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Chapter 7.
“What are you doing here?”
“I was just taking a short rest. What brings you here, Your Grace?”
Since I had shown that I wasn’t feeling well, I couldn’t deny it outright, so I covered it up by saying I was resting.
The Duke of Lisiansius stepped closer and seemed to study my complexion.
“I followed you because you didn’t look well—and I was right.”
He followed me?
It was unusual for the Duke to concern himself with others, and his behavior made my heart stir uneasily.
“If you’re unwell, you didn’t have to come at all. Why insist on coming?”
“To tell you the truth, only because it’s you, Your Grace—I’ve recently quarreled with my younger sibling. We’ve been on awkward terms. Since they invited me, I felt I had to come.”
I looked straight into those blue eyes that seemed to search through me.
“…Is that so. Allow me to assist you.”
“Thank you, but I’ll be fine.”
“I’m not so shameless as to let an ill person walk off alone.”
Liar. If you weren’t interested, you wouldn’t even glance my way.
I squeezed my eyes shut and swallowed the emotion that surged up.
In my weakened state, I felt that if I stayed with this man, I might make a mistake.
“I appreciate the offer, but I can manage by myself.”
Even now, habit made me spread my skirts and curtsy politely, but that was all. My body swayed, and I lost my balance.
“Ah—!”
I expected pain to follow, but instead, I found myself in the Duke’s arms.
“It seems clear you’re in no condition to walk on trembling legs. Pardon me.”
He strode briskly, carrying me out of the Empress’s garden.
“In case you didn’t know,” he said, “that area is off-limits by order of the Crown Prince. Entering it is forbidden.”
“Then you and I are accomplices, aren’t we?”
When I tried to sound friendly, the Duke gave me a look of mild disbelief.
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep it secret.”
Now we share a secret, just the two of us, I whispered—but the Duke didn’t even twitch an eyebrow.
Is he beginning to dislike me even more? If so, that’s a relief.
He went the opposite way from where I had come, and we met no one along the way.
“There will be a party at House Lisiansius next week. The Marquisate of Reviang will receive a separate invitation, but I wanted to tell you personally.”
A party at the Lisiansius estate, at this time?
No matter how many times I’ve lived, the beginnings and endings have always been similar—but this was new.
“I appreciate the invitation, but I’m not sure there’s any need for me to attend.”
“On the contrary, I insist you come.”
“May I ask why?”
“Because I would like you to be my partner, my lady.”
We came upon a row of carriages, and he stopped before one bearing my family’s crest. He helped me down.
“My lady, would you do me the honor of being my partner at the party, on the night when the month’s moon wanes?”
The Duke wasn’t one to plot schemes, yet this was entirely outside the usual pattern.
It should have been a joyous offer, but because it came from Duke Lisiansius, an ominous chill crept up my neck.
“No.”
So I refused his proposal.
* * *
After a full day of rest, my body felt refreshed again.
While I had been resting, an invitation had arrived from House Lisiansius—one addressed to my parents, and another directly to me.
Mother was delighted, convinced the Duke had taken a liking to me. But I felt uneasy.
Rexian Lisiansius… why?
Mother urged me to go with her, and I couldn’t risk offending them by refusing twice, so I sent a reply accepting the invitation.
Though my head was tangled with thoughts, my body moved efficiently.
“You’re going out again, my lady?”
“Yes.”
“Then please, at least take me with you. Please?”
Cassie looked as if she might cry, but I couldn’t bring her along—I was going to gather information about Blue Bird.
“I’ll bring you something delicious when I return.”
“That’s not the point, my lady!”
“It’ll be fine. I’ll come back safely.”
After all, by your forty-ninth life, you learn how to protect yourself.
I showed Cassie the small dagger I carried for self-defense, but she still couldn’t shake her worry.
“I’ll be back before dinner, so don’t fret.”
Leaving my anxious maid behind, I slipped quietly out of the mansion.
My destination: the information guild I had visited before.
The old man, who pretended to be an antique dealer, led me to the same private room as last time.
