Translator: Nox

Ch#128

Chapter 128

"Newlyweds are bound to be on good terms. Just understand that."

"Ah, so you're newlyweds! No wonder your eyes are full of affection for each other."

As Barbara shook her head with a wry smile and the doctor chuckled, Edel couldn't hide her flushing cheeks and turned her head away pointlessly.

'Barbara must be saying that to smooth things over, but Laslo might feel burdened...'

Fortunately, Barbara soon brought up another topic.

"I hope you won't disclose the treatment details outside. Until we uncover who's behind this, it's best if our side's information doesn't leak."

"I've been the lady's personal physician for nearly twenty years not because of my skills, but because of my tight lips. Don't worry."

He was quick on the uptake, as befitting his long experience. After reiterating the ointment usage and medication instructions to Edel and Laslo once more, he quietly packed his bag and left the room.

Once the maids who had come to assist departed as well, only Barbara and the marquis couple remained.

Laslo asked in a low voice,

"Did they confess who's behind it?"

"Not yet. But they both seem afraid of their respective 'masters,' so they'll talk once daylight breaks."

The Marquis of Celestine glanced cautiously at Edel before speaking carefully.

"Does Madam have any suspicions?"

But Edel could only shake her head.

"I hadn't seen them since the victory banquet. I never heard any news about them before either."

She had completely forgotten about them during that time. While working as a steward in House Criserus, Edel had been too busy adapting to her duties to worry about others.

However, Laslo furrowed his brow as if recalling something.

.

"Those women... didn't they treat you quite badly even during the escort on the way here?"

"Lauren and Daria believe the Lancaster Duke family fell because Count Canian leaked information. They think I helped my father too."

"They seemed to hate you even before that."

"The duke's family... none of them, including the duke himself, were favorable toward me. Especially his children—they resented having to share the inheritance they were entitled to with me."

Laslo scoffed at that.

"If that's the case, they should've stopped the marriage altogether! Why vent their anger in the wrong place when they couldn't stand up to their father?"

Edel was grateful for this side of Laslo—how he pitied her pain even more than she did.

"It's all in the past anyway. I actually feel sorry for Lauren and Daria, still young yet having ruined their lives."

"Sorry for them? From what they did, they seem like people who brought it on themselves."

Laslo appeared thoroughly angry at them. More so than his own injury, he seemed outraged that Edel had been hurt and that it had dredged up memories related to the Lancaster Duke family.

As dawn broke, was in an uproar.

"What? The captain was attacked?"

"To be precise, it was an attack aimed at Countess Criserus, but the captain got injured blocking it."

"Winblair? Using crazy women for an assassination attempt!"

"As if our captain would fall to something like that."

"He wouldn't have been hurt if he were alone! The problem is Countess Criserus! The captain loses it when it comes to his wife!"

Nathan regretted not going along as an escort and headed straight to the Celestine marquis's estate.

At the estate, Yann Antes and Jasper Caber, who had been summoned, were breaking out in cold sweats. Though knights themselves, they were understandably tense with armed Imperial Guard members and Celestine guards radiating killing intent.

"I swear I know nothing! Didn't Lauren say it? Someone slipped a note through the window secretly!"

"Same for me! Who would've thought a lowly thing we ignored would pull off something this insane!"

- 3 -

Yann and Jasper insisted on their innocence, veins bulging in their necks. Otherwise, they risked execution for attempting to harm the emperor's close associate.

Laslo, with bandages wrapped tightly around his forearm and hand, looked down at them coldly before speaking to the arriving Nathan.

"They truly seem to know nothing. The Antesga and Caber estates are on the emperor's side anyway, and the women say they weren't instigated by them."

"Then how did they know exactly where the captain and his wife would be? Armed, no less."

"They received an anonymous note."

Where he gestured with his chin lay two daggers stained with blood and dirt, and a crumpled scrap of paper.

Nathan picked up the trash-like paper scrap.

「February 1st evening, Edel Lancaster expected to attend the party at the Celestine Marquis's estate. Party end time estimated at 1 a.m. on February 2nd. Your one chance to punish the woman who ruined your life. Weapon at the first lamppost outside Caber estate gate, on the grou

nd.

It was the note Daria had received.

Unlike Lauren, who had already discarded hers, Daria had kept it around fearing she'd forget the details, providing an extra piece of evidence.

"Whoever it is, they cleverly found people to be their limbs."

"Smart, too."

Laslo slightly raised his bandaged hand.

If the assassin had been a sturdy male, Laslo wouldn't have been injured this badly. Breaching the marquis's guards and entering the estate grounds would have been harder, and Laslo would have sensed the assassin's aura.

But Lauren and Daria were women of small build wearing skirts, easily mistaken for other female guests in dresses at a glance.

No one had anticipated women wielding swords either.

"Even I had completely forgotten. Thinking about it, no one harbors as much grudge against Edel as those women."

As Laslo berated himself, Nathan examined the note front and back closely. His sharp eyes, honed as an informant, caught several clues.

"First, the writer is definitely nobility. The paper quality is excellent—something commoners couldn't obtain."

Then, sniffing the note, he added,

.

"I thought it had a unique smell, and sure enough, it's not ordinary ink. It's brand."

"How on earth do you know that?"

A nearby Imperial Guard member asked in amazement, and Nathan shrugged.

"It has a material unique to that company. Smells faintly like vinegar. And they produce very high-end ink."

Pausing briefly, Nathan tilted his head and added,

"But oddly, 99% of their buyers are women..."

"What? Why's that?"

"Male nobles don't want butterfly- or fairy-shaped ink bottles on their desks."

Laslo nodded slowly.

"What about the handwriting?"

"They tried to disguise it, but some characteristics are unavoidable. I'll have the kids analyze it."

Then the Marquis of Celestine interjected.

"Curious. If hiding their identity, they could've had a servant write it instead."

"Means it's close to a solo act. Security was paramount."

Following Nathan's response, Laslo muttered ominously.

"Someone who knew those women's rooms must have delivered the note. Servants from Antesga or Caber might be involved."

At that, Yann and Jasper paled. But it was plausible—they could've simply slipped the note through the window for pay, thinking it'd be easy pocket money.

"We'll fully cooperate with the investigation."

"Me too."

Laslo merely glanced at them as if they'd stated the obvious, offering no thanks.

Instead, he picked up one of the swords on the table and examined it.

"Common cheap blades, but a weapons dealer who sold two at once recently might remember."

"Plus, they look identical at a glance, but craftsmanship varies by dealer. We'll track the seller too."

"Move fast. Evidence fades with time."

"Yes, sir!"

Nathan carefully wrapped one sword in cloth and secured Daria's note as well.

"What will you do with the women?"

At the question, Laslo's gaze shifted back to Yann and Jasper.

"For now, they're women bestowed by His Majesty..."

Yann and Jasper shot to their feet, waving their hands frantically.

"I have no intention of claiming ownership or opposing punishment! None at all! Dispose of them as you wish."

"Same here! They were just freeloaders anyway, no interest left. We'll fully abide by the Imperial Guard commander's will."

Only then did Laslo smile faintly.

"Now I can believe your innocence. Then Lauren and Daria Lancaster will be handed to the Security Bureau."

Nathan wondered why not the imperial palace but didn't ask. He noticed the calculating glint in Laslo's eyes toward him—a sign of some ・plan・ brewing.

.