Chapter 112. New Year’s Banquet Final Part

“How are you enjoying the special vintage I acquired, Lady Francesca? I am sure it will perfectly suit your refined palate as someone who grew up in the Capital,” Viscount Hollowland asked, approaching smoothly the moment he saw Francesca standing alone.

Francesca swayed just a fraction of an inch, pressing a delicate hand to her temple before handing her half-empty glass back to one of the passing servants. “The alcohol seems to be hitting me rather quickly,” she murmured.

“Why don’t you rest in one of the guest rooms, Lady Francesca? I will inform Lord Miller for you,” Viscount Hollowland suggested with a sickeningly sweet smile.

That’s it, Viscount Hollowland cheered internally. Now I will have my loyal servant escort you to an empty room in the East Wing where you will completely pass out. Then, I will send Lord Miller straight to your assigned room... where Nina is already waiting in his bed.

“That is a good idea,” Francesca replied softly. Gripping her cane, she turned and followed the designated servant out of the bustling hall. But just before she slipped through the grand archway, she briefly caught Miller’s eye across the room, a sharp, knowing smirk flashing across her lips.

He really is far too reckless, she thought dismissively as she walked away. So openly scheming without even checking the pieces on his board.

After waiting a few agonizingly long minutes to ensure she was gone, Viscount Hollowland pulled another servant aside and ordered him to inform Miller that his wife was feeling unwell and waiting for him in their chambers. Watching Miller promptly excuse himself and leave the hall, Viscount Hollowland grabbed a full glass of wine and downed it in a single, victorious gulp.

It is a good thing I gave that new butler, Randell, the day off today, Viscount Hollowland thought with a dark, calculating grin. When they inevitably investigate how the wine assignments got mixed up, I can easily pin the entire 'mistake' on the incompetent new hire.

With all the pieces finally in place, Viscount Hollowland took a deep, steadying breath, preparing his grandest performance.

“Oh my Goddess! Nina?!” his voice suddenly boomed over the polite chatter and classical music, ringing with manufactured panic.

The conversations in the hall instantly died down as every noble turned in shock to look at their host. Viscount Hollowland intentionally dropped his wine glass, letting it shatter loudly against the polished marble floor for dramatic effect.

“My daughter! One of the maids just rushed to tell me she heard a terrible scream coming from the guest wing! Something awful has happened to my precious Nina!” he cried out, his hands trembling in a perfect display of fatherly terror. “Please, the guards are stationed outside! You must come help me check on her!”

Feigning desperation, the Viscount pushed through the crowd and rushed toward the grand staircase, ensuring a massive, eager trail of gossiping, curious nobles followed him directly toward the trap.

Meanwhile, the Northern Central Church envoys, Samuel and Kavya, simply sighed at the chaotic display.

"Let us just head back to our room and find another way to approach His Lordship," Kavya murmured. Samuel nodded in agreement, and the two of them quietly slipped away from the commotion. The Central Church spies who had been strictly keeping an eye on them all night were drawn in by the Viscount's drama, completely abandoning their surveillance to follow the flock of nobles heading toward the guest wing.

Whispers violently rippled through the crowded corridor as the mob arrived. "Isn’t this Lord Miller’s room?" "That is right, I saw Lord Miller and Lady Francesca use this exact door yesterday." "Oh my... do you think that is what this is about?" "I mean, Nina Hollowland is certainly a beauty, but still... Lord Miller wouldn’t, right?"

With his castle guards and a massive trail of Northern nobility eagerly breathing down his neck, Viscount Hollowland could not help the slight, victorious smirk tugging at his lips as he reached the Ironwood guest chambers.

Once I open this door, Nina and that bastard commoner Lord will be hopelessly entangled with one another, Hollowland thought gleefully. Just wait and see how easily I break your reputation and force you to do my bidding.

Click~

He turned the brass doorknob, slowly pushing the heavy door open while perfectly readying his mask of sudden shock and furious anger.

Miller Ironwood, this is the end for you! How dare you take me lightly...!

When the door swung wide open, the very first thing everyone’s eyes landed on was the silhouette of Nina. She was sitting on the edge of the large mattress, her hair undone and her body bare, hastily pulling the thick bedsheets up to cover herself in a sheer panic.

"F-father?!" she called out, her voice trembling in genuine shock.

A loud, collective gasp echoed in perfect unison from the packed hallway.

"How could this be?! My precious daughter!" Viscount Hollowland rushed into the room, putting on a masterful, booming display of heartbreak. "I understand you were born with commoner blood, but His Majesty gave you the immense honor of a noble title! How could you do this to my precious, innocent daughter?!"

He grabbed the shoulder of the second figure lying motionless under the heavy sheets, shaking them aggressively. When there was no immediate reply, Viscount Hollowland’s internal celebration knew no bounds.

What? Did you not expect things to turn out quite like this? Hollowland laughed inwardly. And now you are cowardly hiding under the sheets? How utterly pathetic!

"Answer me, Lord Miller!" Hollowland bellowed, aggressively yanking the heavy blankets back to expose the culprit to the entire Northern elite.

As the sheets fell away, a mop of messy hazel hair and a bright, shamelessly charming smile came into clear view.

"You are so right, Viscount Hollowland... it is rather surprising how easily I was tempted," the figure chuckled smoothly, leaning back against the pillows.

An expression of pure, unadulterated horror instantly drained all the color from Viscount Hollowland’s face, mirrored perfectly by the loud, scandalized shrieks of the nobles crowded outside the room.

"Y-Your Highness...!"