Chapter 6
The Underworld Lady
The story of the Grand Duke family of Kardinand was so famous that no one in the empire was unaware of it.
The Grand Duke family had maintained a friendly relationship with the imperial family for generations, and their trust from the emperor was immense.
In particular, Pierre’s parents, the Duke and Duchess of Kardinand, were not only a devoted couple but also received great support from the empire’s citizens due to their intelligence and warm character.
However, that noble couple died in a carriage accident on the same day and at the same time. It was a carriage explosion aimed at the emperor. By chance, the Grand Duke couple boarded the carriage intended for the emperor and sacrificed themselves instead.
Because of their great loyalty, the entire empire, under the emperor’s leadership, was swept with waves of mourning.
Interest especially grew around Pierre Kardinand, their only son.
When many improper and suspicious eyes gathered on the young boy who had suddenly become the heir to the Grand Duke family, the emperor personally took Pierre under his wing, praising the sacrifice of his parents.
The citizens all hoped that the emperor, who had no crown prince yet, might make Pierre the crown prince, but under the pretext that Pierre wished to maintain the Grand Duke family after his parents, the emperor only played the role of his patron.
Thus, gradually, the story was buried in the memories of the empire’s people, and no one saw the Grand Duke as a mere child who lost his parents in childhood anymore.
Inside the emperor’s office, the emperor leaned back in his chair and let out a small sigh.
“I’m getting old now. Consecutive state council meetings are hard on the body.”
He smiled with his typically pleasant voice, but that was merely a polite expression.
The emperor glanced sideways at Pierre, who was sitting comfortably on the sofa, his eyes shining brightly even in the dark.
After the council meeting ended, the emperor called Pierre separately under the pretense of checking on the progress of certain affairs.
This was the case this time as well. A plan had been stolen due to a palace mistake. After that, the imperial knights were dispatched to catch the real culprit, but they repeatedly failed, with more victims piling up.
In this difficult situation where the voices of the great nobles were growing louder, the emperor summoned Pierre, claiming he would resolve the problem through him.
The emperor narrowed his eyes and looked across at Pierre, then continued warmly with a gentle smile.
“When I first became your patron, you were still a child. Now you’ve grown up.”
“Thank you,” Pierre answered in a mechanical voice. At that moment, the emperor’s expression turned somewhat dark.
From a young age, Pierre was not aggressive like his parents, but he was smart and his attitude was gradually changing.
Outwardly, he played the part of the emperor’s loyal dog perfectly, but every time the emperor looked at Pierre, he felt uneasy. The emperor closed his eyes as if recalling the past.
Shortly after the funeral of the Grand Duke couple, the emperor personally visited the Grand Duke’s residence.
He thought that since Pierre had lost his parents, he would naturally kneel and submit if the emperor offered to take him in.
However, unlike his expectations, young Pierre glared fiercely and firmly said:
“I refuse.”
“What?”
“I can manage on my own. So please don’t concern yourself with me.”
The emperor almost laughed out loud. The empire’s only Grand Duke family — how could such a young boy possibly lead that great family alone?
That naïve defiance brought a bitter smile, but Pierre’s gaze was sincere.
The emperor looked down at him intently. The boy was gifted with sharp eyes. If left alone, who knew what mischief he might cause.
After thinking this over, the emperor changed his approach and spoke:
“Do you want to protect the Grand Duke family?”
At the question, Pierre’s gaze wavered, unlike before. The emperor smiled slyly.
After all, he was still a child, and the emperor was an experienced ruler. He easily found Pierre’s core desire and struck at it.
“If so, you must act wisely.”
“…Wisely?”
“Yes. That is the only way not to dishonor your deceased parents.”
“How should I do that?”
“Now you’re listening. If you want to know the answer, then, will you take my hand?”
After hesitation, Pierre took that hand. At a time when powers aiming to seize the Grand Duke family stirred beneath the surface, the emperor had a hold on Pierre.
After that, Pierre’s surroundings changed rapidly. Instead of the love and care of his parents, he endlessly trained his body, discarded the mask of the Grand Duke, and became the emperor’s dog, unhesitatingly performing dirty tasks.
The emperor pushed away miscellaneous thoughts that flooded in after reflecting.
“Yes, I raised him. There’s no way he suddenly thinks differently now.”
The emperor, always testing Pierre’s loyalty, finally spoke firmly:
“I know you’re busy, but as you can see, the anxiety of the great nobles grows daily.”
He tapped the desk lightly, then stopped and asked:
“The mastermind behind it all is said to be Niberius?”
Pierre looked blankly at the emperor before averting his gaze to reply.
“He’s only one of the candidates.”
“There aren’t many candidates.”
Pierre said nothing. The emperor leaned back and spoke casually.
“You are rather rigid. I admire that, Pierre.”
The emperor called Pierre as if addressing the young boy he once took in.
“Setting a trap is obviously important, but even more important is winning the hearts of the people. No one cares about the culprit you catch after you lose public support.”
“……”
“You know what I mean, right?”
Instead of answering, Pierre nodded. The emperor finally smiled with satisfaction and let him leave.
Pierre bowed deeply and exited the emperor’s office.
Honic waited for Pierre not far away. Soon, Pierre appeared from the far end of the corridor with long strides, and Honic naturally followed beside him.
He glanced at Pierre. His master was usually not expressive emotionally and rarely showed feelings—except for one moment.
After meeting the emperor, a blazing emotion flickered briefly across Pierre’s calm face.
Honic couldn’t tell whether it was anger, sorrow, or helplessness.
He cleared his thoughts and spoke.
“We received a report from our informants in the east.”
Pierre raised one eyebrow and asked,
“What was it?”
“They detected movement.”
Two suspects were selected as the main culprits of the recent incident.
One was Cargo Niberius, head of the Niberius family based in the east, and Pierre had placed several loyal men near his residence.
He had ordered to be notified if suspicious activity was spotted, and that message had just arrived.
“So it’s them after all.”
Pierre murmured, and Honic quickly added cautiously.
“But the head himself has not moved from his residence.”
“…Then whose movement was detected?”
Pierre asked as if he didn’t believe it. Honic responded quickly.
“The daughter’s.”
“The daughter? Cecilia Niberius?”
“Yes, she escaped the residence and is heading to Kimmen, the site of the last incident.”
Heading to Kimmen — considering that Niberius was a suspect, the movement of his only daughter was suspicious.
“The movement was careful, and she was alone.”
“……”
“We sent scouts to verify—”
“No, I’ll go myself.”
Pierre spoke decisively. He was about to go to Kimmen again anyway. His restless heart had started to flutter; he felt he had to move to calm the frustration.
He swept his hair back and turned his steps.
A few days ago, Niberius Residence
Cecilia cautiously opened the door and surveyed her surroundings. A guard stood at the end of the corridor.
After a quarrel with her father, he had often placed her under house arrest.
But unlike previous idle threats, this time he had even stationed a guard — it was clear he was very angry.
“What did I do so wrong?”
Who said anything wrong?
When her family was falsely accused, and she was told to run away by marrying, which child would happily obey?
At least Cecilia didn’t.
Especially if her father really thought she couldn’t move inside her room just because there was a single guard stationed there, he was at least ten years younger in his thinking.
Cecilia entered the dressing room and skillfully changed into a maid’s outfit.
She took a long rope and tied it to the railing, dropping it three floors below.
The only thing she learned from her mercenary uncles who traveled mountains was this.
Determined to find out what her father was hiding, Cecilia quickly slipped out of the room.
