There was a checkpoint at the territory’s entrance.
‘They seem to take public security quite seriously here.’
Approaching the gate, Erich presented his identification badge, revealing his affiliation and status.
“Did you say you are Sir Chester from the Duke Blant’s household?”
“Yes.”
If he had come as a duke of another territory, it would surely cause a commotion, which could hinder his investigation.
‘Moreover, if by chance I were to meet the Countess as a Duke, it would definitely raise suspicions.’
“Sir Chester, could you please remove your hood?”
Erich furrowed his brow.
‘The inspection is more thorough than I thought.’
Despite presenting his identification badge, they insisted on verifying Erich’s face.
Honestly, given Erich’s skills, he could have sneaked around unnoticed, but his purpose for coming here was to gather information, not assassination. So, undergoing identity verification like this was more convenient.
‘Since it’s a rule within the territory, I have no choice but to comply.’
When Erich finally removed his hood, the soldiers guarding the gate stiffened in unison.
“What’s wrong?”
In response to Erich’s question, they cleared their throats and spoke.
“I can understand why you cover your face.”
“Indeed. If you showed that face, there would be chaos.”
It was a subtle compliment, but since Erich didn’t particularly like his own appearance, he displayed a look of displeasure.
“Can I go now?”
“Yes, please enter.”
Covering his face with the hood again, Erich was about to step into the village when he noticed a carriage exiting the gate.
Most people wouldn’t have seen it, but Erich’s keen eyes clearly saw the person inside the carriage.
‘Could that be…?’
Erich’s face hardened as he confirmed who it was.
Finally, his lips parted.
“…Cornelia?”
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
I sighed as I looked at the child, who had cried himself to sleep.
‘It’s finally quiet.’
I considered taking Demian with me, but it would take about four days for a round trip, and there were many risks along the way.
Moreover, the capital itself was not entirely safe.
‘If someone recognizes me… Demian could be in danger, too.’
The Duchess and her son, whom they thought were dead, are alive.
Those who have been punished in the process will have their eyes turned upside down.
Since Demian, my son, also had a claim to the throne, it was impossible to predict Fritz’s actions, given that his current position was in jeopardy.
‘And then there’s that letter I received from Parakel not long ago…’
[Dear Countess, I have confirmed that firearms of unknown origin are circulating within the capital. They seem to be less effective than those I created, but given their similar principle, it is likely based on my firearms.]
The current situation in the capital was going a little differently than the future I knew.
So I chose to leave my precious child behind.
“Sardin, I’m counting on you. Don’t forget to give the child the medicine.”
“Don’t worry.”
Before long, Sardin had reached a point where he could freely use his aura and was on the verge of becoming a transcendent being.
Moreover, the knights trained by Sardin were reliable, and the security level of our territory was quite excellent, so there wouldn’t be much risk.
I stared at Janet as she climbed into the carriage.
‘Besides, Janet will be by my side, so she won’t be able to do anything foolish.’
“Let’s be off then.”
At Marquis Philippe’s urging, I boarded the carriage.
As the carriage began to roll, I started to see pedestrians on the street.
Soon, as we approached the gate, I noticed soldiers standing alert, inspecting visitors.
‘Right, I didn’t strengthen the administration and security for nothing.’
Most troublemakers would be filtered out right at the gate.
Additionally, the personal information of the territory’s residents was thoroughly managed by the administrators, resulting in a relatively low crime rate.
I gazed at the mansion in the distance.
‘Yeah, there shouldn’t be any issues for the next four days.’
I draped the veil over my black hat, leaned back in my seat, and closed my eyes.
‘I’m tired, so I’ll just rest my eyes for a bit.’
Soon, the carriage passed through the gate and exited the estate.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
Erich, who was watching the carriage move away, soon let out a hollow laugh.
‘It couldn’t be her.’
Her hair was blonde. And she wore a veil over her face, so he couldn’t get a good look at her features.
Yet he thought it was her.
‘It’s probably because of my longing for her.’
For years, whenever he saw someone even remotely resembling her, he would occasionally mistake them for her.
And every time he confirmed it wasn’t her, he felt despair.
So, this time, too, it was probably just a mistake.
Thinking so, his rationality returned.
‘Right, a mourning outfit and blonde hair… That woman must be Countess Herde.’
I came all this way to find out who the Emperor is interested in, but I never expected to miss them like this.
At that moment, he felt a presence.
