As Carson was almost at the door, Andrew snapped to attention and quickly approached to escort him.

“Ah, I would have preferred for you to be escorted by the young master.”

“What? Oh, yes. Ines!”

The lips of the father who spoke quivered with tension as he ordered Ines to see the young lord off.

In Ines’ home garden, a deep green was laid out.

Though not a large or splendid garden, there were plenty of thick, sturdy trees, befitting an old family. Looking around, a swing suitable for a child was also visible. What thoughts had this woman had while swinging here?

He momentarily considered her childhood as he looked at the woman walking quietly beside him.

“Have you ever left the estate?”

Ines shook her head side to side.

“Is there nowhere you’d like to go?”

“Have you, young lord, experienced many places?”

She answered his question with another question, as she had never really thought about it.

“I’ve been to countless countries. And I’ve realized something.”

“What is it?”

“People are necessary.”

Ines looked up at him. She momentarily wondered what expression he was making as he spoke about needing people.

“Do you mean you need someone to be with?”

“No, whether together or not, I need someone to think of. Someone who eventually becomes the reason I must return.”

He was radiant up close. While Ines stood rooted to the ground, he continued to speak glowingly about a heavenly place. For some reason, a sorrowful thought made her lower her head.

“I see.”

“The trial of Count Graham will be soon.”

Ines abruptly stopped. Seeing Ines become attentive upon hearing of Count Graham, Carson let out a small laugh.

“Isn’t he the one who tried to assassinate a royal? Thanks to you, we have a witness, and I also stand to gain some favor from the Empress. Now is the perfect time.”

If this had been brought to trial right after Louis’ case, the Empress would have easily framed it as a solo act by Graham. And after enough time had passed, she would have promised to restore him to his original position.

The Empress certainly had the power to spare even a royal assassination conspirator.

But now, Graham had lost the Empress’s trust.

This was evident just by the fact that she was not replying to the passionate letters he was sending lately. He had lost the gold mine, had become financially unstable, and even the railroad construction rights were uncertain. It was clear he was at the peak of his unrest.

If Louis’ issue is raised now, the terrified Graham will easily betray the Empress.

“Furthermore, we have many witnesses who will testify that he attacked Lord Swalden.”

If this comes up, the local nobles will turn their backs on him. No one will stand by someone who had dared to manipulate the council. He was truly on the edge of a cliff.

“What will happen to him?”

“Execution.”

The word left her speechless, in its resolute yet casual tone. Seeing her expression, he smiled lightly.

“In the Kaines Empire, anyone who tries to assassinate a royal is subject to immediate execution without question.”

“……”

“There is no forgiveness.”

He continued to walk, entering a path lined with dark trees on either side.

“After Count Graham’s trial, I plan to leave the estate for a while.”

Realizing Ines was no longer following him, he turned towards her.

Their eyes met. She clenched her mouth shut once, then opened it again. It felt excruciatingly long as Ines took a moment to catch her breath.

“How… long?”

“Perhaps about… three months?”

“Three months?”

Her pupils shook as if they had experienced an earthquake. At first, he thought he was seeing wrong, but it wasn’t a mistake. Her face had paled to a sickly hue. Alarmed, Carson covered the distance between them in two large steps and tightly grasped both of Ines’ arms.
“Ah, no, two months.”

Carson thought he was insane even as he spoke. To finish what he had planned within two months, he would have to give up either sleeping or breathing.

But he couldn’t not say it. Seeing the woman in front of him anxious, he felt suffocated.

“Two months?”

“Yes, two months, so just wait a bit. Don’t cause trouble.”

However, Ines’s condition did not improve quickly. She seemed to be in a literal state of panic. What was making her so anxious? Was it just because he wasn’t there?

“I’m… fine.”

He spoke out of habit, but he didn’t believe her.

“No, you’re not fine.”

But he couldn’t keep her with him continuously without taking a break.

“I’ll do my best.”

Watching her gradually stabilize, Carson spoke as if making a promise to himself.

“So, you have nothing to worry about from now on.”

Carson stayed by Ines’s side until her eyes regained their original color and she could barely manage a smile.

Just as he had said, rumors about Count Graham’s trial heated up the entire territory. Ines sat in the garden, sipping tea and habitually rubbing the surface of a Bible.

“Miss, Sir Joseph has come to visit again today.”