“That’s right!”

Fearing she might miss the opportunity, Delphine quickly exclaimed.

A voice mumbled confusedly from beyond the black object.

[“But how can a radio that’s not charged…?”]

‘Charged’? What is a ‘radio’?

Though it was a word she had never heard before, she could clearly tell that the clue she thought had been cut off by Glasscock’s death was now reconnected.

“I want to know the truth. I need help!”

Delphine cried out in a desperate tone.

Quickly. Please. There’s no time.

Delphine anxiously kept looking beyond the door.

How much time had passed?

Sound flowed from the black object again.

[“Section 3. 14 Baker Street. Three days from now, 2 PM. Come alone without fail. This communication will be cut off after this.”]

#Chapter 3. Truth Like Fog

“Winter has truly set in now,” Ioan said as he left the entrance as always.

As if the Empire had never been struck by madness, as if two people had never died in this mansion.

That man has no intention of explaining the circumstances of this incident to her.

Or about his own identity.

Then there’s no choice but to find out on her own.

Delphine also greeted him with a smile, trying her best to look as if nothing was wrong.

Inwardly, she was devising a way to go out alone to Section 3, Baker Street at 2 PM three days later.

He had insisted that she must be accompanied by his knight escorts whenever she went out.

But there was no way she could boldly go out to reveal the identity of that person while leading them.

So the only method left for her was one.

That was to disguise herself as a maid and slip out of the mansion.

She had been cooped up in the third-floor study for most of the time she was in the mansion anyway.

Even if she secretly went out for a while during the day and returned, no one would notice her absence.

Delphine didn’t even think of telling Anna about this plan.

That timid and worrisome person might faint as soon as she heard her words.

Therefore, the one Delphine chose was Betty, the boldest among her loyal maids.

“My lady… You probably don’t know since you haven’t gone out much beyond Section 1.”

However, Betty, after hearing her plan, unexpectedly didn’t seem very welcoming.

She opened her mouth with a troubled face, wondering where to start explaining this.

“It’s your face, my lady. It won’t be hidden just by wearing a maid’s uniform. It’ll stand out even more!”

Delphine wore a confused expression for a moment, but soon shook her head.

“Of course, some people might know my appearance. But don’t worry. I’ll wear a handkerchief pressed down on my head.”

She had seen some maids dressed like that occasionally.

So others wouldn’t find it too suspicious.

However, Betty still looked skeptical.

“What if the master catches you…”

“Don’t worry about that.”

Delphine could now be certain.

Ioan wouldn’t easily touch her or the people she cared about.

He only growled at her, baring his teeth, when she touched on his origins.

Other than that, he still had a fear of being hated by her.

“But can you go out alone without attendants or a carriage?”

“If I go to Section 2, there are carriages on the street, right? I can pay the fare and go to Section 3.”

“Section 3 is a place where even commoners don’t let women go alone.”

“I’ll be careful.”

Delphine murmured quietly with a calm and resolute face.

“Even if it’s dangerous, I must go. …There’s something I need to know.”

“…You’ve already made up your mind, haven’t you?”

Betty sighed as she saw Delphine’s determined face.

This stubborn young lady, whom she had known since childhood, never backed down from a decision once made, even with a knife to her throat.

Finally, Betty nodded as if there was no helping it and cautioned:

“I can’t fool Anna for long either. You must return before dinner, okay?”

Of course.

Ioan. She would have to be sitting quietly in this mansion before that man returned.

Delphine nodded with a resolute expression.

[This is the timeline separator]

The three days passed in an instant, and finally the promised date arrived.

Ioan left the mansion on horseback after having breakfast together as usual.

After briefly bowing her head to her husband in the hall, bidding him farewell as he departed.

Delphine immediately went up to the study and changed into the maid’s uniform she had received from Betty.

White stockings with a short black dress, and a white apron tied over it.

Delphine looked at her reflection in the mirror with a curious face, examining herself from various angles.

It was the first time in her life she had worn clothes that exposed her ankles.

Just not having the hem of her dress dragging on the floor made it twice as easy to move around.

After changing, she tied her noticeable wavy red hair into a single bundle and covered her head with a white handkerchief, tying it under her chin.

So that it could cover both her hair and face.

Then a basket woven from straw at her side.

