He called her himself? Esperanza couldn't hide her stiff expression as she grasped the Duke's extended hand and curtsied. The Duke wrapped Esperanza's hand with his black-gloved hand, pulled it up to lip height, and briefly kissed it.
He was wearing a Solmon Knight's uniform. Gold ornants and a red cloak over the black uniform. Golden buttons. On his chest were the Solmon dal, the Santa Marina dal, and probably another dal he had received while serving in the air force.
If it was intentional, it had to be called an excellent choice. The Duke in uniform exuded an intimidating presence as if he himself were the commander-in-chief of the military.
"Though I'm late, let's have tea. Aunt, this way. Henry, escort Miss Hunter."
"Miss Hunter, shall we go?"
The reception room where they would have tea was one of the many rooms they had passed through. The natural wood with a reddish tint and dark carpet particularly evoked that feeling, making her think this room was probably the reception room Duke Galliston frequently used.
"Where is Avondale?"
"He went there after hearing at dawn that there was a problem with a naval battleship."
It was definitely the Duke's sche, but his mineral-like face didn't move at all.
"Hmm. Will you two talk? I have a book to read. I'll be reading over there, so talk quietly."
The Duchess glanced at Edmund, then pulled out a thick book from the bookshelf and headed to the rocking chair. No matter how she thought about it, the book was a disguise, and it seed she intended to eavesdrop on their conversation comfortably without being cautious.
She must have had them sit together because she thought it was fine to eavesdrop. Was that looking down on them or trusting them?
Maids ca in and brought tea leaf containers and teacup sets. The simple tea food wasn't much different between Pinent House and Avondale Mansion.
"Miss Hunter."
"Yes."
"I hear you commissioned Havenly to assassinate ?"
"Yes."
The Duchess's teacup, who had been pretending not to listen while perking up her ears, clattered. She didn't know who Havenly was, but he seed to be the Duke's subordinate—commissioning the Duke's subordinate to assassinate the Duke? While knowing full well? Despite appearances, she was terrifying.
"I'd like to hear the reason."
"It was amusing to see soone acting as an information broker when it was already discovered whose subordinate he was. I also have one question for you."
"Speak."
"Was it also Havenly who followed
to Mabelwood?"
"It was soone else."
You put a tail on a lady? If his mother were alive to hear this, she'd faint backward...
"If I had accidentally killed that person, Your Highness would have been in trouble."
"But you didn't. I express my gratitude."
"I should have killed him."
At the words muttered like talking to herself, Edmund looked up from gazing at his teacup. Duchess Sherbury was now half-turned around.
"Miss Hunter."
Edmund tapped the table with his bare hand, which had always been wrapped in leather gloves. Slowly but heavily. That alone changed the atmosphere of the conversation.
"I have great interest in you."
Oh my. The Duchess no longer hid that she was eavesdropping. However, the two parties to the conversation pretended not to know this fact despite being aware of it.
"I've felt this way since Luke Havenly reported about you, and even more so now."
Esperanza calmly emptied her teacup.
"So you put a tail on . Did so background investigation too."
"More like what a rogue would do than a gentleman."
"I acknowledge it. However, it was absolutely necessary. For the safety of His Most Faithful Majesty."
Your Queen is as important to you as she is to . Esperanza firmly suppressed the words that almost burst out to her throat. Even if he did a background investigation, there would be nothing but her hanging around with Jack in back alleys. Even if the Duke had started investigating Esperanza's background earlier than expected, it wouldn't be enough to investigate her activities in Paolun and receive information.
"Your father, Michael Hunter, has no birth record."
The sound of putting down the teacup was quite loud.
"No exit record, no entry record either. He never registered a marriage."
"The marriage registration was probably in Paolun..."
"Are you saying the birth registration was also done in Paolun? Then there should be a record of your grandfather, but after examining all exit records of people nad 'Hunter' for the past hundred years, there wasn't a single person who could be Michael Hunter's father."
That ans.
"That ans."
Edmund showed what could be called a smile for the first ti. Confident of victory.
"Michael Hunter is a non-existent person."
Her mind went blank.
Michael Hunter and Alejandra Hunter were fictional characters hastily created by Cider and Esperanza. They designed it so that about twenty years of their activities would be ambiguous in case questions arose. Who would have thought soone would do a background investigation on her father, not even Esperanza herself, and look up birth registration records?
In tis like this, there's no thod. She had no choice but to deny it.
"If you say my deceased father is a non-existent person just because you couldn't find his birth registration record... I don't know what you want
to do about it. If you invited
to say such things, I'll just go back."
But her opponent was neither foolish enough to be convinced by denial nor generous enough to let it slide. Edmund leaned back in his chair and looked down at Esperanza as if looking down from a throne.
"Miss Hunter. You might think there's no cri in fabricating a non-existent person. But soone must take responsibility, and you don't even have the qualification to take responsibility."
She could anticipate the next words. It was exactly what she had feared.
