Chapter 92
“An Unexpected Helper”
“Is it certain?”
At Edwin’s question, Lani lowered her head without answering.
Seeing her hesitate as if unsure how to respond, Ross, the butler of House Elliana, called her sharply.
“Lani.”
“Ah, th-that is… I couldn’t follow her into the room, so I don’t know exactly who the young lady met. I-I really don’t!”
Flustered by their sharp gazes, Lani added in a hurry.
Edwin observed her for a moment, then tilted his head slightly, as if to tell her to leave.
Lani quickly bowed and rushed out of the room before anyone could stop her.
When the door shut with a click, Ross spoke to Edwin with a grim face.
“I will investigate personally, my lord.”
“There’s no need.”
“Sir? But—”
“The one Heidi met was certainly the Marquess.”
Edwin spoke firmly, leaving no room for doubt.
Ross didn’t seem to understand, but Edwin silently crumpled the note he had received from his informant earlier.
[Confirmed the target heading to Café Estelle. Companion uncertain.]
If the Marquess had gone to the café, then the one Heidi met must have been him.
After all, the scent of perfume lingering in that reception room from the other day had undeniably been Heidi’s.
“Leave me.”
“…Yes, sir.”
Ross bowed and left. Edwin listened to the click of the closing door, then sank heavily back into his chair.
“Why…?”
The Marquess of Piace he knew was a cunning, sinister man.
He had expected Heidi to be terrified after dealing with him. Yet during the past few days, while she had been shut away, she had smiled brightly, laughing as though nothing troubled her—so unlike the daughter he thought he knew.
“….”
Watching her, Edwin felt he no longer understood his own child.
Was this really the sweet, beloved daughter he had once known?
With a heavy heart, he ran a hand down his face.
Tap.
Suddenly, a small stone struck the window behind him.
Edwin turned at once, flung it open—but no one was outside.
“Who could that be…?”
Just as he was about to close the window, his eyes caught sight of a small folded note left on the sill.
Edwin unfolded it, doubtful—then froze on the spot.
[In Raymond, traces of the target’s movements were found, along with signs of life in the cabin purchased 10 years ago. Currently, an unidentified woman is confirmed to be held captive there.]
“Ten years ago… Ross!”
Edwin yanked the summoning rope and, unable to wait, rushed to the office door.
Ross hurried in at his master’s shout, startled by Edwin’s pale face.
“My lord, what on earth—”
“Prepare to leave for Raymond.”
“Sir? But—”
“Right now!”
“Y-yes, sir!”
Ross spun on his heel and dashed off at Edwin’s thunderous command.
Watching him disappear, Edwin bit his lips hard.
“Anna…”
The name he had tried so long to forget once again chained itself around his heart like iron shackles.
Ban recalled the words Calliere had spoken to him.
“I want you to investigate Crocan Piace.”
The simplest way to track information was to trace it backward in time.
That was why Ban had gone to the Babylon Forest, where Rebellia had most recently stayed. Remembering the strange traces he had found there, he frowned.
Hollowed earth, unnaturally broken branches… and most of all…
What bothered him the most was the attic of the cabin where Rebellia had stayed—and the large tree nearby, showing clear signs someone had been watching from there.
Ban was certain Calliere had noticed it too.
‘His Grace must have known someone was watching. Did he suspect those traces were connected to Crocan Piace?’
Ban ran his hand through his hair in frustration. Even looking back on all his past missions, this one felt ominous—far from ordinary.
‘After all, for the Grand Duke of Hestonia to be tangled with a Marquess of Xeros…’
“Ah? Sir Ban?”
Dangerous thoughts swirled in his mind, but suddenly a voice called out to him.
Ban stopped and frowned at the boy running toward him from a distance—red-haired, freckled, waving excitedly.
That face…
“…Could it be Paul?”
“You remember me? Have you been well?”
“Yes, I’ve been fine. But if you’re here, that means…”
“Hahaha! Long time no see, Ban!”
“…So the old man is here too, then.”
Ban’s face showed annoyance, but Len only laughed heartily.
Ban sighed, folding his arms across his chest.
“Why has a Xeros trading guild come all the way here?”
“Because of the wheat shortage. We’ve been importing wheat from Esperos territory. That’s why we crossed the border.”
“…That news even reached you?”
“You don’t seem to know, but our guild has grown quite a lot lately. Supplying wheat to Esperos is no problem for us now.”
“…”
“And besides, this is also the place where my little brother—who hardly ever comes home—has been staying.”
Ban shook his head, exasperated at Len’s playful tone. He hadn’t expected to run into his older brother here of all places, when they only saw each other a handful of times a year.
Staring at Len, Ban suddenly thought of something and asked:
“This is perfect. I wanted to ask someone who knows all the news in Xeros. You know about the Marquess of Piace, right? If your guild is big enough to trade with Esperos, you must have had some dealings with him.”
The moment Piace’s name was mentioned, Len’s expression hardened, and Ban froze.
‘What was that reaction?’
Len forced a stiff smile.
“…I’m not sure. The Marquess of Piace doesn’t often change the guilds he works with.”
“You must remember something. He’s too distinctive not to. He’s one-eyed, after all.”
“I really don’t know—!”
“If you mean one-eyed, isn’t that the man we saw in Raymond? The one—”
“Paul!”
Len quickly clamped his hand over Paul’s mouth, but Ban had already caught the boy’s words.
Watching Len sigh in frustration, Ban’s lips twisted into a smirk.
“This is why kids are scary—they’re honest. Unlike adults.”
“…Yes, it’s true. We saw the Marquess in Raymond. But Ban—whatever you’re planning, don’t dig too deep.”
“….”
“It’s dangerous.”
Ban’s eyes darkened.
“Brother, if not for the Grand Duke of Esperos, I would have died five years ago already.”
Len fell silent at his younger brother’s firm words.
Sensing the heavy atmosphere between them, Paul fidgeted nervously.
“D-did I say something wrong?”
“No. You said it very well, Paul.”
“….”
“I believe people shouldn’t be cowards, nor should they live without shame.”
Ban’s mocking words made Len grimace briefly before he turned to Paul with resignation.
“Go back to the guild members, Paul. My brother and I have much to talk about.”
“Yes, sir.”
Paul glanced back several times as he hurried away, worried about the two brothers’ serious faces.
He only hoped their conversation would end well.
