ADBG 12

Chapter 12

“…You are wise, as expected.”

Conrad did not deny it.

From the beginning, there was no way his master would not notice. Denying it would only be a waste of time.

At his confirmation, Nadia’s golden eyes sharpened.

“I assume you investigated it thoroughly. Explain.”

“Yes. It rained on the day of the accident, but not enough to cause a carriage to collapse.”

Nadia carefully recalled what had happened at the time.

“But when we passed the dirt road, it didn’t feel stable. I assumed the rain had damaged the road.”

“That was everyone’s first assumption. But as I investigated, something was strange. Only that section of the ground was unusually muddy. More importantly, the carriage wheel was slightly loose.”

“How did you determine that?”

“Even after the rain stopped, that particular patch took much longer to dry. More importantly, when I brought in an expert, the soil composition was different. It was not soil commonly found in that area. The looseness of the wheel was identified from traces left on its components.”

Since it was Conrad’s investigation, it was undoubtedly accurate.

While Nadia was lost in thought, Conrad added in a calm tone so as not to interrupt her.

“If only the road had been damaged, or only the wheel had been loose, the accident would not have been so severe. The fact that both occurred simultaneously means it was clearly planned.”

“And Heini also realized this?”

“Yes.”

Nadia let out a deep sigh and held her head.

“…That responsible boy must have blamed himself so much.”

Now that she had heard Conrad’s explanation, Heinrich’s reaction made sense.

If someone had orchestrated the death of “Libenya Baldwin,” then that person did not kill Libenya.

They killed the Duchess of Baldwin.

Nadia lowered her gaze and tightly clasped her left hand with her right.

It was a habit Libenya had whenever she fell into deep thought.

Conrad was once again certain—Nadia was indeed Libenya.

After finishing her thoughts, Nadia spoke.

“There were many who disliked the Duchess of Baldwin back then. But not many would go as far as hiring an assassin. I took care to reduce enemies as much as possible.”

That much was obvious. Back when she was Libenya, everything she possessed did not truly belong to her.

It all had to be handed over to Heinrich someday, so there was no reason to act recklessly.

Still, if there was someone who truly wanted the Duchess of Baldwin dead…

“Only one possibility. Count Crimson.”

Count Crimson’s ambition made it plausible.

The Crimson Count’s house was located southwest of the Duke of Baldwin’s territory.

They had long been loyal vassals of the Baldwin Duchy, and even intermarried within collateral branches, making them extremely close.

However, the current Count Crimson had begun to show ambitions of rising beyond a vassal and becoming an equal power.

“After all, he once tried to marry his newborn daughter to Heinrich.”

At that time, his ambition to swallow the weakening ducal house and take control of it had been at its peak.

There had been complex reasons why the Dowager Duchess of Baldwin had personally visited the Pshilin Count family.

Conrad agreed.

“After the Duchess passed away, Count Crimson continued trying to marry his daughter into the ducal house. He has not given up even now.”

“How old is that daughter now?”

“She is eighteen. She was eight at the time.”

Heinrich was twenty-six now; he had been sixteen at the time.

An eight-year gap might not seem significant, but it was different when one party was too young to have any say in marriage.

“…Nobles, really…”

Nadia let out a dry laugh.

“For power, they don’t care about their daughter’s happiness. Coming back to life just to see this is exhausting.”

She pressed her temples lightly, looking tired.

“Anyway, investigate Count Crimson further. If we confirm he was the one behind my death, Heini’s guilt might ease a little.”

“……”

Conrad rarely disobeyed Nadia.

For him to remain silent for several seconds was unusual.

Nadia leaned back in her chair and looked up at him.

“You disagree with my decision.”

“I would not dare, my lord.”

“Speak.”

“You said you no longer wish to live as ‘Libenya.’ If so, the first thing you should cut off is the Duke of Baldwin. Moreover, His Grace is no longer a child.”

Nadia and Conrad met eyes briefly.

Conrad lowered his gaze immediately, acknowledging his rudeness, but did not retract his words.

Nadia understood his loyalty too well to scold him.

She reached out and gently took his hand, the same gentle gesture she once used when saving him from a gambling den as a child.

“Thank you. But if Heinrich is not happy, I cannot fully become ‘Nadia’ either. Will you help me become Nadia?”

Despite her rough hands and modest clothing compared to Libenya, Nadia carried an undeniable aura that could not be refused.

Conrad, almost spellbound, knelt on one knee and kissed the back of her hand.

“Yes, Lady Nadia.”

Nadia patted his head as if pleased.

“Thank you, Conrad. But…”

Conrad noticed a change in her tone. When he looked up, Nadia raised an eyebrow.

“Why do you keep calling Heini ‘the Duke’? Call him ‘Your Grace.’”

Nadia would never correct Conrad even if he insulted the Emperor.

But when it came to Heinrich, things were different.

Conrad silently lowered his head.

“…Yes, Lady Nadia. I will remember that.”

“I heard you succeeded, but seeing you in person, you’ve really come into your own!”

Nadia woke up to a loud, unfamiliar voice.

She had been resting briefly while tending Baron Hess’s wife, and had dozed off on the bed.

Rubbing her stiff neck and shoulders, she pulled the signal cord.

Vivian, who had been waiting outside, quietly approached.

“Did you call for me, Lady?”

“Is there a guest?”

“Yes. A Baron… Birden? Jarden? Something like that.”

Vivian was intelligent, but uninterested in things she didn’t care about.

Nadia almost pointed it out but simply smiled.

She was good at catching important details anyway.

More importantly, she was no longer the “Libenya living on a knife’s edge,” but Nadia, daughter of a poor territory.

“It must be Baron Varden. My father’s old friend.”

“I’ve never heard of him.”

Nadia did not elaborate.

Baron Hess often called him a friend, but Varden rarely replied to letters.

A man like that suddenly visiting meant only one thing.

Vivian guessed immediately.

“Looks like he’s short on money.”

Nadia nodded lightly and stood.

After quickly dressing, she headed to the manor hall.

Baron Hess and Baron Varden had just entered from the garden and greeted her.

“Nadia, how did you know a guest had arrived and came to greet him?”

Nadia simply smiled instead of saying the man’s loud voice made it impossible not to notice.

Baron Varden looked at her with wide eyes.

“My goodness, is that really you, Nadia? Last time I saw you, you were a thin little thing. I never thought you’d grow up so beautiful.”

“Long time no see, my lord.”

Nadia greeted him politely. Her gaze was lowered, but she had already thoroughly observed him from head to toe.

Baron Varden wore overly flashy clothing, but it did not symbolize wealth.

Rather, it was a desperate attempt to hide his poverty.

A sign that he was so financially strained that even his dignity was collapsing.

The sound of worn leather shoes creaked with every step, suggesting he could not even afford repairs.

“Come, come, don’t stand around. Let’s go inside. My daughter recently obtained rare tea leaves for guests. You will be the first to try them!”

“Hah, this miser actually bought tea? You must have become rich!”

Baron Varden’s eyes flashed with greed, but Baron Hess did not seem to notice.

“Nadia, we’ll go to the reception room. Could you instruct the maids?”

“Yes, Father. I will bring tea shortly.”

After Nadia replied politely, the two barons went upstairs.

Their voices faded until they could no longer be heard.

Nadia looked up at the ceiling with a cold gaze.

“Father is too kind-hearted. He might give away too much. I should listen in on what they’re discussing.”