"The responsibility belongs to Count Avondale, who vouched for your na."
She knew that by today she would understand the Duke's intention, and whatever that intention was, he would use Cider as grounds for blackmail. Cider had repeatedly told her not to worry about his safety.
At the ti, she thought she could do that.
"So, are you saying you'll spread that throughout Nine Holder? It's harder to prove non-existence than existence. Your Highness's claim is just speculation, not proof, isn't it?"
"You're mistaken."
The Duke continued speaking while pulling his cravat to loosen it. She couldn't shake the thought that every action was calculated. Whether he was conscious of it or not, the calculated timing for the opponent to feel maximum threat, and appropriate movents tid accordingly. Esperanza's nails scratched the leather of the sofa.
"All I need to do is cast doubt; the burden of proof lies with you. Miss Hunter, if proving existence is easier than proving non-existence as you say, is there any reason you couldn't prove your parents' existence?"
If the Duke just voiced that suspicion, people would demand proof even if it ant digging up graves that might be in Paolun.
Duke Galliston's direct influence on high society wasn't great, but he had relatives who dominated this country. For their own prestige, they would make the Duke's baseless words into fact.
Esperanza would be fine. No matter how much they suspected and troubled her, it wouldn't be forever. She would eventually return.
But Cider had to continue living in this world. His honor was bright and clean. Even if he jokingly said his reputation was rock bottom, that was really just half-joking. He didn't know what it was like to have his honor truly hit rock bottom.
If his honor was damaged, at least it shouldn't be because of Esperanza.
"You probably don't want
to prove my parents' existence. You must want sothing in exchange for keeping your mouth shut."
The Duke, who had risen from his seat, slowly walked over and threw open the reception room curtains. Pure white sunlight stretched its legs long into the reception room. A white disc cast shadows along the black hair that received the baptism of sunlight.
"Even if soone deceives about their status with a small lie and roams Nine Holder under the patronage of a count who serves under the na of His Most Faithful Majesty, it cannot tarnish the glory of His Majesty and the Golden Spinning Wheel coat of arms. As long as they don't cause problems..."
"Are you saying I've caused problems?"
"No. There's soone else who causes problems."
What does that an? However, Esperanza wasn't given ti to piece together the puzzle.
"That's why I called you today, and that's what you must do. Miss Hunter. I don't know why you stay in Nine Holder pretending to be a lady, but if you want your lady act to continue a little longer, follow my instructions."
"Otherwise, you'll drag Lord Avondale's honor through the mud?"
"I trust you'll make a wise choice."
When it actually ca down to it, refusing wasn't easy. This was why the Duke had separated Cider. If he had been beside her, he would have stopped it. But Esperanza wasn't as smart as Cider Claiborne, and when faced with sudden blackmail, even her barely functioning mind creaked and made noise.
She had to admit what needed to be admitted. Esperanza was currently in a panic state. Even when she rolled her reddened fingertips into fists and forced her uncooperative mind to work, thoughts just bounced around without progressing. It would have been easier if she had faced the Duke physically.
"I need ti to think."
"Ti to consult with Count Avondale? Miss Hunter. Do you really believe you have a choice?"
It was a problem with a predetermined answer. A sigh burst out. To have to accept a proposal without even knowing what it was.
No. Think positively. Just because she accepted the Duke's proposal didn't an there wouldn't be an opportunity to hit the Duke on the back of the head.
Really? Was there no way? She felt like sothing was about to co to mind... The thoughts that had been bumping around looking for a false wall in a place blocked on all sides finally found a loophole. Esperanza smiled.
"If it was sothing soone other than
could do, there would have been no reason to do this to
in the first place, and if it's sothing only I can do, there's no reason to break off negotiations by laying down cards."
The Duke couldn't arbitrarily expose Esperanza's identity. If what the Duke wanted was sothing only Esperanza could do, he had no choice but to hold onto her weakness until Esperanza accepted. This blackmail was ultimately just an empty echo.
She didn't know what he wanted. But considering the assassin, the Mabelwood dungeon, and even the trouble he caused at the naval unit to separate Cider with this invitation, it ant Esperanza had at least that much value to him.
Scarcity was power in itself. Of course, Esperanza had other powers too. Strength entered her raised chin.
"Your Highness. As I said again, I need ti to think. If you have nothing more to say, I'd like to go back now."
The Duke looked at Esperanza with a hardened face. But she no longer felt intimidated. The Duke couldn't harm Esperanza's safety, nor could he harm Cider's honor. Then what reason was there to fear him?
As for Cider's safety at the naval unit... he had said he could protect his own safety. That soone like the Duke couldn't kill him. She had no choice but to believe those words.
Two pairs of eyes stared at each other without wavering. Eye contact without goodwill. No, what Esperanza read in those eyes was clear hostility.
The sound of a door opening roughly broke that tension.
"Your Highness Duchess, Your Highness's necklace has disappeared."
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