Seeing Grace take her hand, as if she had made up her mind, Nerea smiled softly.

“You seem to have made up your mind faster than I expected, young lady.”

Trevor’s groans were drowned out by the sound of pouring rain. As Nerea pulled her up, Grace muttered while taking some shelter from the rain under the wall.

“I don’t want to be kicked out of my position as Rosa’s vice-captain, I know how to repay favors, and above all…”

Grace chuckled.

Though she had long ago sold her shame and decency, it was still awkward to admit she was influenced by someone who had been cursing just moments ago. So she spoke indirectly.

“I used to collect dolls of the Count too. It’s thanks to the dolls that I ended up working with Alejandro.”

“My dolls?”

“Yes. The Imperial family once sold dolls of the victory heroes. The Crown Prince who traveled everywhere to provide supplies, the Emperor who firmly supported him from behind, and…”

Grace counted on her fingers, then pointed at Nerea.

“…the burning hero, the Black Knight Count Esteban. A set of these three.”

“They certainly made good use of me.”

Dolls, huh. Nerea laughed. Grace wrung out the rainwater from the hem of her dress and mumbled.

“By the way, you were more popular, Count. You were the idol of all untitled young ladies.”

An idol, really? Me of all people? Nerea smiled faintly. But Grace’s cheeks seemed to redden a bit, as if it were true.

“…And you were the only hope for a certain young girl.”

It was quite an excessive sincerity to hear in the pouring rain.

All I had wished for was a miracle of the masquerade ball and tournament switching order, but instead, this overwhelming rain and sincerity poured down. This result was just as surprising as a miracle.

Nerea quietly held out her palm outside the wall. At the same time, footsteps overlapped with the sharp sound of rain hitting her palm.

“Look at this. You’re all wet.”

“I told you to stay there and not come.”

“How can I do that? It’s raining harder.”

Oh, really.

Grace didn’t even have the strength to click her tongue. Alejandro, who arrived and immediately protected the Count with an umbrella and blanket, didn’t even spare a glance at the equally soaked Grace.

Seeing this, now that she had given up on her desire for knighthood, she suddenly feared losing even her position as vice-captain.

“For now, throw that one in the dungeon for attempting to harm the vice-captain.”

Alejandro’s cold gaze turned towards Trevor. Johnny, who had arrived late as well, held an umbrella over Grace.

“Hey. You must be cold too.”

At least it seemed her position as vice-captain would be maintained. The umbrella blocking the rain was so welcome that Grace smirked and eventually burst into laughter.

* * *

The carriage shook unusually on the rainy road.

Gabe pounded on the driver’s seat, then sat back down, his strength drained. The hangover from last night’s celebratory drinks with Helen still throbbed past noon.

As a result, too much time had been wasted. Marvin Moore had already left for Valere territory some time ago, so he needed to go to the shabby tavern where his son always hung out to hear about the progress.

The people Gabe used to incite riots in Valere were always his own men.

He had always trusted those who had done proper work for five years. To think they hadn’t managed to do anything properly at such an important moment.

He was so anxious that earlier he had almost told Johan about the riot.

“Johan, Vale… Ah, nevermind! Forget it!”

No matter how loyal Johan appeared, Gabe knew well that it was because he had made sure to severely punish Marvin Moore, who had injured Baron Jenax.

So if he were to find out that he had sent him away separately for a job, his loyalty would disappear immediately.

If only there was one more person who could handle things properly like Johan.

Regretfully clicking his tongue, Gabe looked out the window. The streets were quiet in the pouring rain. The alleys passing by quickly were all empty.

It was then that Gabe’s eyes widened as he watched the rain boredly.

For a moment, but clearly visible between the alleys, red hair. That was…

“…Lillian.”

Gabe swallowed his exhale at the name that came from his mouth. A chill ran up his spine, raising goosebumps.

His mouth went dry and his hair stood on end. The heavy rain hitting the carriage window was eerie. Gabe forced himself to speak, muttering.

“No. That woman is already…”

Dead. Over twenty years ago at that.

He had definitely said his final goodbyes before the coffin lid was closed. And red hair didn’t belong only to Lillian Esteban. Even closer…

“Right. There was also Nerea.”

Gabe slowly burst into laughter.

It seemed his hangover hadn’t subsided yet. With all this rain obscuring his vision, he must have seen something red and mistaken it.

