Chapter 222 Go to Meet Princess Kirenya
Selyma rolled her eyes internally. The way Anne said it made it sound like they'd have fun together, but she still asked perfunctorily, "What fun?"
"To see Princess Kirenya."
"Cough cough—!"
Hearing Anne's words, Selyma immediately choked on her own saliva, coughing so hard she couldn't catch her breath. Only after Karina came over to pat her back did she feel a bit better.
Selyma looked at Anne in disbelief. "You're going to see her again? At her banquet last time, you didn't give her any face at all. That woman must hate you to death; she just didn't do anything to you on the spot because there were too many nobles present. You don't know—her expression that day, even I didn't dare get too close to her, afraid your feud would drag me into it. Are you tired of living? Going to fight with her again?"
Anne let out a light laugh, but it was ice-cold, making Selyma shiver involuntarily. "There are no other guests today. If you really go, Friedel might be able to pick a different wife."
"Lady Selyma, you should be happy about that. Why would you stop me?"
Anne slowly stood up. "What I need to discuss with her today really shouldn't have others present. Otherwise, if word gets out and causes unrest throughout the Soth Empire, I'd feel guilty."
"That serious?"
Selyma frowned. She never cared about politics or people's welfare, only enjoyed balls and social gatherings. So when Anne made it sound this serious, she didn't dare get involved anymore.
She wasn't someone who cared about the world. Selyma knew her own capabilities. But from beneath Anne's calm expression, she seemed to sense some killing intent.
Who that killing intent was aimed at, even someone as slow as Selyma could guess.
She swallowed hard, thinking that Anne really wasn't someone she could provoke or offend.
To dare visit again after offending that crazy woman Kirenya—you'd either have to be equally crazy, or arrogant enough not to care about even a princess.
Selyma watched Anne's departing figure. Hey, come to think of it, with Anne's status as a duchess, plus the military power of a knight order, it made sense for her to look down on a princess who married away and wasn't favored by the king.
Thinking of this, Selyma recalled the indifferent look in Anne's eyes when she looked at her, and suddenly realized that she herself probably didn't have much standing in front of Anne either.
Damn it, she really couldn't afford to offend Anne, nor could she stop Anne and Friedel's marriage.
After leaving the Atarat Manor, Anne indeed headed to Princess Kirenya's estate with Elisa.
Although Princess Kirenya's banquet only lasted one day, she would stay in the royal city for a while each visit, attending banquets hosted by other nobles, so Anne wouldn't make a wasted trip.
Anne sat in the carriage, her gaze fixed on the letter in her hand. Elisa, beside her, had already read its contents, her eyes red from crying. She grabbed Anne's hand. "My lady, we can't let her get away with this!"
"But she's a princess. Master Anson only heard about this news—he doesn't have solid evidence. We can't do anything to Princess Kirenya. Even before His Majesty the King, this news is just a rumor. How can we make the murderer pay for her crimes!"
Anne pressed her lips together. "I won't let her get away with it."
Master Anson's letter clearly stated the cause of Duke Skoda's death back then.
Anne had always felt something was off about Duke Skoda dying from poison because the treatment came too late. After all, Duke Skoda was a pillar on the battlefield. Even if he was wounded by an enemy's poisoned arrow, the army couldn't possibly lack sufficient medicine to treat him.
Moreover, when news of Duke Skoda being hit by the poisoned arrow was urgently sent back to the royal city, His Majesty the King immediately dispatched elite soldiers with medicine to rush to the eastern battlefield. At the speed of elite cavalry, they couldn't possibly have failed to arrive in time for treatment.
Anne had thought about investigating before, but soon after came news of her brothers' deaths. Her mother's spirit collapsed all at once. Outside, there were rumors that it was because Lady Sophia's supply delivery was delayed, leading to the death of her husband and sons. This dealt a huge blow to Lady Sophia, so during that time, Anne alone struggled to support the entire family.
Later, Lady Sophia forbade Anne from going to the battlefield, demanding she be a proper noble lady, marry and have children, and live an ordinary life. All the inquiries Anne had commissioned were intercepted by Lady Sophia, leaving her no possibility of investigation.
Anne understood that her mother must have known the truth by then. That's why she feared Anne would also be schemed against by Princess Kirenya and lose her life, while feeling full of anger and helplessness toward this woman who deliberately took away her husband and sons.
Helpless, because with her husband and sons gone, the Virlet family behind her was crumbling. But Lady Sophia knew that her father's Kivara family couldn't reach out to help a huge ducal family—it would arouse His Majesty's suspicion and displeasure, so Lady Sophia didn't dare ask for help.
Just thinking about how Lady Sophia struggled to survive under such pressure while arranging what should have been a very smooth marriage for her made Anne want to cry.
Now her mother was dead, and Anne's marriage to Holden was dissolved. She could finally uncover the secrets of that year and see what her mother had guarded with her life.
The carriage arrived outside Princess Kirenya's estate. Anne didn't have Elisa get off with her, but dismounted alone and stood before the guards at the entrance.
"I am Anne Virlet. I have business with Princess Kirenya. Please announce me."
The guard at Princess Kirenya's estate looked at Anne. Though he admired this legendary, powerful, and brave duchess, his job was to guard Princess Kirenya, so he could only shake his head.
"My apologies, Duchess of Virlet. Princess Kirenya has ordered that no one associated with the Virlets may enter her estate."
Anne sighed. "What if I insist on entering?"
The guard froze, instinctively glancing at the sword at Anne's waist. "I am Princess Kirenya's guard. I will draw my weapon and oppose you."
"Alright."
Anne had already had someone fetch her Excalibur Destiny when leaving the Atarat Manor. It now hung securely at her waist. Though it clashed with her beautiful, gentle dress, it somehow fit perfectly.
She drew her sword and, in an instant, knocked the guard before her to the ground. The surrounding guards and servants cried out in alarm and rushed over to stop her.