Chapter 87

The day came for Lord Edward to depart for the Kingdom of Randall.

Jeffrey and I went to see him off at the Asher mansion. Nonna had been summoned by Lord Clark and couldn’t come to see him off.

Lord Edward wore a calm smile and simply said, “I’ll be going now,” before setting off. As always, he gave no hint of any burden.

I bowed deeply and saw him off with gratitude.

Lord Edward’s escort consisted of fifty men. According to Jeff, they were elite soldiers from the royal army. I was deeply moved by the thorough consideration of His Majesty.

This time, it was a private visit, so the escorts were not in military uniforms. They wore the popular civilian uniforms. However, they gave the impression of a group of soldiers, both in their demeanor and movements.

The fact that the number of guards was the same as the mercenaries who attacked me seems to be Lord Edward’s idea. If the day comes when I can get a straight answer, I would like to hear it.

The carriage carrying Lord Edward and the mounted guards moved down the road.

Lord Blythe approached with a smile.

“Both of you, you have time for a cup of tea, right?”

“No, Anna and I have to go back soon. We have plans.”

“Oh, that’s a shame. Then another time, okay?”

“Lord Blythe, please let us visit again.”

In fact, I had no plans, but I went along with Jeff’s story and got into the carriage. I thought we were going home, but the carriage headed in a different direction. Jeff had been unusually quiet since this morning.

“Jeff? Where are we going?”

“I want to talk to you without Nonna around. I asked Clark to keep Nonna occupied.”

“I see... I understand.”

The driver seemed to have been given instructions beforehand, as he continued without any further directions.

The carriage eventually reached the outskirts of the capital, passed through the outer gate, and continued on. I wondered where we were going, and it turned out to be a meadow where wildflowers bloomed.

“Jeff, where are we?”

“This is a place I used to come to a lot as a child. I didn’t want to be at home, but I didn’t know where to go, so I just let my horse wander and found this place.”

He must have been talking about the time when he suffered from his father’s violence.

It’s a painful story that always makes my heart ache.

As we looked out over the meadow, Jeff began to speak in a serious tone.

“I’ve decided to go to the Kingdom of Randall.”

“Jeff too? By royal order?”

“No one ordered me. I can’t let you go alone to enemy territory, so I’ve decided to go on my own.”

I was speechless. Jeff continued calmly.

“I know you sent Miles to Randall. You must be planning to confront the real culprit who hired the mercenaries. Even after learning that your brother is going to Randall, you’re still taking action. So, the marquis your brother is going to isn’t the real culprit, is he?”

“Jeff...”

“You promised not to leave me, but you broke that promise so easily. It seems you don’t think I’m reliable.”

“No! I never thought that!”

“You must think you can handle everything on your own and come back home as if nothing happened, right?”

I couldn’t argue with that.

Because it’s the best strategy. I turned my gaze back to the meadow.

“Have you thought about how disappointed I would be, and how much I would be hurt if I found out later? Why don’t you consult me? Why don’t you rely on me?”

I can’t rely on him.

Because the reason I’m being targeted is all my fault.

Do you want me to burden my beloved husband with my problems? I might get Jeff killed because of me?

This isn’t a fair fight with swords.

It’s a dirty battle where you deceive, catch the opponent off guard, and take advantage of their weaknesses, all without them realizing they’re being targeted.

It doesn’t seem like a battle Jeff is suited for.

“Anna?”

“I’m not relying on you because the enemy is probably an agent. I’ve asked Miles to investigate the real culprit who’s manipulating Silas’s family. When Miles returns, we’ll know more. If this is a personal vendetta by an agent, I can’t involve you. Understand, Jeff?”

“I can’t understand. I’ve been prepared for such situations since I decided to live with you.”

“This isn’t a matter that can be resolved with noble intentions.”

For the first time since meeting Jeffrey, I raised my voice.

“If Deputy Minister Jeff causes an incident in another country, it won’t be dismissed as a personal matter. If someone dies after you join, it will become a major issue between the Kingdom of Ashbury and the Kingdom of Randall. I don’t want that. I refuse to make my personal problem hundreds of times bigger or to increase the number of casualties. I should deal with the consequences of my own actions. Please, Jeff, don’t get involved.”

Then Jeff embraced me without a word.

“I’m sorry, but I submitted my resignation to His Majesty last night. I can’t resign immediately, so it will take time to hand over my duties, but I’m not willing to be a Deputy Minister if it means sending you alone to enemy territory. If people laugh at me for being foolish, let them. I’d rather fight with you and protect you than live for decades in pain after losing you.”

“No. Don’t resign. Jeff, why did you do such a thing...”

Jeff’s embrace tightened.

“Anna, I don’t intend to die. I want to come back alive, raise sheep, and dye wool. Let’s go to Randall and fight together. Let’s come back together. Let’s grow old and laugh together on that farm.”

