Chapter 85

"There are various things going on with my family," I explained after finishing my report to Alfred about the aerial combat equipment. He nodded and said, "I understand." After all, it was a carriage with the Gartner family crest, so I couldn't just leave it unexplained.

Alfred and I were passing the time by playing a makeshift game of Gomoku on a board we made on the table. I prepared it as a low-tech game to keep Marian occupied, thinking it would be good for her to have something to do. I chose Gomoku over Go, which I thought might be a bit too sophisticated to claim I came up with it myself.

Marian, however, seemed more interested in my hand. She peered over from beside me, occasionally nodding at the movement of the stones. Marian is quite clever and is actually quite strong at the game.

"The Duke of Gartner is well-regarded as a good ruler, but it seems that the internal situation is tough everywhere, doesn't it?"

Alfred placed a black stone and sipped from his teacup while saying this. The "everywhere" he mentioned probably included his own situation, and there was a hint of deeper meaning in his words. He was also trying to sneak in a combination of three or four stones by placing stones vertically and diagonally, which I couldn't let him get away with. I had to block his move to prevent him from winning on his next turn.

"Five years ago, my father was very busy. The Duchess saw this and told him she would take care of the household. Well, that's how it went."

That's how things ended up in such a mess. But from Catherine's perspective, things were going as she had planned, so calling it a mess might be a bit off.

"…I see. Lady Catherine… was she from the Broderick Dukedom?"

"Formerly, yes."

"The Broderick Dukedom. I haven't heard any good news about them. They were in a dire financial situation due to their love of power and extravagance. They seemed to recover for a while with the help and trade from the Gartner family, but things are looking suspicious again recently."

Alfred is quite well-informed about these matters. He must be collecting information to protect himself in the noble society. I don't know much about Catherine's family, and even if I did, there wasn't much I could do about it. Now that I can handle things, I don't really want to know.

Before she became Catherine Gartner, she was the youngest daughter of the Broderick Dukedom. She married my father, who was still the heir at the time, long before I was born.

"The aid from the Gartner family, huh."

"Yes, that's right. I don't know the details, but it was a political marriage. From a higher-ranking dukedom to a lower-ranking earldom."

It could be seen as the struggling dukedom receiving help and forming connections, or the earldom pressuring the dukedom into a marriage to recover. I don't know who initiated the talks, but the arrangement was made during my grandfather's time.

Catherine brought a few servants from her family to take care of her when she moved to the Gartner family. I once heard a servant talking about it.

This group gradually expanded, leading to the current situation. The turnover rate for new servants was quite high, while the long-serving ones mostly sided with Catherine or turned a blind eye.

Catherine had been working for years to create this environment. Even the tutors for Byron and Daryl were chosen by her. My father kept his distance from matters outside the family, but given the family's status, he might have found it difficult to interfere with Catherine's internal affairs.

If I were to talk about those people, it would inevitably be biased towards my side. From their perspective, a non-noble mother and her child were not even worth noticing. When my father was around, he treated me indifferently, but I think he was aware of his own questionable actions and was trying to maintain a facade.

While talking with Alfred and playing Gomoku, Grace came in and said, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but whose cane is this?"

Grace was holding a black cane, which looked more like a walking stick than a magic wand.

"Hmm, it's not mine," Alfred said. Of course, it wasn't Marian's either, as she shook her head.

"Maybe it's my father's. Given the commotion earlier, he probably left it behind."

"Indeed, it must be Lord Henry's. I'll bring it to him later."

"No, it's fine. I'll go directly."

"…Are you sure?"

"Since Byron is already here, it's the same anyway."

It's like once you start, you might as well finish. I need to take care of the aftermath to avoid wasting the effort I put in today. If the servants there treat Grace the way they used to, it could cause problems. From Byron's behavior, it's unclear if he knows Grace's current position, so it's better for me to go directly.

"Are you going out, Theo? You're losing, but I've had a good break, so I might go back to the workshop. Well, what do you think, Marian?"

Marian looked up at me with a happy smile and nodded.

"In that case, I'll gratefully accept your offer."

Alfred smiled wryly and left the house.

"Would you like me to read a book to you, Lady Marian?"

Marian looked up at Ashley and nodded happily. Marian should be fine. I also stood up after drinking some tea.

"Alright, I'll be going. Caduceus isn't here, so if you go out, go with someone."

"Understood. …Um, will you be safe?"

"I will."

I smiled wryly, and Grace nodded with a small smile. I should probably lift the seal on Grace.

"Given the situation, be a bit cautious. I might not be back tonight, so it will be late at least."

"Understood."

"See you, Theodore."

Everyone saw me off as I left the house. Well, it's time to switch gears.

I headed towards the central part of Termwill, a city with a stone-built garden-like atmosphere similar to the royal capital, Theorem.

I had noticed my father's forgotten item from the beginning but kept quiet, thinking it would be a good excuse to visit the Gartner family's secondary residence. Even if there was no forgotten item, I could have bought something that looked like my father's and visited, saying it was a forgotten item.

Caduceus is currently shadowing my father, keeping a watchful eye. This is because I'm not sure how Catherine will react to the news of Byron's inheritance rights being stripped. Even if I convince her, she might try to push through her agenda. I hope it doesn't come to a verbal argument or her coming to my place, but I can't risk anything happening to my father.

I didn't tell my father about this beforehand because I know he wants to believe in his family until the last moment.

I hope Catherine will accept the situation without any issues, but the fact that I have Caduceus watching him shows that I don't fully trust her. What matters is my father's safety. The rest is not essential.

If there are any changes on their side, Caduceus will signal me. Since Catherine's carriage has returned to the secondary residence, it's time for me to move.

Catherine seems to be in a tight spot. If she's going to act, it will be soon. If I intervene, I need to create an alibi by visiting the secondary residence officially.

I can predict what Catherine might say or do. I knocked on the door of the secondary residence at the right moment.

"Excuse me. Is this Lord Henry's residence?"

"Yes, who are you?"

The servant who came to the door was unfamiliar.

"I am Theodore Gartner, the ambassador from the Otherworld. Lord Henry left something behind, so I came to return it."

"Theodore… sir? The son of Lord Henry?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Oh, we are currently quite busy…! Please, wait a moment!"

The servant seemed flustered, probably because he couldn't turn away someone with a title. He went inside and came back with a steward, who was also unfamiliar.

"Please wait a moment, sir."

"That's fine."

I followed the steward into the house. Instead of the reception room near the entrance, I was led to a room in the back. It made sense, as my father and Catherine were likely in the reception room.

I saw a few servants inside the house, but none of them were familiar.

"…I apologize for asking, but…"

"Yes?"

"There are no familiar servants from the earldom here. Are these servants hired specifically for the secondary residence? It would be reassuring to see familiar faces."

The servant bowed apologetically.

"I apologize, but we came from the earldom, and… we are not meeting your expectations, sir."

…It seems there was a personnel change due to some misconduct. The servant couldn't say anything that might harm his master, so he was being vague. I smiled at him.

"No, it's fine. If it's something difficult to say, you don't have to answer."

"I appreciate your understanding."

Regarding the servants… it seems my father had already taken action. They seem to be well-trained, but… well, let's see.