Prologue: A Gentle Morning

“Good morning, Oscar. Morning, Lucas.”

“Good morning, Mother.”

The family sat down for breakfast in the castle with smiles on their faces. Crown Prince Conrad, Crown Princess Delphine, and their two sons, Oscar and Lucas, all shared the same golden hair that shined in the morning sunlight.

Even though the servants were accustomed to seeing this sight every morning, they couldn’t help but let out sighs of admiration at this beautiful, picture-perfect family.

Conrad was about to take a sip of his tea but paused to speak to his wife. “Are you going to be busy today, Delphine?”

“No, not particularly. I’m meeting the marchioness for tea, and then I have a charity meeting. That’s all.”

“I see.”

Delphine smiled elegantly at her husband as she glanced at him.

They’d been married for twelve years now, and things had gone quite smoothly during that time. It was everything she had dreamed of.

Delphine was originally from Eagal, the kingdom located north of Ashbury. When she had first married the prince, Ashbury’s commerce had been thriving, and it had only grown more prosperous since then. In fact, Ashbury had a habit of welcoming crown princesses from its surrounding nations.

Although it was never made public, the queen was a former princess of Randall, and the queen before her had come from Hagl.

When Conrad was born thirty-one years ago, there had been a series of births a few years later in the Eagal royal family and Eagal’s marquisate, which also had royal blood. After all, it was widely known that a royal girl of the right age could be chosen as the crown princess of Ashbury.

But fate doesn’t always align with our desires. Out of all those babies born, Delphine was the only girl.

She was three years younger than Conrad, and at age three, the kingdom of Ashbury approached her family with an offer of betrothal to Prince Conrad.

The Eagalian royal family was delighted, and Delphine’s father, the marquess, agreed without hesitation.

And so, Delphine was raised with the expectation of being the future queen of Ashbury. Her family assigned her the bare minimum number of attendants in order to reduce the odds of her coming down with an illness, and she was raised with the utmost care to ensure she would have no scars on her face.

“I want to walk around town.”

Delphine had made that request at age nine.

“That’s impossible.” Her nanny and tutor immediately shot down the idea.

“Please, just for a little while. What if I bring a guard with me?”

“Absolutely not. What if someone throws a rock at you?”

“Well, wouldn’t the guard arrest them?”

“That isn’t the point. What if they made a mark on your face, Lady Delphine?”

“Oh, right… I guess I can’t, then. Fine. I won’t ask again.”

Delphine was a very clever girl and had mastered all the necessary knowledge and etiquette required for her to be the future queen. Despite growing up in such a sheltered and restrictive environment, she was always obedient and amenable, never selfish or demanding. She cared for others and developed a gentle, thoughtful personality.

When Delphine was ten years old, she grew quite attached to one of her attendants, the daughter of a baron, and requested they be with each other at all times. That was the very first selfish thing Delphine had done in her entire life. The girl’s name was Elly, and she was a quiet and serious girl who adored Delphine more than anyone else. Owing to Elly’s hardworking nature and the importance Delphine placed on the girl’s service, Elly’s father was eventually given a higher rank of viscount.

One day, Delphine asked Elly a question while the girl was combing her hair. “Elly, have you ever been to a festival?”

“Yes, I have.”

“Really? Who did you go with?”

“My parents and my younger brother and sister.”

“What are festivals like? I asked my wardrobe attendant Henri, and he said, ‘All the young men and women dress up on festival days.’”

The festivals were held twice a year, and Elly felt sorry that Delphine hadn’t ever been to one. But she was wise enough to not say as much aloud.

“Well, there are plenty of food stalls. But at festivals, their priority is to keep the costs as low as possible, so most of the food is made with rather low-quality ingredients. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up with a stomachache!”

“Really? How scary!”

“And there are many pickpockets and thieves lurking about. I’ve even heard there are some who wait to abduct the cheerful, unsuspecting young girls who’ve been caught up in the excitement of the festival.”

“Goodness!”

After hearing all that, Delphine stopped asking to go to the festivals. Elly was relieved, but it pained her to lie. In reality, there were always guards assigned to watch over these events, which made things safer than they were under normal circumstances. Plus, the food from the stalls was both cheap and delicious. Young boys and girls happily ate the dishes on offer, and if they were sharing a meal with someone special, the boy would give the girl the flower from his breast pocket. Many romances began at festivals.

Lady Delphine is better off not knowing about all that, though. They would never allow her to go walking around a festival in the first place.

Delphine continued to grow under Elly’s loving care and blossomed into a beautiful young woman. When the two attended balls, every man would be drawn to Delphine’s beauty. However, she was betrothed to the crown prince of Ashbury, so no one dared to speak to her. The only men who would approach her were the elderly heads of high-ranking noble families. And so, Delphine was married off to Ashbury at the age of seventeen, having never experienced exciting dalliances, let alone love.

Her first long-distance trip was to leave her kingdom for her betrothal. Although she put on a brave face, deep down, she was very lonely and grieving the fact that she would no longer be able to see her parents and brothers.

She had been taught that crying or losing one’s composure in front of others was unsightly and pathetic behavior, so she kept an elegant smile on her face at all times, weeping inwardly.

But outside the window of her carriage, Ashbury was even more vibrant and prosperous than she’d ever dreamed of. Delphine had only seen portraits of her future husband and did not know what he looked like in the flesh.

Prince Conrad is a handsome man, but what if he has a cold personality? The only one I can confide in when I go through difficult times is Elly…

Delphine was beside herself with worry. Meanwhile, Elly reached over and clasped her hand. “Don’t worry. I’m right here,” she said encouragingly. That kind gesture made Elly grow even more important in Delphine’s heart.

“I’m sure you must be exhausted from the long journey. Please, come in.”

When Delphine arrived at the castle, Prince Conrad greeted her with a warm smile and took her hand as he showed her inside. He was even more handsome than he was in the portraits.

Delphine only had to talk with him for a short while to be convinced of his intelligence and kindness.

He showed concern and compassion for Delphine during the wedding ceremony, fretting over the lengthy period of time she had to stand in her tight dress. Noticing this, Elly wept with happiness, thinking, Prince Conrad is a truly wonderful man. I’m so happy for Princess Delphine!

“Elly, I think I can fulfill my role as princess as long as I have Prince Conrad by my side,” Delphine confided in the girl later.

“Of course you can. You’ll be a splendid crown princess, Princess Delphine. Now you can finally use all the knowledge you’ve worked so hard to acquire,” Elly gushed.

Delphine was overcome with a deep sense of happiness as she watched her two sons chatting cheerfully with each other.

“You look beautiful today, as usual,” Conrad said to her.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

They’d been married for twelve, almost thirteen years now, and they’d never had any problems.

Delphine sipped her fragrant tea, thinking, I’ve lived such a blessed life.

Chapter One: Victoria’s Peaceful Days

“What’s today’s opera about, Master Clark?” Nonna asked.

“It’s about a man who falls for a woman who rejected him and follows her to a far-off kingdom,” Clark said.

“Hmph. Is there going to be a happy ending? Because I hate sad endings,” Nonna grumbled.

“I’m not sure, actually. My mother just said it was a good show,” Clark replied, shrugging.

“Hmm.”

Clark’s mother Eva had said, “If there’s one opera a couple should go see together, it’s this one. It’s a story about true love, and I just know it will make you two will feel very happy at the end.” But of course, Nonna was twelve, so he couldn’t tell her that and just gave a vague answer instead.

Nonna gazed out the carriage window as she sat across from him.

She was slightly tanned, with a healthy complexion. Her glossy blond hair hung over her right shoulder in a loose braid. She wore a simple dark-pink dress and no jewelry.

