On her way to meet the Grand Duchess of Kisten, Arasila packed tea leaves that she had mentioned liking as a gift.

Unlike when she first met her, Arasila now had nothing to offer as a bargain. As she was in a position to ask for help entirely, it was important to make the best impression possible.

Dressed modestly to evoke sympathy, she went to the Grand Duchess’ residence.

“Your Grace, Lady Vandermir has arrived.”

The butler who guided Arasila to the reception room announced this, then opened the door and stepped back.

Exhaling a nervous sigh silently, Arasila carefully held the gift box containing tea leaves and stepped through the doorway.

The Grand Duchess, who had been sitting with her back straight, gave a slight nod when she saw her.

“Have you come?”

“Yes, Your Grace. Thank you for inviting me. I’ve brought a small gift.”

“Oh my, I haven’t prepared anything. Now I feel burdened.”

The Grand Duchess checked the tea leaves and gave an ambiguous smile. As obvious discomfort was evident, Arasila couldn’t help but feel more nervous.

The more uncomfortable she felt, the less likely she would be to grant her request.

“You must have a lot on your mind these days. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.”

“Not at all, Your Grace.”

“Well… You must be going through an incredibly difficult time. Are you alright?”

Arasila slowly shook her head. The Grand Duchess looked at her with a sympathetic gaze, as if she had expected that.

Her pale, gaunt appearance, already a thin person to begin with, gave an indication of how much Arasila had been suffering mentally.

Clicking her tongue softly and taking a sip of tea, the Grand Duchess stared blankly at Arasila, who opened her mouth with a resolute expression.

“Your Grace, as I mentioned in my letter, we currently need your help. If you help us, we will never forget your grace and will repay you.”

“…Lady Vandermir.”

“So if there’s anything you want, please don’t hesitate to tell me. I can give you anything. Just please help Demian once.”

Arasila pleaded desperately. As if representing her anxious heart, her body was leaning far forward.

With the Crown Prince backing the Vandermir Duke’s family in strongly demanding Demian’s execution, the only way for Arasila to put a stop to this was to likewise use imperial influence.

Since Duke Hugo’s petition alone had limitations.

As the Grand Duchess of Kisten was the Emperor’s most beloved sister, if she earnestly requested, the Emperor would likely not decide on execution.

“…Do you love your husband, who committed murder, that much?”

The Grand Duchess asked, somewhat unable to understand.

Unlike herself, who couldn’t divorce due to various interests despite her husband’s terrible infidelity, someone like Arasila would be better off divorcing cleanly and starting anew. Especially since a solid future as the next Archmage was planned for her.

But Arasila was trying to protect Demian while taking a submissive attitude in front of her. The Grand Duchess found it somewhat foolish.

“Enough to cover up his crime?”

“No. While it’s true that I love Demian, I have no intention whatsoever of defending his crime.”

“Then, why…?”

“Your Grace, I believe Demian has been falsely accused. My husband did not kill the young lord.”

Arasila said firmly in a calm voice. The Grand Duchess’ eyes widened in surprise.

In a situation where everyone was certain of Demian’s guilt, to think he was completely innocent. The Grand Duchess’ expression became quite serious at this statement that went beyond simple defense.

“Are you speaking sincerely?”

“Yes, I wouldn’t dare come asking for your help with lies, Your Grace.”

“Well…”

“Please help ensure an innocent person doesn’t lose their life unjustly, Your Grace.”

Regardless of the truth, if that was Arasila’s belief, it was understandable why she was trying so hard for her husband.

Separately, it made how to deal with Demian’s case even more complicated.

As the Grand Duchess sighed with a very troubled face and couldn’t readily answer, Arasila grabbed her hands and gave her a desperate look.

“Please, I beg you…”

Unable to bear the blue eyes that looked like they would burst into tears at any moment, the Grand Duchess averted her gaze.

After quite a long deliberation, she spoke with a determined expression.

“It would be a bit difficult for me to get directly involved in this case. It’s a matter within the family, isn’t it? It could cause controversy if I’m seen as overstepping my authority.”

