Chapter 85
During those days when my worries deepened, an unexpected visitor came to the Duke’s residence.
The unexpected visitor had sent a letter several days earlier to announce his visit in advance. I came down to the front gate of the mansion at the specified time and waited. As the appointed time approached, a carriage passed through the duke’s main gate. Like the letter that came without a seal, the carriage bore no emblem or mark.
The carriage approached with a clatter and stopped exactly in front of me at the driver’s command.
The door of the carriage opened, and a man with his hat pulled down deeply stepped out. He looked around cautiously for a long time, as if worried someone might be following him, and only then did he greet me.
“Hello, Lady Kowett.”
The politeness in his voice surprised me — it was a tone I had never heard from him before. His face, mostly hidden under the hat, briefly revealed itself. It was Diel Livingston, the son of the former Master of the Imperial Household under Emperor Kyle. The arrogant attitude I saw from him at the party was gone without a trace, replaced only by a submissive demeanor.
“If it’s alright, may I come inside for a moment?”
“Please, come in.”
Since it wasn’t a conversation to have outdoors, I immediately led him to the parlor.
Because of a previous unpleasant incident involving him, I had no good feelings toward him, so I sat opposite him across the table, keeping distance. After a maid came in to serve tea and left, Diel took off his hat and placed it on the table. Then he lifted his bowed head.
He looked like he hadn’t eaten well for some time; his cheeks were sunken deeply. Judging by his haggard face, I guessed he had suffered much mental anguish. Not that I felt sorry for him.
“Lady Kowett.”
“Speak.”
“I would like to first ask for your forgiveness for my past wrongdoings.”
He suddenly stood up and bowed his head deeply again, this time more decisively than before, lowering both his waist and head.
Should I forgive him?
For a moment I hesitated, but didn’t really feel the need to. Fortunately, Raymond had taken revenge for me; one who hits can never fully understand the feelings of the one who is struck.
Instead of giving a positive reply, I waved my hand dismissively.
“Enough with the formalities. Sit down and just tell me what you want.”
“Understood.”
Diel answered gloomily, sat back down, and hesitated. After a long pause, moving his lips slightly, he finally spoke.
“Have you heard any news about my father?”
“I know.”
“Please help my father!!”
He lifted his clenched hands onto the table and bowed deeply.
“I don’t blame you, Lady. I am reflecting on my actions. So please, help us.”
Once the floodgates opened, his plea poured out smoothly.
“The Emperor is torturing my father mercilessly. If this continues, he will surely die. Though strict, he is truly precious to me. Please have mercy.”
“How can I interfere with what His Majesty does?”
“At that time, I spoke carelessly out of ignorance. The Emperor cares deeply for you, Lady Kowett. Please, try to restrain him.”
Apparently desperate, he then prostrated himself flat on the floor, discarding even the pride he once held high as the son of the Master of the Imperial Household.
‘He must have been badly beaten this time.’
This was the price he paid for mocking me as a mere puppet.
The direct cause was that the Master of the Imperial Household had set fire to Hills Village but failed to capture the Duke. Because of this, the Emperor not only dismissed Count Livingston from his post but also imprisoned him and tried to have him killed.
‘Does he really think I can restrain the Emperor?’
This revealed how well the Emperor managed his image. Even those who glimpsed the truth could be fooled.
But the reality was entirely different. I pursed my lips bitterly and spoke.
“Count Livingston. Unfortunately, I have no such power. His Majesty is someone who does as he pleases.”
“I see…”
Upon hearing my words, Diel’s expression crumbled as if the world had collapsed. His face, which could hardly contort any further, turned pale.
He got up from the floor where he had prostrated himself and bowed his head sadly.
“I made an unreasonable request. I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can do without the power to help.”
“No. It’s not easy to change His Majesty’s will. Still, thank you for listening.”
At that moment, he spoke with a humility I hadn’t seen before in Diel. Having soared high thanks to his father’s position only to crash to the bottom overnight, it must feel like the world was falling apart for him. I understood why. Still, I didn’t want to pity him.
“Well then, goodbye, Lady Kowett.”
“Take care on your way.”
