Cassius came over and explained to Edith, who was standing far away from the carriage due to unpleasant memories.

“What Helen is holding is not just a crystal rod. It’s….”

“‘Lewina[Dash]Edward Blood Kinship Test Crystal Rod,’ isn’t it?”

“Lewina… Yes?”

Cassius blinked a couple of times as if distant for a moment. How on earth had the fourth lady memorized such a complex name?

“Well, I don’t know the detailed name, but if you put blood on both sides, it reveals whether two people are related. It’s shockingly expensive.”

Cassius looked at Helen with his arms crossed.

Lieutenant Max was holding a lantern, and Helen gently cut her fingertip with a dagger to smear her blood on the crystal rod.

“The blood left on the edge of the carriage seat is the Lord’s blood. The rest is the assassins’.”

Thanks to Edith’s explanation, Helen was able to touch the other end of the crystal rod to Nicholas Portrion’s blood.

Ziing―

A moment later, the crystal rod glowed with a bluish hue. The dim light meant that she was of the same blood as the lord but not his direct child.

Walter’s eyes sparkled upon confirming that Helen was of Portrion’s blood.

Cassius nodded as if that reaction was natural.

“You don’t know how hard Walter worked to drive Nicholas away and find a new Portrion to replace him.”

“As far as I know, there are no other offspring in Portrion.”

“Officially, yes. Actually, Portrion is rare, too. But his obsession is beyond imagination.”

Cassius looked distant as if the mere thought was draining.

“For the first 3 years, he asked servants about secret treasures hidden by the former lord, the lord before the former one, etc.”

“…”

“After discovering that the lord before the former one had relations with a maid, he tried to find the maid’s child with the money extorted from servants… Ah.”

Cassius corrected himself, as if to prevent misunderstanding.

“Sometimes, the servants in difficult situations asked Walter for money and help. We didn’t rip them off like thugs.”

“Anyway, so the maid’s child he found was Helen?”

“Yes. Only a very few knew that Helen’s mother had consorted with the lord before the former one, and she was chased away from the mansion before knowing she was pregnant. Even Helen didn’t know she was of Portrion blood, so that says it all.”

Edith was astounded at how Walter, who had been confined to the mansion, had managed to find Portrion’s lineage, which didn’t even exist on paper.

Even Sophia, who had done quite a lot of investigation, seemed to have failed to find the Portrion lineage.

“7 years. That’s how long that guy sharpened his knife for escape and revenge. Of course, it also helps that I played the role of a faithful errand boy.”
“Amazing, really…….”

Edith could not help but express her pure admiration.

Because of the scoundrels who had attacked the carriage, virtually leaving the countess’s death imminent, Walter had evidently summoned Helen to the count’s estate for a final check.

‘If they are a mercenary corps, they would be active outside the count’s estate, but seeing Helen come directly, mingled with the merchants, it seems she trusts Walter.’

Ordinary people would find it difficult to gain trust from others with just letters and errand runners. Walter’s words, that he had no time to chat with women, now seemed persuasive.

Meanwhile, Walter, having finished verifying the lineage, came to Edith’s side with Helen. Helen greeted Edith with a gentle smile.

“I must return now. It was a pleasure, Fourth Lady.”

Edith wanted to say more to the title by which she was addressed, but Helen opened her mouth first, as if knowing everything.

“Quite a lot of us in the mercenary corps are wellinformed. We know that you were sold here unjustly.”

Helen explained how the territory’s merchants, gamblers, and bureaucrats connected to the countess were tormenting many by relying on the foolish countess.

“I wish to become the countess of Portrion, even without any fortune, so that there will be no more people like you who have to sacrifice part of their lives because of the corrupt Portrion.”

The benevolent will filled in her voice touched Edith’s heart.

“Thank you for saying that, Helen.”

“I will also do my best to advance that time as much as possible.”

Helen said so, and then put on her robe again. Edith, looking at her robust figure from behind, suddenly remembered something.

If she remembered correctly, she felt she could advance the time to meet Helen again.