Clark thought of the day they had reunited after being apart for five years.

As Nonna looked up at him with sparkling eyes, he’d thought she seemed like an entirely different person from the little girl who had played tag and climbed trees with him. She’d grown taller, and her face was losing its childishness. It was like she was changing into a beautiful, brilliant butterfly.

I wonder if Nonna remembers how I asked her to marry me.

Back then, Clark had been frail and lacked confidence, but Nonna never made fun of him once for it.

She adored him and would always call him “Master Clark” out of respect.

He had a wonderful time playing and learning together with her, to the point where he even began looking forward to foreign language class, which had been his least favorite subject until then.

Victoria had taught Nonna all sorts of activities that boys might find interesting. And whether she didn’t think it was something to hide or she simply didn’t feel the need to, Nonna told Clark about everything she’d learned.

It was so cute seeing such a little girl earnestly practicing roundhouse kicks and climbing over fences. She was so endearing, in fact, that Clark couldn’t ever imagine letting her go and had nervously asked, “Will you marry me when we grow up?”

And without hesitation, Nonna had cheerfully replied, “Sure!”

But one day, Victoria disappeared with Nonna. Clark’s uncle Jeffrey had supposedly been close with Victoria, but not even he knew where they were. From that day on, food seemed to lose its flavor, and Clark was drained of the will to do much of anything.

After several months of this malaise, Clark’s uncle Edward came over to visit him. “Clark, Eva is beside herself with worry about you. She says you’re depressed.”

“Not really. I’m fine.”

“If this is about Nonna, she’s coming back. She’ll return in about five years.”

“What?!” Clark immediately bolted upright in bed, and Edward chuckled.

“That’s right. The agreement is that they’ll come back after five years abroad, but you mustn’t tell anyone else. Got it? By that time, Nonna will probably be fluent in Shenese, but what about you? How do you want to be when she returns?”

“How do I want to be?”

“That’s right. The passage of time is the same for everyone. Whether you choose to let it slip by or eagerly devote yourself to something, you both have the same five years.”

From that day on, I hurled myself into my studies. When Nonna returned, I wanted to be able to look at her with a smile and say, “Well? What do you think? I’ve gotten a bit better, don’t you agree?”

But Nonna had come home as someone who was between a child and a young lady. Her polite greeting to him was no doubt the product of her education on etiquette and manners, but to Clark, it made her feel distant.

When he heard Nonna was going to tea parties, Clark started going with her. And he didn’t hesitate one bit to ward off any young men who dared approach her.

At first, he thought perhaps Nonna had forgotten the promise they’d made five years ago, but it turned out that she remembered after all. However, she did tell him she wanted to pretend they hadn’t made the promise to each other.

That’s fine. We can just start over from scratch. Clark hadn’t given up. In fact, he was even looking forward to beginning anew with Nonna.

“Look! I can see the theater, Master Clark!”

“You’re right. Nonna. Make sure to let me help you out of the carriage when we get there. Don’t just jump out.”

“Sheesh, I know that! Mom told me that a million times already.”

True to her word, Nonna acted the part of a perfect young lady once the driver opened the carriage door.

She wore a vague yet elegant smile on her face as she placed her tiny, delicate hand in Clark’s and carefully disembarked from the carriage. The other young couples and older patrons around them were captivated by Nonna and murmured “ooh”s and “aah”s.

Clark smiled the entire time, delivering icy glares to any young man who happened to look in Nonna’s direction.

“Our seats are on the second floor. This way, Nonna.”

“What a wonderful theater this is, Master Clark. I’ve never been to the opera before, and I’m so excited, my heart is pounding!”

“I’m really looking forward to it, too. Come on.”

Clark stood on Nonna’s right side and gently placed his hand on her left shoulder, touching her slightly to guide her in the right direction.

Nonna was completely unaware of her beauty. He was certain, in three years’ time, it would blossom to the point where it captivated everyone. Yet Nonna didn’t have the slightest idea she would soon be getting stares from any man who came across her.

I’ve got my work cut out for me. I need to get stronger in case someone from another kingdom targets Miss Victoria and Nonna again. One day, I’m going to be the minister of foreign affairs like Father— No, I’ll be the prime minister. I’m going to make my way up in the world. I’ll protect Miss Victoria and Nonna on my own terms.

He hadn’t told his parents or Nonna about his ambitions. He’d come to this decision in private.

The orchestra finished tuning, and the stringed instruments began to play.

“I’m so excited, Master Clark!”

“Me too, Nonna.”

The curtain rose on the opera. Nonna was on the edge of her seat the entire time, completely absorbed in the show. Just gazing at her profile while she watched the opera was fun for Clark. There was nothing he treasured more than the childhood days he’d spent with this beautiful girl.

The entire theater erupted with applause once the production was over. Nonna turned to Clark excitedly. “That was so good! I’ve never seen anyone who can sing like that before!”

“Y-yeah. Same here.”

The opera was about a man who followed the woman he loved to another country and competed with his rival for her affection. He saved her from danger, and then they got back together. Honestly, Clark had enjoyed watching Nonna more than the opera itself.

They waited until the crowd died down a bit, then climbed down the stairs side by side.

“Did you like the story?” he asked.

“Hmm, yes.”

“Okay, now give me an honest answer.”

“My etiquette teacher says it’s not ladylike to express your true opinions about a play or opera you were invited to.”

“It’s okay. You can be honest with me.”

“Fine, but are you sure you won’t get mad?”

“Of course I won’t.”

“All right. Well, that girl was infuriatingly useless, don’t you think? She froze just because the bad guy grabbed her by the wrist, yet she treated her own boyfriend like dirt! Is she headstrong or weak? Make up your mind!”

That is true, Clark thought with a sheepish laugh.

“This story would be totally different if you were the lead character, Nonna.”

“Hmm, if it were me…”

“Yes? What would you do?”

“…I would never be that cruel to someone who said they loved me. I was thinking that the entire time. I wouldn’t act nearly so arrogant to someone who cared for me like that. In fact, I’d feel grateful they loved me. But the second the male lead told the female lead he loved her, she started acting all high-and-mighty.”

“It’s true. The person who says they love the other first is in a weaker position.”

Clark really felt that way. He was well aware his generosity toward Nonna stemmed from his romantic feelings for her.

“My father fell in love with my mother first. But my mom has never been arrogant to him. She always says ‘thank you’ to him. Actually, she even says, ‘I’ve never been happier, and it’s all thanks to you,’ quite often,” she said.

“Really?”

“Yep. I want to be just like my mom. She’s always beautiful, you know? The way she thinks is beautiful, too. Well, beautiful isn’t the right word… It’s hard to describe.”

“I know what you mean, though. Miss Victoria’s really wonderful. I’m sure you’ll grow up to be just like her, Nonna.”

Nonna looked up at Clark with a huge grin on her face that one could hardly call ladylike.

As the two of them reached the first floor, a cheerful voice called out from their right.

“Well, if it isn’t Nonna! What a coincidence. Do you like the opera?”

“Good afternoon, Master Maynard. Master Clark invited me here today.”

The young man who’d spoken to Nonna was someone Clark knew—the eldest son of Marquess Grove. He was very intelligent and loved horseback riding, and he had, in fact, won many equestrian competitions. He also had a reputation for being popular with the young noblewomen in their circle. He’d approached Nonna several times at tea parties. Clark couldn’t give an icy glare to the eldest son of a marquess, a fact that frustrated him to no end.

He’s two years younger than me, Clark recalled.

