Chapter 45. Underground

"I feel a bit guilty towards the late butler."

"What for?"

"…I borrowed something when I left the mansion."

He expressed the act of stealing in a more polite way. Ian burst into a hollow laugh, as if urging him to continue. His reaction was more exasperated than angry.

"I had no choice. Didn't you tell me to quit? The mansion had to be left, and I needed money until I found a new job. But I had gone into the butler's room several times on your request."

He took it when he quit, thinking it was the right time. Really, he was quite audacious. If something went missing, it would naturally be suspected of the person who quit, wouldn't it?

"About a dozen others quit at the same time. For different reasons, but the lady became extremely sensitive. She started beating people more and more, making the atmosphere in the mansion unbearable."

"Why? What happened to Lady Mary?"

"I never got hit, so I don't know, but it seems she was under a lot of stress. Strange spots appeared on her arms and legs, and it felt like I would die from the beatings if I stayed any longer."

Ian nodded and naturally handed the envelope to Beric, who habitually started rifling through it, looking for anything useful.

"Beric."

"Huh? Why not? I can look, right?"

"Troublesome. Just put it away."

Ian was about to click his tongue when a piece of paper slipped through Beric's fingers. It was a bird's-eye view of the mansion, drawn to help the newly hired butler understand the layout efficiently.

"Give it to me. Put it back."

"Just a moment."

"Wow, you told me not to look, but you did."

"Quiet. Just wait and see."

The bird's-eye view of the Bratz mansion was not much different from what Ian knew. It was detailed, divided by floors, and even the positions of windows and doors in each room were perfect. But why...

"I don't know why it feels off."

"Off? What do you mean?"

"It means something is out of place."

"Let me see. Hmm."

At Ian's words, Beric and Hana leaned in, their eyes narrowing. Hana, who had worked in the mansion, carefully compared it but couldn't find any significant differences.

"Nothing seems particularly strange? It's no different from now."

"Look at this. The garden was empty at that time, right?"

"The garden was empty?"

Beric pointed to a tree drawn on the bird's-eye view. It was a simple drawing, but Ian recognized it as the willow tree closest to the annex.

"Usually, such bird's-eye views omit landscaping. If you start drawing every bush and tree, it never ends..."

Ian trailed off. Yes, bird's-eye views generally don't include landscaping.

But why was this tree drawn here?

It could be a meaningless addition by the drafter, but this was a document given to the mansion's manager. It would be more natural to give it meaning.

"Beric, let's hurry back to the mansion."

"Why! Tell me too."

"Hana, I'll contact you again. We'll need help when the mansion is sorted out. If possible, I'd like the servants who quit to return."

"I'll look into it. I'd be happy to. I was wondering how I'd survive."

Ian smiled and undid a button from his sleeve, the clothes he wore at the engagement party. One button wouldn't fill immediate hunger, but in this situation, finding a place to accept jewels was another matter.

"It's a kind of deposit."

"Thank you, young master. You really are amazing. You always appear to help us when we're starving."

"Maybe that's why I met you."

"Then I'll find a reason to meet you too. I think the stableman is fine. I saw him yesterday."

"Ah, yes. I saw him too."

"Go in. I'll contact you right away."

"Alright. Good work."

Ian finished his goodbye with Hana and dashed towards the mansion. Without dismounting, he returned to the annex and found the tree on the bird's-eye view.

'So, this is it.'

The branches were drooping, which was unusual. Below it, the Chonrye people were gathered, burning and eating gurut leaves.

"Mr. Ian?"

"What is it?"

"Can you keep watch for a moment?"

"Watch? Hey, you go."

The annex, burnt and with holes dug here and there, likely contained the bodies of the servants who died in the fire.

Was it the eerie atmosphere? The central army and investigation team hadn't even glanced at the annex, but it was better to be safe.

"Make sure the central army and investigation team don't see."

"Alright, I understand. Are you working here?"

"Yes. Just move aside for a moment."

The Chonrye people moved without much question and entered the perimeter. Beric, holding the bird's-eye view upside down, continued to compare the tree and the drawing.

"Is this the right spot?"

"Yes. Stop standing around and start digging."

"Ugh, really digging, digging. Met a good master~!"

The tree was identified, but that was it. There was definitely something hidden, but there was no trace left. Beric took out a dagger and carefully scraped the ground.

