“If Johann asks, I will honestly answer everything I can.”

Johann’s sharp eyes narrowed as they scanned me.

“No. There’s no need. I can’t push the madam whose body is not well.”

Is this going to work?

‘I had a headache squeezing excuses into Libertan’s documents…’

It worked, but why does it feel more tangled! I don’t know anymore.

“If you want to hide, hide, keep hiding and pretend you don’t know anything.”

Johann, who had straightened my hair, pressed his lips to my forehead.

“But don’t run away.”

“……?”

“It doesn’t matter what secrets you have, just never disappear from my side.”

Johann whispered with a lazy smile in his voice.

“Even madam’s death must be mine.”

(This is a time separator.)

Late at night, Orteka’s chancellor solemnly spoke with all the lamps extinguished.

“Yes, Your Majesty. As you instructed, I found traces of Libertan in the Hettel Count’s house.”

“Unfortunately, the signs in the Hettel Count’s house were false.”

The Emperor inside the communication magic tool swallowed his saliva.

“But it wasn’t in vain. I think the documents from Libertan alone are sufficient harvest.”

“There’s one more important thing I found out.”

Chancellor Orteka recalled the commotion at dinner.

Suddenly coughing and looking pale, Duchess Blanchet. Then, Duke Blanchet, who seemed more surprised than anyone.

‘All that’s important to me now is my wife.’

If he had been the original Duke Blanchet, he would have completely ruined the Hettel Count’s house.

And after obtaining everything possible from the Hettel Count’s house, he would have demanded something more from the royal family.

For the merit of catching a traitor.

But Duke Blanchet didn’t.

He could have demanded right there, but Duke Blanchet left with his wife.

Thanks to that, the matter of the Hettel Count’s house was resolved by Chancellor Orteka, borrowing the name of the royal family.

Of course, since he made a bet, all the assets of the Hettel Count’s house will be confiscated to the Blanchet Duke’s house, but it was not a cruel treatment worthy of the cruel Duke Blanchet.

In the shade, Chancellor Orteka’s blue hair looked black.

“It seems that Duke Blanchet finally has a weakness.”

Chancellor Orteka’s cool green eyes sparkled.

(This is a time separator.)

The Hettel Count’s house was dealt with by Chancellor Orteka, calling in the royal knights.

‘I thought I had to stay because I was a major related party.’

Apparently, Johann took care of it himself.

‘Being a dark antagonist is really something.’

There was a monster forest on the quickest route to the Duchy of Blanchet. Originally, the plan was to take a detour since it was a very steep road.

‘But it seems to have become more urgent after seeing my blood yesterday.’

“Now it’s the monster forest! Everyone, brace yourselves and move!”

At the mention of the monster forest, I slightly opened the window of the carriage and looked outside.
Unlike other places, the trees were all black, and the branches were twisted in a terrifying curve.

‘Is this place where monsters appear really different?’

It was indeed a forest that felt unpleasant just by looking at it.

‘I can’t talk to the nearby trees.’

At that moment, Raymond approached me and said,

“Don’t worry about the monster forest, ma’am. It’s a path I take often, and I subdue the monsters every year.”

“Ah, Sir Raymond.”

“I’m telling you just in case, but the chances of you encountering a monster are almost none. We’ve already sent scouts to check everything.”

Raymond, who was looking at me and smiling mischievously, asked lightly,

“But ma’am, why do you call me Sir Raymond? Just call me Raymond.”

“Can I do that?”

“Please speak to me informally, as you would to your lord. I want to become friends with you. Is that not okay?”

Raymond, the cheerful man, lifted the corners of his mouth, giving off a refreshing vibe.

“That’s not it, but….”

“That guy is no good.”

Johan, who had been aligning the group in front, suddenly appeared with a displeased expression and cut in,

“Lady, be careful with that guy. He’s really bad.”

“My lord, that’s too much! To speak ill of me like that.”

“Have you forgotten all the troubles you’ve caused with gambling and women?”

Raymond instantly shrunk back.

“……I just play hard when I play.”

“It’s okay if you play like that, but if you pull any strange tricks near my wife.”

Johan spoke in a low, menacing voice,

“That day will be the end of your life.”

“But[—] I’m still the captain of the knights and the hostess’s…”

“Mix in one more word, and I’ll end your life.”

“My, my lord…?”

“I have done it once already.”

As Johan fiddled with the sword on his hip, Raymond looked at me, pale.

“Ma, ma’am! Please stop your husband! Is this right?”

“I do think it’s a bit much to do that just because he spoke once. Sir Raymond seems like a good person…”

He’s one of the few people in the Duchy of Blanche who doesn’t oppose me.

‘Although he may still be someone who holds a grudge against Libertan.’

At my words, Raymond’s face immediately brightened.

“As expected, the angelic ma’am is unlike the cruel lord[—]”

“You’ll miss it a lot. The memories of our conversations, sir.”

“Ma, ma’am?”

Raymond rolled his eyes in confusion.

“Weren’t you trying to save me, ma’am? My lord. Even though I’m the captain of the Blanche knights, please forgive me[—]”

Just then, Raymond was passing under the twisted trees.

Thwack[—]!

The tree struck Raymond’s head hard. Raymond, who almost fell off his horse, cried out in indignation.

“My lord! This isn’t right!”

I looked at the tree with surprised eyes.