembling violently. The sudden turn with no warning at all filled her with a profound sense of betrayal.

This would just benefit someone else.

The reporters gushed with unbridled joy and excitement in every article, as if by agreement. They crowed that the Duke of Leopold was finally taking a duchess befitting his noble bloodline.

Irene de Krantz.

A princess of supreme status from a nation, incomparable to Olivia Blanchett. She was an opponent who shattered Diane's longing for the duchess position in one blow, extinguishing even the will to fight.

Diane bit her lip.

Diane, who needed time to capture Johann's heart, had clung to Great Hill under the pretext of cleaning up the mess left by the former duchess.

This was because, even a month after the divorce, bills and ordered items kept arriving, requiring someone to verify them.

She should have gotten pregnant first, no matter what it took...

If the archduchess became the new lady of the house, Diane would have no pretext to stay any longer. Tanesia already had secretaries and aides, leaving no room for the former duchess's secretary.

'Damn it!'

Diane shot up from her seat and flung the newspaper onto the table. Her footsteps, heavy with anger, paced toward the window.

Unbearable rage boiled up.

What all had she done to get rid of Olivia Blanchett...

Her temples throbbed painfully.

'Damn it! Damn it, I'm going insane!'

Instead of screaming, Diane grabbed a vase from the sideboard and hurled it onto the wool carpet. The glass shattered, glinting sharply in the morning sunlight.

With all her efforts gone to waste, she now needed something commensurate with the duchess position.

Without that, she absolutely couldn't step down from this spot.

Quick to pivot, she strode to the vanity and opened the top drawer. Inside a box of green velvet with gold trim lay a sparkling key embroidered with a lily pattern.

I can't just leave quietly like this.

Diane gazed down at the golden key, gnawing her lower lip. Blood rushed to her red lips, darkening them as they slowly curved upward.

Great Hill had been built in her homeland's architectural style for a young queen who married abroad and suffered from homesickness.

The king had filled a large room with jewels for his beloved queen, and the lily key opened the chamber where those treasures were displayed and stored.

Of course, after the queen's death, the jewels were transferred to Rondo's Palace, but eighty years later, Olivia Leopold, the new lady of Great Hill and Duchess of Leopold, had refilled that space with gems.

This too had been part of Diane's scheme, but the oblivious world scorned the tasteless duchess for her vulgar extravagance, unaware of the circumstances.

Foolish Olivia.

In becoming a vain, ostentatious creature without even realizing it, Olivia grew ever more reliant on Diane as things worsened.

Manipulating such a pathetic girl was easier than breathing.

The lily key had originally been managed by the lady of the house. To obtain it, Diane had framed Olivia's maid.

She had hidden a pink diamond necklace—one of the previous duchess's heirlooms—in the maid's room. Using the negligence as an excuse, the lily key fell into Diane's hands.

It was like Johann entrusting the fishmonger to the cat, deeming his wife incompetent.

Diane closed the box, returned it to its place, and shut the drawer. She called the maid to clean up the broken vase and began her usual routine, waiting for nightfall.

Waiting for nightfall, Diane confirmed that even the lights in Johann's bedroom had gone out before quietly leaving the study.

Carrying an unlit lamp, she traversed the long corridor and stood before the door opposite the duchess's bedroom on the second floor. Relying on moonlight, she inserted the key and turned it gently; with a soft click, the door opened.

She carefully eased open the heavy door to make no sound and slipped through the minimal gap.

Groping in the pitch-black space, Diane placed the lamp on the shelf, then fumbled in her pocket for matches and lit it.

The space, always enchanting no matter when she entered, poured forth dazzling light even in the small flame. She swallowed dryly.

From the jewels collected by Johann's mother, the Edinburgh Duchess, to the tiara set gifted by the queen at her marriage, and rare pieces bought at auctions and jewelers.

Diane had waited three years, savoring these treasures that would one day be hers.

'Consider it payment for my service, Johann.'

The sparkling jewels vanished one by one into the bag she had prepared. The bag soon grew heavy, and the room plunged back into darkness. Diane slipped out as quietly as she had entered.

A carriage, arranged discreetly via messenger during the day, waited in the shadows by the back gate wall.

"Longbon Street."

The carriage raced down narrow hillside paths before turning onto a dark trail. It led to the foggy riverside, following the straight stretch of river for a while.

Though red bridges spanned the river, the carriage crossed the one farthest downstream.

Turning again onto winding, dim roads, it soon entered a dark, narrow back alley. It was a slum where dilapidated buildings clustered without a sliver of sunlight.

The carriage stopped at the destination. Diane stepped out, hood pulled low over her hat.

After scanning the surroundings briefly, she knocked on the door. On the third knock, faint light seeped from within. Soon, the door creaked open.

"What the hell, who is— Oh! Miss Brooke, isn't it?"

Diane glared at the man and spoke lowly.

"Don't call me that casually."

"Yes, yes. Of course."

The man flung the door wide and stepped aside. As Diane entered, he scanned the dark alley sharply before closing the door and lowering all the blinds.

"Been well?"

The man sauntered over, scratching his mutton chops. Without explanation, Diane dropped the bag onto the table with a thud.

"Brought something impressive, have we?"

The man opened the leather bag. A lewd whistle pierced the quiet room. He winked at Diane.

"Two days. Make it in that time."

"Push too hard, and it'll be shoddy work."

"There's eighty more points worth. Finish in a fortnight and we're gone."

"My cut?"

"We'll see after you fence the jewels."

"60-40."

"You're insane?"

"Insane enough to kill people too. Right, miss?"

The man grinned, baring yellowed teeth. Barely suppressing her disgust, Diane sighed.

"80-20. Don't get greedy. Money's nice, but not worth your life, is it?"

Diane drew a small defensive pistol from her handbag and aimed it at him.