Lea paid 50 gold to the hotel staff. On the other hand, the couple seemed greatly surprised that a strange young lady had paid for their hotel bill.

“I am from the Bizac barony of the Rubec Empire. My fiancé is Duke Terran Courtois.”

“Ah! I see.”

Lea deliberately introduced herself in detail. If they were truly imperial tailors from Saint-Burg, they would surely know these two families of Rubec. The couple quickly looked over Lea’s appearance.

“The Bizac Baron and Courtois Duke who greatly distinguished themselves in the war against Wales. We know them well.”

“You were imperial tailors for Saint-Burg?”

“Yes, I’m Sonya.”

“I’m Adolf, Sonya’s husband.”

They explained their situation to Lea.

Starting with saying they weren’t the kind of shameless people who don’t pay hotel bills, they went on to talk about how important their positions had been in the past.

The couple took great pride in having served the Emperor and Empress of the Saint-Burg Empire, and they seemed to have strong self-esteem.

Even so, they appeared reluctant to admit the fact that they were now wandering in foreign lands due to the empire’s downfall.

“My goodness! How fortunate I am. To meet the esteemed tailors of the Saint-Burg imperial family like this.”

Lea said, placing her hand on her chest with an expression of deep emotion.

People who can’t let go of past glories need time to accept reality. She knew this from personal experience.

“Esteemed tailors? You flatter us, Lady Bizac.”

“May I call you Sonya and Adolf?”

“Of course.”

“By the way, did you make the clothes you’re wearing now yourselves?”

Lea needed one last confirmation. If they were truly Saint-Burg imperial tailors, surely the extraordinary clothes they wore would be of their own craftsmanship.

In fact, Saint-Burg was famous for its fine lace, embroidery, riding clothes, and suits. Especially since it was a cold country, the winter clothes made in Saint-Burg were top-notch.

“Of course, we never entrust our own clothes to others’ hands.”

Sonya’s face was full of pride.

Lea had a feeling that this couple would be of great help to her.

“Sonya, Adolf, would you like to work with me?”

Lea briefly told the two about the business she was doing. She said she had general stores all over Galdensia and had received an order for the Empress’s clothes in Rubec.

“Is… that true?”

Adolf’s eyes gleamed. It was very difficult for people who had long been affiliated with the imperial family to become independent in the world.

Not because they lacked independence or skill, but because of the solid honor and face they had built up.

Even so, they were at a crossroads and had to make a quick decision.

“Alright.”

Sonya and Adolf accepted Lea’s offer.

“I’ll get a carriage for you, please go to the Courtois Duke’s residence in Rubec. When you arrive, just mention my name.”

“Thank you, Lady Bizac.”

* * *

Lea and Pauline finally left Galdensia.

Unlike Pauline, who was humming happily at the thought of going home, Lea was taking in the scenery outside the window.

‘I’ll come back again.’

She consoled her disappointed heart. Brassel, a place as familiar to her as a security blanket.

Her steps felt heavy as she left. Still, she was able to pull herself together thanks to the Hamilton general stores visible here and there.

“Pauline, how was this trip? You must be tired?”

Lea felt sorry for dragging Pauline along on her whim.

“Not at all. It was enjoyable. The MacDowell mansion was especially impressive.”

“Really?”

“It made me realize how great the Hamilton Company truly was. But to think it collapsed in an instant.”

Pauline couldn’t forget the Hamilton Company’s mansion, which was no less impressive than a duke’s residence.

How much money must a merchant, not even a nobleman, have had to live in such a place? She felt anew the power of money.

“But those three people were really distasteful.”

Pauline frowned as she recalled Allen, Tuazo, and the cargo ship captain.

Disrespecting women was just the beginning; how they swaggered about acting so superior. Especially the lecherous way all three men looked at Grace was disgustingly unpleasant.

“Those three framed the Hamilton Company. That’s why the company went bankrupt.”

Lea blurted out before she could stop herself.

“Really? How do you know that, miss?”

“Oh…? I saw it in the newspaper.”

Of course, such content wouldn’t have been in the newspaper. Lea had hastily made it up since Pauline didn’t read newspapers.

‘Was such content really in the newspaper?’

Pauline tilted her head. Then another question occurred to her.

“Can we trust those people from Saint-Burg?”

“I think my guess is right.”

After all, when you deal with many people and see many things, you naturally develop the ability to gauge others. This too she had learned from her father.

“Even if not, helping people in need isn’t a bad thing, is it?”

“But they could be con artists, couldn’t they?”

“If they were con artists, do you think Terran would leave them be?”

“Ah! I see! Even if they wanted to con us, they couldn’t. If you knew what kind of person our Duke is.”

“That’s right.”

