Anneli listened to Count Ruezak's words with her arms crossed, not touching the tea cup set before her.
"Actually, a Dullahan once appeared in the Montel territory. It was over ten years ago."
Anneli raised her eyebrows at Count Ruezak's words. It was understandable, as this was likely the first time she had heard this information.
"I don't know if you're aware, but there's an area called the Dead Land on the outskirts of the territory. We officially announced it was due to monster corpses, but that monster was a Dullahan."
Count Ruezak knew the terror of the Dullahan. That was why he was even more enraged by Maxel's behavior.
Maxel's subjugation party had originally targeted a Lizardman habitat. If he had known they would encounter a Dullahan there, Count Ruezak would never have allowed his son to join.
If he had known from the start that Maxel was caught up in the delusion of subjugating a Dullahan, he wouldn't have accepted him at all.
"A Dead Land caused by the Dullahan?"
"The Dullahan that appeared this time emerged from there. I checked thinking perhaps the Dullahan we thought we had eliminated had recovered its power, but its behavior pattern is different from before."
Anneli's expression was so composed and calm that it was difficult to tell what she was thinking.
Count Ruezak didn't bother trying to gauge her inner thoughts. She was a resurrected one anyway, so dealing with the Dullahan was her responsibility.
What he needed to do was get Anneli before the Dullahan somehow and resolve this matter as quickly as possible.
"I don't know if you're aware, but the Crown Prince is staying in the territory."
Count Ruezak was also aware of the relationship between Anneli and Maxel, and further, the sordid romantic entanglement involving Lilia.
He worried that this topic might offend Anneli.
Watching Anneli's complexion, Count Ruezak continued speaking with a cautious attitude.
"Recently, he led a subjugation party himself to eliminate monsters and encountered a Dullahan. After that incident, the Dullahan suddenly appeared."
"So the Count thinks the Dullahan appeared because of the Crown Prince?"
"...."
Honestly, wasn't there some connection? The Dullahan seemed to move irregularly yet was following the Crown Prince's trail. There had to be a reason for that, unless there was some grudge involved.
As far as Count Ruezak knew, the only reason the Crown Prince might be targeted by a Dullahan was the subjugation party incident.
'Tsk, can't even lock him up.'
Because of his status as Crown Prince, Count Ruezak couldn't force anything. If he let slip that the Dullahan seemed to be chasing him, the Crown Prince would immediately threaten, demanding he bring out his troops.
If he could eliminate the Dullahan that way, that would be one thing.
But what if something happened to the Crown Prince while he recklessly tried to catch the Dullahan? How could he possibly bear the sin of failing to properly attend to a member of the imperial family?
Seeming to read the affirmative meaning in Count Ruezak's silence, Anneli subtly lifted the corners of her lips.
"I eliminated a Dullahan at the Imperial Palace. But do you know what happened after?"
"What happened after?"
"I explained thoroughly why the Dullahan appeared. I said there was an evil energy in the Imperial Palace."
"Evil energy..."
Count Ruezak made a dubious expression. From words alone, he couldn't even begin to gauge it.
"At that time, the Crown Prince was in the palace."
Count Ruezak's eyes went wide at Anneli's words. Her statement was essentially no different from pointing to Maxel as the culprit behind this situation.
"I won't speak at length. Subduing the Dullahan isn't difficult. However, what comes after depends on your judgment."
Anneli, who had narrowed her eyes, smiled beautifully. Yet the words she spoke were neither beautiful nor sweet.
"I think there's nothing more foolish and stupid than letting something that could end with one treatment grow into a troublesome chronic disease. I hope the Count shares my view."
Whether because his thoughts had grown complicated, a faint headache arose. Count Ruezak pressed his forehead and swallowed a groan.
Anneli, who had been watching him meaningfully, rose as if the conversation had ended.
"Organize the Crown Prince's party's schedule and bring it to me by lunch."
Count Ruezak easily understood Anneli's words. Her instruction to "prepare" the schedule that the Crown Prince's party would carry out as bait.
Anneli turned without waiting for Count Ruezak's answer. Count Ruezak, who stared blankly at her retreating figure walking away with long strides, wiped his face with his hand and let out a long sigh.
'First, first...'
Right. He needed to send his daughter, who was sticking close to Lilia Roam, to a safe place. He had to separate her from the Crown Prince's party first and explain the situation.
Sorting through what needed to be done step by step in his mind, Count Ruezak also rose from his seat.
* * *
He really is a quick-witted one.
I wore a satisfied smile as I checked the "Crown Prince's schedule" delivered by Viscount Sejour. Count Ruezak was certainly sharp. He also judged the situation quickly.
