As she was riding the horse again with Bernie, she pointed to a large road she suddenly found and asked.
“What is this road? Where does it go?”
“Ah, do you mean that road? If you go straight along that road, you will come to Senospon territory. It’s a pretty big castle around here.”
Senospon territory. It was a name that made her feel suspicious for some reason.
“Okay, shall we go there this time?”
“Yes? Ah, could it be possible that a stowaway criminal could have hidden in such a big town?”
At Candace’s words, Bernie burst out laughing, saying it was ridiculous. At first, he was scared and just looked at her, but after spending a few days together, he seemed to have become quite at ease.
“I heard that a nobleman is looking after the Titeri Merchant Marine. That nobleman is the lord of Senospon, so the people I’m looking for can stay in that territory, right?”
Although her argument made sense, Bernie sighed at her short-lived thoughts. Even though she said it herself, she couldn’t think of such a possibility. If she looks at it that way, she will be successful in terms of information.
“Okay… It seems possible, but… It’s a little difficult. Count Senospon has recently strengthened the security of the territory tremendously. It’s not easy to get in.”
“Has it strengthened security? Then I’m even more suspicious.”
Candace wrinkled both her nose and her face. It was because the bad stench emerging from Count Senospon appeared to extend all the way there.
“Well, then I will find a way to get in. Sister, please rest at an inn in a nearby village.”
Bernie hammered his chest and instructed her to solely depend on him.
* * *
It was a very unpleasant incident for Candace, who had become close to Ayla, but inside Count Senospon’s residence, Byron and his party were in full gear, ready to left.
As Hirum expected, Byron decided to return to the Peles Empire, taking advantage of the weakened security caused by the war with the Sequim.
While the others were busy packing, Byron was having a drink with the Count.
“It’s sad that you’re going to the empire like this.”
The count was filled with sadness and stated it in a low tone.
How hard did he try to build up Byron’s favor again…!! After his son ruined the goodwill, he had worked so hard to build up by using the wrong words.
He had just finally received forgiveness, but going back to the empire was such a sad thing.
“I can’t stay in the Inselkov Kingdom forever. Shouldn’t I go back quickly and accomplish my great work, regardless of whether we keep our agreement or not?”
“Well, of course you should. What I mean is just … .”
“Yes, I know. I think I’ll miss the taste of drinking with the Count, too.”
Byron chuckled and lifted the glass to his lips. The Count had many flaws, but his choice of alcohol was impeccable.
“By the way, you are going by land on your way back… I wonder if it’s dangerous.”
The Count licked his lips with regret and spoke.
He wanted to somehow help Byron a little more to gain merit, but unfortunately, he decided not to take the Titeri upper boat on his way back.
“I can’t even stand motion sickness … The ship isn’t that safe either. Didn’t you hear the story about meeting a pirate?”
Byron responded, making up an excuse about being a pirate. He detested motion sickness.
“Yes, that’s right. Then, I pray that you return home safely.”
The Count internally cried, saying that those ruthless pirates had no idea why they attacked Byron while he was on a ship.
Yes. This time, he was planning to return by land. Fortunately, there was someone who could help him enter the country safely.
Byron and his party, who left the county, disguised themselves as merchants and moved overland across the Inselkob Kingdom, as they always did.
The destination was Entres, a small resort on the border between the Peles Empire and the Inselkov Kingdom.
When they arrived there, they moved to a luxurious villa. A building so magnificent that the count’s mansion looked shabby welcomed them.
“Are you here, Your Majesty?”
The person who dared to say ‘Your Majesty’, a title that can only be given to the Emperor and Empress, was Marquis Caenis, the finance minister of the Peles Empire.
He has been helping Byron plot a treason for a long time, and fortunately, he was not charged with the last treason and was able to survive until now.
No, he was a loyalist who not only survived but also served as the Minister of Finance and was the greatest help to Byron, allowing him to siphon off the Imperial family’s assets and use them to fund the rebellion.
It was because Byron was a spy who had been hidden among the nobles who supported Hiram a long time ago.
“I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve seen you in person. How bad have you been through so much?”
