Chapter 33 The Misty Truth
“That’s right!”
Delphine shouted quickly, not wanting to miss her chance.
A voice muttered in confusion from beyond the black thing.
[“But how do you charge an uncharged radio…?”]
‘Charged’? What is a ‘radio’?
It was a word she’d never heard before, but it was clear to me that a link had been reconnected that she’d thought had been severed by Glasscok’s death.
“I want to know the truth, I need help!”
Delphine cried out in a desperate tone.
Quickly. Please. There’s no time.
Delphine peered nervously over the stretched door.
How much time had passed.
The black object spoke again.
[“District 3. 14 Beaker Street. Three days from now, 2:00 p.m., come alone. This communication link will be disconnected after this.”]
It’s officially winter, Ioannes thought as he stepped out onto the porch as usual.
As if mania had never struck the Empire, as if two people had never died in this mansion.
The man hadn’t bothered to explain the events to her.
Or her identity.
So she’ll just have to find out for herself.
Delphine smiled at him, trying to look as nonchalant as possible.
Three days later, 2pm. She was on Beaker Street in District 3, trying to figure out how to get out alone.
He had insisted that she must have her own escort when she went out.
But there was no way she could lead them out and dare to reveal his identity.
So she was left with only one option.
Disguise herself as a maid and slip out of the manor.
For most of her time in the manor, she had been confined to her study on the third floor.
If she were to sneak out for a few moments during the day, no one would notice her absence.
Delphine hadn’t even bothered to tell Anna of this plan.
The timid, worried woman might faint at the mention of it.
Therefore, Delphine chose Betty, the boldest of her loyal maids.
“My Lady… You probably don’t realise this, but I haven’t travelled much outside of District 1.”
But Betty was surprisingly less than pleased to hear of her plan.
She opened her mouth, not sure where to begin.
“Well, your face,” she said, “isn’t it going to be covered by wearing a maid’s dress? On the contrary, it would make it more conspicuous!”
Delphine looked confused for a moment, but then shook her head.
“Of course, some people will know what I look like, but don’t worry. I’ll wear a handkerchief pressed to my head.”
She had often seen some of the maids dressed like that.
So others wouldn’t be too suspicious.
But Betty still looked sceptical.
“What are you going to do if the master finds out…?”
“Don’t worry about that.”
Delphine was convinced now.
Ioannes wouldn’t touch anyone she cared about easily, let alone herself.
The only time he’ll snarl at her, baring his teeth at her, is if she touches where he came from.
Other than that, there is still a part of him that fears being hated.
“But can you go out alone, without an entourage, without a carriage?”
“If I go to District 2, there’s a carriage on the road, and I can pay them to take me out to District 3.”
“District 3 is where even the commoners don’t let women go alone.”
“I’ll be careful,” Delphine said, her face calm and determined.
“I must go, even if it is dangerous…There is something I must know.”
“… You’ve already made up your mind, haven’t you?”
Betty sighed as she looked at Delphine’s determined face.
She had known this stubborn young woman since she was a child, and once she made up her mind, she wouldn’t change it, even with a knife at her throat.
Finally, Betty nodded, as if she had no choice.
“I can’t fool Aunt Anna for long, either. Are you sure you’ll be back before dinner?”
Of course.
Ioannes. She’d have to sit in this manor before he returned.
Delphine nodded, a determined look on her face.
***
The three days passed quickly, and finally the appointed day arrived.
Ioannes had breakfast with her as usual, then mounted his horse and left the manor.
She stepped out into the hall, bowed to her husband, and bade him goodnight.
Delphine went straight upstairs to her study and changed into the maid’s outfit Betty had given her.
White stockings, a short black dress, and a white apron.
Delphine studied her reflection in the mirror in wonder.
It was the first time she had ever worn anything that showed her ankles.
It was a relief to be able to move around without the hem of her dress dragging on the floor.
Once she was dressed, she pulled her striking wavy red hair back into a bun and tied a white handkerchief over her head and chin.
To cover both her hair and face.
At her side, she carries a straw basket.