Lea’s feelings became complicated as she thought of Terran. She hated her position where she could neither completely push him away nor fully accept him.

Even though she had come to Galdensia as if running away, there wasn’t a single moment when she didn’t miss Terran.

Moreover, she kept feeling guilty about leaving without seeing him fully recovered.

‘Will he be angry? Or will he ignore me?’

Lea wondered how Terran would react when she returned. Seeing that he didn’t send anyone to follow her, it seemed like he might have given up.

‘I don’t regret it.’

She thought it was actually good that she had left him abruptly. After all, when conflicts arise, it’s wiser to keep distance and think rationally.

“Miss, may I say something?”

Noticing Lea’s concern, Pauline looked at her and spoke seriously.

“Of course.”

“Well, the Duke likes you, miss, not the Empress.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Just as you immediately recognized the value of the Saint-Burg people, when you work under others for a long time like me, you develop a sense for these things.”

She often saw aspects that the parties involved didn’t realize.

Subtle expressions, gradually changing gazes, shifts in emotions, and so on – as a third party, she could judge these things quite accurately.

To exaggerate a little, she could see changes in people’s emotions with her eyes.

Pauline’s words were quite convincing. Yet, Lea’s face remained gloomy.

‘Pauline, I’m not the real Grace. I’m a fake. Grace’s soul is sleeping somewhere in this body. And I don’t know when my soul will be ejected from Grace’s body.’

She didn’t even know how she had ended up in Grace’s body.

She was in a state where she didn’t know what would happen afterward. So she wasn’t in a position to freely like someone.

* * *

Allen was hospitalized. Due to the sudden terrorist attack, he had fractured ribs, leg bones, and shoulder bones. He was diagnosed to need at least a month of hospitalization.

‘Damn it! Who the hell did this?’

He instructed his secretary to investigate the group that had terrorized him.

‘Could it be that there were still groups loyal to Lea’s father?’

They were the only ones who would hold a grudge against him. Moreover, it was strange that they knew his every move so well.

‘At least I’m lucky my face wasn’t badly injured.’

For him, his face was as good as a great fortune. After all, he had used this face to seduce Lea Hamilton and essentially steal the Hamilton Company.

‘Could it be that Terran Courtois bastard’s doing?’

He was the type of person who could commit terrorism without batting an eye, given his cruel and extreme personality. But there was something that didn’t add up.

‘It’s suspicious that he let Grace go to Galdensia alone.’

As he had seen before, Terran’s gaze towards Grace was very dangerous. Full of uncontrollable obsession and possessiveness, almost like…

‘A madman.’

As Allen’s head was in turmoil, his secretary arrived.

“Did you find out anything?”

“I’m sorry, but they didn’t leave any traces that could be clues, so the investigation will take some time.”

“Damn it!”

Allen burst out in anger. Who would dare to touch the president of MacDowell Trading Company without fear?

“What about Grace?”

“She left for Rubec.”

“How annoying.”

He felt pathetic for not having achieved any results despite having Grace so close at hand. Then suddenly, Terran came to mind.

“Could Courtois Duke have instigated the terrorism?”

“I sent a telegram about that, and we got an immediate reply.”

“The Duke has fallen ill with the flu and is quite unwell. He’s been focusing solely on treatment at home for several days.”

If that’s the case, it can be concluded that it wasn’t Terran’s doing.

Of course, it must be because he was sick that he couldn’t follow Grace around.

“Find out somehow. I won’t let this slide!”

Allen said, gritting his teeth.

* * *

The carriage carrying Lea and Pauline arrived in Rebon City late at night.

She hadn’t realized it when she left, but now that she was back, she felt as comfortable as if she had come home.

“Miss, we’re almost at the Duke’s residence.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Lea’s heart, which had been quite complicated for a while, was now much more at ease.

Now all she had to do was find a way to resolve the conflict well when she met Terran. That’s when Pauline looked out the window and turned pale.

“The city is swarming with officers.”

“Really? What could be happening?”

As the two were wondering, the carriage stopped, and soon uniformed officers approached the carriage and opened the door.

“Officer, this is the Courtois Duke’s carriage.”

Pauline spoke boldly to the officer.

Normally, this would have been unthinkable.

“We know. Please, both of you, step out of the carriage.”

“What?”

Lea and Pauline looked at each other with bewildered expressions.

What could possibly be happening for an officer to stop the Duke’s carriage, let alone conduct an inspection?

The two got out of the carriage with flushed faces. Then an officer approached Lea and asked.

“Are you Grace Bizac?”

“Yes, that’s me. What’s the matter?”

Upon Lea’s answer, the officer’s expression changed to one of a problem finally being solved, and he said:

“Grace Bizac, you are under arrest for attempted murder.”