Chapter 47
“How was she?”
The Duke’s question was short and calm, but the deputy had dozens of things he could say in reply.
“In conclusion… she doesn’t seem like the kind of person who’ll slow others down.”
“Really?”
“…”
After a moment of hesitation, the deputy couldn’t hold it in any longer and began talking nonstop.
“She’s not afraid of blood. She doesn’t like the smell, but she doesn’t flinch from it either. At first, she struggled with the physical training, but now she runs with a smile. Honestly, I thought she was crazy.”
“…”
“And today, even though it was her first time going out on a mission, she wasn’t nervous at all. She stayed calm — even looked dull to the idea of killing. From what I know, she only spent a few years being active in high society, right? Even rookie knights usually freeze the first time in the field, so how…”
“You were like that too,” the Duke said quietly.
For once, the deputy ignored his words.
“I keep thinking the same thing.”
“…”
“The Baroness doesn’t seem like someone who grew up as a normal noble in the capital. Has she… changed into a different person?”
“The way she looks and acts match the records. So she’s not a different person,” the Duke replied casually.
The deputy’s shoulders dropped a little, and he rubbed his face, feeling like cold water had been poured over his head.
“She has a great sense of direction too. She barely forgets what she’s seen once, and she can tell when someone’s around — even noticed someone just from their breathing earlier…”
“Why?” The Duke’s lips curved slightly. “If she were younger, would you want to take her as a recruit and train her properly?”
The deputy frowned faintly.
“That’s not it. I just… don’t know. The more time I spend around her, the more I feel like she approached us with some hidden purpose. Whether that’s true or not — well, she does have a past, doesn’t she?”
Just then, their eyes met — and a chill ran down the deputy’s spine.
It wasn’t logic or reason.
It was the instinct he’d sharpened on the battlefield, where one wrong move could mean death.
Why isn’t the Duke surprised?
He sat there quietly, as if this was something he already knew.
The deputy swallowed hard.
What if… she wasn’t the one with a plan?
What if it was the Duke who had approached her with an intention?
Looking back, it was strange when the Duke first started showing interest in Baroness Anastasia Roxan.
Could it have been… even before the day of the ball?
No.
That day, it had clearly been because of the messenger hawk issue.
After all, that hawk had saved the Duke’s life.
That was a reasonable cause.
A normal, simple act of gratitude.
The Duke glanced toward his aide again.
“Do you believe what people say?”
“Well, of course…”
“People are complicated,” the Duke said. “The part you see of someone is rarely their whole self.”
The deputy nodded slowly.
“You’re right, Your Grace.”
Even so, one thought wouldn’t leave his mind.
Anastasia Roxan.
That woman had something — something he couldn’t yet understand.
“Anyway, keep an eye on her,” the Duke said lightly. “She was injured not long ago, so make sure she doesn’t push herself too hard.”
“…Yes, Your Grace.”
A faint smile flickered across the Duke’s face as he looked out the window.
* * *
“You’ve lost some weight.”
Julia, who had been staring at me, muttered like someone who had just been scammed and left on the streets.
“Really? It’s not that bad.”
I lifted my spoon, then put it down again under her sharp gaze.
“Maybe I didn’t lose weight — maybe I just got healthier.”
“Your face looks pale too.”
…That was probably because I’d started drinking again.
I tried to think of a way to explain that my face looked better only when I wasn’t drinking, without getting scolded too much.
“I just didn’t sleep well last night,” I said quickly.
“What have you been doing these days? The Duke isn’t bullying you, is he?”
“He’s not! I’ve barely seen him lately.”
“It’s your day off, and you’re still too tired to open your eyes properly! The sun’s already high!”
…Okay, fine. Maybe I was tired.
“I’m awake,” I mumbled.
“Then eat more. Why are you eating so little?”
Funny — she was the one who started nagging right when I tried to eat my first bite.
I sighed and kept eating.
As I finished a few bites, Zaka put down the last dish and said,
“You really have lost weight.”
Normally I’d ignore Julia’s worrying, but if even Zaka said it… maybe it was true.
“Well, it’s not a big deal.”
It’s not like I’d lost much.
Maybe I’d just gotten a little tanner from being outdoors more.
“I changed your meal plan since you’re moving around more these days.”
Now that he mentioned it, there had been more meat on the table lately.
The other dishes had changed too, bit by bit.
“And yet, you still can’t skip your daily drink, can you?”
Zaka scolded me in his usual half-sarcastic, half-caring tone.
I swallowed awkwardly.
He had caught me sneaking to the dining room at night several times before.
But last night, I’d just been tired and annoyed. I really needed a drink.
“Relying on alcohol isn’t a good habit,” Zaka said seriously. “I’ll let it slide for now, but someday you’ll have to quit. It’s a real illness, you know.”
“Then why are you letting it slide now?”
“Because…” He paused. “If I suddenly banned it, who knows what you’d do.”
“What do you think I’d do?”
“It’s fine. I’ll make you stop slowly.”
If anyone overheard, they’d think I was the servant here.
“You worry about me that much?”
Zaka leaned on his hand, resting his chin as he replied flatly,
“Of course. You’re not allowed to get sick until I say so.”
“What, so you’ll give me permission later?”
“….”
One corner of his mouth twitched like he was trying not to smile, but it disappeared when I blinked.
“You’ve been thinking about something lately?” he asked suddenly.
“Why do you ask?”
“You look like it.”
“Well, maybe it’s because you’ve been ignoring me lately,” he teased softly.
Julia, sitting across the table, narrowed her eyes sharply.
“H-hey! Don’t say it like that!” I blurted out.
Zaka chuckled, half-hiding his smile.
“What? I didn’t say anything wrong.”
He lifted his teacup, his movements so natural that he seemed completely at home here now.
At this point, even if I tried to kick him out, he’d probably smirk and say, ‘Who said you could?’
I wasn’t sure when I’d lost control of my own house —
but since I couldn’t get it back, I just decided to let it be.
“Anyway,” Julia said, “are you going to the storage room again after lunch?”
That was the problem.
I let out a deep sigh.
It had been ten full days since I confidently opened that door — and I still hadn’t found anything.
There wasn’t even that much stuff in there, but I kept checking every inch, terrified I’d miss some clue.
If I had found something right away, maybe it would’ve made all my effort before seem meaningless.
So, in a strange way, the difficulty was… comforting.
Not that I’d expected it to be easy anyway.
If I couldn’t find any trace in the storage, I’d just start investigating the people who had connections at that time.
I’m nowhere near done yet.
Because of all this, the Erdell family’s engagement party was now just two days away.
Apparently, it wasn’t the actual engagement ceremony — more like a pre-party.
All that for just an engagement? How fancy.
Well, the Erdells were a very old and famous Count family, so everyone in the capital knew them.
Still, I didn’t recall ever talking to the lady who was getting engaged.
So I had no idea who she was.
Not that it matters much.
Except…
[“Please attend our Summer Night Masquerade Ball…”]
A masquerade, huh?
I rolled the invitation in my hand and smirked.
But looking back, maybe I should’ve paid more attention to that part.
Because later, I learned that Sophia Erdell, the 21-year-old hostess of that ball,
was Lady Meriana Peregrine’s closest friend.
“…”
Looking back now, I can only say this —
Daena Greengale really gave me a pile of trouble.
A big, stinking pile of trouble.
