“Lady Sophia is looking for you.”
Vivian relayed apologetically.
Edith, who was reading a book she had brought from the library, followed Vivian out of the room and noticed something strange.
“There seem to be many unfamiliar servants.”
“You have a keen eye as well. They’re temporary servants since the guests will be staying at the manor for a few days.”
The temporarily hired servants, brought in to accommodate the guests, were busily inspecting every corner to familiarize themselves with the manor’s layout.
Edith pondered as she watched them.
『 So Sophia’s intense focus on the event might be a trick to hide her embezzlement.』
When nobles usually hired servants, it was common sense to thoroughly read recommendation letters and verify their experience.
Hiring someone of uncertain status carelessly could lead to trouble if they were involved in an assassination, for instance.
However, the owner of Karkus Trading Company is visiting today. He must have received the bill for the manor maintenance sent by Sophia, so she likely hired additional people temporarily to hide the fact that the number of servants was fabricated.
“Please come in, Edith.”
Sophia greeted her, unaware of the assumptions Edith was making internally.
Edith was dressed more glamorous than usual today. Sophia was relieved that Vivian was following her instructions well.
“Since the guests are coming today, we should pay special attention to our appearances. When there are a lot of people, just keep your mouth shut and leave.”
“…”
Sophia’s suggestion couldn’t have pleased Edith, who spends most of her time locked in her room. Even more on a day like today.
“But the merchants will find it suspicious if the woman introduced as the Viscount’s fourth wife does not appear at the dinner.”
“It’s not like I’m telling you not to show up at all. Show up, show your face, act like you’re not feeling well, and then leave.”
As Sophia spoke, her eyes lit up as if she had remembered something.
“Ah, I’ve had a good idea. How about pretending to feel so nauseated and pale that you’re about to vomit? As if you’re pregnant.”
“…”
Sophia stared at Edith’s stomach, who remained silent. The Viscount’s life was coming to an end, but that damned belly was still flat. Impatience, irritation, and frustration welled up within her.
“According to the original plan, you should have been pregnant by now… Are you infertile?”
Edith wanted to medically refute Sophia, who was randomly declaring her infertile, but she refrained.
“It hasn’t even been two weeks since I came here. You know better than anyone that I’m making an effort.”
“I didn’t mean to imply that I don’t recognize your efforts, Edith.”
Sophia spoke formally, recalling Vivian’s report.
⋙“I was treated so unfairly that I tore out my hair in frustration until I fell asleep. It was so frightening that I’m afraid resentment might linger just by looking at her.”⋘
Unbeknownst to Sophia, Vivian was actually conveying Edith’s message.
『 If the woman I’ve managed to catch turns out to be infertile and can’t get pregnant despite all the effort I’ve put in, then…』
Sophia tapped the table lightly with her fingertips before speaking.
“Anyway, you should behave as if you’re pregnant. No horseback riding, of course, and no running around. Don’t even drink alcohol, and during dinner, act as if you have an upset stomach.”
“…”
Edith truly felt disgusted towards Sophia for treating her as an animal rather than a human being. She despised Sophia as one human being to another.
However, the fact that Sophia was holding her on a leash remained unchanged.
Given the uncertainty of how much longer this barbaric confinement would continue, it was better for Edith to pretend to cooperate with Sophia for now.
“I understand. I’ll do as you say, Sophia.”
Seeing Edith’s obedient response, Sophia let out a relieved sigh.
“Alright. Don’t forget that instead of fighting, it’s much better to stick to your work and take care of what you can.”
──────────✿◦•
While Sophia was devising a plan to deceive everyone using Edith, Isabelle was busy walking around the hall.
“Long time no see, father.”
With her usual cheerful voice and smile, she greeted Victor. However, Victor could easily discern his daughter’s true feelings.
“Isabelle… You seem a bit pale. Are you alright?”
“…”
“Come here.”
Victor led Isabelle to his assigned room, then instructed his secretary to stand guard outside. He sighed heavily and began to speak.
“It looks like the Viscount is in very bad condition. Sophia only informed the others that the Viscount had fainted in a carriage accident.”
“Actually… It’s much worse.”
“What?”
“If his condition weren’t that serious, there’s no reason for the treatment to be prolonged. Besides, whenever I ask about the Viscount’s condition, Sophia’s personal doctor always comes out first and answers. I wonder if they’re trying to prevent other doctors from talking to me.”
“…”
As Victor gently comforted his daughter, who feared for the Viscount, he thought to himself.
It was understandable that Sophia hadn’t accurately disclosed the Viscount’s condition to the outside world.
『 She probably thought that Fortrion needs to show that it can thrive even without the Viscount.』
In fact, if people found out that the Viscount was dying without leaving an heir, there would be many who would run to Fortrion Manor, drooling.
