As soon as I tilted my head, my dad touched my shoulders.
"I'll take you to the carriage."
As I glanced away, Empress Yvonne's gaze was fixed on me.
Since Vallua's family, who is on the Empress's side has collapsed, a strong alliance is needed for the prince's future.
Dubbled is the family that fits the requirements. In addition, my name also become famous because of the virtual battle, so the Empress would want to be on my good side.
It was a situation that my dad was worried about.
'Either way, I know that Duke Marche is involved in the kidnapping case, so I won't trust them as well.'
"Yes!"
After answering my dad, I greeted the Duke of Marche.
"Goodbye!"
The Duke smiled kindly at me.
'He's a tough grandfather.'
It's easier to deal with those who openly show hostility like the Vallua family.
Duke Marche, an old man with a benevolent look that seemed to be free of sins was a much more difficult enemy.
"Alright."
My dad and I headed to the carriage rental office together.
After hugging me and taking me into the carriage, my father looked back at the guards.
"Take a look around. Animals who had their prey in front of them won't hold back."
Words have reached the nobles that they had the power to take over Vallua's property.
"I'll be careful."
The guards' faces were tense.
"Blaine."
"Yes."
"If you have to go out of the mansion for the time being, you must be accompanied."
I nodded my head. After I hugged my dad again, the carriage started.
I greeted y dad with a smile and close the curtain.
I shared what I have heard from Duke Vallua to the chairman who was alone with me.
The chairman touched his chin after hearing the story.
"Duke Marche…just what is his reason?"
"I don't know.But it must be that he's craxy about power or I have a tremendous power that I don't know of."
"Hmm...."
"It could also be the Duke of Vallua's last attack to antagonize me and Marche."
The chairman raised his eyebrow.
"Either way, it's hard to investigate him."
"Just dig some information. You don't have to move so much that the Duke of Marche noticed it."
"Why?"
"If it's a kidnapping, he definitely wants something from me, so I need to figure it out myself."
"But don't you still need protection? It's the Duke of Marche, not anyone else. You need to be extra careful."
As the chairman said, the Duke of Marche is different from the case of the Duke of Vallua.
The Duke of Vallua was the lowest rank among the five dukes, and it was difficult to dare to confront Dubbled without any help.
Duke Marche is different.
The Duke of Marche is the father of Empress Yvonne, the emperor's father-in-law, and the maternal grandfather of the prince who is the closest to the emperor.
Their wealth accumulated so far has reached Dubbled, has a strong military power based on wealth, and is a treasure trove of outstanding talents that surpassed Dubbled.
"But there are some good news. Even though I don't know what he wants, he's not moving."
"Huh?"
"He can't attack me."
"...?"
"Duke Marche had a lot of chances to attack me. Especially on the virtual battle. But a coward like Duke Vallua couldn't think of killing me directly in the virtual battle."
"You mean there's a reason why you shouldn't die?"
"Yes."
I pointed at myself with my index finger and continued.
"In other words, the hostage is in my hands."
"How will you use the hostage?"
I laughed meanly at the chairman's absurd remarks.
"If I could, I want to take more than a hostage."
"Anyway, it's you who has the upper hand."
"They don't know it but my life isn't really of much value to me. I'm going to regress again after I die anyway. It's good business that I can find out the bad guy and regress again."
I didn't expect the time will come when my curse had become so precious.
When I grinned with both hands covering my mouth, the chairman smiled as if he couldn't stop me.
'He's impatient. But time is on our side.'
Then I'll just stay calm until he moves.
***
When I arrived at the mansion, my aunt and brothers were waiting for me.
"Kid, I heard that the Duke of Vallua is dead?"
Isaac grinned.
"It`s a good thing you don`t have to see the terrible trial."
Henry smiled and stroked my head. Aunt and Johann seemed to agree with Henry, but I tilted my head inwardly.
'I didn't mind though?'
The Duke of Vallua has done more terrible experiments on me over and over again, why would I be appalled by a mere trial?
However, I turned my eyes awkwardly because I didn't have to advertise that I'm a heartless child in revenge.
"Yes, well…."
"Let's go. I told them to prepare tea and snacks."
"Yay!"
I was hungry, so I took off my coat and followed my brothers.
