“At the time of the founding of the country, when the Alanthia Viscount family celebrated victory in the war against Paser. Along with enormous wealth bestowed by the emperor, there was a tree.”

“…….?”

“Do you know what that tree is, Yeong-ae?”

Lea blinked her eyes as if she had forgotten the fact that she was standing close to Edward.

A tree bestowed upon the Alanthia Viscount family at the founding of the country. As someone who had just studied the history of the empire, Lea found it difficult to remember.

“There are exactly two in the empire. One is in the palace, and the other is in the Alanthia Viscountcy.”

At the mention of a tree in the palace, Lea immediately thought of the greenhouse.

If it’s a tree from there…

“Reparatio tree.”

As Lea mumbled the answer in a daze, Edward nodded slowly.

“That’s correct.”

Then he gracefully smiled at the astonished Lea.

Akhia’s gaze lingered on Lea and Edward in the garden through the glass.

‘Don’t stay close.’

He wondered what they were talking about. It seemed like he had no interest in how he appeared to the young one.

“Your Excellency.”

He turned to the voice, casting an unpleasant gaze at the man who approached him. He was someone from the upper echelons of Magnoia, responsible for handling the townhouse and upper Magnoia affairs as Lycel had to oversee both.

“Did you understand what I said?”

“Yes. According to the confirmation, it has been identified that someone from the Empress’s party is currently here in the Belarus mansion.”

“And the person on the surveillance?”

‘The Empress’s spy.’

Akhia had expected such an event to occur since he drove Viscount Léorode away.

With the Belarus Duke supporting him, the Empress had no choice but to let him go quietly.

Moreover, at that moment, two people had come down to Bialitkala.

‘It’s the perfect time to handle them.’

If he wanted to arrange something, now was the appropriate time. And his expectations turned out to be accurate.

“Most of the mansion staff used to serve the Belarus Duke, so it was easy to track due to recent changes in personnel.”

Pay attention to translate the names and genders of the following characters accurately and consistently.

Now translate the following Korean paragraph verbatim into English.

And just give me English translation in the output.

다음 날, 벨라루스 공작령에선 황태후의 사저로 향할 레아와 에드워드, 그리고 그들을 안내하는 악키아가 아침 일찍부터 캐리지를 타고 떠났다. 레아는 아침 햇살이 기울어진 정원을 떠나며 창백한 얼굴로 악키아를 바라봤다. 그리고는 마치 긴 여정을 준비하듯 소문을 헤아리는 시선을 에드워드에게 돌렸다. 에드워드는 어둠을 가르며 햇볕에 빛나는 금빛 머리카락을 한 번 쓸어봤다. 약간의 졸린 듯한 눈가에도 여전히 확고한 표정을 지어 보이면서 레아의 시선에 맞섰다. 그들의 목적지는 황태후의 사저. 사저까지 단순한 거리 이동이었지만, 이번 일로 벨라루스 공작령과 황태후의 간격이 좀 더 가까워진 듯한 느낌이 들었다. 아마도 악키아가 나머지 두 사람과 함께 어울릴 수 있는 노력을 기울인 덕분일 것이다. 어떻게든 함께 어울릴 수 있도록 악키아는 애썼다. 레아는 차안에서 풀어지지 않는 긴장을 느끼며 입술을 깨물고 있었다. 에드워드는 그녀의 긴장감을 알아차렸는지 주변을 살펴보며 말했다. “영식, 긴장하지 마세요. 황태후께서 뭐라 하더라도 저희는 진실을 말할 뿐이에요.” 레아는 에드워드에게 고맙다는 눈빛을 보냈지만, 여전히 마음의 안정을 찾지 못한 채 사절을 향해 나아갔다. 그들이 황태후의 사저에 다가가는 순간, 그 곳에서 이미 기다리고 있던 황태후의 차와 심복이 나타났다. 어린 아가씨처럼 예쁘게
Akhia scrutinized the document handed to him and calmly placed the paper on the desk.

As his subordinate had reported, Akhia was also a meticulous examiner.

“We’ll move soon. The departure from Bialitkala is imminent.”

“Yes. But do you have to go to such lengths? Your Excellency might be in danger.”

“To catch a big fish, you need a suitable bait. This method is the best for striking the Empress.”

Even with the concern expressed by his subordinate, Akhia remained firm.

‘My well-being is not the priority.’

He recalled a letter he had received not long ago, and the chill still lingered. It was an anonymous letter with an unclear handwriting.

The letter vaguely mentioned ‘a spy in Lea’s vicinity serving the Empress’ and a warning that ‘the Empress is preparing another tragedy.’

Furthermore, the details of the impending tragedy were quite explicit.

Initially, he thought it might be a trap set by the Empress, but through his subordinate, he confirmed the presence of a spy near Lea.

Given the suspicious movements on the Empress’s side, the letter turned out to be true.

‘Who could it be?’

Someone who knew such detailed information must be close to the Empress.

“Is there still no contact from Lycel?”

“Yes. But a reply should come soon.”

Akhia nodded. He had ordered an investigation into the sender of the letter to Lycel, who was in the capital.

‘Whoever it is, it’s definitely an enemy of the Empress, not me.’

Akhia decided to use this individual.

‘I must eliminate this threat, whether it becomes the Emperor or the Empress of this country.’

Akhia was determined to eliminate anyone who posed a threat to Lea.

Even if he had to get his hands dirty with blood, Akhia would do anything to ensure Lea’s safety.

“Well, shouldn’t we at least give Lady Lea a hint in advance? She’ll surely be distressed.”

When Lea’s story was mentioned, Akhia’s eyebrows twitched momentarily. The man’s gaze, which had wavered for a moment, soon became calm again.

“No, Lea must remain ignorant. We proceed as planned.”

“…Yes, understood.”

As his subordinate withdrew, Akhia leaned back in his chair and stared into the empty space for a while.

And that night, a massive fire broke out at the Belarus mansion, and the lifeless body of a man was discovered.