Chapter 63

I returned to the castle to return the maid's uniform.

The castle looked as it always did, making it hard to believe that something significant had happened yesterday.

If you looked closely, you would notice that there were more guards than when I was working as a shadow. However, only someone who had lived here for two months would notice. It wasn't as if the number of guards had increased dramatically.

The only information that had leaked to acquaintances when Lady Brides asked was that "something serious had happened at the castle." This was likely due to strict information control. Even if the information would eventually leak out, it seemed that most of the nobles and military personnel were adhering to the control.

The entrance for commoners at the castle was strictly checked, but the inspection for women like me was relatively lax. Since I had the maid's uniform, I was allowed in after a simple body check when I said, "I've come to return my uniform because I've resigned."

I took out the maid's uniform from the bundle I was carrying and walked, making a show of the uniform. I arrived at the third floor of the north wing and was about to knock on the door of the "Department of Institutional Maintenance and Management" when I was called from behind.

"Oh, what's the matter? Do you need something from me?"

"Lord Edward. It's a good thing I found you. Lady Brides is very worried. She asked me to bring a change of clothes."

"Oh, I caused you trouble. Things were a bit chaotic, so I couldn't send a messenger to Brides."

"I see. Then I'll give this to you. I'll tell Lady Brides that you're well."

"Thank you. Please tell her I'll be back in a few days."

"Understood. I'll take my leave then."

I bowed and descended the stairs I had just climbed.

Lord Asher looked quite exhausted. He had dark circles under his eyes, but he didn't seem to be injured. It wouldn't be a lie to say he was well.

I stopped at the landing between the third and second floors. I recognized the voice of someone coming up the stairs.

What should I do? That voice belongs to the leader of the Third Knight Regiment. Why is he here? Is there a base of the Third Knight Regiment in the north tower?

If so, it wouldn't hurt to know the location. The leader of the Third Knight Regiment knows my true identity, so it's only fair that I know their base.

I ran up the stairs and entered a nearby room. A sign next to the door read "Department of Document Management."

When I opened the door and entered the room, everyone at the desks looked at me.

"I'm sorry, I got lost..." my voice trailed off.

All the people in the room were strong-looking men, and there were no older ones.

What's going on? Feeling a strong sense of unease, I quickly put on a fake smile. A young man stood up from his seat and approached me.

"Is there something you need?"

"I'm sorry, I got lost."

"What brings you to the castle?"

"I've come to return my uniform. But..."

"Then I'll take it from you. I'll return it to the costume department for you."

The young man walked toward me to take the maid's uniform from my arm. At that moment, the door behind me opened, and a voice said, "I'm back!" I quickly turned to confirm the face and then faced forward again.

"Please take it. Make sure to return the uniform. Thank you very much."

I bowed, keeping my eyes on the floor, and slipped past the young man who had just entered, heading down the corridor. The door closed immediately. I looked at the door, then went down the stairs and left the castle.

The young man who had just entered had only seen me through the veil, but I recognized him. He was the boy who had gone up to the attic with Nonna.

The Department of Document Management was full of well-built men.

The leader of the Third Knight Regiment was coming up the stairs.

A young member of the Third Knight Regiment had just returned to the Department of Document Management, saying, "I'm back!"

"Hmm."

In other words, the base of the Third Knight Regiment is in the Department of Document Management in the north wing.

Then, what about Lord Edward? His movements are those of a civil servant. He isn't physically trained. The Department of Institutional Maintenance and Management is not the base of the Third Knight Regiment, right?

No, wait.

Lord Edward is the head of three departments.

If we assume that the Department of Institutional Maintenance and Management is also the base of the Third Knight Regiment, then Lord Edward is the head of a special task force with a civil service background. It's not impossible for a civil servant to be the head of a special task force.

"Hmm... I see."

If Lord Edward is the head of the Third Knight Regiment, everything makes sense.

The fact that I, a defector from another country, was able to marry Jeff, who is the prince's favorite.

The fact that Jeff was quickly assigned to the important task of establishing a trading company to export medicine to the Shen Kingdom.

The fact that I was able to change into a new person by pretending to be killed by Hagel's assassination team.

All of these things could be done by the head of a special task force.

If that's the case, why did Lord Edward, who values Jeff so much, order me to be a shadow?

The military and the Third Knight Regiment were not working well together.

Moreover, a part of the military was trying to kill Lady Delphine. In such a serious situation, I had to be asked to be Lady Delphine's shadow.

"Perhaps the Third Knight Regiment is being neglected so much that they had to use a defector from another country as the shadow of the crown princess?"

There's not enough information to speculate on the reason for using me. That's enough for today.

I felt a gaze from above, but there was no need to let them know I was aware. I didn't need to show my hand.

Without looking up at the window from which the gaze came, I went to the Asher family's house and then returned home.

"Mom, was Uncle Edward well?"

"Yes, he was well. I told Lady Brides that he was fine and there's no need to worry."

