* * *
As soon as Carl Windsor returned to the mansion, there was something he always did.
I wonder how Dana has been doing all this time.
He would secretly search Dana’s bedroom. It was one of his most important habits. Using a secret key as always, he slipped into her room and began inspecting her belongings. As he meticulously examined every corner of the room to uncover every detail, something unusual caught his attention.
What’s this?
He discovered something unusual—deep inside a drawer. He found a bizarre, threatening letter.
Keep your mouth shut, or I’ll kill you?
It was a letter with cut-out newspaper letters pasted together to hide the handwriting.
Carl’s face turned serious. Someone was threatening Dana. And to say they’ll kill her if she doesn’t keep quiet. Could it be that Dana discovered someone’s deadly secret?
I’ve been so busy lately that she probably couldn’t confide in me.
Poor Dana. How much must she be suffering inside? Surely, Dana would want to lean on him, but he had been away too long due to the mining work.
However, he couldn’t tell her that he had seen this letter.
She’ll tell me soon enough.
After all, his next schedule allowed him to spend all his time with Dana. He decided to stay close so she could talk to him whenever she felt ready.
Carl carefully placed the threatening letter back in the drawer and closed it. Rising to his feet, he took a deep breath.
Ah, it smells so nice.
There was a pleasant scent coming from Dana’s room. It was the fragrance from Dana’s hair.
* * *
A few days later, Lethe had fully recovered.
“I apologize for worrying you, Milady.” He handed over the documents with a healthy complexion as if he had never been sick. “Here are the reports from the watchers assigned to Sandra Windsor and Allice Windsor.”
“That’s quite thick.”
“They’ve been recording their every move for the past months.”
It had been quite a while since watchers were assigned to watch Allice and Sandra. Allice had been under surveillance since the Moonlight Flower incident, and Sandra had been under surveillance since she returned from the Windsor estate.
It costs an absurd amount of money, but—Judging by the report’s contents, it seemed worth the expense.
“Double the watchers’ salaries. It’s an incentive to work harder. And…” Dana hesitated for a moment before making up her mind and speaking. “Lethe, find yourself a hobby.”
“Pardon?”
“You don’t have a hobby, right? I think you should try to find one. Maybe sports, playing an instrument, or even… watching opera would be good.”
“…”
“Or is there something you want to study more? It might be good to explore that area too.”
Lethe looked at her intently before asking, “Milady.”
“Yes?”
“Are you planning to leave somewhere?”
Dana felt a chill run down her spine for a moment. How did he know? She had always known Lethe was exceptionally perceptive, but she didn’t expect it to be this extent…
“That’s right. Brother Viego assigned me a business trip.” Dana didn’t want to lie to Lethe. However, since it wasn’t the right time to tell the truth yet, she spoke evasively. “So, while I’m away on the trip, try to find a hobby. Understand, Lethe?”
“…”
“You need to answer. Okay?”
When spoken to gently, Lethe nodded.
“Yes, Milady.”
“When I return from the business trip, I’ll check if you’ve looked thoroughly. Got it?”
“Yes, Milady.” He added calmly, “Please do inspect me.”
* * *
What she said to Lethe wasn’t a lie. Viego had indeed entrusted her with a business trip for the first time, requiring her to leave the mansion temporarily.
“They say it’s the largest passenger ship in the world. Isn’t that amazing?”
Her task was to represent the Windsor family at the launch of a passenger ship built by Windsor Shipbuilding.
“I heard the ship is practically like a floating palace.”
Inside the carriage heading to the port, Dana was accompanied by Carl. She quietly observed him as he chattered non-stop.
Dana wasn’t the only one boarding the passenger ship. Carl, Sandra, and even Allice with Raios—their annoying names were all on the passenger list.
Fortunately, those two will disembark at the stopover. Still, she was irritated at the idea of sharing a ship with them for even a few days, especially because of Raios. Just thinking about seeing Raios’s shameless face made her stomach churn. After all, it hadn’t been long since that incident.
After what he did to me, he had the nerve to summon Allice as if nothing happened?
