THSDR 31

Chapter 31

After the Duchess of Hejest had tea with Roana, she slipped out quietly with only Morigan at her side.

‘What scheme is she plotting?’

Yureain watched from the first-floor window, her gaze cold and calculating. Behind the Duchess of Hejest, Bereidan’s knights would follow in secret.

The Duchess’s entourage consisted of three people: two maids and her secretary, Morigan.

Yureain had personally verified all three on the day of their arrival. Morigan was untouchable—as the Duchess’s right hand, his loyalty was not the sort that could be swayed by money.

But the two maids were different.

One was a middle-aged woman of considerable years, named Dorote. She had served the Duchess for over twenty years—a veteran whose bonds of loyalty had solidified through decades of devoted service. She would be difficult to manipulate. The motivation for betrayal was hard to manufacture, and even if bribery succeeded, the reliability of any information she provided could not be guaranteed.

She might even turn the tables and use Yureain instead.

The other one. A young woman, named Linnen. She appeared to be in her early twenties and was primarily responsible for carrying the Duchess’s luggage. When they arrived and unloaded the carriage, Yureain had noticed her hands trembling. She was clearly nervous. This might have been her first time accompanying the Duchess on such a distant journey.

Yureain sensed that if she could exploit Linnen’s vulnerabilities, she might find an opening. She decided to meet with her in secret.

She was certain the time was right.

“You there.”

“Yes, madam.”

Yureain issued an order to her favored maid.

“Go to the Annex Building and ask one of the maids to come here. Tell her she needs to bring fresh bedding and pillowcases for the Duchess’s bedroom, along with new curtains.”

Linnen would come with absolute certainty.

“Yes, madam!”

The young maid who had received Yureain’s command hurried away.

Yureain waited in front of the Supply Storage. As expected, Linnen appeared with the young maid.

“Angie, you may go now and finish your other duties. I heard you need to verify the dish count in the kitchen.”

Once Angie had left, Yureain turned to face Linnen. She still appeared tense.

“Please, come inside, Linnen.”

Linnen trembled slightly, then nodded. Inside, refreshments that Yureain had prepared in advance were laid out.

Yureain placed what was on the tray directly before Linnen and smiled warmly.

“It’s humble fare, but please try it, Linnen. It’s something you can only find in the Southern Region.”

Linnen glanced at Yureain nervously before putting the treat into her mouth. Yureain had already learned through her sources that Linnen had a fondness for sweets.

It was walnuts preserved in honey, wrapped in thin pastry—something difficult to find in the Central Region.

Even as Linnen ate the dessert, she watched Yureain with cautious eyes. But as she consumed more of the sweetness, her expression grew gentler.

The fuller one’s belly, the more one’s guard naturally loosened.

“This is truly delicious. Thank you so much.”

“When one is hungry, something sweet is always welcome. Please, don’t feel obligated.”

Yureain smiled and extended the tray again.

“These are really wonderful. I’ve never seen pastries like this in Hejest.”

“These walnuts grow well in the Southern Region.”

There was nothing threatening in Yureain’s tone. After about ten minutes, Linnen’s shoulders relaxed. Her tension had dissolved.

This was the moment Yureain had been waiting for.

“What sort of work do you do in Hejest, Linnen?”

“I manage the Duchess’s wardrobe and prepare her for outings. I came along on this journey because they said Dorote alone would have difficulty. Originally, someone else was supposed to come, but she fell ill with dysentery, so I came instead.”

Linnen spoke in a small, somewhat grumbling tone.

“Ah, I see. I heard Dorote has been with you for quite a long time.”

“Yes. Dorote has served the Duchess for over twenty years. I’ve only been here for a year now.”

That vague tenure of one year would become the linchpin of my strategy.

“I’m sure Linnen would like to serve the Duchess for a long time as well. It’s such an honored position, after all.”

Yureain posed the light question while carefully observing Linnen’s reaction.

Linnen’s jaw slowed as she chewed the pastry, and after a fleeting silence, she spoke.

“…Yes, of course.”

Her voice rose half a tone—an answer born of obligation rather than genuine sentiment.

Yureain laughed softly.

“It must be difficult, though?”

Linnen’s eyes wavered.

“Serving the Duchess closely is an honor, but it’s not easy. I’ve worked here long enough to know well. There are many nights without sleep, and there’s nothing you can do freely.”

Yureain’s words came slowly and quietly.

The corners of Linnen’s eyes reddened—barely perceptible, yet Yureain caught it.

“…No, it’s not easy.”

“I imagine not. I went through the same thing. I arranged this gathering because I wanted to ask you for something.”

Linnen looked at Yureain with guarded eyes, though her expression had softened somewhat from before.

“Oh, my intentions aren’t malicious. The truth is, Roana worries a great deal. After all… the Duchess of Hejest isn’t an easy person.”

At those words, Linnen nodded awkwardly. She too knew the dynamic between them—how harshly the Duchess of Hejest had treated Roana.

“She wants to serve without any regrets. But it’s difficult for her to ask directly.”

This was the justification that would allow Linnen to share information without guilt.

Linnen bit her lip. Yureain did not press. There are moments when silence persuades more powerfully than words.

“…To that extent, then. But it must absolutely remain secret.”

Linnen spoke in a small voice.

“If the Duchess finds out, I’m finished.”

“Of course. There’s only the two of us here. Roana will keep it strictly confidential as well.”

Yureain smiled.

“…I heard the Duchess speaking to Dorote after their private meeting today. She said that Roana has changed greatly. So she said we should be on guard.”

I had anticipated this, but hearing it from the person herself carried a different weight.

“And….”

Linnen hesitated once more.

“She said, ‘If necessary, we can take other measures.’ I’m not entirely sure what she meant….”

Other measures. Yureain’s expression remained unchanged, but alarms sounded in her mind. Did Roana mean she would replace me if I didn’t obey, or did she intend something more direct?

“Thank you, Linnen. I’m truly grateful.”

Yureain spoke with sincerity and withdrew a small pouch from her bosom. Inside were approximately two thousand Bek—equivalent to three months’ wages for a maid.

Linnen’s eyes widened.

“This is….”

“A treat allowance. Thanks to you, I was able to build a bridge between them both. It’s my gratitude for helping me understand Roana’s heart.”

Yureain placed the pouch on the table.

“I hope you enjoyed the Southern Region pastries.”

Linnen gazed at the pocket for a long moment before carefully lifting it and tucking it inside her bodice.

Yureain’s expression remained perfectly composed.

“Miss Linnen, I’ll have flowers prepared for the Duchess’s bedroom by tomorrow morning. Will that work for you?”

Linnen swallowed hard and nodded.

“Thank you, Miss Linnen. You can take the basket here with you. And if you could bring back the items tomorrow morning, that should be sufficient.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Yureain left the room, leaving Linnen alone to gather her composure.

As Yureain walked through the corridor, she organized the information she had gleaned in her mind.

Linnen had accepted the bribe, and it seemed she would be able to obtain additional information going forward.

This had to prove useful to Roana.

Yureain exhaled a worried sigh.