The Reason Why the Forsaken Fake Returned Chapter 103

Shailoh spoke the truth slowly. “Octavia came to Prince Caleb.”

 

“…What?” Albert’s eyes widened in disbelief, and he let out a hollow laugh. “That woman must have a death wish. She’s my fiancée, yet she runs off to another man.”

 

“It was because of love. It seems Prince Caleb arranged several meetings disguised as coincidences.”

 

With each word Shailoh spoke, Albert’s face twisted in anger. Losing his fiancée was a humiliation like no other.

 

“So where is that bitch now?”

 

“There’s a villa near the western port. I secretly overheard him instructing his aide, Eric, that a guest would be arriving there.”

 

“Ha!” Albert, who had been downing strong liquor in disbelief, rang the bell furiously in his excitement. When his servants rushed in at once, nearly sweating from haste, he pointed furiously at them and shouted with veins bulging in his neck. “Investigate every villa in the west immediately!”

 

“Yes, Your Highness!” The servants bowed in unison and quickly poured out of the room.

 

Still breathing harshly with rage, Albert was guided back onto the couch by Shailoh, who smoothly slipped beside him and pulled on his arm. “Goddamn lunatic bitch.”

 

Shailoh quietly stood behind Albert as he continued cursing under his breath. Then she began kneading his stiff shoulders as though giving him a massage. “Your Highness. I don’t think conducting an obvious investigation is a good idea.”

 

“Why not?” Albert whipped around sharply to question her.

 

“Prince Caleb has probably assigned someone to watch me. It’s only a matter of time before he realizes I’ve sided with Your Highness.” Shailoh whispered softly into Albert’s ear. “And once that happens, he’ll quickly remember where Lady Perus is staying and hide her even better.”

 

“Then what do you suggest?”

 

“We quietly search for Lady Perus’s whereabouts behind the scenes, while making the first move regarding you and me.”

 

“Making the first move?” Albert raised an eyebrow at the unexpected suggestion.

 

“Yes.” Nodding calmly, Shailoh continued persuading him. “We should reveal ourselves together at an official event first. While Prince Caleb is blinded by rage, we secretly move Lady Perus elsewhere. If we’re going to be discovered eventually anyway, wouldn’t it be better to act one step ahead instead?”

 

“That’s… a good idea.” After a moment of contemplation, Albert stood up abruptly. “In three days, there’s a banquet with foreign envoys. That should be perfect.”

 

Three days later? That was sooner than expected. Shailoh blinked in surprise for a moment, then smiled brightly.

 

* * *

The Kerden Principality was separated from the kingdom by a mountain range. Though the two nations had fought numerous wars in the past, generations of royal intermarriage had turned them into stronger allies than any other nation.

 

Due to the kingdom’s geography, surrounded by sea on three sides except for the high eastern mountains, they had long maintained an isolationist diplomatic policy. Considering that, Kerden was one of the few nations invited to the royal coronations and weddings.

 

Since there was nothing to gain from antagonizing them, Queen Ingrid welcomed the delegation with a radiant smile. “You must have had a difficult journey.”

 

“Thanks to your consideration, we arrived without difficulty.” The delegation leader bowed deeply in greeting. “To think Your Majesty herself would welcome us like this. I hardly know what to say.”

 

“Think nothing of it. I hope you feel at home during your stay.”

 

As Ingrid fluttered her fan and signaled the head maid, the waiting maids wheeled in a cart. A gigantic roasted deer was brought across the long carpet. The foreign delegation seated to the left of the queen and the high-ranking nobles on the right were instantly captivated by the sight of the roasted deer.

 

The royal head chef bowed deeply to the queen and, with the help of an assistant, carefully cut open the deer’s belly. At once, doves burst forth, fluttering in the air. Cheers and applause echoed throughout the grand banquet hall. It was one of the traditional ceremonies used to welcome envoys from distant lands.

 

After enjoying the crowd’s admiration for a moment, Queen Ingrid tapped the table twice with her fan. As though it were a signal, silence instantly fell. Pleased that every eye had turned toward her, she smiled and addressed the envoy leader. “I’ve heard doves are tied to the founding myth of the Kerden Principality. They say when your first ancestor became lost, a god appeared in the darkness and showed him the way.”

