Chapter 43
“You could have come and asked me directly. I even told you it was fine to do so.”
He didn’t say that for no reason.
He must have known I still had the medicine bottle hidden in my coat.
“Why didn’t you take it back?”
“Because that wasn’t the only clue. Losing one piece wouldn’t stop us from finding their hideout.”
“But still…”
“You don’t need to prove to me that you’re not one of the heretics. I already know.”
Well, that was a relief — that he trusted me.
“But about your attendant — the one I saw at the Imperial banquet.”
“Oh.”
Just like Friane, everyone had sharp eyes. They had only seen him briefly that night, yet somehow recognized him so easily.
“Do you trust him?”
“…Sorry?”
“I asked how much you trust that man.”
“…Is that important?”
“You should know how far our shared secrets might spread.”
I understood what he meant.
“I promise to keep everything strictly confidential — for official matters.”
“There’s no need to be that tense. I’m the one who brought you into this. It’s only right that I put in the effort too.”
“…”
His words sounded generous, but they made me think even more deeply.
“To be honest, Your Grace… I don’t really know how I can be of help to you.”
“It’s not that hard.”
The Duke buttoned his jacket and stood up.
“You just keep doing what you do best.”
I followed his movement, still confused.
“In the next few days, you’ll officially join the investigation to track down the heretics. But privately, you’re free to pursue your own goal.”
My mouth opened slightly in surprise.
Honestly, I had planned to do that even without his permission — but I didn’t expect him to say it out loud.
He must have noticed how blank my expression was, because he added patiently,
“You seem to have forgotten again.”
“…”
“Do I need to remind you that I was one of the people involved in that incident?”
“I remember…”
“And if that incident is tied to the heretics, then no one is more capable of finding its trail than you.”
He was right.
I ran my fingers along the object hidden inside my coat — and then, almost on impulse, pulled it out and placed it before him.
“What’s this?”
“It’s something the Temple already collected, but I found this symbol there.”
The Duke unfolded the piece of parchment I handed him.
The design was complicated — like a maze, yet strangely ordered.
“It was half burned, so I couldn’t be sure, but I think it was a letter.”
“A letter,” he repeated quietly.
“I thought it might be important, so I memorized and redrew it later.”
“And what made you think it was important?”
“My instincts. It didn’t just look familiar… it felt familiar.”
“So, you want to investigate this symbol further.”
“…Yes, Your Grace.”
The Duke tilted his head slightly and gestured for me to follow.
“Come with me.”
That was how, that day, I learned that there was a prison beneath the Duke’s official residence.
The air underground was thick and stale, filled with the metallic smell of iron and blood.
We passed several guards standing stiffly at attention before reaching a single cell.
Inside, a man was lying curled on the floor — a large tattoo of the heretics’ symbol covered his forehead and around his eyes.
The guard banged on the bars.
“Get up!”
The man didn’t move — until the Duke’s shadow fell over him. Then he slowly opened his eyes.
The Duke knelt slightly and held out the parchment so the man could see.
He didn’t say a word — not “Have you seen this symbol?” or “What do you know about it?”
He only watched the man’s face — closely, intently — as his eyes fell on the design.
“…What’s this?”
The man finally muttered.
The Duke stood up immediately, turning his back so the prisoner couldn’t see my face.
“That’s enough. Let’s go.”
As we climbed the stairs out of the dungeon, I couldn’t hold back my question.
“Your Grace, what just happened?”
“He recognized the symbol,” the Duke said calmly. “And he tried to hide it.”
Our eyes met, and he nodded once.
“Yes. This is a clue.”
A clue that could lead us to the core of the heretics’ secret.
Maybe even to the truth I’d been searching for all this time.
I didn’t know yet. But I would find out.
“Have you never seen that symbol before, Your Grace?”
“Not that I recall.”
That was strange.
If someone like me — with far fewer connections — had seen it before, yet the Duke, with all his knowledge of the Empire, hadn’t…
“Then it seems you have a personal connection to it.”
So it wasn’t a simple family crest or anything like that.
“Of course, we’ll conduct our own investigation as well.”
“Yes, I’ll look into it myself too.”
“Good.”
He paused for a moment, thinking, then added,
“If you expect trouble or conflict with outside parties, report to me first.”
“Then, if you find any new clues, will you share them with me as well?”
“Of course.”
I nodded, satisfied.
“I’ll do the same.”
“…I’ll share them,” he said — but his tone suddenly shifted.
The Duke never changed his words mid-sentence, so this was unusual.
“To go out to the field together, though, you’ll need at least basic preparation.”
“What kind of preparation?”
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
It was his assistant — the same one who could barely hide his displeasure every time he saw me.
I had a bad feeling.
“Let me properly introduce you,” the Duke said. “This is my direct aide, Sir Vatar.”
“…Hello, Sir.”
“…”
The aide’s lips twitched slightly, like he wanted to sneer.
But the Duke continued calmly,
“Sir Vatar will help you with the training and preparations needed for fieldwork. From now on, report to him when you come in.”
“…”
I wanted to ask if anyone else could do it instead, but the words stuck in my throat.
He was watching me — and said sharply,
“Vatar is the best at what he does. He’ll help you the most.”
He might be the best, but he also clearly wanted me to disappear.
Still, I forced a polite nod.
Fine. I’d finish whatever “preparation” he planned — and do it faster than anyone.
Sir Vatar, catching my look, raised an eyebrow — and a thin, sly smile crossed his face.
…Great. I’m definitely going to suffer.
When we left the office, walking side by side, he said mockingly,
“What a pity.”
“What is?”
I answered flatly.
“You must be disappointed. You thought you’d get closer to His Grace, but this happened instead.”
He said it so confidently, as if he knew that was my goal.
I couldn’t help but smirk.
Even if I was smiling, my eyes were cold.
“Why? You don’t think you seem interesting enough?”
I lifted one corner of my mouth higher.
His face went pale, and he stepped back.
“You should give up. There’s no chance.”
“That depends on how you behave, Sir.”
“…”
Realizing I was teasing him, his color slowly returned.
“If you cause any scandal in the main office, I’ll report you myself — even if it costs me my position.”
“So what exactly is this ‘basic preparation’ you mentioned?”
“Come early tomorrow morning. You’ll find out then.”
He looked me over and added curtly,
“And don’t wear a dress like that.”
I suddenly had a bad feeling — one that involved sweat, dirt, and exhaustion.
As I left the building, looking gloomy, I saw a familiar carriage waiting near the entrance.
No — not the carriage itself, but the family crest painted on its side.
When I recognized even the coachman’s face, I frowned and turned to leave — maybe there was a back door.
“Why are you avoiding me?”
The voice behind me made me freeze.
Rohwinas walked straight up and blocked my way.
“If you’re not doing anything shameful, you don’t need to hide, do you?”
“If you have something to say, say it quickly. I’m busy these days.”
“Busy?”
But instead of explaining, Rohwinas smiled — a quiet, chilling smile.
I felt a shiver crawl up the back of my neck.
What was with that look…
Why did he look so dangerous?
