Poke, poke. Someone was jabbing my cheek with their finger.

Who dares disturb my sweet morning slumber? I frowned deeply and buried my face in the pillow.

[Little creature, little creature.]

What woke me was none other than a soft voice that seemed to ring inside my head.

[Wake up, you worthless little creature.]

“It’s the silver snake.”

[I’m not a snake, you know?]

Judging by the sharp tone, it was indeed the silver snake. I barely opened my eyes, remembering what I had asked of the silver snake.

“How did it go? Did the Duke really release Count Ripe?”

[Yes, you mean that creature that was locked up underground? That’s right, he’s out!]

The silver snake said, swishing its tail.

[If you want, I can show you what I saw.]

I nodded in affirmation, and the silver snake’s swishing tail lightly touched my cheek.

My vision instantly darkened and reflected the silver snake’s memory. Judging by the moon hanging in the dark sky, it seemed Count Ripe had been released in the middle of the night.

There was a rattling sound.

‘Is he riding in a carriage?’

Nothing was visible in the completely dark view. After some time passed and the view brightened, the first thing that appeared was the main gate of a certain mansion.

The fence was large, but it had a modest appearance for a nobleman’s residence.

‘Oh my, Master!’

An elderly servant came out, limping on one foot. As Count Ripe got out of the carriage, the servant grasped his hand.

‘I’m so glad you’ve been safely released! Truly, I’m so relieved!’

‘You fool, of course I’d be released! Did you think something terrible would happen to me when I’m innocent?!’

Count Ripe shouted loudly, but he also patted the servant’s shoulder as if he too was moved.

‘H-how did it turn out? Did the Duke acknowledge your innocence?’

‘Yes, yes. Of course he did. I’ll tell you the details inside.’

Count Ripe disappeared into the mansion with the servant. The silver snake’s tail that had been touching my cheek also fell away.

[Well, how was it? He got home safely, right? I confirmed everything you wanted, right?]

The silver snake asked, its eyes twinkling. Still not fully awake, I nodded and let out a big yawn.

“That’s right, thank you so much-”

I struggled to blink my eyes and closed them, but I could still feel a gaze on me. Hoping it wasn’t what I thought, I opened my eyes to find the silver snake staring at me intently, flicking its tongue.

[What are you going to give me this time?]

That’s right, come to think of it, I had promised to give it something shiny if it fulfilled my request this time too.

‘…I guess I have no choice.’

Seeing how it was waiting like that, it probably wouldn’t disappear from my sight until I gave it something.

With reluctant movements, I slowly got up and rummaged around for my treasure bag.

‘I should give it the cheapest-looking one.’

These were all my emergency funds. My independence plan was only postponed, not abandoned, so my determination to continue saving money remained unchanged.

‘This one should do.’

I held out a small gem that had fallen off a frame to the silver snake. The silver snake grinned and snatched it up with its mouth.

[Hehe, it’s pretty.]

The silver snake coiled up in the middle of the room and swished its tail while looking at the gem I had given it.

‘Seems like it likes it.’

I had worried it might complain that it was too small, but it seemed pleased with the shiny object.

Still, I thought I should stop asking favors from the silver snake from now on.

‘I can’t keep wasting my funds like this.’

With that thought, I turned back to the bed to try to sleep, when suddenly the ceiling started spinning.

‘Huh?’

Before I could wonder what was happening, my body lost balance and fell onto the bed.

It didn’t hurt since I fell onto the bed. I blinked my eyes and slowly raised my body as my vision returned to normal.

‘What was that just now?’

The dizziness I had felt just now was something I had experienced only once when I was living with Rebecca.

It was when I had collapsed after not eating anything for several days.

At that time, Rebecca had told me to find food on my own, saying she had no money and nothing to eat herself, and I had no choice but to starve for days.

‘But lately I’ve been eating so well.’

Since coming to the Duke’s mansion, I had been eating nutritious meals every day along with my favorite snacks.

I didn’t know I could be such a good eater. I had eaten so well that even I could see how plump I had become.

‘It must be because I’m sleepy?’

Looking out the window, I could see it was still before dawn.

‘I guess it’s because I’m not fully awake.’

I thought nothing of it and flopped back down onto the bed.

* * *

Two weeks after the general recruitment day, a secret meeting was held at a certain mansion.

“I didn’t expect the Count to host such a gathering first.”

The host of the meeting was none other than Count Schusted, who was known as part of the pro-Duke faction.

“But it seems a few are missing.”

“They went straight back to their homes, you see. I couldn’t call them back.”

Among the absent families was also Count Otol’s.

The Count’s estate was not far from the Duke’s territory, but the other vassals didn’t find it particularly suspicious.

After all, it was a gathering hosted by Count Schusted, who was part of the same pro-Duke faction.

At that moment, another figure appeared in the meeting hall. That’s when the vassals started whispering.

“C-Count Ripe?!”

“How are you here!”

The meeting hall started to buzz.

Though they hadn’t heard the details, they had heard rumors that Count Ripe had been imprisoned for attempting to rebel against his superiors.

