Chapter 90
“Now that I’ve come here, I have to admit it’s nice. The estate is as big as the Duke’s household, Lady Victoria is really kind, and though the Young Viscount is still a little scary… it’s such a relief that you’re doing well, Sister.”
Jamie chattered away cheerfully as he bit into a cookie. Resting her chin on her hand, Ann quietly watched her younger brother.
“The rumors you heard in the capital are quite different, aren’t they?”
“Mm, yes. Honestly, when I first heard about your engagement, I worried a lot. You always seemed like you disliked noblemen, so I thought maybe it wasn’t your choice… Master worried too, for that very reason.”
He ought to know that kind of worrying only causes trouble. Ann sighed and replied,
“I’m much happier now than when I was at the Duke’s estate, so you don’t need to worry.”
But then, a thought crossed her mind.
Was sending you to serve Gray as his attendant really the best way to protect you? Maybe I should have looked harder for another way.
Lately, she was starting to regret that decision more and more.
“And you, Jamie—how are you doing?”
“Me? I’m fine. Master treats me well, and I don’t have much hard work.”
“Shouldn’t you be busier? You’re the Duke’s attendant now.”
When a master rises in status, so too does the standing of those who serve him. With Gray Benton having gone from bastard to Duke, Jamie’s position as his closest attendant naturally rose as well.
“Nothing’s really changed. Of course, he visits the palace more often now to see Prince Nathan, but the friends he meets are always the same as before.”
Ann had heard that after she left for the West, Gray had gone back to the Academy.
At the time, Jamie had been deeply relieved that Gray, who had always been looked down upon as a bastard, was finally making new friends there. It seemed those bonds had lasted until now.
“But he’s a Duke now. Haven’t new nobles tried to cozy up to him through you? I mean, it’s common for people to bribe servants just to get a connection to the Duke.”
In great houses, bribes to head maids or butlers weren’t unusual. Jamie, being Gray’s closest attendant, would be an obvious target.
“No, nothing like that’s happened.”
Perhaps because he was her brother, Jamie revealed everything with a guileless face, completely without suspicion.
Through him, Ann glimpsed the reality behind the polished reports and newsletters she usually read.
Perhaps things haven’t changed as much as I thought.
After all, much of Gray Benton’s circle overlapped with that of the First Prince. Their alliance must have seemed only natural.
The old aristocracy would have been shocked to see the Benton dukedom backing the First Prince, but such ripples wouldn’t last forever.
Ann suspected the Second Prince’s supporters were still solid and numerous.
If Elizabeth Benton had still been alive, Gray would never have been able to side with the First Prince at all. Was her death truly just an accident?
“And Jamie, is it really all right for the Duke to have left for the West so soon after becoming head of the house? Shouldn’t he be taking better care of his mother now that he’s been acknowledged as a legitimate son?”
She raised the question with a faint note of reproach, and Jamie’s face fell with worry.
“I did think it was strange. He’d only just inherited the title, and with the former Duchess so ill, leaving the capital so quickly… the servants whispered about it too.”
If the servants were already talking, it wouldn’t take long for the rumors to spread throughout the capital.
Ann realized then—Gray’s footing in the capital might not be as firm as it appeared.
That would explain his determination to secure the First Prince’s ascension, crushing the old nobility to solidify the power of the Benton house—and his own.
And coming all the way West? That must be to seek Hannibal Clyde’s support.
But then why—why put her, Hannibal’s fiancée, in such a difficult position?
Even if he had feelings for her, it was wrong of Gray to treat her this way. Unless… unless he still saw her not as Hannibal’s betrothed, but merely the Benton household’s maid, the powerless would-be Duchess of that time.
Ann clenched her fists, fury and betrayal rising in her chest.
“Still, I’m glad I get to see you again, Sister.”
Her brother’s clear gaze softened her expression. She spoke gently, but with concern,
“Jamie, remember—part of being a good attendant is helping make your master better. Be humble, be honest, watch carefully. Everything you say and do reflects on him, you understand?”
“Yes, yes, more nagging. That’s so like you, Sister.”
Even if the Second Prince became Emperor, the Benton family wouldn’t collapse overnight. Jamie’s life wouldn’t be ruined.
And since he insisted Gray was a good master, she hesitated to separate them.
“But if it ever becomes too much, come West. I’ll always be here.”
He was her only remaining family. She wanted him to live long—especially knowing how short life had been in her past.
Jamie, already bored of her lecturing, only half-listened, but Ann continued to pour out her nagging advice as if to carve it into him.