“Ah…”

Arasila’s face was tinged with disappointment. The strength drained from her hands as she became visibly dejected.

This time, the Grand Duchess firmly grasped Arasila’s hands and spoke again.

“But from what I know, Lord Vandermir’s maternal family has connections to the imperial family.”

“…The Ronde Earldom?”

“Yes, didn’t they produce an empress a few generations back?”

Belatedly realizing, Arasila nodded slightly. The current Emperor’s grandmother was an empress from the Ronde Earldom.

Though they keep quiet now, she had heard that there was a time when the Ronde Earldom was quite influential as the empress’ family.

“If the Ronde Earldom takes the initiative to save your husband, I can also lend my support under the pretext of helping a distant relative.”

That way, she could avoid the impression of meddling arbitrarily in another family’s affairs, while also increasing the forces supporting Demian and improving the chances of saving him.

‘The problem is whether the Ronde Earldom will cooperate willingly…’

She recalled the former Earl turning away coldly at the party the day before the New Year’s Festival, not wanting to run into Demian.

Thinking of that cold and heartless back, it was questionable whether he would step up for Demian.

‘No, I have to do something about that. I’ll make them cooperate by any means necessary.’

The Grand Duchess of Kisten had readily shown a favorable intention, and this opportunity couldn’t be missed. Clenching her fists, Arasila burned with determination.

She would do anything if it meant saving Demian.

“Thank you so much, Your Grace.”

As Arasila stood up and bowed in gratitude, the Grand Duchess of Kisten waved her hand with a faint smile.

“It’s nothing. Once someone becomes my person, I never let go of that hand unless they disappoint me as a human being.”

Although she hadn’t known Arasila for long, there was no one as sincere and trustworthy as her. It wouldn’t hurt to get to know her better for longer.

Moreover, seeing Arasila striving to save Demian reminded her of her own past efforts to support her son, making it impossible to turn away.

“I will never disappoint you. If you ever want anything from me, just say the word. I’ll give you anything.”

“Don’t think of yourself as so indebted. If you really want to repay me, give me the best that you can give.”

The Grand Duchess gently patted Arasila’s shoulder as she bowed her head repeatedly.

It was like a ray of sunlight breaking through thick clouds.

Monica’s jewelry box was placed neatly on one side of the dressing table.

Arasila, who searched for it first as soon as she returned home, let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the Imperial Knights hadn’t touched much of Arasila’s belongings on the dressing table.

After confirming that all the items inside were still intact, Arasila spoke to Audrey, who was organizing her cloak and bag.

“Audrey, I’m going out early tomorrow morning. Can you prepare for me?”

“Yes, madam. But where are you going?”

“I have somewhere to go.”

Arasila’s face became solemn. She put the jewelry box in a case and arbitrarily placed a locking spell on it.

So that it couldn’t be opened without her permission.

And the next day, Arasila woke up early and dressed neatly for her outing. She wore a dark green high-neck dress with a black cloak, and braided her hair neatly into one.

She carefully packed the case containing the jewelry box and left the house. Early in the morning, the place she visited was none other than the Ronde Earldom’s mansion.

“Um, who are you?”

A knight belonging to the Earldom, guarding the gate, approached with a puzzled face at the sudden appearance of the carriage. Arasila opened the window and answered directly.

“I am Arasila Vandermir. I’ve come to see Earl Ronde, so open the gate.”

“Ah, yes. Understood.”

The knight, swayed by her confident attitude, unknowingly opened the gate.

The butler of the Earldom was equally flustered by the unexpected visitor.

“Lady Vandermir, excuse me, but did you make an appointment to visit?”

“No, so would you please inform Earl Ronde now? Tell him his granddaughter-in-law has come to see him.”

Arasila smiled brightly. The butler, with a dumbfounded face, left, saying to wait for a moment.

A little later, the butler returned, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, and led her to the reception room. There sat a familiar old man.

Golden eyes identical to Demian’s.

As her gaze met Howard Ronde’s, Arasila bowed her head in greeting.

