Episode 44

I returned to Drenihan and naturally headed towards the left corridor on the third floor, where I saw servants diligently moving my belongings in the distance.

“……?”

“Have you returned, my lady? That’s the last of your luggage; we’ll be done soon.”

It was the chamberlain, who had approached silently from behind and was now speaking with a smile.

“By the Duke’s orders, your residence has been changed. You’ll now be staying on the second floor, not the third.”

Ah, right. I remembered something I had momentarily forgotten.

Following the chamberlain’s guidance, I went to the room located right next to the central staircase on the second floor.

It was immediately visible when coming up the hall’s staircase.

Most of my belongings were already organized in the room….

“It’s really spacious.”

Not only spacious but also the most beautiful room I had ever seen.

It wasn’t just luxurious; it had a sense of restrained elegance.

“This room hasn’t had a new owner since over 50 years ago when the head of the household used it during his time as the heir.”

This room was reserved for the most favored offspring, who had a high likelihood of being selected as the heir.

In other words, this room had been used by the heirs of Drenihan throughout history.

The servants finished organizing the last of my belongings, bowed, and left the room.

The room was impeccably clean, likely cleaned since the morning.

It wasn’t modern but rather old-fashioned. However, it wasn’t at all outdated; instead, it had a remarkably antique charm.

One glance was enough to see that this room had a long history.

The furniture, like the sofa and bed, seemed to be newly brought in.

I plopped down on the sofa and gazed out the window, which had already darkened outside.

One entire wall was made of glass, making the room look even more spacious.

‘Now that I think about it, the Orzen family was driven out after losing the succession race. If Father becomes the Duke soon….’

Who would be the next heir then?

That was what people were worried about.

After losing his wife, Serkhan Drenihan had remained celibate and was unlikely to remarry and have more children. The only child he had was a terminally ill daughter, so there was concern that the ducal line might end.

If worst comes to worst, they might call Orzen back, but Grandfather had firmly declared that Orzen could never inherit.

‘To make a point, he even gave me this heir’s room.’

If I managed to cure my illness and regain my health, I might really become Father’s successor.

Sitting idly in a room where numerous young dukes had stayed gave me a strange feeling.

After spacing out for a while, I eventually took out some stationery and started writing a letter to Arzen.

The quality of the paper and the smoothness of the quill were both superb.

The words flowed effortlessly.

[Hello, Arzen. Have you gotten used to life at the Imperial Magic Department yet?]

After a brief greeting, I wrote that I was in good health, hoping to alleviate any lingering worries he might have.

[The reason I’m writing is that there is a colleague who will be going to the Karsian Grand Duchy on a business trip. I’d like you to relay this information.]

I detailed Rachel’s illness, the frequency of her anemia, and the onset of her symptoms as best as I knew.

Even this much information could be helpful in treating her condition.

[I’ll visit you again soon. Take care, my friend.]

I sealed the letter and asked a servant outside to send it to the Imperial Magic Department.

Then I re-entered the room, greeting Desar, who was still standing guard at the door.

“Have a peaceful night.”

“Yes, you too, Desar.”

With a click, the door closed, and I trudged over to the bed and collapsed onto it.

It had been a long day with many things happening.

***

Given the significant upheavals in the empire’s political situation, people sought out the Imperial Gazette as soon as they woke up.

The Lioneur family, which published and distributed the Imperial Gazette, was making unprecedented profits.

Today was no exception.

The impact of the Drenihan family solidifying its successor was still reverberating from yesterday.

[Karsian Elders Council, massive embezzlement revealed….]

[Alfonso Karsian, Chairman of the Elders Council. The amount embezzled over 30 years is….]

[The Imperial Family announces an exhaustive investigation.]

I woke up feeling refreshed in my new room, sipping the tea Nella brought me while leisurely reading the Imperial Gazette.

It seemed a lot had happened overnight.

The front page of the Imperial Gazette featured some of the account books Ludwig and I had found yesterday.