"But will you kill Mary and Chel if you find them?"

"No way. I can't just kill them."

Ian answered, smoothing the grass with his fingertips. The toughness of the grass was different.

"Actually, it's better to keep them alive for now."

"What do you mean?"

"To make them run far, very far."

It was fake grass.

Ian took the dagger from Beric and inserted it into the gap. The ground sounded like a lever. Even the Chonrye people, who were just chewing gurut leaves, looked puzzled.

Creak.

A staircase leading to a secret space appeared. A spiral stone staircase leading to a basement. When he swept the floor with his hand, it was damp, indicating that the seam between the door and the ground was relatively new.

In other words, someone had used this place recently.

"Found it. Beric, get ready quickly."

"Alright, why so urgent?"

"Pathetic. We're not the only ones chasing the Bratz."

"Who else? Erica?"

"Yes. Bring a lantern without anyone noticing."

* * *

Mary stared at the burning wick.

The noise echoing through the ceiling and walls. It was likely the outsiders who had newly occupied the mansion. If not, her husband Derga would have come to fetch her and her son.

In the pitch-black underground tunnel, Lady Mary felt the worst despair of her life.

"Mom, I'm hungry."

"Eat some jerky."

"Is this all we have here?"

Chel, sitting on a makeshift bed, was throwing a tantrum. Despite his age, how could he only say such things! For the first time, Lady Mary felt her son was pitiful.

"Should we try to move the back door?"

"It's sealed with molten iron. Don't hurt yourself and sit down. We need to conserve our strength."

A space similar to an underground prison. The secret door leading outside was blocked by Derga's father to prevent it from being used as an entry point. At the time, the relationship with the Chonrye was so bad that it was understandable, but it was a self-defeating move.

"How long are we going to stay here?"

"Let's wait a little longer. There will be an opportunity within a few days. When we return to Fontrol, we can rest properly, so bear with it."

Mary planned to return to her hometown via the Merelev fief. As a traitor, she would have to hide for life, but her family would surely help her somehow.

Mary rubbed the cheap jewels, which she had considered worthless, on her dress, one by one peeling them off her fingernails. They would now serve as precious money.

Thud, thud.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed like a hallucination. Mary instinctively extinguished the lamp, and Chel hid behind the bed. In the pitch-black space, a faint yellow light flickered from afar.

"Whoa!"

Someone was coming! They had discovered the mansion's secret space and were chasing their trail! Mary, trembling, gripped a dagger tightly and held her breath.

'Derga, is it you? Hurry, hurry...'

If it's you, send a signal.

But the voice that reached her, despite her heartfelt wish, was both unfamiliar and familiar. A shadow stretched over the stone wall.

"Are you there? Mother, Brother Chel."

"…Yes, how did you—!"

She recognized Ian immediately, even though it had been a couple of months since she last heard his voice.

Ian looked around the secret space, his eyebrows furrowing in surprise. The men who followed him in had red paint on their faces... Chonrye!

"Wh-What is this...?"

"Hey, there's a tunnel. Derga is really something."

"Didn't the imperial nobles usually have such escape routes? They're the kind who would rather run than die in a fight."

"But there doesn't seem to be a way out at the back?"

"Right, that's what I thought."

Mary felt as if her mind had stopped. She had assumed the mansion was occupied by the investigation team and the central army. How did Ian and the Chonrye appear here?

But that was short-lived.

"Ian!"

Swoosh!

Mary, believing Ian had colluded with Mollun to expose Derga and had tricked the Chonrye into breaking their alliance, instinctively screamed and lunged at Ian.

"Aaah! It hurts!"

She struggled to free her hand, but she couldn't escape the rough grip of the Chonrye warrior. He easily took the dagger from her and tied her up, pressing her against the wall.

Thud!

"What is this rudeness! Filthy things! Worthless things!"

"Mother, I heard you became more aggressive, but you're even worse than I thought."

"Shut up! Shut up! It's all your fault! All your fault!"

Ian held up the lantern to examine Mary's face closely. Sunken eyes, darkened skin, yellow eyes with prominent blood vessels, and chapped lips. There was not a single spot left unscathed.

In contrast, Chel was only thinner and covered in dust, otherwise unchanged.

'…Why is this happening?'

Ian frowned, sensing something was seriously wrong with Lady Mary's transformation.