 

“Yes. And the messenger sent by that god was indeed a dove.” The envoy applauded openly, unable to hide his admiration, and nodded. “I’ve heard Your Majesty was graceful and refined. It seems the rumors were true.”

 

“You flatter me. I hope you understand that His Majesty couldn’t attend due to his frail health.”

 

“Of course. We understand completely. News that His Majesty no longer appears publicly has already spread throughout Kerden.” Though his tone was smooth, his eyes were sharp as a hawk hunting prey in the sky.

 

Ingrid met his gaze with a smile.

 

The envoy was a cunning old fox. Though he claimed to be here to congratulate Octavia and Albert’s engagement, his true intentions were different. Had the towering mountains not stood between the two nations like a wall, Kerden would have invaded long ago. Though their royal bloodlines had mixed over centuries of marriage, it was nothing more than a convenient excuse. Moreover, the current princess of Kerden was none other than the late queen’s elder sister. Fortunately, they didn’t seem to be directly communicating with Caleb, but they were not opponents she could afford to underestimate.

 

The envoy broke the taunt silence first. “By the way, I don’t see either of the princes. Where might they be?”

 

“Unfortunately, the second prince was unable to attend due to other matters.”

 

The message had indeed been sent, but it was only thirty minutes ago. There was no way he could have appeared in such a short time. Ingrid fluttered her face to hide her satisfied smile when the envoy clicked his tongue regretfully and asked another question.

 

“I see. Then what about Prince Albert? We came all this way, albeit late, to congratulate him on his engagement. But without the man of the hour, how are we to offer our congratulations?”

 

“…Well.”

 

The envoy’s sudden question cut through the tension like a blade. For the first time, Ingrid faltered. Struggling to maintain her expression, she shot a glare at the head maid.

 

The head maid, nervously biting her lip, leaned in to whisper to her. “He’s on his way now.”

 

“I told him to be here long ago.” Grinding her teeth to suppress her anger, Queen Ingrid soon responded with a gentle smile. “He will arrive shortly. He has many responsibilities while standing in for His Majesty, who remains bedridden. I hope you understand.”

 

“Of course, we must be understanding.”

 

The envoy chuckled slyly and downed the champagne poured by a maid. Though it was Ingrid who felt parched, she resisted the urge to reach for her glass, anxiously eyeing the firmly closed door.

 

Just then, a servant entered. Rising with relief, Ingrid was greeted with words that felt like a bucket of cold water poured over her head.

 

“Your Highness the Second Prince is arriving!”

 

“…What?” Queen Ingrid clenched her fists, unable to mask her expression.

 

As the door slowly opened, Caleb, dressed in a formal uniform, confidently strode down the red carpet toward them. Everyone except the queen rose to their feet to show their respect.

 

“My apologies for being late, Your Majesty.”

 

“…Not at all. Please, have a seat.”

 

Of all people, it had to be Caleb instead of her son. Suppressing her surprise, anger, and irritation, Ingrid forced a bright smile and gestured to the seat on her left.

 

“Yes.” Nodding, Caleb stepped up and sat beside her.

 

Lowering her voice as if engaging in casual conversation, Ingrid raised the corners of her mouth and bit out her words. “What brings you here? It’s as if you knew in advance.”

 

“If I had known in advance, I wouldn’t have been late.”

 

“Perhaps… you have a spy in the castle?”

 

“The castle is vast. It wouldn’t be surprising if there were a few rats.” Caleb deflected her sarcasm with ease and countered. “More importantly, I don’t see Lady Perus. Shouldn’t she have been here beside Albert?”

 

Ingrid’s lips trembled at his nonchalant inquiry. Caleb clearly knew everything. Her voice barely escaped. “Duke Cornwall is… just running a bit late.”

 

“Yes. I hope so.” Caleb snorted, gesturing for the standing envoys and nobles to sit.

 

Just then, another servant entered and loudly announced. “Your Highness the Third Prince is arriving!”

 

Everyone who had begun to sit down awkwardly stood up again as the door opened and Albert walked in. However, he was not alone. As soon as they saw the woman accompanying him instead of Lady Perus, everyone drew a sharp breath. It was Sasha Griche. The woman who, until recently, had been the second prince’s lover.