The prison managed by the Duke was not a place one could easily escape from.

It wasn’t a place where people were imprisoned just on suspicion of being criminals, but only those with definite evidence of their crimes were locked up there.

Yet here he was, released so easily and with a perfectly fine face!

“Count Ripe, what is the meaning of this! Is it alright for you to be face to face with us like this!”

“That’s right! What if His Grace becomes suspicious of us too!”

“Everyone, that’s enough.”

Amidst the commotion, Count Schusted was the first to speak up.

“His Grace released him personally, so let’s not doubt any further.”

At his words, the noisy meeting hall suddenly fell silent.

“That’s right, so there’s no reason I can’t attend a gathering like this.”

The vassals who had been pointing fingers at Count Ripe just moments ago all shut their mouths.

“Thank you for remembering to invite me, Count Schusted.”

Count Schusted just nodded lightly. Count Ripe’s gaze, which had been fixed on him, narrowed for a moment.

Once all the invited guests had gathered, the topic of conversation unified into one.

It was about Diane Crustel, the biological daughter the Duke had reportedly found, whom they had seen on the general recruitment day.

“Even if blood calls to blood, I must say, it’s concerning that the Duke didn’t even conduct a paternity test.”

“Yes, that’s right. Even if there was a signet ring…”

“Although black hair is said to be a rare color, I hear it’s actually quite common in the Eastern Continent. Perhaps we should clarify that point…”

“Are you doubting the young lady now?”

Amidst everyone questioning the legitimacy of the Duke’s biological daughter, only one person objected.

It was none other than Count Ripe. Everyone gave him bewildered looks.

After all,

‘Wasn’t Count Ripe the one who disliked the young lady the most!’

Everyone had the same thought. Noticing their reaction, the Count cleared his throat unnecessarily. Yet he didn’t change his stance.

“To hear such nonsense after seeing the young lady beside His Grace in person, it’s truly deplorable.”

The others wanted to question his completely changed attitude. But this was Count Ripe, after all.

He was from a family that held the largest territory among those granted by the Duke, and had an influence that couldn’t be easily ignored even among the vassals.

So with that one statement, those who had been doubting the child had no choice but to back down.

In the heavy silence that followed, Count Ripe spoke again.

“Rather, I’d like to ask if this gathering has His Grace’s approval.”

“Th-that is…”

At this pointed question, all the vassals fell silent. That’s when Count Schusted stepped forward.

“So are you saying your mind has changed now?”

“Changed? My thoughts remain the same. They never changed from the beginning.”

“C-could you explain what you mean by that?”

“Actually, I had the honor of meeting the young lady before the general recruitment day, though you all might not know. Even then, the young lady noticed me first and kindly greeted me.”

Count Ripe said with a grin. The vassals couldn’t help but be surprised.

It wasn’t even five times a year that this stern count spoke with a smile.

“When did you see the young lady?”

“Are you saying you met the young lady alone without His Grace present?”

Naturally, the vassals’ attention was drawn to him.

While Count Ripe was describing his first impression of Diane, Count Schusted crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair.

Unlike the others, he showed no interest in Count Ripe’s words.

He quietly clicked his tongue.

‘What an unprincipled old man.’

* * *

As always, my walking time came around, and seeing the warm afternoon sunlight, I leisurely left my room.

In front of the door, once again, it was Chrissy standing guard instead of Yan.

“Young miss! Shall we play hide-and-seek again today?”

Chrissy approached with a grin. I crossed my arms and asked him.

“Why does Chrissy keep coming?”

“Pardon?”

“My guard is supposed to be Yan, right?”

“Ah, about that. Right now, Yan has other business…”

“You said that last time too! It’s been over a week already!”

“The truth is, young miss, our work isn’t something that can end so easily. Sometimes what we think will take a day ends up taking several days, and what we expect to take several days might finish in just one day.”

At Chrissy’s explanation, I narrowed my eyes.

“Surely the Duke isn’t deliberately giving Yan only difficult tasks?”

“His Grace? Come on, no way.”

Seeing Chrissy’s nonchalant response, I muttered inwardly.

‘The Duke is certainly capable of doing that.’

I didn’t know why, but every time the Duke looked at Yan, there was a sharp edge to his gaze.

‘Since Yan is kind and honest, the Duke might dislike him for the same reason he dislikes Count Ripe.’

“Young miss, instead of him, I can play with you excitingly! How about changing your guard to me?”

“That’s not possible.”

I shook my head firmly. Chrissy seemed shocked and froze on the spot.

“Young miss… you said you liked playing hide-and-seek with me…”

Chrissy muttered weakly behind me. Regardless, I headed towards the mansion’s entrance.

At that moment, I heard a commotion from the direction of the back gate. I quietly moved towards the back gate.

“Yes, we lost the leader. It’s all because this bastard said we had to come quickly!”

“But that guy was hit with a poison dart. We judged he wouldn’t last long because of that. It’s not like he can find an antidote elsewhere.”