“The Devil Count! He even tried to kill a war veteran!”

More sensational than the headline was the illustration depicting Count Dean Hamilton.

To emphasize his status as a prisoner, he was depicted clutching iron bars with both hands, glaring with fierce eyes. His haggard appearance sent chills down one’s spine.

Both the newspaper article and illustration seemed determined to portray Dean Hamilton as a villain of the century. Who could it be? Someone moving public opinion to push him into the abyss…

Sidney Warden muttered to herself as she read through the newspaper article:

“Catherine Yant, could it be her?”

“Why would the princess?”

“I wonder if she’s trying to thoroughly ruin him using the same method that gave Dean Hamilton wealth and power.”

The whole country was in an uproar. The man she married, going against her father Duke Yant and her family… She must want revenge.

But I heard that with the past “scandal of the century” public campaign for marriage, Princess Catherine became an outsider in noble society and her family.

Yet she’s publicly exposing her husband’s vile behavior, the one she chose only for love? Someone who knows better than anyone that doing so will only earn cheap sympathy and mockery?

“Well, wasn’t it enough that she passed the crime evidence to us?”

Sidney nodded lightly at Andy Spencer’s question and set aside the newspaper.

A waiter set down a stew with large chunks of potatoes and lamb on the table.

She turned her head absently and took in the view of the square as dusk began to fall.

Thinking it was decent enough to eat, she moved her spoon. Just as she felt she had satisfied her hunger somewhat, Walter Asner spoke with a serious face:

“I think it is Princess Catherine. She said public opinion creates miracles.”

“Miracles?”

“Yes, she said it was the perfect timing for her to obtain the title of Countess Hamilton, so she passed the evidence to us.”

Sidney murmured, “The perfect timing…” and glanced at Andy Spencer sitting across from her.

He was lost in thought, still holding his spoon. His furrowed brow suddenly relaxed, and his green eyes flickered uneasily as they sought out Sidney.

“Lady Warden…”

Andy Spencer was asking if the second daughter of Duke Yant was trying to change what the great Emperor Cloud had explicitly stated could never be granted to a woman.

Sidney Warden leaned back in her chair, holding her wine glass. She snorted, pointing to the sympathetic words about Princess Catherine in the newspaper article.

“To change the ‘Arsenal Imperial Law’ created by Howard Spencer… a miracle would have to happen.”

After the waiter cleared away the stew bowls, Walter Asner leaned his upper body close to the table and lowered his voice.

“Lord Spencer, is it possible to change the law?”

“Th-that’s…”

Andy Spencer stammered like a child caught doing something wrong, then closed his mouth.

No way. The Spencer family, whose only achievement was the ‘Arsenal Imperial Law’, would be the first to oppose it.

Sidney kicked Walter’s shin to help out the troubled Andy and snapped:

“Why do you think they call it a ‘miracle’?”

“Ow! Why’d you hit me!”

“Only use that mouth for eating.”

“I’m being serious right now.”

“Oh, sure.”

Sidney responded halfheartedly and clinked glasses with Andy.

As she was bringing the glass to her lips, she glanced out the window. Among the bustling passersby, a woman in a green cape stood motionless.

Her anxious profile looked familiar.

As if telling her to look properly, the woman slowly turned. Her cheeks flushed from the cold and her face as white as paper… it was that woman.

The woman who had fled from Yoheim Castle in the Kingdom of Agnes on that night of fierce snowstorms, carrying a newborn child.

The one who had crossed the border using Sidney’s name was living here in Marcel.

She was about to stand up, happy to see her and intending to return the earring artifact, when two men in berets appeared and led the woman away into the crowd.

It didn’t seem like she was being forcibly taken, but the woman’s anxious profile lingered in Sidney’s mind, making her uneasy.

“Someone you know?”

“Huh?”

“The woman in the green cape.”

Walter Asner pointed out the window with his wine glass. Andy Spencer, who had been flipping through the newspaper, was also staring intently as if telling her to speak.

She was about to brush it off, but seeing no reason to hide it, she briefly explained.

Andy Spencer, who had been listening quietly, tilted his head quizzically.

“Usually only the lord of the castle and their immediate family know about secret passages, right? But seeing her escape with a newborn child without any guards… she doesn’t seem to be of that status.”

“If she’s settled here in Marcel living as a noble, she’s likely to be of mixed blood. We could investigate the Yoheim family…”

Walter trailed off with a look that said ‘What should we do?’ If they hadn’t heard about the Agnes resistance army this morning, it might have been different.

“Investigate not only the Yoheim lord, but also the Arsenal nobles who have married into the Kingdom of Agnes.”

“This is getting big. Are you going?”

Walter stretched out his legs and was startled. Sidney patted his shoulder twice as she pulled her arm free from his grasp.

“Yeah, it’s almost time for my appointment.”

“I’ll take you.”

