12 O'Clock Marionette-Chapter 50

“Wait a moment.”

Cruello suddenly extended his hand as if he had remembered something.

His long fingers brushed against my forehead.

Was something on my face?

“The fever is gone now.”

“If it hadn’t gone down after all that sleep, it wouldn’t be a fever—it’d be fire.”

“I’ll send you some medicinal herbs.”

“Not poison?”

“If you’re suspicious, you can feed it to me first.”

I thought he was joking, but his reaction was more serious than expected.

Cruello was becoming increasingly suspicious.

His eyes narrowed.

“What?”

“I just realized that you’re much weaker than I thought, darling.”

“It’s the side effect of divine power. I’m not weak—my body is just too strong for its own good.”

“Understood. Then it’s best to seal away that precious power and only use it when we find the key.”

“Fine. I admit I look fragile. But do you know how you look right now, Cruello?”

“How?”

“Overprotective. Hopelessly devoted. An over-the-top romantic.”

“Not bad.”

He crossed his legs.

“We are engaged, my love.”

“What more do you need? The Elder Council is going to try to kill me even if I just sit still.”

“So we kiss and then simply throw it away?”

“Hey!”

How dare he bring up my shameful past? I had worked so hard to forget it!

My face burned again.

Seeing Cruello laugh so gleefully only made me twice as angry.

“I’ll find your weakness, no matter what.”

“Exciting. I’ll be looking forward to it, sweetheart.”

I glared at him, realizing how far off-topic we had gone.

“We’re getting sidetracked. So, what happened with the Second Elder?”

“I made a request.”

“Oh, I heard that part. He said he’d give you the key if you passed all the trials—does that even make sense?”

“The Second Elder stands out even among the Elder Council. He has different opinions and goals from the Grand Elder.”

“Are there faction wars within the church, too?”

“Something like that. I agreed to help sort things out in exchange for the key.”

That’s exactly what I couldn’t understand.

This key leads to Morion.

Isn’t it the most important thing?

How could they just toss it over like a cookie to a child running an errand?

“For now, just go to the tea party. This isn’t the best time to explain everything in detail.”

“……”

“I swear it’ll be fine. And if you really don’t want to, you can still refuse.”

“I understand that this wasn’t the right time to explain. But next time, let me know before you act.”

“The Second Elder is leaving soon for a scholarly conference in another country, so I had no choice—”

“Cruello.”

I cut him off and called his name.

He blinked slowly, seeming taken aback, then responded in a slightly subdued voice.

“Alright.”

After hesitating a moment, he added,

“I’ll make sure you don’t get hurt. Not even a single hair.”

His voice held a hint of awkward sincerity, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

Seeing him like this made me realize—his childhood self hadn’t disappeared completely.

I missed it. I really did.

By the time I snapped out of my thoughts, the carriage had come to a stop in front of Count Holmaze’s estate.

Cruello got up before me and opened the carriage door.

Accepting his escort, I stepped onto the ground.

I could have done it myself, but there was no need to appear hostile in front of an audience.

“Anyway, thanks for bringing me.”

Since I had arrived in a Bonetti carriage, my words didn’t quite fit.

I expected him to return to the carriage, but instead, he stepped closer.

Cruello pulled me into an embrace and lightly rubbed his cheek against mine.

“Have a good time, darling.”

“Ah… Ni…”

What! The hell!

I had so many words, but none of them left my mouth.

It was just physical contact, but it was an extremely embarrassing level of intimacy.

With so many eyes watching, all I could do was glare at him. Cruello, of course, waved nonchalantly.

His gaze lingered, so I turned away first with a flick of my head.

“……”

The moment I did, I wanted to go right back.

The entrance time for the tea party must have been fixed because the gathered nobles were all staring straight at me.

This body is not mine.

I am not Siora Bonetti.

I repeated it in my head over and over, barely keeping myself from burying my face in my hands.

***

“You’ve finally arrived!”

Nina Holmaze greeted me with open delight.

She didn’t seem to care that I had only confirmed my attendance on the day of the event.

I felt a little guilty, but my embarrassment quickly overshadowed it.

Get out of my head!

“Thank you for the invitation, Lady Holmaze.”

“No, thank you for coming. I truly wanted to see you again. That day, you helped me so much. You remember, don’t you?”

Of course, I remember.

That day, I had thoughtlessly taken a sip of wine, only to realize it was poisoned, spraying it onto someone’s face. I had then run around trying to retrieve the poisoned drinks.

Wait, wasn’t that even more embarrassing?

“Lady Siora, your table is this way.”

Following Nina’s guidance, I made my way to my seat.

