Chapter 15

“Do you know that family too, Habert?”

“Yes. As I recall, the Anzobi viscount family has produced heads of the family who were knights for generations. They are known for being rigid and principled, but at the same time, they are a family that dislikes causing harm to others.”

Habert picked up another letter and continued.

“This one is a letter from the Lerorian count family. The Lerorian count family is not an old house, so I understand that its heads have been strongly ambitious for honor for generations.”

At the information flowing out as smoothly as if it had been entered by machine, Yvette’s mouth fell open.

“……How do you know all of that, Habert?”

“By my age, one naturally builds connections in many places.”

With that, Habert said he needed to finish tidying the townhouse and left the study.

Yvette stared blankly at the door he had gone through, then looked back down at the letters piled on her desk.

Suddenly, the urge to escape from here welled up.

‘……It’s not as if I absolutely have to finish all the replies today. Would I die if I put it off for a day?’

Having already resolved to put off the work, Yvette left the study with a light step.

Filia was the maid she had newly hired not long ago.

Truthfully, when she first hired Filia, she had felt somewhat uneasy. Compared to the other maids who came for interviews, Filia had little experience.

But Filia was doing so well that her worries had been for nothing.

‘Fortunately, it seems I do have an eye for people.’

Yvette hummed softly and went outside the townhouse.

Then she saw Filia hanging laundry in the garden.

“Filia!”

“……Ah, Countess!”

When Yvette greeted her first, Filia brightened and welcomed her.

“Habert said you wouldn’t be able to come out of the study for a while. Are you already finished with your work?”

“I decided to put the work off for a bit. A more urgent matter came to mind.”

“What? Then aren’t you really busy?”

“Yes. That’s why I came to ask for your help, Filia.”

When Yvette subtly brought it up, Filia smiled brightly and nodded.

“I’m always ready to help you, Countess! Just tell me to do anything!”

At her enthusiastic response, Yvette smiled faintly.

The reason she had chosen Filia over more experienced maids was precisely that attitude.

At the time, most of the maids who came for interviews had come because of the fact that she was Noel’s fiancée.

Perhaps because of that, many of them showed disappointment at the sight of the townhouse or turned around saying they could not do it.

Only one of them had approached the interview sincerely, and that was Filia.

“It’s nothing much, really. I was thinking my wardrobe is a bit too sparse for a noble, so I was considering going shopping.”

Yvette smiled awkwardly and scratched her neck.

Because she had left the baron’s residence in a hurry, she had not brought many clothes.

She had managed somehow until now, but if she was going to attend parties going forward, she would need to prepare new dresses.

“It’s not that your wardrobe is sparse, Countess. It’s that you don’t invest in it because you’re more beautiful than anyone even without fancy dresses.”

Filia passionately defended Yvette.

At her lavish praise, Yvette wore an embarrassed expression.

“I don’t think I’m quite at that level.”

“What do you mean, not at that level? In all my life, I’ve never seen anyone as pretty and angelic as you, Countess! Your skin is as fair as white jade, and your eyes sparkle so……”

As the excited Filia tried to continue her praise, Yvette hurriedly cut in.

It was too embarrassing to keep listening.

“Thank you for seeing me that way, Filia. Thanks to you, I think I can feel confident.”

“You don’t need to feel intimidated anywhere, Countess. The fact that the Duke of Averon got engaged to you is all because you’re that wonderful!”

“Yes, I’ll take that to heart. Anyway, I think we should head into the city soon. Could you go tell Habert to call for the carriage?”

“Yes! I’ll be right back!”

Filia quickly finished dealing with the remaining laundry and ran into the townhouse.

‘I should just get the dresses fitted today and come back.’

Since playing all day felt a bit conscience-stricken, Yvette decided she would come back and finish the work.

At last, she and Filia got into the carriage heading into the city.

* * *

“Yvette! Look at this! I brought you flowers!”

Iden flung open the study door with a voice that sounded oddly excited. But unfortunately, the person who greeted him was not Yvette.

“Iden. I’ve told you not to run around so loudly.”

Habert, who had been tidying Yvette’s desk, scolded him in a stern voice. At that, Iden looked sullen and glanced around.

“Where did Yvette go? Why is it only you here, Habert?”

“The Countess went out a little while ago. She’ll probably be back around evening.”

“Aw, man. I brought flowers to give to Yvette……”

Iden pouted and looked down at the flowers in his hand.

The blue flowers were clearly meant for Yvette.

Seeing his disappointed look, Habert smiled as if there was nothing to be done.

“Why don’t we put the flowers in a vase and show them to her later?”

“Ah, should we?”

Iden, his spirits restored in an instant, trotted over to Habert. When he held out the flowers, Habert carefully placed them in a nearby vase.

“By the way, seeing as you went to the trouble of picking flowers yourself, it seems you’ve taken quite a liking to the Countess.”