“Hello, Earl Ronde. I am Arasila Vandermir. Have you been well?”

“…To come so abruptly without notice. How truly rude.”

“Forgive me. I thought if I had contacted you in advance, you wouldn’t have agreed to meet me easily.”

Howard didn’t refute that statement. It was true. If Arasila had sent a letter first, he would have certainly ignored it.

With a displeased look, he crossed his arms and asked with furrowed brows.

“So, why have you come to see me?”

“You must know, Earl. What situation your great-grandson is currently in.”

“That’s none of my concern. He’s not my grandson. I’ve never thought of him as such.”

At this unyielding response, Arasila’s eyebrows twitched. Placing the case on her lap, Arasila smiled faintly and said,

“Does that mean you didn’t consider Lady Monica Vandermir as your daughter?”

“Watch your mouth! How dare you speak so carelessly about Monica!”

Howard shouted, slamming the table. Arasila, without flinching, calmly retorted,

“If you considered Lady Vandermir as your daughter, you would naturally view her son Demian as your grandson. But since you say you don’t, I briefly made a big misunderstanding.”

“You, you…! Have you come to raise my blood pressure?”

“No, I came to ask you to help Demian.”

Arasila, with all traces of a smile gone from her face, looked at Howard seriously. Howard flinched for a moment and raised one eyebrow.

He was well aware that Demian was imprisoned for the crime of killing his half-brother. It was natural since he had attended the New Year’s Festival.

A deep silence settled over the two.

Howard, who first turned his head to avoid eye contact, looked at the dry branches hanging by the window. He opened his parched lips and spoke as if groaning.

“I cannot help. Go back.”

“Why? Demian is your only great-grandson. Why do you say you can’t help?”

“Didn’t I tell you? I’ve never thought of that child as my grandson. After Monica died… I didn’t even turn towards the Vandermir Duke’s family. That’s how much I didn’t want to be involved anymore.”

Howard gently bit his lower lip. Just thinking about his deceased youngest daughter made his breath catch and his chest ache.

If he had known he would lose her so futilely, he should have divorced her and brought her back by any means necessary.

Monica died alone, suffering silently without asking anyone for help, because of Demian, fearing she might not be able to see her son.

However, the grandson his daughter cherished so much terribly resembled his despicable father, so Howard couldn’t feel any affection for him.

Did she leave, driving a nail into her parents’ hearts, to protect a child who only resembled her incompetent husband?

If it weren’t for this child, Monica would have returned to my arms.

The tender love he held for his daughter did not pass down to his grandson. Rather, the resentment and anger towards his son-in-law turned into hatred for Demian.

That’s how over a decade had passed.

“Tell them to handle the Vandermir Duke family’s affairs among themselves. I’m a person who finds it chilling to even live under the same sky as those people.”

Howard stood up abruptly and walked to the window with his hands behind his back. Seeing the falling snow reminded him of Monica, who unusually loved winter.

The image of her excitedly making snowmen in the garden when it snowed was vivid.

Howard’s expression darkened as he looked down at the now empty garden. Watching his lonely back, Arasila spoke softly.

“Earl Ronde, Demian has been abandoned by the Vandermir Duke family. His own father, the Duke, wants to execute him.”

“Having committed the foolish act of killing his brother, that’s natural, I suppose.”

“Demian didn’t kill him. He’s been falsely accused. I can prove it.”

“Then, go ahead and save him yourself. I don’t have even a speck of interest in that family’s affairs.”

At this heartless answer, Arasila closed her mouth for a moment. Her jaw tightened. Her insides were boiling.

‘Isn’t this too much?’

She understood Howard’s grief at losing his cherished youngest daughter. But how could he hate his grandson this much?

Seeing his behavior of trying to ignore until the end that the only blood left in this world by the daughter he loved so much could die, she couldn’t bear it.

Originally, she wanted to lead the conversation through good negotiation, but her mind changed.

She had to say everything that needed to be said, this wouldn’t do.

Arasila narrowed her eyes sharply and threw a pointed question at Howard.

“Are you not ashamed of yourself, Earl?”