Is the Friend of a Friend a Stranger? - Chapter 45.2

“It’s alright, Sylvie. Heston will surely regret it.”

“That sounds like a very dangerous remark.”

However, Kali continued her blatant remarks tirelessly, despite Sylvia’s concerns.

“Honestly, I still don’t understand Heston. I definitely thought he liked you. But suddenly getting engaged to the Princess? I thought that she must be holding him by his weakness at first.”

“Kali!”

“Who cares, I’m sure that’s what everyone thinks.”

“Let’s not talk about this.”

“Yeah. He’s already engaged, whether it makes sense or not. He’s getting married soon, so you should go over to Owen. It’s very rare to suffer a loss in a relationship with a handsome man.”

“Who’s in a relationship…”

She denied it belatedly, but Kali only frowned as if she had guessed everything. With everything uncovered, Sylvia let out a sigh and turned her eyes to the report. It was a document requested by the duchy. In any case, since it happened within their territory, they thought they should get a better understanding of the situation.

‘Even Duke Araspe must have noticed that things are starting to get weird.’

Everybody who was sent on the dispatch here knew that in the middle of the meeting, Duke Araspe, who was upset by the princess’ ambiguous attitude, raised his voice, saying that she should not ignore him. Everything was going on with Princess Catherine and a small group of Heston’s close associates after all, so it wouldn’t be much use if the duchy asked her to write something like this.

Paradoxically, the duke was the most helpless in his own territory. The bigger problem would probably be that after this matter was formally revealed, both the prince and Duke Araspe’s forces would flock to the capital and rise up in an attempt to neutralize it. In fact, she didn’t know if it was because of this, but it was said that the prince, who had been in the Holy Empire, had contacted the imperial palace about his return.

Princess Catherine preached the news and said, ‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen my brother’s face,’ in a monotonous voice. However, it didn’t contain any ridicule, so this situation felt rather paradoxical. What the princess had in her hand was a great weapon that could blow away the prince’s support.

What in the world was the princess doing now?

Was she trying to enter the battle to inherit the throne? Then why did she get engaged to Heston? If she really wanted the throne, it would have been right to get engaged to Aerut.

In fact, it was said that even just a month before the scandal with Heston, the princess was quite receptive to her father’s intention to pursue marriage with Aerut. Sylvia remembered her father’s liveliness at that moment and his unique vigor as things were going well.

“Anyway, even if it was because of you, I’m glad Duke Appleton came here. Thanks to him, the tower was quickly rebuilt, and the date to return also came faster. When I came here on the first day and then heard that the tower had collapsed, I thought we would be held up for more than two years.”

Two years in a place that wasn’t even fun.

Kali shuddered. Sylvia belatedly propped up her chin and recalled the father she had forgotten.

Duke Appleton was once again energetic. It was because Princess Catherine was holding back Duke Araspe’s forces and requesting cooperation. When the duke heard that Ekevich was involved in all this, he laughed and turned to Sylvia, who was there, and asked if it was really true. Sylvia felt her face burning at the ambition that was blatantly revealed by his smile.

The duke was not willing to give up this opportunity to press down Duke Araspe, so he gladly helped her rebuild the tower. Although he may not be very good when it comes to personal relationships, Duke Appleton’s abilities as a wizard were not to be ignored, so the tower was being rebuilt smoothly.

‘Maybe the Princess will break off her engagement.’

Thanks to this, Sylvia’s marriage problem was completely reversed. Duke Appleton, who had been predicting what was going to happen, brought back the matter of the princess’ marriage, which was already over. Sylvia felt like she had gone back several months. Duke Appleton even ordered Aerut to be brought back to the capital, which hadn’t happened in a long time.

What was he going to do after calling him? Was he going to order Aerut to seduce the princess?

Because of this, Sylvia even felt horrible about returning to the capital a week later.

Of course, that didn’t apply to Duke Appleton. He was as energetic as a boy experiencing love for the first time, and was going around everywhere conducting work. Those who did not know the circumstances would think that the duke, who ran here after worrying about his daughter, was contributing to the empire by willingly sacrificing his body.

Want to read more chapters and support us? Please consider becoming a patron to read up to 7 chapters in advance!