“Hi there, Clark. You’ve been friends with Nonna since you were kids, right? I’m envious. I wish I could’ve had such a pretty friend when I was little.”

Clark wasn’t sure how to respond, so he just gave the boy an awkward grin. Meanwhile, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Nonna plaster a smile on her face. She always wore this expression when speaking with someone she wasn’t comfortable with, and once Clark noticed she was doing it, he felt relieved.

“Master Maynard, I wouldn’t want to make your friend wait.”

“Oh, right. I hope you’ll come to the opera with me sometime, Nonna. If you’ll excuse me.”

Nonna politely bowed to the young girl who was presumably there with Maynard. The girl just stared back at them with open hostility, but her face melted into a smile once Maynard returned to her, and then the two of them left.

“Let’s go, Nonna.”

“Okay. Hey, Master Clark? Can we stop by that bakery on the way home? You know, the one we ate apple pie at a long time ago. Do you remember it?”

“Of course I do. Let’s go. It’s been ages since I had some apple pie.”

Nonna hooked her arm through Clark’s as if it was the most natural thing in the world, making his heart pound and his chest grow warm.

Upon arriving at the bakery, Nonna and Clark ordered some apple pie and tea, then started chatting while they waited for their snack.

“Did you know that Master Maynard has told me twice now that his father is the minister of finance?”

“Oh, at the last tea party?”

“Yep. I was so close to saying, ‘So what?’ but I just gritted my teeth to stop myself. I mean, getting the job of minister of finance is his father’s accomplishment. Master Maynard had nothing to do with it! And I couldn’t help but think, You know, Master Clark hasn’t said that his father is the minister of foreign affairs even once!”

“Yeah.”

The reason Clark didn’t boast about it was because, compared with those of his father, his academic and language skills were sorely lacking.

“You’re so much more dashing than Master Maynard is, Master Clark. You know, Mom always says that it’s foolish to show others the cards in your hand.”

“Is that right?”

The apple pie was sweet and delicious, and as Clark ate it, he couldn’t help but think about where he should invite Nonna out to next.

“Do you want to go out again sometime, Master Clark?”

“Of course. Let’s figure out where we can go next time together.”

“Okay!”

After dropping off Nonna, Clark went home feeling quite happy.

“Welcome back, Clark. Well, did you enjoy the opera?” Eva asked.

“Yes, Mother. Very much so.”

“Would you like to join me for tea?”

“No, thank you. I want to research a law that was recently enacted in Randall. Next time, though.”

Clark was busy.

There were many obstacles he would have to overcome to become the future prime minister, including his status, ability, and social connections.

He was happy to do the work if it meant he could protect Miss Victoria and Nonna, so no matter how much research and studying he did, he never considered it a struggle. He was slowly making his way toward his goal, step-by-step.

Jeff read a letter that had just arrived, then called over to me. “Anna, we got a notice that the renovations to the medicine workshop have been completed.”

“Wow, that was sooner than I expected. Maybe I’ll go over there and take a look at it today.”

“Make sure you take a guard with you,” he said.

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

Ever since Will Zachary and Auri had broken into our house, Jeffrey had been very nervous about Nonna and me going out. Honestly, if something was to happen to me while I was out and about, it would be more convenient for me not have the guards around, but I decided that going along with the arrangement was easier, as it put Jeff at ease.

“Riley, Lewis? Would you mind accompanying me as guards today?” I asked.

“Leave it to us, Lady Asher.”

Jeff had hired new guards for our family. Riley was a thirty-five-year-old married man, skilled in both swordsmanship and martial arts. Lewis was twenty-eight and a bachelor who excelled at wielding blades of all sizes. At first, the pair had pinned their hopes on sparring with Nonna and me, but Jeff had refused to give them permission, saying, “It would be a huge blow to your confidence to lose to your employer’s wife and daughter, so please put it off for now.”

Nonna had frowned when she heard that and secretly came to me to complain. “What’s the point in having guards like that, then, Mom?”

“To show everyone we have people protecting us, basically. Avoiding unnecessary conflicts before they happen is very important. Jeff’s right on this one, I’m afraid,” I said.

“We don’t even need guards. Shouldn’t we spend that money on something else?” she asked.

“No, Nonna. If you and I go out alone together, we would be targeted—I guarantee it. And I don’t have the patience to deal with every single person who wants to challenge us.”

“Hmph.”

Riley and Lewis were blissfully unaware my daughter and I were having this conversation as they enthusiastically guarded the carriage.

After we arrived at the abbey, Nonna and I took a look around the workshop and discussed with the Mother Superior the number of people who would be employed there, as well as their conditions.

“I agree with you, Mother Eliza. Let’s go ahead and start with ten people. We may be able to hire more staff depending on sales,” I said.

“This will be such a great help, Lady Asher. This workplace will be a safe haven for women who have run away from their husbands,” she said.

The renovated workshop’s walls were painted a light yellow, and the ceiling was white. The workshop was divided into four rooms, which would give ten people plenty of space to work.

We bid farewell to the Mother Superior, then headed to our next destination: the tract of land where our sheep farm would be.

The fence enclosing the vast farmland was finally complete, along with the barn where the sheep could shelter at night. Now all we needed to do was obtain the animals themselves.

We’d also had a small house built next to the barn for our farmhands to reside in.

“I thought you wanted to live here, Mom?”

“I do, but it doesn’t have to be now. I’ll save that for Jeff and me once we’re done raising you, Nonna.”

“I don’t have to get married, you know.”

“Heh-heh…”

“What is it, Mom?”

“I used to think the same thing—that I didn’t have to get married. But, Nonna, someday, you might meet someone you do want to marry.”

Suddenly, Nonna threw her arms around me. “But I want to stay with you forever, Mom.”

“I want that, too. But you might meet someone you care for even more than me.”

“That will never happen.”

“Oh? I’ll just have to enjoy being with my sweet Nonna as much as I can, then.”

“Sounds good to me!”

We began walking toward the entrance to the farm, making our way back to the carriage. I paused for a moment and turned around.

The grass seeds we’d planted had sprouted, and a vast carpet of soft green spread out before my eyes.

Before long, sheep would be wandering around the meadow, grazing on the grass. Just imagining the scene filled me with satisfaction.

I would shear them, spin their wool into yarn, dye the wool, and knit with it.

Knowing that gentle, peaceful life awaited me in the future gave me motivation to keep going.

Our carriage was parked at the entrance to the farm, and I noticed another man standing by our two guards. I squinted, trying to see who it was, and let out a gasp once I finally recognized the new person. Nonna had the same reaction.

“It’s Mike!” She sprinted off in his direction.

What’s Mike doing here? I thought nervously as I quickened my pace.

Mike belonged to the Third Order of the knights. In the kingdom of Ashbury, the First Order protected the royal family, the Second Order maintained safety in the capital, and the Third Order was basically a special missions unit. In other words, they were our spy organization.

“Victoria, Nonna. It’s nice to see you again.”

“How did you know we were here, Mike?” I asked.

“Well, gathering information is my specialty. I heard the Ashers started a business, so I came to see what was going on. This is a nice place you’ve got here.” Mike smiled as he looked around the farm.

“Did something happen, Mike? I know you’re busy, and this place is awfully out of the way…,” I said.

“You’re as sharp as ever, Victoria. The truth is, Prince Conrad will be hosting a ball soon. And since he’s so fond of Lord Asher, I’m sure he’ll be invited. I’m also certain the duke will tell Lord Asher to invite his wife, since she hasn’t appeared publicly in high society even once so far.”

“I see. I’m sure you’re right. I certainly can’t think of any other noblewoman who has never made a public appearance before,” I admitted.

