Julietta's Dressup

Chapter 221. Crisis, Part I

Translator: Khan

Editor: Aelryinth

If they said that the Kiellini family provided the materials for the antidote, even if the cause of the poison was revealed, they could stand against them by saying that it was a set-up. Of course, that would not be enough, because the enemy wouldn’t miss this good opportunity. But there was no other way.

Even if it their side didn’t reveal it, it could be revealed by Prince Francis and his group when forced into a corner. However, it could stop their side from being driven along in fear. They decided to be more confident and transparent in order to gain the upper hand.

Julietta continued to placate Killian. "I hope that doesn’t happen, but I think it’s better to say someone stole the family’s research in case they reveal it as a poison of the Kiellini family."

At this time, they were not sure how Prince Francis and his group made the poison and released it into the market, and the discovery of the antidote alone would not stop the reckless actions of Prince Francis. Even if there was a risk of being found out that it was a poison of the Kiellini family, they had to inform people that it was a poison, and prevent their madness.

Killian sat silent for a long time, giving off the impression that he didn’t like what Julietta said. "Oswald, you need to show your specialty again."

After his lord who was struggling in a relentless silence finally opened his mouth, Oswald replied quickly, "Just give me an order."

"Go around the party and spread rumors that the Duke of Kiellini had been sick and during that time, there was an accident in Tilia Territory. Tell them one of the Duke’s closest aides ran away with the property of the Kiellini family, and that Marquis Rhodius went down to straighten out the difficult situation. You also have to mention that important confidential documents that came down to the Kiellini family from generation to generation have disappeared."

It was about laying the stones in advance for the future.

"In the stolen confidential documents, there was a poison-making secret. This Oswald will do my best, making use of my specialty," Oswald replied briskly.

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Ivana was meeting a man at the Anais mansion when Julietta and Killian were discussing with their aides how to treat the epidemic. He was hired to take care of the case of Tilia Territory. The man who had a false identity of a cousin of the maid Poche had been sent to Tilia at Ivana’s command during her previous visit and returned.

"What did you find out?"

Ever since Prince Killian’s engagement, Ivana had been so consumed with a certain assurance that she couldn’t sleep.

The look of her husband when he treated the child was so affectionate; the two people looked so much alike; when Princess Kiellini came to the capital, his illegitimate child suddenly died; the Duke went down to Tilia even after his successor’s debut; the princess was so active and healthy though she had suffered from illness all her life...

In the end, they all came down to one thing.

Furthermore, Ivana learned something new from Madame Louai the day before, when she went to the dressing shop to prepare her autumn clothes. The princess should be very slim and thin according to her body size, but the rumor was so different that it was surprising.

"Certainly, at that age, growth is different. She grew up that way in a year. It’s just amazing how she healed from the disease. Furthermore, the princess was warned that she should never wear blue clothes to hide her pale complexion, but they say that she is good at wearing such a line of clothing these days. I guess her tastes have changed after she got healthy."

Ivana recalled Madam’s words and urged the man in front of her to report in haste.

"It was difficult to infiltrate the castle of the Duke because Marquis Rhodius, a close aide to Prince Killian, was there. I heard that they have had a close inspection on people who go to and from the castle for some time."

"Has the surveillance suddenly become thorough?"

"That was what they said. Since it is just before Princess Kiellini is about to take over the post perfectly, they seem to be trying to prepare for something unpleasant."

"Did they say that because of Sir Raven, the second cousin, who was mentioned as a successor? The princess is the one who will marry Prince Killian anyway. She can’t take over the Duchy. Even if it were to pass on to the child of the princess, Sir Raven would rule the family of the Duke until the Duchy was handed over to the child."

Ivana thought it was strange, but asked if he had found out more because it was not important.

"There was nothing special. However, I heard there happened that a number of people working as attendants had been fired. It was around the time that rumors went around that the princess had regained her health. There was a short dispatch from the main house in the capital after the sudden layoff."

"Mass dismissal? Was that around the debut of the princess?"

"Yes. The people in the territory were afraid that something was going to happen when the attendants were suddenly laid off and the Duke came back to Tilia with a sudden illness."

Ivana asked about the Duke’s illness, as something was suspicious, but nothing was revealed. "Do they know what disease the Duke has? What is a healthy guy doing there, confining himself at the mansion?"

"It’s only known that he is so sick that he can’t even move. The innkeeper’s daughter, who sometimes goes to work in the castle of the Duke, says the Duke is invisible, and Sir Caden manages all matters great and small."

"Sir Caden? What kind of acquaintance did he have with the Duke? There can’t be any connection between Count Caden and Duke Kiellini."

When Ivana tilted her head and questioned him, the man handed her the notebook he had composed about the investigation. "As soon as I returned to the capital, I investigated Sir Caden, who was given full power over the Tilia Territory. Sir Caden’s step-grandmother was Baroness Maribel Grayson, the director of the Eileen Theater. I think it was because she’s famous for her close relationship with high-ranking aristocrats."

The man’s report shook the teacup Ivana was holding. As the startled Poche took the teacup from her hand, a shout erupted from Ivana’s mouth, "Maribel! You are like a fox! I see. I never had the wrong idea!"

Ivana kept muttering mysterious words in excitement, ordered the man to leave, and told Poche to call the butler.

"Butler, is the situation at the Imperial Castle the same?"

"Yes, ma’am, I’m afraid you won’t be allowed to visit until the epidemic is out."

Ivana agonized for a moment. It was still a guess. ’Would it be better to talk after being a little more sure?’ Now the whole continent was in disarray because of the epidemic, and she could not meet even her father Duke Dudley easily.

"Yes, there’s no hurry for a rat in a trap anyway. I’ll have to think about how to reveal this. In the meantime, just be happy on the spot. I’ll be pulling you down to the bottom..." she hissed to herself.

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17. Crisis

Under the orders of Prince Killian, temporary treatment centers for infectious disease were set up in all the regions and the capital of Austern. At the same time, the seal that had been imposed on the local Magic Square was released.

On the first day of the clinic’s opening, Julietta was ready to go out after she was able to manage herself to some extent. She still had a pale face, but wore a modest dark gray dress and pressed an undecorated hat over her braided hair.

"Where are you going?"

Maribel had been to the estate of the Duke of Kiellini in Vicern, and had found that all the crops growing on the vast land were metum. Having completed her mission safely, Maribel had moved her residence to the Kiellini mansion. She was now in the process of finding the spy who was among the attendants in the mansion with Mrs. Raban.

"I’m going to the clinic."

Killian was to begin distributing the antidote for the fake epidemic called the "Blue Blood Disease" in the capital today.

Maribel ordered her maid to bring her hat and asked, "Why are you going to the clinic?"