“That’s Lexion, right? The house I was covering in the capital until recently.”

Edith, of course, and everyone at Homan Clinic regularly read Benjamin’s articles, so they were well acquainted with the Lexion Duke’s family.

The House of Lexion was one of the most prestigious founding families, and the Duke was even mentioned as a potential next Emperor.

But what was more notorious than their immense power was the nickname ‘Monster Duke’s Family’ and the ominous rumors that surrounded them.

“They say the family abuses their children at the household level to enhance and strengthen the magical power inherited through Lexion’s lineage.”

A family that thought of each member’s life as merely a component for the family’s advancement. A sense of foreboding pervaded when Benjamin, who had been talking about Walter’s mother, brought up Lexion.

“The first daughter of the Duke and Duchess, who was not well-known to the world, seems to have inherited too much magical power and was terminally ill.”

“Terminally ill?”

“She eventually died in a carriage accident… Lately, the faction supporting the Duke as the next Emperor is growing, and all kinds of rumors are flying about His Grace.”

Edith nodded her head.

The rumor that Empress Patricia was collecting people and publishing newsletters to make Claude, the son between the Crown Prince and her, the next Emperor, had even reached Portrion territory.

Naturally, the Empress would also smear the Duke, who was a competitor.

“The real assignment I had at the capital’s newspaper was to dig up one of the Duke’s rumors. The first daughter of the Duke… What was her name? Anyway, there were rumors that the princess secretly had a child.”

“She died in a carriage accident, and you said she was terminally ill.”

“Yeah. Everyone knows that, but some claim that the pregnant princess staged the carriage accident for her escape.”

“Is it credible?”

“Well, about five years ago, an actor who resembled Duke Lexion came looking for His Grace, claiming to be the son of the princess.”

Edith frowned. From the Duke’s perspective, hearing such rumors would be like strangers impersonating his deceased daughter.

She couldn’t understand the mentality of those who would exploit the sorrow of parents who had already lost a child.

“In the end, the actor was dismissed as suffering from delusions, but apparently, Duke Lexion was very angry at that time. It’s fortunate that the actor didn’t come out dead. Anyway, since then, there’s been a rumor that the princess actually staged the carriage accident and escaped from the family.”

“Has anyone actually seen her?”

“No one. But while I was investigating the kidnapping case here as you requested, I found out something surprising. The actor who resembled Duke Lexion was sent by Nicholas Portrion.”

“……!”

Hearing a familiar name all of a sudden while discussing a faraway story, Edith couldn’t help but be puzzled.

“The Viscount? Are you sure?”

“Yes. A gambler who connected the Viscount and the actor spilled the beans while drunk. I gave him some money when he was sober and got confirmation. So, there’s a very high chance that whoever Nicholas kidnapped is either from Lexion’s lineage or a noble family that branched off from Lexion.”

Edith absently fiddled with her stiff fingertips, feeling like the puzzle pieces in her mind were finally falling into place.

She was convinced she needed to inform Benjamin of this situation as well.

“There’s something I have to tell you, Benjamin. While searching for the scroll, Elizabeth overheard an assassination plot within the Viscount’s household. It seems they want to get rid of Walter.”

“So, that’s why you sent that man away.”

Benjamin could easily imagine Edith risking danger to find the dispelling magic scroll for Walter’s sake.

It was none other than Edith Lowell who had studied in this countryside with the sole intention of taking care of more people and even passed the academy exams in the capital.
Her chest ached a little, but she knew her decision was correct.

“Elizabeth is a close associate of Queen Patricia. Many have seen her mingling with the Queen’s sister at social clubs.”

“Why Elizabeth would plot with a man feigning a religious accent to kill Walter…”

If Walter’s mother were Princess Lexione, who inherited a power too potent for her body to handle, it would mean that the ducal family would have an excellent successor.

If there were a successor skilled in wielding the family’s power, even if the Duke became Emperor, the House of Lexione would remain unshaken.

It was a bothersome situation for the Queen, who naturally had to keep the nobility in check, whether it was Lexione or a branch family that had split off from the main house.

‘I did well to send him away. If he stayed here, he’d be in a perilous situation with no room to move.’

Edith could finally be certain that her forced decision to send Walter away was correct.