Chapter 67

"First, let's go somewhere where no one can overhear us."

As my face turned serious, Blan seemed to sense the gravity of the situation, and his gentle smile hardened.

"Then let's go to the study."

Sensing an unexpected heaviness, Blan, who had been stiff, let Pavel take the lead and guide the way. The destination was indeed the study, as he had said. The Eilsford family, being an old noble family, possessed a vast collection of books. While the scale could not compare to the Vain family, the fact that their ancestors had diligently accumulated knowledge over generations was not much different.

‘When I lived at the Vain family estate, I often locked myself in the study to read books.’

The sense of stability that comes from the weight of long years was one of the things I loved. Since coming to Eilsford, I had been dealing with more things than expected and had little time to enjoy my favorite leisure. However, stepping into a favorite place seemed to have lightened my heavy heart. I slowly began to tell Blan, who was waiting for me with a somewhat worried look.

"A few days ago, the new doctor who came to Eilsford, Leon, his father... was the former marquis's physician. He examined the deceased former marquis couple and found clear signs of murder. He was killed for knowing this fact, and Leon barely escaped to a foreign country, where he harbored hatred. Leon suspects Altear as the culprit of the incident... "

"That's absurd!"

Blan, who had been listening calmly, frowned and strongly objected at the last part.

"At that time, the young lord was just a young boy. How could he have killed his parents and benefited from it? Besides, how much hardship did he endure after losing his predecessors so early... "

"Perhaps there were circumstances that made Leon suspect. I wanted to ask more, but he avoided the topic, so I couldn't."

"I see. I was puzzled when a doctor suddenly came to the estate, but it was for this reason..."

Blan sighed deeply and rubbed his head.

"I will investigate this matter discreetly. But how did someone who suspects the young lord think of coming to our estate?"

"Ah."

"And he might also be targeting the young lord for revenge."

"Um..."

Blan's subsequent questions were valid. However, I knew that Leon would not seek revenge in such a way, as I knew his character well from the novel.

‘Leon was a man with a strong sense of mission as a doctor.’

He never gave up on his patients, no matter what, and dedicated his life to developing medicines that could save many people. The idea of such a person taking someone's life for revenge... was unimaginable. But I couldn't explain it that way. I rolled my eyes, trying to find a plausible excuse, and under Blan's urging gaze, I blurted out a vague answer.

"Because... his soul seemed pure..."

"..."

"..."

Blan and Pavel looked at me, speechless, blinking their eyes. Their incredulous gazes made me want to bang my head.

‘No matter how I think about it, it sounds like the words of a cult follower...!’

I couldn't take back what I had said and was trying to figure out how to resolve the situation when Blan, pointing at himself, asked seriously.

"My soul?"

"Yes?"

"How is my soul, my lady?"

"Um... it's... very pure and... strong...?"

Stammering, I made up an answer, and Blan smiled contentedly, puffing out his chest and looking at Pavel as if to show off.

"Did you hear that?"

"..."

Pavel, who had looked even more incredulous when I mentioned the soul, clicked his tongue at Blan and turned away, looking at me.

"If my lady sees him positively, I believe it too. The young lord must have thought the same and brought the doctor from the enemy country."

"Leon's ongoing research will also be a great help to our estate. He will achieve even greater things in the future. So I want to clear up any misunderstandings and make him a part of Eilsford. The most important thing is to find the truth about the predecessors' deaths."

Pavel nodded with a complex smile at my words.

"Eilsford's past, present, and future are all important. It's a bit concerning to entrust such important matters to this fellow, but..."

"Don't worry, my lady. I, with my 'pure and strong soul,' will thoroughly investigate and bring back the results."

Emphasizing the words 'pure and strong soul,' Blan burned with determination, and Pavel sighed, slightly bowing his head to me. It felt like he was apologizing, saying, 'I'm sorry for this fellow.' I couldn't help but laugh, and at the same time, I envied the relationship between Pavel and Blan.

‘I was an only child, so I don't know much about such relationships.’

But even just watching them made me happy. Altear, who had no siblings, had to bear more burdens alone.

‘After all, it's better for children to have siblings...’

As my thoughts naturally drifted to plans for children, I was startled and covered my mouth with my hand. Even though I hadn't said anything out loud, I felt embarrassed as if my inner thoughts had been exposed.

‘But I do want a child.’

The birth of an heir would be the greatest gift I could give to Altear and the people of Eilsford. After all, Altear had married me to secure an heir, so there was no more important issue.

‘When will it happen?’