‘It’s market day in Section 2. I’m going to buy some fruit for the lady to eat…’

The key was to trail off appropriately at the end of the sentence.

Betty had explained that speaking in too clear and distinct a tone was not how a maid talked.

“And take this with you.”

Finally, before leaving the study, Betty handed her something.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a Central Citizen Identification Certificate.”

A small white document stamped with the imperial seal.

It was something Delphine, who had lived as a noble in Section 1, had never seen before.

She never had to prove her identity when passing through anywhere.

“I’ve never actually been to Section 3 either… But you’ll probably need this to safely return to Section 2.”

Delphine tucked the document into her bosom with a tense face, and finally quietly left the room.

There were two guard knights protecting the mansion at the front door of the hall.

And four more at the iron gate in front of the mansion grounds.

They were all members of the Imperial Guard wearing the imperial emblem.

Initially, she thought they were standing guard because it was the residence of the Imperial Guard Captain, but now she was convinced that Ioan must have received special permission to privately employ the imperial guards.

Originally, private armies were not allowed within the capital.

Delphine swallowed hard as she looked at the knights standing motionless with expressionless faces.

‘Do all knights receive training to control their emotions?’

It was puzzling why they all had the same doll-like blank expressions.

‘It’s market day in District 2, for the lady to eat…’

Reciting the maid’s speech she had learned from Betty in her mind, Delphine tried to move her feet with a nonchalant expression.

“…”

However, there was no need to utter the practiced lines.

The guards standing at the mansion’s main gate didn’t even glance at an insignificant maid.

Security typically thoroughly inspects those entering, but doesn’t scrutinize those leaving.

Thus, she passed through the main gate, and finally through the iron gate of the estate grounds in one go.

After safely escaping the mansion, she walked slowly and gracefully through District 1 for a while.

Upon reaching the commercial area of District 2, Delphine began to run frantically.

‘I’m out…! I escaped on my own!’

A refreshing sense of liberation filled her chest, as if she had a mouthful of mint candies.

It was an exhilarating sensation she had never experienced before, neither when it was the Pembrook mansion nor after it became the Pryde mansion.

Along with the intense feeling of liberation, Delphine realized.

Yes. Nothing and no one can dare to force me.

I am no longer the heir burdened with the honor of the Pembrook family.

She had never felt so light-hearted since learning of her father’s treason.

As she strolled down the main street of District 2 with brisk steps, Delphine realized another thing.

No one paid attention to her in her black dress and white apron.

Not even a glance.

Savoring the freedom she felt for the first time in her life, Delphine soon spotted an empty carriage standing by the road.

Unlike nobles who use family carriages, many commoners didn’t have expensive horses or carriages.

So Betty had explained that in District 2, the commercial area, there were carriages that would take you where you wanted for a fee.

‘That must be it.’

A carriage with number markings instead of a family crest.

Delphine approached the carriage, trying not to appear unfamiliar or awkward.

The coachman, who had been resting leisurely, quickly greeted her.

“Welcome! Where shall I take you, customer?”

“To District 3, Beaker Street.”

Delphine, who had inadvertently given the order sternly, hastily added.

“…please.”

[This is the timeline separator]

The two great walls in the Astrax Empire were built about three hundred years ago.

Legend describes that a great sage and hero came down from the north to the peninsula.

After eliminating all the wicked magicians and witches using dark magic on the peninsula, he established the empire and became the first emperor.

Then, to prevent the invasion of monsters and barbaric savages rampaging in the northern continent, he built one enormous wall crossing the peninsula.

And another wall circling the imperial palace and key areas.

The imperial citizens called them the ‘Northern Wall’ and the ‘Central Wall’ respectively.

Thus, the people of the empire, now with double protection, regained peace.

And within the safest Central Wall, Districts 1 and 2 were formed.

However, as time passed and the population grew, factories were built beyond the Central Wall.

The commoners commuting to the factories settled their lives near there.

Thus, the area beyond the Central Wall, below the Northern Wall, was newly called District 3.

The goods produced in that area were brought into Districts 1 and 2.

This was all Delphine knew about District 3.

After briefly observing the lively world of District 2 through the carriage window in a pleasant mood.

As they reached the southern end of District 2, Delphine gasped at the surprising sight that appeared.