“I’ll take care of everything from here on. So you should take that carriage and return to the mansion. Duke Yusten might come looking for you right away when he hears that Roilot’s assassination attempt has failed.”

“Yes. Then, I’ll take my leave first.”

I nodded and answered. The Duke escorted me to the carriage. He opened the door to make it easier for me to get in. As soon as I boarded the carriage, just as the Duke was closing the door.

“Wait a moment, Duke Haven!”

Viscount Miles called out the Duke’s name as he ran over. I sat close to the carriage door to eavesdrop on their conversation.

Meanwhile, the Viscount, standing in front of the Duke, spoke while catching his slightly ragged breath.

“…Although I already owe you a great debt for what you did for my daughter last time, to think you would even save my life like this. I don’t know how I can ever repay this favor to you, Duke.”

The Duke looked indifferently at the Viscount, who kept bowing with a face full of gratitude, and said.

“There’s no need to be so grateful. It’s not like I helped you for free.”

“…Pardon? What do you mean by that…?”

Viscount Miles asked, perplexed. The Duke soon answered.

“I hear that the Viscount is not only skilled with the sword, but also has deep knowledge in navigation and naval tactics.”

“…Ah, yes. Although I’ve never boasted or shown off that ability in front of others… Still, I pride myself on being among the top five in the empire in that field.”

“So, Viscount Miles. Would you consider joining under my command? I’d like you to serve as the vice-commander of the navy I’m about to establish.”

“…Pardon? Me, you say?”

The Viscount asked in surprise upon hearing the Duke’s proposal. The Duke nodded and continued.

“I’ve considered various alternatives, but no matter how I think about it, there’s no one more suitable for this job than you.”

“But I’m merely a knight with the title of viscount. Due to forcing a marriage without my family’s permission, I can’t even lend you the power of my original family… And if you put me in such a position, Duke Yusten and Duke Klein might try to retaliate against you like they did today.”

Viscount Miles spoke with a voice tinged with concern. Hearing this, the Duke let out a deflating sound and laughed, then said.

“Let them try if they dare. I have a clever strategist by my side who sees right through their methods and intentions.”

“…Duke.”

“I’m confident that I can prevent anyone from getting hurt by their hands – not me, not those under my command, not anyone. So take my hand without worry.”

“…”

“Ah, don’t tell me you’re afraid of them? Are you saying you’d just endure the insult of having your loved one’s honor tarnished and your life threatened? If so, we can pretend I never made this offer.”

At the Duke’s slightly mocking words, the Viscount’s expression hardened. He opened his mouth with a determined face.

“How could that be? I, too, am a knight of this empire. I never run away from an enemy who has challenged me to a fight.”

“Does that mean you’ll take my hand?”

The Duke asked. The Viscount immediately knelt on one knee and brought his forehead to the back of the Duke’s hand as he answered.

“Yes. That’s right. From today on, I will serve Duke Haven as my lord, and fulfill all responsibilities and duties as a lesser noble.”

“I, too, swear on the name of House Haven to take responsibility for Viscount Miles and his family until the end.”

It was the oath that an imperial knight gives to his lifelong lord. The Duke responded to the Viscount’s oath in a gruff voice.

Upon hearing the Duke’s words, Viscount Miles slowly rose and said to him.

“Please give me a week’s time. During that time, I will settle matters at this mansion and prepare to go to Anworth with my family.”

“Take your time, it doesn’t matter. If your family members are reluctant to go to Anworth, it’s fine for you to commute between your territory and the townhouse.”

“If I explain what just happened, my wife and daughter will understand. This place is no longer safe after all.”

Saying so, the Viscount showed a bitter smile. The Duke nodded slightly as if he understood.

It was as he said. Once news of the failed assassination attempt on the Viscount spreads, Duke Yusten, far from giving up, would become even more determined to kill him.

I, too, was impressed by Viscount Miles’ wise judgment. I felt somewhat relieved that his character, always considering things from various angles and proceeding safely, hadn’t changed at all from his previous life.

Meanwhile, Viscount Miles bowed to the Duke and said.

“Then I’ll return to the mansion, Your Grace. Once I’ve finished preparations to leave, I’ll send you a letter.”

The Duke merely nodded slightly in response to the greeting.

