6.Spy

It was the second time that I had watched a ruthless murder right under my nose. The neck that just fell wasn’t Kean’s.

Death headed for the unknown knight who stood next to him, unable to hide his anxiety all throughout.

I would face such a death someday. Like a broken doll, like a hound that had lost its need.

The duke spoke.

“I don’t know how many times I have told you to care about the insider. I don’t like the fact that you can’t learn how to do the same thing over and over again. Teaching you is bothersome, so take care of yourself.”

No one dared to open their mouths. All I could see was the duke’s wide back and his platinum hair under the night sky, but it was easy to notice that he was very unhappy with the situation.

“Berkne.”

“Yes.”

“Bring Ariel Crohertz to the mansion. Leave the rest to my butler.”

“Yes.”

Ariel Crohertz. The moment I heard the name, I lifted my head facing the floor. Marquis of Crohertz, the left arm of Prince Wilhelm, and a family that enjoys considerable power in the empire. From what he had mentioned at this point, Ariel was the guest living in the annex.

Wait. Was there a setting like this in the novel?

The daughter of Crohertz chose Ingord. No matter how much I through my memory, it was an unfamiliar situation. Fiora, the maid who appeared at that time, rushed to the side of the duke.

“Your Excellency. Marquis Crohertz has visited.”

There was a slight chill in the eyes of the duke, who could not feel any emotions other than a little nervousness.

“Ariel Crohertz was threatened, and in due course, Wilhelm’s loyal dog visited me…”

Obvious derision spread like pale paint over his white face. The burning black smoke, the smell of blood, and Duke Richton Ingord who reigns on it.

I suddenly remembered the moment when I begged for my life in Triviache. Every scene that entered my field of view felt just like then.

“Susan, what do you think?”

“Yes?”

“About Crohertz. “

I failed to respond properly to the duke’s sudden question as I tried to calm my feelings at the time.

What do I think? I was curious. But what is he asking me?

“I don’t know. All I know about the Crohertz family is that they’re of a prestigious bloodline.”

“You really don’t know?”

“Yes, I don’t lie to my master.”

The duke smiled dryly.

“Yes, if you say so…Fiora, bring the Marquis to the parlor.”

The duke’s gaze stung past my cheek. It was also difficult to determine the depth.

Why does he keep asking questions like this? Just to scare me? Or because he knows who I am?

The more I thought about it, the more complicated my mind became.

“Susan. I’m busy at the moment, so I’ll talk to you later about your work.”

Even Berkne disappeared after the duke. As I was left behind in the back garden, I returned to my bedroom. The night was so dark that the annex was likely to be organized tomorrow.

Yeah, let’s not worry about this anymore.

I don’t have any relationship with Crohertz anyway. The Duke was a scary man, too. And I didn’t intend to die like any other suspects.

***

The next day, I couldn’t get out of bed and had to lie down all day. There was no special reason, but to some extent, it was like a planned situation. It was because the condition of my body, which was fine the day before, had deteriorated rapidly.

‘It’s a pity that Susan is not feeling well, but if she goes on like this, she won’t be able to continue working in Ingord….’

‘Susan’s personal affairs are entirely up to you. In fact, there is no problem with managing the house without this one child.’

‘But His Excellency brought this child….’

There was a murmur in the middle, but there was no room to raise the body. Even though I wished dozens or hundreds of times that the man at dawn would come, that magic did not happen again.

***

It was not until two days later and sunset that I could move her body. On the fourth day of swallowing the poison, I was at least in a state I could handle.

“What happened? Oh, while you were sleeping… Um, do you remember the lady who was staying in the annex? Well, she’s the daughter of Marquis Crohertz.”

“I expected her to be from a great background…but it was such a great family. It was funny when the marquis came all the way to Ingord. The father and daughter pair don’t get along that well.”

I ate my food at the dinner table after a while, as I skipped meals or ate alone in my room due to my poor physical condition. Listening to the conversation, the annex incident had somehow ended while she was sick in bed.

“Watch your language, Lina. The stories of their world have nothing to do with us, so don’t pay too much attention.”

“You’re very worried. Who would listen to employees talking at the table?”

“I’m saying this all for you. It’s darker under the lamp.”

