As the child burned with impatience, Anzer chewed on curses.

However, neither Anzer dressed like a commoner nor the merchant group’s soldiers could do anything.

That’s when it happened. One of the fully armored remnants slipped in the mud. Perhaps due to limited vision in the armor, the others in the group quickly moved on without noticing him.

Seeing the first hostage discovered, Anzer’s eyes lit up as he approached him.

“Hey, you bastards! Come together!”

The cursing voice was muffled by the helmet.

Anzer, who had subdued him with a surprise attack from behind, removed the man’s helmet. This middle-aged man, who seemed bewildered with wide eyes, was…

“Who are you? Do you know who I a-mmph!”

“I know well. I thought you were the one monitoring the Duke. Turns out you’re also leading the riots.”

The man’s eyes widened at Anzer’s words as he quickly gagged him. Muffled sounds came as if trying to say something, but Anzer paid no attention and swiftly drew lines to sketch a portrait.

“Protect the domain’s people first!”

“Yes!”

As if on cue, an anguished cry reverberated through the sky. It was the arrival of the Duke and his knights, who dearly cherished their domain’s people.

Portraits of the Duke and his aide had already been drawn along with information. Anzer spoke in a dry voice as he enclosed this foolish watchman’s portrait below them.

“This will be sent to the Count by telegram. Make sure it reaches tonight. And we…”

“…”

“We’ll snatch four more, including this one.”

Under Anzer’s solemn voice, the soldiers bowed. Meanwhile, one in charge of the telegram quickly started running.

If he could just reach the horse hidden in the nearest grass, he could definitely head towards the capital by late night.

* * *

“Alright. I’ll cooperate too.”

Grace said as soon as she entered the merchant group.

“What do you have to cooperate with?”

“As the Count said, from now on, I’ll teach the Count about high society and its rules. Among the three of us, no, even if Colin and Anzer come, no one can match me in that.”

Grace spoke confidently. Nerea couldn’t help but laugh at her spirited demeanor despite being soaked like a drowned rat. But Alejandro didn’t seem amused.

“What about the promise you made to the Crown Princess? Does it disappear if you act like it never happened?”

The sharp words hit the mark. Only then did Grace lower her head a bit dejectedly. Her drenched blonde hair clung to her face.

“I was hasty. I’ll undo that. It was my wrong choice.”

Nerea wondered briefly how exactly she planned to undo it. The Brianna she knew wouldn’t be so easy as to let go of someone who had already promised loyalty.

Especially someone with various charms like Grace Lanchester.

“But Count.”

“Speak.”

“Please speak comfortably. As I said earlier, I know gratitude!”

Nerea smiled a little. Gratitude, huh. She didn’t expect another person besides Heather to say they’d repay her kindness.

It was the first time she met someone who called it a favor not just for saving her half-siblings earlier, but even for a doll she didn’t buy and a brief eye contact during the victory parade that Nerea couldn’t even remember.

Grace looked straight at Nerea. Her eyes full of trust spoke.

“Now that I’ve sworn loyalty, please tell me about your plans too. How will you claim the position above Count?”

“With your guidance, I’ll start with the masquerade ball and tournament first.”

“So you called me for advice on how to conduct myself at the masquerade ball.”

Her quick understanding showed her intelligence. So Nerea asked outright.

She thought someone with a more neutral perspective than Alejandro, Johnny, or Heather, who were always on her side, might give a more realistic answer to her question.

“What outcome do you think there will be, my lady?”

“Through the masquerade ball and tournament, everyone will clearly see with their own eyes the Count’s dignified return. But I think the current Acting Count might try to be unreasonable, given that he’s the Crown Princess’s father.”

It was the same meaning as what Alejandro had said in the carriage. Grace continued.

“Using methods that are disadvantageous to you, Count, and advantageous to the Acting Count, like the noble council. In that process, His Majesty the Emperor will likely try to give the Acting Count another title to save face.”

Noble council. Nerea mouthed the unfamiliar term inwardly.

“The noble council would be nothing more than a battle of connections.”

Grace finished her explanation with a seductive narrowing of her eyes.

“…Sir. Would you like to wash up first? You must be cold from the rain. I told Heather to prepare a bath.”

Alejandro said, as if changing the subject. He pressed a dry towel onto Nerea’s head, though it was unclear when he had brought it.

It wasn’t really necessary to say given the multiple layers of blankets and hot water bottles he had been applying, but Nerea knew well that Alejandro’s actions were meant to clear her muddled head.

She was about to gratefully accept his kindness and move to the merchant group’s bathroom when—

“Boss. It seems there’s been an incident in Valere.”

Nerea stopped in her tracks at the news that a telegram related to the riots in Valere territory was coming to the Count’s residence.

“The bath can wait. Let’s go to the carriage for now.”

Her heart was beating anxiously. She wanted to receive news from Valere territory as soon as possible.

At her resolute words, Alejandro nodded as if he had no choice.

***

“Oh my. Count, why are you so wet!”

As soon as they entered the Count’s residence, Martha cried out with a surprised face.

