Chapter 9
“About the mine that Miss Odette mentioned… If that’s true, shouldn’t we take action immediately?”
Aden spoke, and Cesar crossed his legs and tilted his wine glass.
“The mine isn’t the only thing the Count took from me.”
“That’s true. But can we just stand by and do nothing?”
“Do you think I’m standing by?”
“No, but…”
Aden pursed his lips and spoke frankly.
“The Count is inciting support for the Emperor faction. He believes that unless he defeats your lordship, who has risen to fame as a war hero, it will cause serious repercussions. My lordship has been away from the Empire for so long that he hasn’t been able to gather forces. At this rate, the Emperor cannot be overthrown.”
The Emperor had buried the murder of Cesar’s biological father under the pretense of a personal feud.
Not only that, the Emperor had appointed the Count as Cesar’s godfather. As a result, Cesar suffered through a childhood of surveillance and abuse.
He must pay the price.
But now that luck had rolled into his hands in the form of Odette, Cesar had no reason to rush.
“Impossible. I already hold a very fine card capable of turning the world upside down.”
“Are you referring to Miss Odette?”
“Yes.”
Huh? Is this also a dream?
“The Count abducted the daughter and… sent a maid posing as my wife. That’s a serious crime. However, he could submit a fake certificate claiming Odette is already his adopted daughter and deny any wrongdoing.”
“Aden.”
“I apologize. I only called Odette a maid to speak frankly for your lordship’s sake.”
“Odette is not a maid.”
“Yes, I know.”
“No, that’s not what I meant… Odette is the daughter of Herabrua.”
Cesar swirled his wine glass and curled the corners of his lips.
“Herabrua, you say?”
“Yes. The Emperor… …!”
A sudden clatter drowned out the rest of Cesar’s words.
What? What just happened?
Trying to focus, Odette tilted her head in confusion.
Why did I enter Cesar’s dream?
Muttering in her mind had accidentally escaped as a voice.
“Odette?”
Cesar, noticing her pressed against the carriage door, was bewildered.
“What are you doing there?”
“Ahhh!”
Screaming, Odette fell to the floor, clutching her head.
It seemed she had woken from dozing in the carriage.
“Aaahh…”
“Oh dear, Miss. What kind of dream made you have a fit like that? Is your head okay?”
“Yes… no blood.”
“That’s a relief. I thought about waking you, but you were sleeping so deeply that I left you be. It’s time to regain your senses anyway, as we’re arriving at Laon Town.”
The city came into view outside the window. Laon Town, the commercial district, was full of carriages heading to every corner of the Empire.
Even if Cesar had followed Odette here, he would never be able to figure out where she went from this point.
By the way, Cesar knew my mother’s real name.
In the mountain village, her mother had introduced herself as “May,” but her real name was Herabrua Vallun. She had asked Odette to keep it secret.
Cesar called me the Emperor’s “something-something”…
So what if she was the Emperor’s hidden daughter? Could an illegitimate child really become a card that could overturn the world?
Strange… I’m not even carrying anything of Cesar’s on me.
She had the wedding ring, but it belonged to Amelia. Amelia had left it behind when fleeing, and Count Anderson had given it to Odette. There was no way she could enter Cesar’s dream.
It must be a ridiculous dream.
Shaking her head vigorously, Odette tried to erase the memory of the dream.
“We’ve arrived! Please get down!”
The carriage stopped, and the driver opened the door.
Odette and her companions, cramped in the carriage for so long, stepped down.
“Wow! This is chaotic.”
There were so many people rushing about, and carriages constantly moved along the main street. Coming from the quiet Haik Middleton district, her head spun from the bustling scene.
“Watch where you’re going!”
Odette bumped shoulders with someone and apologized.
“I’m sorry. My mistake.”
“If you’re that sorry, why not buy me a drink?”
The man wearing a beret winked playfully.
“I don’t have money for that.”
“Then shall I buy it for you?”
He shook a black leather pouch in his hand. It looked quite heavy.
Tch! Showing off money? But that pouch… I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before.
“I’m busy!”
Odette pulled her hood deeper and hurried past the man with the beret.
After walking some distance toward the carriage station, it seemed she was circling the same area. Asking directions might lead her somewhere dangerous.
“Crepes! Delicious crepes! Only 3 silver!”
A savory scent hit her. A street vendor had a mountain of freshly baked crepes for sale.
“My mother loved crepes.”
To ask for directions and buy one, she joined the long queue.
Slowly, the line moved, and finally, it was her turn.
“Two crepes, please.”
She planned to eat one here and take the other to her mother’s grave.
“Pretty miss, for 7 silver, I’ll give you three.”
“No, I only need two.”
Reaching into her pouch, Odette turned pale—the entire purse was gone.
The pouch that the man with the beret shook in front of me! That looked so familiar… it was mine!
The man in the beret had been the pickpocket.
In a strange city with no familiar faces…
Why is this happening to me?!
She should have realized then—it was a trap set by Cesar.
“Running away from home will bring trouble, Odette.”
From a nearby alley, Cesar watched her tearful reaction.
He hadn’t gone to the mine but left the area to give her a chance to flee.
He needed to see where she would go and who she would seek help from.
Odette didn’t know it, but she was the only weapon capable of overthrowing the Emperor.
She’s the daughter of the Great Saintess Herabrua, who is forbidden to marry, and the Emperor.
For twenty years, both the Emperor faction and the Nobility faction had been searching for Odette.
The Emperor faction to kill her, the Nobility faction to use her to overthrow the Emperor.
In the end, neither succeeded, and they all gave up.
To think Herabrua’s daughter is pretending to be a fake wife in my house…
The man with the beret approached and held out the leather pouch with both hands.
“The task you asked for is done.”
“Aden.”
Cesar turned to Aden.
“Give him the promised money and make sure he can’t leave his house for several days, beaten properly. How dare he approach my wife?”
“Sir! I did exactly as usual. I did the same when picking other wives’ pockets.”
The pickpocket bowed flat, begging not to be beaten.
“Is my wife the same as other women?”
“B-but he only winked… he didn’t touch her.”
“Then his eyes will have to be plucked out.”
“I have committed a mortal sin.”
“Shall I kill him?”
“No… sob…”
Terrified, the pickpocket was dragged away by the knights.
Cesar opened the leather pouch Aden had delivered.
“My wife is quite thrifty, it seems.”
Inside were soiled gold and silver coins, a jeweled brooch, necklace, and earrings.
These were things Odette had worn when Cesar returned to the mansion after the Victory Commemoration Ceremony.
“The wedding ring wasn’t taken, I see?”
Raising his gaze, he looked at Odette.
She had searched through her bag and hood pocket and finally started to cry.
“Why are you crying so beautifully? What if someone else tries to approach you?”
“Will you keep watching?”
“No.”
“Then should I go and fetch Miss Odette…?”
Cesar cut Aden off.
“I didn’t say help Odette. Hire a few vagrants and have her kidnapped.”