“Yeah! At first I didn’t like her much, but now I do. She even smells like the master.”

Iden nodded with a smile. Habert lightly patted his head, then touched the vase.

As his hand brushed it, a faint blue energy settled over the vase. Then the flowers regained their vitality, as if freshly bloomed.

Iden, who had been watching in wonder, spoke.

“Then what about you, Habert? Do you not like Yvette?”

“No. I also think she is a very good person.”

“That’s a relief. So you and I agree, Habert!”

Iden beamed and looked up at Habert.

“I hope Yvette lives here for a long time. Going around with the master is so boring.”

“The young lord would be hurt if he heard that.”

“But Habert, you think so too, honestly. The master is always chasing after that woman—Rose or Lily or whatever……”

“I believe I told you not to say that name carelessly.”

Habert cut off Iden’s words and spoke in a stern voice again.

Realizing he had made a mistake, Iden flinched and covered his mouth with both hands.

“Be especially careful with your words in front of the Countess. If the young lord finds out, there’s no telling what will happen.”

Instead of answering, Iden nodded vigorously. Habert sent him back to his room and let out a small sigh.

“What is the young lord thinking…….”

Worry briefly crossed his wrinkled face and then scattered.

Having composed his expression, Habert began skillfully tidying the study again, as if nothing had happened.

* * *

“……Why did you summon me today?”

Early in the morning.

Noel, dressed in a neat formal uniform, spoke. At that, the man sitting across from him smiled brightly.

“Well, obviously because I have something to ask of you.”

The man had hair and eyes like melted gold.

His slightly upturned lips and half-moon-curved eyes were more than enough to win anyone’s favor.

“First, won’t you have some tea? This was specially procured from the Kingdom of Yendale.”

The man spoke affectionately and gestured to the teacup before Noel.

At that, Noel answered firmly.

“Please keep it brief and to the point.”

“……You weren’t like this before. You changed after becoming a duke.”

The man grumbled and swept his hair back with one hand. His tone was more relaxed than before.

“The reason I changed is entirely thanks to my immature Majesty.”

Noel replied briefly. There was no trace of a smile on his stiff face.

“It’s just us here, so what’s with ‘Majesty’? Just speak comfortably.”

At the formal address, the man furrowed his brow.

His name was Riandri Gladius Kairon.

He was the one and only emperor of the empire, and a childhood friend Noel had known since they were young.

“……Just because you can’t see them doesn’t mean no one is there.”

Noel’s gaze turned behind Riandri.

At present, they were meeting in a small reception room attached to Riandri’s bedchamber.

Though they were not visible, presences could be felt here and there.

Most of them were probably guards protecting the emperor, but……

‘It seems one or two who are not are mixed in as well.’

Noel clicked his tongue softly.

Riandri, who had turned twenty-five this year, had ascended to the throne as the new emperor about three years ago.

It was because the previous emperor had suddenly died of illness.

Young Riandri had thus ascended to the imperial throne without even time to prepare his heart.

Among the old nobles, there were many who did not look kindly on the young emperor.

And among them, there were always those with impure motives.

“It would be advisable to strengthen the palace’s security.”

Noel, who had briefly surveyed the surroundings, turned his gaze back to Riandri.

“I’m already preparing to supplement the guards, so there’s no need to worry about that.”

Riandri answered calmly and lifted his teacup.

“By the way, I heard you got engaged to Lady Blanche—or is it Countess now? Anyway, that child. Is it true?”

Instead of answering, Noel slowly blinked once.

Perhaps taking his silence as affirmation, Riandri’s expression brightened.

“Congratulations, my friend! You’ve finally become a human being!”

“……Surely you didn’t summon me at such a busy time just to bring up my engagement.”

Noel stared at Riandri with a furrowed brow.

At his gaze, tinged with displeasure, Riandri hurriedly shook his head.

“What do you take me for? Of course I have a separate, important matter.”

Riandri took a breath and spoke again.

His voice was serious now, all traces of playfulness gone.

“I’ve found a clue about the artifact.”

“An artifact—you mean the artifact of the ancient mage?”

“That’s right. Exactly that.”

When Riandri nodded, Noel straightened his previously slanted posture.

“Weren’t the mage’s artifacts things that existed only in legend?”

Noel also looked at Riandri with a more serious face than before.

The artifact of the ancient mage referred to magical tools used about a thousand years ago.

A time when mana overflowed the land and magic flourished.

Originally, it had been a treasure passed down through the imperial family for generations, but at some point it had vanished without a trace.

Because of that, it now remained only as legend.

“I thought so too until now. But apparently, it was discovered at a ruins site excavated not long ago.”

Riandri nodded slightly.

At his words, Noel raised an eyebrow.

“So, where is the artifact now?”

“Hmm, that’s the problem.”