Mike gave me a troubled smile.

“Since my features are quite forgettable, should I just continue saying I’m not Victoria? I go by Anna now, after all.”

“I think that will work with the king, the prime minister, and Crown Prince Conrad, but Lord Cedric will be there, too.”

“Oh, Lord Cedric…” Lord Cedric and I had seen each other’s faces at a close distance. We’d spoken to each other, too. But most importantly, we had engaged in combat against each other. There was no way he would buy that I was an entirely different person.

“Lord Asher says he can just forgo attending, but my boss has decided that if your husband does so, the king and the crown prince will grow suspicious,” Mike said.

“What should we do, then?”

“This is what my boss thinks…” Mike relayed the message, which was a bit risky.

His words were as follows:

“Since Lord Cedric and Victoria have met, there’s no doubt he’ll recognize her if their paths cross at the ball. In light of this, it would be best for Victoria to see Lord Cedric beforehand and request he not say anything to the king and the crown prince.”

Personally, I thought the idea would stir up trouble.

Lord Cedric was now a duke, but back when he’d been the second prince, he’d been quite insistent upon me training him, so I had the sneaking suspicion he would agree to keep quiet on the condition that I teach him martial arts.

“I’ll discuss it with my husband first,” I said.

“Of course. Go right ahead,” Mike agreed.

On the way home in the carriage, I started feeling down, and Nonna grew worried about me.

“Who’s the duke you were talking about? Do I know him?”

“He’s a very important person who came to Master Clark’s house once. Do you remember him?”

“Was he really…sparkly? I remember that guy.”

“Yes, that’s him. I might have to go meet with him.”

“Do you not want to?”

“I’d like to avoid it, but unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll have the luxury.”

“Because Dad became a baron?”

“You’re a very clever girl, Nonna.”

“Heh-heh-heh. I’m sure Dad will think of something.”

“I sure hope so.”

But Jeff wasn’t home yet when we got back. I wondered what was keeping him so long as I anxiously awaited his return. I’d suspected issues would arise with Cedric eventually, and I was beside myself with worry over how much trouble it would cause Jeff.

Perhaps the best course of action truly was meeting with Lord Cedric and asking him to pretend he didn’t know me.

Jeffrey returned from the castle at dinnertime. One look at his face was enough to tell me he had already heard about the situation with Lord Cedric. His brow was deeply furrowed.

“May I talk to you, Anna?”

“Yes.”

“Mike came to see me today and informed me about Lord Cedric. He spoke to you about it as well, didn’t he?”

“That’s right.”

“What would you like to do? We can both choose to not attend the ball, or I could just go alone.”

“Don’t you think going by yourself would damage your reputation?”

“If anyone has a problem with it, I honestly wouldn’t mind giving back my peerage. You’re more important to me than any title, after all.”

I knew he would say something like that. But that would be nothing but a loss for Jeffrey. Even if he did surrender his title, that wouldn’t sever his ties with Lord Cedric, and it wasn’t like the duke was our only problem, either.

Crown Prince Conrad was very fond of Jeff, and he would most likely refuse to allow him to renounce his title. In fact, I was certain he would press Jeff on why he would want to give it up, should it come to that point.

I felt like it was pointless to answer that question. We would have a lot of trouble on our hands if the duke became convinced that Jeff was leaving the nobility because his wife didn’t want to appear in high society.

“Jeff, I think I should meet with Lord Cedric. I’ll ask him to pretend it’s his first time meeting me when we see each other at the ball.”

“But you know he’s just going to ask you to train him again.”

“I realize that. I can train him once, and then that’ll be the end of it. I’ll tell him, ‘If you can’t land a hit on me in three minutes, give up.’ Or something to that effect,” I said.

“That might backfire on you and get Lord Cedric even more enthusiastic…”

“But what else can we do?” I asked.

We both frowned.

Nonna had been listening along quietly all this time, but suddenly, she spoke up with a suggestion. “What if I spar with Lord Sparkles? If he’s never seen Shenese martial arts before, I bet I could beat him on the first try.”

Jeff and I thought about it for a moment, then nodded. I had a feeling we were both thinking the same thing. Great idea, Nonna!

However, we both scolded Nonna at the same time. “Nonna, you mustn’t call Lord Cedric ‘Lord Sparkles.’”

After much hemming and hawing, Jeff and I arrived at a decision.

It took two weeks via carriage to reach the duchy from the capital, so even if we sent a letter to Lord Cedric immediately, it wouldn’t reach him in time. Consequently, Jeff decided to see the duke as soon as Lord Cedric arrived, in advance of the ball.

“Before the event gets underway, I’ll meet with Lord Cedric at the castle and ask him to act like he doesn’t know you when he spots you that night,” Jeff said.

If Lord Cedric asked for me to train him in martial arts in exchange for his silence, Jeff would say, “Only if you can beat my daughter, Nonna, in a match first.” Lord Cedric would never dream a twelve-year-old girl would be capable of defeating him, so there was no doubt he would accept.

“I can’t wait! Are you sure it’s okay if I go all out against Lord Spark—er, I mean, Lord Cedric? Should I avoid striking his face? What about his neck? What? I can’t aim for his face or his neck?! What about his back or his stomach?”

Nonna was unusually excited about all this, which was unsettling in and of itself. But we decided that this was the easiest plan.

“And if he still gets stubborn, I’ll shut him up with some sword training.”

Jeff’s suggestion was a bit too forceful, so I politely declined.

Lord Cedric is of royal blood, and he’s not a bad person…

I realized that his reputation in my household was very poor and made an effort to ensure our servants would never overhear this.

The day Cedric arrived at the castle, Jeffrey arranged a meeting with him there.

“Hello, Jeff. It’s been five years since I saw you last. I’m pleased to see you’re looking well. How was Shen? I heard the arrangement with the medicine went well.”

Lord Cedric was now twenty-six years old and had two children.

His close relationship with his wife, Beatrice, was well-known throughout noble society. He was managing his duchy very seriously, a far cry from the wild days of his youth. The word among the nobility was Lady Beatrice was the reason he was doing so well, as she was reliable and kept her husband on a tight leash.

“So? How are things going with Victoria?”

“I beg your pardon?” Jeffrey was taken aback when Lord Cedric abruptly brought up his wife’s name.

Cedric—also known as “Lord Sparkles”—burst out laughing at Jeffrey’s surprise.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t find out? Hamms, the duchy administrator who preceded me, told me you were living in Cadiz with a woman who had a blond daughter. Once I heard that, I figured it had to be Victoria and her little girl,” Cedric said.

“About my wife, Lord Cedric. Have you…?”

“Have I told my father and brother? No. Nothing good has ever come from me telling them anything, much less regarding someone they haven’t even asked about.”

“Well, you’ve certainly have grown up, my lord.”

“I promise I’ll keep it a secret from them if you let Victoria train me while I’m in the capital five times… No, even three should be good. Please?”

“I take back what I said. You haven’t changed at all, my lord.”

“Aw, don’t say that! I’m really not asking for much!”

“Then why don’t you and I spar with swords?”

“Oh, uh…not today. Beatrice should be coming back from her mother’s house any moment now.”

With no choice but to accept Cedric’s conditions, Jeffrey decided to implement the plan he had come up with.

“Lord Cedric, my daughter’s twelve now, but she studied Shenese martial arts during our time abroad.”

“Oh?”

“She’s surprisingly talented at it. I told her that you were very skilled at martial arts, and she’s been begging me to spar with you.”

“No, I’ll pass. I want to train with Victoria. If I wanted to face off against a child, I could do so with my own children.”

