Meanwhile, after arriving at the Valencia Ducal Estate, Rachel was immediately granted a private audience with the Duke.
His face looked slightly haggard, yet his eyes were still sharp and intense.
The moment he saw Rachel, the Duke expressed his gratitude.
“Because you told me, I was able to learn the truth even at this late stage. On behalf of my family, I would like to express my gratitude to you, Young Lady.”
The table was overflowing with various reports, in addition to the evidence Rachel had provided. They had most likely been gathered by the shadows of House Valencia.
Rachel lowered her gaze.
“It seems your investigation is complete.”
“Yes.”
The Duke had even uncovered records from twenty-one years ago showing that Cae Savanio had purchased a slave.
The reports documented the entire process—from that slave receiving the Savanio Young Lady’s patronage and becoming a commoner, then a knight, and eventually becoming the biological father of Valencia’s only heir.
Everything was recorded in these reports.
On top of that, a preliminary blood test had already determined that there was no biological father-son relationship between the Duke and Paris.
Suppressing a rough breath, the Duke leaned deeply into the sofa.
“Once I complete the blood test between the Mercenary King and myself, I will immediately have Cae Savanio and Paris arrested. A report will also be submitted to His Majesty soon. Naturally, the annulment of your engagement with Paris will proceed as a fault on our side.”
It was the ending Rachel had wanted.
Now that the Mercenary King had returned today, the test would take place soon.
A hint of unfamiliar goodwill appeared in the Duke’s crimson eyes as he looked at her.
“Is there anything you want? I called you here today to ask you that.”
“……”
Rachel’s feelings were complicated.
There were things she wanted to ask for, but before that, there was something she wanted to know.
Clasping her cold fingertips together, Rachel asked,
“May I know what their punishment will be?”
“……”
“I would like to hear your opinion, Duke. What do you intend to do with the Duchess, Paris, and that knight?”
She knew they would be executed, but she wanted to make sure.
Unlike Rachel, Cae Savanio had never been abandoned by the Savanio Ducal Family despite committing such a serious crime.
People only talked behind her back.
Many suspected that the reason Cae Savanio and her lover had managed to avoid being found after Paris was exposed was because the Duke of Savanio had helped them escape.
Would this time really be any different?
Rachel wondered whether, unlike in her case, they might somehow be released.
The thought left her feeling strangely distant from everything.
Just as Rachel lowered her gaze—
“You are still rather innocent, Young Lady.”
“……Pardon?”
The Duke’s deep voice pierced her ears. Resting his chin on the armrest of the sofa, he stared at her.
“Did I not tell you? A report will be submitted to His Majesty. They nearly caused the capital itself to be burned to the ground. His Majesty will never back down on this matter. If the Duke of Savanio attempts to intervene, he will have to risk the fate of his entire family.”
The direct bloodline of House Valencia was directly connected to the sealing of the Great Monster.
If the Great Monster sealed in the mountain behind the capital were released, half the capital would certainly be destroyed. Thus, the Emperor’s anger was only natural.
That was why Rachel herself had received such a harsh sentence in her previous life.
“……Even so, couldn’t they ask for the punishment to be reduced to confinement?”
Rachel remembered the sentence she had received before her regression.
The confinement that had been cruelly imposed on her despite her knowing nothing.
Yet compared to execution, it had certainly been a lighter punishment.
And unlike Rachel, the Savanio Family would have continued to support them so that their confinement would not become a true prison.
A small laugh came from the Duke’s seat.
Crossing his legs, he said,
“If the Duke of Savanio begs while prepared to offer his own neck, it might be possible. But do you think I would simply let that happen?”
“……”
One of the most powerful great nobles in the Empire.
The head of House Valencia, who had no reason to yield to anyone except the Emperor.
He declared,
“I promise you. No matter what anyone says, those three will all be executed.”
“……”
“So rest assured, Young Lady. You will never have to see those people who even tried to drag you into their schemes ever again.”
Rachel’s heart trembled.
The very man who had sentenced her to confinement in her previous life was now her ally, telling her that he would make her nightmare disappear.
This was exactly what she had hoped for when she had brought the evidence to him first.
Yet, strangely, her eyes grew hot.
‘This time, I made the right choice.’