“You’ve come.”
I held out my gloved hand.
“My, how impatient. Before we begin—this information has been classified as top-grade. That means an additional forty gold coins.”
“Fine.”
“And another thing—it’s not fully compiled yet.”
Instead of getting angry, I pointed out what I suspected.
“Is your guild’s network weak, or is Blue Bird’s security too strong?”
“Obviously the latter.”
Even my provocation didn’t rattle him. Instead, his voice grew curious.
“But how did you learn about Blue Bird? And what do you intend to do with that knowledge?”
“I didn’t expect the great information guild to show such curiosity. Are you trying to sow doubt in your client?”
“Answer me, and in return, I’ll find whatever information you desire—regardless of difficulty. One answer per request.”
That was… quite the bargain.
Sometimes, no amount of money could buy information from this guild.
“For the first question: someone from the past told me. For the second: I’m preparing. Satisfied?”
A vague, subjectless answer—exactly how they preferred to deal.
“I trust the guild won’t tarnish its honor. Now, the information.”
“Ha, haha… hahaha!”
He burst into sudden laughter like a madman before straightening up.
“Very well. You’re bold and shameless—refreshingly so. I suppose it’s my fault for not defining ‘detailed.’”
He handed me a file.
As I skimmed it, I nearly sighed—mostly what I expected—but he had said there was more to come.
“When can I get the rest?”
“On the day the month’s sun wanes.”
The same day as the Duke’s party.
“I’ll come the day after.”
“You must come that day.”
“For someone selling information, you’re awfully demanding. Fine. The time doesn’t matter, right?”
“Correct.”
Then I could stop by the guild in the morning, prepare, and still attend the party that evening.
I nodded, setting my plan in order.
There was still time before the waning moon, so I requested an audience with Father.
“You want to visit the estate?”
“Yes, Father. I’d like to get some fresh air.”
I often visited the territory, so he wasn’t surprised.
“You’ve been busy with the social season—must it be now? Even by carriage, the round trip takes a week. With business to handle, you’ll be gone two.”
“If I ride on horseback, I can do it in five days round trip. It’s fine.”
“On horseback…?”
He looked shocked.
In this lifetime, I’d never ridden in front of him—so his reaction made sense.
“Yes. I’m quite good at it. If I take just two knights, I can make it back in time for Duke Lisiansius’s party.”
“Heavens, Roa! You, socializing and riding horses now! Anyone would think you’ve come back from the dead!”
Exactly, Father. You’re spot on.
I smiled brightly.
“I’ll leave early tomorrow morning. Is there anything you’d like me to handle in the territory?”
“Nothing in particular. Oh, yes—tell Marck what I mentioned earlier. There are a few matters to check.”
“Got it, Father. Since I’ll leave at dawn, I’ll say goodbye now.”
“Alright. But… Roa,”
He raised a brow skeptically.
“I trust you in everything, but are you sure you can ride?”
“Haha, of course. Would you like to see for yourself?”
“If you say so, I’ll take your word for it. Be careful, Roa.”
At dawn, dressed in the practical clothes Cassie had prepared, I stepped out to the front entrance. Four knights waited with saddled horses.
“I said two would be enough.”
“The Marquis insisted you take everyone available, my lady.”
And among the four was Sir Pellit, the deputy commander of our knights.
“So that’s why I had to argue to reduce it to four,” he added.
“Father really does worry too much,” I said with a shrug.
The knights chuckled softly, their tension easing. Good.
“I’ll be in your care on this journey, Sir Pellit—and everyone.”
When they saw how naturally I mounted my horse, the knights’ eyes widened, but I pretended not to notice.
“Someone lead the way, please.”
Of course, I knew the road to the estate, but I didn’t want to arouse suspicion. A blond knight stepped forward to guide us.
The capital was quiet at dawn, so we were able to ride swiftly. Once beyond the city, we picked up the pace.
We camped briefly overnight, and by the second day’s afternoon, we reached the Marquisate.a