“I see. Well, that’s a shame. You know Mike from the Third Order? My daughter sparred with him and beat him. I’ll tell her to give up on the idea and let my wife know about your request. Well, if you’ll excuse me,” Jeff said, bowing his head.

“Wait! Hang on. She beat someone from the Third Order? A twelve-year-old girl? You must be kidding. Third Order agents are all thoroughly trained in martial arts!”

“She beat him. My wife isn’t comfortable with sparring with a duke, but my daughter’s very enthusiastic about it. She boasted that she could beat you even if she couldn’t aim for your face or neck. Victoria says she’s willing to train you as long as you defeat our daughter first.”

“Hmm, I like it. That sounds good. I’ll let you know a good day and time,” Cedric said.

“Understood.”

Jeffrey smiled calmly at Cedric before excusing himself from the room. The moment the door closed behind him, he pumped his fist in triumph.

The guards gave him a puzzled look but didn’t say anything, so he just left with a smile on his face.

The moment Jeffrey walked through the door after returning from the castle, a grin on his face, I knew our plan had succeeded.

“Welcome home, Jeff. How was it? Can I assume things went well based on that smile of yours?” I said.

“I’ve known the duke ever since he was little. I knew exactly what to say to get him to agree. Heh-heh-heh!”

Nonna skipped over to us. “When? Dad, when do I get to spar with him?”

“He said he’ll get in touch with us to let us know a date and time.”

“Yesss! I can’t wait.”

“Nonna, you have to be extra careful not to hurt him,” I warned.

“I’ll try.”

“There’s no trying. You must absolutely avoid injuring him.”

“It’s not like he’s just going to stand there and take it. I can’t make any promises,” she said with a shrug.

Jeff and I exchanged glances.

“Nonna, if you hurt the duke, they’ll launch an investigation into our family. That would cause a lot of trouble.”

“This is tough. I have to win, but I can’t hurt him? Ugh…I guess I’ll figure something out.”

I had bad memories of when I’d broken two or three of the duke’s ribs.

“Nonna, let’s practice together so that you don’t fracture any of his bones,” I said.

“Don’t we usually do the opposite?” she asked.

“Yes, but could you please cooperate? Do it for my sake,” I begged.

“All right, all right.” Nonna gave me a sheepish grin but agreed.

A few days later, a messenger arrived at our house informing us of when the match between the duke and Nonna would take place. In the period leading up to their bout, I sparred with her to ensure she wouldn’t end up seriously injuring him.

The duke came to our house a bit earlier than scheduled on the appointed day. Nonna and I greeted him and noticed he was brimming with enthusiasm.

“Thanks for having me, Victoria.”

“It’s nice to see you again, Lord Cedric.”

“I’m going to be sparring with your daughter today. Beatrice has been telling me over and over again not to hurt the girl. I’ll be careful, but I’d urge your daughter to be careful, too. What was your name again, miss?”

“I’m Nonna Asher, and I’m pleased to be sparring with you today. Thank you so much for coming. I’ll do my very best to avoid injuring you, my lord.”

Nonna recited the lines I’d drilled into her perfectly, but I had a feeling she was doing her best to stifle her laughter, because the corners of her lips were trembling.

We would be holding the match in the largest room in our house to avoid anyone else seeing. Once the furniture had been removed, it would be spacious enough for the two of them to spar without any problems.

“Well, shall we begin?”

“Yes, please.”

Nonna was wearing the blue training uniform she’d received in Shen. Meanwhile, the duke had on a white shirt and a pair of black pants that looked easy to move in.

The two of them kept their distance from each other as they readied themselves, moving slowly in a circle.

Nonna was the first to strike. She was so fast that it visibly shocked the duke.

She darted toward Lord Cedric with lightning speed, leaping into the air to deliver a kick to his stomach with her right foot. As he raised his forearm to block, she deliberately lashed out at it instead. Then Nonna twisted her body in midair and used the momentum to drive her left heel into his left shoulder.

Normally, she would have aimed that blow to his temple, I thought. But I’d made it crystal clear to her: no hits to the face or head. That was why she’d targeted his shoulder.

Despite taking a solid kick to the shoulder, Lord Cedric managed to hold his ground and maintain his stance. But Nonna wasn’t finished. The moment she landed, she leaped up in a springing motion and used the momentum to ram her elbow into his right arm.

Uh-oh… Are his bones going to be okay? I worried, breaking out into a cold sweat. I glanced at Jeff, who also looked nervous.

Nonna was enjoying this too much, and she shifted positions with a graceful no-handed cartwheel. Then she delivered a spinning kick to Lord Cedric’s back. Jeff immediately stepped forward.

“That’s enough, Nonna!”

“Whaaat?”

“I can keep going, Jeff.”

“Lord Cedric, if my daughter had her dagger, you would be dead by now.”

Lord Cedric was definitely skilled, so surely, he knew without us having to tell him…but Nonna was clearly holding back.

After a brief pause, the duke let out a laugh, his handsome face lighting up with amusement.

“Well, I suppose it’s obvious. I’ve lost. I can’t believe I was bested by a little girl, even when she was holding back. She has tremendous potential, Victoria.”

“Indeed, Your Grace. I suspect it won’t be long before her skills surpass my own,” I said in agreement.

“As frustrating as it is, I shall keep my promise. I won’t tell my father or brother about you, no matter how persistently they may ask. To be honest, I had no intention of saying anything, even without this match. It’s clear Jeffrey loves you deeply, so I want to protect you, too.”

“Your Grace…” Jeff’s eyes were filled with emotion. Nonna looked dissatisfied. All I felt was relief.

After that, the four of us had tea together and chatted, but Lord Cedric only wanted to talk about hand-to-hand combat. He peppered Nonna with questions about her education in Shenese martial arts.

“I see… Shenese martial arts… I suppose I can’t just invite an instructor from Shen to come teach me.”

“The Shenese love their country, so I’m not sure they’d travel so far away,” Nonna said. She was chatting with the duke as if he was her own personal guest.

Once teatime ended, Lord Cedric left with a smile on his face.

After we saw the duke off, Jeff came over to me, looking relieved and happy. “Now we don’t have to worry about Lord Cedric letting the secret of your identity slip, Anna. That means we can go to the ball together.”

“That’s right. I’ll prepare myself for it to ensure I don’t draw too much attention,” I said.

“What about me? I don’t have to go, do I?” Nonna asked.

“You don’t, because you’re twelve. The minimum age to attend is fifteen,” Jeff said.

“Phew!”

And so, our family’s worries were resolved for the time being. Now all we had to do was wait for the ball.

The workshop where my ointments would be made finally began operating a few days after the match between Lord Cedric and Nonna.

The Mother Superior asked me to come up with a good name for it. I said, “How about simply The Ointment Workshop?” but Nonna and Miss Elizabeth, who were both with me, immediately shot down my suggestion.

“That doesn’t tell you very much about the product,” Elizabeth said.

“I think so, too, Mom,” Nonna chimed in.

“How about Asher’s Ointments instead?” Elizabeth proposed.

“Oh, that’s a good idea! It makes it clear who’s running it,” Nonna said enthusiastically.

“Right?”

And just like that, my workshop had a name thanks to Nonna and her friend. That was perfectly all right with me, since I’d always thought the efficacy of our products was more important than the name of the place selling them.

“The craftsman our family uses could make the sign for your store. He made the signs for the shoemaker and bag shops my father sponsors, and he has a great reputation,” Elizabeth said.

“Oh, I didn’t know your father did that sort of thing, Elizabeth,” Nonna said.

“Yes, he invests in all sorts of businesses,” she replied.

