“Your Grace!”
At the Count’s outburst, the Duke opened his eyes. Walter, seeming to have no wish to speak further, spoke quickly and flatly.
“Do not make me repeat myself, Count. At this moment, there are no Unseen within Castle Richmond. There are only those who seek to murder the maids and plunge this castle into chaos. I already told you that I clearly guarantee the identities of Grace and her maid.”
“…Can you prove it? Can you prove that Your Grace’s lover is not one of ‘the Unseen,’ whom Empress Heteubiga has declared traitors?”
The crest of the Richmond vassal gleamed red upon the Count’s chest.
Walter’s lips, which had maintained an impassive expression until now, twisted crookedly upward.
So that was it.
This man had not forgotten his master—he had changed his master.
“Please consider my loyalty for the sake of Richmond’s peace, Your Grace! This is not a matter to be resolved while swept away by emotion!!”
He felt killing intent swirling around his heart.
“I spoke plainly enough, Count.”
“…….”
The Count offered no answer in the end, and Walter moved on. If he remained a moment longer, things would surely become irreversible. Then, pausing briefly beside the Count, he asked.
“By the way, Count. Why is your son not present?”
Though the question was entirely out of context, the Count thought the Duke had backed down, and answered readily.
“I had not yet told you, Your Grace. Recently there was a wedding between Lady Taylor and the young Count of Sachsen. He was absent, having attended as the representative of House Richmond, but he is scheduled to enter the castle soon, so he shall pay his respects before long.”
“Is that so.”
The Duke left an ambiguous reply and departed.
Once he and Joseph had disappeared, sighs burst from all around. The one who had been standing beside the Count asked, as if he had been waiting.
“My Lord Count, what do you intend to do?”
Recalling the Duke’s relatively docile reaction, the Count spoke with confidence.
“What do you mean, what? I shall find the traitor certainly hiding within Castle Richmond.”
Then one of the moderate nobles cautiously spoke up.
“His Grace commanded that the interrogation regarding the lover be stopped. Are you saying you will continue regardless?”
“Are you insulting my loyalty?”
“That is not what I meant.”
“How could you fail to see that this is ultimately for Richmond and His Grace?! Watch your tongue!”
When the Count shouted as if in a fit, the noble who had spoken drew his neck back like a turtle and fell silent. The Count clicked his tongue in displeasure and left the storeroom with dignified steps, as if he were a king.
When he came up to the surface, a red dusk was settling. He headed straight for the office. The Countess, who had already arrived and was waiting, greeted him.
As soon as the Count saw her, he whispered in her ear.
“We must make that wench open her mouth.”
“Do not worry. She is fated to open her mouth. And despite being cornered this far, she refused to speak of the castle to the end. She is clearly a fugitive. Have you captured the person I told you to capture?”
“Don’t worry.”
“Capturing the missing maid alive is the most urgent matter. The Empress’s investigators must prove through that maid that ‘the Unseen’ are indeed real, so that we can have the Duke completely within our grasp.”
“Count Reuwen said he would find her by dawn tomorrow at the latest.”
“You must also monitor the Duke’s surroundings.”
“Didn’t I say not to worry? And as for the Duke, he was so full of fight before, but today I saw he lowered his tail. He should have been like that from the start. Just you wait. Soon he’ll become like a grandmother with all her limbs cut off, barely clinging to life.”
The crimson sunset stained his face, suffused with malice, in mottled patches.
＊ ＊ ＊
The knights under Count Reuwen literally combed through the interior of the ducal castle as if catching lice.
“We must find that wench, we must!!”
All gates, large and small, leading outside the castle were locked. From the servants’ quarters and warehouses to the sewers flowing outward, they searched. The search continued deep into the night. But they could not find Jessie—nay, not even her shadow.
Count Reuwen grew increasingly anxious. The Count had ordered him to capture Jessie by dawn at the latest, and because the ducal castle was so vast, the more time passed, the greater the possibility that Jessie could slip away.
Then the detached annex came into his view.
The soldiers were searching here and there, but unconsciously they did not even tread upon the grass of the annex. The knights were the same.
No matter how desolate it was, it was because the one residing in the annex was Eliza Richmond.
Count Reuwen stopped stock-still and breathed heavily. Sweat seeped from his palms, and his throat stung as if pierced by a thorn.
‘This is war. It all depends on who seizes the initiative first!’
