Chapter 53

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 53

Chapter Title: Checkmate

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“...What the hell is that woman.”

Annblin chewed on her red lips.

That woman.

Edgar slowly closed his eyes. He drew in a deep breath and slowly opened them again.

“My. Checkmate.”

With his patience utterly spent, Edgar murmured lowly.

“So tell me. Where is she?”

He had dared to try harming a player officially sponsored by the Lancelot family. His fury was thus an entirely justified reaction.

The carriage had just left the city streets and was running along the riverbank.

It slowed to a stop. Wondering if they had already arrived, Olivia slightly lifted the curtain.

It was not in front of the house.

“What’s going-. Mmph.”

As she turned her head toward the window to speak, a large hand in a black leather glove thrust inside and clamped over Olivia’s mouth.

“Mmph.”

It happened in an instant.

She strained with all her might to pry off the brutish hand, but it didn’t budge an inch. Her heart pounded as if it would burst.

She dug her nails into the man’s wrist with all her strength, thrashing wildly.

Ugh! Flesh tore, and blood seeped from the man’s wrist.

Damn it, the man cursed as his grip slackened for a moment. Seizing the chance, Olivia bit down on his fingers.

“Aaaagh!”

She swiftly grabbed the wrist as he screamed and pulled away.

She yanked it forward with all her force. The moment the coachman’s armpit caught on the window frame, she twisted it outward with every ounce of strength.

Uwaaaagh! A scream that pierced her eardrums rang out, and Olivia’s vision swayed.

Her movements grew sluggish from the anesthetic.

No.

Her flailing hand opened the carriage door. The moment she stepped out, dizziness overwhelmed her, and she tumbled to the ground.

If she lost consciousness... no...

She staggered to her feet but collapsed before taking a single step.

Her inverted vision blurred. The red sun sinking into the Bichen River faded, and soon her consciousness cut off.

Johann was in the smoking room with the Britt Crown Prince. Prince Mikhail and a few alumni from Britt Royal University were also there.

“Edgar’s not here. Is he not coming?”

“With the Dumblin Championship right around the corner, he must be busy.”

Mikhail replied to the Crown Prince’s question, exhaling a long plume of smoke.

“By the way, Princess Annblin might need to get a bit nervous.”

Mikhail tossed out the topic while subtly gauging Johann’s reaction.

“Why? Is Miss Blanchett that good?”

The Crown Prince, who couldn’t stand when it came to his sister, stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and looked at Mikhail.

“They say Russell Junior got dragged around like a dog.”

Chuckles echoed through the smoke-filled room.

The conversation shifted from predicting Olivia Blanchett’s performance to bets with stakes on the line.

Amid the jovial mood, Johann turned from the window and stood from his seat.

“What about you, brother? Who’re you betting on?”

Mikhail smiled up at Johann.

Pathetic fool.

Johann shot him a glare laced with curses and gave a light bow to the Crown Prince before stepping out.

As the party heated up, the lights grew brighter.

Johann’s eyes sharpened as he passed the long corridor lined with crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, heading toward the banquet hall.

The long-awaited moment was utterly boring.

Olivia, Olivia everywhere he went.

Olivia Blanchett.

Letting out a long sigh, Johann caught sight of Edgar at the edge of his vision just as he was about to enter the hall.

His elongated eyes narrowed. His ash-gray eyes slowly scanned Edgar’s surroundings.

Olivia was nowhere to be seen.

Edgar was talking with his old lover.

Relief mixed with a strange unease.

He recalled the woman who had huddled in one corner of the lavish party venue.

A foolish woman who would shrink her small shoulders in intimidation yet stubbornly insist on coming along.

Doomed to collide, shatter, and ultimately break.

‘Because she’s your wife. Let me go with you. I won’t embarrass you... I’ll do exactly as I was taught.’

What could Diane Brooke have possibly taught her? As if that woman would have taught her properly.

Recalling truths he hadn’t known then but had recently learned made his blood boil in reverse.

Thinking of his wife, shoved into a dark terrace, red-eyed and weeping, made his heart throb again.

As he habitually glanced at his watch, Morris hurried over.

Amid the blaring music, Morris whispered into Johann’s ear. His steel-gray eyes darkened deeply.

It was then that an attendant holding a silver tray approached.

“Princess Krantz wishes to see you briefly.”

The hotel staff in Leopold Hotel uniform delivered the message politely. Johann’s brow furrowed faintly.