Seeing how he immediately produced Maxel's tour schedule from just a few words of mine, he was also a lord who knew his territory's geography well.
'Well, from the point his son was injured, his loyalty toward Maxel would have considerably vanished...'
Perhaps his own petty resentment was mixed in for planning the route so fearlessly.
I scanned the long list of city and village names. While he couldn't completely exclude residential areas, looking at the travel route, he had chosen the most desolate paths possible.
The intention to minimize territory damage wherever the Dullahan might appear was clearly visible.
"The Crown Prince is moving like this?"
"If you wait just one day, news will come."
Perhaps the excuse to push Maxel forward would be something like the lord's earnest request for him to personally tend to the people's hearts?
I nodded casually. Maxel too would have heard by now that I had come here to deal with the Dullahan.
He would surely be anxious about having the fame he tried to claim stolen by a resurrected one.
Having boldly led a subjugation party only to suffer a great defeat, he would try to restore his lost honor even through such a minor tour.
"Good, I'd like to receive the result as soon as possible."
After memorizing the schedule, I threw the paper toward the fireplace. The flames roaring up as they engulfed the paper seemed to predict someone's future.
The future of Maxel, who would lose everything he possessed.
And the future of Lilia, who tried to complete her novel with Maxel as her partner, leaving only ashes behind.
* * *
Count Ruezak's young lady crossed the corridor with a pale face.
The passing maids looked at her with puzzled expressions, but Count Ruezak's young lady was in such a state of being completely spiritless that she couldn't even properly notice their gazes.
Walking like that for a while, Count Ruezak's young lady suddenly grabbed a nearby maid's arm.
"Ah, Miss?"
"Where is Lady Lilia?"
"Pardon?"
"Lady Roam! The future Crown Princess!"
At the appearance of Count Ruezak's young lady, who looked desperate to anyone, the maid answered with a tense face as well.
"She just went out saying she would look around the garden!"
The garden wasn't far away.
Count Ruezak's young lady, who turned around immediately after hearing the maid's answer, arrived at the garden almost running. There was no need to wander; Lilia was at the entrance of the garden.
"Lady Lilia!"
"Young lady?"
"Is it true that you'll soon be touring the Montel territory with His Highness the Crown Prince?"
"Ah, yes. The lord asked me to encourage the territory's people who are trembling with anxiety. He said you have urgent business in the capital and need to go? It would be better if you could join us, what a pity."
Seeing Lilia facing her with an innocent face, knowing nothing, Count Ruezak's young lady bit her lip.
"There's no time, so I'll tell you quickly."
As if being chased by someone, Count Ruezak's young lady looked around warily.
Count Ruezak's young lady, who had moved all the hired servants waiting nearby far away, linked arms with Lilia and stood close to her. Then she whispered in a small voice.
"You need to escape quickly."
"What? What are you talking about?"
Count Ruezak's young lady, looking at Lilia with a frustrated expression, led her and walked further into the garden.
"You need to hide. It's dangerous."
"Lady Ruezak, please explain so I can understand better."
Count Ruezak's young lady looked back once more.
Beyond that building, knights who had received Count Ruezak's orders were waiting for her.
Count Ruezak's young lady had shaken off the maids and come here, having almost been swept away and left the territory in a daze.
This was a sudden action, and the knights would soon notice that the count's young lady wasn't coming and find it strange.
So Count Ruezak's young lady had to convey the facts she had learned to Lilia as quickly as possible.
"The Dullahan is targeting His Highness the Crown Prince!"
A bewildered emotion spread across Lilia's peaceful face.
"What does that mean?"
"My father found out. The fact that the Dullahan is targeting His Highness the Crown Prince."
Lilia widened her eyes and fell silent. It wasn't that I couldn't understand her reaction.
Count Ruezak's young lady would have reacted the same way if she suddenly heard such words from someone.
"The reason I suddenly have to go to the capital is also entirely because it's dangerous."
Count Ruezak's young lady felt an enormous absurdity at her father's action, trying to send her to the capital like a midnight escape.
Feeling rebellious against her father who made decisions unilaterally, ignoring his daughter's wishes, was only natural.
She had intended to go to Count Ruezak right away and demand an explanation, but her father had gone to a nearby villa for some business, hadn't he?
Seeing Count Ruezak's young lady insisting that she wouldn't move until she met her father and heard the situation directly, her knight sighed. Then he let slip the hidden circumstances as if telling a secret.
What people were whispering about regarding the Crown Prince in the capital, and what the Crown Prince had now become the target of.
"His Highness the Crown Prince has trained in swordsmanship, but Lady Lilia hasn't! If you go around together, you'll surely be in danger! So please come to the capital with me."