Episode 40
The maid couldn’t help feeling gloomy about the current atmosphere in Peridot Palace.
Just a year ago, this place had truly lived up to its name—its gardens were lush and beautiful, the kind of scenery that
put visitors at ease.
And when they met the palace’s mistress, Princess Diana, with her warm smile and gracious hospitality, everyone left
wanting to come back.
Most of the current royals were arrogant and obsessed with flaunting their power. They didn’t welcome guests, so
much as they demand that they bow down to anything to inch closer to the throne.
Peridot Palace was different.
Diana had no interest in the throne, and her genuine smile was rare in the scheming, backstabbing world of the
imperial palace.
But the more precious something is, the more nobles covet it.
The maid had been afraid at first. She’d worried that people wouldn’t value Diana’s innocence and would instead see
her as a weak loser to be pushed aside.
And when Diana was pushed aside, the maid serving her would be dragged down as well.
But thanks to one man, Diana had been spared the petty political battles.
Edwin Casper.
Head of one of the empire’s few ducal families loyal to the imperial family for generations.
The maid didn’t particularly like the name, but she couldn’t deny reality: Edwin had found the princess on the streets
and helped her secure her place in the palace.
To the maid, that was nothing more than his duty. Diana was a princess, and the Caspers were sworn protectors of
the crown of course he should help her.
She’d believed that whenever Diana reached out her hand, Edwin would take it without hesitation.
That is… until that day.
“You’re here already.”
“I came running the moment I heard it was for Her Highness.”
Seeing him there before the agreed time, the maid almost sighed out loud but held it in.
There were plenty of people willing to answer Diana’s summons. Picking one who could be used without causing
trouble was easy enough.
And the one she’d chosen today was Count Kail Litwin.
He’d been openly infatuated with Diana for a long time, constantly trying to get closer to her.
The maid didn’t think much of him personally, but his public reputation wasn’t bad. He’d fought in multiple battles,
was skilled in combat, and had once been courted by the Imperial Knights.
Not that he could ever measure up to Edwin Casper.
Diana only recognized one man, and the maid knew Litwin could never replace him.
Litwin could sense her disapproval, and it was souring his mood but he bit his tongue. She was close to Diana, so for
now, he needed to stay on her good side.
“So, what exactly do you want me to do?”
Litwin got straight to the point, which suited the maid just fine she had no interest in chatting with him.
“There’s someone in a place called Cardinald Village, in the Grand Forest, that I want you to quietly… take care of.”
The maid didn’t like saying things like this out loud.
To the outside world, Diana’s image was practically saint-like. Talking about “eliminating” someone didn’t match that
image at all.
She’d have preferred to keep this side of things hidden, but if Diana wanted it done, then it had to be done. And Litwin
was a convenient tool.
Litwin didn’t flinch. He knew royals always had skeletons in their closets, and he figured that was exactly what gave
him an opening to be here now.
“Cardinald Village in the Grand Forest… I wonder if that’s the place I’m thinking of.”
“It isn’t, so drop it.”
“Haha, can’t even make a joke?”
The maid frowned.
She knew exactly what he was hinting at Cardinald was Prince Leoqus’s hometown. Of course Litwin was wondering
if this had something to do with him.
She didn’t want him stirring up unnecessary trouble. Damaging Diana’s relationship with Leo was the last thing she
needed.
“This is the target you need to deal with.”
She handed over the prepared file. Litwin clicked his tongue but took it, opening it right there.
When he saw the picture inside, he blinked, wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him. But the maid’s face
stayed impassive.
A smile crept across his face.
“Didn’t think she’d still be alive. I thought she was dead.”
The maid decided she was done here—his unsettling smile made her want to get out of the room.
“So how do you want me to handle the target?”
“Kill her.”
Clear and simple. Just the way Litwin liked it.
He preferred things clean and quiet, no complications.
And the name and face in the file had definitely piqued his interest.
“What about anyone who gets in the way?”
“Take them all out.”
“Direct. I like that.”
Her voice carried all sorts of emotion, but Litwin didn’t care.
Neither of them knew one important thing, though—
That Edwin was currently in Cardinald Village.
Chris was deep in thought.
Something Leo had said was bothering him all day.
He’d worked hard to keep it quiet that Edwin was searching for Emilia. If word got out, people might try to sabotage him or worse, find her first and harm her.
But how does Prince Leoqus know the duchess at all?
The entire Casper network had been searching for her, but they still hadn’t found her.
They didn’t even know where she might feel safe, what kind of life she wanted, or the sort of place she’d be
comfortable in.
Back when she’d been living at the ducal mansion, no one had taken an interest in her. Even the maids and servants
who’d worked closest to her claimed to know nothing useful.
Maybe I should just go and ask him where she is.
Leo seemed interested in meeting again, and Chris was tempted to see him. If Leo told him anything, Chris could pass
it on to Edwin.
He wanted to give Edwin hope. After so long searching, the man must be exhausted.
But there was a nagging unease.
Maybe Leo was just fishing for a reaction with some half-true story he’d heard. And then there was Princess Diana
her reaction had been even more suspicious.
She looked like she knew something too…
Of course Chris knew Diana liked Edwin. But now that he understood Edwin’s true feelings, Chris had already made
his choice.
No matter how valuable Diana seemed, if Edwin didn’t want her, she wasn’t worth anything.
Chris had decided he would stand firmly behind Emilia this time. He wouldn’t make the same mistakes again.
From now on, anything related to her would be discussed with Edwin before he acted.
And this time would be no different.
“Send this letter to the duke.”
“Do you know where he is?”
“He might still be in the Grand Forest—specifically, in Cardinald Village.”
Last he’d heard, Edwin was carrying out a secret mission from the Emperor.
The official order had been to capture Prince Leoqus, but since Edwin hadn’t moved even after Leo returned to the
capital, Chris suspected there was another mission involved.
“I’ll send it right away.”
“As fast as possible; it’s about the madam.”
The man Chris spoke to stiffened, then hurried off.
A lot had changed in the ducal household during the year Emilia had been gone.
The people who had looked down on her were all gone sent away without references. The new and remaining staff
were all taught from day one that the person to serve best was Emilia.
Chris felt a stab of guilt.
If only he’d treated her better before she left, maybe they wouldn’t be in this situation both master and mistress
gone from the house.