I was grateful and happy.

But if Jeff, who doesn’t know about the dirty tactics, loses his life, and I, who know about them, survive, I can’t bear the thought. I don’t think I could endure such a life after experiencing the simple happiness we have now.

“No matter what you think, I’ve already told them I’m resigning. No matter what His Majesty says, I won’t change my mind.”

I didn’t say anything or nod.

It will take at least a month and a half for Miles to return from the Kingdom of Randall.

That month and a half is precious time. I don’t want to spend it arguing with Jeff.

I just smiled and said nothing.

Since then, I’ve been cherishing every peaceful moment.

I’ve been doing embroidery with Nonna, visiting bookstores, enjoying tea and pastries at Lady Yolana’s house, chatting with Jeff, walking in the garden, playing with the sheep, tidying up the house, packing, and training with Il.

Jeff has been going to the castle as if nothing has happened. He hasn’t mentioned going to the Kingdom of Randall with me since then.

The peaceful days quietly passed, and one rainy afternoon, Miles came to our house.

Miles and his horse looked exhausted. It must have been a forced march.

Lead, the stable boy, took care of Miles’s horse, and Miles is now eating in our living room. He’s laughing, saying he’s hungry from not eating breakfast or lunch.

While eating the hastily prepared dishes, Miles laid out maps and notes on the table.

“It must have been tough. Thank you, Miles.”

“It felt like a refreshing job. Your informant, Red Robin, is incredibly skilled. They quickly identified the person who advised hiring fifty mercenaries.”

“What’s the name of that person?”

“Matilda Kimberly. Red Robin said it’s probably not her real name. I checked discreetly. She looks to be about your age. She says she’s thirty, but she might be a few years older. There’s no record of a thirty-year-old woman named Matilda Kimberly living in the capital of the Kingdom of Randall.”

“What does she look like?”

Miles, while chewing, slid a note toward me.

“She’s 162 cm tall, slender, with light brown hair and brown eyes. She doesn’t have many distinctive features, but she has a certain charm. Matilda Kimberly is Silas’s lover. She rents a house in Silas’s name and runs an underground gambling den, also in Silas’s name, but Matilda is the actual operator.”

“An underground gambling den?”

“Matilda has a wide network in the underworld. Silas has recently started frequenting his family’s marquisate, despite being estranged for over ten years after losing his noble status.”

Reading the report, I found that Silas started visiting his family’s marquisate around the same time I went to the Kingdom of Randall. Perhaps someone named Matilda Kimberly saw me there.

Matilda must have incited Silas to kill me, the cause of his loss of noble status.

As a result, Silas didn’t act himself but relied on his family.

The reason is unclear.

Perhaps Silas, who lost his noble status, feared that if he failed again and was caught, he would lose his life.

Matilda Kimberly. Who are you?

Miles then pushed a note with Matilda Kimberly’s address toward me. The familiar handwriting of Red Robin was on it.

“Miles, thank you very much. This is your reward.”

“I don’t need it.”

Miles immediately refused and finished all the food.

“My business is done. I’m going back to the farm. I’m worried about the sheep.”

With that, he left without giving me a chance to stop him.

Il entered the room as Miles left. Il sat on the sofa where Miles had been and spoke to me.

“Victoria, have you identified the enemy?”

“More or less.”

“If you go, I’ll go too. Trying to stop me is pointless. I’m going to the Kingdom of Randall.”

“If Mom goes, I’ll go too.”

I turned around in surprise to see Nonna standing at the entrance.

She had been reading in her room all morning. I was a bit annoyed that she used her stealth technique again, but I shook my head.

“Nonna, you absolutely can’t go. If you insist, I’ll tie you up and leave.”

“No way!”

“Don’t worry, we’re not leaving immediately. We need to plan our strategy.”

With that, I left Il and Nonna and went to my room, locking the door.

The vague description of the woman Miles told me about matches many female agents I know.

But among them, only one woman could be so determined to kill me.

Mary, the agent from Hagel.

Mary has hated me since we were girls and has an unusually persistent nature. Moreover, Mary knows that I played the role of Silas’s lover to steal information and then disappeared.

I had always considered this possibility, but after reading Red Robin’s report, I was convinced it was Mary.

“Did Mary lose her job as an agent? Could Mary have escaped from the organization? Didn’t she marry Lancôme?”

I thought about it for a while but decided to stop. Thinking about it now would be a waste of time.

I kept thinking about how to persuade Jeff. But no matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t see a way to convince him. And that’s not the only problem.

“What if we both die? What about Nonna? What about Il, who is in our care? Should I take him with me? I don’t want to involve Il.”

If I had just arrived in this country.

Before I met Nonna.

Before I fell in love with Jeff.

In the past, I would have left alone tonight without hesitation.

But the simple happiness that surrounds me now is making my decision harder.