Episode 9
Preparing for the walk to the outer castle was done quickly.
Even though it was summer, the northern region was still cool, so Eleonore had to wear a coat.
In just a few months, I won’t even be able to go outside dressed this lightly.
In the middle of winter, people almost had to dress like bears to go outside.
Eleonore felt lucky that the time she returned to was during the summer in Pertitz as she left the room with Becky.
“Greetings. My name is Benjamin Cliff. From today, I will be escorting you, Miss.”
“Nice to meet you, Sir Benjamin.”
Eleonore slightly raised her chin toward the familiar blond knight who bowed to her.
“Are you going for a walk?”
“No, I’m planning to go to the outer castle.”
“…Excuse me?”
Benjamin’s eyes widened. He had naturally assumed he would just escort her in the garden.
“I’d like to quietly change my mood for a while, so could you avoid reporting this to anyone except Head Butler Hekit?”
Benjamin looked visibly surprised.
“I don’t think it’s something forbidden.”
Eleonore said bluntly.
She had already argued about this with Becky once, and the thought of repeating the same argument annoyed her.
“…You’re right. It’s not forbidden.”
But surprisingly, Benjamin accepted her words easily.
What?
Eleonore tilted her head in confusion at his obedient attitude.
“You are the lady of the house. I believe you must have your reasons.”
Benjamin said in a loyal tone.
Eleonore’s eyes widened in surprise.
He trusts me this much? Based on what?
It was the first time in her life that someone trusted her like that.
“Head Butler Hekit told me that whatever you do, unless it is extremely dangerous, I should simply watch.”
Benjamin explained.
Ah, so Hekit told him that.
Eleonore instantly relaxed.
Hekit probably wants to discover the secret of my ability, so he chose to let me move freely while watching me.
The more freedom Eleonore had, the more chances she would have to make mistakes or reveal something.
Sir Benjamin seems to have interpreted Hekit’s words in a positive way.
Benjamin probably thought “leave Eleonore alone” meant “trust Eleonore.”
“I see. So the head butler said that. That’s good to hear. Then let’s go.”
Eleonore casually pointed toward the road leading to the outer castle.
“Yes. I will guard you carefully.”
Benjamin answered faithfully again.
Eleonore began walking quickly with him and Becky following behind.
***
Since Eleonore’s residence was located in a corner of the inner castle, the path to the outer castle wasn’t very far.
Because I’m still considered an outsider.
Eleonore looked once at her shabby residence and sighed.
If I want to be recognized as part of the duke’s family and gain power, I absolutely need to share a bed with Walter.
And today’s trip would be the first step toward that.
After about thirty minutes of walking, they reached a small gate leading outside.
It was normally used by milk sellers or candle merchants.
Eleonore had deliberately chosen this route because she didn’t want to attract attention.
Benjamin ordered the soldiers to open the gate.
Soon, Eleonore stepped outside the inner castle.
It’s just one wall, but it feels like my chest can finally breathe.
Unlike the suffocating inner castle surrounded by stone walls, the outer castle had a wide open sky.
Eleonore took a deep breath as she looked at the view.
I want to live in a place like this as soon as possible.
As she kept walking, more houses and shops appeared the farther they moved away from the inner castle.
“That’s Uncle Hans’s general store! It has a lot of interesting things. Do you want to go inside?”
Becky spoke excitedly.
“No.”
Eleonore refused immediately.
What Becky considered “interesting items” looked cheap and unimpressive to Eleonore.
More importantly, she had a clear goal today.
Before his next expedition, he stayed briefly at a certain place…
Eleonore desperately searched through her memories.
“Becky, do you know an inn that has animal bones decorating its entrance?”
“Huh? Animal bones?”
“I suddenly feel like seeing animal bones.”
“Oh… you weren’t interested in the general store, but suddenly you want to see animal bones…?”
Becky thought for a moment, then suddenly nodded.
“Oh! I know a place like that. But it’s about an hour’s walk from here. Is that okay? We could call a carriage.”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll walk.”
Eleonore answered without hesitation.
Becky asked again if she was really sure, but Eleonore didn’t change her mind.
After walking for a while, they finally saw an inn in the distance with white bones decorating the entrance.
They had arrived at the inn where Walter was secretly staying.
Eleonore quickly looked around the place.
Soon she noticed something strange.
The area around the inn was unusually quiet.
Even if he’s staying secretly, he can’t hide it from everyone nearby.
Even if they hid their identity, knights were staying there.
No ordinary villager would dare wander around this place.
I came to the right place.
Eleonore took a deep breath and pushed open the inn’s door with her remaining strength.
“We’re not accepting guests. Go to another inn.”
Before she even stepped inside, a loud voice from the innkeeper tried to drive her away.
Ignoring the innkeeper’s words, Eleonore walked inside, even more certain she had come to the right place.
“Hey, I told you we’re not accepting—”
The innkeeper stopped when he saw Benjamin standing behind her.
His eyes moved to Benjamin’s shoulder insignia.
It was the emblem of the knights of the Pertitz duchy—something anyone in the region would recognize.
The innkeeper looked confused.
At the same time, Benjamin also looked surprised.
It seemed he had realized that Walter was inside this inn.
“Miss, they say they are not accepting guests. Perhaps we should go back.”
Benjamin asked carefully.
But Eleonore shook her head.
“Tell the guest staying here that the ‘Black Lily’ has arrived. He’ll understand what it means.”
Eleonore said to the innkeeper.
Benjamin’s eyes widened in shock.
“How does Miss Vianello know that…?”
Benjamin asked in disbelief.
“Black Lily” was the military code used by the duke’s knights—including Walter—to refer to Eleonore.
How do I know? Because I died once and came back.
— Report that the Black Lily has been secured.
— The Black Lily is trying to escape!
In her previous life, when she was arrested for poisoning the saint, Eleonore heard Walter’s knights calling her “Black Lily.”
At that time she didn’t understand.
But while making her plans, she realized it was a military code.
“Well… how do you think I know?”
Instead of explaining about her previous life, Eleonore gave Benjamin a faint smile.
Benjamin’s eyes shook with surprise.
“Did you come here already knowing the Duke was here?”
Benjamin asked.
But Eleonore didn’t answer.
More precisely, she didn’t have time to answer.
Clank. Clank.
The sound of someone walking downstairs in heavy armor came from the second floor.
Everyone’s attention turned toward the stairs.
Clank. Clank.
The sound of the heavy armor grew closer, building a strange tension.
It’s Walter.
Eleonore was certain.
Just from the sound of the footsteps, she knew the man coming down was her husband—Walter Pertitz.
There’s only one person I know who can make people feel this tense.
Benjamin seemed to think the same thing, because his face had stiffened.
Clank.
Then, in the silence, a man finally appeared on the first floor.