I dismissed the girls’ conversation as typical children’s chatter, but the very next day, a letter arrived from Elizabeth’s father, Earl McGrey, reading, My beloved daughter told me her friend’s family is starting a workshop, and I would be pleased to gift you a sign.

“Jeff, is it normal for a friend’s parent to send gifts like this?” I asked.

“I think Earl McGrey must’ve heard about the ointment’s reputation. He’s a shrewd businessman, so he might be looking to establish a connection with the product. A few people at the castle even mentioned it to me. They said, ‘I’m glad that famous ointment is finally going into production! Now we can get it more easily.’”

“You mean the knights?”

“Yes. They’re excited about the ointment since it isn’t just good for healing dry and chapped skin—it also heals cuts beautifully.”

“The Enlokam family’s medicine really does work wonders, doesn’t it?” I said.

“Yes, the medicine in Shen—well, that family’s medicine—is truly remarkable,” Jeff agreed.

“I’m amazed they taught me how to make it. They could’ve easily said it was a family secret, and then I would’ve had to give up.”

“The medicine our kingdom buys from them is exorbitantly expensive. So expensive that it’s shocking, really. The Enlokams must have decided there was no harm in teaching us the basics of making ointments, since we buy from them in bulk anyway.”

The sign for Asher’s Ointments arrived the day before the workshop was set to open. It featured a design of medicinal herbs and a jar, with the words ASHER’S OINTMENTS embossed in gold leaf.

I could tell that the sign had taken a lot of money and care to craft.

The women who were going to work here all gazed at it, happy smiles on their faces.

“This will be our new workplace, won’t it, Lady Asher?”

“Yes, it will. And I’m looking forward to working with all of you.”

There were ten women standing before me, wearing matching white aprons. They were all brimming with enthusiasm.

I couldn’t help but be moved by the sight. I’ve come so far…

I never imagined I would be doing something to help others like this. Back when I worked in Hagl, I’d thought my sole purpose was to follow orders and complete my missions; I could have never envisioned this.

As I was lost in thought, Riley, one of my guards, called out to me.

“Lady Asher, it’s about time we returned to the estate.”

“Oh, right. I need to be back before the ladies from the dress shop arrive.”

I couldn’t decide what to wear to the ball, so Jeff had consulted with Lady Blythe, Lord Edward’s wife, about the matter on my behalf. She had kindly offered to come over with a tailor from her usual dress shop.

Lady Blythe came over shortly after I returned home, looking very happy indeed.

“Welcome, Lady Blythe.”

“Thank you so much for having me, Anna. I’ve been looking forward to this. I haven’t had many opportunities to do this sort of thing since my daughter got married.”

Lady Blythe’s glossy black hair was done up in an elegant bun, and she wore a high-necked, deep-green dress that matched the color of her eyes. It was a very tasteful design.

She rarely visited, so Nonna joined us as well, as did Miss Elizabeth, for some reason.

The dress-shop owner was named Daphne, an imposing woman of about fifty years old. She had blond hair, blue eyes, and a glamorous figure. She even had a beauty mark by her mouth, which only served to enhance her charm. Her voice had a slight rasp, making her all the more intimidating.

“Please take a look at these design sketches first, Lady Asher,” she said.

“Goodness, look at how many there are!”

“I’m so envious of your delicate figure! Now, the first decision is whether we should emphasize your slenderness with a more fitted design or go for a more voluminous style, which would be hard for someone else to pull off.”

“Which one is less conspicuous?” I asked.

Both Lady Blythe and Miss Daphne looked at me in confusion.

Whoops.

My desire to not stand out and avoid attention was so great, I’d accidentally said it aloud.

“I mean to say, I’m not used to attending formal gatherings, and because this one is hosted by the royal family, I’m even more overwhelmed. This will actually be my first ball, so I want to avoid any mistakes. Or at least, ensure that if I do make a mistake, no one will notice. That’s why I’d like to dress plainly,” I tried to explain.

“No, that won’t do at all.” Miss Daphne looked at me as if I’d just confessed to a grave sin. “Dresses are meant to bring out a woman’s appeal to the fullest—to make an impression!”

“That’s right, Anna. You should show off that slim waist of yours,” Lady Blythe agreed.

“Is that really how it’s supposed to be?” I asked hesitantly.

“That’s exactly how it’s supposed to be, Lady Asher. First impressions are everything, after all. You don’t want to be underestimated.”

Oh dear.

I’d gone my entire life being told not to stand out and not to leave an impression. But now that I was a member of the nobility, I was supposed to wear flashy dresses and stand out to command attention for the rest of my days?

“H-how about this design?”

“Let’s see. Yes, this should do nicely. We’ll go with this design, and as for the color, I think something like a vivid red would be just perfect.”

“A vivid red…” I couldn’t help but let my gaze drift off into the distance for a moment.

Perhaps sensing my hesitation, Lady Blythe suggested a compromise: dark burgundy. The design was fitted to the waist with a dramatic flared skirt.

“I’ve never seen you wear something so bold before, Mom,” Nonna remarked.

“She’s still quite young, so it works. I think it’s wonderful. Lady Asher may prefer something plainer, but this is a royal ball—you have to be bold!”

Nonna looked stunned when she saw the flashy dress, while Miss Elizabeth was captivated. Miss Daphne seemed satisfied, while Lady Blythe gave me a sheepish smile.

As my sister-in-law prepared to leave, she leaned in close and said softly, “My husband and I will be attending, too, so please don’t worry.”

“Thank you. That’s very reassuring,” I replied.

The ball was next week, and I was already mentally exhausted. Would I be able to make it through the evening—and more importantly, through the scrutiny of the royals?

At last, the day of the ball arrived. I was in the royal palace, wearing the dress Miss Daphne had gone to so much effort to create for me.

It was my second time visiting Ashbury’s royal palace.

I placed my hand on Jeffrey’s arm and stepped into the ballroom. The garden was illuminated with torches and lanterns, as it had been during my first visit. Finely dressed nobles were having animated conversations with one another near the entrance to the party.

“Are you all right, Anna?” Jeff asked.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“Don’t worry. If anything happens, I’ll handle it.”

“That makes me feel better.”

The moment we entered the ballroom, all eyes seemed to fall on my husband.

Jeffrey had risen from knight to the captain of the Second Order, and he had the favor of the crown prince. He’d established a stable line of trade for medicines from Shen, an accomplishment that had earned him the title of baron despite him being a second son.

And if that wasn’t enough, he’d also discovered a gold mine. He was truly the talk of the town.

It wasn’t long before we were surrounded by nobles.

“It’s nice to see you again, Lord Asher. I was quite impressed with your activities in Shen—not that I ever doubted you.”

“I hear you discovered gold on a family trip? I say, you’re certainly on a roll lately!”

“And his wife has started a workshop producing highly effective ointments.”

Jeffrey accepted all the praise with a calm, relaxed grin on his face.

Meanwhile, I stuck to my usual strategy of trying to remain inconspicuous, striving not to leave an impression on anyone. I looked down with a vague smile and greeted everyone politely. If there was one thing I had confidence in, it was my patience.

I can keep this up for hours if I have to. I can do this.

My smile carried an odd sense of determination, but surprisingly, it was Jeff who gave in first.

“Shall we go get some fresh air out in the garden? I’m exhausted,” he said.

“Sure, let’s do that.”

We’d leaned close to each other and whispered this, then began to make our way toward the garden. Still, we were stopped several times along the way, so our walk ended up taking far longer than it should have, given the garden was just a short distance from the doors.

Jeff let out a deep sigh the moment we finally stepped outside. “Haah, that took forever.”

