Chapter 29

Edith’s golden eyes widened as she read the headline in the newspaper that Perrel had shown her.

[Some Perpetrators of the Hasmal City Hall Terror Arrested]

“Pe-Perrel… can you hold Leon for a moment?”

Handing Leon to Perrel, Edith took the newspaper with trembling hands. The content was almost unbelievable.

[Stifts, Hasmal’s secret police, recently obtained intelligence that the Berg resistance responsible for the City Hall attack was hiding in the border region of Hasmal. After a persistent investigation, two main culprits have been apprehended. (Excerpt) Authorities plan to uncover further crimes through interrogation.]

“…Sasha, Karon.”

Spring… will it really come?

Edith shuddered heavily.

For several days, the weather had been unusual, and a snowstorm had swept through at dawn, shaking the window frames and keeping her awake. By daybreak, it seemed to calm a little, but now sleet was falling steadily.

From the second floor, Edith looked down at the dim scenery through the window and spotted a woman walking toward the mansion with an umbrella. Her tiny footprints dotted the slushy snow.

Edith left her room and went down to the first floor. Perrel was already waiting in the living room.

Soon, the door opened, letting in a cold gust of wind. Both their gazes turned to the woman who had entered with the breeze.

“Mrs. Marie.”

“Ma’am!”

“Was everything alright?”

Perrel and Edith both rose simultaneously and approached her. Mrs. Marie gave an awkward smile as she brushed the sleet off her shoulders.

“Why all the fuss? Of course, everything’s fine. Here.”

With a calm smile, Mrs. Marie pulled a paper envelope from her arms—it was a telegram she had picked up from the post office.

After learning that the Stifts’ pursuit had expanded overseas, Mrs. Marie had been handling most of Edith’s external activities that required identification.

“I was worried. Things have been so tense lately…”

“You don’t have to worry, miss. You know I’m from Glissen.”

Although she had lived in Berg as the Edith household’s housekeeper for many years, her nationality was Glissen. This gave her confidence. Even if it were revealed that she had cooperated with the Berg resistance, Hasmal had no authority to punish her.

“…Thank you, as always.”

Edith expressed her gratitude. Marie had helped with almost every aspect of life in Glissen. While their long-standing connection was a reason, Edith felt it wasn’t the only one. Though slightly strict at times, Marie was fundamentally kind and benevolent.

Handing the telegram to Perrel, he headed to the basement to decrypt the messages sent in Enigma code by the Berg resistance.

“Sit down, Edith.”

Still standing in a daze, Edith finally sat on the living room sofa.

Crackle.

The sound of burning logs was distinct—normally, it would have been drowned out by the soft conversation in the room, but in recent days, everyone had fallen silent.

In the quiet, Edith clasped her sweat-moist hands together as if praying.

Please, let it not be true. Let it just be a propaganda article.

Her breaths grew rapid with anxiety, while time seemed to stretch unbearably. Every second until Perrel emerged felt like an eternity.

Finally, Edith faced Perrel. His expression was extremely grave. Her face turned pale.

“Perrel…”

The relatively calm voice was not Edith’s, but Mrs. Marie’s. Perrel lowered his head with a deep sigh.

“…I had hoped it wasn’t true.”

“…”

“As expected, Karon and Sasha were indeed captured by the Stifts.”

Silence engulfed the room once more. Perhaps someone had gasped, but a despairing Edith did not hear it.

“Oh my! Her belly has really grown. When is she due?”

“Hehe, February next year.”

“Karon will be so happy to become a father.”

In her mind, Sasha’s swollen belly appeared vividly, along with the image of her caressing it, full of excitement.

“Uh… how…”

Edith swayed and collapsed onto the sofa. Her dry lower lip curled inside her teeth. It was Mrs. Marie who spoke in place of her.

“What condition are they in right now?”

“Fortunately, they seem unharmed. We haven’t seen them in person, as visits are not allowed.”

“That’s a relief, at least.”

“We need to move the hideout first. Not just Sasha and Karon, but the number of resistance members being captured has recently surged. All are under intensive investigation. Our location may have been exposed.”

“Yes. I anticipated that and scouted a location far away from Hasmal.”

Even while exchanging words, Edith remained silent. Her unfocused golden eyes wandered blankly. Perrel and Marie noticed but did not push her. It was a difficult conversation for both the speaker and listener.

After a long moment, Edith finally spoke.

“…Perrel.”

“Yes, Edith. Speak.”

“I must send a telegram to Crown Prince Bariel.”

“Miss!”

“Edith.”

Marie’s face reflected shock, while Perrel sighed as if he had expected this. Their eyes focused on Edith’s determined expression, and she met their gaze one by one.

“You know there’s no other way.”

“Are you planning an all-out battle?”

“If necessary.”

Saving Sasha and Karon, arrested as the main perpetrators of terror and assassination, was a matter of a completely different scale from rescuing Lorice and her group, who were caught for illegal movement.

This could not be solved with bribes or brokers. It had to be done this way.

“No matter what, it can’t be done. Negotiations with Glissen aren’t complete yet… If we’re not careful, Berg might face Hasmal alone.”

Edith knew this too. But…

“Sasha… is due next month.”

“….”

“We must save them, somehow.”

“….”

“If we abandon even such people easily, the morale of the other comrades will break. So, for everyone’s sake, we must act.”

Edith slowly stood. Neither of them tried to stop her further—perhaps they couldn’t.

“Perrel, send a telegram to Crown Prince Bariel.”

“….”

“Tell him I wish to see him.”

“…Understood.”

“We’ll also need Mrs. Marie’s help with the hideout this time. Please, as quickly as possible.”

“Understood, miss.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

With that, the three quickly dispersed to their respective spaces. Everyone was anxious and needed time to gather their thoughts.

Up in the second-floor bedroom, Edith gently stroked Leon’s black hair as he napped on the bed.

The weather outside was still grim.

Hopefully, it clears tomorrow.

Even if not tomorrow, someday…

“May the dazzling sunlight shine again.”

Edith murmured softly, recalling lyrics she had once heard.

With a whistle, the train came to a stop. Steam from the chimney blurred the platform. Despite the bad weather, the platform was packed with people. Emerging from the crowd, Jeckart stood on the slushy, wet street.

[Welcome to Glissen.]

Staring at the worn sign with a clichéd greeting, he took out a cigarette. The acrid smoke clouded his vision.

Finally… this is Glissen.

The woman… no, Perrel Monty, is here.