Chapter 37
Class time had begun. Aemon cleared his throat and opened his book.
“Let’s begin today’s lesson, Lady Cecil.”
“Yes, Teacher.”
Cecil answered brightly. So far, it looked like an ordinary class.
However, there was something different this time.
Aemon stepped back a little and glanced around. Then, bowing his head, he greeted the spectators.
“And to everyone from the ducal household, thank you very much for gathering here today.”
In the study, besides Aemon and Cecil, there were many others present—Duke Bartholomew and the butler Isaac, Anne and the nursery maids, Hans and the cooks, and several more footmen and maids.
Some time ago, Cecil had made a request to Aemon.
“Please hold a public class observation. I’d like to show everyone in the ducal household how much I’ve improved. Especially the Duke, since he’s been paying so much attention to me.”
It was a welcome suggestion for Aemon as well. Showing a student’s progress was essentially proof of the teacher’s own ability.
For Aemon, who wanted to work in the ducal household for as long as possible, this was the perfect opportunity.
He relayed Cecil’s wish to the Duke, and despite being buried under work, the Duke had agreed without hesitation.
And so, today’s observation class came to be.
Determined to use this chance to fully showcase his skills, Aemon had prepared thoroughly—his structure was tight, his explanations smooth, and his materials plentiful. It was a flawless lecture.
The household staff were visibly impressed, whispering words of admiration.
Good, at this rate, renewing my contract won’t be a problem.
However, despite the obvious excellence of the lesson—
The person whose opinion mattered most for the renewal, the Duke, had spent the entire time with arms crossed, face expressionless.
Aemon began to feel uneasy.
Is he thinking I only prepared this well because it’s an observation day? I need to show that my lessons have been beneficial in the long term by proving the student’s improvement.
“Now, Lady Cecil. Remember I asked you to prepare a presentation? Please come forward and present what you’ve prepared.”
“Yes, Teacher!”
Cecil picked up her prepared materials and stepped forward in front of everyone.
“Oh my, how adorable…”
The maids cooed in admiration.
And indeed, Cecil was adorable—bright, sparkling eyes, a confident air, and a charming dimple when she smiled.
[You’ve bewitched countless people before—surely a presentation like this is nothing but child’s play for you?]
Nibelung whispered, and Cecil answered with a sly smile.
“I’ll tell you the topic of my presentation. Today’s topic is ‘The Role of Spies in Historic Guild Wars!’”
At her words, Aemon’s face froze.
That’s not the topic we agreed on, is it?
For this observation day, he and Cecil had prepared the presentation from start to finish together, even rehearsing it.
But now, the topic had been completely changed.
And on spies, of all things… I have a bad feeling about this.
He decided to stop her.
“Wait, my lady. There must be some mistake. We can do the presentation another time.”
“No—continue.”
The interruption came in a deep, low voice, cutting through the air. It was Duke Bartholomew, who had been silent until now.
“I want to hear Cecil’s presentation. Proceed.”
With that, there was no stopping it. Aemon could only listen, feeling like his nerves were being singed away.
Cecil’s content was at the level of a clever eight-year-old, but she spoke with a strange charisma that drew the listener’s focus.
The presentation lasted only about five minutes, but for Aemon it felt like sitting on a bed of thorns.
“…Lastly, I will present on the ciphers used by spies!”
She took out a sheet and pinned it to the wall—a large display of coded text for everyone to see.
“This is a real cipher in use.”
Before Cecil could even explain, some people had already grasped its meaning.
Two men shot to their feet—Isaac and Aemon.
“Helberin Mountain, midnight on the full moon!”
Isaac’s voice was sharp with disbelief.
“How do you know this code, my lady?”
As a former fixer, Isaac recognized it immediately.
Helberin Mountain, midnight on the full moon—the exact location and time when the Oakley Army’s irregulars had attempted a raid.
Isaac remembered the Duke’s recent words:
‘The Oakley Army was delayed, so we avoided the ambush and won a great victory. But it’s true that the fact the irregulars would pass Helberin Mountain at that exact time was leaked.’
‘A military leak, sir? Then that means…’
‘Yes, Goldman.’
The Duke’s eyes had been razor sharp.
‘A rat has slipped into Bartholomew’s house.’
Recalling that conversation, Isaac urgently asked:
“Lady Cecil, where did you see this code? Who told you about it?”
“Huh? W-what’s wrong?”
Cecil looked startled and flustered.
“Well… I actually saw it in Teacher Aemon’s documents… Is it something bad?”
Crash! Before she had even finished, a loud commotion rang out.
Aemon had tried to run, but Isaac pinned him to the ground.
“Aaagh!”
“You little rat—it was you all along!”
Aemon screamed in pain and thrashed, but Isaac showed no mercy. He pressed his knee harder into the man’s back, ensuring he couldn’t resist.
The sudden fight made everyone jump up. Aemon’s glasses fell and rolled across the floor.
“No! It’s not like that! I—”
A long, dark shadow fell over him, silencing his protests.
“Whether you’re the traitor or not… we’ll soon find out.”
The voice was cold enough to freeze the air.
Even standing still, the man’s sheer presence was oppressive. From the shadowed face, golden eyes glared sharply.
Duke Bartholomew adjusted his black leather gloves.
“A traitor is found by any means necessary and made into an example. That is…”
Aemon’s face twisted in horror. Just meeting that gaze, he understood.
“…the Bartholomew way.”
There was no escape now.
Somewhere, the faint sound of water trickling was heard. Wetness spread from Aemon’s groin, pooling at his feet.
“P-please… please spare me! I’ve washed my hands of it! I’ll do anything, just don’t kill me!”
His face pale, he stretched out a trembling hand, but Isaac yanked him back so it couldn’t reach the Duke.
“How dare you! Ugh, disgusting—grown man, wetting himself…”
“Let’s get him out of here. Quickly.”
Isaac and Hans hauled Aemon away.
Cecil, feigning fear, watched the chaotic scene with inner satisfaction.
[It all went according to your plan! Without seeming suspicious at all, you revealed Aemon’s true identity to everyone! A brilliant success!]
Nibelung was cheering when—
Aemon’s eyes suddenly flicked toward her, sharp and bloodshot with hatred and fury.
“You! This was all your plan, wasn’t it? You planned this from the start—to trap me!”