“Well, I’ve been living comfortably thanks to the Marquis’s support in both material and spiritual ways, so don’t say things like that.”
“It was something I had to do as a subject.”
They planned to cross the border of the Peles Empire by disguising themselves as members of the Marquis Caenis party who had visited Entres’ villa on vacation.
After all, the eyes around them were all of the Marquis Caenis, so they were conversing without paying attention, but when the carriage with Ayla in it arrived, they fell silent.
“You should watch your mouth in front of that child.”
“Would it be possible?”
Marquis Caenis, who already knows who Ayla is and what she is for, nodded quickly.
Then, Ayla got out of the carriage and looked blankly at the unfamiliar man standing next to Byron. She didn’t know who he was, but judging from his luxurious attire, he seemed to be a fairly high-ranking nobleman.
‘Who is it? Are you helping Byron in his treason?’
She searched through her memory and looked through the names of Byron’s assistants that she had collected so far. But she couldn’t think of anyone with that level of wealth and status.
“Hmm, hmm… Then, can I just pretend to be your servant until we safely enter the Empire?”
“Yes, I’m sorry, but you can do that.”
In this way, Byron and Cloud dressed up as the Marquis’s servants, and Ayla and Laura dressed up as the Lady’s maids.
Having to take magic potions that change the color of one’s hair and eyes was painful, but there was something even more painful. Ayla couldn’t bear to know the Marquis’s identity.
It was truly absurd for a maid to not know the identity of the person she treated as her master. However, Byron and the man were extremely careful about what they said in front of Ayla, so she was unable to find out his identity.
However, she couldn’t ask him outright who he was. In general, Byron didn’t like her asking him things and she rarely showed curiosity about his work.
If Ayla revealed her curiosity about men here, it would arouse unnecessary suspicion.
‘ I think I need to find out who the author is.’
He seemed to be very close to Byron and seemed to be a nobleman in a high position. He may have played a very important role in this plot.
And Ayla’s curiosity grew as she casually crossed the border. Just how high up a person is that she can pass the inspection so easily?
This was because no one would suspect the Marquis’s group, who was currently serving as the Minister of Finance, but it was frustrating for Ayla, who did not know that fact.
Moreover, time to find out his identity was running out.
“We’ll be breaking up tomorrow.”
“Yes, Mom. I will miss you.”
They thought Ayla was asleep, but she heard the sound of Laura and her daughter talking.
‘They’re breaking up? Why are Laura and Capella?’
She had fallen asleep quickly, but the conversation woke her up, so she clutched the blanket tightly and concentrated on the conversation.
“If you go this way to Venator, you will immediately infiltrate the enemy’s house. You must be prepared.”
“Yes, I know. I will do well. I will even risk my life for the integrity of our family.”
Laura swore off strongly when Capella spoke in a frightened tone.
After listening to the story, it seems that Laura first infiltrated the Weishafen duchy as a maid through this route. It was the flow of her past life.
However, Ayla’s heart seemed to sink as she heard the story that followed. It was said that Laura was following that unknown nobleman to Venator.
Byron, Ayla, and the rest will return to their wandering life like before.
In that case, the time to find out his identity was until the sun rose.
She was focused on whether there might be a clue in the conversation between Laura and Capella but they only shared their regrets about breaking up and quickly went to bed.
When her daughter became calm, Ayla carefully got up. She carefully looked at Laura and Capella, but they seemed to be deeply asleep.
‘It’s a little dangerous, but she can’t let him go like this. She needs to at least find out his name.’
He wasn’t just an idiot, he looked like he was a big shot. If he left behind trouble, wouldn’t he be in big trouble in the future?
Ayla carefully left the room. Then, after tracing her memories, she moved to the inn room where the nobleman was staying.
It was a shabby inn for a great nobleman to stay in, but it was still the biggest and best room among them.
Fortunately, there was no one coming and going in the hallway. She quietly put her ear to the door. It was quite late, so she was most likely sleeping, but she might be awake so she decided to check.
“Is it possible?”
However, the voice heard in the room was not that of a man. It was Byron’s.
