Edited

15. Plan C has formed.

“Oh, has the Duke finally started his marriage business? He seems to be eyeing every woman in this castle,” a stranger’s voice was heard from behind. The hand holding the key bundle trembled.

The sound of keys clanging against each other echoed through the quiet hallway.

She tightly clenched the key bundle with both hands.

She tried to suppress her pounding heart and took a deep breath.

Thank goodness. It’s not the Duke.

It was too dark to see the stranger’s face clearly.

“I heard there were no guests before me. It seems like you belong from here, my lady. When I tried to approach the ladies before, they all refused me… Did you like this type of man?” He lifted the tip of her red hair with his finger. She roughly slapped his hand away.

“Don’t touch my hair without permission.

“I’m glad you didn’t grab my wrist. It seems like I have to put handcuffs on you, but you’re just watching me, aren’t you?”

She bit her lip.

She had been caught already. She hadn’t even found out what kind of key it was yet!

Despite knowing that he was a nobleman, his casual attitude towards her seemed like he was of high status.

It gave her a headache.

“Why did you come out here, Young Lady?”

“For the same reason as you? Are you here for a secret meeting, or to secretly steal something? It’s either one of those reasons, isn’t it? Which one are you?”

He grabbed her hand.

He wrapped his fingers around her hand and traced her palm with his fingers persistently.

“I should have resisted, but my body froze, and I couldn’t move.

A cold gaze swept over my face.

“Speak. Why did you open the Duke’s door in the middle of the night?”

I swallowed my dry saliva.

Talking to him alone in a dark space made me feel like I had been exposed to the world.

“Fi, first.”

“First?”

“It was just a normal secret meeting.”

I was trembling without even realizing it.

It was a relief that I had brought the lighter with me and had come out of that tense moment. If the light had been on, my shocked expression would have been revealed.

“Is there such a thing as normalcy in secret meetings? And dressed like that?”

I looked down at my clothes. I was wearing a white nightgown with a small pouch, looking like someone who had sneakily stolen something.

“Then… which side are you on, Young lady?”

I quickly turned the conversation around.

“Me… of course.”

She pondered, then continued.

“Both.”

“Yes?”

I was trying to play with words

I could feel him laughing in the dark.

“If you wander around aimlessly, you might end up having an affair with someone and steal his heart, you know?”

He laughed dryly.

As he whispered softly, he took a step closer.

He strode into a well-lit place. He raised his head while looking down at the keys in my hand.

His shining brown hair was reflected in the candlelight and rippled down the hallway. There was a deep shadow under his distinct eyes.

He was an unusually handsome man, or rather, he was closer to a beautiful woman.

I believed his words as if they were true for a moment, even though it was just a joke.

His white face, which suited his brownish hair, caught my eye.

He took a step closer.

His eyes seemed to penetrate everything.

“I was looking for it. Just, because I dropped something earlier.”

He still seemed suspicious.

“You searched for it yourself instead of asking a servant to do it? It must be a very important item. Or maybe something that shouldn’t be found if caught.

“…. It seems like you’ve been misunderstanding me since earlier. I work for the Duke’s household. I’m not an outsider. It’s not strange to walk around at midnight.”

“Oh really? What department are you in?”

“I work in the Duke’s secretariat.”

I showed him my identification badge that was in my pocket.

Fortunately, I kept my badge.

The man who was examining my badge returned it to me.

“It seems like stealing is also included in the secretariat’s job these days. Is it hard to survive on the Duke’s salary? The welfare system must be a mess. How about transferring to my fiefdom?”

He seemed to think that I was stealing.

Of course, I was stealing, but I let out a small sigh. I had to get away with it before things got worse.

“Where… is it?”

“The Marquis of Caeon. Oh, by the way, it’s in the capital. There are so many things to enjoy that it can’t be compared to this northern part.”

“That’s really good information.”

Unfortunately, I cannot change jobs. I’m imprisoned under contract.

“My secret meeting partner is waiting for me. I should go now.”

The marquis called out to me as I quickly turned around.

“I’m actually the second.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, the second I came to steal.”

He came to steal? Why is he so confident about it?

He approached slowly and raised the lantern I had.

The corridor became brighter.

“Since you are a family member of the duchy, you may already know.”

“What do you mean?”

