“I’m glad.”
They had been sitting quietly with their hands clasped together for a while when they felt someone tapping on the carriage door. When Rachel drew back the curtain, the soundproofing magic was lifted, and the noises outside began to filter in.
“…My lord, have you finished your conversation? Duke Valencia asked me to check whether you’re ready to depart for the Imperial Palace now that the cleanup is complete.”
It was Sir Hoffman, the head of Rachel’s escort. Rachel turned to Illya.
“Can you go to the Imperial Palace? If it’s too much for you, you can return to the estate instead.”
“No, Sister. I want to go. I want to see our parents’ end with my own eyes.”
They had not only dared to disguise themselves as remnants of the rebellious North, but had also attacked a carriage provided for an imperial guest.
The downfall of the Ingrave couple was all but certain. In fact, they would be lucky if they were merely exiled. They might even be executed.
“This is my choice, too, so please let me see it through, Sister.”
“…All right.”
Rachel looked at Illya quietly and patted his hand. Then she opened the window and instructed Sir Hoffman.
“Sir, you may depart.”
“Understood.”
Sir Hoffman immediately bowed before moving away. Rachel was about to close the window when she saw Nathan Valencia at the head of the group, and her expression grew complicated.
“Move out.”
“Move out!”
At his command, the carriage soon began to move. Rachel watched outside for a little longer before closing the window.
Her feelings were more complicated than ever. Nathan Valencia might think this was simply a way to repay his debt and provide the help she rightfully deserved.
But honestly, the relationship between them was closer to that of enemies.
A woman who had been the fake heir’s wife in her previous life.
The real heir, who had returned too late after being caught up in a conspiracy.
And a woman who had been lucky enough to awaken and activate the <Regression> ability, gaining the chance to live a new life.
…A woman who had even disguised herself as the benefactor of the Valencia family without anyone knowing.
Whenever Nathan treated her gently, Rachel felt a tightness in her chest.
Sometimes, she felt a surge of emotion.
And lately, she had even begun to feel a tiny, faint sense of guilt. It was truly a useless emotion.
“…This is why I didn’t want to get close to him.”
Illya quietly raised his head in response to her muttering. After gazing out the window for a moment, he asked,
“Are you uncomfortable around Duke Valencia?”
“Hmm, a little?”
“…”
Rachel had expected him to ask why right away, but Illya simply nodded quietly and buried his face in her hand.
“Then once this matter is over, let’s avoid getting involved with the Valencia family. Besides, this should settle at least some of the debt between the Valencia and Ingrave families.”
“…All right.”
Though she wasn’t sure things would go according to plan.
Perhaps it would be a good idea to arrange a time to face him again.
If their relationship could finally be settled once and for all,
perhaps that would be for the best.
I’m still a little worried about the emperor, though.
If her parents were removed from power and she and Illya took charge of the Ingrave family, things might not turn out as badly as she had expected.
By now, the carriage had retraced its route and was close to the Imperial Palace. The Imperial Knights, who had tensely blocked their path at the sight of dozens of knights, looked somewhat relieved when they saw Nathan Valencia.
He showed them the people he had captured and spoke briefly with the commander of the Imperial Knights.
Then, after giving several instructions to the commander of the Valencia Knights, he entered the palace with some of his knights and the assassins.
Judging by the direction they were heading, they were going toward the Hall of Glory.
Rachel thought she understood his intentions. He planned to expose the crimes of the Ingrave couple in the banquet hall, where the emperor and countless nobles were gathered.
With both witnesses and evidence, the impact would be considerable.
The carriage soon stopped in front of the Hall of Glory. The banquet was still in full swing. The emperor and the King of Borza were still seated before the imperial throne.
With many nobles still present, Nathan Valencia dismounted and opened the carriage door.
“…”
“…”
Their eyes met for a brief moment. Then Illya, who had gotten out first, held out one hand.
“Sister, take my hand as you get down.”
“…All right. Thank you.”
Rachel stepped out of the carriage with a faint smile. Nathan Valencia, who had been silently watching her, spoke first.
