“So, the mercenaries didn’t even attempt and just took the gold and escaped?”

Marquis Zaltz, who had been lost in thought and staring beyond the carriage window, turned his head towards Eshika.

“Oh, that’s… well.”

“It seems impossible! Please turn the carriage around. Go back to where the request was made.”

“What? What do you intend to do there?”

“That’s right. They didn’t do anything and only took the reward? We can’t let such villains go free. We need to teach them a lesson firmly…”

Knowing that even the party that requested the kidnapping wasn’t upright, Eshika carefully chose words to provoke Marquis Zaltz.

“Well… Princess’s words make sense, but it’s difficult.”

Marquis Zaltz let out a light sigh. It was a gaze of a troublemaker who couldn’t be stopped.

“Why?”

Eshika asked innocently. It was advantageous to get information on this side.

“First…”

Marquis Zaltz licked his dry lips.

It was a painful expression on how to make this clear to the clear-headed woman.

“Trying to kidnap a noble is a serious crime in itself. If we bring the mercenaries to justice, even if we reveal it in court, the ones who made the request will also face punishment.”

We?

Eshika was startled by the words that seemed to tie herself and Marquis Zaltz as accomplices.

“…”

“Naturally, they must be well aware of that.”

“Really!”

Eshika pretended to be surprised as if she had no idea, then immediately added.

“Couldn’t they later use that incident to threaten you, Marquis? I’m so worried.”

“That’s impossible.”

“Why?”

“When requesting a violent crime, it is a basic principle to remain anonymous. That way, even if something goes wrong, the client’s identity won’t be revealed.”

Though it seemed a bit troublesome, this time Marquis Zaltz explained more in detail.

“Ah, so those mercenaries don’t know who the client is?”

“That’s correct.”

Eshika thought with her head lowered.

If the mercenaries really just took the gold and ran, it would be better. Leneve wouldn’t know anything.

But if they failed the mission, Eshika’s position would become very disadvantageous.

The current Leneve was so different from the Leneve she knew. It quickly leaned toward the thought that the mercenaries had failed in their mission.

‘What if they retaliate as Leneve did last time?’

If they tried to retaliate in the same way, what would happen to her?

Her hands, clasped on her knees, began to tremble. Eshika firmly held her own hands.

But that didn’t make the fear and anxiety that had risen once disappear.
“Yeongae, it would be better for you to stay here for a while.”

Drehhan guided Leneve to a bedroom deep within the palace.

If Eshika were to find out about the failed plan, she would undoubtedly seek a new, more drastic approach. At least, during her stay in the guest room, there had been no attempt at kidnapping, so it seemed safe to stay as before.

However, one should not forget that a cornered mouse might open the door for the cat. Just imagining Eshika, who must have received the news and was likely furious, deviously plotting, made the idea of returning to the guest room sound appealing.

“Thank you for guiding me, Lord Drehhan.”

“It’s nothing. Rather than that, shall I call the maids who were staying with you in the guest room?”

“Please do.”

“This place is the most secure within the palace, so you can rest assured and relax.”

After saying that, Drehhan turned away.

Leneve took her eyes off Drehhan’s retreating figure and entered the room.

As soon as she entered, a suitable-sized waiting room appeared. And on both sides were corridors.

Briefly hesitating on which side to explore first, Leneve turned her body to the right corridor.

As she passed through the corridor, a slightly larger space than the entrance appeared.

“Looks like a reception room.”

The first thing that caught Leneve’s attention was a grand piano.

Approaching it, she pressed a few keys and looked around the interior.

Sofas and tables were placed under a large window, and a mural hung above a large fireplace. A plush rug covered the floor.

Despite being spacious and splendid, it emitted a peculiarly cozy atmosphere.

After scanning the reception room, Leneve opened each visible door.

There were a toilet room, a large bedroom, five small bedrooms, and a total of three bathrooms.

Among them, the bathroom at the end of the corridor was the largest, with a bathtub several times bigger than the one in the guest room.

“A public bath?”

Of course, despite the luxurious interior, it seemed a bit too extravagant.

Exiting the bathroom and walking through the corridor, the entrance she first saw came into view.

Both corridors were connected in a circular shape. Whether going to the left or right, the entrance was visible.

“Interesting.”

Amused by the unusual structure, Leneve suddenly bit her lower lip with a thought.

“Wait, isn’t this sculpture something I saw in a certain book?”

If Leneve’s memory was correct, it was a treasure-worthy sculpture.

“…Wait a minute?”

Ah, she thought it couldn’t be true, but Leneve began to doubt if this place was not the empress’s bedroom.

Although the guest room was constructed with great attention to luxury, it did not hold artworks with such great value.

“Could it be, no, it can’t be….”

Leneve quickly dismissed the thought, considering it too excessive.

Leneve then moved to the reception room, which was closest to the entrance. Sitting comfortably on the sofa in front of the large window, she leaned back.

The plush sofa supported her back and waist like a single entity. It was incredibly comfortable.

Was that why?

Like a cut puppet, tension dissolved.