Meanwhile, Hannibal sat in his office, reviewing Assad’s research journal that Miss Mighty had passed on.
He set the document down after reading the scholar’s interpretation, which Jack had procured from an expert in ancient texts.
“Alchemy ingredients? This?”
“Yes. Most of it concerns magic, but by comparing it with Ruto’s texts, they concluded these are for alchemy. Still, with only the first volume, they can’t tell exactly what kind of alchemy was intended.”
Why would Miss Mighty show me this? Hannibal rubbed his brow, unable to guess her intent.
“And Miss Mighty—where is she now?”
“She’s with Lady Victoria, and Lady Ann is there as well.”
“Ah, right. She mentioned teaching them magic.”
Hannibal rose from his chair.
“Prepare some refreshments. I’ll at least go take a look.”
He was curious what Miss Mighty planned to teach—and what Ann was doing there.
In the manor’s garden, Victoria and Ann sat at a tea table across from Miss Mighty.
“So, what kind of magic would you like to learn?” Miss Mighty asked between sips of tea.
Without hesitation, Victoria answered brightly, “There are many things, but first—I want to learn about magic circles! After the peace negotiations, you’ll have to leave, won’t you? Even then, I’d like to continue learning from you. And it’ll help strengthen ties between Ruto and Clyde as well!”
Her voice was playful, but her reasoning was practical and sound.
“Not a bad idea. Then we’ll start with learning how to control the mana in your body. Once you’ve mastered that, we’ll move on to using spells to channel mana into a circle.”
“Yes! Shall we start right away?”
“Finish your tea first, my lady,” Ann said gently, reining in her eagerness.
It was their first lesson; there was no need to rush. Ann had come along to support Victoria, who was still new to social circles, but to her relief, the conversation flowed easily.
Just as she began to worry she might be intruding, Miss Mighty’s gaze fell squarely on her.
“That necklace.”
“…Pardon?”
“You wore a mana stone necklace last time as well, didn’t you? This one’s a mana stone too. Hannibal Clyde seems overly anxious about his fiancée.”
“Wh-what?”
Ann blinked, uncomprehending. Miss Mighty continued,
“Don’t you know? Mana stone necklaces can shield you from magical beasts and hostile spells, but their primary function is tracking. For him to give you such a thing, here in the safety of the manor, means only one thing.”
Ann froze. The necklace around her throat wasn’t from Hannibal—it was the one Jamie had given her before she left for the West.
“…Are you saying this is for tracking me?”
“Let me see it.”
She handed it over. Miss Mighty frowned the moment the stone touched her palm.
“It’s a low-grade stone. Hardly any defense, barely any mana shielding. But—yes, there’s a tracking spell woven into it. That’s its sole purpose.”
A realization struck Ann like lightning.
The night she’d been alone in the greenhouse—Gray Benton had appeared. That hadn’t been coincidence.
Her blood ran cold.
She remembered Jamie once mentioning Gray’s hobby of collecting tack and accessories. Of course. Jamie wouldn’t have bought an expensive mana stone necklace himself.
It was Gray’s gift, merely passed through Jamie’s hands.
The necklace she’d worn daily for years, treasuring it… suddenly felt revolting.
“But Ann said it was from her brother…” Victoria murmured.
“Brother?” Miss Mighty raised a brow.
“Yes. Her brother serves as Duke Benton’s attendant. He’s staying here now.”
“Ah.” Miss Mighty nodded, understanding.
Ann stood abruptly, her face pale. She snatched the necklace back and clenched it tightly in her fist.
“Please excuse me.”
Just then, Hannibal himself appeared, striding toward them.
“Ann?”
She glared at him before she could stop herself.
Because if Miss Mighty was right—he too had once given her a mana stone necklace. With a tracking spell.
Why? What was your purpose? Do you still suspect me of being some spy from the capital?
I thought you cared for me. I thought… I was beginning to care for you.
Her budding affection curdled instantly into hurt.
But she had no right to demand answers. Even as his fiancée, she was never his equal—still just a maid, swallowing her bitterness.
So she said nothing. She only dipped her head briefly as she passed him by.
Inside the main building, Ann spotted a maid in the corridor and seized her urgently.
“Lady Ann?”
“Go to the annex. Fetch Jamie at once.”
Startled by her firm tone, the maid hurried away.
Ann sat in the small drawing room off her chamber, cooling her burning thoughts with a glass of water. Did Jamie know about this?
Soon came a knock, and her brother entered.
“Sister?”
The moment she saw him, Ann slapped the necklace down on the table and asked,
“This—didn’t you give it to me. Was it from the Duke?”
