Chapter 57: Suspicion and Notification

Two weeks have passed since I returned to the fief.

The investigation regarding the bandits is still ongoing, and I have almost finished looking over the documents that required my approval. Whenever I had free time, my mind would drift back to what Dean said and my mood would turn foul, hence I was fully concentrating on the job.

Today, I finished my work early, so I was heading to the library to take a look into the information sent by Father.

The library, though in the mansion, is located in another building different from which I reside in. Upon entering the atrium room, I was welcomed by lines of bookshelves so tall that they nearly reached the ceiling, which are brimming with various books.

“Oh, Milady? It has been awhile since you last came here, hasn’t it?”

As I entered, I saw Rehme.

“So this is where you are today, Rehme.”

“Yes, I came here since there are no classes scheduled for today. More importantly, what brings Milady to this place?”

“I am looking for information on the Rubens House.”

“You mean the House of Rubens the Duke? That is quite an unusual name I’ve just heard.”

“A Duke House? Why does that sound so unfamiliar…?”

“That is to be expected. It is a house founded by a prince of several generations before, with no fief to govern and only has a mansion in the royal capital. The last time they were a topic of interest was nearly thirty years ago, I believed.”

“Thirty years ago… Does it have anything to do with the Towair war?”

“Yes, you are correct. Since our country won, Towair sent a princess to marry into the royal family – however, at that time the former Queen was the one in power, plus the crown prince was too young for marriage and the couple’s large age gap made them not a good match. Furthermore, if the Towair’s princess was taken into the royal family or a house having close ties with royal family, there would be problems regarding succession to the throne. Eventually, the House of Duke Rubens was singled out as the appropriate candidate. Their line would never ascend the throne unless the main line disappeared, and they certainly did have royal blood running in their veins… such were the circumstances surrounding the Rubens House.”

…In other words, the current House of Duke Rubens have connections to the country of Towair, and thanks to the Duke’s introduction, Miss Yuri Noir’s mother was accepted to be an attendant in the royal palace. It is difficult to refuse someone with a reliable letter of introduction from a Duke House, especially when hiring servants requires sifting through a large pool of unknown applicants.

Even though the princess of Towair was forced upon them by a royal decree, had the duke rejected because of that, their reputation would surely be damaged. Since we are talking about Father here, I’m confident that he has used the situation to his advantage and sent someone to monitor them.

Well, in any cases… the loose ends are connected to each other somehow. This is taking a turn for the worse. In short, the odds of Yuri Noir’s mother having ties with Towair is quite high, and for Miss Yuri Noir herself to be influenced by her own mother – perhaps – is also a possibility not lightly disregarded.

After considering all evidences presented, I was strangely convinced of this conclusion. However, as Father had said, this is not my battlefield. To involve myself in political conflicts between nations is not something a lord of a fief would do… much less an acting lord I am. Especially at the time when one must secure a firm foothold, if I were to concern myself about such things, I will lose what I have worked hard to gain so far.

“Is there anything wrong, Milady? You are looking extremely pale.”

“…I was just thinking about various matters, but I am fine now.”

Yes, I am fine… I think? If it was Father, no doubt he would have collected further information and started fielding some countermeasures already.

If there is one thing I feel bothered by… I guess that would be about her existence. For argument’s sake, let’s assume she truly is a spy from Towair then. To come to the point, her plan has succeeded since she has been engaged to the second Prince… but if she hadn’t, what would Towair do? I am sure there is no way they would gamble on her plan only, and if they did scheme something, they would have settled for alternatives besides her. Also, for a spy, her methods stand out too much unlike how a real one always trying to keep a low profile. Perhaps, my mind has been spoilt too much by the spy novels I read in my previous life? Regardless, her behavior does not match up with that of a spy for another country.

As I was thinking of this, I heard the pounding of footsteps approaching closer and closer. Then the door flew open with a bang.

“Be quiet in the library-!”

Rehme angrily scowled, but that expression lasted only a moment as she was taken aback by those making their ways in.

I turned my gaze to the people who entered and…

“Milady!! We have an emergency!!”

Sebastian and Tanya, who rarely lose their cool, are now looking desperate.