I heard a legendary story once. Among the ancestors of Empress Dowager, there was a rare chance that someone with demon blood would be born because of the mixed bloodline. If someone with that constitution eats the right herb, they can wield immense power.”

I took a deep breath.

He was telling my story, albeit with some differences. How did he know?

“I traveled around the country looking for that herb before the duke. But I couldn’t find it. However, I felt it during the recent war. There must be medicine for that tireless stamina. You’ve already found it, haven’t you…?”

“I, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just a lowly employee. I don’t understand what you mean…”

“Well. I think you know.”

He took one step closer.

Although he only came closer, an irresistible pressure was felt.

“It’s better, to tell the truth. If you lie even a bit, I’ll go straight to the Duke.”

His words made me freeze up even more.

“I don’t know what Young Lady is looking for, but… I’ll keep what you tried to steal a secret. I won’t tell anyone above me… Instead, help me. If you find that medicine in the castle, I’ll give you whatever the Young lady wants. How about it?”

“Do you know what I would ask for?”

“Just say anything. I have more wealth than the Young lady thinks.”

So, the Marquis Caeon knew that blood could be turned into medicine.

The medicine was made from herbs.

It was understandable that he didn’t know. Leonie’s blood was strictly kept a secret.

“Are you asking me to become a spy?

“If we win, the Young Lady won’t be a spy. She’ll be a legitimate whistleblower. She might even become a revolutionary. As someone who exposed the Duke’s corruption.”

Although I didn’t get to open the warehouse, couldn’t I escape using this person?

If I could use this opportunity to my advantage…

It seemed like Plan C was forming.

I nodded my head.

“Okay.”

“My room is on the second floor.

He took out a key from his pocket and handed it over. The golden key was excessively flashy.

It was the key to a room for high-ranking nobles staying at the party.

“On the night of the party at 9 p.m., come to report the information you’ve found.”

***

On the day before the Duke’s birthday, a small party was held in the hall.

Although it was called a small party, it was a gathering of almost all attendees to promote friendship.

Suren tilted my head. Her eyebrows twitched slightly and then relaxed.

In the mirror, the tired face of a woman with pearl jewelry was shining.

Suren tapped powder on my forehead.

A brilliant sparkle settled down.

“If you sprinkle glitter on your hair, it’s hard to wash. It even sticks to your pillow.”

“I can’t help it. It’s the trend here in the capital.”

“I passed by the hallway, but I haven’t seen anyone else like you.”

“Looks like only those who are behind the trend have come.”

It had already been two hours.

I thought that as more external guests arrived, there would be fewer people to notice if I went out to pick up some tree branches, but the plan had gone completely awry.

I stretched. After sitting in a chair for two hours, my whole body was stiff.

“It’s such a hassle. Do we really have to dress up?”

“Well-known nobles will be gathered, so you should make an effort.”

“Why do we have to go that far? What does it matter if I look plain?”

“All of the high-ranking nobles are said to be wealthy. They must have come wearing the latest dresses in vogue in the capital. Would it be okay to show up in a shabby look? And you, Lady Leonie, are almost like the representative of the Duke’s household! It would be nice if you could even decorate yourself with flowers. It’s a shame that the Duke’s household doesn’t have any flowers.”

She let down the hem of her dress. The pale pink fabric flowed softly down her legs.

“The dress is so beautiful. I’m glad it fit in advance.”

“Yeah.”

In Leoni’s luggage, there was only a shabby dress that I hesitated to take out.

Maybe this wasn’t even the dress she wore to the previous party.

No, did she even attend the party?

“And who knows? Maybe your destiny will show up, lady! Catch a good young man at this opportunity. I heard from the maids at the restaurant that the list of attendees is better than most imperial-sponsored events. Even if you just randomly pick someone, they’re all of decent status.”

For some reason, Suren seemed more excited than me.

“But Suren, even if I catch someone, can I get married? I’m stuck here, living like a prisoner.”

“Well, that’s true, but…who knows? If the Duke becomes Emperor, he might release you!”

So…the Duke will never let me go? I don’t have time to waste looking for a good man while trying to escape with all my strength, saving my energy, and running away.

And anyway, I was planning to wander around, obviously searching for a spy report to give to the Marquis, instead of finding a decent fiancé in the hall.