The Villainess’ Beloved Plan: The Struggles to Avoid a Doomed End

“Gasur has no history of being employed as a castle gatekeeper.”

Alina said as soon as she arrived.

“Gasur moved to the royal capital about a year and three months ago. Before that, he worked digging hot springs in a small town on the edge of the Dukedom of Levord. Even back then, he was known for being irresponsible and drinking a lot, and after he was fired by the man who employed him, he lived off debts. He moved to the royal capital to find work and to get away from debt collectors.”

Sophia was surprised.

“You did a good job finding out that much…”

“That was easy. Even without employment records, people surprisingly remember things. Just to be sure, there’s still an old man working as the gatekeeper at the castle since Sophia’s mother worked as a maid, and when I asked Gassur if he’d ever been the gatekeeper, he said he had no memory of it. Apparently there’s only been three new gatekeepers in the last twenty years, and all three of them quit when they got older, and as Gassur said, no one left at a young age. The castle gatekeepers are paid well, they say. No one wants to quit. But, here’s where the problem begins.”

Alina lowered her voice, and Sophia and the others straightened up nervously.

In addition to Orion, Sophia’s room also had Isolte, who wanted to be involved in this matter. Isolte couldn’t allow anyone to threaten the lady she served.

“Just recently, just before Gasur showed up in front of Sophia. A suspicious person came to visit him. He was wearing a hooded cloak and looked like he didn’t want anyone to see him. Right? That was obviously suspicious.”

“Yeah, it was suspicious.”

“Indeed, we don’t know yet if it has anything to do with this case, but it’s worth looking into.”

“Right? Apparently, they were having a secret meeting at a place called ‘Crescent Moon’ Inn.”

“The Crescent Moon?”

Sophia’s eyes widened. The Crescent Moon Inn was owned by Theo’s father. Theo had mentioned that Gasur was a regular there and had heard about Sophia there.

Sophia had recently told Alina about her childhood friend Theo’s visit. Alina’s face lit up.

“Oh, how wonderful! Hehe, luck is on our side. Okay? Gassur is probably expecting Sophia to come visit him soon. But Sophia hasn’t been to him yet. And if that hooded suspicious person is also involved in this incident, he’s about to get impatient.”

“Maybe… that suspicious person might come to Gassur to talk about Sophia?”

“You’ve caught on.”

Orion took over, and Alina winked.

“The Crescent Moon is run by the mother of Sophia’s childhood friend, isn’t it? We can’t afford not to use it.”

Alina’s eyes were shining like a child plotting something, and Sophia had a bad feeling and let out a small sigh.

* * *

“…Is Sophia doing something strange?”

Randall had a slight sense of déjà vu, so he asked the servant who had come to report from the Duke’s house.

“Huh…”

The servant was scratching his balding head in a troubled state.

“Don’t tell me she’s playing in the water again?”

Recalling that Sophia had splashed around in the fountain in the past, he asked, but the servant shook his head.

“No, that’s not it… She went out dressed like a town girl.”

“Huh?”

“Orion, Isolte, and Count Legato’s son were with her, so maybe she just went out shopping incognito…”

“That can’t be.”

There was no need to disguise going out to shop in the town. Going out dressed as a town girl… something seemed off.

“So, where did Sophia and the others go?”

“Umm… I think they walked down the eastern main street.”

“Walked? Not in a carriage?”

“Huh…”

This was getting weirder.

“So, you’re obviously sending someone to follow Sophia and the others, right?”

“Yes, of course. Just in case, someone competent.”

Randall thought for a moment and stood up. Even if someone was following Sophia, that person would likely report back after everything was over. The servant said he was a competent man, and Orion was with them as their guard, so Randall could just wait for Sophia and the others to return and question them but…

(… that’s bothering me)

It would be one thing if it was just Sophia and Orion, but the fact that Count Legato’s daughter was with them was bothersome. Alina Legato had apparently become friendly with Sophia at a previous dance party at the castle, and seemed to visit the duke’s house frequently. When their eyes met, she would look at him as if she was trying to gauge his opinion, so Randall had a hard time with Alina.

“You said the eastern main street.”

“Yeah, well.”

Walking towards the city walls on the east main street was where a man named Gasur, who claimed to be Sophia’s father, lived. Randall couldn’t believe it, but had they gone to see that man?

(I told her not to act on her own…!)

Of course, nothing was certain yet, but unable to stand still, Randall left the room, accompanied by his servant.

 

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