Chapter 36
Dylan had said he would introduce her to an “expert.”
“Since His Grace asked me to gather only the most exceptional men like myself, I chose the finest with objective judgment! ”
Pavel, cheerful as always, introduced himself and the three other knights standing behind him.
One looked like he held a fairly high rank. The other two were younger than Pavel, with noticeably lower ranks.
Of course, Agnès knew that each one of them was still a top-class knight of the Basteron Order. If any of them ever decided to kill her, she would die before she even realized it.
But knights… possessing this kind of skill?
For the first time, Agnès found herself doubting Dylan’s decision.
Then Dylan spoke, one arm behind his back and the other gesturing proudly toward his knights.
“These men are embarrassingly good at finding secret passages.”
His expression was oddly complicated—he seemed proud of them but also a little embarrassed… and amused.
At Dylan’s half-compliment, half-insult, not only Pavel but also the other knights—Bram, Erion, and Daren—looked displeased.
Unlike how politely they behaved in front of their lord, their faces now were full of mischief.
“That’s too harsh, Your Grace.”
“You’re the one who said you wanted a drink during training and escaped through a secret passage.”
“But we all would’ve died in the Draven Valley battle if we hadn’t found that crawl space! ”
“Even the captain said we played a big role! ”
Agnès looked left and right, fascinated.
These were the heroes of the Draven Valley battle—the ones she’d only ever read about in books. And Dylan treated them so casually, even joked with them. And they were calling him “Commander”…
Dylan, unaware of her curious gaze, sighed.
“Anyway, the fact remains—they’re good at finding these tunnels. If you explain the layout of the Overhan townhouse, I’m sure they can locate it.”
“Oh—um, yes… I suppose so. It’d be better with paper.”
When she said this awkwardly, Dylan narrowed his eyes as if wondering what was wrong—but Agnès ignored it.
There’s no point in telling him, “You look different when you’re with them.”
He’d only deny it, just like last time.
She had once told him subtly that he looked more relaxed around his family, but he had immediately rejected the idea.
Is he really unaware of how different he becomes?
Or does he know but refuse to admit it?
Either way, it was surprising.
But what she was most curious about was
If Dylan and I become closer… will he show me that different side too?
Agnès quickly pushed the thought away. They were only partners with common goals. Why let such thoughts distract her?
Thankfully, before her thoughts deepened, Pavel returned with a large sheet of paper and spread it across Dylan’s desk.
“My lady, here is the layout of the Overhan townhouse.”
“The… layout? ”
She had expected to sketch a rough floor plan herself. But Pavel handed her a highly detailed blueprint—even rooms that were never shown to guests.
“How did you get this…? ”
“His Grace said we had someone planted inside, did he not? ”
Dylan had a habit of saying outrageous things as if they were perfectly normal.
The knights didn’t look surprised at all—clearly this was nothing new to them.
Well, they are people who excel on the battlefield.
Agnès forced herself to stay composed and studied the blueprint.
Her pale, elegant hands moved quickly across the paper as she pointed things out.
“Here… this wine cellar has an extra underground space.”
“You remember the direction as well? ”
“Yes. Let me think…”
She imagined herself standing inside the wine cellar again. She had only been there a few times, but the strange space had been so memorable she remembered it well.
“The entrance was here—so that’s the east side. Inside was a wide, empty room. When I asked the Count why he didn’t store wine there as well, he said the space was reserved for something else and refused.”
“We should check that. Any others? ”
“Here—the master bedroom has a secret passage. If you move the bed, an entrance appears…”
“Oh, that was a fashionable design at one time. Does the ladder go down a long way? ”
“Yes. Supposedly built so someone could escape if something happened.”
At this, the youngest knight, Daren, snorted.
“Drop your sword at the entrance and you’d be injured before you got anywhere. How could anyone escape through something so flimsy? Rich scholars who never leave home really don’t understand anything.”
“Even without us crawl-space hunters, most knights can easily find those weak secret passages. If you really want to hide something, behind or under furniture is best. If a knight can’t think to check those places, he should quit.”
“You two! Mind your manners! ”
As Erion chimed in, Bram—who had been listening most seriously—chopped both of them hard on the head.
Thwack!
The sound was loud enough that Agnès worried their heads had split in half.
“My lady, ignore these foolish kids. Please continue. I’ll punish them properly later.”
They had clearly already been punished, but…
Despite Agnès’s concern, Daren and Erion only rubbed their heads with teary eyes.
Then both bowed deeply.
“We apologize! ”
“We’re very sorry, my lady! ”
Agnès didn’t know whether to laugh or cry but continued:
“I believe there’s a secret passage in the study as well. There’s a bookshelf along this wall, and sometimes I hear wind passing through it.”
“I see. The exterior shape doesn’t match the interior layout.”
“Yes. Even when the Count was in his study, sometimes he wouldn’t respond when I knocked. Later, when I entered, it felt like he hadn’t actually been inside the whole time. The room would be warm, yet still have a strange cold draft.”
“Then it likely connects to outside. Not just a hidden room.”
“And besides that…”
Agnès explained for quite a while.
The knights, who were joking earlier, gradually became serious—this truly was their area of expertise, no matter how they learned it.
Eventually they fell into their own world, discussing things like
- what method a corridor must have been built with,
- which direction it would extend,
- whether it could pass under a nearby temple…
Most of it was impossible for Agnès to understand.
Naturally, her gaze drifted away from them—toward Dylan.
He simply watched the knights discuss, never joining the noise.
He was likely thinking about the secret passages too.
Occasionally, he winced slightly, touching his ear as if their chatter was too loud.
Even such a mildly arrogant gesture looked elegant on him.
Clearly, Dylan was someone born to stand above others.
Even if he hadn’t been born a royal or noble, he would have carried this natural charisma.
But as Agnès kept watching, she started noticing things others wouldn’t.
Slight dark circles under his eyes.
His fingers repeatedly clenching and relaxing.
The way he pressed his thumb to his temple from time to time.
All signs of exhaustion.
Agnès immediately thought of his feeding cycle.
It’s only been four days…
