“……Thank you.”
“…….”
I hadn’t expected him to escort me.
Of course, it was practically a basic courtesy between noble men and women. But between him and me, that natural courtesy had been excluded without either of us even thinking about it.
Rachel, who had barely managed to climb into the carriage while unsteadily leaning on his hand, sat down on the sofa before calling out to the knight standing outside.
“Could you tell my maid and escort knights to return to the estate? Tell them I’m going separately for now.”
“Understood.”
By now, Becky and the escort knights might have already heard the news and been looking for me.
As he sat across from me, the carriage immediately set off. From the occasional sounds coming from outside, it seemed the other nobles were also preparing to leave.
Just then, he drew the curtains as he had before.
Once the sounds from outside were cut off and silence descended inside the carriage, I remembered the last moment I had faced him.
Fortunately, the atmosphere wasn’t bad this time.
He placed his clasped hands on his crossed leg and spoke.
“Speak. I’ll listen.”
“…….”
This time, having prepared myself mentally, I straightened my back and looked directly at him.
“As you saw today, I have a special way of obtaining information.”
“Is that how you found out about my birth as well?”
“Yes.”
“Good. What is that method?”
“I can’t tell you. Actually, if you hadn’t seen me like this today, I wouldn’t have told you this either. It’s a hidden strength I’ve been keeping from everyone else.”
“…….”
His blatant gaze bore down heavily on me.
But unlike last time, despite hearing such a suspicious explanation, there was no chilling or threatening atmosphere.
For a noble, it wasn’t strange to have at least one hidden card up their sleeve.
And more importantly, this was the second time today that something suspicious and similar had happened.
It was finally time for my words to become convincing.
Rachel lowered her gaze and continued.
“……Actually, I don’t really understand why you’re doing this much for me, Duke. I admit that there were suspicious things during your investigation. Of course there were. But did I actually do anything to harm you because of that?”
“…….”
There was no way I had.
“I simply used as much of my ability as I could because I wanted to break off the engagement as quickly as possible. I can’t tell you how I found out about these things, but I wasn’t trying to do anything in particular. I just want to live quietly now……”
She clasped her hands together.
Please.
“……I sincerely hope this clears up your suspicions of me, Duke. Truly.”
“…….”
Rachel stared silently at the floor.
……Did it work?
The silence stretched on, but somehow, this time, she felt his reaction would be different from before.
In fact, he didn’t seem frighteningly intimidating or cold at all.
“…….”
“…….”
The carriage continued steadily along until it eventually arrived at the Ingrave estate.
The knights guarding the main gate briefly stopped the carriage, but after confirming her face, they allowed it to pass inside.
Soon, they arrived at the entrance.
Her parents did not seem to have returned yet.
No, it seemed the assassination attempt on the Emperor had not yet become known throughout the capital as the carriage came to a smooth stop in front of the entrance.
Rachel stared at him for a moment before getting to her feet unsteadily.
Just then, a hand was extended toward her.
It belonged to Nathan Valencia.
“Take my hand.”
“……Thank you.”
Without showing either her anticipation or discomfort, Rachel accepted his escort once again.
Relying on his firm hand, she staggered slightly as she was just about to step down from the carriage—
“……!”
The man let out a low breath and simply grabbed her around the waist, lifting her up.
A moment later, she felt her shoes land lightly on the ground.
Once she put strength into her body and stood upright, his hand finally fell away.
He silently looked down at her before moving his lips.
“I don’t completely trust you, Young Lady. But.”
“…….”
“……After hearing you out, I suppose there were times when I was too hasty.”
Rachel forced herself to lower her gaze so that she wouldn’t show her excitement.
Her clasped hands had tightened before she knew it.
He looked down at her feet as he spoke.
“Have someone support you inside. Call a physician and have yourself treated immediately. If it gets worse, you’ll suffer for several days. Then.”
Rachel watched the man as he climbed back into the carriage and slightly bowed her head.
“Thank you for saving my life today. Goodbye, Duke.”
“…….”
After pausing for a moment—
He entered the carriage.
The carriage bearing the crest of a dragon coiled around a golden ring gradually moved farther away.
The deputy butler approached and supported her.
“My lady, are you all right?”
“……I’m fine.”
I couldn’t possibly be any better.
Rachel quietly smiled and turned around.
Her feet hurt, but it had been an exceptionally valuable day.
***
Meanwhile, Aisha, who had returned to the Labelyn estate early, was standing in the middle of what looked like the ruins of her room.
The bed, the desk, the vase, the ornaments—
She had smashed everything, yet she still hadn’t vented her anger.
Aisha was quietly staring down at the magic wand in her hand when—
Knock, knock—
“My lady, it’s me.”
“Come in.”
Sisi, Aisha’s personal maid, entered the room and reported with her head bowed, as though she hadn’t seen anything.
“A message has arrived from the palace. They say the Duke has entered an emergency court council, and the reason is that the Borza Kingdom’s delegation attempted to assassinate His Majesty the Emperor.”
“What?”
Aisha’s previously expressionless face twisted violently.
She tossed aside the wand she was holding and hurried over to Sisi.
“The Emperor? Is His Majesty safe?”
“Yes. They say Lady Ingrave noticed something early and went with Duke Valencia to rescue His Majesty. They managed to capture some of the delegation members and some of the assassins as well.”
“Ingrave? You mean Rachel Ingrave?”
“Yes, My lady.”
“…….”
Her pretty face stiffened strangely before turning pale once again.
Rachel Ingrave, who kept getting entangled with the Emperor, had become so irritating that she was almost disgusting to Aisha now.
But even so, the Emperor was more important to her.
“Can I enter the palace right now?”
“I don’t think that will be possible. The Imperial Knights have currently sealed off the entire Imperial Palace, and only those of marquis rank or higher who are attending the emergency court council are being allowed inside.”
“…….”
Aisha bit her lip.
Although she was a candidate to inherit Labelyn, one of the three great ducal families, as well as a candidate for Empress, she was still only a candidate. She had not yet obtained any official position.
Besides, if Borza Kingdom’s assassination attempt was indeed true, a war would soon break out.
“I only just returned to the Imperial Palace.”
Once war broke out, even as a duke’s daughter, she would hardly be able to enter the Imperial Capital.
Which meant she would have little chance of seeing the Emperor.
‘I should have trained harder.’
For three years, she had focused solely on controlling her so that she could return as quickly as possible.
If she had studied magic harder and become a great mage—
‘……I might have been able to stand beside His Majesty even on the battlefield.’
It wasn’t too late even now.
Wars didn’t end that quickly, and if she somehow raised her abilities high enough, she would be able to go to His Majesty’s side.
Then His Majesty’s attention would turn toward her—
And Rachel Ingrave, who had merely danced with him once, would also disappear from His Majesty’s memories!
“Mm, I think that’s a good idea.”
“…….”
Even as her master’s expression changed rapidly right before her eyes, Sisi’s face remained completely impassive.
Aisha smiled and picked up her magic wand again.
“Prepare something for me to write a letter. I’m sending it to Sein.”
“Yes, My lady.”
Her ultimate goal was to become a great mage.
As it happened, she had also just received a letter from Sein, her magic teacher and close friend.
“So, how is it now that you’ve returned to the Empire you longed for so much? Are you satisfied?”
She should ask Sein to help her with her magical training while she had the chance.
Besides, if a great mage from the Magic Tower were to visit, His Majesty, who was facing a war, would surely welcome them enthusiastically.
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