PVMC 27

Chapter 27

The carriage sent by Madame Odilon was parked a little distance away from the back gate of the estate.

Looking at the shabby cargo wagon, I nodded in satisfaction.

‘Infiltration is supposed to be inconspicuous.’

If you ride in a carriage that stands out even a little, you only end up attracting unnecessary attention.

In that case, it was far better to ride a cargo wagon you could see anywhere.

“We will escort you safely, miss.”

“Thank you. I’m counting on you.”

After greeting the driver, I immediately climbed into the carriage. Inside, several crates were placed in front along with other bundles of straw, clearly arranged so one could hide properly. As I moved farther in, I spotted a sofa tucked away in the very corner and let out a small chuckle.

I was secretly grateful for the thoughtful consideration to let me travel comfortably.

‘And the driver who came with me was originally a knight, wasn’t he?’

They’d said they deliberately sent a knight disguised as a driver in case of unforeseen danger.

‘I should give an additional reward later.’

Though the alliance was formed for mutual benefit, they had gone to this extent to be considerate, so it felt right to repay that courtesy.

‘All right, then…’

I took out the Frenhold Theater blueprints I had prepared in advance.

‘Good thing these are still around.’

When the theater was first built, Renesty had supported part of the funding and supplies. Because of that, the design plans and business proposal from that time remained in the archives.

‘They’re a bit old, though.’

Since it had collapsed as quickly as it was built, there likely wouldn’t have been time to add many additional traps.

At most, there might be something underground.

‘Still, just in case.’

It would be best to survey the general routes beforehand.

The theater was a large building consisting of four floors in total. The place where the auction would be held was the Grand Opera Hall on the second floor.

Fortunately, there was only one hall per floor, so there was no need to search random places.

However, to sneak in there secretly, the only option was to infiltrate underground through a rat hole…

‘Well, as for getting inside.’

I folded the blueprint back up.

‘I already have something in mind.’

“……”

At the same time.

From the moment she left, Matthias had not moved from the window.

Sophia, who was tidying up the drawing room, let out a small smile as she watched him staring blankly outside.

“You’ll wear a hole through the window at this rate.”

“……When will she come back?”

“Who knows. Probably before dawn, once she finishes taking care of everything.”

As he listened to her, Matthias asked,

“Aren’t you worried?”

“Of course I am.”

Sophia, too, had served her for more than half her life, so her anxiety was no different.

“But she’s our young lady. I believe she’ll handle it well.”

Her personality had changed a little at one point, but her reliability hadn’t changed at all.

In fact, compared to her suppressed past, her current confidence was far more pleasant to see.

“What I need to do is make sure all the supporting details are perfectly handled so she can focus on her work.”

Aria continued working through ledgers until dawn. Even when it was clearly time to sleep, she wouldn’t let go of the documents until just before falling asleep.

Sophia had witnessed firsthand, right by her side, just how hard she worked for the sake of the family and the servants.

“Whew!”

After finishing folding the blankets scattered over the sofa, she placed both hands on her lower back.

“So please don’t worry too much. Our young lady is someone who always sees things through once she decides to do them.”

“……I know.”

Sophia wasn’t the only one who had watched over Aria. He, too, had seen clearly with his own eyes how much effort she put in. Even to someone like him, who was nearly ignorant of such operations, it was obvious how thoroughly Aria prepared.

Just as the maid said, Aria would surely return safely.

But still…

Sneaking alone into such a dangerous place. As someone who had seen their cruelty up close, Matthias couldn’t help but worry.

And no matter how meticulously one prepared, there were always unexpected variables.

If something were to happen in the middle of it, and if she were to get hurt…

‘I’ll kill them.’

Aria would hate to hear him say that, but he meant it.

If anything happened to her, he would wipe them out without leaving even a speck of dust behind.

The fact that they dared lay a hand on the person who had saved him was reason enough for them to die.

‘…Ah.’

Or rather, since they were going to capture the slave traders as well, wouldn’t it be fine to ask for permission to kill Xavier with his own hands?

‘I think Aria might allow that.’

The goal was, of course, to eliminate the bastard who had continuously tormented and exploited Aria, but to be honest, he already knew she wouldn’t approve if he told her plainly.

But if he said he wanted revenge? In that case, even the soft-hearted her would understand.

As for the others, he didn’t care.

‘At least that one.’

He would deal with him personally.

Matthias looked up at the sky, which had grown dark before he realized it, and moved his lips slightly.

If it were up to his heart, he would have chased after her immediately.

‘But she’d get angry.’

For now, as Sophia said, all he could do was trust her and wait. Leaving this place would be no different from admitting he didn’t trust Aria.

And that would be disrespectful to Aria, who had prepared so diligently.

So rather than immediately easing his anxiety, Matthias chose to remain a well-behaved beast that followed orders.

No matter what happened, he resolved not to move without her command.

—P-Please bring Lord Enoch…! The personal physician, at once!

…Until the moment he held that blood-soaked body in his arms, he truly had resolved himself that way.

Creeeak, creeeak—.

The theater, located some distance away from the capital, could only be reached after a long carriage ride.

“You may get down now.”

The driver stopped the carriage in a back alley where no one ever came and did not lower his guard until I stepped out.

After confirming that I had exited safely, he lowered his voice as much as possible.

“My lady will be inside the theater, on the fourth floor side room. At the eleven o’clock direction. She will be holding a red peacock-feather fan, and on the outside of the fan there is an ornate rose decoration embroidered with green thread, so please keep that in mind.”

“Got it.”

“And my lady asked me to pass this on as well.”

The driver took a small whistle and a tranquilizer gun out of his pocket.

“If a dangerous situation arises, please blow this. It’s a personal defense signal.”

“If I blow this, other knights will come?”

“Yes. Imperial Palace knights will be stationed within a 500-meter radius, so the sound will reach them as well.”

“T-That far?”

That was impressive.

Thanks to that, it didn’t seem like I’d end up dying miserably alone somewhere. I obediently hung the whistle around my neck and looked over the building I would be infiltrating.

‘I need to rendezvous with the marchioness.’

Because it was time to take back what was mine.

After greeting the driver, I began walking toward the theater. He offered to go with me, but I declined.

I would be going inside soon anyway… and the driver’s mission was simply to bring me here safely.

Having parted ways with him, I moved forward without hesitation. I had already memorized the blueprints long ago.

Instead of heading straight for the back door, I turned one more corner beside it.

There, nearby, stood a massive iron gate. It was an exit mainly used to discharge waste after burning trash.

Standing in front of the iron gate, I rolled up my sleeves.

‘When it comes to sneaking in,’

nothing beats a hole just big enough to crawl through.