Chapter 79
“So… the Grand Duke is no longer staying in his territory, is that what you’re saying?”
Around that time, the Emperor was still tracking Fernand’s movements and recent activities.
What he had learned was that Fernand had left the Empire and was traveling through various countries.
“Has there been any confirmation of what he’s doing?”
“No, Your Majesty. His exact whereabouts are difficult to trace, but it seems he’s searching for someone.”
The Emperor narrowed his eyes, assessing the situation, then issued a command.
“Keep following him. Find out what—or who—he’s looking for and where his trail leads.”
“Yes, I shall obey Your Majesty’s orders!”
A hint of suspicion flickered across the Emperor’s face. Given his usual obsession with monitoring Fernand’s every move, he could guess that something significant was unfolding.
He had heard that Fernand had left a proxy in charge of his duchy. It seemed he planned to be absent for quite some time.
‘First, he acted out of character by killing the Marquis, and now he’s searching for someone?’
The Emperor’s doubts had begun with the Marquis’s death.
Of course, Fernand had never held the Marquis in high regard. But he wasn’t the type to resort to outright slaughter unless absolutely necessary.
‘If anything, he’s the kind to expose my surveillance of him to the world rather than leave behind suspicions by killing the Marquis. There was no need for him to go that far.’
Of course, true to his meticulous nature, Fernand had left no evidence behind. No one could definitively prove he was the killer.
But at the very least, the Emperor was certain Fernand was the culprit.
‘Well, the Marquis had long since lost his influence, so this incident won’t cause any real repercussions…’
The Emperor cleared his throat and absentmindedly stroked his beard.
Something was definitely happening, but without concrete information, he could only feel frustrated.
Still, this was the first time Fernand had ever shown such disarray. It was rare for him to leave such an obvious trail.
If the Emperor could just confirm what Fernand was after by leaving his post… perhaps he could use this opportunity to gain even the slightest leverage over him.
Meanwhile, the Marchioness, who had been absent from high society for some time, made her first appearance at a salon in over two months.
As soon as she entered the reception hall, noblewomen began whispering among themselves.
“What a tragic affair. First her daughter, and now her husband…”
“Indeed. It feels like just yesterday their family was boasting about producing the Grand Duchess. Truly, glory is fleeting.”
Their thinly veiled mockery and hushed gossip pierced the Marchioness’s ears.
Suppressing the fury bubbling inside her, she made her way to a table.
She still had one hope left—her eldest son, Grayson.
With the Marquis’s death, Grayson would inherit the title sooner than expected, and surely, he would restore the family’s standing.
The reason the Marchioness had attended the salon today was to scout potential brides for Grayson.
Even if they weren’t from prestigious families, as long as they had wealth or honor, she would be grateful.
Maintaining a composed expression, she moved between tables while the conversations around her shifted.
“Oh, speaking of which—what ever happened to the Grand Duke’s rumored hidden lover? Is it still a mystery?”
At someone’s casual remark, the noblewomen eagerly piled on.
“Indeed. His Highness hardly sets foot in the capital unless it’s an official event, so there’s no way to uncover anything.”
True to the salon’s love for gossip, speculations about the Grand Duke poured forth.
“But didn’t Lady Blair once claim to have a special relationship with His Highness? Wasn’t she also the first to say that the former Grand Duchess and His Highness didn’t get along?”
Someone’s pointed comment sent a momentary hush over the table.
Like hyenas spotting prey, the noblewomen’s eyes gleamed.
“Are you suggesting Lady Blair is the hidden lover? But she recently got engaged, didn’t she?”
“Oh my, perhaps that’s why His Highness is keeping it a secret! Because his lover has another political match!”
Listening intently to each word, the Marchioness couldn’t hide her discomfort.
But the excited noblewomen failed to notice her displeasure.
Then, someone else interjected in a hushed voice, steering the conversation elsewhere.
“Um… It’s not Lady Blair.”
The noblewomen’s attention abruptly shifted to a young lady from an obscure barony, sitting quietly where no one had noticed her before.
“Actually… I think I saw His Highness not long ago. He was holding a woman in his arms…”
“My dear, do you have any proof of that?”
The noblewomen exchanged amused glances, treating her like a child making up stories to join the conversation.
“W-well, he was wearing a hooded robe, but he definitely looked like His Highness…”
“Didn’t you just debut in society? How could you possibly recognize His Highness’s face so easily? He rarely attends public events.”
Flustered by the pointed question, the young baroness stammered, her face reddening.
“I—I studied the imperial genealogy and saw his portrait…”
“Oh, did you now? Well, ladies, speaking of which, I recently acquired a new set of porcelain…”
Deeming her unworthy of further attention, the noblewomen swiftly changed the subject.
As the dejected baroness bowed her head and slipped away, the Marchioness’s gaze grew contemplative.
Long after the salon had dispersed, the Marchioness approached the young baroness.
“Could you tell me more about what you mentioned earlier?”
The girl blinked in confusion.
“Ah, you mean… about His Highness?”
When the baroness hesitated, the Marchioness nodded impatiently.
“Tell me in detail. When and where did you see him?”
“Um, it was about two months ago… I got lost while visiting the Ilion Temple with my mother…”
“Lost?”
“I—I saw His Highness hurrying down a corridor.”
“Do you remember what the woman he was holding looked like?”
The baroness tilted her head, trying to recall.
“N-no… They were both wearing large robes, so I couldn’t see clearly.”
“So you’re not even sure it was the Grand Duke?”
“N-no! I’m sure it was him! It’s just…”
Flustered under the Marchioness’s probing tone, she mumbled,
“His face is unforgettable. Ever since I saw his portrait, I couldn’t get it out of my mind…”
Her cheeks flushed as she trailed off. The Marchioness studied her with skepticism.
Perhaps the girl had simply imagined it in her delusions.
But still…
As she left the salon, the Marchioness remained deep in thought. An uneasy feeling lingered.
Even if the sighting was true, it had nothing to do with her family anymore.
Just as she tried to dismiss the thought, a sly idea crept into her mind.
‘What if…’
If the Grand Duke really had taken someone to the temple, she might be able to use this information to her advantage.
She had heard from her late husband how desperately the Emperor sought any excuse to criticize Fernand.
How he wanted to track his every move.
So if she, in her husband’s stead, could deliver useful information to the Emperor… perhaps she could restore her family’s standing in his eyes.
“Who’s there?”
She summoned a servant and issued a command, her eyes gleaming with intrigue.
“Go to the Ilion Temple at once.”
Of course, the temple wouldn’t willingly disclose information. But if necessary, she could always bribe a priest.
