CHAPTER 12
The servants stationed in the residence of the Duke’s daughter were highly skilled in attending to her.
So all I had to do was leave everything to them.
I ate delicious food until I was full, bathed in a luxurious bathroom, received a fragrant massage…
And then I lay comfortably on the soft bedding, organizing my thoughts.
Then, I suddenly sat up.
“…!”
The startled expressions on the servants’ faces were clear.
Did they think I was going to sleep?
But all this rest was simply a way to gather momentum to get to work.
The servants approached hesitantly and asked,
“Milady, is there something uncomfortable about your sleeping arrangements? Please let us know, and we will correct it immediately.”
“No issues. I just got up because I thought it’s about time to do something.”
“Ah, I see. Then what shall we bring you first? A change of clothes? Jewelry? Cosmetics?”
“None of that.”
I cut them off.
“I want to receive a report—as the Duke’s daughter.”
“Pardon?”
The servants were flustered.
‘As I thought.’
I nodded inwardly.
Despite enjoying all the luxury befitting a noble daughter, there was always something off.
Aside from the working servants, there wasn’t a single other person around.
Even if I couldn’t have a full staff of advisors like the Duke of Canel, there should at least be a steward to bring me news…
‘There’s no one I can even ask.’
Surrounded by opulence, Aristina was like a kite with a severed string. Drifting helplessly, ready to be blown away at the slightest gust.
I had known my position was precarious, but being treated this way made the danger feel all too real.
I turned to the servants and said,
“If there’s no one qualified to report to me, then summon one of the Duke’s advisors.”
“An advisor?”
“Why? Anyone on the Duke’s payroll should obey the Duke’s daughter. Am I wrong?”
“Gasp! No, not at all! You’re absolutely right! We’ll bring one right away!”
Two servants dashed off, and soon they returned with a middle-aged advisor.
“Our family just resolved a major incident, yet the Duke’s advisors haven’t reported anything to the lady directly involved in it! Must I call you here personally to get answers?”
Well, we thought the young lady didn’t care about such things…
The advisor looked slightly wronged, but since I was right, he quickly stood at attention.
“My apologies, milady. Please forgive us. What would you like to know?”
“First, what happened to the criminals? Charlotte Lemiel, the ringleader. If her family was poor, how did she afford to bribe a lady-in-waiting with gold? Her parents must’ve been involved too, right?”
“That is correct. Our investigation found that both Sir Lemiel and his wife actively aided their daughter. All three had clear intent to murder, threatened both ducal houses, and nearly caused repercussions to the Imperial Family—so they were sentenced to death.”
“Is that confirmed?”
“Yes. The execution date has already been set. As for the accomplices, even though they knew you and Lady Hyperion would die, they still committed the act for money, so they too received the harshest sentence…”
The advisor shrugged.
“Noah Meyer, who infiltrated as a gardener, fell to his death while attempting to flee. Brienne Evans, the lady-in-waiting, was found dead at dawn—killed by the same poison.”
So that’s what happened.
I’m just an ordinary person, so talking about death gives me chills.
But keeping such dangerous criminals alive only to get stabbed in the back later—that’s a classic death flag.
With death flags already looming everywhere, I wanted to be sure nothing new was added…
Luckily, it seemed they had all paid for their crimes.
“And weren’t two of the gardeners missing?”
“Ah, yes… There was a report that two gardeners were found collapsed in the supply shed. They were nearly dead from dehydration.”
“My goodness! They ran off like they were going to escape in the night, but ended up hiding there for days? And then?”
The advisor glanced at me, eyes flicking sideways.
“I don’t know what happened exactly, but… the Duke interviewed them personally, called them foolish idiots, and held his forehead. Still, he acknowledged their contribution and reinstated them with some compensation.”
“I see.”
I nodded once.
That answered another question I had. Though the most important one remained.
“That’s enough. I’ll find out the rest myself. The advisors are compiling a report on the case, right? Bring it to me.”
“Yes, of course.”
The advisor went downstairs and brought me a thick copy of the case report.
Let’s see.
I read it thoroughly.
The motive and the process were clear.
There was no shadowy figure behind the Lemiel family, nor any suspicious third party involvement.
It was simply their crime.
So the person who murdered Aristina had no direct connection to these people—they just used her confinement as an opportunity.
She would have been sentenced to death anyway, so why go out of their way to kill her personally?
Who could it be? A personal grudge?
Worried the Imperial Family wouldn’t go through with the sentence? Or someone who had to kill her with their own hands to be satisfied?
