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Chapter 57
“Duchess Hegest has returned to the North, but her hands and feet still remain in the South. Viscountess Caslit—hidden behind the name ‘Harmony Society’—is at the center of it. But nothing has been uncovered yet.”
“I’ve heard the name Caslit before. But will she accept us without suspicion?”
“I’ll make sure she doesn’t. Count and Countess Bureate, say that Lady Linette is being held hostage and that you must do everything to get your daughter back.”
Count Bureate’s eyes gleamed. He was absorbing every single word I said.
While Lady Yurein and I had been tracking Caslit’s movements, we had also investigated her habits and tendencies—what she liked, what she was interested in, and what triggered her reactions.
“When you left the North, how did things end with Duchess Hegest?”
“We had no time to do anything. The North is their nest.”
“In that case, that’s actually fortunate. You may make me the villain if necessary. Say you are searching for a way to take your daughter back to the North.”
“You’re telling us to walk straight into their spiderweb.”
This was a dangerous gamble. If it were discovered that they were cooperating with me, the Bureate couple’s lives could not be guaranteed.
But they nodded without hesitation. What they wanted most right now was the comfort of believing they were doing something to take revenge on Petunia.
“Thank you for giving us a chance at revenge, Duchess. If we can tear out their hearts, we will walk through hellfire itself.”
“I’ll inform you if we learn anything else. You may not be able to see Lady Linette for a while, but please don’t worry. I fully understand that part of her misfortune is my responsibility, and I will do everything I can to support her.”
“Thank you, Duchess.”
The Bureate couple gathered their daughter and left. After they exited the room, only silence remained in the reception room.
“Haa.”
I let out a long sigh. Lady Yurein gave a bitter smile.
“I don’t regret what I did.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Even so, the guilt she felt likely came from the fact that she was a kind person. Right now, Petunia probably wasn’t even thinking about Linette.
Lady Yurein placed her cold teacup aside and sat down.
“Still… I do feel sorry for Lady Linette.”
“If it weren’t for you, Hayden might have had a poisoned needle in his tongue instead.”
At my words, Lady Yurein’s eyes widened. I gave a bitter smile. It was unfortunate that such a person was part of my bloodline—but it was the truth.
“…What is Countess Jotley doing these days?”
“I heard she hasn’t left her estate at all.”
“I might try using her. I want to find out what Viscountess Caslit likes.”
“I’ll meet her myself. I feel like I need to do something.”
I nodded. If that was Lady Yurein’s way, I respected it. But to face evil, we couldn’t remain only “good.” It would be nice if no one had to get hurt.
A regrettable thing.
The next day.
I was in the first-floor sunroom with Linette, sorting invitations.
Linette had far better memory and sharper observation skills than I had expected. As expected of someone Lady Yurein had chosen. She seemed like a suitable successor to remain after we left—and now she was fully on our side as well.
Lady Yurein had stepped out briefly to prepare snacks for the knights. It was her idea that caring for the knights shouldn’t remain a one-time gesture, but continue consistently.
“Isn’t this just bribing them with food?”
“That is the simplest and most effective method. But there is a next step as well.”
“There is?”
“A knight’s greatest concern is their family—the ones left behind if they depart… or die.”
“…Ah.”
“It would be good to establish welfare policies for them. That would bring them the greatest satisfaction. And I would like you to ask Sir Bogus to help ensure the system is maintained.”
“In practical terms, what they need most is money. When husbands, sons, or brothers go off to war, household income naturally decreases.”
“Indeed.”
“Then it would be good to secure income sources. Ones that Viscountess Caslit’s faction can never touch. But they also shouldn’t grow too large.”
“When money stagnates, people stagnate as well.”
“…When war breaks out, the most needed things are supplies—medicine and food. Purchasing an herb farm under the ducal house would be good. Employ people there. If several such businesses are established, it would help with livelihoods. Salaries would be paid by the ducal house, allowing the ducal household to become self-sufficient in supplies.”
Lady Yurein said she would relay the ideas to Bogus. Handling such detailed execution was his role. Normally Linette would also need to do this, but she was just beginning. I glanced at her.
“That should be enough, Lady Linette.”
She nodded.
“I’ll discard this part and deliver the rest to His Grace.”
She bowed and left with the discarded papers.
After she exited, I stepped outside as well. I was planning to go see Hayden—he should have woken from his nap by now.
Then I heard it.
“Young master! Y-young master!”
A maid’s scream echoed.
When I rushed outside, I was completely stunned.
Hayden was hanging from the second-floor railing.
“Hayden!”
The distance was too far to reach in time. Even if I ran upstairs, it would be too late. Hayden’s body tilted further downward. He must have found it fun to look down from high places—he was too young to understand danger.
My heart felt like it would burst.
Hayden reached his hands toward me.
“Bya-bya-byaa!”
With a bright smile, he toppled forward.
My body moved before I could think.
My knees hit the floor, but I didn’t care—I stretched my arms as high as possible. Hayden fell between the pillars. I managed to catch him just in time. Pain shot through my wrist, but all I felt was relief.
I caught him.
But his weight—now around 13 kilograms—pushed my body backward.
Both his weight and mine shifted backward. I’m going to fall—!
The moment I squeezed my eyes shut, warmth wrapped around me from behind.
Strong arms caught me and fell with me, absorbing the impact completely.
“Ugh.”
I slowly opened my eyes.
Familiar eyes met mine.
It was Cheres.
I was sitting between Cheres’s legs. Thankfully, Hayden was safe in my arms, and Cheres didn’t seem seriously injured either. We stayed like that for a few seconds.
“Ch… Cheres.”
“Are you alright?”
I nodded reflexively. My wrist ached, but that was all. How fortunate that it was nothing worse.
Before I could even process what had happened, Hayden burst into tears.
“Waaaah!”
“Hayden, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”
I checked his arms and legs. Fortunately, there were no injuries. The tension drained from my entire body.
“Roana!”
Cheres supported me again. His face came closer—so close I could feel his breath. His scent filled my lungs, overwhelming me. It felt as if he was pouring himself entirely into me.
I was reflected in Cheres’s eyes.
“Are you alright?”
“…Yes, I’m okay.”
I answered in a trembling voice.
Even at this distance, his appearance was flawless—completely unfair. My heart was pounding violently.
