VDBO 35

Chapter 35

Strictly speaking, the Empress’s mother and the former Marchioness of Radique were quite close. Because of that connection, it was only natural that her son, Marquis Radique, had assisted both the Emperor and Empress even before he officially inherited his title, if not as a close aide. I had assumed that relationship still continued to this day.

“That was in the past,” Mr. Schvalt said. “They haven’t visited each other in quite some time. Apparently, the Marchioness of Radique made a verbal slip.”

“Ah.”

“Well, it was a relationship fragile enough to fall apart over a single mistake.”

Mr. Schvalt gave a crooked smile, his tone openly sardonic. Come to think of it, unlike Mother and me, he frequently interacted with other nobles as well.

Sometimes they became enemies. Sometimes they cooperated.

If you took Bay out of the picture, Mr. Schvalt was no different from any other aristocrat. A few years ago, when he had been exiled to the North, there were rumors that he was especially close to Lucellai Ludwig—but those had quietly faded away before anyone noticed.

I had thought Mr. Schvalt must have gone through a difficult time reclaiming his position, but apparently it hadn’t been much of a challenge for him.

If it was Marquis Radique, he would indeed be the perfect person to extract information about the Empress.

“For now, lie low. It bothers me to see you dragging your sick body around. Take the medicine Schvalt sends you until you’re fully recovered.”

“Rue was very worried about you. That’s why she’s saying that.”

“Don’t say unnecessary things.”

Mr. Schvalt smiled broadly and tried to defend my mother, but he was quickly silenced.

“Are you going to stay in Bay for a while?” I asked.

“Yes.”

Mother looked at me as if examining me closely. The gaze that I thought would quickly withdraw lingered longer than expected.

“…Why, Mother?”

“It’s nothing.”

Not long after, Mother returned to Bay once more.

And then, a few days later—

A young-looking maid with short chestnut-brown hair arrived, accompanied by a fairly large number of guards.

Along with her came a tall, sharp-featured maid, and another with a refined face and red hair similar to mine.

When Mr. Schvalt told me to choose the maid who seemed easiest to keep by my side, I chose Nina—the youngest-looking one. It was just a gut feeling.

Since Schail hadn’t told me specifically whom he had sent, the two other maids were assigned to assist on the first and second floors respectively.

“Pleased to meet you. My name is Nina. I will serve you to the best of my ability so you won’t experience any inconvenience, Miss.”

“All right. I’ll be counting on you.”

Mr. Schvalt, who had been watching the new maid with a satisfied look, stood up again not long after.

“Are you leaving already?”

“Yes. I’m quite busy today. If you need anything, send someone to call for me.”

“Oh, it’s nothing like that. You didn’t seem to have any tea.”

“I’ll drink it later. I’ll come check on you again when I have time.”

“Yes. Please be careful.”

Perhaps he truly was busy—after smiling briefly in farewell, Mr. Schvalt boarded his carriage and disappeared.

I turned toward Nina, who had quietly taken position behind me.

“When I’m in my room, don’t come in unless I call for you. I don’t like being woken up. If you need something, tell Ian.”

“Yes, Miss. I understand.”

“It won’t be difficult work. Oh, and I don’t like people who try to anticipate things on their own. Just do what you’re told.”

Just as I was about to return to my room, Nina pulled something out from inside her clothes and held it out to me.

“Yes, Miss. Please feel free to order me to do anything.”

She was someone sent by Schail Iskar.

It was only a hunch, but I hadn’t expected to be right immediately.

I took the small box and folded note she offered. They must have searched her when she entered, so it was impressive that this hadn’t been discovered. I gestured for her to come inside the room.

Sitting down on a chair, I unfolded the note and asked,

“What are you good at?”

“…Me?”

Nina stepped closer and whispered softly,

“I’m actually an assassination specialist—but I’m also very good at running errands. So please, feel free to order me to do anything.”

“What?”

Assassination? Assassination?!

Did he send her in case he needed to kill me if things went sour? The idea that someone with such a cute face and gentle eyes was an assassination specialist was absurd enough—but sending her openly like this was even more ridiculous.

