“Which takes precedence, protection or surveillance?”

This too, I pondered for a moment. What did Edward want to gain from Adeline? Adeline had already shown all the cards she held. And Adeline had not yet properly demanded compensation from Edward.

Just Theodore alone.

When investigating the Viscount Wesley family, I also obtained information about a woman named Esme and her son. I knew the current situation of Wesley like the back of my hand.

And Adeline would know that Edward could deal with Esme in one go. Yet she didn’t say a word about it.

‘Does she have the confidence to handle it herself?’

Even that confidence resembled Leira.

‘Don’t worry, Edward. I’ll live better than anyone. I’ll become one of the richest people in the world. I’ll make even Vincent look up to me!’

The fact that Adeline resembled Leira broke Edward’s hesitation. Edward’s lips moved.

“Protection takes precedence. Make sure Adeline Wesley doesn’t get hurt.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“And send someone to the northern mines to see if Theodore Clderiff is there, and if we can bring him out.”

“Yes!”

Royce answered without hesitation. It felt like seeing Edward sparkle with desire for something after a long time. He sensed that Adeline was helpful to Edward in many ways.

*

I’ve already spent two nights here. I should return today. It felt like breakfast wasn’t going down properly.

Should I just take Daisy with me?

Working wasn’t bad. No. If Esme offers more money, Daisy will quickly give in. Josephine, are you really thinking of abandoning me?

A sigh escaped.

As it was time to return, Daisy watched my expression.

“I’m absolutely, absolutely not the type to run off with money!”

“I know.”

Daisy made a gloomy expression. And just as I was about to get into the carriage I had ridden from Wesley.

“Wait a moment, my lord! Just a moment!!”

From far away, an errand boy came running, out of breath. His disheveled hair and panting breaths were pitiful to see.

“Huff! J-Just… a moment…!”

“Did you find her?”

The errand boy nodded his head vigorously.

“The time was short, but I found her!”

“I’m giving you 4 gold coins because the time was short.”

“I know! Anyway, Miss Josephine is waiting at the northern central square right now! She says she wants to meet you, my lord!”

I grinned. Then I gave orders to the coachman who was looking at us with a puzzled face.

“It seems our return will be a bit delayed. Let’s stop by the central square first.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The coachman tilted his head and picked up the reins. I got into the carriage with a somewhat lighter heart. I remembered the last conversation I had with Josephine. Josephine wasn’t happy about me committing to Andres. Josephine was wise.

Nevertheless, Josephine protected Clderiff until the very end.

‘I won’t try to stop the young lady’s decision. But, if the young master resents you, I won’t stop him.’

‘Are you leaving, Josephine?’

‘…I’ll stay until the young master goes to the duke’s family. That’s my last loyalty, young lady.’

Such a Josephine would be a great help to me this time as well.

*

Josephine hugged her luggage bag with a gloomy face. Josephine, visible through the window, looked like she had aged drastically in just a few months. Her hair, which was always neatly groomed, was in disarray. There was no trace of her last appearance when we parted.

What should I say?

Have you been well, what’s with that appearance.

This is something only Leira, not Adeline, could say. I let out a small sigh and got out of the carriage.

“…Josephine.”

“Viscount Wesley?”

Josephine’s eyes turned to me. Everything had changed, but those eyes remained the same. My lips trembled without me realizing it.

“What’s with that…”

“I heard you were looking for me. They said you were looking for a maid. Are you going to hire me?”

Josephine spoke hastily. She looked scared, as if being chased by something. Being chased by someone?

“You don’t look well. Did something happen? Perhaps something I should know before I hire you.”

I spoke in a deliberately authoritative tone. Josephine’s face turned white, then blue. She slightly bowed her head and chewed on her lips, looking anxious. Josephine’s legs trembled.

“…I should be honest, shouldn’t I?”

“I don’t want to take on risks when hiring someone.”

“I don’t know why you were looking for me, but I…”

I tossed out the answer to the fumbling Josephine.

“I received a request from Leira. She asked me to look after you and Theodore after her death. You know Leira Clderiff, right?”

Josephine’s face brightened faintly. Josephine’s trembling also stopped.

“Lady Leira…?”

“Yes. Soon, I’ll be able to bring Theodore as well. But until I know what happened to you, I can’t bring you to the mansion…”

“I was being chased by Andres.”

Josephine muttered in a quick, shrill voice. After looking around once, Josephine clung to me. The eyes I thought were filled with fear were now burning with bright red anger. This is the Josephine I know.

“Duke Andres is trying to kill me. Can you protect me?”

My heart sank.

Why would Duke Andres…?

“Why on earth is Duke Andres after you?”

“Because I know Duke Andres’s secret.”

Josephine smiled bitterly.

“More precisely, it’s our young lady’s secret. This is all I can tell you. I can’t and shouldn’t say any more.”

“Why?”

“Because disclosing the affairs of the young lady I served would be a violation of contract terms.”

As expected, Josephine hadn’t changed at all.

“Alright, Josephine.”

I found myself smiling without realizing it.

“I’ll hire you. And protect you from Andres too. Leira said so. To find you if I needed someone.”

Josephine let out a big sigh of relief. Seeing her shoulders drooping, I laughed because I couldn’t cry. The fact that Josephine was being chased by Andres like this was because of me. Nevertheless, Josephine doesn’t blame me.

Finding Josephine was really the right thing to do.

“Can you work for me from now on?”

Josephine’s eyes wavered. Josephine nodded her head vigorously.

“Yes.”

It was a choked voice. The errand boy who had followed me was wandering around. I beckoned the errand boy over. I paid the remaining balance.

“Do you know the most useful information guild around here? Or maybe a mercenary guild?”

“Uh, um… I think I might be able to handle it for you.”

“Huh?”

“I’m an errand boy who does anything, after all.”

I narrowed my eyes. What did Daisy say again? Trustworthy and…

‘He does work well, my lord. Is there anything he can’t do? As long as he gets paid…’

I swallowed hard. Daisy…

“Even disguising a corpse?”

“Um, the plague side is a bit difficult. It’s cold in the north now, so no one’s dying from plague.”

“Let’s go with fire. That’s the best option.”

“But this kind of work is a bit expensive.”

I handed 4 gold coins to the errand boy. The errand boy accepted the gold coins readily.

“I want to fake this person’s death. Just make sure Andres stops chasing her. If you handle the job well, I’ll give you an additional 20 gold coins.”

“I’ll serve you well, client!”

The errand boy bowed deeply. Leaving instructions to come to Wesley when the job was done, I got into the carriage. Josephine didn’t say a word until we were left alone and the carriage had departed. And only after the carriage had completely left the square did she exclaim.

“Really…”

“Yes, really. But where we’re going now won’t be that easy either.”

Josephine’s eyes met mine. Josephine’s pupils shook.

“Since you said you’re Lady Leira’s friend. If Lady Leira entrusted me and Young Master Theodore to you, I should trust you too. What should I do, Viscount Wesley?”

“You won’t betray me, will you?”

“I never betray Lady Leira’s friends.”

I really felt like I was going to cry. I buried my nose deep in the coat I was wearing. Though nothing had changed from before, the coat seemed to smell of warm sunlight.

Things have been strange lately.

Edward, Josephine.

After meeting people who know my past self in succession, my heart has somehow softened. It felt like seeing traces of myself still left in the world. I’m still alive. I felt that emotion intensely.