As Varton handed over the organized documents to Lucia, he suddenly asked a question that came to his mind.

“Your Excellency, what happened to the girl named Isobel?”

“She disappeared.”

“I see. …That must have been a difficult choice for her too.”

He smiled with a hint of bitterness.

When Lucia asked him for help, he stubbornly refused.

From his perspective, revealing crucial information about finding an enemy was suspicious, especially when she had suddenly become a figure at the pinnacle of power.

However, what moved his iron will was a letter with a seal and a single word from her.

‘The last bloodline of the true Arquis is doing well. Don’t worry; she’s enjoying happier days than anyone else.’

Of course, he didn’t show the contents of the letter, but he promised to reveal it when the child reached adulthood and asked Lucia not to inquire about anything until then.

In the first place, he never wanted the child, who was left alone in the world, to come to the kingdom.
When she received the news that the girl named Isobel was revealed as the enemy spy, she earnestly pleaded with her not to send the child alone.

So, in a way, it was a relief that things turned out like this.

No matter how you look at her, she seems to have no ambitions for power, but it’s unclear why she, who is seemingly without such aspirations, would want to revive this failing kingdom.

“I’ve requested your assistance for various reasons, but one of my wishes is to have the servants screened first. And the most important among them is the personal maid of the Crown Princess.”

Personal maid.

A crucial position that involves being constantly by the side of the Crown Princess, sometimes as a friend and other times in the roles of a secretary or teacher.

Usually, a nanny who forms an attachment relationship assumes such a position, but Nia had never experienced such a period, making her the most challenging issue for Lucia now.

“Well, I understand. Since you cannot avoid the celebration where the children attend due to the coronation news, you must be concerned.”

“I hope you are fully prepared.”

Her earnest gaze.

To Varton, who faced it, the new king appeared to cherish his daughter considerably.

Not only did he not leave her behind on secret missions, but he also went shopping for souvenirs for her friends.

Moreover, most surprising of all was the affectionate gaze the child sent to her mother, who had a rough exterior and didn’t express emotions well.

“I understand. Ah…!”

He seemed to recall Nia, as if someone came to mind.

“?”
“Your Excellency, how is Mia? Despite her rough exterior, she seemed to take very good care of Nia. Oh, is it because she’s from an orphanage?”

The child who assisted in the missions was indeed from an orphanage, but among the children he had seen, she was the most clever and mischievous.

And above all, it was crucial that Nia followed her well. Trust like that isn’t something that can be built forcibly.

But now, Lucia is at the center of power, where she must also consider the opinions of others.

If recommending a child from an orphanage to the Crown Princess might typically be considered insulting, Lucia says otherwise.

“I haven’t overlooked that. However, that child is affiliated with the Imperial Palace. Since she had a difficult upbringing, it would be better for her to take a more comfortable path.”

And Mia must have truly liked the idea of going to the palace.

Certainly, coming here would lead to many discussions about her background, and she didn’t know what kind of disdain she might face if her origin was revealed.

Upon hearing her response, Varton’s gaze changed.

Having tested the waters with the story, he read Lucia’s character.

Perhaps her attitude resembled the late Duke Ashford, who didn’t care about one’s background.

He quickly erased the feeling of longing and began the conversation in earnest.
“Your Excellency. Surely, in the kingdom I once belonged to, there was a system that could support such a child. It was a system where noble ladies could be accommodated based on their character and abilities, regardless of their lineage. If you wish, I will try to find a way.”

Now, truly considering following her, Varton took out a letter from his chest.

It was always the first thing he took care of when facing Ashford in this room.

“Your Excellency. While inspecting the letters, I found something like this.”

Lucia suspiciously examined the letter at his words.

A strange letter filled with doodles and without a name.

Certainly, it was a suspicious letter.

With great caution, Lucia opened the letter.

Inside, it read,

In awkward handwriting, it was a letter from Ivaan. Along with Julia’s sincere apology message written right below…

A dark room where nothing could be seen.

The man who entered there, perhaps exhausted mentally, headed to the farthest corner, avoiding the light.

Then, just as the sound of someone knocking on the door reached him.