KFBRV Ch 122

Why, why... why isn't the woman Odette?

The woman, who had been wearing a dress, quickly restored a decent appearance by lowering her skirt hem.

However, the man still had his trousers off. This meant it was difficult for him to tidy up his clothes immediately.

[Reporter] "Look over here!"

Moreover, the man, flustered and clumsy, even tumbled to the floor with a thud. But he was not the most flustered person in this place.

That person was Rudolf.

H-How is the Count here?

The man, who barely picked up his trousers from the floor, looked like none other than Count Albrecht, no matter how many times Rudolf looked.

The sponsor who provided funds to his newspaper was the dignified master of the Count's estate, where Doly worked.

Such a man, wearing only his underwear, was frantically rummaging through his trouser pockets in front of reporters.

It was a nightmarish sight. Rudolf shut his eyes tight. However, whether he closed his eyes or not, the reporters were thoroughly excited.

Because the Count, instead of hurriedly putting on the trousers he picked up, rummaged through the pockets, giving them a shutter chance.

The Count finally pulled an object out of his pocket. The reporters tilted their heads at his bizarre action.

A ring? What is he intending to do with a ring?

Putting on the ring, the Count shouted.

[Ulrich] "Invisibility!!!"

With that voice, the noisy reporters were dumbfounded all at once.

What was that? Just now?

At his absurd behavior, the reporters froze, forgetting even to press the shutter. The Count seemed to interpret this differently.

Seeing as he put on his trousers very leisurely and walked slowly toward the West Gate.

[Reporter] "Count!"

Breaking the silence, a reporter bravely grabbed the Count's arm.

[Reporter] "Is that woman your mistress? You are famous for your exemplary conduct, so since when have you been having an affair?"

But the Count pushed away the reporter who grabbed him and looked horrified.

[Ulrich] "W-What. How do you see me? Can you see me?!"

At that counter-question, the reporter who grabbed him was even more flustered.

[Reporter] "Yes? Of course I can see you... Surely you didn't shout 'Invisibility' just now because you really wanted to become invisible?"

The Exotic Garden, already silent, now became solemnly quiet beyond measure. Rudolf felt like he would welcome even a single chirp from any bird in this garden.

It was then. A reporter working for the Brentano Press burst into laughter.

[Reporter] "Puhahaha! Invisibility! Puhahahaha!"

It was a burst of laughter so loud it felt refreshing.

He was a reporter for the Brentano Press. He was also the nephew of the current Duke of Brentano.

As the Brentano family fell, the Brentano Press, once praised as the Empire's orthodox newspaper, went to the brink of bankruptcy.

The branch families, who had occupied the fringes of nobility and run sound businesses in their own right, lost money, authority, and honor one after another. Because of this, despite being the Duke's nephew, he barely scraped by as a reporter.

This meant he hated Count Albrecht very, very much.

[Reporter] "Invisibility... K, kukuku. Invisibilitaaaay, heueueuk."

The man was practically sobbing. As if shaking off a lifetime of grudges in this moment, a sense of catharsis could be felt in his laughter.

It was the moment the Count's face turned crimson with humiliation.

With a bang!, the East Gate opened again.

Doly had appeared.

[Doly] "...Rudolf? Why did you bring the reporters so quickly?"

From the East Gate, the reporters were visible before the Count or Mrs. Becker. Moreover, Doly hadn't even imagined the two people inside would be them. She hadn't done anything else after departing with Karl. So there should still be plenty of time left until 10 o'clock.

Yet Rudolf had arrived before her.

Why did he change the plan on his own without consulting me at all?

She frowned and asked back.

[Doly] "Calling the reporters together was supposed to be after 10 o'clock, wasn't it?"

And since those words entered the ears of everyone present, that hasty question was the worst blunder.

In the meantime, Karl, who had been standing behind her back, had long since disappeared, but Doly failed to notice it.

---

Vanessa.

I have urgent matters to discuss with you. Come to the Exotic Garden immediately.

The Count used a red brooch when issuing urgent orders. Although the handwriting on the parchment was strangely clumsy, Mrs. Becker failed to notice.

Because she guessed what that "urgent matter" might be, she was excited and nervous.

The Exotic Garden. How did he open the door to such a precious place?

In such a romantic place, there could be only one urgent matter to discuss. The Count must have noticed her pregnancy.

I even had morning sickness a few days ago.

Even Mrs. Becker herself had realized the pregnancy not long ago. She was moved by the fact that her lover, whom she thought was just dull, had prepared such a delicate setting.

Thus, she too had prepared a small gift for him. An item he had asserted would be difficult to obtain, but which had finally come into her hands.

Arriving at the Exotic Garden, she saw the Count asleep under the pergola.

While waiting for him to wake up, she drank some water because of the heat, and soon, intoxicated by the splendid and unique atmosphere, she woke and seduced him.

But suddenly, reporters barged in. And just now, Doly's words.

This nightmarish situation is all a trick plotted by Doly and Rudolf?

The Count seemed to have realized it as well.

[Ulrich] "That damned wench—"

Because he threw the ring aside and glared at Doly with a face like a demon.

Right. Wasn't it Doly who told the Count that the ring's function was invisibility?

The Count looked as if he wanted to strangle Doly right then and there, but since the reporters kept taking pictures of him, he couldn't.

[Reporter] "Count! Please tell us! Is the person beside you indeed your lover?"

[Reporter] "I remember her as the Countess' lady-in-waiting! Is the Countess aware of this fact as well?"

Eventually, the Count hurriedly fled alone with a face turning red and purple.

H-He's leaving me behind like this?

Mrs. Becker, left alone, was bewildered.

[Becker] "C-Count?"

She called out mournfully, but the Count rushed out the West Gate without looking back even a little.

Her hair was messy, and her carefully applied rouge was all smeared. She was abandoned in this place in a dirty dress. In this humiliating situation, left all alone.

[Reporter] "Good grief. Only that woman is pitiful."

[Reporter] "In terms of embarrassment, isn't it worse for the woman? He claimed to be a gentleman, but he's a terrible person."

She had confirmed how easily the Count could discard her. Misery welled up. But that anger couldn't be directed at him.

I was just about to confess my pregnancy and make him happy...

Now she was in a position where she absolutely must not be discarded. Unable to resent the child's father, she glared at Doly.

Damned Doly. How dare a mere head maid lure me into such a trap? You want to prevent me from becoming the Countess, is that it?

She could guess why Doly committed such an act. It must be loyalty toward the Countess.

Indeed, she was originally a loyal dog to the Madam, wasn't she?

Her efforts to look good to me were an act, and it's clear she always looked for an opportunity to screw me over.

She should have realized it when Doly secretly placed diamond earrings on her nightstand!

Thinking that acting harshly as soon as she grabbed power wouldn't be good, she let that incident pass smoothly, and that was the root of the trouble.

Her lips trembled uncontrollably—not only from the anger of being betrayed but from the anxiety that, far from rejoicing in the existence of the unborn child, the Count might abandon her forever like this.

In her eyes, she saw the object she had brought.

It was an item she bought today from the Brentano family. A gift prepared for the Count.

[Becker] "You wicked thing...!"

She grabbed that object as it was. Then she lunged at Doly, who wore a stupid expression.

She fastened the object, which she was supposed to give to the Count, directly onto the neck of the dumbfounded Doly.

It was an Ancient Gladiator's Choker.

Prev

TOC

Next

---

To support the original author and publisher, please consider rating the official release on Kakaopage.