Chapter 76
I opened the window. The veranda was just below, on the second floor, right beneath my room.
'Kaysen must have figured this out already,' I thought. He was smart enough, considering he was once a candidate for the male lead. Sure enough, Kaysen landed on the veranda, holding Leshan in his arms.
‘They do make a good pair,’ I mused as I nodded at them, noticing Kaysen's peculiar gaze toward . I shrugged in response.
'Why is he looking at
like that?'
Regardless, Kaysen and Leshan ca inside, and we began our conversation.
Ethan, with his arms crossed, sighed heavily.
“To be honest, I don’t really know what Uncle Kapu was involved in.”
“Is there anyone who does?”
“…Only Airen, probably.”
Airen, who was Kapu’s son, was ntioned before. He was also involved in researching magic stones. Right now, eting him seed to be our best option.
“Where can we find Airen?”
“The last ti I saw him was in the village… but he’s been wandering around, unable to give up hope on finding his missing father. I can’t be sure where he is.”
I felt a pang of sympathy. It was understandable, considering Kapu had been missing for six years—hardly a situation that inspired hope for his safety.
Still, finding Airen might help us unravel so of the mysteries we faced. But to move forward, we needed Leshan’s cooperation.
“Leshan, could I borrow that piece of paper?”
She knew well that anything from Marquis Ephekl’s safe was of great importance to him. If she refused, I would understand.
“…Yes.”
After a mont of hesitation, Leshan handed
the scrap of paper with Kapu’s na on it.
“Thank you,” I said, appreciating her courage. I carefully placed the paper in a small vial and sealed it. Gripping the vial tightly, I turned to Ethan.
“Are you almost ready?”
“Yeah.”
“Then let’s leave in three days.”
“That soon?”
“There’s too much to be done.”
I recalled the discussion I had with Darcy about Ryan’s impending deploynt. He was headed to the northern border of the empire to suppress the magicians. Ironically, that location was very close to the magician’s village we were planning to visit.
After learning that, I felt a pressing urgency to act. The longer we waited, the more people would suffer from hardships and accusations.
Yet, despite feeling this urgency, I was anxious.
“I hope everything we’ve prepared will be enough.”
Even though I thought we were well-prepared, I couldn’t shake the growing anxiety. I took a deep breath to steady myself.
Suddenly, I noticed three pairs of eyes fixed on .
“…Why are you all looking at
like that?”
“It’s nothing.”
“I just thought you seed really nervous.”
“I’m sorry, Lady Marceau.”
Kaysen, Ethan, and Leshan all spoke in turn. Was this the first ti they’d seen
like this?
Anyway, we had finished discussing Kapu. Leshan then brought up the matter of Marquis Ephekl’s visit.
“I’ll try to move to another place as soon as possible.”
It was clear she didn’t want to impose on
any longer.
…But honestly, Leshan didn’t bother
as much as she used to.
“Stay here until I leave.”
I knew that my estate was the safest temporary refuge for her.
“No one would expect you to be here, except for Marquis Ephekl and his inexplicable intuition.”
This was a gesture of goodwill toward the changed Leshan. Her life would have been smooth without her having to make any effort, yet she had chosen to acknowledge her flaws and move forward. I admired that.
I then turned to Kaysen.
“Captain Kaysen, you’re welco to check in from ti to ti. I’m sure you’re worried I might do sothing to Lady Leshan.”
This was a habitually sarcastic comnt.
“Please don’t say that.”
“Why not?”
I asked with genuine curiosity, though there was a hint of sarcasm. Kaysen and I exchanged a brief but intense glare.
He sighed, closing his eyes in surrender.
“…Because I know it’s not true.”
He rubbed his temples as he muttered.
Leshan had changed, Ryan had changed, and now Kaysen’s attitude was beginning to change as well.
But his change in attitude didn’t stir any particular feelings in .
‘Still, I suppose I should respond.’
I stood up and nodded at Kaysen.
“That’s good to hear.”
It wasn’t the most heartfelt response, but for , it was a considerable effort.
I had finished my preparations when I was summoned by Marquis Etwar.
Since he had just spoken with Darcy, I had a good idea of what he might say.
“You need to leave the capital for a while.”
There was no deviation from my expectations. I shook my head.
