CHAPTER 59……………
“Three years ago, when you were 17, you attempted the heir qualification test, but you failed.”
As Eunice spoke, the memory unfolded vividly in my mind, like a scene from a movie.
The first ship of the founding head of the family, the Habarion.
The precious vessel, usually displayed in the family’s treasure hall, floated in the harbor, tied with ropes. Standing in front of it was 17-year-old Aristina, her side hair braided thinly and styled in an elegant, old-fashioned manner.
With Duke Kanel, the head of the family, and several relatives observing, Aristina stepped onto the platform. She raised high the family heirloom, the Heart of the Rose necklace, worn that morning as proof that she had been judged by the spirits of her ancestors for her qualification, and declared with both hands:
“I, Aristina Bianca Rosen, wish to be recognized by the ancestral spirits as a legitimate heir of the Rosen family!”
Fireworks erupted. The family knights waiting by the ship drew their swords and cut the ropes in unison.
Everyone believed Aristina would pass this part. She was reckless, yes, but she was the Duke’s only direct descendant. The family wouldn’t end its lineage on its own, so she had to be the choice.
Everyone thought that.
But…
The result was unexpected.
“Wait! Isn’t it sinking?”
“Why the hell is it sinking?”
“Grab it! Damn it, grab it!”
The ship sank as if rejecting the Duke’s only child.
Duke Kanel’s face turned red, his entire body stiffened, and he fell backward.
“Your Grace!”
Chaos broke out.
I shook my head.
It was a memory that made me feel like even my own trauma was being triggered.
“Although you were not recognized as the heir back then, seeing how remarkably you’ve changed gives me hope that this time will be different.”
Eunice said politely.
“So, why not attempt it again? Isn’t this the first step toward being recognized as the true heir?”
“Hmm…”
Duke Kanel’s red eyes narrowed.
“Hearing that from someone who’s always been skeptical of Aristina’s abilities suddenly makes it sound convincing.”
“Then, Your Grace, please trust her. After all, it’s your own daughter.”
“Hmph, I’d rather trust someone else if it were another person. But….”
The Duke’s cold eyes glanced at me.
“Just thinking about that incident back then makes my chest tighten. We need to decide on an heir soon. That said, it’s true that Aristina has achieved some things recently. Maybe a reattempt isn’t a bad idea.”
If I said I couldn’t do it here, I’d lose all the 20,000 points I earned earlier. Of course, I had no intention of saying that.
‘Is this the “important task” Eunice was preparing for? What exactly is she planning?’
The easiest way would be to make the ship sink again, but that ship moves on its own and even Duke Kanel cannot control it. How could Eunice possibly manipulate it?
‘I think she has another trick up her sleeve…’
I watched Eunice’s subtle expression change and spoke.
“Alright. If Father gives me the opportunity, I will gladly attempt it again. I was bored anyway, so this works out.”
“Good. Then shall we set the date? Or should we choose the location first?”
“I have a few places in mind.”
At Eunice’s words, the Duke’s eyes brightened.
“You handle everything so efficiently. Excellent. Even coming up with a solution no one else considered. Do you ever think about anything other than our family?”
Then he reached out.
“Work hard, but don’t overdo it.”
His pale hand gestured as if tapping her shoulder.
There was no actual contact, but considering Duke Kanel’s personality, it was an unusually friendly gesture.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
At that moment, Eunice’s voice sounded slightly strange, and her shoulders seemed awkwardly tense. Observing her sharply, I did not miss the moment.
Was it just my imagination?
‘She seems overly conscious of it.’
Usually, there are two possibilities: either she detests her superior pretending to be friendly and cannot hide it, or the opposite.
“The chief aide always visits the Duke’s bedroom first thing in the morning, no matter how busy she is. She even insists on handing him a towel herself because no one else can do it to her satisfaction.”
“The last time, she even replaced the Duke’s ceremonial attire chosen by the other ladies because she wasn’t satisfied, making him wear a completely new outfit.”
“She’s extremely devoted. She even watches him sleep for a long time to make sure he’s breathing.”
The servants’ words came to mind. I had thought it just showed Eunice’s meticulous perfectionism, but now it all seemed strangely significant.
‘Was this foreshadowing?’
No one else seemed to notice Eunice’s subtle behavior.
“Today, you don’t seem too tired. Since we’re out, shall we also check the locations the chief aide has prepared?”
The Duke said, glancing at me.
“What will you do now? If you have nothing…”
“I do have work! I need to organize here, and since we had record sales today, I’m holding a staff party… I’ll be a bit late.”
“‘Today too.’”
The Duke coldly corrected me and turned away. Eunice and the aides followed him out.
“Farewell, customers!”
As soon as they left, the staff murmured among themselves.
“Are we really having a party today?”
“Yes. But everyone will do it at home separately. Here’s your bonus.”
After giving generous rewards to the staff and guards, I left like the wind.
It’s very rare for the Duke, Eunice, and the aides to all go out. Today, the mansion would be like a tiger’s den without a tiger. This was my chance to search the rooms.
I hurried home and summoned all the maids who had become my loyal subordinates.
“I have tasks for everyone.”
A short while later.
The door opened, and Perdel, the mail-handling maid, came out carrying a pile of letters. Another maid followed her, also carrying mail.
A maid with ordinary brown hair falling to her shoulders, her dark face bowed low.
That was me. The other maids had disguised me perfectly according to my orders.
“Follow me.”
Perdel whispered as we went downstairs. Pretending to head to the aide’s office to stamp the mail, we naturally changed direction.
“This way.”
Perdel led me to the chief aide’s private room at the end of the hallway.
“Alert me immediately if anyone approaches.”
“Yes, Miss.”
A few maids, forced to pay close attention to my safety, came along to keep watch.
Leaving them behind, I carefully picked the lock of the door with the master key I had borrowed from Ruelian.
Eunice’s private room.
As expected of the highest-ranking aide among the Duke’s staff, the furniture and decorations were all luxurious. My eyes scanned around until they landed on a desk with a hinged lid.
‘That’s it.’
I set down the mail and inserted the master key into the desk lid.
Click.
The lock disengaged.
I lifted the lid, revealing the desk: books, writing utensils, plaques, small keepsakes. My eyes scanned the items as if searching with a spotlight, and then stopped at one spot.
A small plate.
It had some white ash on it—a trace of burnt paper.
Ruelian’s words came to mind.
“My feeling is that Eunice Gillian seems to be following someone’s orders.”
Then could this be the remains of a secret letter being burned?
‘Who sent it?’
I quietly picked up the plate to examine it, but the tiny ashes revealed nothing.
Carefully placing the plate back in its original spot, I noticed something in the inner corner of the desk.
A small frame, turned upside down.
‘Hmm?’
I pulled it out. It was just a plain picture of flowers. But the back of the frame felt unusually thick.
‘What’s this?’
I moved the latch and separated the back.
Beneath the visible flower picture were one or two more illustrations. I took them out and flipped the first one over.
The moment I did…
…Gasp!
I drew in a sharp breath in shock.
