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“How do you know about Baron Tiben’s daughter?”
Startled, I answered Lucius, who was staring at me with an unusually tense expression.
“I happened to overhear what a young lady said at a gathering I attended with Alexandra last time.”
“Which young lady was that?”
“Well… I don’t remember her face clearly, but I think she was one of our noble faction’s daughters.”
“I see…”
He trailed off, his expression unusually serious as he fell into thought. Why is he acting like this? Is there something about Baron Tiben’s daughter’s death that shouldn’t be known?
Curious about his unusually stiff demeanor, I asked,
“Is there something wrong? Is there a reason the news of Baron Tiben’s daughter shouldn’t get out?”
“No, it’s nothing like that. There’s nothing really to hide, so the news will probably reach the capital soon anyway.”
“That’s true. Some young ladies already knew at the previous gathering. But your reaction seems strange, Lucius. Is it really such a sensitive matter?”
“Well… actually…”
Lucius hesitated, struggling to speak. Watching him open and close his mouth several times without saying anything, I couldn’t shake my suspicion. The way he avoids my gaze suggests there’s something he’s hiding. Is it something I shouldn’t know?
‘Baron Tiben’s daughter’s death was an accident. There shouldn’t be any real problem.’
According to what Alexandra told me, it was simply that someone who rarely goes on walks ended up having an accident while walking in the mountains. There wasn’t anything else suspicious.
‘Could it be…’
I wondered if, as I suspected, there was something questionable about her death. I’d heard that the Tiben family handled the matter quickly and held a modest funeral. Perhaps there was something they wanted to keep hidden.
It was only speculation, but seeing Lucius struggle to speak made me feel there was definitely something. I couldn’t just wait hesitantly. Leaning slightly forward, I moved closer to him and asked directly,
“Lucius. Are you hiding something from me?”
“No… it’s just that…”
“You know how much I trust you, right?”
“Of course.”
“Then if you trust me, don’t hide it. Tell me. I’m ready to accept whatever it is. I’m not trying to make things difficult for you—I want to help. But to do that, I need to know what you know so I can be of assistance when it’s needed.”
“Tiana…”
If he insists on hiding it, there’s nothing I can do, but if possible, I should know. Something about this feels off. If I don’t hear it, it might cause problems later. Trusting that instinct is important.
“All right. I’ll tell you.”
Seeing me press earnestly, Lucius sighed deeply and finally nodded. He tapped the patterned wooden table twice with his index finger, clasped his hands, and began.
“Actually, I only recently heard about Baron Tiben’s daughter from Marquis Grasel. Baron Tiben’s lands are closely connected with the Marquis’s. Their families have maintained active relations for several generations and built a strong friendship.”
“So the current Marquis Grasel must also be well-acquainted with Baron Tiben.”
“Yes. The previous Marquis Grasel and Baron Tiben were close. Thanks to that, the current Marquis Grasel and Baron Tiben are like father and son. When the former Marquis Grasel died of illness and the current Marquis inherited the title, Baron Tiben assisted him greatly. He taught him the duties, virtues, and responsibilities required to lead a family.”
“So Baron Tiben acted as a father figure instead of the late Marquis Grasel. He’s a good person.”
A father unlike his daughter, apparently. I wondered why the daughter turned out so differently.
“Yes. He’s a lower-ranking noble, but a man of excellent character. Even as the head of a family, he’s beyond reproach.”
Lucius nodded in agreement. This is the first time he’s praised someone since Count Werner. Even though the Tiben family supported the Emperor, he still recognizes good character wherever he finds it.
“His attitude toward his daughter was no different from any father’s. Though strict at times, he cherished her like a precious gem.”
“Ah… then he must be devastated by her death.”
“Yes. It seems it was very hard for him. That’s why, as soon as he heard the news, Marquis Grasel visited the Tiben household—to help and console Baron Tiben during such a difficult time.”
“How was Baron Tiben?”
“He was deeply saddened, but managed to endure. For the sake of his young heir, he felt he could not collapse.”
“I see… how tragic.”
Even if he had been exiled from the capital after some trouble, Baron Tiben only had this one daughter. Losing her so suddenly must have been unbearable. Though he probably wanted to give in to grief, he had to stay strong for his remaining heir. It’s sad, but that is the only path a father and family head could take.
Though I had been entangled with Baron Tiben’s daughter unfavorably, hearing this about her family made me feel some pity. Even if she was at fault, I didn’t expect her to die so tragically. The extras in this story seem particularly unforgiving—like the commoner girl who died early, or what happened with Lena in Sinadeli.
“Are you okay, Tiana?”
I let out a small sigh, my heart heavy, and Lucius gently took my hand. Smiling at him, I said,
“I’m fine. Don’t worry. Please continue.”
“All right.”
His tense expression softened slightly as he exhaled and continued, keeping hold of my hand.
“Marquis Grasel stepped in to help Baron Tiben manage the household during that chaotic time. He stayed until the funeral arrangements for Baron Tiben’s daughter were completed.”
“He’s truly a good person. Not everyone could have done that.”
“Yes. Baron Tiben was grateful. To him, Marquis Grasel must have felt like another son, which must have been reassuring. After finishing everything, Marquis Grasel felt a sense of fulfillment.”
“That’s a heartwarming story.”
Up to this point, it seemed like a simple, touching story. Marquis Grasel had done a good deed. There didn’t appear to be any major problems—so why did Lucius want me to hear this?
Surely it’s not over. If it ended here, I wouldn’t even be listening this long. Lucius wouldn’t have told me intentionally.
After a brief pause, he carefully continued,
“However, there were some issues Marquis Grasel noticed after visiting the Tiben household.”
“Issues?”
“Regarding Baron Tiben’s daughter. Her death… something felt off to him.”
“Is it because she died falling from a cliff while taking a walk in the mountains? She almost never goes for walks.”
“How did you…?”
Exactly. What I suspected was true. I answered Lucius calmly, noticing his surprise.
“Alexandra told me. She said the young lady doesn’t like walks or moving around. She doesn’t even take garden walks, so it’s unlikely she would have gone into the mountains.”
“I see… yes. Marquis Grasel also found that suspicious. Having known her since childhood, he knew she despised the mountains. She disliked rough paths, prickly grass, and insects, and avoided mountain areas entirely.”
“Then it’s definitely strange. For someone like that to go for a walk in the mountains… Baron Tiben must have noticed something unusual too, right?”
“When she returned from the capital, she seemed so depressed that Baron Tiben just watched her actions quietly. Other than that, he didn’t say much. Given the suddenness of the incident, it’s understandable he didn’t think further.”
“Right…”
Before her death, his daughter’s behavior must have been perplexing. As a father, all he could do was observe and try to console her. The funeral just ended, so he probably hasn’t had time to dwell on it.
Marquis Grasel had quickly and calmly assessed the situation. He noticed something strange about Baron Tiben’s daughter’s death.
‘He said there were a few concerning points.’
Curious about the rest, I asked again, ignoring the unfinished flower tea.
“What else did Marquis Grasel find concerning?”
“The servants said some unusual things.”
“Unusual things?”
“It’s hard to call it testimony… Since returning from the capital, Baron Tiben’s daughter hadn’t been in a good state. She often seemed absent-minded, sometimes disappeared suddenly, and even took walks she never used to, including up the hill behind the mansion where the accident occurred.”
“Wait, that’s like…”
Hearing this, I realized her behavior resembled that of someone who had resigned themselves to death.
