C152
The news was announced five days after Conejito announced plans to build a warp portal.
[The Duke Cassius dismisses Liena Cassius and erases her from the family record.]
This was the moment when Liena Cassius could no longer be called by that name.
Additionally, the duke made it clear that there was no connection between Cassius and the warp portal construction plan, and the duchy could not guarantee investors a return on their investment.
This caused a great stir in the society of the Asteroth Empire, comparable to that of five days ago.
The commotion was great because the entire empire knew how much Duke Cassius loved his daughter.
Why did he abandon his daughter, whom he treated with so much affection?
Due to the circumstances and the Duke's announcement, people couldn't help but speculate that the reason for the dismissal was related to the warp portals.
Public opinion, which was divided in half, quickly turned negatively towards Conejito.
Conejito maintained its attitude towards reporters who formed a long line in front of the company, saying that it was only the owner's personal matter and that there was no problem with the warp portal construction plan.
However, few people believed this, and some even seemed to have inquired about the imperial family.
Thus, two days after the announcement, the imperial family announced that Liena's engagement to Prince Mikhail had not been temporarily postponed but had been completely canceled.
Now, the only people defending Conejito's side were some members of Liena's fan club.
From early in the morning, when the imperial family made the announcement, a crowd of people, including reporters, investors, and spectators, flocked to Conejito.
Even the security guards hired by Conejito at a high price were not enough to stop them.
"Give me back my money!"
"This is my investment! Please at least return the principal amount!"
"Ask the group owner to come here!"
In particular, investors, who feared losing their investment, went crazy, grabbed the top employees, and caused a commotion.
In the end, fearing that the situation would escalate into a bloody one, security forces were sent to calm the people.
When the situation reached this point, the emperor himself stepped forward and ordered the security forces to investigate whether Conejito's fraud suspicions were true.
However, while the security team raided Conejito and investigated, suspicious circumstances were detected.
Conejito's managers had already disappeared, and only low-level employees remained at the scene.
Most of the funds stored in safes and banks had also disappeared.
The ambitious warp portal construction plan they announced also seemed ineffective.
The security forces found no evidence within the company indicating that the warp portal construction plans were progressing as announced earlier.
On the desk, there were only a few sheets of decent and poorly written plans.
The next day, when this truth was revealed to the world, the world turned upside down.
The Conejito Merchant Group, which was considered the leader in business until recently, has now become the cruelest merchant group in the world.
The anger of those who did not suffer direct harm from Conejito was also significant.
This was because the plan to build the warp portals spread throughout the continent, causing other countries to ridicule the Asteroth Empire itself.
In summary, it was a shame for the country and hurt the high pride of the empire's people.
Public sentiment rose like a wave of anger, seeking a target to vent their rage.
However, it was confirmed that the remaining employees had been hired only a few days ago and didn't even know the details of the company's situation, so there was no basis for punishment.
Citizens demanded in abundance that those who were fleeing be caught, and the security forces officially began a search.
Among them, the most attacked person was Liena, the owner of the Conejito company and who played the role of hostess due to her original popularity.
That night, I was nestled in Terence's arms, reading the newspaper.
"Is there any interesting article?"
My body instantly tensed at the sweet voice that reached my ears.
I looked at Terence, who was smiling.
Really, every time I felt that I had gotten used to him a little, that man gave a new sense of tension every time.
Before I knew it, the number of times I received help from him to increase my divine power had exceeded five fingers.
"Nothing special, just reading the previous article about Conejito."
In the newspaper, there was a flag above a bunny that had been trampled by people and torn to shreds.
The sight of the crumpled and torn bunny felt somewhat lonely.
"Life is very unpredictable."
"I agree."
I remained lost in thought for a moment and then opened my mouth.
"Terence, there is someone I would like to meet. Can you arrange a meeting?"
The person she was trying to meet was not in a place where she could easily meet someone.
In a way, it could be said that he was a more difficult opponent to face than the emperor of this empire.
"Yes, I will take care of it."
However, upon hearing the name of the person, Terence responded willingly without a moment of hesitation.
"...Don't you even ask why?"