“There’s sothing I need to do.”
“…Sothing you need to do?”
Marquis Etwar frowned.
…He was still my father, so I figured he should at least know what I was planning.
Even if he opposed my actions, I would proceed, so I spoke in a tone closer to a notification than a request.
“I’m going to et with Marquis Ephekl tomorrow. After that, I’ll secretly leave the capital. If I leave openly, they might suspect sothing.”
I had been the center of attention lately.
Rumors about my relationship with Darcy were swirling, especially after Ryan’s recent visit, which only added fuel to the fire. Leaving openly would be risky.
“It’s better if they think I’m staying ho.”
This would likely fuel rumors that I was hiding because of Ryan, but I wouldn’t bother to refute them.
The idea that I was hiding from him would make Ryan lower his guard.
‘It seems my words at the tea party, saying I wasn’t interested in Ryan, were in vain.’
But at least I had gained a good ally in Lady Wernar, so it wasn’t a total loss.
“…Does your reason for eting Marquis Ephekl have anything to do with what I think it does?”
I was surprised that Marquis Etwar’s first question was so straightforward.
He didn’t scold
or try to stop .
‘…Maybe he just doesn’t care.’
I blinked, considering just leaving, but he was still waiting for my response.
I mumbled, “I’m planning to negotiate with him.”
“Is it because you’re worried about Leshan?”
“…No. I want to disrupt Prince Ryan’s plans and put him in a difficult position.”
After a mont’s hesitation, I offered a different reason.
It felt awkward to discuss my plans with Marquis Etwar.
I was used to showing hostility towards him, but this conversation was sothing else.
There was an inexplicable unease.
Still, it wasn’t a lie.
If I could sway Marquis Ephekl, I’d have another piece of evidence against Ryan’s misdeeds.
No one was without skeletons in their closet, and gathering those skeletons could be helpful.
“I dislike him.”
I made it clear, in case he still thought I might have lingering feelings for Ryan.
“…I don’t know when you changed so much.”
Marquis Etwar murmured as he stared at , as if he were reminiscing about the past.
His expression gave
a strange feeling.
“Very well, do as you wish tomorrow.”
Eventually, Marquis Etwar gave his permission.
“But if the negotiations fail, leave the capital.”
He seed to have his own preparations underway.
I nodded readily.
‘Perhaps I’ll need Darcy’s help after all.’
His presence would be reassuring. It was a sha he couldn’t accompany
to et the magicians, but I understood why. He had a lot to handle while Ryan was away from the capital.
As I reached the door, I hesitated. I was curious about Marquis Etwar’s calm reaction to my plans.
“…Aren’t you upset that I’m doing this alone?”
I asked the question I had intended to keep to myself, still turned away from him.
“Why would I be?”
His response, tinged with faint affection, caught
off guard.
“…It’s your business.”
His mumbled words carried little emotion.
‘Maybe I imagined it.’
Of course, there wouldn’t be any affection.
But I was curious. What kind of expression did he have after answering ?
Still, I didn’t turn around to look.
The next day, I left Leshan behind and went to et Marquis Ephekl.
‘He must be in a hurry.’
Leticia had updated
on Marquis Ephekl’s situation. Apparently, he had even asked Ryan for help in finding Leshan.
Ryan’s n were scouring every corner of the capital. Kaysen’s estate was one of the places they searched.
But my na was not on their list.
‘They say the darkest place is under the lamp.’
It had been a stroke of luck that I managed to deflect Marquis Ephekl’s suspicion when he first visited. Now, with this opportunity to et him, the situation had turned in my favor.
Soon, I was led into the parlor.
I got straight to the point.
“I’d like to make a deal with you regarding magic stones.”
“…We have our own magic stone mine.”
It was a bluff to avoid appearing weak. But I knew too much for that to work.
“The yield from your mine has been declining, hasn’t it?”
“…Where did you hear such baseless rumors? That’s slanderous.”
The brief silence that followed indicated I had struck a nerve. Though his response was polished, it was enough for
to know I was on the right track.
“I’ll be honest.”
To negotiate with Marquis Ephekl, I needed leverage.
And to get it, I had to reveal so of my own cards.
“I know you haven’t found Lady Leshan yet.”
I presented him with sothing he couldn’t refuse.
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