Chapter 98

Around noon, after returning from the market, Al was holed up in his room, working on deciphering the spell book, when Iris came up the stairs to inform him of a visitor. It was an adult woman. Al, puzzled, went down the stairs and found Joanna waiting there. She was the female knight who had escaped the Tempest Kingdom with Patricia. When she saw Al, she bowed. In fact, she herself was supposed to be the eldest daughter of a baron and should not have come here unannounced, but what was she doing here? There was a somewhat heavy atmosphere.

Since he couldn't bring her to his own room, Al asked Iris to arrange a room and led her there.

"What brings you here?"

When Al asked, Joanna initially seemed hesitant but then, as if making up her mind, began to speak.

"I heard from Lady Luella that you had returned. I was hesitant, but the princess is so depressed, and I thought I should consult with you, so I left the manor."

Al tilted his head. What could have happened?

"There's another rumor circulating in the lord's manor. It seems that at the end of October, Lord Eugene and the third daughter of the Rain March, Lady Serena, are planning to attend the mushroom festival. However, their ranks are too high for them to come just for the festival. There must be another purpose."

Al had heard from Luella at the tea party with the previous Lady Patricia that Eugene Viscount and Lady Serena were coming. At that time, Joanna was also present. Luella had mentioned that Lady Serena might be coming to see Sanjay, the heir of Lester Viscount, who was to be her husband.

"That's true. However, recently, a different rumor has been circulating in the lord's manor. It suggests that the Rain March Lord is trying to arrange a marriage between his second son, Stroud, and Lady Patricia, and has sent Eugene Viscount as his confidant."

According to the rumors Joanna had heard, "Recently, the Rain March House seems to have proposed a military expedition to the Tempest Kingdom to the Sylvester Royal Family." "As evidence, Lord Narish has started accepting refugees from the Tempest Kingdom in the border city of Parker, and may be preparing a volunteer army." This was connected to the idea that "The Tempest Kingdom is in turmoil due to internal strife. The plan might be to marry Patricia, who has royal blood, to the second son Stroud, and to use this as a pretext to send troops to stabilize the situation."

The reason the marriage partner was not the heir of the Rain March was that the heir had already taken a wife from another high-ranking noble family, so the second son Stroud was chosen.

"Hmm, well, I suppose it's a plausible theory."

Al nodded honestly. In international conflicts, pretexts are important. The Sennet House, which bordered the Rain March, had been attacked and destroyed by the Tempest Kingdom's knights. Using Narish and Patricia, who were from the Sennet House, as a banner, a volunteer army could be expected. To those who knew the situation, it was a reasonable theory.

"Are you saying that?!! The princess is so troubled!"

Joanna slammed her hand on the table, her cheeks red with anger.

"C-Cough... I'm sorry. Lady Patricia has a fiancé, the heir of the Taggart Duke's House. Don't you think it's inappropriate to talk about this when his fate is unknown? Besides, I've heard that Lord Stroud is 31 years old and is quite a libertine, as he hasn't yet chosen a wife."

Al remembered Patricia's downcast eyes when she offered him the embroidered handkerchief. She was only 13. He could understand why Joanna was worried, and he couldn't deny that he found Patricia cute. However, as someone born into a high-ranking noble family, wasn't this an inevitable situation? While he didn't entirely agree with the idea of sending troops to a neighboring country in turmoil, if the second son was to marry, the March Lord would likely commit fully to the expedition.

"What did Lady Tara say?"

"Lady Tara is delighted, as is Agnes, the second wife and mother of the heir, Sanjay."

"Poor Patricia. Ali, that ring! Do you want to give it to her?"

Al scratched his head. What could he do? Even Gry had said it was better not to give her the ring. Had his feelings changed?

"It's all just rumors for now. Even if it's all true, it would be difficult for her to refuse given her position."

"That's true, but..."

The two fell into a long silence.

"Would it be possible for Lady Patricia to sneak out...?"

Al's words were met with a nod from Joanna. Come to think of it, the magical item Agnes, the second wife, had given as a hairpin was probably for tracking or eavesdropping.

"Since Lady Luella has already made a promise to go to the Levi Trading Company on the day of the mushroom festival, it should be safe. By then, the rumors should be clear, and I'll talk to her then..."

Joanna nodded, looking dejected.

"Actually, until recently, I had gone to Clarence Village to meet the two of you. There, a merchant who had been trading in the border city of Parker was holding a market, selling items that had likely been released by a knight associated with the Sennet House. I bought them thinking of the two of you."

Al told Joanna to wait a moment, then hurried back to his room and brought back a package containing the two rings.

"I think they are probably works of art. The wave patterns are beautiful..."

Saying this, Al handed the package to Joanna. She took it with a somber expression, then tilted it to pour out the contents. A pair of rings rolled onto her palm. When she saw them, she gasped in surprise.

"What? These are the Tremaigne Baron's family heirlooms, the engagement rings...?"

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