Episode 66

It happened over 30 years ago, but since it was an event that shook the Empire to its core, I knew about it as well.

The only direct descendant and heir of the Chetwind family, Lady Isabella, disappeared overnight.

She had always enjoyed going into town dressed as a commoner, but one day, she never returned home.

Because the Chetwind family commanded immense respect from the people of the Empire by their very existence, even the imperial family got involved in the search for Lady Isabella. But…

“They eventually ended the investigation on the 10th anniversary, having found nothing.”

It was such a massive investigation that it could be said they searched every corner of the Empire.

Some had already taken it as a fact that Lady Isabella was dead.

Though the count’s family tried to hush it up, everyone believed it.

I had heard that the closest relative from a cadet branch had been named as the heir to restore stability, but the reality was different.

I looked at Catherine as I thought.

“To her, Lady Isabella wasn’t just the sole heir of the Chetwind family. She was simply her beloved daughter.”

Countess Catherine of Chetwind was in a fragile mental state, having been overwhelmed by the loss of her daughter.

The knights around her seemed aware of this, their expressions caught between laughter and tears.

As I watched them, my eyes met with a knight named Hins.

“Come to think of it… who might you be?”

Hins asked, turning toward Catherine.

“She’s a benefactor, a benefactor. She helped me when some ruffian tried to threaten me,” Catherine replied.

“A ruffian…? Who would dare threaten the Countess of Chetwind?”

“Wasn’t it Baron Janaid? A young man with a particularly sharp temperament, yes,” Catherine answered casually.

At her words, Hins fumed with anger and ordered the surrounding knights.

“Arrest that scoundrel immediately!”

“Yes, sir!”

Watching the knights scatter in perfect formation, I thought of the men who had fled in haste a short while ago.

What unlucky fools. To have crossed paths with the Countess of Chetwind, of all people.

Of course, Catherine, like me, was dressed as a commoner, so it wasn’t strange they hadn’t recognized her.

As I pondered this, Catherine approached and took my hand.

“You had promised to accompany me to the florist, but it seems my child has returned home ahead of us.”

She spoke with a wistful expression.

“…”

It was a dream that would shatter once she returned to the manor.

But for now, I decided to indulge her sweet delusion.

“You’re right. It’s a relief your daughter has come home.”

I smiled as I spoke to her.

“Oh, by the way, why don’t you come to the Chetwind estate for dinner this evening? You’ve helped me so much, and I’d love to repay you with a meal.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I already have plans for tonight.”

I recalled the night festival I was supposed to attend with Ludwig.

Yet, she didn’t give up.

“Then, tomorrow works too! Ah, come to think of it, since you’re the young lady of Drenihan, will you be returning to the capital?”

“…Well, tomorrow would be fine.”

After all, I planned to stay in the South for another four days.

Without realizing it, I had accepted, unable to resist the hopeful look in Catherine’s eyes.

Catherine was overjoyed by my response, nodding enthusiastically.

“Great! Then, I’ll look forward to tomorrow.”

With that, Catherine said she would send a carriage to where I was staying and then left.

I stood there, watching her walk away until she disappeared from sight, and then I asked Eve, “How did you know right after hearing her name?”

Catherine had revealed her name, and Eve had immediately caught on.

“I’ve heard about her. The Countess of Chetwind occasionally suffers from delusions and sneaks out of the manor to search for her missing daughter,” Eve said with a note of sympathy.

“The same name, searching for her lost daughter—it was impossible not to connect the dots. Of course, the count’s family tries to manage the situation and keep it from leaking out, so not many know about it.”

I looked down at the ice cream that had fallen to the ground and melted.

If Lady Isabella were alive, she would be middle-aged by now, yet in Catherine’s memory, she was still just a child.

Why did I feel the pain of her loss so deeply, even though this was our first meeting?

“Let’s head out now, Eve.”

“But don’t we still have time before your appointment with the Grand Duke?”

“Before that, I wanted to stop by and check on Robert.”

“Our Queensbury informants are already keeping an eye on him. There’s no need to worry.”

But that was exactly what worried me.

The Robert I saw yesterday was extremely wary of nobles.

I was concerned that there might have been some friction with Queensbury, and I also needed to check if there were any problems with the medicine manufacturing process.

Thanks to the enormous funds I had provided, he had acquired the necessary ingredients, but producing enough to distribute to the entire East District was no easy feat.

He only had five assistants and Robert himself.

If the work was progressing too slowly, I would have to assign more helpers.

Hiding my inner thoughts, I said, “I just feel better seeing things with my own eyes.”

“As you wish, my lady.”

And so, I boarded the carriage with Eve, heading toward the East District, adjacent to the Flora region.

Once we crossed from Flora, under Chetwind’s control, into the East District, which was under Navon City’s jurisdiction, a bleak, almost monochromatic scene of desolation unfolded before us.

The coachman halted the carriage at the entrance to an alley that marked the beginning of the East District.

“You’ll have to get out here,” the coachman said.

I leaned out the window and spoke to him, “We need to go further into the alley.”

“I don’t enter the East District.”

“Why not?”

“The place has a reputation for being a plague-infested slum. Not just coachmen, but everyone avoids it.”

He gazed at the entrance to the East District as though staring into an unknown world and refused to move even a step further.

“What should we do, my lady? I could purchase this carriage and drive it myself,” Eve suggested.

“Do you even have a coachman’s license?”

“Of course.”

Her overly confident response left me startled.

Is there anything this person can’t do?

“No, it’s fine. Let’s just walk from here.”

In the end, Eve and I decided to get out and walk to Robert’s house.

As we entered the alley, the coachman called after us from behind.

“Be careful, my ladies! They say if outsiders enter, the poor folk will rob you of your valuables, and murders happen frequently here.”

He had no idea that Eve was one of the top knights in the Empire.

To him, we were probably just two curious young women exploring the infamous East District.

In fact, the eerie alleys of the East District were well-known for being a popular destination for those seeking thrills.

The coachman watched us with a worried expression until we disappeared from view, then left with his carriage.

The alleys all looked so similar that anyone unfamiliar with them could get lost wandering for hours.

“This way, my lady. We’re taking the shortest route, so we’ll arrive at Robert’s residence in approximately 23 minutes.”

Fortunately, I had a human navigation system by my side.

“Did you memorize the map of the East District?”

“When I did my preliminary survey, I memorized the routes. Ah, turn right here.”

What exactly is Queensbury?

I’d heard that it was an elite group led by the genius Raven Fidelus, but to this extent…

It was at that moment, as I was turning into the alley, that I heard a sharp voice.

“Move aside!”

“Huh?”

Someone from the opposite side of the alley was charging straight at me.

Thud!

I was pushed so hard that I lost my balance, flailing my arms as I fell.

“Wha-?”

Before Eve had a chance to reach out, I had already hit the ground.

“Are you alright, my lady?”

Eve quickly rushed to help me up.

“I’m fine, but more importantly…”

I looked dazedly at the girl who had shoved me aside.

She was already running far ahead.

‘Just now…’

I couldn’t finish my thought, still stunned by the face I had seen for a split second.

‘Was I mistaken?’

Just as I was thinking that, the girl glanced back at me, and our eyes met once again.

In that moment, her ocean-blue eyes clashed with mine.

I slowly widened my eyes in realization.

The girl looked exactly like Arzen.

There was only one person in the world who could resemble Arzen that much.

Arzen’s twin sister and the true protagonist of this world.

I trembled as I opened my mouth.

“J-Jenna…?”