“And the night’s only just begun.”

“When I was in the First Order, I would have to stay in the ballroom for the entire event, but knights aren’t expected to make polite conversation or keep fake smiles on their face. It was never this draining back then.”

“I wish I could tell you ‘job well done,’ but we need to go back inside before the royal family arrives,” I said.

Jeff abruptly began moving his shoulders in exaggerated circles.

“What in the world are you doing?” I asked.

“Just stretching my shoulders.”

“They’re stiff already?! Ha-ha!”

As the two of us laughed together, we heard a familiar voice call out to us. It was Lord Edward Asher.

“Jeff, it’s not polite to slip away so early. Everyone’s dying to talk to you more.”

“I’ve talked plenty, Edward.”

“Oh, don’t be so childish. Think of chatting as one of your duties. You know, something that comes with the title and wealth. Just consider it work and push through.”

“It’s not like I asked for the title and wealth,” Jeff grumbled.

“Stop complaining and go on back in. Now, I’d like to speak with Anna for a bit.”

“See you in a few, Jeff,” I said.

“Fine, I suppose I have no choice. I’ll leave Anna with you, then, Edward.”

Jeff glanced back at me twice as he reluctantly returned to the ballroom. Edward turned to me with a serious expression on his face.

“Are you all right, Anna? I’m sure this is exhausting for you.”

“I’m fine. I should be the one apologizing for making you worry.”

“I haven’t had many chances to speak with you alone. I’m sorry about that. But I wanted to tell you Jeff has been more alive than I’ve ever seen him since he met you. As his brother, I couldn’t be more grateful.”

“Thank you.”

Edward was the chief of the Institutional Maintenance and Document Management departments, but he had a humble and gentle demeanor. Even though Mike must have told him how I’d been pursued by foreign dignitaries, he showed no signs of displeasure when he interacted with me.

“As you can see, Jeffrey isn’t fond of noble gatherings, so I’m sure he’ll be leaning on you a lot tonight. I’m sorry for the trouble. By the way, I’ve heard wonderful things about that ointment of yours. My wife said she went to a gathering of noblewomen, and everyone was praising it,” he said.

“Is that so? I made it with commoners in mind, so I’m surprised the noblewomen know about it.”

“Well, an effective medicine is the best form of advertising! Once someone uses a product and is satisfied with it, they’ll spread the word for free.”

“I’m very glad to hear that,” I said.

“Oh, here comes the royal family! Let’s return to the ballroom. Blythe is waiting for us, too.”

“Of course, Lord Edward.”

As we went back into the ballroom, everyone was standing at attention, facing the front. The king entered first, followed by the queen, then the crown prince and princess.

All right, time to go to battle. Uh, wait. This isn’t a battle! I am Anna Victoria Asher, a commoner from Cadiz who married into a baron’s family. Anyone in that position would be nervous at a royal ball!

Jeff rejoined my side, and I put a deliberately hesitant smile on my face as I spoke to him. “Since I’m new to high society, I’ll be relying on you, Jeffrey.”

“Understood. Thanks for that reminder, Anna.”

“You’re quite welcome,” I said, keeping the timid expression on my face.

“Well, you certainly have the innocent country-girl routine down pat. Yet another charming side of you,” he whispered in my ear.

“Stop teasing, Jeff. You know that the ball doesn’t end for me until we’re back home safe.”

“I know.”

It was important for me to stay vigilant the entire time, so I didn’t slip up.

The king’s speech began shortly after, and naturally, he mentioned the discovery of the gold. Everyone turned to Jeff. I maintained my awkward smile and stared at the back of the person in front of me.

After the speech, the royal family had two elegant dances to themselves, and then other nobles like Jeff and I joined in. I kept my expression calm, concealing the anxiety I felt swirling inside me.

“Anna, are you relaxed now, or are you still nervous? I can’t tell.”

“If you can’t tell, then I’ve succeeded. I’m incredibly anxious right now.”

He leaned back slightly to get a better look at my face.

“What is it?” I asked.

“I’m just impressed with my wife, that’s all. You truly look like someone who’s being very timid in unfamiliar territory.”

“Well, it is unfamiliar territory.”

“I mean, your acting is flawless. You’re so good that it’s a little scary…”

“Oh, stop,” I said.

If I was feeling more at ease, I would have laughed, but instead, I lowered my gaze and pouted slightly. I didn’t know who was watching me, after all.

Once the song ended, I felt someone’s gaze on my back.

“Jeff, is someone staring at us from behind?”

“Yes. It’s Crown Prince Conrad. That certainly didn’t take long.”

“Well, this is tonight’s biggest test. Don’t forget the story we came up with of how we met.”

“Leave it to me,” Jeff said.

We bowed slightly to the crown prince as the music ended. He shifted his gaze from us to the far end of the ballroom before turning and walking away. He wanted us to follow.

Jeff and I lightly brushed our hands against each other, a signal meaning, “Let’s go.”

I felt another set of eyes on us as we began to walk and glanced to the side. Lord Edward and Lady Blythe were looking at us with concern.

Prince Conrad left the ballroom and continued down a hallway before entering a small room.

“Please have a seat. It’s been a long time since we’ve gotten to speak privately, hasn’t it?” he said.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I’m happy that you’ve come back to the castle again.”

“I’m honored,” Jeff said.

“It seems like the gold mining is going well. Subartu hasn’t interfered yet, either. Ashbury depends on commerce, so that gold mine is priceless. Thank you very much,” the prince said.

“And thank you for such a generous reward, Your Highness,” Jeff replied.

“Lady Anna, it’s a pleasure to meet you. How are you finding life in the royal capital? I’m sure it must be quite an adjustment from the duchy and Shen. Are you doing well?”

I clenched my hands in my lap and forced a stiff smile, as though I’d forgotten my education as a lady.

“The capital is very lively, Your Highness. I find myself constantly surprised here.”

“I figured as much. Is Jeff treating you well?”

“Y-yes, of course. Very much so.” I lowered my gaze to my lap and answered shyly, still clutching my hands together. I tried to express a perfect blend of nervousness and humble embarrassment.

“We should have an informal dinner sometime soon, just the four of us. You two, me, and Delphine,” the prince suggested.

“We would be honored, Your Highness,” I replied.

“There’s no need to be so nervous. Oh, by the way, there’s someone here who’s very eager to meet you two tonight. I believe he’s talking with Cedric now. I’ll call them both over.”

Jeff leaned closer and said, “I’ve been Lord Cedric’s sword instructor for many years now, Anna.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Jeffrey was explaining his relationship with the duke to me, his naive wife from the countryside.

Unfortunately, his gentle expression was a little too exaggerated. Jeff, it’s so obvious that you’re acting right now.

I kept my words to a minimum, making sure to react with surprise as I listened.

It was almost time to meet Lord Cedric. All right, Lord Cedric—let’s see how you plan to keep the promise you made to us.

Light footsteps echoed down the hallway before the door swung open.

“Jeff, how have you been? It’s been over five years since we saw each other in the duchy!”

“Yes, it’s been far too long, Lord Cedric. I’m glad to see you’re looking well.”

A quick inquiry would reveal that you two met with each other at the castle just the other day! What’s with all the extra lines?

Their acting was so clumsy, I had to stop myself from closing my eyes, but I somehow managed to endure.

“Allow me to introduce my wife, Anna.”

“I’m Anna Asher. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace.”

“It’s nice to meet you as well, Anna! This here is my friend, Gunther. He’s a master swordsman and has been sparring with me.”