It felt somewhat strange to receive comfort from the Duke.
Still, she felt relieved.
After letting out a long breath, Rachel looked up. The Duke, who seemed slightly surprised, suddenly burst into laughter.
“What? Don’t tell me you were worried even after entrusting this matter to me? My, it seems I failed to earn your trust. Or perhaps House Valencia failed to earn your trust? Is that why you hesitated when I asked what you wanted?”
“……No.”
At least she was relieved knowing she would never have to see them again.
Rachel lowered her head.
“Thank you for telling me.”
“There is no need to thank me for something like this. Now, I believe I still haven’t heard what you want.”
The Duke spoke with a smile, still resting his chin on his hand.
With her heart somewhat lighter, Rachel finally brought up what she had been thinking about.
The first thing she wanted was compensation for the damages.
“Could you compensate me for the broken engagement?”
“Of course. That’s only natural. Naturally, I will provide it to House Ingrave—”
“No. I was asking whether you could give it to me personally, rather than to House Ingrave. If possible, I would also like my parents not to know about it.”
Rachel lowered her gaze as she added this.
Although she was an adult, Rachel was still legally a member of House Ingrave.
She remained under the influence of the Marquess and Marchioness of Ingrave.
To escape from their influence, she would have to either marry or receive a title.
But how easy was it to obtain a title?
A title granted by the Emperor could only be earned by accomplishing something significant for the nation. Therefore, Rachel had planned to leave her family through marriage.
However, something could go wrong before the marriage—or perhaps even after it.
That was why she needed assets that no one else knew about.
“……”
The young Duke, still in his late thirties, wore a complicated expression.
Soon, he nodded.
“I’ll arrange it. My aide will visit you soon.”
“Thank you. And if possible, I would also like you to make sure my parents cannot use my connection with House Valencia for their own benefit. I don’t want that.”
This incident involved nothing less than fraud concerning the heir of House Valencia.
If it became known that Rachel had helped reveal the truth, her parents would never sit idly by.
Having her own status elevated would certainly be a good thing.
But she wanted no further involvement with House Valencia.
The Duke, who had been listening quietly, nodded once more.
“Very well. It was not House Ingrave but you who did us this favor, so I will respect your wishes.”
“Thank you. I think that will be enough.”
She would slowly obtain everything else herself as she lived her new life.
A different future.
A peaceful life.
For that reason, she felt that what she would receive from House Valencia, the family tied to her past, was enough.
The Duke’s expression changed slightly again.
“That’s all?”
“Yes. Ah, once their punishment has been decided, could I meet Paris once? I made him a promise.”
“That shouldn’t be difficult, but……”
The Duke trailed off, his expression suggesting that he had much more to say.
Perhaps he found it unbelievable that she was willing to settle for so little.
But Rachel thought that asking for more would simply mean becoming more deeply entangled with House Valencia.
The Duke scratched his cheek before opening his mouth.
At that moment, a man dressed in black appeared without a sound and knelt on one knee.
“My lord, I have urgent news to report.”
He was the leader of the Black Shadows, the hidden force of House Valencia.
The Duke glanced at Rachel before speaking.
“What is it?”
“……He has noticed. The aide intervened, and although it is earlier than expected, they are bringing him here.”
“Tsk.”
The Duke clicked his tongue and asked for Rachel’s understanding.
“It seems we are about to have another guest. I’m sorry, Young Lady, but could you return home for now? If you think of anything else you want later, you may always inform me by letter.”
“It’s all right. What you’ve given me already is more than enough. Then, I’ll take my leave.”
Rachel politely bowed and left the Duke’s study.
In the hallway, the Valencia butler, Becky, and the knights were waiting.
The butler politely bowed.
“Young Lady Ingrave. Allow me to escort you to the entrance.”
“……”
As she followed the butler, Rachel briefly glanced toward the closed study door.
The report from the Shadows came to mind.
‘That person.’
‘It must be the Mercenary King, Nathan.’
House Valencia must have already placed a Shadow on the Mercenary King.
It was impressive that he had noticed it so quickly.
In any case, judging from how things were unfolding, it seemed there was nothing more Rachel needed to do.
The bloodline test would probably be conducted as soon as today.
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