Chapter : 150
Count Enok was the head of the temple faction and the most influential judge in Dekan. Lately, he had become extremely busy because of Duke Taylor.
The first reason was, of course, the lawsuit Duke Taylor had filed to nullify the investment contract against Hazel Chernin.
As he sifted through the mountain of documents, the nobles working with him spoke.
“Other families who signed investment contracts with Taylor are getting restless. They’re worried he might claim that the contracts he made with them are also fraudulent.”
“Fraud… it’s not exactly wrong, is it?”
One noble pointed to the documents he had been examining and shook his head.
“How could anyone have even stamped these? If they had properly reviewed them and consulted with their vassals, there’s no way they would have agreed to this. This… is basically a contract to give money for nothing, isn’t it?”
“It would be fortunate if it ended with a refusal to stamp. If someone had presented me with such a contract, I wouldn’t have stayed quiet. I would have openly ignored it.”
“No wonder the nobles around Saxen and Chernin called Taylor a ‘vault.’”
The second reason for his busy schedule was the lawsuit filed by Duke Taylor to nullify the marriage between Duke Richmond and Grace.
“They’re saying the Grace Lady was expelled from her family, yet now they claim they never stamped the documents…”
“It would make sense if the Richmond family waged a feudal war against Taylor after this.”
While everyone exchanged opinions, Count Enok merely burned incense and remained silent.
Behind the major lawsuits triggered by Duke Taylor were massive powers, each with different intentions. This was not a matter that could be judged simply on right or wrong.
More than a decade ago, when Dekan’s four major ducal families were collapsing one after another, nobles aligned with the temple managed to survive.
Back then, he had believed it was because the Vicar had performed his role well. Thanks to the head performing his duties, no one had been killed like the Richmonds or Taylors.
But as time went on, Count Enok’s view changed. The Vicar refused to leave the sanctuary to save his own life, and in the meantime, the temple began to crumble rapidly.
At the critical juncture a decade ago, the Vicar had missteered the ship. So now, at this reappearing crossroads, where should the ship be directed?
At that moment, his wife entered with a knock.
She silently gestured that a secret guest had arrived. Count Enok extinguished his incense and stood.
The first visitor was Hedtvy, a maid sent by the Empress. She delivered the Empress’s orders concisely and left.
“What did she say?”
At his wife’s question, Count Enok raised an eyebrow.
“She said to do whatever Duke Taylor wants. Makes sense, since the one controlling Duke Taylor now is none other than Count Saxen.”
“…More guests will come, then.”
Just as his wife predicted, shortly after the Empress’s maid left, another visitor arrived.
It was Gale, the steward of the Chernin family.
A man as enigmatic as Count Chernin himself.
With brown hair reaching his back and glasses, it was nearly impossible to guess his intentions. Noble or commoner? Age? Place of birth? Most information about him was mere rumor.
Some said Gale was also one of the invisible powers. Others claimed he was secretly manipulating Hazel.
One thing was certain: Hazel Chernin trusted only him. By bowing his ring and little finger, Gale had earned her trust. There was no doubt that he was her person.
Gale delivered Hazel’s letter without a word. Naturally, the letter contained a thinly veiled threat that Count Enok should side with her.
Count Enok set the letter down. In his desk drawer was a document his wife had brought—a sum of money received from Grace. It was a debt owed by the Enok family to Hazel Chernin and a binding obligation.
Yet he could not easily hand over the document. His mind was in turmoil.
When Grace had given the money, she was the Duchess of Richmond. But not now. If Richmond waged a feudal war against Taylor and both families weakened…
While Count Enok pondered alone, Gale spoke again.
“Are you still debating whether to side with Hazel Chernin or with Saxen?”
Count Enok looked up. Something about Gale’s words seemed strange, though he couldn’t pinpoint what.
Gale narrowed his eyes and tilted his head.
“Strange. I thought someone even handed you money to repay your debt… so why are you still hesitating?”
Count Enok’s eyes widened like lanterns. Only then did he realize the source of the unease he had felt in Gale’s tone.
Gale did not use honorifics for Hazel. Not “my lord,” not “count”—nothing. The person he honored was…
Count Enok stood abruptly without realizing it and asked,
“You’re… are you Grace Lady’s person?”
Gale remained silent. Count Enok bit his lip to hide the trembling. Then he managed to ask,
“…If I don’t side with her, Hazel Chernin will surely retaliate. Then what should I do?”
Gale blinked before answering,
“Soon, Hazel Chernin will have many targets for revenge. His forces are limited, so his power will be spread thin.”
“……”
“Hide where there are many people. There are merchants connected to Chernin in Sections 1 and 2 of District 3, so hide in a nameless inn in the run-down, labyrinthine alleys of Sections 3 or 4 and wait for the storm to pass.”
“Then rather… in the sanctuary—”
“I don’t think that’s a good choice. Also, sending the documents your master gave you to Hazel Chernin now is dangerous. Send them once the ruling is complete. I’ll return and tell your master that you chose to follow her will.”
With that, Gale left.
Count Enok stared blankly at the spot where he had disappeared.
Before he could regain his senses, the head maid of Duke Taylor’s wife arrived.
Count Enok naturally assumed she carried messages from the Taylors. But the documents she quietly handed over were not messages from the Taylors.
“……!!”
Count Enok rubbed his trembling hands over his eyes and ran them down his face.
When he looked up, Lady Cornwall’s deep gray eyes were unwavering.
“You were also Grace Lady’s person?!”
Count Enok took a deep breath and whispered,
“Do you know Gale, steward of the Chernin household?”
“…….”
Lady Cornwall said nothing, merely tugging her lips into a smile. Yet it sent chills down Count Enok’s spine. Rubbing his arms, he asked,
“When… when did Grace Lady… no, she, prepare all this?”
For the first time, Lady Cornwall spoke.
“Long ago.”
“……”
“My master said to convey this message: You must carefully watch where the water flows and comes from. It is time to make choices different from the past.”
Lady Cornwall stood and added,
“Tell John Ronin and Emma Ronin that you will initially take their side.”
John and Emma Ronin—the names of the current Duke Taylor couple in their baron days. To the woman before him, they had never been her masters, not for a single moment.
Count Enok squinted as Lady Cornwall pulled her hood over her head and left the room.
Soon after, Count Enok’s wife returned.
“What did she say?”
“……”
“Honey, what will you do?”
Count Enok rubbed his face and spoke in a firm, tight voice,
“You… it was Grace Rich… no, Grace Taylor who brought Richmond, Grafdon, and Eris back.”
His wife nodded resolutely.
“You didn’t believe it, but I’m certain.”
“No.”
“……?”
Count Enok turned to his wife.
“You may be right.”
“Then…?”
Count Enok set down the countless documents Lady Cornwall had brought and made up his mind.
“I now know exactly which current to set the ship in.”
