Chapter 76
Riding alongside Bernie once more, she suddenly pointed toward a wide road she had noticed and asked,
âWhere does that road lead? Whatâs over there?â
âAh, that one? If you follow it straight, youâll reach the Senosfon territory. Thereâs a pretty large castle there for this region.â
Senosfon territory. The name alone sent a suspicious twinge through her gut.
âAlright, shall we head there this time?â
âWhat? No way, sis. Do you really think a fugitive stowaway would hide in such a big town?â
Bernie burst into laughter at Candiceâs suggestion, as if it was absurd. He had been timid at first, always watching her mood in fear, but after spending days traveling together, he seemed to have relaxed a fair bit.
ââŠâŠDidnât you say some noble is backing the Titeri Trading Company? What if that noble is the lord of Senosfon? Then the people Iâm looking for could very well be staying there, couldnât they?â
Her reasoning was sound, and Bernie let out a groan at his own shortsightedness. He hadnât even considered the possibility. To be a successful information broker, one needed to think as broadly as she did.
âWellâŠâŠ I suppose that could be true. But the problem isâŠâŠ itâs not easy. Count Senosfon recently tightened the territoryâs security. Getting inside wonât be simple.â
âHe strengthened security? That only makes it more suspicious.â
Candice wrinkled her nose, as if the stench of the countâs corruption was wafting toward her already.
âT-then Iâll try to find a way in. You, sister, should rest at an inn in a nearby village. Leave it to me.â
Bernie thumped his chest proudly, telling her to trust him.
It was a pity for Candice, who had come so close to Eila, but at that very moment, inside Count Senosfonâs mansion, Byron and his companions were busy preparing to depart.
Just as Hiram had predicted, Byron had decided to return to the Pelles Empire, seizing the chance while the defenses were weakened due to the war with the Sekim tribe.
While the others bustled about packing, Byron sat drinking with the count.
âSo youâre truly returning to the Empire? Thatâs⊠disappointing.â
The countâs voice dripped with regret, almost cloying in its stickiness.
He had worked so hard to rebuild Byronâs favor after his foolish sonâs careless words had nearly destroyed it. Now that Byron had finally forgiven him, to hear that he was leaving for the Empire was deeply bitter news.
âI canât remain in the Kingdom of Inselkopf forever, can I? I must return quickly and achieve my great cause. Only then can I keepâor breakâour agreement.â
âO-of course, of course. I only meant thatâŠâ
âYes, I understand. I too shall miss sharing a drink with you, Count.â
Byron smirked faintly and raised his glass. The count was lacking in many ways, but if nothing else, his taste in liquor was impeccable.
âStill, I hear youâll be traveling by land? I worry for your safety.â
The count clicked his tongue, full of regret. He had hoped to help Byron further by arranging passage with the Titeri Companyâs ships, but Byron had refused.
âSeasickness I canât endure, and ships arenât so safe anyway. Havenât you heard the stories of pirate attacks?â
Byron brushed it off with that excuse, though in truth it was simply seasickness he dreaded.
ââŠâŠR-right. In that case, Iâll pray for your safe return.â
The count swallowed his frustration. Why did those wretched pirates have to strike only when Byron was aboard?
This time, Byron and his group would return by land. And fortunately for him, there was someone ready to ensure his safe passage.
Leaving the countâs lands, they disguised themselves once more as a merchant caravan and began the journey across the Kingdom of Inselkopf.
Their destination was Entres, a small resort town on the border between the Empire of Pelles and Inselkopf.
There, they moved into a luxurious villa so grand it made the countâs manor look shabby in comparison.
ââŠWelcome, Your Majesty.â
The man who dared use the title reserved only for the Emperor and Empress was none other than Marquis Kainis, the Empireâs Minister of Finance.
He had long been secretly aiding Byronâs rebellion, and by luckâor skillâhe had avoided suspicion during the last uprising. Not only had he survived, but he still held office as Finance Minister, giving him access to imperial funds that he discreetly diverted to fuel Byronâs cause.
