Chapter 8

“Milady! Quickly, over here!”

“Damn it!”

Lake grabbed me and pulled me behind his broad back.

As I buried my face against him, I heard Jason cursing furiously.

At that moment, the sound of several arrows cutting through the air came from the direction of the building.

A heavy thud followed as something hit the ground.

I instinctively tried to lift my head to see what had happened.

But Ash Winterton’s ghost stopped me.

[Don’t look. It’s not something a lady should see.]

I quietly nodded.

Soon after, I heard what sounded like large numbers of people pouring out of the building.

***

A Little Later

While the other knights handled the situation, Lake escorted me back to the main mansion.

Apparently, news of the incident had already spread.

The head maid, Charlotte, and several other maids were gathered anxiously outside my bedroom.

I reassured them with a glance before turning to Lake.

“What about Kai? Is he alright? And were the letters Jason had recovered safely?”

“I’ll come and explain the details tomorrow. I also have something I wish to ask you, Milady.”

“Ah…”

“So for tonight, please don’t worry about anything and get some rest.”

After speaking, he bowed politely and left the mansion.

I entered my bedroom with an awkward expression.

Then I silently spoke to the ghost following behind me.

Is he always that cold?

[He may seem cold, but he’s thoughtful and deeply loyal. He cries easily too.]

That’s a lie. He looks like someone who wouldn’t shed a single tear even if stabbed.

I pouted and grumbled inwardly.

The ghost laughed.

Then he quietly whispered,

[…Thank you, Lady Agnes. And I’m sorry.]

I should be thanking you for saving me.

I mouthed the words back to him.

***

The Next Afternoon

As promised, Lake came to see me the next day, bringing Kai with him.

Looking at Kai, whose head was wrapped in layers of bandages and who wore a pitiful expression, I spoke first.

“Oh no. That must hurt terribly. I’m sorry. I should have come for you sooner.”

“No, Marchioness. You did exactly what you promised.”

The boy smiled brightly.

It was both adorable and admirable.

At that moment, Lake, who had been silently drinking tea served by the head maid, spoke in his usual cold tone.

“It would have been better if you had reported it to me first, Kai.”

“Ugh… I-I’m sorry, Sir Lake…”

“Don’t scold him. I was the one who ordered him to do it.”

Well, technically, it was me and your lord.

I kept that part to myself while glancing sideways at Ash Winterton’s ghost, who was sitting beside me.

Lake let out a long sigh.

Then he said to Kai,

“The Marchioness has seen that you’re unharmed, so you may return to the quarters and rest.”

“Yes, Sir Lake.”

Watching Lake carefully, Kai stood and left the drawing room.

Once he was gone, Lake turned toward me.

“First, I should thank you, Marchioness. Thanks to you, we were able to root out a traitor.”

“Did Jason confess? What will happen to him now?”

“He admitted to leaking confidential information, but he refused to reveal who was behind it. We plan to erase his memories and send him to a fortress in the North. There, he’ll spend the rest of his life doing hard labor, forgetting not only the Winterton family’s secrets but even his own identity.”

“I see.”

“He’ll pay dearly for betraying his lord and deceiving his comrades.”

Lake gave a cold smile.

Then his expression became meaningful.

“However, according to Kai, Commander Ash… no, my lord… already knew about Jason’s betrayal and left a letter informing you of it.”

“Mm. That’s right.”

“May I ask how you obtained that letter?”

His eyes were sharp as daggers.

That was understandable.

Even though the evidence was gone and Jason remained silent, Lake was surely intelligent enough to realize that Grand Duke Middelharnis was behind everything.

Naturally, he would wonder why I, the Grand Duke’s daughter, had chosen Ash Winterton’s side.

And he would also want to know how I had obtained the Marquis’s letter and what my intentions were.

Following the story Ash and I had prepared in advance, I answered,

“Before he collapsed, the Marquis secretly sent me a letter. He said he had a bad feeling about something and asked me to deliver the enclosed letters to his subordinates if anything happened to him.”

“…My lord said that to you?”

“Yes. Once you read this, you’ll understand everything.”

I handed him the prepared letter.

The forged letter that Ash and I had carefully written together.

Inside it was an explanation of the abuse I had suffered in the Middelharnis household, along with Ash’s assurance that I could be trusted completely.

It also emphasized that the search for his nephew, Ian, must never stop and asked Lake to fully cooperate with my instructions in that matter.

Finally, it ended with Ash expressing complete trust in Lake and asking him to support Ian and guide the Winterton family well if Ash were to die.

“My lord…”

Lake’s hands trembled slightly as he read.

Slowly, moisture appeared in his cold eyes.

After some time, he looked up at me with reddened eyes.

“I will honor my lord’s wishes. …To be honest, I still cannot fully trust you. However, because it is my lord’s command, I will do my best to follow your instructions.”

“I have no intention of interfering in anything except the search for Ian, so don’t worry. I look forward to working with you.”

“Yes. We will find Lord Ian. And we’ll find a way to save my lord as well.”

At those words, Ash Winterton’s ghost’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.

Of course, Lake couldn’t see that reaction.

As carefully as if handling a priceless treasure, he folded the letter and tucked it into his chest.

Then he bowed respectfully and left the drawing room.

Looking at Ash’s ghost, I spoke quietly.

“You have good subordinates.”

[…Yes. Better than someone like me deserves.]

The ghost murmured, deeply moved.

Seeing the bond between them made me feel a bitter sense of envy.

“I envy you. I don’t have anyone who would stand up for me like that. Or anyone who would grieve for me.”

[You will. Soon enough.]

The ghost’s voice was blunt but firm.

His words were awkward, but sincere.

Grateful for the comfort, I smiled faintly in return.

***

Meanwhile, at the Middelharnis Estate

South of the capital of the Hartania Empire, in the Kensington District.

Inside the Middelharnis Grand Ducal Estate.

Grand Duke Middelharnis sat alone in his office, reviewing documents.

With almost white-blond hair, pale blue eyes, and a sharp, handsome face, he still possessed a strong physique despite being well into his fifties.

“Tsk.”

Clicking his tongue in irritation, he tossed aside a report detailing the family’s finances.

At that moment, several knocks sounded.

The head butler, Baron Anfil, entered with a pale face.

“Y-Your Grace!”

“What is it that has you so flustered?”

“I-It appears Sir Jason has been expelled from Border Count Winterton’s knight order. It seems they discovered that he was selling confidential information to us.”

The Grand Duke’s eyes widened.

He immediately shot to his feet.

“How did that happen? There wasn’t the slightest sign of trouble yesterday! If anything, he was boasting about an unexpected opportunity!”

“After investigating, it appears there never was any treasure belonging to Marchioness Lizero. It seems the Border Count’s subordinates deliberately spread the rumor in order to uncover spies.”

“Damn it… I should have known. That idiot Agnes could never have obtained reliable information in the first place…”

The Grand Duke sighed heavily and rubbed his throbbing temple.

He never should have trusted the foolish rumors brought to him by his stupid daughter.

Blinded by greed for easy wealth, he had made a mistake.

Thinking of his foolish second daughter, Agnes, he ground his teeth.

Watching him carefully, Baron Anfil spoke.

“…What should we do now, Your Grace? Shall we look for another spy to plant within the Winterton knights?”

The Grand Duke slowly shook his head.

“No. Instead, we should find a way to finish off Border Count Winterton once and for all. Once he’s gone, his followers will lose their leader. Eliminating the rest won’t be difficult.”

“Do you already have a plan?”

“No. But I’ll start looking for one now.”

The Grand Duke’s eyes darkened with murderous intent.