Chapter 35

Prillance was heading to the shopping district for the purpose of fitting her dress for the imperial ball.

She had received a letter from Roman a few days ago stating that he was going to the kingdom of Barua for an urgent matter. From dress design to jewelry, he mentioned that there was nothing to worry about. It was quite an assurance for her, who had become frantic because of the recent incident.

After those thoughts, she suddenly felt the carriage leaning to the side. Prillance tilted her head, thinking she was just being sensitive.

However, it wasn’t her illusion. The carriage began to shake more severely.

“Oh! What’s happening?”

She heard the voice of the bewildered coachman. At the same time, she heard the horse cry out. The sound sounded strange, much different from usual. She thought perhaps there was a problem with the horse.

“What’s the matter?”

The carriage swayed, making her words come out intermittently.

“That, suddenly, uh!”

Afterward, there was an urgent voice from coachman who spoke little by little as if muddleheaded. The horse seemed to have done something again. As the swaying of the carriage became worse, Prillance could no longer keep her body at will.

Her body was dragged around as the carriage moved. From end to end, from bottom to top.

However, the fear of death in her mind was stronger than the pain she felt from bumping into various parts of the carriage. The door of the swaying carriage opened, and the wind blew. She was able to gauge the speed of the carriage through the strong wind she felt.

She was barely holding on to the curtain rods on the window, but even then, she was almost close to falling. She could hear the branches of the trees grazing the carriage through the window. They must have run off course.

The door of the rattling carriage fell along with a thud. Fluctuating from side to side, it seemed to have bumped into a tree.

Gradually, the curtains were torn and came off on one side of the rod. The shaking got worse, and her body swayed more severely along with it.

“Please…”

She grabbed the curtains with both hands, however, the tearing increased because of the pressure of her weight.

“Ah…”

And before she knew it, only a torn curtain was held in her hand.

It was at that moment that she felt like her body was suspended in midair.

***

“Right, I heard you have someone new around here?”

Count Alvin inquired, putting down his teacup. His smile was as playful as it was at the garden party. Acting as if he didn’t notice, Jack set his own cup down.

“Because he is a skilled person.”

“Hmm, that’s right.”

Count Alvin spoke in agreement.

“That’s probably one of many reasons.”

Saying what was on his mind, Count Alvin’s usual personality was made visible. If it were anyone else, Jack would have gotten angry, but since it was Count Alvin, he just let it pass. Jack gave a vague smile.

“Why did you visit all of a sudden?”

“Ah.”

Jack still did not reveal any of his other reasons. Only after his question did Count Alvin remember the reason he came.

“Another murder occurred, this time in the house of Baron Orphin.”

“Was it also a problem with the son?”

Feeling déjà vu, Jack gave a sarcastic response.

“No. This time, it was the servant that stabbed the Baron’s son.”

It was a nobleman last time, now this time, a servant. At Count Alvin’s words, Jack rubbed his chin. Something was strange.

“Did they have some sort of conflict before that?”

“No. They had grown up together since they were young.”

“With human nature, you never know.”

There were a number of situations in which a nobleman would think he is doing some good, but from the perspective of a commoner, it would be something troublesome. He knew that not all favors were viewed positively from someone else’s perspective. A grudge could have developed from the accumulation of such small things.

“For now, he will be executed.”

Although of low rank, the son was still a nobleman, hence the punishment would be heavier. Perhaps it was clear that nobles of similar rank had already come to the Magistrate.

“But you didn’t come here just to say that, right?”

He wasn’t interested in them to the point that he had to know this information right away. Count Alvin knew it better than anyone else. Jack knew there was something else he wanted to say.

“I don’t know if it’s alright to say this but…”

Count Alvin took a deep breath. Jack waited for him to speak. And the moment he was about to speak-

Knock. Knock.

“What…”

Before Jack could even tell him to come in, Derek urgently opened the door.

“Master, I think milady Prillance is in danger.”

At those words, both Jack and Count Alvin stiffened.

“…What do you mean?”

The voice that spoke out was full of tension.

“The horse attendant fed lead to milady Prillance’s horse. And today, milady rode on that horse.”

Jack raised himself slowly. When Count Alvin peered at his face, it looked grave.

“Prillance…where did she go?”

“To the shopping district…”

“Right now! Get someone to go there at once! No, I’ll do it myself.”

Jack stepped out, but his legs staggered. Before Derek could catch him, Count Alvin grabbed hold of his arm.

Count Alvin was surprised to see him flustered. Marquis Weiand had always been the same. It always seemed like he watched the world with frigid eyes.

He realized that this person too was someone who cared about his family. It felt like a fresh revelation.

“Viscount Grant took some knights with him and chased after the carriage.”

Jack exhaled deeply. At that, he felt a little relieved.

“Bring that attendant to me. Now.”

Jack instructed, emphasizing every word. His sharp eyes were full of anger. Count Alvin witnessed him like that.