4th Princess Odette Blunois Celestine.

No, now it would be more appropriate to call her Lady Clovis or Odette Celestine Clovis.

In any case, news of her death came two months ago.

She fell to her death from the balcony of the Clovis Mansion.

It was said that the height was lucky enough for her to survive, but her luck was evidently not on her side.

Of all places, she fell directly onto the sharp fence.

‘No, perhaps it should be considered lucky.’

Since the fall was intentional, it would be more accurate to say she was lucky.

In that sense, Odette’s suicide was successful.

If someone had told this story to Odette herself, she might have laughed and said that she had put all her remaining luck into that.

Yes, up to this point, it was a slightly surprising or somewhat satisfying story for those around her.

‘From what I’ve heard, there wasn’t a deep connection.’

What was somewhat memorable was the excessive regret expressed by the Bellpor Academy, but even that was merely a nod, considering that they were receiving research assistance from Odette, who was known to have a close relationship with someone involved in research.

If there had been such exchanges between them, it wasn’t at a level that would be difficult for Bellpor to accept any regrets.

Russell felt the same way.

As there had been interactions between Valtter and Odette, he also had a fair acquaintance with her.

‘Aside from being skinny, she seemed like a decent person.’

In Russell’s memory, Odette was like a tree left awkwardly standing after a forest fire had swept through.

A person who seemed like they would collapse into ashes at a touch.

She lacked vitality and seemed fragile.

Some might find such a sight appealing, but Russell preferred those who were lively and energetic.

So, Russell couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry as he looked at the withering Odette.

Russell clicked his tongue, teasingly.

The problem was that his insight was so accurate that Odette ended up dying as a result.

Since Cedric’s death, Valtter had been relentlessly pursuing the one who killed him.

Despite various attempts, Cedric was not an easy person to kill.

His swordsmanship and martial arts skills were all top-notch, and he always had guards around him.

For someone like him to suddenly die in an ambush?

Valtter said so and began to investigate Cedric’s death.
The most likely motive pointed out as the mastermind was the illegal smuggling investigation that Cedric was conducting until his death.

As the involvement of nobles in illegal smuggling began to surface, it reached a point where it could no longer be ignored.

‘And if nobles were implicated in smuggling… there’s a high possibility they tried to retaliate against the late Cedric, who was investigating it.’

In this way, Valtter succeeded in getting closer to an individual deeply involved in smuggling and closely related to Cedric’s death, namely Louis Clovis.

Originally a person with high guards, it was difficult to become acquainted, but Valtter managed to secure an invitation to the mansion.

On the day Valtter visited the Clovis Mansion, Odette threw herself off the balcony.

‘And from that day on, Your Excellency started acting strange.’

Was it due to guilt for not preventing Odette’s suicide, even though they were in the same place?

Or was it because they failed to properly protect Odette, who had been asked by Cedric?

But, as far as Valtter knew…

‘…Cedric never asked Your Excellency to look after the 4th Princess.’

Naturally. Such things were done by someone who sensed their impending death, and Cedric didn’t anticipate his own death at all.

Of course, Russell didn’t know all the conversations that took place between them, but anyway, as far as he knew, that was the case.

Above all, Valtter was not the type to be overwhelmed by guilt for the death of a friend’s sibling who had been asked for a favor.

‘Did Your Excellency really have feelings for the 4th Princess?’

If only they knew what had happened at the Clovis Mansion that day, they wouldn’t feel so frustrated.

Russell sighed and said, “Your Excellency, are you really going to continue like this until fate takes its course? You don’t need to act so self-destructively; why are you doing this when someone who knows better tells you not to.”

“Just mind your own business.”

“How am I supposed to know what Your Excellency’s condition is, even if I’m not the first paladin to come out onto the battlefield?”

From head to toe, Valtter was covered in blood.

Of course, most of it wasn’t his, but even so, Russell, who was familiar with the battlefield, could clearly see that Valtter’s body was stained with his blood.