"If Ethel requests it, there must be a good reason. Although, of course, I am curious because it is related to Ethel."
While Terence said that, he took a grape from the fruit basket on the nightstand and put it in my mouth.
I took it silently and ate it, jokingly.
"Aren't you making me feel too comfortable? If I continue like this, I might become someone who doesn't even eat grapes with her own hands."
"Then I can keep feeding you."
If I stayed with this person, my habits would only get worse.
But I closed my eyes and felt warmth filling my heart.
That day, the first snowfall occurred.
---------------------------
"Ah..."
Liena let out a sigh and ran through the snow-covered streets from last night.
Her whole body felt so weak that she wanted to collapse and rest immediately, but there was no time for that.
Because she had just escaped from Isaac's mansion.
"Do you think I'll forgive you?! I'll never let it pass!"
Liena's eyes darkened when she realized there was no response even after rubbing the jewel on her ribbon dozens or hundreds of times.
Even Matisse had betrayed her.
"No matter how good I've been, this still happened!"
She was so angry and sad that she began to cry.
The kindness she had shown to those around her returned in the terrible form of betrayal.
Liena, who had been crying for hours, gritted her teeth and cursed. She would definitely repay this humiliation.
Her perseverance gave strength to her hungry body.
As hungry as she was, she didn't even pay attention to the freshly presented raw carrots.
"Uncle, I feel sick."
So, every time she felt Isaac's presence outside the door, she complained in a weak voice that she felt pain.
Then, as proof, Isaac brought a good meal that wasn't raw carrots.
He thought the appetizing smell would make her roll her eyes, but Liena barely restrained herself by pinching her thighs.
Only when she couldn't bear it anymore, she touched the raw carrots hidden and the salad on the plate.
To save energy, she stayed in bed all day like a truly sick person.
"Are you really sick? Where does it hurt?"
"..."
"Liena?"
As the days passed like that, Isaac also began to believe Liena's words.
Liena smiled remorsefully.
Isaac didn't want Liena to die.
Given his personality, if that had been the case, they would have dealt with her a long time ago; there was no reason to bother confining her.
When Liena didn't respond, the sound of a closed door opening rang out.
Liena was waiting by the door and hit Isaac's head with the lamp she was holding.
Isaac let out a scream and fell.
Without even having time to check his condition, Liena ran out of the room.
She needed to get away from this place even a little more.
Fortunately, Liena didn't encounter anyone else until she left the mansion.
As expected, Isaac didn't seem to have hired any servants to keep the fact that Liena was imprisoned a secret.
As the distance from Isaac's mansion grew considerably, Liena's speed decreased.
"I'm cold. I'm hungry."
Even if she were about to be killed, she couldn't run anymore.
Liena looked at her appearance, which didn't look like that of a noblewoman, and then looked around.
Some carriages passed by, but she didn't have money to travel in them, and honestly, it was hard to trust a carriage driver at this moment.
What if he was a spy planted by that wicked Isaac?
"Oh, I should have hit you with something heavier."
Unfortunately, the only weapon Liena could lift in the room was a lamp.
Well, that's it. Since she escaped anyway, Isaac or Ethel will be completely punished.
Liena thought of her old friend who was extremely annoying.
She must have let her guard down, not even dreaming that she would use her wits to escape.
"Keep your guard down. I'll be back soon."
Liena, with an ironic smile on her face, headed to the nearby security checkpoint.
Not even Isaac could have placed someone in the security forces, so for now, it was the place Liena could trust the most.
The security team she reached was so lively inside, as if a significant incident had occurred.
"Excuse me."
Liena stopped a passing security guard and showed him the ring with the Cassius emblem engraved.
"You may not believe it, but I am Liena Cassius from the Cassius family."
The security team member's eyes widened when he heard her name.
It was hard not to be surprised to see the princess of Cassius appearing in a police station located in a remote corner of the outskirts of the capital.
"For some reason, could you protect my safety and then take me to the residence of Duke Cassius?"
When Liena asked with a smile, the agent looked at her and the paper he was holding.
At first glance, it looked like a wanted poster.