Although she had changed into new clothes at the merchant group and Alejandro had kept pressing a towel on her head during the carriage ride, it seemed impossible to hide the fact that she had been drenched in the rain.

What stopped Martha, who was about to quickly draw a hot bath, was Nerea’s following words.

“The telegram is more urgent than a bath. Martha, is there a telegram from Valere?”

“If you mean a telegram, it’s here.”

Butler Kenneth pulled out an envelope with a serious face. The outer envelope was dirtier than last time. At a glance, it looked like soot, or perhaps bloodstains.

Alejandro, who tore open the envelope, naturally handed the telegram to Nerea.

“Sir. Take a look.”

She hoped the scale of the riots wasn’t large, but sadly, she had a feeling her wish would be wrong.

With a strangely constricting feeling, Nerea quickly read the telegram. She could feel Alejandro and Johnny’s breath close behind her. She sensed their gaze directed at the paper.

The hastily written telegram was concise.

−Those claiming to be remnants of Gauwe’s forces, fully armored, have caused riots in the central village of Valere territory. The largest scale so far, casualties may occur.

For a moment, her breath caught.

Remnants of Gauwe’s forces. Trying to push past the words that stirred her guilt, Nerea read to the bottom.

−Attached are portraits of the Duke, his aide, and one of the rioters. After capturing five riot participants, we will assist with suppression as ordered before returning to the capital.

At the bottom of the telegram were three pictures attached. As soon as her gaze fell on the first picture, Nerea muttered.

“David Illauser…?”

Despite being just a line drawing, it captured the facial features perfectly. Gray hair with deep navy blue eyes. The guy who acted nonchalantly while pretending to be a comrade and introduced her to alcohol.

At the same time, the one who never responded when she asked for help.

“It’s Baron Ronald Illauser. He’s the younger brother of Viscount David Illauser and currently serves as the Duke’s aide. How do you know Viscount David Illauser, Count?”

Johnny looked at her curiously. Nerea spoke lightly.

“Not a friend, not a comrade. Just someone I happened to know?”

“Ah. Come to think of it, Viscount Illauser was also deployed in the Hundred Years’ War.”

Johnny spoke casually, as if just remembering. Fortunately, he didn’t seem to notice the complex emotions in her voice.

But Alejandro wasn’t fooled. Seeing his face fidgeting nervously while watching her reaction to the letter’s contents describing the atrocities of the riots, Nerea swallowed bitterness.

Always so perceptive, that one.

The knights crowding the room always blamed the inadequate Nerea Esteban from ten years ago and the current incompetent Duke as the cause for the riots by Gauwe’s remnant forces in Valere territory.

Knowing it was the fault of the Emperor and Acting Count who had ousted her before things were properly settled, Nerea wavered just a little at the continued attacks. Wondering if it really was her fault.

But when Johnny turned the paper and the next picture was revealed, Nerea hesitated.

It was someone she had seen at the victory banquet in the past. Brown hair with hazel eyes that were an enigmatic mix of brown and green. Someone who had been somewhat kind.

“…Who is this?”

“This person is Duke Edward Castarty Valere.”

Come to think of it, he did resemble the Emperor somewhat. He was said to be an illegitimate child disliked by the Emperor.

While Nerea’s gaze was fixed on the second portrait, Alejandro and Johnny were looking at the third picture.

“But I don’t know who this is either. It says he was already attached as the Duke’s watchman, and also pretended to be part of Gauwe’s remnant forces.”

“Feels like I’ve seen him somewhere…”

Alejandro muttered. Following Alejandro’s gaze with a suspicious look, Nerea blanked out again when she saw the third picture.

“…Marvin Moore?”

It was a face Alejandro didn’t know at all.

“Is it someone you know, sir?”

Should she say it or not? For a moment her head was blank, but Nerea knew the right answer.

Nerea answered in a slightly subdued voice.

“He was once a vassal of Esteban. Ten years ago, before being expelled as a vassal for the crime of inflicting injury.”

“No way…”

He seemed not to remember properly since it was when he was too young, but he seemed to have gotten the gist. Nerea nodded and grabbed Alejandro’s arm.

A thunderous shock spread across Alejandro’s face.

“That’s right. Baron Jenax’s leg, the day you were bedridden.”

And the day that became the decisive trigger for my departure. The words she swallowed inwardly stung.

Alejandro slowly lowered his arm to hold Nerea’s hand. His hand, grasping as if clinging, seemed just like that thirteen-year-old self, so Nerea squeezed his hand.

“Johnny.”

“Yeah.”

“Find out exactly what the Acting Count is doing right now, without missing anything.”

Sensing the sudden change in atmosphere, Johnny also calmed down. Alejandro commanded again in a low voice.

“Keep an eye on the Imperial Palace too. If our predictions are correct, there will soon be extra editions circulating and newspapers solidifying public opinion.”

Johnny and Alejandro’s gazes fixed on her simultaneously. Nerea shrugged her shoulders.

Ten years ago, that was exactly the method she had been naively caught by.

The war hero’s seclusion due to anxiety disorder and severe remaining war trauma at the victory banquet.

The moment extra editions came out and newspapers circulated, Nerea’s value in noble society had plummeted.