T/N: This means they saw an opportunity, a chance to steal the successor’s position. It’s like a wild animal rushing to hunt weak prey that is so eager to eat that it runs towards its prey drooling.
Nicholas Fortrion was a man who made ridiculous promises while drunk, and he had borrowed a considerable amount of money from acquaintances due to his alcohol and gambling habits.
『 Since everyone knows that Nicholas has no heir… They’ll probably go wild, trying to reclaim their money before House Fortrion falls.』
However, Victor could not sit still when he learned that the Viscount’s condition was worse than he had thought and that the First Lady seemed to keep that fact a secret.
“Isabelle, listen carefully.”
“Yes, Father.”
“If your husband, Nicholas Fortrion, dies… If he loved you just like he did his other wives, I hope he will fairly divide what he has built so far.”
To avoid hurting his sensitive and delicate daughter, Victor refrained from using terms like ‘inheritance’ or ‘estate distribution.’
“… Father, I’m not a three-year-old child. You don’t have to phrase it that way.”
“Well, okay then. It’s good that you understood. Anyway, the Viscount will want you to receive at least as much as the other wives when you leave this manor.”
Isabelle paused for a moment while listening to her father’s words.
“Leave here?”
“Isabelle, think carefully. The Viscount has no heirs and four wives. There are no cousins to continue the lineage, and soon, ruthless people will come like wolves to sell this manor to reclaim the money they lent to the Viscount.”
“Did the Viscount borrow that much money?”
“Remember that incompetent people who associate with alcohol and gambling usually leave behind nothing but debts.”
“…”
“Anyway, even if you don’t want to, you will have to leave the manor. I’m thinking about your future.”
Isabelle had never once considered the idea of leaving Fortrion Manor.
Since becoming Viscount Fortrion’s wife, it was also her duty to manage the estate and handle the affairs of the territory, but Sophia had been representing her in those matters.
『 But if the Viscount dies, can I leave the manor?』
Isabelle suddenly imagined herself leaving the estate and heading to the capital. Standing on a grand stage, singing, and receiving applause from the audience…
Suddenly, she recalled the note from Edith that the pigeon had brought her earlier that morning.
╭══════
If I had a voice like yours, I would seek out the stage on my own.
It’s a shame to confine your voice to the manor, Isabelle.
══════╯
Initially, when she read the note, she thought it was just praise for her singing. But upon hearing her father’s words, she realized that Edith might have foreseen a situation where the wives would have to leave Fortrion Estate.
『 She hasn’t even been in this manor for half a month, yet she might have seen the situation further ahead than I did?』
Interest flickered in Isabelle’s eyes.
──────────✿◦•
As dinner time approached, all the servants became busy: guiding the guests, attending to their needs, and preparing for dinner; everyone was in a frenzy.
Cassius chuckled as he watched the servants rushing around as if their feet were on fire.
“Lady Sophia would scold us if she saw us like this. The guests are arriving, and yet we’re running around instead of helping.”
“Will Sophia find us and go crazy?”
“Well, even if she calls us, we have important matters to attend to, so we have to refuse.”
Cassius’ determination was reinforced by his own words.
Although Walter is unable to escape the manor due to the imprisonment spell, they will soon witness achievements that will transcend borders.
“Walter, you better appreciate my hard work. It was quite a challenge to bribe the merchants who were invited by the Fortrion, and to arrange for ‘that person’ to sneak in.”
“I know you’ve worked hard.”
When Walter plainly acknowledged it, Cassius’ nose twitched in annoyance.
“Why are you answering my nonsense?”
“…”
“It seems people can change when they’re facing big things ahead of them.”
Walter changed the subject by taking a few steps forward.
As they walked a bit further, they reached the warehouse in question. Walter knew what Sophia had instructed to be hidden here – in the old, unused warehouse that nobody paid attention to.
Squeak—
As he opened the door, a carriage came into view. It was the carriage related to the incident where the Viscount kidnapped Edith and subsequently got attacked.
Cassius asked as he lit a lamp he had brought.
“Walter, why do you want to investigate the carriage all of a sudden?”
“I was curious about who attacked the Viscount and whether anything was left behind.”
Walter took the lamp Cassius held out and began examining every nook and cranny of the carriage.
When Cassius said he was looking for ‘things’, he could guess why he had come all the way here.
“Alright. Whether it’s something the Viscount brought, an animal, a plant, whatever’s related to your memories… let’s burn it all.”
“…”
“That’s what the Viscount said before. If you do that, your lost memories will come back.”
Walter did not deny Cassius’ words.
❀.°• ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ •°.❀
I really hope it’s the necklace, not Edith.