~Chapter 20~
“I’m sorry, Captain! I swear, it wasn’t that I didn’t want to report— I just wanted to be more certain! Honestly, I wasn’t trying to hide anything, I just wanted to check again before I told you, ah—”
“….”
To everyone’s shock, Nayden—who was always expected to blow up in anger—simply turned his back and walked away. That had never happened before, and Lou’s eyes darted anxiously.
“Wow, I’m really dead now.”
“Well done, idiot.”
“May you rest in peace. Why do you always screw up at the worst times?”
“Step on him.”
As the other officers began to “discipline” Lou in their own way, Nayden forgot even about punishing him and headed straight for his own room. The first thing he did was check all the investigation materials and reports.
The Valencia family had been extremely discreet in collecting evidence, worried that the Sabanio side might catch on.
No other traces of investigation found.
“….”
He’d passed over that line carelessly before, but now it struck him with a different weight.
Why were there no other traces? After all, someone had organized everything and delivered it in advance.
Nayden, just to be sure, also visited the acquaintance of the physician who supposedly oversaw the Sabanio lady’s childbirth.
“I never spoke of it to anyone, truly. When someone asked, I was shocked. Anderson never told anyone but me, right?”
“….”
Thank goodness he’d told his servants and guards to wait outside. Even in this situation, he was annoyed at himself for thinking of her.
“Let’s just keep this to ourselves. Can I trust you?”
Clink—
“……!”
A pouch heavy with gold coins landed on the table. After checking the Valencia insignia on Nayden’s button, Billy swallowed hard.
“Yes. I won’t ever mention this again, sir.”
“Good. I’ll trust you.”
Leaving the annex where he’d gathered statements, Nayden returned to his room and buried his face in his hands. He didn’t know why, but a sense of betrayal surged inside him.
“…So that’s why she wanted to keep her distance.”
She was hiding something.
Not because of that damned fiancé or because of Valencia, but because she was concealing something of her own.
That was why she wanted to keep him at arm’s length.
He remembered what happened in the dungeon, but now even that seemed suspicious.
…She told me to keep my distance.
Fine. But that would only happen after he uncovered all of her secrets.
He wouldn’t let go until he found out why she had dragged his and his mother’s story into the light.
“….”
Finally regaining his composure, he rang for his attendant. The first order of business: to reinvestigate Rachel Ingrave.
Meanwhile, thinking that all matters were finally settled, Rachel decided it was time to visit the family library.
Her parents, except for a few hours of sleep, were busy with all manner of banquets, balls, and meetings.
Her little brother was away at the knight academy and still too young to be involved.
The butler had hardly made a peep since that incident, so it was a perfect time to get started. And she had a good excuse:
Having just had her engagement broken off, who could object if she said she wanted to read quietly in the library until things calmed down?
“Let’s go to the library.”
“Yes, my lady.”
The library, filled with family history, the journals of past lords, and books about supernatural powers, was tightly guarded.
When she arrived, the knights at the door let her in. Inside, she saw a vast two-story space crammed with books.
A librarian at a desk near the entrance rose to greet her.
“Welcome, my lady.”
“I’m just here to look at some books.”
“Certainly. However, you cannot bring your maid or guards to the second floor. I hope you understand.”
“I know. Can I see the list of second-floor books?”
“Here you are. Please remember to return it when you’re done.”
The librarian handed her a thick volume listing titles, summaries, and locations.
“Thank you.”
“Not at all.”
Rachel told Becky and the guards to sit and relax at a nearby table, then made her way up the stairs, eyes skimming the catalog.
“Let’s see…”
Making sure the librarian wouldn’t notice her actions, she quietly moved among the shelves and pulled out the books she needed.
There were two things she wanted to know:
-
How to use the <Regression> ability.
-
And whether the “Record” might affect her current life.
She’d managed to resolve a disaster five years early, but what if there were penalties or side effects?
So far, nothing had happened, but—
“Still, it’s best to be sure.”
The Ingrave family had been listed as a “powerless” house for over three hundred years.
Rachel could only rely on the documents here.
Maybe the imperial palace had some records too, but…
Even though they were listed among “powerless” families, <Regression> was a famous ability, appearing even in the founding myths.
‘But you never know.’
For now, this was the place to start.
Rachel gathered every book about <Regression> she could find and stacked them on a table. With her parents out and a perfect excuse, it was the ideal time for research.
Neigh—
A carriage bearing the white clock crest stopped before the Ingrave estate. Ilya Ingrave, returning from knight academy, had arrived.
“Welcome home, young master.”
The deputy butler was now a familiar sight.
Ilya’s gaze drifted toward his sister’s room. The window was dark in the setting sun.
“Where’s my sister?”
“The young lady is in the library. I believe she’s reading.”
“……!”
It had been ages since she’d left her room, even if she hadn’t actually left the mansion.
He hesitated for a moment.
‘Should I go see her?’
They’d grown distant lately, but now he had some idea why.
The butler had exploited his sister’s kindness, and he—and everyone else—had failed to notice what her fiancé was doing to her.
He truly was an unworthy brother. Of all people, he should have sensed her misery.
“Let’s go to the library.”
“Yes, young master.”
The library, filled with rare books, was deep within the mansion. After passing the guards, Ilya entered. The librarian, his sister’s maid, and the guards greeted him.
“Young master.”
“That’s fine. Where’s my sister?”
“She’s on the second floor.”
Ilya glanced nervously upstairs and gestured to his attendant and the guards.
“Wait here. That goes for you all, too.”
“Yes, young master.”
He climbed the stairs. It wasn’t hard to find his sister—she’d built a veritable mountain of books.
But all the books were about supernatural powers.
“Sister…?”
Noticing someone at last, Rachel looked up. She hesitated when she saw Ilya, then blushed at the stack of books, but soon she smiled lightly.
“Hello, Ilya.”
“….”
Rachel closed her book and began tidying up the stack, checking the catalog and returning each book to its place.
Ilya fidgeted before finally asking,
“Why are you suddenly looking up the <Regression> ability?”
She wanted to deny it, but—
The History of House Ingrave, The First Marquis Ingrave, The History of <Regression> Bearers, Great Beasts and <Regression>…
With all those titles on the table, there was no way to hide it. Rachel decided to make something up.