As the Count had said, this was war. House Reuwen had already stepped into this war. Count Reuwen steeled his resolve and commanded his adjutant.
“Go to the Count and ask permission to inspect the interior of the annex.”
Meanwhile, Mrs. Isaac was watching the movements outside the annex through a gap in the thick curtains. The red light of torches dyed her face red. After observing outside for some time, Mrs. Isaac quietly drew the curtains and turned away.
“It seems they are determined to find you.”
“…….”
“Do not think of going anywhere; stay here. If you foolishly go out and get caught, you will suffer terribly.”
Jessie, hiding her body in the darkness, bit the tender flesh inside her cheek. The search had begun the moment Grace was dragged away, and she had not managed to get outside the castle in time. She was not afraid of being caught and suffering. What she feared was ruining Grace’s plan by being captured.
“…Thank you.”
It was just as Jessie quietly expressed her gratitude.
The sound of military boots, which had been heard at a constant distance, suddenly drew near. Mrs. Isaac, who had been about to step outside, faltered, and Jessie also rose from her place. As the shadows of torches on the curtains drew closer, Mrs. Isaac hurriedly ran to the window.
Veins bulged on Mrs. Isaac’s forehead as she slightly lifted the edge of the thick curtain.
“How dare these insolent wretches!”
Knights led by Count Reuwen were approaching, trampling the front garden of the annex.
Mrs. Isaac quickly turned and ran out into the corridor. Then she straightened her shoulders and tensed her stomach.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Along with the clanking of armor, rude knocks echoed through the corridor. These midnight ruffians seemed to have no patience.
“Open the door!!”
A thick male voice shook the desolate annex.
“Open it by force if you must.”
At words she could not believe, Mrs. Isaac’s shoulders trembled. Open it by force?! She dashed down the straight corridor. Then, with rough hands, she undid the door’s lock and flung it open with all her might.
The knights who had been trying to open the door from outside fell back in surprise as the massive door gaped open. Through the gap appeared a maid maintaining perfect attire even at this late hour. Mrs. Isaac stood before the door as if to guard it and glared with wide eyes.
“What is the meaning of this?! Do you not know where you are?!”
At her sharp voice, the knights who had been trying to open the door retreated down the stairs. Mrs. Isaac raised her voice toward Count Reuwen.
“Count Reuwen! What is the meaning of this? Withdraw with your knights at once!”
“Stand aside, Mrs. Isaac. This is a matter of great import.”
“It is you who should withdraw with your knights!”
But Count Reuwen did not back down. The Count had given permission, and he had already set foot inside the annex. Count Reuwen strode up the stairs.
“Count Reuwen!”
“I warned you.”
Count Reuwen shoved aside the shoulder of Mrs. Isaac, who was protesting fiercely.
“Ugh!!”
As Mrs. Isaac was pushed aside and fell, Count Reuwen flung the annex door wide open.
“Search the interior of the annex! She will be inside.”
At his command, the knights who had hesitated briefly poured inside all at once. The few candles in the corridor flickered precariously and went out.
The moment that precarious boundary vanished, the knights began to tear through the rooms more aggressively than ever to find Jessie. For if they captured Jessie within the annex, none could call them out for their rudeness.
Jessie sprang up and ran into the adjacent room. In Imperial architectural style, all the rooms were interconnected.
“Open all the doors at once!!”
“Yes, sir!!”
She could feel the knights running along the corridor.
“Stop!! This is the Dowager’s chambers!!”
Mrs. Isaac’s screams could be heard. Nevertheless, the sound of military footsteps did not abate, and the clanging sounds of flung-open doors did not cease.
Jessie gritted her teeth and ran toward the next room. The door of the room she had just left opened and closed right behind her.
Faster, faster!
Jessie leaped over a massive sofa. Her burning legs felt as though they belonged to someone else. How long had she run and leaped through rooms like that?
The moment the wall hidden in darkness came into view, a sharp shiver ran down her spine, and cold sweat trickled down her back.
It was a dead-end room.
Torches flickered beyond the window, and knights had already entered the rooms she had passed through. The sound of footsteps approaching the room where she stood thundered like drums.
Jessie turned without another thought. After locking the door of the room she had just left, she ran toward the door leading to the corridor. Through her sharpened senses, she felt the knight’s presence.
And the moment the knight tried to open the door, Jessie slid the latch into place.