That man was truly disgusting.
Even so, Dana found solace in knowing Sandra and Carl would be on board. She’d have opportunities to drive a wedge between them, even during this business trip.
She would do what her brother instructed, ruin Carl’s marriage, and by the time they returned to the capital, the Holy Trial would be ready.
“Dana,” Carl’s cautious voice interrupted her thoughts. He must have been worried by her lack of response. “Do you have anything on your mind these days?”
“Pardon?”
“You don’t look so good.”
Dana looked at him and then smiled softly. “No, I don’t have any worries.”
“Alright…” Carl mumbled, sounding a bit disappointed, but soon smiled brightly. “If anything comes up, let me know, okay?”
“Yes, I will,” Dana spoke nonchalantly, gazing out the window.
“We’re almost there.”
Outside the window, the sea sparkled under the dazzling sunlight. And just as Carl had said, a ship that looked like a palace was docked at the harbor.
The name of the passenger ship was Daiana. It’s blatant how Windsor is flaunting their affiliation with Protestantism. After all, the world’s largest passenger ship bore the name of the moon god.
* * *
“We’re going to see the former emperor!”
After a long carriage journey, they arrived at the port. While waiting to board, Allice chattered excitedly.
“The former emperor is staying in a port city called Lipton, and it just so happens that Daiana’s route includes a stop there. So we’ll be getting off midway!”
“Uhuh. I see.”
“Isn’t it amazing? The former emperor and the empress dowager are notoriously hard to meet!”
“Yeah. They are.”
“Not just me, but Mom and Dad were invited too!”
“Yeah, that’s really amazing.”
What the. Is she even listening? Allice looked at her maid with dissatisfaction. Miona seemed distracted, barely listening.
What’s wrong with her? I went through all the trouble to get her out of the monastery. Instead of showing gratitude, Miona was acting dismissively. Did she not realize how significant this was?
Allice added more explanation to elicit a stronger reaction. “Miona, did you know? Sister Dana has never once met the former emperor in person!”
Not even once. Raios had never introduced Dana to the former emperor, his father, or the empress dowager, his stepmother, in private. Their encounters had only been brief at public events, and even then, Raios had reportedly gone out of his way to avoid any meetings.
But he’s introducing me to his parents! That must mean Raios was serious about her. So why is Miona’s reaction so lukewarm?
It was then that Allice realized Miona was staring, entranced, at something. In front of the harbor, among the bustling crowd waiting to board, there was a head standing out. A tall man with platinum blond hair and a black coat. That handsome man with a smiling face was…
Dad.
Miona was spying on her dad again.
Allice looked at Miona with a troubled expression. She knew it from the moment Miona asked for her dad’s clothes…
She’s gotten even weirder now.
Ever since returning from the monastery, Miona seemed like she was in a daze. Moreover, the way she looked at Carl now was almost like the hunger of a starving beast.
If Mom catches her like this, she’s dead.
Miona murmured softly, “He really does smile so brightly.”
“Huh?”
“I mean Lord Carl. Especially when he’s talking to Danae. What is it about her that makes him smile like that?”
What kind of nonsense is she talking about?
Even so, Allice couldn’t deny the truth in Miona’s words. Her dad genuinely adored Sister Dana. Whenever he was around her, he seemed to do nothing but smile and laugh endlessly.
Look. Even Mom is angry now.
Her mom, Sandra Windsor, who was standing far away from the other noblewomen, was also watching Carl and Dana with a frozen expression.
Dad seems to like Sister Dana more than me.
Feeling a surge of jealousy, Allice quickly turned her head. Then she noticed something and furrowed her brows.
Huh?
That man pushed through the crowd. It was the same man with his hat pulled down tightly… Just as she rose on her tiptoes to get a better look, the man disappeared into the crowd.
Allice tilted her head in confusion. He seemed familiar, but maybe she was mistaken. Well, there was no way he would be here.
Right. That person is wanted right now, isn’t he?
Ignis de Windsor—there’s no way he’d be boarding the Daiana.
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