Chapter 81

Despite it being late at night, people had gathered in the audience chamber. The king and queen stood at the front, the prime minister and an elderly nobleman on the right. Mills stood diagonally behind the elderly man. As Edward and I entered the room, King Conrad immediately addressed us.

"Sorry to surprise you so suddenly. Please take a seat."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

I sat down, and Edward stood a little distance away from me.

"Edward, let's get started, then."

"Yes. Victoria, I need you to answer my questions."

In the audience chamber, devoid of guards, Edward's calm voice echoed.

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Tell me where and with whom you met."

"Yes. When I entered the capital of the Kingdom of Randall, at the museum, I met a man named Lancome from the special operations unit of the Kingdom of Haggle."

I could see the prime minister and the elderly nobleman flinch out of the corner of my eye.

"What did you talk about with Lancome?"

"Lancome said he was returning to his country because his business partner had disappeared."

"Who was the business partner?"

"I believe it was Humphrey Aiden."

Suddenly, the elderly man stood up and shouted at me, "Don't lie!"

Edward immediately said in a cold voice, "Sit down."

At the same time, Mills quickly placed his hand on the man's shoulder and made him sit down.

"Victoria, why did you think Lancome's business partner was Humphrey Aiden?"

"The person who was supposed to be the interpreter for the person I accompanied on this trip was Humphrey Aiden, as I was told by the business partner of the person I accompanied. I took over as the interpreter when Humphrey went missing. When Lancome mentioned the missing person at the museum, saying, 'You know about it, right?' I inferred that the business partner he was referring to was Humphrey Aiden."

The man shouted again.

"It's just a guess! Your Majesty! This is a plot to frame me!"

"Edward, is that true?"

"No, Your Majesty. Mills, report."

"Yes."

The man turned to look up at Mills behind him with a shocked face. Mills began to speak to the king.

"Humphrey Aiden was apprehended in the capital of Randall and is currently being held in the dungeon here. Humphrey has confessed to providing the location of our country's emergency communication network to Lancome multiple times in exchange for money."

"Ugh."

The man made a strange sound. While looking at the man, Edward calmly reported to the king.

"Humphrey has also confessed that he is a servant of the Earl of Osmond Bridge and that the orders came from the Earl of Bridge."

"Your Majesty! There is no evidence at all. This is all a farce set up to bring me down! Who is this woman? If she is one of Edward Asher's people, she can easily give false testimony!"

Edward sighed.

"Sorry, Victoria. Can you tell this traitor about your identity?"

"Yes, Your Highness. I am the wife of Viscount Jeffrey Asher, Anna Victoria Asher, and I serve as the Deputy Minister of Military Affairs."

The Earl of Bridge, who seemed to be thinking for a moment, shouted desperately.

"That's absurd! Why would a viscount's wife know about a spy from the Kingdom of Haggle? This is all a setup..."

Ah, what a hassle.

Nonna and Jeff must be so worried about me waiting at home. Every time this man resists, it delays my return. I interrupted him mid-sentence.

"Earl of Bridge, I used to be a member of the special operations unit of the Kingdom of Haggle. Lancome was my superior at the time. I held the position of director until I left the organization. I would not mistake him."

"Huh?"

"The fact that I have this background is known to everyone here."

I smiled. Whether Prime Minister Colin Haines knew or not, it was only a matter of time before it became known. I hoped that Lady Yolana, my mother, would not reveal my true identity.

"Osmond Bridge."

King Conrad solemnly called his name. The fact that he no longer referred to him as an earl suggested that the king had already decided on his guilt.

"You will be interrogated. The results will determine your punishment and the punishment of your family based on your crimes. Take Osmond away."

"Yes."

Mills took Osmond's arm and began to lead him away. Osmond Bridge walked unsteadily, his eyes unfocused.

"Colin."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Victoria's background is to be treated as top secret."

"Yes."

Lady Delphine's voice followed the brief conversation between the king and the prime minister.

"Prime Minister Haines, I also have a request. Viscountess Asher is a great benefactor and a dear friend of mine. Please ensure that she does not face any difficulties in the future."

"Understood. I will not disclose anything I learned tonight. Please rest assured."

"Thank you. Viscountess Asher?"

"Yes, Lady Delphine."

"Being detained on your way home must have been very distressing. Please forgive the Earl of Asher. This is also the king's decision. I will have you escorted home. Nonna and Jeffrey must be very worried."

"Thank you."

I bowed my head as the royal couple left, and I was led out of the room by Edward. As we walked, Edward spoke to me.

"You don't need to worry about the prime minister. Colin is a man of few words."

"If you say so, I am relieved."

"This time, I really surprised you. I'm sorry."

"Your Highness, Nonna said she returned with two people, but were there any other guards?"

"Of course. Thirty elite guards escorted you. However, to ensure safety, they avoided both the main and old roads, taking a forced march through the wilderness and the forest. The two of them completed the journey without complaint."

So, thirty members of the Third Knights accompanied us. Considering Nonna and Il's skills, I can be somewhat reassured. As I thought about this and looked at Edward, I noticed that he had a rare look of concern on his face.

"Your Highness, how have you informed Jeff about this?"

"I haven't. Jeff doesn't know about my position. You haven't told Jeff anything, right?"

"No."

"I appreciate it. Thank you, Victoria."

There have been many things I've kept from Jeff by my own judgment. But now, I need to tell him this.

"Your Highness, I know about the environment in which you and Jeff grew up and the circumstances under which Jeff lost his fiancée. Knowing the past in which you supported each other, I don't want to break the bond between you. Considering Jeff's character, I don't intend to talk about your duties in the future."

"I see."

"But..."

I stopped walking and looked directly into Edward's eyes. He also stopped and met my gaze.

"There is something I have clearly realized this time. To protect Nonna, I am prepared to fight to the death to protect her, no matter who or how many people try to harm her."

I included the unspoken message, "Even if it's you," in my gaze. Edward was the first to look away.

"Yes, I understand. I plan to tell you about my duties eventually. Everything, including the mission to Shen and this recent incident. But not now. If I tell Jeff now, who knows what he might do."

"I see."

"Can you give me some time?"

It was the first time I had seen Edward look uncertain.

"Of course."

"I will have someone investigate who tried to kill you."

"Thank you. I have no idea who it could be. Lancome... I don't think he will report me to the Kingdom of Haggle, but that might just be wishful thinking."

"I see. It's late. I'll have a guard escort you. Thanks to you, we finally managed to take him down."

"Your Highness, may I ask one more question?"

"What is it?"

"How long did it take to bring down Osmond Bridge?"

Edward looked down to his left and quickly answered.

"Three years and seven months."

"I see."

"Why do you ask?"

"During my active service, I considered it fortunate that I was never assigned to work related to you."

"Hehe. I see. Good night, Victoria."

"Good night, Your Highness."

At the end, both of us smiled. I reached the carriage that had been waiting for me and gave a graceful nobleman's bow to Edward, who was seeing me off. As I got in, the carriage started moving quickly.