Maybe someone who benefited more the sooner she died?
Or… a serial killer who enjoys murder?
Suddenly reminded of something, I reached deep into my pocket and took out a silver shard.
A U-shaped piece of silver. Both ends glinting sharply. It had probably been an O-shape before it was cut.
As I stared at it, a thought occurred to me.
What if that muddy knight who returned to Ruelian had been looking for this in the forest?
When they reported that they couldn’t find it anywhere, Ruelian’s eyes turned especially cold.
Maybe they suspected I had picked it up when we met in the forest—drawn by the glinting light.
It’s not impossible.
It’s just a theory, but it matches their behavior pretty well.
If this scenario is correct, then it’s likely an important item.
I was afraid of him. But precisely because of that, I had to hold on to something. Something that could be used as a weapon.
After thinking for a moment, I placed the silver shard in my safe and locked it with a passcode.
Looking around, I spotted a crescent moon-shaped brooch on a teddy bear’s cape. About the same size as the silver shard.
I removed it and placed it in a small pouch.
If he’s looking for this, I might be able to use that fact to catch him off guard.
That thought brought me some peace.
After handling the pouch carefully, I sat down at my desk and spread out my papers.
“There’s a lot of work to do.”
Aristina’s memories remained in my mind in the form of information, but some were vivid while others were blurry.
Especially the moment of her murder—that was a complete blank. I’d have to investigate from scratch.
First, let’s compile a list.
I picked up a pen and began working.
All the information I knew about various individuals. The gossip I overheard in court.
Using every method and scrap of knowledge I had, I began writing the list diligently.
As night deepened—
Even as the other lights in the ducal estate went out, the light in my study stayed on.
“Clear it away.”
“Yes, Duke.”
The servants silently cleared the table.
The bitter herbal scent lingered in the air.
Duke Canel wiped his spotless hands with a handkerchief and looked down at the desk.
Emergency Contingency Plan.
He had truly thought it was the end this time. He was preparing to hand everything over to the cadet branch of the family and quietly withdraw in repentance for having raised his daughter poorly.
But somehow, things had worked out?
He still couldn’t believe it.
Hah. I really thought that little brat caused it all.
Maybe his daughter wasn’t completely rotten after all?
Still, she’s unfit for the role.
He shook his head bitterly.
His only legitimate heir was disappointing, but fortunately, the heir of the cadet branch was capable.
That’s what matters—competence.
For the sake of the family, he had to look at the big picture. Even if the boy was the posthumous child of a cousin, he was still quite promising.
I’ll have to make a decision soon.
The Duke leaned back in his chair.
Then… just before closing his eyes, he saw a shimmering light.
“Hm?”
He opened them again. A mystical, aurora-like glow softly filled the room.
“What?”
His eyes widened.
It was the glow of the ancestral spirits who had protected the family for generations. Others couldn’t see it, but as the head of the family, it was clear to him.
He immediately knelt.
“Descendant Canel receives your message.”
But nothing happened. The glow wasn’t coming toward him—it was gently flowing outward.
What…?
Puzzled, the Duke followed the light upstairs. He walked, looking around, until he saw it gathering in one place.
Here?
He silenced the guards stationed in the hallway and opened the door. Then he froze.
His daughter was asleep on the sofa.
That in itself wasn’t surprising…
But the ancestral spirits were quietly surrounding her.
Some nodding approvingly. Some pretending to pat her head.
As if they’d found a remarkable descendant.
The Duke frowned.
Am I seeing things now?
Whether it was a vision or not, the spirits vanished in an instant.
He looked down at Aristina, sleeping on the sofa.
“Hmm…”
As if feeling cold, she reached out in her sleep, searching for something.
Foolish girl. The blanket’s right next to you.
If he nudged it just a bit, her hand would touch it.
“…”
He stared at it silently.
Should I push it to her? No, should I cover her with it?
A strange thought suddenly occurred to him.
He didn’t know why. He could cover a servant, advisor, beggar, or hunting dog with a blanket ten times over, but never his own daughter…
Just then—
“Duke?”
A voice called from behind. It was Eunice, the chief advisor.
“What brings you here at this hour? Were you perhaps… watching over the young lady?”
The Duke was flustered.
“N-No! Let’s go!”
He left in a hurry, barely glancing at the advisor.
Fine. Sleep well. Not knowing what news tomorrow will bring…
That envelope with the Imperial seal, sitting on his desk, flashed vividly in his mind.