When I sat on the sofa, Henry handed me a warm milk tea, and Isaac grabbed a big cookie.
I was eating as we converse.
"I think the Emperor is up to something. He held a trial so quickly."
At Isaac's words, my aunt answered while holding a cup of tea.
"The nobles will gather together to check the authority of the emperor at the trial. And he's been dreaming of strengthening his authority."
"If he wants to strengthen his authority, there's an easy and simple way. A fight between successors. Just like what our grandfather did."
Henry gently wiped the cookie crumbs around my mouth and replied to Isaac's words.
"That's why he brought the second prince Adrian back to the palace. But it won't be easy. Empress Yvonne is in control of the Imperial Palace."
Johann who was sitting quietly, opened his mouth,
"Aunt, are you watching the movement of the Imperial Palace?"
"Of course. Why? Is there anything?"
"The Emperor won't miss this chance to reduce the power of the Empress."
"So he…the nobles may implicate the Empress since Vallua's family is supporting her."
"Yes, The reason why he has not been able to reduce her power is because many nobles are on Empress Yvonne and Duke Marche's side. And now's the only chance."
I was lost in thought, chewing on the cookies.
'The Empress…'
An Empress is not just an emperor's wife or a pet.
Now that polygamy was banned because of the doctrine of the church, it was all for political purposes.
The current Empress had a similar job as a government official, which is to help the Emperor rule the empire, while also preparing the future of the royal family and spreading the royal family connection.
Even before my regression, the Emperor tried to have a new empress, which was always a fail because of Empress Yvonne.
"But why didn't father come home with kid?"
"He had something to say. Also Duke Marche came in, so I think he'll be home late today."
"Duke Marche? What Happened? My father didn't like him?"
"Yes, he didn't like him. He made fun of dad by saying he's the former blue rose."
"What a funny name."
"He said dad's nickname was the blue rose before."
At that moment, my brothers looked at me at once.
My aunt was trying to hold back her laughter
"That's true, it's been a long time since I heard that."
Isaac looked at her and asked,
"Just what is that? Blue rose, why did he have that embarassing nickname?"
"It's uncomfortable to say it with my own mouth. Lea, why don't you tell them?"
Lea, who was behind the sofa, smiled awkwardly.
"That...."
Henry smiled sweetly.
"Tell us."
"Right now.", Isaac added, even Johann looked at her.
"Int the past, the Dukes who was popular among the lady and lord, was called the "Three Lords of Flower."
"Who were the poor people who were called that?"
"Duke Amity, Duke Grimoire, and master were called that."
Laura, who was humming beside Lea, raised her hand.
"I know their nicknames. Can I tell you if you don't mind?!"
"Yes, go on."
As Isaac gave his permission, Laura said with a dreamy look.
"The Duke of Amity was called the white daffodil, the Duke of Grimoire was called the black violet. And master…!"
"He's called the blue rose…"
Isaac murmured drearily, Henry raised the corners of his mouth, and Johann lifted his eyebrows.
My aunt covered her mouth with a book, but she had a rare very pleasant look.
Meanwhile, I was covered with goosebumps.
***
Theodore returned home.
The butler said while taking off his coat.
"Master, the bath is ready."
"I'll eat first, I'm sure Blaine is waiting, where is she?"
"That's...."
The butler hesitated.
"What happened to Bla-"
"Father."
"Oh, you're here."
"You're late."
Theodore turned his head and narrowed his eyebrows. His three sons, who doesn't usually greet him, came out to greet him.
"...What is it."
"It's no big deal."
"It's not a big deal, why are you guys…What's this smell?"
From the side where his sons were standing, he could smell a floral scent. It was also a very uncomfortable scent.
It's the scent that makes him avoid the garden in summer.
A small child was walking with a bouquet of flowers.
It was Leblaine.
Theodore's expression hardened at the sight of the flowers.
"It's...."
Blue rose.
The only flower that still makes him angry.
His sons beckoned Leblaine, who was hesitating.
"Come here, kid."
Theodore looked back at his sons with a terrifying look.
"It's a gift from Leblaine."
"For you, the Blue Rose."
His sons turned their head as their shoulders shook. Leblaine, who had the bouquet in her hands, looked at her father's expression.
The demon.
A demon had arrived here.