He lifted his gaze and quickly swept over the vast hall.

“Where?”

“She said she’s in room 3016.”

“Did you get the request directly from the princess?”

The attendant hesitated and lowered his eyes.

“It was from Her Highness’s maid.”

Johann nodded shortly, signaling he could leave, and gestured to Morris. Morris followed the attendant.

If Princess Krantz was summoning Johann, it should logically be in the suite he had provided her or his office.

Room 3016...

He didn’t know who was scheming what with what intent.

Johann ascended the central staircase willingly. He placed his hand on the curving banister and slowly climbed, looking down at the hall.

People whirling in dance amid the overheated atmosphere. Groups laughing and chatting. Nothing amiss.

Someone.

A cool gaze swept the banquet hall and met the eyes of a woman standing by an outer pillar.

It was Princess Annblin.

Her gaze briefly met his before shifting back to Edgar.

Having reached the top step, Johann strode across the arabesque-patterned carpet.

The relatively quiet third-floor corridor faintly carried the music and laughter from the party hall.

Passing the guest room doors slowly, Johann stopped before 3016. The illuminated numbers gleamed gold.

He withdrew his hand from his pocket and knocked lightly.

There was no presence from inside. He knocked once more and opened the door without hesitation.

The heat in the banquet hall, where the party was in full swing, was intense. And someone was carefully stoking that heat.

“Guess who I just saw?”

A noblewoman who approached the group lowered her voice as if sharing a scandalous secret, and the surroundings quieted.

“I saw Olivia Blanchett. That shameless harlot.”

“Heavens! Of all places. She has no shame.”

“But the truly shocking part is...”

She lowered her voice further, mindful of those around, and people held their breath, ears perked.

“Duke Leopold went into the room she entered.”

“N-No, that can’t be.”

“I saw it with my own two eyes.”

The hall buzzed. Some sighed, others gasped in shock, and the rumor spread like wildfire.

The invited reporters reacted first. Then came the gossips who would wake from sleep for a juicy affair scandal, racing up the stairs, joined by those who loved a good spectacle.

Edgar glared ferociously at Annblin.

Annblin smiled brightly.

“Blood can’t lie, it seems. Right, Ed?”

Finally, Edgar bolted toward the central staircase like a madman.

Watching his retreating back, Annblin smiled coldly.

Irene was in the lounge with Catherine.

Wherever people gathered, the whispers were all about her fiancé’s ex-wife.

The lounge was no different.

Talk of the tennis tournament a week away led to Princess Annblin, and naturally to Olivia Blanchett. Her nerves frayed.

She could picture the life awaiting her if she married that man. The mere thought suffocated her and drained her energy.

Irene stood. It might be better to rest in the room Johann had provided.

It was just as she was about to step out that her maid entered.

“Duke Leopold requests to see you.”

“...”

What could it be? Irene stared at the maid for a moment before asking.

“Where is he?”

“He’s waiting in 3016.”

She couldn’t fathom his intentions. Had he given her the wrong room?

Even so, he could tell her after the party. He wasn’t the type to summon her like this. Swallowing a sigh, Irene stood.

“The Duke must already be pining for you.”

The noble ladies fussed enviously and jealously.

Irene gave them a light nod and followed her maid. Her steps felt heavy.

The elevator doors opened. Irene stepped out with her maid.

“!”

Irene’s expression hardened.

“Keep it down, will you?”

The corridor center was rowdy.

The crowd was gathered right in front of 3016, ears pressed to the door.

Irene couldn’t grasp what was happening.

Meanwhile, the onlookers straining to hear salacious sounds from within gasped at the sight of the princess.

My goodness!

It was the worst scandal imaginable.

Under the soft corridor lights, the princess approached gracefully, her black dress trailing elegantly. She seemed utterly unaware of what lay beyond that door. How pitiful.

“What’s going on?”

Irene stopped before them and asked calmly.

She sensed something was wrong, but her composed expression and posture were now second nature.

“W-Well...”

No one answered straightforwardly.

They couldn’t bear to voice it, imagining the shock to this poised and beautiful foreign princess over such thrilling gossip.

As they exchanged glances, someone came dashing from the corridor’s end.

My goodness! What on earth was happening?

All eyes turned to one man.

Edgar Langcaster Lancelot. The man at the center of the affair rumors with the former Duchess of Leopold.

The onlookers forgot to breathe, eyes darting between the two.

Edgar, who had sprinted up to the third floor in one go, had blazing eyes.