“It’s Lord Rining. It seemed dangerous to come alone, so I brought someone to escort me.”

Lake bowed lightly towards Lord Thomson. Lord Thomson nodded back with a bewildered expression.

The introduction was too short and simple, but he didn’t even think to complain.

Lake continued politely.

“I will follow quietly like a ghost, so you don’t need to mind me.”

“Ah, yes.”

As if not minding would be possible.

Lord Thomson secretly swallowed dryly at Lake’s sturdy physique and the unique intimidation of a knight.

He looked like he wanted to say something, but couldn’t bring himself to refuse. Having an escort wasn’t a bad thing.

“Shall we go then?”

And so the three of them headed inside together in the direction of the underground sewers.

The entire time they walked, Lord Thomson had a rather confused expression. Veronica, glancing at Lord Thomson, whispered to Lake.

“I’m sorry, Lord Rining. For involving you in this.”

“It’s fine. I heard a rough explanation from Magnolia.”

Perhaps because of similar wounds, Magnolia had quickly understood Lady Arin’s troubles.

Veronica tried to deny it, but she was quick-witted in these situations.

Moreover, she suddenly displayed strange courage, saying she wanted to help Lady Arin who had assisted during her own wedding incident.

That sentiment was admirable, but it was too dangerous for two women to wander the streets at night alone.

‘It’s okay! I’ll bring my second brother!’

‘Lend me that brother.’

And that’s how Lake ended up accompanying them.

“I tried to calm her down, but I’m not sure if Magnolia will stay put.”

“I put her to sleep well, so you don’t need to worry.”

Veronica turned to look at him in surprise. He nodded.

Veronica had placated Magnolia, who seemed likely to do something reckless, saying she would first look into the situation.

She appeared to acquiesce to the excuse that barging in recklessly would only make things more awkward for the lady, but honestly Veronica was anxious about what impulsive action she might take.

It seems Lake had the same thought.

“I also escorted the person I met before coming here to a safe place.”

“The lady probably wouldn’t have listened obediently.”

“I explained things well, so you needn’t worry.”

In truth, though they couldn’t tell Lord Thomson, Lady Arin had tailed him again today.

After several failed attempts to discover where he was going, she was now trying to enter even the slums.

Fortunately Veronica spotted Lady Arin first and stopped her before trouble arose.

Of course, she had to watch for Lord Thomson’s arrival, so she’d asked Lake to dissuade Lady Arin.

Given Lady Arin’s personality, she wasn’t one to quietly back down. Veronica stared intently at Lake’s profile.

She started to ask what he’d done, but stopped herself. It would only make her uneasy to hear. Though she was concerned, there really wasn’t much else she could do.

“But does that man really have another woman?”

Lake asked softly, glancing at Lord Thomson.

“I don’t think so. It really seems to be about the underground sewers in the slums. I’ll play along for a bit and then try to persuade him to leave, so please just accompany us a little longer.”

“I’m fine, so don’t worry about me. But I’m not sure how much help I can be. Surely there are more skilled people at the duke’s residence.”

“You’re being modest for someone who guards one of the imperial princes.”

“That’s separate from my actual abilities.”

Pretending to be humble. Veronica smiled, hiding her true thoughts.

Though she hadn’t expected his company, in truth Veronica had no other options.

Everyone at the duke’s residence was her father’s people.

She could bring guards from the duke’s household, but word would certainly get back to her father.

No matter how much she tried to hide it or asked for secrecy, their loyalty was to her father Harry rather than to her.

She didn’t want to worry her father over something like this.

If he heard she’d come to the slums while he was intermittently away managing the territory and busy with Rining family business affairs, he’d come running immediately. So she’d brought Lake along.

Though she didn’t fully trust him, he didn’t seem the type to carelessly spread gossip.

She really did need an escort too. In fact, she needed someone to stop Magnolia.

Seeing Veronica lost in thought for a moment, Lake spoke again.

“I deeply apologize that you’ve been caught up in this troublesome matter because of my immature sister. Allow me to apologize on her behalf.”

Veronica looked at him again.

“You don’t need to use honorifics with me.”

“How could I not? You’re the fiancée of the imperial prince I serve.”

“…I’m the one who should apologize for troubling Lord Rining with something like this.”

“Really, you don’t need to mind. Actually, I’m quite used to it.”

What did he mean? As she gazed at him intently, Lake smiled faintly.

He wasn’t one for big changes in expression, so the smiling face looked unfamiliar.

“She’s matured a bit now, but when Magnolia was young she often caused trouble. The reason was wanting our parents’ attention. Our parents favored our older brother over me and my sister. They said there was no difference in affection for children they’d given birth to with equal pain, but even a child could tell the difference in the size of affection directed at siblings different from oneself.”

It seemed she’d heard a similar story before. His face was cold as he recalled the past, as if he’d never smiled.

