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Chapter 38
“Why?”
“Is it really alright for Your Eminence, the Cardinal, to think like this?”
“Alright? I’m just saying it because you’re here.”
I cut her silly remark short, but her face twisted oddly.
“My lady… you’ve really changed.”
Strange? Who are you calling strange.
“The title,” I said.
“Grace really has a terrible personality.”
“I never told you to speak casually, did I?”
I let one slide, and she immediately overstepped again. Wendy rolled her eyes.
“But… no matter how you look at it, I’m the older sister, right? I really am the older sister.”
“Instead of emphasizing that… never mind. Just speak casually.”
I paused, then added one more thing.
“Call me Lys.”
It was the special nickname my family used, but it seemed best to allow a familiar form.
“Yes, Lys!”
“Anyway, the Count should have at least cooperated, even if he disliked my visit. Pushing me out rudely like this only made things more suspicious.”
Introducing new personnel now would be impossible—the distance too far, too many strangers wandering the streets would draw attention. Better to act cautiously until everything was certain.
‘If only Roy were here…’
His witty personality and natural swordsmanship would have been a definite help.
“It would have been better if Sir Leandros were with us,” Wendy said.
I tried not to think of him, but his presence crept into my mind.
‘I was pretending not to know.’
He wasn’t meant to come along, and more importantly, I didn’t want him dragged here.
‘The snowy mountain I saw back then… it should be nearby.’
During my last reincarnation, I had seen Leandros killed on a snowy peak by an assassin.
The mountains looked treacherous and high; most such mountains were rich with mineral veins. If there was work to be done here, I was better off handling it alone.
‘Having him nearby would only be a distraction.’
Even though I could now wield a sword, preparation never hurt.
“Alright, let’s go.”
“Yes, Lys!”
Wendy linked her arm with mine energetically.
“This should make us look like sisters, right?”
“Do you think so? We look completely different.”
Even if our hair and eye colors matched, it was impossible. But once we blended into the crowd, I realized how easily ordinary eyes could be deceived.
“From the neighboring kingdom? Without parents? Well, at least the older sister is with her.”
“The younger sister is so pretty; the older sister has to take care of her.”
People assumed Wendy was the elder sister.
The best way to gather rumors was to mingle naturally among the crowd.
I walked arm-in-arm with Wendy, observing the people.
Fruit piled high on the street stalls looked fresh, and the clothing and expressions of passersby suggested a life without hardship.
Not wealthy, but lacking nothing.
‘I expected hardship…’
When life is hard, complaints naturally arise. Discontent seeks someone to blame—family, friends, strangers, or even local authorities.
I had hoped for circumstances that might provoke criticism of the Count—but the town’s mood was too peaceful.
“Wow, they live really well here.”
Wendy was so immersed in her role she seemed genuinely excited.
“That apple looks delicious. Lys, you like apples, right? Should we buy one?”
She even tried to satisfy her desires with my money.
The stall owner responded immediately.
“Ah, beautiful young ladies! If you like apples, take one. Sweet and delicious.”
Wendy ran to the stall without asking me.
“I haven’t seen you two before.”
“Ah, we’re from the Totri Kingdom. Not traveling, just heard the Filinau Empire is nice to live in.”
“Ah, so you’re immigrants. Our territory is comfortable since many immigrants live here.”
The shopkeeper nodded, then introduced us to other vendors.
The reactions were hilarious—they completely assumed we were sisters, even thinking I was the younger sibling.
“My younger sister is pretty.”
Wendy said this with such conviction that her confidence soared.
“And we get along well. Though grown, we stick together.”
“My sister likes me so much. Isn’t she cute, even if it doesn’t match her looks?”
Her shameless boldness was astonishing.
“Indeed. Looks good.”
The merchants smiled warmly, and I stayed quiet to preserve the mood. Wendy carried the conversation naturally.
She asked about local specialties, what people liked, how they spent holidays. Even though they had just met, she mingled effortlessly.
‘Bringing her was the right choice.’
While nodding along, I listened for information. A young vendor leaned closer, whispering a warning.
“Stay together like this for now. It’s dangerous to wander alone, day or night.”
“Dangerous?”
I asked, noticing the gravity in his tone.
“People have been disappearing recently.”
“Ah, I heard Jet’s lover vanished suddenly. The guards were told, but as an adult it’s considered a simple runaway, so no investigation.”
“There are quite a few missing, but the locals only see it as crime if not linked to outsiders.”
“We don’t know the exact numbers, but rumors suggest it’s significant. Be careful.”
He handed us a bag of apples.
“A gift to welcome you! Let’s get along from now on!”
“Thank you! Don’t worry—we’ll stick together.”
Wendy waved enthusiastically again, and I nodded politely.
We returned to our home after circling the streets.
Wendy, putting down the groceries, turned serious.
“You’re not planning to… are you, my lady?”
“Planning to what?”
“To become a victim of the disappearances? Surely not connected to the Count, right?”
She had some sense—after a few outings, she could guess my thoughts.
Wendy’s tone shifted, respectful as she realized she might need to stop me.
“Of course I will. To investigate properly, I need to experience it firsthand as a disappearance.”
“People said the locals won’t intervene unless it’s related to barbarians. What if you get kidnapped or hurt by mistake?”
Her concern was valid, but knowing the future, I saw no better way.
Placing Wendy there alone wouldn’t solve anything. Worse, if I were kidnapped and met Roy, she alone couldn’t persuade him.
“Your Eminence came as a Cardinal! You’re not meant for such dangerous work!”
“But I can’t just leave things as they are.”
“Since when could you not tolerate injustice?”
Wendy’s emotions erupted.
“What do you mean? What I am about to do is precisely my role as Cardinal and Inquisitor.”
She looked at me, bewildered
“It’s just a disappearance. Surely not something connected to you, right?”
