Chapter 14
“Your Highness, Connie—I mean, Lady Bennett—won’t be in any danger, will she?”
“Why is Lady Bennett’s name coming up now?”
“It feels like serious things keep happening lately.”
Lobelyn’s green eyes clouded with worry.
Moreover, the information she had heard from Ian today was enough to heighten her anxiety.
The fact that the head of the City Guard was one of the Empress’s people and couldn’t be trusted.
‘Is the Empress involved in this?’
Ian had mentioned it in passing, but there was a definite edge to his words.
However, she couldn’t exactly ask him outright.
On the surface, the Empress was known as a benevolent mother who cherished her stepson, Ian.
“…….”
Ian looked down silently at the agonizing Lobelyn.
For some reason, her serious expression displeased him.
After all, she was the one who had almost been run over by a carriage and harassed by a poisoned man.
“Lobelyn Dines, are you really in a position to worry about others?”
“Pardon?”
“You should spend that time looking after yourself instead. Leave Lady Bennett be.”
“……How can I do that? She’s a precious friend to me.”
“Precious? What, are you two like family or something?”
“Of course! I will never forgive anyone who hurts Connie.”
Lobelyn answered Ian’s question immediately, without a moment’s hesitation.
It wasn’t just because she was a character Lobelyn had liked in the original novel.
From her childhood until now, Viscount Dines and his wife had been busy running various businesses to maintain their title.
Naturally, they had been neglectful of their daughter, Lobelyn, and though she never showed it, she had always been lonely.
The person who had comforted her through it all was Cornelia.
“I will make sure my friend isn’t hurt, no matter what happens.”
Lobelyn spoke with a look of firm resolve.
“Hmm.”
Ian watched her with interest for a moment.
Even after hearing her reason, it was difficult for him to understand why she cared so much for Cornelia.
‘Well, I suppose that expression of hers isn’t bad to look at.’
The corners of Ian’s mouth curved upward.
In the meantime, the two arrived in front of the Dines Viscounty.
“Then, I shall take my leave, Your Highness.”
“Wait.”
Ian caught Lobelyn’s arm as she was turning to say goodbye.
Into Lobelyn’s puzzled eyes came the sight of Ian’s curved blue eyes.
“Lobelyn, I saved you from that woman today. Shouldn’t you repay me?”
“Pardon? Repay you? That was because Your Highness followed me—”
“Still, this isn’t how you treat the savior of your life. I’ll give you a chance to repay the favor, so how about going to 4th Avenue with me next time?”
Feeling a strange sense of déjà vu, Lobelyn fell silent for a moment.
Last time, he used tea as an excuse to hold her back, and now what was he trying to do?
As she hesitated, something suddenly flashed in Lobelyn’s mind.
‘Wait, 4th Avenue?’
It was the place Lobelyn would have gone today if she hadn’t run into the coachman.
To prevent the fire that was soon to occur.
‘……But is there any reason to go with Ian specifically?’
Well, it wasn’t a bad idea.
Ian was a man at the pinnacle of public power; with his help, it would be much easier to prevent the fire.
Above all, she could prevent the early engagement between Cornelia and Ian.
‘What is she thinking about for so long?’
Meanwhile, as Lobelyn’s thoughts dragged on, Ian began to feel increasingly anxious.
Unable to hold back any longer, he spoke first.
“If you don’t want to—”
“No, I’d like to. Let’s go together. To 4th Avenue.”
When Lobelyn nodded, Ian’s expression finally brightened.
However, he quickly cleared his throat and regained his composure.
“Then, I shall come to pick you up in five days.”
“Yes. Ah, will you be in disguise that day as well?”
“Naturally. Do you perhaps want to be escorted by the Crown Prince? It’s a bit of a hassle for me, but if you truly wish for it—”
“It’s nothing like that. It’s fine. Well then, goodbye.”
“Ah…….”
Lobelyn cut Ian off firmly and went inside.
The parting happened so quickly that Ian felt a pang of regret.
‘Well, we’re meeting again anyway.’
After glancing inside the gate once more, Ian turned away.
His footsteps were light as he left.
Five days later.
Lobelyn, having slept in, rose leisurely from her bed.
“Ugh, I feel like I can finally breathe now that I’m free from that dress hell.”
On the day she returned from 6th Street, Sarah had informed Lobelyn that the designer from Daphne had withdrawn in a hurry.
Apparently, the foreign count who had gifted the dresses suddenly canceled, paying double the penalty fee.
Knowing the identity of that count, Lobelyn wondered what he was playing at.
‘There certainly are many ways to throw money away.’