“If necessary, you may give me any command,” she said calmly.

“…All right.”

Seeing her smile so brightly as she said that, I unconsciously pressed my lips shut.

Since he had sent someone directly, I could roughly guess what was written in the note, so I opened the box first.

Despite its small size, it felt surprisingly heavy. Inside was a necklace. Why did everyone keep giving necklaces? And embedded in it was a royal sapphire as large as two fingers pressed together.

I finished reading the note.

As expected, he had obtained the pocket watch. Since I hadn’t given an exact date and only said “around that time,” it seemed he had checked the auction house every day.

The necklace, he wrote, was a trophy he’d acquired along the way.

He didn’t completely wreck the auction house, did he? I doubted he’d participated fairly, paid the price, and politely retrieved the watch.

“Well, at least it found its rightful owner.”

The note curtly asked what I wanted in return, saying he’d pay any price.

Simple-minded. Still, sending a person meant he had some sense of loyalty.

If he’d taken the pocket watch and run, I had fully intended to expose every act of tax evasion and crime he’d committed.

Even if not everything, I knew quite a lot—both from my own knowledge and things I’d overheard while staying near Mr. Schvalt. When you’re around bad people, you hear all sorts of things.

Schail knew I was connected to Bay’s leader, so he must have felt safe telling me without worrying I’d cheat him.

“This,” I said.

I handed the box back to Nina.

“Yes, Miss.”

“It’s too heavy to carry around. Tell him it’s fine to exchange it for money instead. I think I’ll need funds later anyway.”

“You’re… not going to use it?”

Nina’s eyes widened at the size of the gemstone.

“There’s nowhere appropriate to keep it. If he wants to show gratitude, tell him not to send things like this next time. Have him make a vault and store it there. I’ll come retrieve it later.”

Nina quickly hid her surprise and accepted the box.

“Yes. I’ll deliver the message.”

“And this too.”

I handed her a small packet of medicine I’d been hiding.

“Have him analyze the ingredients. Find out what it’s used for. It won’t be easy—these aren’t herbs that circulate on the market.”

Nina nodded and took the packet. Just like before, she concealed both items inside her clothes, then smiled cutely as if nothing had happened.

“Yes, Miss!”

Knowing her specialty made that bright voice feel strangely out of place.

Maybe it was her chubby cheeks, or her round black eyes, but she reminded me of a hamster.

A plump little hamster.

“Light the lamp.”

As soon as the flame flared to life, I burned the note without hesitation.

“There’s one more thing I need you to do.”

“Please speak freely.”

“Search the orphanages throughout the capital and the eastern regions. Look for a boy with heterochromia.”

Nina’s eyes widened.

“Heterochromia?”

“Yes. He’s probably being abused. People consider it an ominous sign. If so, he should be around six years old… I’m not certain about the age. Just look for children around that range. You can handle that, right?”

“You told me to ask for anything. I’ll take care of it immediately.”

“Thank you.”

I could only hope my memory was accurate. That was the problem with relying on recollections from such an old original story. I’d agonized over it for days, but still wasn’t completely confident. Even so, I had no choice but to use what I remembered.

“Where do we meet?” I asked.

“A dress shop, a bakery café, and a general store. If there are other shops you want, I’ll place people there as well—as long as it’s not within another faction’s territory.”

Nina folded her fingers one by one as she spoke. It seemed she’d deliberately arranged them along my usual routes.

I stood up and went into the adjoining dressing room. I pulled out a random dress and grabbed the stitched seam at the waist with both hands, yanking hard.

Rip.

One side of the dress tore apart messily. I’d only worn it once, but there was no helping it.

“There’s a damaged dress. I want to wear it tomorrow, so I’ll send Ian with you. Go take care of it.”

“Yes, Miss! I’ll go at once!”

Nina hurried out, carrying a dress nearly as large as her own body.

For hours—no, for days—Schail kept the pocket watch by his side, gripping it whenever he had the slightest chance.

“I never thought I’d find Mother’s keepsake at all.”

He had nearly been too late.

Because he hadn’t believed the woman’s words.