“Our parents didn’t want their only daughter to grow up too lively. They didn’t understand why she caused trouble either. In the end, she became docile when our father focused on educating Magnolia. Though she didn’t show it, there was probably a lot of pressure.”

Veronica recalled meeting Magnolia at the pergola in the imperial palace.

Back then, she had been an obedient and passive woman. Now she could understand a bit why Magnolia had been so dominated by her family.

“But lately she’s been laughing a lot. It’s all thanks to you, Veronica.”

“Me?”

“Yes, she talks about you often. She’s brightened up a lot at home too, and though she hasn’t completely returned to her old self, she holds her own in front of our parents now. She always says she’s grateful to you. I feel the same way. If it weren’t for you, that child wouldn’t be able to smile like she does now.”

Veronica stared intently at his face.

He’d said he wasn’t an affectionate brother, but that was a lie. Because right now, his faintly smiling face revealed concern and affection for his younger sister.

This man who had been even more aloof than Cassian. More than that, Magnolia seemed to be gossiping all over the place, so she’d have to be careful what she said.

The deeper they went inside, the more beggars could be seen sprawled about. Most were asleep, and thankfully those with open eyes just glanced this way briefly.

Occasionally there were some who spoke out as if picking a fight or reached out their hands, but Lake blocked them.

“It would be best if you stay close to my side.”

Lake pulled Veronica to his side protectively.

“Don’t respond even if they speak to you, and don’t make eye contact. If you show interest or give them something out of pity, people will swarm and take everything.”

“I know.”

Suppressing their presence as much as possible and not reacting to anything, they went deeper inside.

The beggars sleeping collapsed on the streets gradually disappeared, and a foul smell permeated as they entered a dilapidated alleyway.

The filthiest and most horrific sewage in this country all mixed together in one place. The underground sewer located in the deepest part finally came into view.

“This is it.”

When they stood before the entrance, all three immediately covered their noses. An overwhelming stench emanated from the entrance.

No wonder even the slum dwellers avoid this place. Even those with strong stomachs would find this torturous.

“I’ve gotten somewhat used to it.”

Lord Thomson, who had experienced the stench earlier than the other two, spoke composedly. But his furrowed brow showed it wasn’t easy for him either.

Veronica took out a handkerchief.

Then she took a deep breath of the outside air which, though equally dirty, was a bit more breathable, before burying her nose in the handkerchief.

“Let’s go in.”

The three of them entered the underground sewer.

When they shone the prepared lamp inside, the interior became clearly visible. The rounded ceiling and flat floor were more than spacious enough for three people to walk.

The stench intensified too. It smelled like a completely rotten sewer. The damp moisture clung unpleasantly to their skin.

Insects and rats scurried about the floor here and there, avoiding the light. The sound of the three people’s footsteps echoed in all directions as they stepped on the floor.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, how about you, my lord?”

“It’s still bearable for now.”

Though he said that, Lord Rining’s complexion wasn’t very good.

Lord Thomson, you’ve managed to wander around here. What impressive passion.

Veronica swallowed down the urge to retch.

She wasn’t unfamiliar with spaces similar to this, having been through her share of hardships. But the disgust was unavoidable.

Veronica wanted Lord Thomson to quickly satisfy his curiosity so they could leave this filthy place soon.

Not long after, they came to a fork in the path. Lord Thomson pointed to the left entrance.

Having come here first and gained experience, he led the way for the other two.

After passing through three such forks, the next fork presented three choices.

“I’ve been down one, but it was a dead end.”

Veronica frowned.

She recognized the unease she’d felt while following Lord Thomson. So the interior here branched off into multiple paths like a maze.

Exasperated, she snatched the map Lord Thomson was holding to check it.

The two people beside her naturally crowded around her as well.

“The paths… are complicated.”

Lake’s voice penetrated her ears. Veronica probably felt similarly to him.

The paths on the map weren’t just connected in one way. She’d thought the lines were just tangled, but it turned out they were all paths.

So one path branched off in multiple directions like tree branches, and then other paths split off into several parts again.

Even just these three forks had many branches spreading out.

There were paths that ended abruptly, and paths that stretched out so long it was impossible to tell where they ended.

Moreover, though they thought they’d walked quite far, they realized they hadn’t even covered half of the underground sewer system yet.

Could they really check all this today? Veronica was momentarily speechless as she held the map. The same was true for Lake.

The eyes of both naturally turned to Lord Thomson. The man with the innocent face became flustered when the gazes focused on him.

“You didn’t say it was this complicated, Lord Thomson.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

Lord Thomson apologized readily. Both of them sighed simultaneously.

Veronica looked again at the map with paths drawn like multiple knots.

Now she understood why Lord Thomson had frequented this place.

This wasn’t something that could be resolved in a day or two.

But if they tried to investigate every single path, it would be difficult even if they camped out for days. Yet if they retreated now, that strange adventure-seeking man would likely cause trouble again.

“What should we do?”