“Unfortunately, we couldn’t find any tangible evidence that remained. The intermediary who gave the testimony disappeared without a trace shortly afterward. With no physical evidence or witnesses, only circumstantial evidence remains.”

I looked at Cain with regret as he spoke. Even though all the conditions were in place, whether we could bring the Repel family to trial remained uncertain.
Charlotte, the current head of the Repel family, is not only the stepmother of my older brother Wilhelm but also has tremendous support from the nobility. Of course, I have a powerful free pass as a princess, but honestly, at this point, it was doubtful whether my father would confront the Repel family for my sake.

“I learned about this just before the royal party. Although the situation was somewhat ambiguous in many ways, I thought I should let the princess know, even if I had to force it a bit.”

“Thank you for telling me honestly, Cain. I hope I can be of some help to you too.”

“Just knowing that you’re living well is enough. Princess Bella shines just by being herself.”

Although his response might sound a bit cheesy, sincerity was evident in Cain’s expression, as always.

Smiling at him, who seemed to be enjoying something, I asked, “But I’ve been curious for a while. Why do you treat me so well? You don’t have to tell me about the Repel family.”

“Well, you could say it was love at first sight. The moment I saw you by the lake, I felt like I should serve you for a lifetime.”

“Love… Don’t talk nonsense! Besides, back then, you didn’t fall for my charm. Give me an honest answer.”

Only then did Cain continue speaking in a tone where the playful attitude disappeared.

“In fact, I have an older sister and a cute younger sister. When I first met you, I felt like the two of them were combined. Like my sister on the outside but resembling my older sister on the inside.”

“Th-that’s…? It’s just a coincidence.”

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I wiped my sweat, and Cain, gently stroking his chin, mumbled.

“It’s strange. My older sister has been an adult for a long time. Although you, Princess Bella, have a mature inner self, I find it a bit perplexing that you seem similar to her.”

This guy is sharper than he seems. Even if he looks young on the outside, the soul inside is that of an adult. However, few people notice that from the first meeting. Cain was one of them.

“If there’s a chance to invite you to our mansion later, I’d really like to introduce those two. You’ll probably like them, Princess Bella.”

“Sure. If an opportunity arises, I’ll visit. It might not be immediate, though.”

“Just saying that is more than enough to make me happy.”

Cain and I continued to stroll through various places in the palace, exchanging small talk. When I thought we had talked enough, Cain, who had escorted me back to my room, said his goodbyes.

“Already leaving? Have a drink before you go. I couldn’t treat you well enough.”

“The time has become longer than expected, so I should anticipate the next opportunity. Can I visit you again later, choosing a time that won’t disturb you, Princess Bella?”

His words were warm and considerate, soaked with consideration.
Thinking that I should extend at least a small part of the kindness Cain showed me to Raven, I nodded.

“Got it. If you send a letter to me like this again, I’ll reply. Still, my handwriting is a bit messy for now.”

“The response you gave me last time, I plan to cherish it for a lifetime. Your handwriting, pressed firmly with care, was so adorable.”

When I lightly hit him with a small fist, asking if he was teasing me, Cain burst into a suppressed laughter.

Unlike the always mischievous appearance, a slightly innocent smile peeked through, making my heart flutter.

‘Anyway, I seem to have a weakness for a handsome face.’

From Dad to Raven and Cain.

The men around me all seemed to have one problem each, but one thing they all had in common was their outstanding looks.

Looking at Cain’s beauty, which made me feel happy just by looking at it, I vowed not to reveal my true feelings.

Even now, as a princess, if I were to praise him for being handsome, it might cause trouble in our future relationship.

After Cain left the Rose Palace, I went to find Sione to inform her about the conversation I had with him.

Hearing the story about Galleo, the head of the Council, and the Repel family, Sione was surprised.

“To have such a connection between the Turner and Repel families… It’s quite unexpected. It’s better to let Balter know about this story. Since the Fernan family and the knights don’t have a bad relationship, suggesting a cooperative investigation might be a good idea.”

“But what kind of person is Galleo? I’ve never seen him before.”

“He was quite high up during the time the Royal Magic Guild existed. A talented magician who worked with his master. But after getting involved in politics, he stopped magical research.”

After that, I heard a brief explanation about Galleo from Sione.

The Turner family had a considerable reputation due to long-standing charitable activities. However, the head of the family, Galleo, was described as an extreme pure-blood enthusiast, holding dangerous views.

Galleo claimed that maintaining the pure vampire lineage was the only way for the kingdom, and according to Sione, there were quite a few who supported his argument.

“He is one of the few who knows that Daphne is a fairy. If he ever tried to harm you for that reason… It would be a truly frightening situation.”

“Turner and Repel… There’s definitely a suspicious smell about them.”

“I don’t know why the Fernan family was trying to dig into Chairman Galleo’s side, but if we can get their help, it will surely be beneficial. Being such an ancient family, there might be other investigation routes unknown to the knights.”
“If Balter rejects the proposal, I will step in. Approaching Cain should also make it easy to persuade the head of the family.”

“You have a wise idea, Lady Bella. I haven’t taught you anything special, but you’re so talented… Truly impressive.”

I dismissed it as nothing special and crossed my arms, lost in thought.

In reality, even after experiencing two assassination attempts, I thought it would be difficult to uncover the identity of the attackers.

There was still no significant evidence, but discovering two suspicious families behind the scenes was already a substantial harvest.

‘It feels like the still hourglass is flowing quickly.’

Since I started growing again, I felt the rapid changes in the surrounding environment with my whole body.

And then, one day, an invitation with the royal seal arrived in front of me.