This was my first time attending a tea party, and it was certainly more delicately decorated than a typical gathering.

Each table had four chairs, and mine was filled exclusively with people who had attended the Monster Poison party.

Seating arrangements were a reflection of the host’s skill, so this was no coincidence.

Before long, all the guests had arrived, and the tea party officially began.

“You have no idea how shocked I was when I heard the news from the temple! Lady Siora, you must truly be loved by the gods…”

I had read that the host was supposed to move from table to table and lead conversations, but Nina remained firmly in her seat.

Not that anyone at the other tables seemed to mind—in fact, they were too busy sneaking glances at this side.

More specifically, at me.

Ah, the life of a public figure.

Regardless, I had to attend the tea party properly, so I didn’t meet their gazes.

Instead—

“It was just luck. Ah, Sir Labyrinth, the amethyst brooch design you sent was incredibly elegant. Aesthetic sense is often underrated, but in truth, it’s quite a difficult skill.”

Using hastily memorized information—

“I wouldn’t call my achievement remarkable compared to Lady Holmaze’s. I heard you uncovered a smuggling operation? That is truly commendable.”

—Dropping compliments that would appeal to the people at the table—

“Lady Wund, you’re quite knowledgeable about tea. Someone like you truly brightens a tea party. Don’t you agree, Lady Holmaze?”

—Not flattery. Just increasing the number of people on my side.

They probably mocked me behind my back for having no friends. It was obvious the test would include social interaction.

This was a countermeasure. …Not because of my pride.

As a result, in just twenty minutes, my tablemates were looking at me as if I were Pebula incarnate.

Not that version of Pebula, the one accused of being an evil god.

“Oh my, Lady Siora, you are truly kind. I haven’t had this much fun in a while…”

At that moment, a small commotion at the entrance interrupted Nina’s words.

The Holmaze estate’s butler approached her and whispered something in her ear, making her frown slightly.

“We have a small matter to attend to,” Nina said as she stood.

“Sir Daedire Crimson and Viscount Minerva have stopped by while passing through the area. Would it be alright if we invited them to join us?”

Both names were familiar.

Daedire Crimson—I had memorized his information from the court ball.

Viscount Minerva—Julian, of course.

I had no idea why they wanted to join a tea party midway, but no one looked displeased.

Such was the hierarchy of nobility.

Soon, all conversation in the tea party room ceased as two figures entered.

“Hmm.”

I had spoken with Julian Minerva before, but the woman beside him was unfamiliar.

She had to be over 180 cm tall, with an unmistakably knightly presence.

A quick summary of the additional information I recalled:

The second daughter of the Crimson Dukedom. Julian’s childhood friend. Gavotte’s academy peer. An unaffiliated knight.

Whether she was connected to the Elder Council remained unclear.

It was good timing—things were getting dull.

Two people barging into the tea party I had hastily joined—this wasn’t just a coincidence, was it?

I popped a macaron into my mouth and observed them.

The two offered polite greetings to the attendees before making their way to my table.

After greeting Nina, they turned to me.

“Pardon us, but Lady Siora is the only person we know here. Would it be alright if we took these seats?”

They commandeered two seats.

The ones occupied by Nina and Sir Labyrinth.

Brazen.

“It’s been a while. Have you been well, Siora?”

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

“Hm, thanks to you.”

“Ah, this is Daedire. My friend and also Gavotte’s academy peer.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Lady Siora.”

Daedire Crimson extended his hand for a handshake. His golden-red eyes gleamed oddly.

“I’ve been wanting to meet you.”

“Hello, Sir Crimson.”

“Please, just call me Daedire.”

“Well then, Sir Daedire.”

So, he had business with me, too.

I smiled, but my mind was racing.

“You said you wanted to meet me?”

“Yes, you’re Gavotte’s sister, after all.”

“Strange. I’ve never heard about you from him.”

“…We were academy peers. We studied in different departments, but we spoke occasionally. Though now, I believe I may have done something to deeply offend him.”

“What do you mean, believe?”

“I lack social awareness. Sometimes, relationships become distant, and I don’t understand why. Even when I ask, he won’t tell me.”

Daedire’s voice took on a sudden gloom.

Good acting.

“Of course, I’m not blaming Gavotte. It has always been my fault.”

“Well, there could have been a misunderstanding.”

“Thank you for your kind words. You are a warm person, Lady Siora.”

…Was it really an act?

His expression and tone were so sincere it was confusing.

As the mood turned somber, I glanced at Julian.

“Oh, and how is His Grace the Duke?”

Yes, let’s talk about something else instead!

Julian finally stepped up to his role.