It was a message to Ibi, but it was also a message Maiana was giving to herself. However, the emptiness in her words was inevitable. Ibi nodded energetically, seemingly gaining some spirit from that alone, but Maiana couldn’t settle her visibly troubled mind for a long time.

The children of the Duke’s wide front yard and the courtyard, who had just finished playing, now quietly bathed and changed into new clothes.

Cedrois read a fairy tale to Swan and Arianthe, putting them to sleep. It was the continuation of “The Dragon and Ingrid of Damsel Castle,” which he had read to Arianthe once before.

By the time Ingrid arrived at the valley covered with nothing but thorns and thistles, the children had already fallen into their dreams, exhaling various colored breaths. After gently placing the book down, Cedrois wiped the foreheads of the two children and then went towards the living room.

“Jemero.”

When he called, Jemero appeared as if he had been waiting in the dark place covered by partitions and curtains.

He held a small glass and a bottle of strong liquor on a tray made of silver. Cedrois glanced at Jemero and smirked.

“It seems you’re becoming more perceptive, Jemero.”

“How many years have I been serving the Duke, sir? I should know this much. Besides, I once raised children myself. I used to live here with them.”

Jemero, like Jocelyn, had been a servant at the Duke’s estate since he was young. Although now he lived alone, there was a time when he had a wife and children. His wife was a kind and affectionate cook who took care of soups in the kitchen.

The couple got along very well. However, the wife he loved so much died from postpartum fever a week after giving birth to their third child. Moreover, the newborn baby also left without a trace due to pneumonia that struck in the winter of that year.

Fortunately, the first and second children grew up safely, but when they turned eighteen, they left the mansion, not wanting to work under others like their father. All of these were events that Cedrois didn’t know about from a long time ago.

“Your children… they should be much older than me now. Aren’t they?”

“Yes. If everyone is still alive, they might be in middle age by now.”

Cedrois, holding the drink, looked at Jemero with a meaningful gaze.

“Haven’t you ever wanted to see your children?”

Jemero smiled wryly. Looking at his wrinkled mouth, Cedrois realized how foolish his question was and chuckled.
“Have a drink, too.”

“No, Your Grace. I have work to do until late tonight.”

“Jemero, I often say this, but it’s time for you to consider your age.”

“I know. Please don’t worry.”

He placed the bottle on the table, glanced briefly at the dark, empty space behind, then approached Cedrois a bit closer, slightly bowing his waist.

“I found Becker.”

Cedrois’s gaze, which was bringing the glass to his lips, suddenly sharpened like a blade.

“Becker the forester? Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. Aint and Zelso confirmed it by going to check.”

“Surveillance?”

“Aint and Zelso are taking turns. They brought urgent letters. Take a look.”

Jemero took three letters out of his pocket and handed them to Cedrois. Although there were stains on the outer surface of the envelopes that seemed to be spilled wine, he didn’t care and opened the entrance.

The content was not long. The most shocking news was that Becker was living in a secluded corner of a small village not far from the Duke’s estate, seemingly hiding. As he used to be a forester, he now lived by cutting and selling wood in the remote corners of a village where few people visited.

“Becker is quite old now. There is no danger of escape. If Your Grace orders, Aint and Zelso will catch him and bring him to the Duke’s estate.”

Cedrois nodded. His eyes, reflected in the light, trembled slightly.

“Do that. Tell them to bring him immediately. It doesn’t matter the cost; I want him to come as soon as possible.”

“I understand. And there’s one more thing I need to tell you.”

“Speak.”

Jemero’s expression darkened slightly.

“When you first asked me to find Becker, Your Grace mentioned it. If Duke Verbo and Lady Lilia were conscious, there’s no way they would have… It wouldn’t have been so helpless.”

Cedrois tightly bit his lips as if restraining his anger. With his head nodding, he spoke.

“Verbo was excellent at swimming, even better than me. If that guy had regained a bit of consciousness, he would have saved Lilia without fail. Perhaps… Perhaps even if he couldn’t save Lilia, he wouldn’t have died like that. I can guarantee that.”

Pausing for a moment, Cedrois, clenching his elbow tightly, spoke in a voice that lowered ominously.

“Jocelyn must have… taken some action in advance. Whatever it was.”

Jemero asked.

“Where should we start investigating?”

Cedrois carefully examined a few clues in his head, looking through the sparse pieces of information. He had to think… sharper than ever before. Before Verbo and Lilia boarded the ship, Jocelyn would not only have sabotaged the ship but also intervened with them.

How did she do it? Verbo didn’t trust Jocelyn at all. He suspected every word and action, enough to be cautious. Then how…