“You must have heard the whole story from the young master.”
“Yes. I heard that you’ve gathered evidence, too.”
“That’s right. I intend to expose the crimes of the Ingrave couple here today and remove them from power. If you don’t want that, tell me now. I’ll resolve this matter however you wish.”
“…”
Rachel looked up at him for a moment, then steadied herself.
“It’s all right. I want the Ingrave couple removed from power, too.”
The Valencia Knights lined up in front of the banquet hall, forcing the assassins to kneel. There were more than a dozen of them, and with the escort knights included, there were nearly thirty people.
Imperial guards appeared from various places and took up positions around the banquet hall.
The music gradually faded.
As every eye in the hall turned toward them, Nathan Valencia was the first to walk inside.
Rachel and Illya followed behind him. The emperor was still leaning casually against the platform before the imperial throne, looking down at them with an easy expression.
Rachel turned her gaze to find the Ingrave couple. They stood at one side of the banquet hall, staring at her with wide eyes as they saw her return alive.
Nathan Valencia stopped directly in front of the steps leading up to the throne.
“Oh, Duke. You said you were stepping out for some fresh air, but you took your time returning.”
“Would Your Majesty forgive me if I said I caught the people who were challenging the imperial family instead?”
“Challenging the imperial family?”
He took a thick stack of documents from inside his coat and presented them. The emperor’s chief attendant came down and accepted the papers.
The emperor remained leaning against the throne as he examined their contents, but his expression gradually hardened. The nobles held their breath along with him. The only ones looking around frantically were the Ingrave couple.
Soon, the emperor’s gaze settled directly on Marquis Ingrave and his wife.
“Is this true?”
“…!”
The startled nobles hurriedly moved aside, leaving a wide-open space. Like a lone island in the middle of the sea, Marquis Ingrave stood there as his wife tried to stop him. He quietly stepped forward.
“I don’t understand what Your Majesty is referring to.”
“I hear you arranged an attack on a carriage bearing the imperial flag. You even went so far as to disguise it as the work of remnants from the North. And your target was your own daughter. What terrible crime could the young lady possibly have committed to deserve such a heinous act?”
Against the backdrop of the emperor’s furious voice,
a wave of shocked murmurs spread through the crowd of nobles. Marquis Ingrave hurriedly dropped to one knee and denied the accusation.
“Your Majesty! Surely you don’t believe I would do such a thing! This is unjust! I don’t know what documents Duke Valencia has presented, but—”
“There is evidence that you contacted an assassination organization through your head butler and hired them. There are records of the gold you paid as an advance, the date and time of your meeting, and even evidence that you tried to falsify the circumstances. You personally altered several symbols belonging to northern families that were wiped out and handed them over, didn’t you? And someone who met your head butler is standing right over there. Will you still deny it?”
“That was the head butler acting on his own, Your Majesty. Rachel once scolded him, and he must have held a grudge and acted alone out of spite. I admit that I failed to keep my retainer under control, but please withdraw the accusation that I tried to have my daughter assassinated. This is unjust, Your Majesty!”
“Ha! You’re telling me that a mere butler disguised himself as a remnant of the North, dared to attack an imperial carriage, and paid an enormous sum to an assassination organization?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. He has served the Ingrave family for many years. Surely he had access to that much gold.”
Even under the emperor’s piercing gaze, the marquis stubbornly presented such an absurd excuse. He certainly lived up to his reputation as a skilled political operator, even at court.
And though his excuse invited suspicion, it was an effective way to deal with the situation.
He must have already secured the head butler’s cooperation.
The head butler had probably left a suicide note.
Perhaps it claimed that he had been so furious about being scolded by the young lady that he had committed the crime on his own.
The nobles all wore complicated expressions. Being caught using assassination was disgraceful, but the marquis had covered his tracks almost perfectly.
However, there was one variable the marquis had failed to consider.
“…That’s a lie. I heard it from the deputy butler. I heard Father arranging for my sister to be assassinated.”
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