Otherwise, there would have been no reason to think of Nerea, who he had confined in Alpern.

To calm his churning stomach, Gabe recalled the words of his beloved wife and daughter.

“Don’t worry, Gabe. Nerea will follow the same path as the previous Count. Johan even taught the maid he sent to the cabin where she is how to administer the decoction. It won’t be long now.”

Helen had said that girl would die soon.

“Father, it seems the medicine has finally taken effect. Nerea, that girl. She seemed completely out of her mind, you know? Suddenly her eyes rolled back and she started saying strange things.”

Even Brianna, who had most recently visited Alpern, said that girl had gone mad.

Yet he still felt like his stomach was turning inside out. In the end, the intense nausea won. Gabe finally pounded hard on the driver’s seat.

“Stop!”

Bang! The driver jumped at the strong force transmitted. Only after calming the startled horses’ rough neighing did the driver hurriedly approach the window.

“Go back to that alley from earlier.”

The rain made it difficult to hear properly. The driver pressed his soaked body close to the window and asked.

“Which alley do you mean…”

“Isn’t the rain splashing in!”

“I-I’m sorry, my lord.”

The driver hastily backed away. Tsk, Gabe frowned as he looked at the driver getting drenched in the downpour. Then he looked at the water droplets that had splashed inside the window.

To think an acting Count could only handle two horses. If it were a coachman who knew how to handle four horses, he wouldn’t act so stupidly.

It was then.

“Count, you were here! I’ve been waiting for you!”

Someone ran up and bowed politely next to the driver. It was the formal greeting that Gabe liked. There was only one person who would do such a thing.

Marvin Moore’s son, whom he had sent to the border. Even through the window, his face looked exactly like Marvin’s as he shouted excitedly.

“The show has begun! It’s a proper show indeed!”

How long he had waited for this moment.

Gabe’s lips slowly curled up, then he opened his mouth wide and burst into laughter.

Marvin Moore’s son, who had pressed an umbrella against the window to keep even a single raindrop from entering, handed over a report to Gabe and said in an excited voice.

“It’s going according to plan. We’ve set fire to dozens of houses,”

“Now, now. Should you be telling such sad stories on the street?”

Gabe cut him off as if admonishing him. Realizing his mistake, the man lowered his body.

“I apologize, Count. No, Marquis.”

Marquis.

In an instant, the afterimage of red hair disappeared from his mind. He didn’t even see the report graphically describing the riot scene.

The fact that the riot he had been anxiously waiting for had properly occurred meant that he could seize power.

Above Marquis, and eventually even the title of Duke that he could aspire to. The corners of his lips tingled. Gabe’s eyes flashed with desire.

“This is no time for this. Let’s go to the nearest tailor.”

He needed to have an audience with the Emperor immediately.

To deliver this joyous news, his attire also needed to be at least that of a Marquis.

The pouring rain was gradually subsiding.

Behind the carriage that had quickly closed its window and sped off again, Marvin Moore’s son, who had maintained his bow until the end, spat carelessly.

“Now that we’ve done this job properly, our father should be able to return as a retainer, right? Surely. How could they just ignore a retainer like our father? He even took the blame for crippling Baron Jenax’s leg, so they should give him a decent fief, right?”

Hehehe. A dirty laugh followed behind the carriage.

* * *

At the same time, in the border territory of Valere.

Flames rose into the pitch-black night sky. The fire spread as if it would consume everything in this night, with black smoke billowing behind it.

There was no time to cough from the acrid smoke as the backs of people fleeing this catastrophe were visible here and there, accompanied by screams.

Leaning against the remains of a collapsed wall, Anjer Hart took in the horrific and miserable sight clearly. His brow furrowed involuntarily.

No matter how much he had waited for his return to the system, this wasn’t the pitiful scene he had wanted.

He would have been satisfied with just a few broken windows as usual, and the sight of torches waving in the sky.

“For the restoration of Gauwe! For the downfall of Castarty!”

Was this the meaning of being wary of the calm before the festival? The shouts echoing through the Grand Duchy of Valere were deafening.

The men wearing helmets and armor were swinging huge lances, axes, and swords, making thunderous noises.

Anjer observed them with sharp eyes. Without a single proper Gauwe flag, shards of broken glass and debris from smashed doors were scattered carelessly where they had passed.

“You can shout about restoration. But does it have to be here? In this barren Valere? Don’t you see those little kids shivering?”