The next day as the sun was setting, Eisen, heading to the central market of the Fortrion territory, sensed that the atmosphere was unusual.

Even the local newspapers, which were generally favorable to the Lord, were clamoring for Sophia and Whitman’s execution and territorial reform.

Public opinion within the Fortrion territory towards their nobility was exceedingly hostile.

“Since the lord is already dead, what can we do? But shouldn’t the steward who embezzled the family fortune and the first wife be executed?”

“Given the taxes we’ve been paying, I can’t stand to see the territory run like this.”

“It would be nice if they not only arrested the involved employees but also decapitated them all.”

It was a dismal day where snowfall wouldn’t be out of place, yet people gathered, raising their voices.

On each alley’s staircase, and even in the middle of the square, people gathered talking similar narratives.

Seeing them, Eisen thought it was good he had come during the dusk.

‘There’s no need to reveal that I came out running errands for the second lady of the lord with the atmosphere like this.’

Only after he reached the main branch of the territory’s bank located at the center of the marketplace could he feel a bit more relaxed.

The bank, always a priority for wealthy customers, had a very different atmosphere compared to outside.

“How may I assist you, sir?”

“I wish to speak with the bank manager.”

Saying so, Eisen presented a document that Elizabeth had given him.

It was a request for cooperation in gathering information related to the death of Nicholas Fortrion, legally her husband.

Once the bank employee verified Elizabeth Fortrion’s signature and the Fortrion family seal, he led Eisen to a luxurious private room and summoned the bank manager.

“I come on behalf of Lady Elizabeth Fortrion. I heard that the late lord entrusted something in a vault to someone named Jeffrey.”

Initially, the bank manager said he could not open Jeffrey’s vault, but his stance changed as soon as he received two gold coins.

“However, since Jeffrey was killed attempting to abduct the lady, I suppose it wouldn’t be unacceptable to consider this as compensation for damages.”

Soon, the bank manager returned with an elegant wooden box from Jeffrey’s vault.

“It was stored in Jeffrey’s vault, but it’s actually something belonging to the late lord. He was so protective that he told Jeffrey to only look, not touch.”

“I would like to check the item for a moment.”

At Eisen’s request, the bank manager stepped out. As he opened the wooden box, he was momentarily speechless upon seeing the picture frame inside it.

Wavy lush blonde hair, beautiful water-colored eyes and long eyelashes, lively yet dignified voice, lips like a ripe fruit, a blue necklace given by her mother.]

Scratched on the paper were Edith’s physical features.

‘So, the lord borrowed someone else’s vault just to keep this? Something’s odd…’

Eisen returned to Elizabeth holding the picture frame.

She was in the middle of questioning Eugene, who had been Sophia’s confidant and the family physician at the lord’s residence.

Although Eugene had followed Sophia, he had never done anything against his doctor’s oath to preserve life, so his cooperation was possible.

Just when she thought he didn’t know anything useful either, Eisen returned and suddenly presented the picture frame.

“Lady Elizabeth, could you please take a moment to look at this?”

“What’s so special about this?”

Elizabeth ordered Eugene to stay kneeling and moved briefly to the window to examine the picture frame.

Her initial reaction wasn’t much different from his.

‘The note inside looks pretty worn. Did the lord start obsessively searching for Edith after seeing this?’

But it was an action that defied common sense.
“Nicholas Portrion was looking for a beauty with such described features. It didn’t necessarily have to be Edith, did it?”

“Hm?”

Elizabeth, examining the note in the frame with a heavy gaze, squinted her eyes as she found something.

Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t that the note had been cut off at the bottom; it looked like it was folded inward inside the frame.

Thud—

As if spellbound, she flipped the frame and took out the note inside.

“……!”

Then the hastily scribbled signature on the note was revealed. The last part of the long name was smeared in ink and couldn’t be seen, but the front part was clearly legible.

‘Walter Isaac Lexion……?’

Not just Elizabeth, but Aizen who confirmed the signature with her felt the hairs all over his body stand on end.

The middle name, Isaac, was new to her, but upon seeing the two words Walter and Lexion, her heart pounded and her mind raced.

She finally understood why Nicholas Portrion had specifically put the crumpled paper in a frame and stored it in someone else’s safe.

It was clear that Walter had the note in his possession when he was first discovered.