"That's good. I wonder if Clark is okay. As a low-ranking civil servant, he probably wasn't involved in the commotion, right?"

"Calling him a low-ranking civil servant is rude. If you're worried, why don't you write a letter to Clark's house?"

"Sure!"

The stable boy immediately went to the Anderson family's house and brought back a reply.

When I read the letter, I was very surprised.

"Nonna, it seems that Clark is also part of the embassy to the Subaru Kingdom."

"What? Why? Clark said he was a low-ranking, no, the lowest civil servant. Why was he chosen for the embassy?"

"Clark is proficient in the Subaru language, so he volunteered."

Nonna fell silent and left the living room without a word. She must have been shocked. Poor thing. Not only Jeff but also Clark was heading to the Subaru Kingdom.

The ripple effects of my decoding Elmar's cipher and discovering the gold vein were spreading.

I stood by the window, looking at the western sky, and prayed aloud.

"Jeff, please be safe. Just come back alive. Come back with Clark."

I want to see Jeff.

◇ ◇ ◇

"Chief, did she notice?"

"Probably. She would have noticed when she saw Mills."

"I'm sorry!"

"Don't worry. I should have anticipated that she would come here. Mike, if she asks you anything about this, just say you don't know. If she says something to you, don't respond immediately but let me know, okay?"

"Understood."

After Mills and Mike left, Edward Asher thought to himself.

He was prepared for the day when Victoria would realize his position. She wouldn't make a big fuss, but he was worried about Jeff.

"If Jeff finds out that we were sent to the Shen Kingdom for five years and that I ordered Victoria to be a shadow, he will surely be furious. He will think I betrayed him and used Victoria."

However, he didn't think his decisions were wrong. He was confident it was the best plan.

Victoria would probably understand that Jeff had no choice but to do it. Or, he might not say anything to Jeff.

"Mills"

"Yes!"

"Can you go to my house and tell them I'll be back in a few days?"

"Yes."

"If they ask what happened at the castle, don't say anything unnecessary."

"Of course."

After seeing Mills off, Edward stood up. He had a heavy discussion ahead.

He sighed and headed to the king's office.

The guard opened the door without him knocking and whispered, "The king is waiting."

When he entered, the king, Prince Conrad, Duke Sedric, Prime Minister Stanley, and Minister of Military Affairs Martis were already there.

"I'm sorry for being late."

"We know you've been busy. Please sit down."

Following the king's words, he sat down and looked at the faces of the attendees. They all looked extremely tired. Prime Minister Stanley's face was ashen, and he had been in poor health for a long time, considering retirement when this incident occurred. Minister of Military Affairs Martis also looked exhausted. Usually, the prime minister would lead the meeting, but today the king himself was doing it.

"Before you arrived, Martis offered to resign as Minister of Military Affairs, and Stanley offered to resign as prime minister. Edward, this is the consensus of those present. We would like you to take over as the next prime minister."

"I decline."

"Edward... Don't refuse so easily. We've heard that you repeatedly warned Martis about the unrest in the military."

Martis stood up and bowed deeply.

"I failed to heed the repeated warnings of Lord Asher, leading to this situation. As the head of the military, I take full responsibility. I failed to monitor the actions of the deputy minister."

"That's right. I repeatedly warned about Bryan's actions. This is undoubtedly your responsibility."

There was no way to refute Edward's words, and Martis closed his eyes.

"Regarding the refreshment of the military personnel, we will discuss it later. Stanley said that you are the only one who can take over as prime minister. With the tensions with Subaru and the instability in the Eagle Kingdom, only you, Edward, can steer the ship."

Edward thought for a few seconds but shook his head.

"If I were to take over as prime minister, who would lead the special task force?"

"Perhaps the current leader of the special task force?"

"He is reliable, but if I suddenly become prime minister, there will be many who will oppose me. We shouldn't create more friction now. I decline the position of prime minister."

"I see... Then, Edward, who do you think would be suitable?"

After thinking for a few seconds,

"I recommend Colin Haines, the Minister of General Affairs. He has a good character and is intelligent. He can work well with me. Moreover, Lord Haines is in excellent health. The Minister of Finance has heart problems, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs should not be replaced in the current situation."

Everyone present thought the same thing.

(Has he investigated not only the conduct of the ministers but also their health?)

After a moment of silence, the king made a decision.

"Then, I will appoint Colin Haines, the current Minister of General Affairs, as the next prime minister. Edward, I would like you to continue as the head of the special task force."

"Understood."

"Next, we will discuss the selection of the Minister of Military Affairs and the Deputy Minister. Edward, if you have any issues with the candidates I will mention, please speak up."

"Understood."

Thus, Colin Haines, the son of Yolana, was appointed as the prime minister.

Edward made a series of decisions that would influence the politics of Ashbury Kingdom, guiding the meeting.

His vast knowledge and integrity, strong patriotism, and good relationships with many nobles made his opinions extremely useful.