The meeting held in the annex reception room took the form of a tea party, but in reality, it was merely a gathering to plan future actions.
The Grand Duke, Count Monches, the Princess, her knight, and Dahlia—this rather motley crew—sat around a table filled with sweet desserts, each exchanging their thoughts.
The cloyingly sweet fragrance of the tea spread to deceive the many eyes frequenting the Grand Duke’s residence, but none showed interest in the food before them. Only Sienna occasionally sipped her apple-scented tea.
Though the Princess and the Grand Duke, seated closest to each other, had not made eye contact even once since entering the same space, no one seemed to notice this fact.
“If the Duke deliberately hid it, would he still have it now? There’s a possibility he may have intentionally burned it.”
The Count, who had been briefed on the situation beforehand, expressed his doubt to the gathering.
“Knowing the Duke’s usual character, I doubt he would go so far as to erase its existence completely,” Declan answered without the slightest hesitation.
Empress Melophe’s ring and the will were clearly different. While the former was something that could definitely tarnish the Duke’s reputation, the will could actually serve as a weapon for the Duke.
At the very least, it could be used effectively against the Emperor, who was desperate to get his hands on Sienna.
To the nobility, it would seem like a predictable scheme: the Duke, who had filled his own desires by flaunting his close relationship with the imperial family, was now trying to use those connections to get the Emperor in his grasp. Though it was quite a bold move, it was typical of the Duke.
But the Emperor was steadily consolidating his power.
It would be unsettling to rely solely on the existence of the late Emperor’s beloved youngest daughter. After all, Dahlia was merely an incomplete half and not as important to Joseph as Marianne.
Therefore, the Duke needed something more definitive to control the Emperor.
The Count, who had been quietly agreeing with the Grand Duke’s words, glanced subtly to his right.
Even in the midst of all this, the Princess was gracefully brewing tea. When the Lady, sitting beside her, stared blankly at it, the Princess even showed the kindness of offering her the freshly brewed tea.
The Count cleared his throat loudly to focus everyone’s attention.
“My Lady, do you have any idea where it might be?”
“Well…”
Dahlia tilted her head at the Count’s question.
“Come to think of it, my uncle did have a special place where he kept his ledgers. He didn’t let even the servants near it, so I’ve never been there myself.”
“Ledgers?”
The Count showed interest at the mention of ledgers. Dahlia shrugged as if it were obvious.
“From long ago, there were many visitors to the Duke’s residence. Most had the same purpose.”
Carriages filled with rare jewels and gold coins frequented the Duke’s residence almost daily. The family crests engraved on the carriages changed daily. There was even a Margrave who claimed to run mining operations in a region far from the capital.
But after visiting the Duke’s residence, most followed the same pattern. Mining rights that had long been unapproved would be approved the next day, or business rights would be confirmed.
Moreover, Duke Lowell had a compulsive side due to his extremely suspicious nature. Considering his usual behavior, it seemed unlikely that he would have scattered important documents here and there.
That’s why the blue jeweled ring seemed more puzzling. While he kept the ledgers deeply hidden in the mansion, preventing anyone but himself from approaching them, why did he carry such a jewel on his person?
If the ring’s owner was someone executed for treason, the question was somewhat resolved.
It was too dangerous to leave at the Duke’s residence. Paradoxically, he might have thought it safer to carry that ring on his person.
“If it’s really my uncle who has the will, I think it might be where he hides those ledgers.”
“Then it seems our only option is to go directly to the Duke’s residence,” Sienna concluded clearly, having been quietly sipping her tea all this time. Dahlia’s gaze, which had turned to Sienna to express agreement, suddenly narrowed.
The Princess’s face, seen up close, was more emaciated than usual. She always had a sensitive impression, but today she looked particularly pale.
Gazing at Sienna thoughtfully, Dahlia slyly rolled her eyes to look at the Grand Duke.
Well, he didn’t seem to be in good shape either.
Despite his still-handsome appearance, his complexion had roughened in the past few days. Dahlia alternately glanced at the two with an intrigued expression.