I escorted him to the carriage and bade farewell. Although no solution had been found, he showed a faint smile, as if my hospitality comforted him.
When someone falls from the center of power, the first thing to change is how people treat them. Especially the Livingston family—they had been so arrogant. Surely they earned much hatred and resentment, and now that their power had plummeted, they began to reveal their true feelings without hiding.
He must have been grateful to me for still treating him with dignity.
After Diel left, I immediately sought out Raymond for his opinion. Listening carefully to my story, Raymond nodded and expressed an unexpected idea.
“Helping Count Livingston and making the Livingston family our allies wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Since he served as the Master of the Imperial Household for a long time, the Livingston family still has significant influence in the capital. Of course, only if Eileen is okay with it.”
He held my arm and asked cautiously, worried I might have bad feelings toward Diel. I met his gentle gaze and smiled.
“I’m fine. Raymond has already avenged me. Use him if necessary.”
“Alright. Then let’s rescue the Master of the Imperial Household.”
According to the news, the Emperor was trying to kill the Master out of revenge, so we planned to extract him as soon as possible. Raymond wanted to send agile subordinates, but entering the prison was very dangerous, so we decided to use a special cheat.
“I’ll sneak him out during the guards’ shift change.”
It was Nian. If he took the lead, using teleportation, no trace would remain. But there was a problematic part.
“Wouldn’t Nian be suspected?”
“Don’t worry. We’ll leave traces blaming those who attacked the factory last time.”
“Is that okay?”
“We can’t just let it slide. They must pay for defying me.”
He laughed, adding a deadly look to his usual arrogant expression. I was reminded anew how terrifying it was that he was a great mage. Finally, I secretly sent a letter to Diel instructing him to hide his father and prepare a place for his recovery.
The planned date and time for the ‘Count Livingston extraction’ operation arrived, and all I could do was stay home and pray for the mission to proceed safely.
Contrary to my worries, within less than ten minutes, Nian returned and informed me the job was done well.
“I’ve extracted the Count and handed him over to his son. We also deliberately left some evidence.”
“Good work, Nian.”
“Well then, I’ll be going.”
After reporting, he hurried back to the imperial city. He had little leisure time, being so entangled.
“Wait a moment.”
“Yes?”
“Do you want to take this?”
I offered him a potion I had prepared myself earlier, since he had shown curiosity before.
“Oh, this must be the precious healing potion.”
As expected, Nian was delighted, gratefully accepting it with both hands.
“Thank you. I’ll use it well in my research.”
He smiled warmly at the bottle and soon vanished like the wind.
A few days later, Diel came to my house again, having sent a letter beforehand.
As before, he got off the carriage, looked around cautiously, then followed me inside.
Sitting face to face in the parlor, his complexion was much healthier.
“Lady Kowett. I’ve come to express my gratitude.”
“I see.”
“This is a small gift.”
A subordinate who came in carrying a jewelry box followed Diel. It wasn’t very large but seemed heavy, as if containing many valuable items.
“I didn’t do this expecting a reward.”
“I know. It’s just a token of my heart. Please accept it.”
“Alright.”
“And also… uh… Eileen.”
Surprised by the strange address, I turned my gaze from the jewelry box to see Diel looking at me with sparkling eyes.
What’s gotten into him? So burdensome.
I tried to avoid it, but his gaze stuck persistently, and then he said something shocking.
“From now on, I swear eternal lo—loyalty not to His Majesty but to Lady Eileen…”
I quickly ran over and covered his mouth with my palm before nonsense could come out. His warm breath made my palm uncomfortable, but it was urgent.
“Don’t. Say things like that.”
“Hmm?”
“Promises aren’t something to make carelessly.”
You fool. What if someone hears?
Pretend you still have to serve the Emperor.
“There are ears everywhere. If you blab carelessly, it’ll get back to the Emperor. Be careful.”
I gave Diel a sharp warning.
The Livingston family had to pretend to remain loyal to the Emperor until the end. Only then could the entire family in the capital be safe, and we could get help from them if needed.
I was acting strategically, but Diel’s eyes had an added glimmer of emotion.
Ugh. So burdensome.
I pressed my lips harder and turned my head away.