‘It’s market day in District 2, so I’m going to buy some fruit for the kitchen…’
The key is to blur the edges.
It’s not the tone of a maid to speak in too crisp, clear a tone, Betty explained.
“And bring this with you.”
Before she left the study for the last time, Betty handed her something.
“What is this?”
“It’s a central citizen identity card.”
A small white document with the imperial seal.
It was something Delphine had never seen before in her life as a District 1 noble.
She’d never had to prove her identity to get anywhere.
“I’ve never actually travelled beyond District 3, but… Perhaps this will get you safely back to District 2.”
Delphine nervously tucked the papers into her arms and finally left the room quietly.
The two bodyguards guarding the mansion stood at the gates of the manor hall.
Four more stood at the iron gates at the front of the manor’s grounds.
All of them were members of the Imperial Guard, wearing the imperial crest.
At first, she had assumed that they were standing guard because it was the residence of the captain of the guard, but now she realised that Ioannes must have received special permission to have the guards in his personal service.
Normally, private soldiers were not allowed in the capital.
Delphine swallowed dryly as she looked at the knights standing there, their faces expressionless and unmoving.
‘Are they all trained to control their emotions?’
She couldn’t understand why they were all so doll-like and expressionless.
‘It’s market day in District 2, and the mistress will be in the catching room…’
Muttering to herself the maid’s way of speaking, which she had learnt from Betty, Delphine strode on, trying to look unconcerned.
“…”
But she didn’t need to recite the rehearsed line.
The knights of honor standing guard at the manor’s gates paid no attention to the lowly maid.
Security was supposed to be about scrutinising those entering the house, but not those leaving.
They passed through the gates, and finally the iron gates of the manor grounds.
After safely exiting the manor, she walked calmly for a while, moving slowly through district 1.
As she approached the commercial district of District 2, Delphine began to prance.
‘I’m out…! I escaped!’
A feeling of exhilarating relief filled her chest like a mouthful of mint lollipops.
It was an exhilarating sensation she had never experienced before, not when the manor was Pembroke Manor, not even after it became Pride Manor.
With an intense sense of release, Delphine realised.
Nothing and no one can dare to force her.
She is no longer the heir to the honor of House Pembroke.
Her heart has never felt so light since she learnt of her father’s treachery.
As she strolled down the boulevards of District 2 with a light step, Delphine realised something else.
No one bothered to notice her in her black dress and white apron.
Not even a glance.
Enjoying the freedom she felt for the first time in her life, Delphine soon spotted an empty carriage on the side of the road.
Unlike the nobility, who used their family carriages, commoners often did not have expensive horses or carriages.
So, Betty explained, there were carriages in the commercial district, District 2, that would take them wherever they wanted to go for a fee.
‘That’s the one.’
A carriage with numbers instead of a family crest.
Delphine approached the carriage, trying not to look unfamiliar and clumsy.
The coachman, resting at his leisure, greeted her.
“Welcome, ma’am! Where may I take you, ma’am?”
“Third arrondissement, to Beaker Street.”
Delphine, who had unwittingly given the stern order, added hastily.
“… Please go.”
It was some three hundred years ago that two great barriers were built in the Empire of Astrax.
Legend has it that a great sage and hero descended upon the peninsula from the north.
After ridding the peninsula of all wizards and witches who used special magic, he built an empire and became its first Emperor.
He builds a huge wall across the peninsula to keep out the monsters and barbarians that rage in the north.
He then builds another wall that circles the imperial palace and other important areas.
The people called them the ‘Northern Wall’ and ‘Central Wall’ respectively.
With this double protection, the people of the empire were at peace.
Districts 1 and 2 were formed within the central wall, which was the safest.
But as time passed and the population grew, factories were built beyond the central wall.
People commuting to and from the factories made their homes nearby.
Thus, the area beyond the central wall and under the northern wall was newly called District 3.
The goods produced in that area were brought into Districts 1 and 2.
That was all Delphine knew about District 3.
For a moment, Delphine looked out the carriage window with pleasure at the bustling world of District 2.
As they approached the southern end of District 2, Delphine gulped at the incredible sight that was revealed.