As their conversation concluded, I stopped eavesdropping and moved to the inner part of the carriage.

At that moment, Viscount Miles, who seemed to be returning to the mansion after greeting the Duke, suddenly looked towards the carriage where I was and said.

“Ah, and thank you for saving me earlier, My Lady.”

“…!”

At those words, I gasped and quickly inhaled. I never expected the Viscount to recognize my voice in such a dire situation. It was truly a blunder.

‘I shouldn’t have shouted even in that urgent moment!’

I had let my guard down knowing that the Duke and his knights were protecting me. I closed my eyes tightly, regretting it.

While I was fretting, the Duke spoke to him in a slightly sharp voice.

“…My Lady? I don’t understand what you’re suddenly talking about. Are you saying there’s someone else here besides you and me?”

Viscount Miles shook his head as if he knew everything and said.

“Don’t worry, I’m probably the only one who recognized her voice. And I intend to keep my mouth shut about the identity of the person in the carriage until the day I die.”

“…”

“I am not so ungrateful as to betray and expose the identity of the one who saved my life.”

“…I sincerely hope so. I absolutely detest betrayal.”

“Don’t worry, Your Grace. Now, I’ll truly take my leave.”

With those final words, the Viscount slowly moved away from the carriage.

I anxiously grasped and released the door handle several times.

‘What should I do? Should I get out of the carriage now and go persuade the Viscount? But what if someone else notices my identity if I do that.’

While I was unsure what to do due to anxiety and worry, the door opened and the Duke got into the carriage. I looked at the Duke sitting across from me and hastily opened my mouth.

“It seems the Viscount has noticed my identity, what should we do? Should I get out of the carriage now and go persuade him?”

“Well. I don’t think that’s necessary.”

“But… if by any chance Viscount Miles opens his mouth to the Duke, all my future plans will come to nothing… I haven’t found any clues about the deaths of the Princess and my father yet…”

The Duke stared at me as I fretted, not knowing what to do. Then he said in an indifferent tone.

“If that happens, we’ll find another way. I think you’re more than capable of doing that.”

“…Duke.”

“And this is just my guess, but I don’t think the Viscount will easily divulge the secret. He has nothing to gain by revealing your identity. Rather, I think the Viscount will be grateful to you.”

“…Grateful, you say?”

I asked back with a blank expression. The Duke nodded slightly and answered.

“Isn’t that so? If it weren’t for you, he would have pledged loyalty to someone who insulted the daughter of the person he loved enough to abandon his family. Is there a law that says a lord who looks down on my family won’t look down on me? If I were in the Viscount’s position, I would have given you half my territory for helping me avoid serving such a lord.”

“…Do you really think so?”

“Yes. A knight knows the heart of a knight best… And.”

The Duke paused for a moment, then looked at me with a cold gaze and opened his mouth again.

“If by any chance the Viscount does reveal that fact, I’ll take care of it personally.”

“…!”

“So don’t worry and just focus on making your plans.”

“…Thank you, Duke. I feel a bit more at ease now.”

I said, smiling brightly at him. I felt the anxiety in my heart slowly subsiding at his reassuring words. The Duke turned his head with an indifferent expression and signaled to the coachman. Soon, the carriage slowly started moving.

That day, the Duke took me to the back entrance of the Yusten mansion before leaving.

Although I didn’t show it, I was grateful for his consideration as I carefully snuck into the annex, my mind uneasy from various events.

On the day I returned after preventing the Viscount’s assassination, I waited for dawn, took a quick bath, and then had a very long nap.

Thanks to my excuse of being ill in advance, the Duke didn’t suspect my behavior. I feigned illness to my heart’s content in front of the doctor who barged in with Danae, and then refused all visitors, staying only within the annex.

The next day.

As I was getting ready after finishing my bath, Annie handed me a letter. It was from Duke Haven. I immediately opened it to check its contents. It contained news that Viscount Miles had put his townhouse up for sale and would be leaving for Anworth territory with his family tonight.

After confirming and burning the letter again, I had a light breakfast. While I was drinking tea, I greeted the main house butler who came looking for me. He said to me with a pale face.

“The Duke has ordered to bring you to his office immediately, My Lady.”

“I understand.”

It was as I had expected. I immediately went to the Duke’s office in the main building with the butler.