The minds of the imperial family were beyond comprehension.
Truthfully, she didn’t really want to know that deeply anyway.
Regardless, it was good for Lobelyn since she was free from a tedious task.
‘Should I enjoy a leisurely morning coffee before heading out?’
Lobelyn pulled the bell-rope beside her bed.
“My Lady! Are you awake?”
Lobelyn’s maid, Sarah, rushed into the room.
In her hand was a telegram that had just arrived today.
“I had something to tell you. The Viscount has sent a telegram.”
“Father? What is it?”
Lobelyn took the telegram Sarah handed her and read it.
As she scanned it quickly, her eyes widened in surprise.
“The two of them are returning soon?”
“Oh, really? They’re coming back sooner than expected!”
“Yeah, I guess so. I thought it would take at least two more months.”
“My Lady, you must be so happy!”
Sarah clapped her hands in celebration.
Lobelyn gave a slightly awkward smile and read the telegram again slowly.
The postcard stated they were returning home urgently because discussions regarding the timber distribution rights were scheduled to be reopened.
‘Wasn’t that almost confirmed for the Prestons?’
Natalie’s boasting voice from not long ago was still vivid in her mind.
But to reopen discussions now?
Well, it was good news for Lobelyn either way.
More than anything, she was happy and excited that her parents were returning.
“They say they’re leaving today, so it should take about three days. I should prepare to welcome them in the meantime.”
“Don’t worry, My Lady. We’ll make the whole mansion sparkle!”
Sarah replied, clenching her fists with determination.
Lobelyn turned her head toward the window with a smile.
It was the start of a pleasant day.
“A heavy fine will be imposed on Count Preston’s family. Unfortunately, we couldn’t link Wighill to it; it seems they cut their losses in advance.”
“What a fox. He’s not the Empress’s right hand for nothing.”
At that time, Ian was discussing matters with Brian in the Crown Prince’s Office.
It wasn’t a perfectly satisfying conclusion, but Ian had already guessed that Wighill would have prepared an escape route.
Though he felt some regret, he decided to be satisfied with the fact that the noisy black-haired woman wouldn’t be able to act maliciously toward Lobelyn for a while.
“Let’s wrap things up regarding the Prestons here. And Duke, come over here.”
Ian took something out from deep within a drawer and set it on the desk.
It was the poisonous herb Lobelyn had brought from that warehouse.
“……Good heavens.”
Brian let out a short sigh at the sight.
Since it was an item that had been systematically distributed under strict management, it was his first time seeing the actual plant.
Roots stretched out like devil’s tentacles, and at the end of a dark red stem, ominous purple flowers hung loosely.
“When did you obtain this?”
“On the day the Duke lost a swordsmanship bet to me and shed tears of bitter regret.”
“I have no memory of such a thing.”
Brian, who flatly denied Ian’s joke, soon put on gloves.
Then he carefully picked up the poisonous herb to examine it.
“It looks like it was harvested recently. It doesn’t seem to have been brought in from Pernin.”
It took exactly ten days by carriage to get from Pernin, the known natural habitat, to Heriot.
However, the poisonous herb Ian brought had not yet lost its color, and a faint moisture could be felt in the stems and petals.
That meant this poisonous herb was being produced within the Empire.
“The climate in Heriot is different from Pernin, so it wouldn’t be easy. Isn’t that place in a perpetual rainy season?”
“Which means the culprit is no ordinary fellow. They must be someone capable of mobilizing the capital and labor to provide that much water.”
“What about the Empress’s side?”
“There’s no particular sign.”
“Indeed, the opportunity cost is too high for the Empress.”
If the Empire fell into chaos because of the poisonous herb, it was clear the entire Imperial Family would be blamed.
Furthermore, Maximilian was not yet grown enough to step forward and resolve the matter.
No matter how emotional and foolish the Empress might be, she couldn’t be unaware that the losses would outweigh the gains.
“Then who on earth is behind this?”
As the question returned to the starting point, a heavy silence filled the office for a moment.
“First, let’s investigate the nobles who can mobilize that kind of funding.”
“Understood.”
Dong—
As Brian nodded, the bell from the clock tower rang to signal noon.
At the sound, Ian instinctively stood up.
“Where are you going?”
Brian narrowed his eyes as he watched Ian quickly gather his clothes.
“Ah, out.”
“You’re going outside the Imperial Palace dressed like that?”
“I have an appointment.”
Recalling that interesting woman, Lobelyn Dines, a smile formed on Ian’s lips.
Ian patted the shoulder of the bewildered Brian and headed out.
