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Chapter 28
Two days later, grim news reached Itanistad as he tried to regain his composure at the count’s estate.
The Hertenes family’s close relatives had also been attacked—just like the ducal house.
He trembled in shock.
“This… this doesn’t seem like an attack aimed only at Roabellin or the main ducal family… It feels like someone is determined to wipe out the Hertenes family down to its collateral branches.”
Even the count, who always wore a kindly smile, now had fear and resolve in his eyes.
“Uncle…”
He had always called Count Biston—his mother’s distant cousin—“uncle” for convenience.
“The count’s house is related to our ducal family, but considering what’s happening, there’s a chance this place could be targeted too. It might be best for you and your family to flee. Since they may know I’m alive and aim for me, I’ll go separately.”
The count clicked his tongue as he looked at Itanistad, who worried about others despite having lost his entire family.
“Itan, who’s worrying about whom right now? And those branch families weren’t attacked because they were sheltering you. If someone has decided to erase us all, it wouldn’t matter whether you’re here or not. In that case, we escape together.”
“But, Uncle…”
Unlike usual, the count cut him off firmly.
“The mastermind is likely a noble faction aiming for the next queen’s position. That’s why it would be better to go somewhere outside Aventador’s nobles’ reach—imperial territory.”
“The Empire… you mean Prahenfeld?”
“Yes. As you know, our Frederick is studying in the Prahenfeld Empire. But if someone truly is pursuing us, we shouldn’t go straight to Visentium where he is. Let’s go first to the second city, Karsen.”
Still hesitating, Itanistad finally raised his head with tear-filled eyes.
“Thank you, Uncle… I still… have family left.”
“Silly boy.”
The count smiled faintly and patted his shoulder.
A few days later, they packed and left the estate in the middle of the night.
Fortunately, Itanistad, the count and countess, and their servants all arrived safely at their destination. They settled in Karsen disguised as commoner merchants.
About a year later, just as wealthy merchants often did, Count Biston purchased a noble title: Viscount Ratnen of Prahenfeld. He also passed Itanistad off as his own son and gave him the alias “Terrick.”
With his keen business sense, the count rebuilt his enterprise in Prahenfeld. Itanistad assisted him like a secretary and learned commerce from him.
Time passed, and Itanistad reached adulthood. The count expanded his business to the capital, Visentium, where his real son lived. As branches were established there, Itanistad accompanied him frequently on business trips.
Hearing his homeland’s accent again after so long made him freeze briefly, but he quickly forced away thoughts of the younger sister who must have died long ago.
A few nights later, loud voices rang out in the imperial palace laundry.
“Maren! There’s a summons from the Emperor’s Palace! You go.”
“What? Why call us at night?”
“They say it’s for clothes to be worn tomorrow morning. They need them washed urgently.”
“What kind of nonsense is that—bringing tomorrow’s clothes now?”
“I know. But it’s an imperial order.”
“So annoying. Hey, Yuli!”
The two attendants called out to Roabellin nearby.
“Yes, yes!”
She hurried over.
“You heard everything, right? You go get them, wash and dry them. It’s just one outfit, so no problem, right? Why should seniors do it when there’s a new recruit?”
“Ah, yes! I’ll go now!”
Under their pressure, Roabellin quickly left the laundry.
It was a bright, moonlit night.
Where is Hena now…?
Though it was nearly time to sleep, Kaisertern’s mind only grew clearer the more he thought of her.
Unable to rest, he stood on the balcony gazing at the moon when he heard two people whispering quietly. Looking down, he saw two palace servants exchanging clothes near the Emperor’s Palace entrance. Because it was night and the moonlight was behind them, the servant from another department had their face in shadow.
The palace servant handed over the clothes and went back inside. The other turned and walked away.
Kaisertern’s eyes widened.
From beneath the hood of the departing servant, long hair braided into a single strand flowed down—platinum blond. In the moonlight, the outline of a slender face appeared faintly.
“…!!”
So shocked he forgot to breathe, he jumped down from the balcony and rushed to the entrance. But the servant was already gone without a trace.
He bit his lower lip in frustration.
“Pant… pant… Your Majesty—what was that just now…?”
The chief attendant Hile, who had followed him down in shock, received an order.
“Find the person who just met someone here. Identify the palace servant who handed over those clothes.”
Not long after, the chief attendant returned.
“Your Majesty, it was a laundry worker summoned for urgent washing. They don’t know her identity since she doesn’t usually come.”
“Laundry…?”
Kaisertern raised an eyebrow. He had never imagined Hena working in the laundry, but he couldn’t ignore even the smallest possibility.
I need to check immediately.
Unable to wait until morning, he gave another order.
“Summon the head of the Palace Administration. I’ll go to the laundry with him.”
Soon after—
“Y-Your Majesty… you called for me?”
The administrator arrived, bewildered by the sudden nighttime summons.
“I need to check something at the laundry. If I go alone, they won’t recognize me properly, so you’ll accompany me.”
“The laundry? Ah—yes, of course.”
“Pretend I’m just the chief attendant. If they know the Emperor is coming, it will only make them uncomfortable.”
“Emergency! Emergency!! The chief attendant is here!!”
The laundry, where most were preparing for bed except a few washing urgent clothes, erupted into chaos.
“Why would the chief attendant come here at night?!”
Kaisertern had pretended to be the chief attendant hoping they would cooperate, but the laundry workers—unused to seeing high officials—were already flustered.
Most of the staff gathered in the yard.
“W-Welcome, Chief Attendant. What brings you here?”
Olga, the head of the laundry, bowed deeply. Kaisertern skipped formalities and asked bluntly:
“Is there a palace maid here with platinum-blond hair?”
Olga tilted her head.
“I don’t know about platinum blond, but we have several blond maids.”
“Bring them all.”
Four blond maids were summoned. Since Roabellin always had brown hair in the laundry, no one had ever seen her platinum-blond appearance.
“…Is that all?”
“Yes.”
None of them were platinum blond—only ordinary golden or dark blond hair.
Kaisertern frowned.
“Is one of them the maid who collected laundry from the Emperor’s Palace just now?”
The four looked at each other blankly. Then the maid who had assigned Roabellin stepped forward.
“Oh, I know who it is! I’ll bring her!”
“Good. The rest may leave.”
Roabellin had been hand-washing the clothes when she was suddenly called out, not even able to dry her hands.
“What is this all abou—”
She froze and let out a small cry when she saw Kaisertern, unmistakable even from afar.
Kai—why are you here again? Where do you even work?!
She wanted to run, but feared making things worse.
I don’t know why he’s here, so pretending I don’t know him is best…
She bowed deeply, staring at the ground as she approached.
“Chief Attendant, this is the one.”
Kaisertern narrowed his eyes slightly. Her hair was brown.
Then what was that platinum hair I saw? It was night, but it shone clearly…
Confused, he spoke.
“Raise your head.”
No… please don’t…
She reluctantly lifted her head a little.
He studied her face—and was startled.
I’ve seen her before. She looks familiar… Ah!
His expression brightened slightly.
“We’ve met before, haven’t we?”
Roabellin’s mind went blank.
“E-Excuse me? We have…?”
