Chapter 21

"This is a desperate act, even with your eyes open."

At that moment, the duke muttered in a low voice.

Only then did the baron regain his senses, shuddering and looking at the duke.

"The sight of the baron putting on a show looks just like someone who has resorted to dirty tricks."

"......"

"Is that what you think? Am I just imagining things?"

The deep red eyes, which had been calm, were suddenly filled with a murderous intent.

"No, Your Grace. I really know nothing!"

Baron Corvino shouted with a desperate look on his face.

"I was just worried about the ducal family! Isn't the evidence too clear to doubt?"

"Evidence to doubt."

The duke repeated the words and nodded.

"That's reasonable. Then I should also doubt the baron based on that evidence."

At that, Ante, who had been standing in the shadows, approached the baron.

"Excuse me, Baron."

Ante searched the baron's body as if investigating him.

After a moment, Ante's previously calm eyes showed a look of disdain.

In Ante's hand was the Blue Hope. The retainers gasped in shock.

"No, no! I really, really don't know anything!"

"What to do with this..."

The duke leaned back in his chair and muttered.

Since he had worked hard to catch the rat, it was only natural to give a reward.

"Take care of it."

"Yes."

"Your Grace, Your Grace! Please, just once, spare me! I was wrong! Your Grace..."

Baron Corvino's pleading echoed, but the duke did not open his eyes.

Thud.

The door closed with a loud sound.

The crying stopped completely.

All that remained in the meeting room was deep silence.

The retainers exchanged glances and swallowed hard.

"Now it's finally quiet."

The duke sighed contentedly and opened his eyes.

The faces of the retainers were all pale with fear.

"Elly."

The duke fixed his gaze on them and spoke.

For the first time, he called me by my name.

Elly, who was a bit dazed by this, opened her mouth and finally replied.

"Yes, Your Grace."

"Just now, what condition did you set for them?"

"Condition... I asked them to apologize to me."

"I heard. They all have ears, don't they?"

The duke tapped his ear with his index finger.

Understanding his meaning, a few retainers swallowed hard and finally knelt down.

"Sorry, Your Grace! Please forgive us!"

"Sorry! Please show us mercy!"

The duke clicked his tongue at their sudden change in attitude.

"Suddenly bowing down might scare the child. Stand up."

"Your, Your Grace..."

The retainers' faces brightened, thinking they had been forgiven.

"But lately, my tinnitus has been getting worse."

Despite his relaxed expression, his red eyes were sharp like a blade.

"I can't forget the barking from just now. It's best to deal with them together."

The retainers' faces turned pale.

The duke's tinnitus only disappeared after half the seats in the meeting room were empty.

* * *

The commotion that caused a storm of blood was over.

I secretly sighed in relief.

If the servant or Baron Corvino's clothes had been lighter or thinner, it would have failed.

'Fortunately, the ducal castle is in the north.'

I thanked the cold weather and looked forward again.

The retainers who had survived by not joining in sighed in relief.

"Since my tinnitus is gone, we can continue the discussion."

The duke began in a slow tone.

"As I said before, I plan to raise this child as my successor."

"Your Grace... But marriage between commoners and nobles is taboo."

A retainer who had barely survived spoke cautiously.

"I know. That's why I called you here."

The duke looked down at me.

"To find a family that will adopt this child as a foster daughter."

"Really?!"

The retainers' mouths dropped open. I was no different.

It was an unbelievable story.

Just now, Baron Corvino revealed that I was the daughter of a thief.

Not just any thief, but one who stole the royal treasure.

What noble in their right mind would adopt me as a foster daughter?

Unlike our puzzled expressions, Duke Schuetz was very calm.

"Then who will do it?"

Everyone remained silent. The duke yawned and tilted his head.

"Then there's no choice."

The duke's gaze fell on me.

"Elly. You choose."

"Me, me?"

"Yes. Since it will be your new family name, it's better for you to choose."

The duke's tone was completely emotionless. Choosing an item in a general store would have been more affectionate.

I couldn't stop being flustered.

Even though I should be grateful for being adopted, I was being asked to choose the family myself.

"I, I..."

I couldn't answer and fumbled.

Family. Adoption. Thinking of those words made my throat tighten.

"This kind of girl as a play servant for our daughter? It's a disgrace to our family!"

"Father, even if you want to find a companion for me, this background is... awkward."

"What can I talk about with a girl of such a different level?"

Unwanted memories surfaced one by one.

No one wanted me. Even though I didn't steal the treasure, people treated it as if I had.

At first, I blamed my mother.

Why did she live a life that made me suffer so much?

But on the third day I was abandoned, I realized.

"Elly, you will be loved wherever you go."

"Mom will tell you how much love you were born with."

The only person who loved me was my mother, who faced a miserable end and was shunned by everyone.

So I didn't blame my mother. I didn't deny being the daughter of a thief for this reason.

Gathering my thoughts, I decided to think positively.

'No, think positively.'

When I pretended to be weak to outsmart the baron, it was different now.

I was used to being hated.

'Since I don't really want to be truly adopted, I'll just think of it as a temporary favor.'

Thinking this way, my mind began to calm down. I took a deep breath and looked forward.

There were five retainers left in the meeting room.

Since they wouldn't entrust me to the retainers of Klauder, they must be from the Schuetz family.

'I need to choose someone who can help me when I'm abandoned.'

Just as I was thinking, there was a knock.

"Excuse me, Your Grace."

The servant who entered said.

"Forgive me, but I have an urgent message for Baron Amanta."

"What is it?"

"It's... Lady Amanta suddenly..."

Before the servant could finish, someone stood up abruptly.

Despite being an old man, he was a large and imposing figure. He said,

"Her condition?"

"It's not as bad as before. But even with us by her side, she disappeared in the blink of an eye..."

Baron Amanta's face hardened.

"Your Grace, I apologize, but I must take my leave."

The duke nodded without a word.

The baron bowed to the duke and quickly left the room.

Was there some urgent matter?

The baron's face, which I saw in passing, looked half-possessed.

"Baroness Amanta's condition seems to have worsened again."

"Baron must be worried. She keeps disappearing whenever he looks away."

A few retainers whispered.

"Even if a new mine is discovered, what good is it? He's too preoccupied with the baroness to properly inspect it."

'...!'

The retainers' words brought back a vague memory.

'Finally, I remember.'