I hope it happens soon. *** At that moment. Melisa, left alone in the corridor, inwardly rejoiced at seeing Altear still standing in place. The plan she had devised with the maid had gone awry, but she had managed to get a chance to meet Altear. On the first day, she had mistakenly thought Altear was just a knight and made a mistake, but now that she knew who he was, she was confident she could handle the situation well.

"Viscount."

Melisa approached Altear, who was standing stiffly, with a bright smile. As she got closer, she could feel Altear becoming aware of her presence, and she inwardly smirked.

‘Of course. You're a man, after all? Anyway, you know what's attractive.’

Melisa prided herself on knowing men well. How to smile, how to draw attention, how to act to gain favor—she thought she had all these skills at her fingertips. Her success in the capital's social scene, which was like a battlefield, was largely due to the Vain family's influence, but her quick and clever actions also played a significant role.

‘Men are predictable.’

If you flatter them and go along with their stories, they'll grin and go along with it. The most important thing is to figure out what this 'man' is interested in. Men's interests are generally resolved within the realms of card games, horseback riding, hunting, business, politics, and women. The best way to understand someone is to break down the barriers. When the barriers are broken, the guard is lowered, and when the guard is lowered, the mouth opens easily. Melisa, with a beautiful smile, subtly and naturally wrapped her hand around his arm, making sure her ample body was pressed close.

"Viscount. Father asked me to bring back a reply. When can you give me an answer?"

"U-um, um, um... Lady..."

The viscount, whose arm was grabbed, stuttered and stammered like a young man who had never held a woman's hand before.

‘Hehe. His voice even changed from the shock.’

Melisa, thinking, ‘After dealing with the weak Nadia, I must seem like a breath of fresh air to him,’ smiled demurely and slowly lifted her head. But as soon as she lifted her head, she was startled to see a completely unfamiliar face in her field of vision and quickly let go of the man's arm, stepping back.

"Oh, oh my!"

She thought she had grabbed Altear's arm and pressed her body against him. In front of her was a young servant, his face flushed and stiff.

‘What, what is going on here!’

Melisa, flustered, turned her head and saw Altear, a few steps away from the servant, with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face.

"Even if you're my wife's cousin, it's problematic to seduce a servant."

"W-What are you saying? Why would I...!"

"But you did grab this passing servant and press your chest against him, didn't you, Lady?"

"I was trying to grab—!"

Melisa, about to shout, quickly shut her mouth. Even she couldn't openly say, ‘I was trying to seduce you!’

‘I was definitely going to grab the viscount, not this servant!’

Melisa, unable to understand the situation, bit her trembling lips. But to Altear, her obvious scheme was merely amusing. He was an excellent warrior and could easily predict his opponent's movements, especially if the opponent was an ignorant noble lady. So he had subtly placed the passing servant in front of Melisa as she approached, and she, unaware of the sudden change, ended up trying to seduce the servant.

"You. Get out of here before the lady eats you."

Altear chuckled and ordered the servant, whose face was red, to leave, and the servant hurriedly fled.

"Lady. If it's urgent, I can't help it, but it's best to avoid such overt actions. For the 'honor' of the Vain family, at least."

Altear's words made Melisa's face turn even redder with shame. It wasn't just the embarrassment. The corridor was open, and there were quite a few servants passing by. If the rumor spread that 'the Vain family's lady threw herself at a servant because she was desperate for a man,' it would be...

‘Horrible!’

Melisa, who had maintained her high and mighty lady status by neither giving nor withholding herself to the capital's noble young men, could not afford to tarnish her reputation by getting involved with a mere servant.

‘Fortunately, this is a rural area.’

If she could control the mouths of the maids she brought from the Vain family, she wouldn't have to make a fool of herself. Besides, they were all her people, so controlling their mouths wouldn't be a big problem. But the situation didn't go as she hoped.

"Ha ha."

Hearing a man's laughter from not far away, Melisa naturally turned her head. A silver-haired handsome man, realizing he had been noticed, waved his hand lightly and approached Melisa and Altear. Melisa, surprised by the sudden appearance of the handsome man, opened her mouth wide.

‘What, what is this estate?’

Where do such handsome men come from? Of course, her question was quickly answered.

"Your Highness. What brings you to the main house?"

"Ah. I was on my way to the reception room because the wheel repairman finally arrived. Then I saw an interesting scene... I couldn't help it."

The silver-haired handsome man, looking at Melisa, burst into laughter again. It was a clear mockery. Melisa, momentarily lost in the man's beauty, quickly regained her composure.

‘Wait... a prince? If it's a prince with this appearance...’

The Third Prince, Orca!

"Recently, I've heard that ladies are becoming more open and proactive... but I didn't expect it to this extent..."

Orca's gaze, which swept over her from head to toe with a somewhat reproachful look, made Melisa's face turn pale.