Sidney firmly pushed down on his shoulders as he tried to hurry and stand up, saying “It’s fine” with a smirk. With that, they finished their dinner and left the tavern.

Catherine Yant de Hamilton, and the woman from Agnes.

Though their nationalities, upbringings, and ways of life were different, those two women had something that Sidney herself did not.

She couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was, but if forced to name it, perhaps it was the will to try and change something on their own.

Though she had never properly heard their thoughts, this was the impression she got from imagining their situations.

Perhaps she was hoping to see in them a different image from herself, who seemed to barely endure as if being pushed along.

“Is that so? Yes, maybe…”

Sidney muttered to herself, tilting her head back.

Dong, dong… The temple bells rang seven times and the night sky filled her vision. Like scattered grains of sand, she counted the stars one, two, three… Her gaze drifted downward as she counted.

The white stone building illuminated by soft lighting, the Grand Opera House, and two blue banners fluttering on the wall.

– Lady Burgundy’s novel ‘When You Close Your Eyes’.

– Finally meeting as an opera.

As her gaze slowly lowered, she scanned the people entering the opera house. A smile and white breath spread across Sidney’s lips as she observed their expressions.

The men escorting the ladies all seemed disgruntled, as if they shared Sidney’s feelings.

“I hope I don’t fall asleep…”

Sidney squared her shoulders, psyching herself up against the cold that had stiffened her body. Then she moved forward, blending into the crowd.

“It’s the premiere, so Lady Burgundy will come too, right?”

“She’s the author, of course she’ll come! Just in case, I brought a book and pen to get her autograph.”

“Oh my, me too!”

Everywhere, people were talking about ‘Lady Burgundy’. Sidney’s expression darkened as she glanced at them from the corner of her eye.

She was reminded of her sickly younger sister who wanted to come here but couldn’t.

“Sidney Warden! Over here!”

Looking up, Victoria Owello in a white fur coat was waving at the top of the stairs.

Sidney caressed the letter in her pocket as she ran up the stairs.

Having a good memory… wasn’t necessarily a good thing. Sidney caught her breath after bounding up the stairs in one go.

Then she spotted the gentleman standing next to Victoria and her face hardened.

“Victoria, it seems Warden doesn’t like me very much.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

To help the flustered Victoria, Sidney shook the man’s hand and greeted him.

The Grand Opera House allowed entry to anyone who paid, regardless of whether they were commoners or nobles.

While entry was free, commoners were guided to the cheap seats on the first floor, while nobles were directed to box seats on the second or third floors.

For this reason, commoners entered through the wide-open doors at the front of the lobby, while Sidney’s group went up the stairs on either side of the lobby along with other nobles.

Very few people went up to the third floor where the VIP rooms were located. Victoria, receiving Sidney’s escort as they climbed, whispered in a low voice:

“Sidney, are you uncomfortable with Brother Steve?”

Sidney’s eyes met Steve Deniro’s over Victoria’s head. He smiled slightly, as if anticipating Sidney’s answer.

Was he always this sly? Sidney tilted her head and denied it.

“Not particularly.”

“Okay.”

Judging by Victoria’s weak voice and her troubled expression… it seemed the act had failed.

Sidney patted Victoria’s hand holding her arm and whispered in her ear.

“It’s really fine. I was planning to meet Lord Deniro soon anyway.”

“Oh my, have you decided to transfer to the security force?”

That’s not it. For some reason, Sidney didn’t want to give a straightforward answer to Steve, who seemed interested.

What should I call it? A bit of mischief, perhaps.

Sidney chuckled and brought her lips to Victoria’s ear.

“Let’s talk about that later.”

“Oh, okay.”

Victoria seemed delighted like a young girl, as if they had shared a secret. In contrast, Steve Deniro’s brow furrowed deeply.

That was truly… quite satisfying.

Sidney covered her laugh with her fist and hurried her steps.

The VIP room the attendant guided them to had a direct view of the stage.

The sunken space in front of the stage was for the orchestra, while the horseshoe-shaped second and third-floor seats along the edges of the theater were occupied by nobles.

As Sidney looked around the opera house, Victoria pressed close to her side and whispered:

“I’ve never sat here before. Isn’t this reserved for the royal family?”

“That’s right next door, and this is a special room given to the show’s producer. It seems Lord Warden has quite the network.”

Steve Deniro glanced at Sidney. In response to his questioning look, Sidney answered dryly:

“I received it by chance.”

It meant not to ask further, but Victoria, unable to contain her curiosity, poked Sidney’s side.

“From whom?”

Sidney mouthed ‘later’ to Victoria’s bright, eager eyes. Victoria’s eyes crinkled at that, as if it was something special.

Sidney couldn’t help but smile in return – it was such a lovely smile.

If there hadn’t been a knock at the door, Sidney would have seen Steve’s surprised face.