‘Six, and they’re quite skilled assassins.’
And they were heading in the direction the carriage had passed earlier.
‘Should I follow them?’
For a moment, Erich considered it, but then his gaze turned cold, and he clenched his fist.
‘No, it has nothing to do with me. Especially if she’s connected to the Emperor.’
After all, the Marquis Philippe was in that carriage.
‘A man of his caliber should be able to handle everything. There’s no need for me to meddle in someone else’s affairs.’
After a while, Erich glared at the count’s residence in the distance.
‘What matters right now is what the Emperor is hiding in this territory.’
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
“Is it confirmed that Duke Blant has left the mansion?”
“Yes, it seems he left without any notice, so we only found out later. Currently, Evan is tracking him down.”
Reinhardt frowned at the report from his subordinate.
“That fool.”
Currently, the ring of the head of the household is believed to be in the possession of Duke Blant.
However, it was impossible to steal the ring by force from the Duke, who was a sword master.
So he made ‘that thing’ and handed it over to Evan, telling him to take advantage of the opportunity to poison him and kill him by surprise, but things were not going as planned.
“So, have you figured out the Duke’s whereabouts?”
“Yes, according to the traces, it seems he was heading east.”
At those words, Reinhardt slammed his hand on the desk.
Bang!
“Damn it, what did you say?”
The east was where Cornelia, the Countess of Herde, resided.
‘Could it be that he’s realized Cornelia is there?’
For a brief moment, he entertained that thought, but then Reinhardt shook his head.
‘No. As far as I know, he hasn’t figured out anything yet. He’s still searching for Cornelia’s body.’
Then why did Erich Lennon Blant leave for the East?
Then Reinhardt thought of someone Erich had been keeping an eye on until recently.
‘He must have been investigating the Emperor and followed when the Emperor’s dog headed that way.’
His fists clenched tightly, the tendons standing out.
‘How dare that piece of trash that grew up in the slums….’
Although it was a coincidence, Erich Lennon Blant was approaching Cornelia at an alarming rate.
And it would only be a matter of time before that damn fool recognized her.
‘If they meet…’
Even though Cornelia had left Duke Blant out of despair over not being able to love, there was still a bond between them through their child.
If they were to meet, Cornelia’s heart might waver because of the child.
‘That’s why I told the dog I had placed near Cornelia to take the opportunity to deal with the child…’
The spy refused the order, making the excuse that there was an obstruction guarding Cornelia and the child.
‘But is that the only reason?’
With venom in his thoughts, Reinhardt furrowed his brow again.
‘Anyway, since Erich Lennon Blant has gone east, how should I handle this?’
Reinhardt was contemplating whether he should take action himself. At that moment—
Knock knock.
“What is it?”
In response, his aide rushed in anxiously.
“Master, I apologize for interrupting, but it’s an urgent matter.”
“Speak.”
“It has been reported that after investigating the Countess of Herde, Marquis Arzen has sent several assassins in an attempt to intimidate her.”
“What did you say?”
It seemed that the dog had lost his mind while he was left alone.
At that moment, the aide continued.
“However, we received word from the spy that Her Highness the Princess has set out toward the capital.”
“Really? It seems the Emperor, that old man, is finally doing something I can approve of.”
Now that Cornelia was not in the territory, there was no need to worry about her getting hurt.
At the same time, Reinhardt realized something.
‘She wouldn’t have taken the child with her to the capital, so it’s highly likely that Cornelia’s child is still in the territory.’
The tension on Reinhardt’s face eased once again.
‘Perhaps I can deal with these two troublesome matters easily.’
Soon, he instructed his subordinate.
“Inform Evan. When he arrives in the Herde territory, assassinate the child and frame Duke Blant for it.”
“Understood!”
As the subordinate left the room, Reinhardt instructed his aide.
“I will be going to the palace soon, so prepare for it.”
“Yes, understood.”
Just as the aide was about to leave—
“Oh, and tell the butler to prepare my finest outfit.”
Reinhardt’s face, as he said this, looked oddly excited, like that of a teenage boy.
“Yes, understood.”
Once the aide left, Reinhardt, who was left alone, smiled as he looked in the mirror.
For a moment, he practiced a fake smile as if rehearsing a kind and gentle expression.
“Hehehe!”
Then, with a laugh bordering on madness, Reinhardt blushed.
“Cornelia, imagining you crying already brings me joy.”
ewwwwwwwwwww