“Here is a magic stone. I have put small ones so you can carry them around.”
“Why do I need this…?”
“Just in case. To be prepared for any unforeseen situations, it might be better for the Viscount to carry a magic stone as well.”
Come to think of it, Karl had mentioned that the magic stone he gave when I was attacked and fell at Kelber Square was a great help. It seemed like he wanted to give me one as well.
“Thank you.”
“Oh, and there’s one more.”
“Yes?”
“To use the magic stone, you also need to know the appropriate incantation, don’t you?”
Come to think of it, that was true. When I purchased the magic stones from the black market before leaving for Urentum in case of any unforeseen events, I heard from the seller that you need to chant the appropriate spell to use the magic stones.
“Try it, Lemetior.”
“Leme…tior.”
“Yes. You must remember. Lemetior.”
“Yes.”
Lemetior, Lemetior. Muttering it several times in my mind to not forget.
“You must remember to chant the spell to activate the healing magic after placing the magic stone on the bare skin of the person you want to heal.”
I nodded. Placing the magic stone on the skin and saying Lemetior triggers the healing magic. It was valuable information not to be forgotten.
“As soon as everything is ready, we will depart.”
Karl, who was instructing the knights on various matters, approached and said.
Leaving for the capital to raise the covenant ceremony. Everything was moving too fast and chaotic. Suddenly, I felt scared.
“Don’t worry. I will be with you all the way.”
“But is it okay for you to suddenly leave your position empty like this? You mentioned that there are many tasks you have undertaken in the capital city.”
He explained that he resides in the capital with his Grand Chancellor because there are many matters that need to be handled in the capital city per the late emperor’s decree. However, leaving the capital city abruptly made her worry.
“It’s fine. I’m going on a business trip to investigate the cases I’ve been assigned. Just like when I went to Urentum last time.”
As Karl spoke, he smirked. The smile he showed at the last moment of the vow and his current laughter overlapped. Her cheeks grew warm.
Before long, the procession was ready. Even though she had packed lightly, it seemed insufficient for an escape matrix designed for hiding. The gaze of Bernabo, the chief steward of the Grand Duke, scrutinizing the luggage prepared by the attendants was sharp.
Many items were rejected under his scrutiny. The amount of luggage that could be carried on the carriage was truly limited.
Despite worrying about having packed so lightly, with Karl’s reassurance to trust him, her mind surprisingly relaxed.
“Goodbye.”
Leev, holding her suitcase, approached.
Leev had also suffered quite a bit on that chaotic day. She couldn’t sleep well, and even when she managed to fall asleep, she woke up immediately, alert.
It would have been strange if people suddenly appeared in droves to abduct her if she were in perfect condition. Leev made a great effort to comfort Valerie.
Cecil blamed himself incessantly for almost losing Miss Valerie due to his carelessness. Despite telling him not to blame himself, he felt like she could not convince herself that she was not at fault.
Margaret and Mueller, who had to guard the mansion, were left behind, while Leev, Hannah, Kendrick, Cecil, totaling four people, set off together. It was unknown when they would return. Still, she hoped they would come back soon as she boarded the carriage.
***
Returning after receiving a mission from Karl to organize the duties of the imperial investigation team, Clovis searched the chaotic mansion. He was planning to leave with Karl and head to the Duke Otto.
Counting in his head how many servants were moving in the Count’s house and how many knights were moving in the Duke’s, Clovis noticed a servant who seemed strangely familiar to him.
“That maid…”
Where had he seen her before? Her figure from the back looked familiar. The maid was busily loading Celeste’s clothes into the carriage.
Surely, where had he seen her before, where was it? Clovis, who rarely forgot a face once seen, busily rummaged through his memories.
After a while of standing there, Clovis finally recalled where he had seen the maid.
“Ah, she’s the maid I saw at the Count’s that time.”
She was the chambermaid of Count Louisette who hurriedly left the house late at night. Remembering how freely the servants could come and go even at this late hour at the Count’s house, Clovis also recalled how amazed he was.
***
A loud crash.
Dishes spilled and shattered, fragments flying everywhere. The one throwing objects in frustration was none other than Marina.
Though she couldn’t muster the strength to throw things recklessly, she screamed in anger as if possessed.
“Like incompetent fools!”
Her plan to bring Karl’s child as a new sacrifice for dark magic had failed.
“Because of that child, because, incompetent fools, I have to create chaos!”
“I’m sorry, Marina.”
Isaac bowed deeply. He had nothing to say, even if he had a dozen mouths.
Marina’s order to bring only that child in exchange for any support remained unfulfilled.
When Isaac first made a connection with a maid working in the Earl’s residence, he thought it would be easy to steal the Earl’s child. But the Earl remained elusive.
Through the chambermaid’s constant surveillance, Isaac learned that after honoring the Emperor, the Earl would attend the square festival. Isaac quickly devised a plan.
Using spies planted in the capital, Isaac would follow the Earl, slip in hundreds of people at the right moment to divert attention, strike the Earl, and kidnap the child while everyone’s focus was on the Earl.
It was a simple yet effective plan. As long as no mistakes were made, Isaac believed he could easily retrieve the child and escape.
However, the spies, who he expected to have brought the child back, delivered unexpected news. The plan had failed, and one of them was even arrested by the Earl’s guards.
Upon hearing the news, Isaac was enraged. He had boasted to Marina that he would bring the Duke Albrecht’s child, and now he would have to repay her with precious jewels he had received as payment.
These stupid fools. Taking money and not even being able to handle one task properly. Anger brewed inside him.
“Please give me one more chance. I won’t fail this time, Marina.”
“Just one more chance?”
Marina panted heavily.
Given her physical state, even expressing anger was not easy for her. But having succumbed to her emotions and throwing objects, she would be in excruciating pain.
Realizing she could no longer muster anger due to exhaustion, Isaac began to persuade Marina.
I have a new plan, so don’t despair too much. Even if we failed this time, succeeding next time and bringing the child back will eventually make the plan successful, right? We’ve endured for years to seize this opportunity, so would a few more days of waiting really cause more harm? With such persuasion, Isaac continued to convince Marina.
They say it’s hard to make rational decisions when the body is worn out. Marina, who would have cut ties immediately without a second chance in the past, was now old and sick, different from before.
She was trapped in a desire to depend on someone, unlike her younger self who planned everything alone and took responsibility. Now, only a frail woman remained, devoid of evil.
“Please trust me. I won’t disappoint you this time, Marina.”
Isaac whispered as he knelt. His soft voice echoed beautifully.
Marina pretended to resist but reached out her hand to Isaac. As he kissed her hand, Isaac smiled.
***
The empire was vast enough to occupy about half of the continent. To ensure continuous communication between regions on the vast land, highly developed transportation was essential.
Taking advantage of the empire’s characteristic of having few mountains and vast plains, railway stations were built nationwide. Trains were not the only means of connecting regions.
The external pretense was to facilitate transportation between regions, but in reality, it was to exert influence from the capital to the remote countryside villages. Despite having highly developed transportation, Carl chose to travel by carriage to Otto von Gruenwald, the Duke of Otaka.