This had been possible thanks to spies Byron had planted long ago among the nobles loyal to Hiram.
âIt has been so long since I saw you in person. You must have suffered greatly.â
âThanks to your support in every way, I lived comfortably enough. Donât speak of suffering.â
âIt was only my duty as your servant.â
Their plan was clear: Byron and his companions would disguise themselves as part of Marquis Kainisâs entourage, who had ostensibly come to Entres for a holiday, and thus cross the imperial border unnoticed.
Since everyone nearby was the Marquisâs own men, they spoke freelyâuntil a carriage carrying Eila arrived, silencing the conversation.
âBe careful what you say in front of that girl.â
âBut of course.â
Marquis Kainis nodded smoothly. He already knew exactly who Eila was and why she was being kept close.
When Eila stepped down from the carriage, she found herself staring at the unfamiliar man beside Byron. She didnât know him, but his refined appearance and bearing marked him as a high-ranking noble.
Who is he? Someone aiding Byronâs rebellion?
She rifled through the names of Byronâs known allies in her memory, but none matched a man of such wealth and standing.
âAhem. So, until we cross into the Empire safely, Iâll be disguised as your attendant?â
âYes, forgive me, but that will be best.â
Thus, Byron and Claude posed as the Marquisâs attendants, while Eila and Laura with her daughter became the ladyâs maids.
The constant use of potions to change their hair and eye colors was unpleasant, but what gnawed at Eila more was the mystery of the nobleâs identity.
How could a maid not know the identity of the master she served? It was absurd. Yet Byron and the man were so careful never to reveal anything in her presence that she could learn nothing.
And she couldnât ask outright either. Byron disliked her questions, and she herself rarely showed curiosity about his affairs. If she suddenly asked now, it would only raise suspicion.
âŠBut I feel like I must find out who he is.
He was close to Byron, clearly a powerful noble, and very likely played a crucial role in this rebellion.
Her curiosity only grew as they crossed the border with ease. Just how high-ranking was he, to bypass the inspections without a second glance?
Of course, the truth was simpleâno one would dare question the party of the sitting Minister of Finance. But Eila, not knowing this, could only stew in frustration.
Worse, time was running short.
ââŠTomorrow weâll be parting ways.â
âYes, Mother. Iâll miss you.â
Eila had been half asleep when she heard Laura and her daughter Capella talking quietly nearby. Her eyes snapped open.
Parting ways? Why would Laura and Capella separate?
Clutching her blanket, she strained to hear.
âFrom here to Venator, weâll be infiltrating straight into the enemyâs home. You must steel yourself.â
âYes, I know. Iâll do it. For our familyâs name, Iâd risk even my life.â
Capella spoke with worry, but Laura answered firmly, resolute in her vow.
From what Eila gathered, Laura would infiltrate the House of Duke Weisshafen as a maidâjust as she had in her previous life.
But what made Eilaâs heart drop was what came next: Laura would be going to Venator in the company of that mysterious noble.
Byron, Eila, and the others would resume their wandering life as before, while Laura would vanish into Venator.
That meant Eila had only until dawn to uncover the nobleâs identity.
She listened hard, hoping for some hint in the mother and daughterâs words, but they soon stopped, lost in their sorrow at parting, and drifted into sleep.
When silence settled, Eila carefully sat up. Laura and Capella seemed fast asleep.
âŠItâs risky, but I canât let this chance slip by. I have to at least learn his name.
He wasnât some nobodyâanyone could see he was a giant. To leave such a dangerous figure unidentified could spell disaster later.
Quietly, Eila slipped out of the room, retracing her memory to where the noble was lodging.
The inn was shabby for someone of his rank, but his was the largest and finest room.
The hallway was empty. Eila pressed her ear against the door, hoping to catch some hint of his identity.
ââŠWill it be possible?â
But the voice she heard from inside wasnât the nobleâs.
It was Byronâs.