“Anyway, the key now is to enter the Duke’s residence and search it.”
“Ah, I think I can manage that somehow,” Dahlia brightened at Sienna’s muttered words.
“Since my uncle has returned to the capital, this is the perfect opportunity. I’ll go directly to the Duke’s residence and try to find it.”
“That’s too dangerous. What if the Duke has people searching the mansion separately? Someone might find your actions suspicious and report them to the Duke. In the worst case, you might be detained at the Duke’s residence,” Theodore said firmly.
“It’s dangerous alone.”
The Grand Duke added the finishing touch. At this, Dahlia’s initial boldness deflated. Sienna looked at Dahlia’s drooping eye corners once before speaking.
“I’ll go with you.”
“What?”
Theodore jumped up as if sprung from a coil.
“That’s absurd…! What would Your Highness do by going along? Both of you are equally unable to use proper force—what are you saying?”
Sienna slightly frowned at his rapid-fire words.
“From the way you speak, it sounds like you’re prepared to have a fistfight with the Duke’s guards.”
“No, that’s not what I meant…”
“From the Duke’s residence’s perspective, I’d probably be less alarming than a robust man like you.”
Theodore was rendered speechless by the cold rebuke. When Theodore gave the Count a look as if asking him to say something, Count Monches heaved a deep sigh.
“But Your Highness, as Theodore says, it’s too dangerous. If you were to be detained at the Duke’s residence, there would be no way to help you.”
Sienna paid no heed to the Count’s dissuasion.
“Even so, do we have another option? If we bring a horde of soldiers, the Duke’s residence would certainly find it suspicious. But you all wouldn’t be comfortable sending Dahlia alone either.”
Sienna’s gaze swept over the Count and Theodore once each. Then she clicked her tongue in displeasure.
“Even if you were to go together, I’m concerned whether the Duke’s servants would willingly open the door.”
Both Theodore and the Count were men of robust build. At the cold rebuke, both Theodore and the Count were at a loss for words. Eventually, her gaze turned to Declan.
“I’ll go myself.”
When there was no response, Sienna spoke with added emphasis.
“I want to do this.”
After staring at her silently for a long time, Declan surrendered with a resigned face.
“As you wish.”
****
“The Duke of Lowell has returned again?”
The Emperor, who had heard the unexpected news from early morning, checked with the chamberlain while turning a newspaper.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“And alone, at that.”
“The Lady apparently twisted her ankle by mistepping from the carriage. Since the Grand Duke’s residence was the closest, she seems to be receiving treatment there.”
The Emperor gave a hollow laugh. He didn’t think she was clumsy enough to fall from a carriage.
“Indeed. What was that item the Duke was so desperately searching for?”
“Well…”
The chamberlain rolled his eyes uncomfortably.
“He mentioned a palm-sized box, but there wasn’t a word about what was inside it, Your Majesty.”
Joseph’s eyebrows rose slightly. If it was important enough to make him turn back, it must be a very valuable item, but it didn’t make sense that he was being reticent about its identity.
Perhaps it was something embarrassing if discovered by others?
Joseph put down the newspaper on the table and leaned back in his chair. A sordid exclamation flowed from his lips, curved villainously and tinged with base interest.
A box, he thought. For now, no particular item came to mind.
As the Emperor remained silent, deeply lost in thought, the chamberlain cautiously asked,
“Your Majesty, shall I summon the Duke here?”
“No.”
Though he rejected it outright with a raised hand, the Emperor’s eyes shone strangely. Knowing that such an expression from the Emperor was not a good omen, the chamberlain involuntarily gulped.
“Instead, I’ll give a different order.”
“Yes, what would it be…”
“When that item is found, have it brought before me immediately.”
The chamberlain blinked at him. However, the Emperor merely stroked his chin, as if devising some scheme.
“It doesn’t look good for the old Duke to be rummaging through the palace, so make sure he’s escorted out by sunset.”
That seemed to be the extent of the order, as the Emperor slowly unfolded his newspaper again. The stunned chamberlain finally bowed his head.
“As you command, Your Majesty.”