The embezzled amounts that had nearly made my eyes pop out were there in black and white.

As expected, they seemed to be exposing this to the media in the most provocative way possible to prevent any behind-the-scenes dealings between the Imperial Family and the Elders Council.

This meant the Elders Council could no longer avoid investigation and punishment.

Additionally, it was reported that some estate residents had received abnormal subsidies.

The identities of the so-called instigators were exposed.

People tend to be more furious about benefits they didn’t receive.

If the recognition vote for the new Grand Duke among the Karsian estate residents were recounted, it would undoubtedly yield a different result than last time.

[The Young Master Ludwig Karsian is expected to hold a succession ceremony soon and become the Grand Duke.]

The article concluded.

‘Once this complicated situation is resolved, he will immediately receive the succession. When that happens….’

He would become the Grand Duke of Karsian, wielding immense power.

There would be no interference from the Elders Council.

The Grand Duke of Karsian would gain control over several organizations under the Grand Duchy, one of which was the empire’s largest information guild, ‘Queensbury.’

Queensbury was renowned for its extraordinary information network, rumored to explore every dark corner of the empire. Most importantly….

‘They only take orders from the Grand Duke of Karsian.’

Despite being the top information guild in the empire, Queensbury was not large. Consisting of only about six members, they were like dogs running solely for the Grand Duke of Karsian.

And I needed their information network.

To find the genius doctor who vanished from the world years ago.

‘To cure this damned illness.’

I sighed shallowly and wrapped my slightly aching arm, then closed my eyes.

* * *

“This is Douglas Castle.”

The Orzen family, having been expelled from the Drenihan Ducal Castle, traveled by carriage overnight to arrive at the Douglas estate.

Now a mere Viscount of Douglas, Orzen looked up at the splendid, yet far inferior castle compared to Drenihan, with indifferent eyes.

“Douglas is a prosperous estate, often referred to as the granary of the south. It’s a peaceful place year-round, with expansive mountains behind and a refreshing sea in front, free from outside invasions,”

Alex, the aide sent by Thergon Drenihan, introduced the estate and briefed the Orzen family on the internal features of the castle.

Professional managers had already been assigned to oversee the estate’s management.

They couldn’t burden the innocent residents of the estate with the nuisance that was Orzen.

Orzen was to live a life content as a titular viscount, nothing more.

Initially, Orzen had been extremely outraged by this reality, but the more he thought about it, the less terrible it seemed.

Being expelled from the family was undoubtedly humiliating, but now he didn’t have to worry about anyone’s opinion, and wealth flowed naturally from the prosperous estate.

If before he was obsessed with the title of duke, leveraging his influential in-laws, the Marquis of Crea, now he found himself oddly content with the simplicity of his new situation.

‘Here, I am the king. No old man to nag at me if I come home drunk, no need to be cautious at the gambling house. All the money from the estate goes straight into my pocket.’

This thought brought a smirk to his face.

Seeing this, Alex made sure to deliver his master’s warning clearly.

“The Duke has stated that if you, Lord Orzen, cause any trouble in the Douglas estate, your title will be revoked immediately.”

“Ha, the Duke worries too much. Doesn’t he know his son at all, tsk.”

Alex held back from saying that it was precisely because he knew him so well.

Beth, trailing behind the ever-complacent Orzen, clenched her fists so tightly her palms bled.

‘A rotten lifeline indeed. I’ve heard much about him, but to see him this worthless in person…’

Stopping as the others walked away, she approached a window and gazed out over the vast estate.

Douglas was rich but geographically isolated.

An ideal place for a wealthy idler, but just another rural estate.

Far removed from political power.

Orzen seemed indifferent, and even Calik had already gone out to see if there were any nearby gambling dens.

Beth covered her face with her hands.

“Sierra… Drenihan! I will never forgive you….”

With a voice full of anguish, she spat out the name of her sworn enemy.