(T/N: it’s darker under the lamp means- it’s always the last place that you look)

Mrs. Colento pointed out while Lina just shrugged her shoulders. Mrs. Colento was definitely more cautious than the others.

He visited Duke Ingord’s residence and saw the annex fall down by chance. Perhaps he must have been nervous and thought of taking away his daughter.

I see. There was a reason why he expressed displeasure even by looking at the blood.

Duke Richton continued to fight the forces of Prince Wilhelm, even without my knowledge.

Is it because of Crohertz’s daughter? Or was it because his political opponent achieved what he wanted?

Either way, for Duke Richton, the existence of Wilhelm seemed to be the spark of the fuse. Maybe more than just the level I had encountered in the book. I asked the maid.

“Come to think of it, I can’t see Reina.”

“She was in charge of the annex. She must be busy cleaning it right now. She should have eaten, so you don’t have to worry. She asked about your health… It hasn’t been long yet you two are very close..”

“I think our personalities suit each other well.”

After eating quite refreshingly at the noisy table, I headed to the office to receive a glass bottle of poison today. Considering the pain I had to endure, my eyes went dim, but I couldn’t disobey his orders.

I thought of asking for painkillers together this time. At least it wasn’t nonsense because Berkne said it. Berkne stood in front of the office when I arrived.

“Berkne.”

“What’s your business, Susan?”

He stood guard in front of both doors as if he were an escort knight.

“I decided to visit and ask a favor from the duke. It’s not a big deal.”

It was the first time she saw Berkne standing here, not anyone else. There must be a good reason. He looked a little awkward so I asked carefully.

“Is it not a good time?”

“…No. You should be fine.”

Berkne, who said something incomprehensible, grabbed the door handle. Interestingly, standing in front of the Duke’s office, I felt the sense of pain. I had never had a pleasant experience there.

Let’s not be too scared. It’s just a painkiller. Can I ask for it confidently?

“Your Excellency. Susan is visiting, I’m coming in.”

And the view inside was not much different from the last visit. Oh, it was a little different. At least the blood-stained body wasn’t curled up.

“Save me, Your Excellency! Help me, please. Help me….”

A woman in a maid’s uniform was lying on the floor and crying close to screaming. The amount of blood spreading in her hand was significant. As if a finger was cut off. Why was the ominous feeling always right?

When Berkne closed the door, I felt pathetic for myself as I began to be somewhat indifferent to violence and ruthlessness.

“Reina?”

It’s even more so when I found out that the woman struggling in front of the duke was Reina. I was confused and the situation in front of her felt like a lie.

Why was Reina begging the Duke for her life there? Perhaps I was walking backward without realizing it, I felt the back of her head hit Berkne’s chest.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

I was able to open my mouth, but my legs didn’t move. Reina was the first person in Ingord to talk to me. She helped me adjust so that I wouldn’t be left behind.

Reina Jenin always answered my questions kindly and wanted to earn money to cure her mother’s illness. Such Reina was looking at me with a face in desperate need of help.

“Su, Susan! Help me! Y-you know, I’m not a spy. I’m not a woman who can do such a scary thing…!”

Reina, who crawled on her knees, raised her bleeding hand and grabbed my skirt.

“H-His Excellency is mistaken. He said I’m the person of Prince Wilhelm, who came to harm Ingord. You know it’s not, right, Susan? We’re close friends. You know it’s not me, right?”

I couldn’t make eye contact with her and looked up at the duke. Duke Richton leaned on his desk with a face telling me to say something, as if waiting how this situation would fold out. He’s looking forward to my response.

What do you expect me to do? Do you want me to defend Reina? Or…

Being the duke’s dog does not deprive me of opportunities to express my opinions. However, there was no guarantee that Reina was innocent.

What should I choose?

“Your face tells me you have a lot of thoughts, Susan.”

It was only a moment of concern, but the duke stared at the carpet on the floor of his office with a look of boredom.

“You always show a lukewarm response when you just promise to obey me with your own mouth. Am I mistaken?”

“I’m sorry, Master, but I’ve always been sincere.”

“In obedience, sincerity is not a very important factor. The point is whether you can disobey my order or not.”

The duke’s intentions were difficult to grasp, but at least today, it was very clear what his intentions were based on his words, even the way he made people submit to him. Richton Ingord was a person who subdued his opponent with power, not loyalty.