Lord Cedric gestured to the man standing behind him.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lord and Lady Asher. I am Gunther Bahr, the second son of Baron Bahr from the kingdom of Randall. I had the good fortune of crossing paths with the duke while I was traveling, and as His Grace mentioned, we’ve been sparring.”

“The pleasure is all mine. I’m Jeffrey Asher.”

“And I am Anna Asher.”

After that, the men began an enthusiastic discussion about swords. I focused on blending into the background, my mind busy the entire time.

The man who’d introduced himself as Gunther Bahr was in his mid- to late thirties, but I was certain I’d seen him somewhere before. It must have been a long time ago.

Where do I remember him from? Or does he just resemble someone I know?

As I tried to recall where I’d encountered the man before, he suddenly spoke to Lord Cedric, interrupting the excited chatter.

“Pardon me, Your Grace, but I do believe Lady Asher might be getting bored.”

“Oh? Forgive me. I got so carried away with our discussion on swords,” Lord Cedric said.

“Not at all. I thought your conversation was fascinating,” I said.

A smile appeared on Prince Conrad’s handsome face as he turned to me. “How about a dance with Gunther, Lady Asher? Cedric’s been entertaining himself dancing with Beatrice, but that’s left Gunther all by his lonesome. That’s not very considerate of my brother, since he’s the one who invited him, don’t you think? And I’ve seen you dance; you’re quite skilled. How about you, Gunther?”

“I’m not bad on the dance floor, Your Highness.”

“It’s settled, then! Lady Asher, please do dance with our guest here from another kingdom.”

“Of course, Your Highness.”

I admired Prince Conrad’s thoughtfulness as the eldest sibling, but frankly, I thought it unnecessary on this occasion. Nevertheless, I smiled and agreed to his proposal, making sure to put a hesitant and troubled expression on my face.

“I’m quite embarrassed of my shabby dancing skills, but I do hope I’ll suffice, Lord Bahr.”

“Trust me, I’m not accustomed to such grand occasions myself. Shall we?” he said graciously.

Gunther and I began walking toward the ballroom. As I shot a glance behind me, I could see Jeffrey was clearly worried. He was likely concerned about something entirely different, but to anyone else watching, it would seem like the natural reaction of a husband who was deeply in love with his wife.

As the two of us walked in silence, I studied Gunther’s movements, searching for anything remarkable in his gait. There was nothing.

And his name itself—Gunther Bahr—didn’t ring any bells. If I had indeed met him before, then it must have happened during my days as an operative. But I never forgot the names of my targets, and Gunther Bahr wasn’t one of them.

Perhaps he had changed his name, or maybe he was just someone associated with one of my targets. Still, I rarely forgot those people, either. So who is this man?

“Where are you from, Lady Anna?”

“The duchy of Cadiz. You might’ve heard, but I was a commoner before I got married.”

“Oh? So Lord Asher fell for you, and you married into nobility?”

I didn’t say yes—just lowered my gaze with a shy smile.

We stood in front of the doors to the ballroom. A man wearing a splendid uniform opened the large doors for us, and we were enveloped by a rush of music and lively chatter from the guests.

“Shall we, Lady Asher?” Gunther asked.

“Of course.”

We began to dance.

He hadn’t been lying when he’d said he could hold his own on the dance floor; he was quite good at leading. Meanwhile, I continued playing the role of a naive country girl who was unfamiliar with noble dances.

The song was almost over, yet I still hadn’t gathered any new information. Nonetheless, the fact that Gunther hadn’t discovered I was acting was a small victory in my mind.

“Would you do me the honor of just one more dance, Lady Asher? You’re a wonderful dance partner.”

“Oh? Uh, yes. Of course.”

Gunther took my hand, and we started dancing as the music for the next song began. But as we did so, he suddenly threw in a complex move, flashing me a smile as if to say, “Well? Can you do that?” I could, of course, but I wouldn’t. A commoner who was born and raised in the country wouldn’t typically be capable of pulling off such complicated steps, especially at a ball full of high-ranking nobles.

“I’m afraid such difficult moves are beyond my abilities. I’m sorry,” I said.

“Oh, no need for apologies. You’re an absolute delight to dance with, my lady. You remind me of when my dance instructor would slow down to match my pace when I was a beginner,” he said.

“You flatter me too much, Lord Bahr.”

“Ha-ha!”

The conversation felt very probing. I focused on staying relaxed and taking deep breaths to keep my hands from getting sweaty. Picture a peaceful meadow, Nonna napping, Jeff smiling…

“The princes are probably still chattering away about swords. What do you say, my lady? Shall you and I have a drink while we wait after this dance?” he asked.

“Yes, I would appreciate that. I can’t very well go back to that room on my own,” I admitted.

“Splendid. I’d resigned myself to being a wallflower tonight, you know.”

“Surely not a man like yourself, Lord Bahr!”

After that, Gunther began asking about Cadiz. Since I’d only spent a short time there, I had to deflect his detailed questions and turn the conversation back on him to avoid making any missteps.

“And where in the kingdom of Randall did you grow up, Lord Bahr? What games did you play as a child? What does your territory produce?” I asked, peppering him with questions as I plastered a curious expression on my face.

Gunther answered my inquiries smoothly, without hesitation. When the second song ended, I heard someone call out to me.

“Hello there, Anna. You seem to be enjoying yourself.”

“Hello, Lord Edward. Jeffrey is still speaking with His Highness and the duke,” I said.

“Hmm, yes. I’d wager they’re going on about swords.”

I introduced Gunther to Lord Edward and Lady Blythe, who stood behind him. My brother-in-law began conversing with Gunther, his usual smile on his face.

For the first time, I witnessed how masterful Lord Edward was when it came to conversation. He spoke smoothly, with a warm smile.

“Lord Cedric seems to be fascinated by martial arts. Are you as well, Lord Bahr? Oh, your father trained you? When did you arrive in Ashbury? Ah, yes. A fine season for a visit. What inn did you choose to lodge with in the duchy? Oh, you stayed at my brother’s estate? He must be quite fond of you, then! I can see why, since you’re so personable. Hmm, is that right?”

Lord Edward continued conversing with a smile, and in no time flat, he discovered when Gunther had arrived in our kingdom, where the man was staying, whether Gunther had attendants with him, and how he’d met Lord Cedric. The most impressive thing was that this felt neither intrusive nor forced.

As it happened, Gunther had been accosted by three thugs in the city and had fended them off with nothing but a nearby stick. Lord Cedric had happened to witness the incident while conducting an inspection of the city, and the two of them hit it off from there. Gunther had also brought one attendant with him.

Jeff had always told me Lord Edward was a social butterfly, but seeing the man in his element firsthand was quite something. Despite his superior status and age, Lord Edward never made Gunther feel inferior or intimidated. His every word shined with his wisdom.

As I listened on in admiration, I heard Jeff’s voice from behind me.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Anna. The palace chefs have brought out some brand-new kinds of sweets over there. Care to try them?”

“I’d love to, darling.”

“Well then, if you’ll excuse us.”

“Of course.”

Jeff led me over to the refreshments area, where there were all sorts of light snacks and drinks available. He began pointing at the dishes. “This one, that one, and those, too.”

“But we can’t possibly eat all this!” I exclaimed as the server piled food onto two plates.

Now with our plates full, we found a nearby table and sat down.

“So? Was everything fine? You’re suspicious of that Gunther fellow, aren’t you?” Jeff said.

“What makes you say that?” I asked.

“We’ve been married for almost six years now. I can tell when you’re wary.”

That was one of Jeff’s appeals; although he had a rugged demeanor, he was also surprisingly sensitive. But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that.

“I’ve seen the man before, but his name wasn’t Gunther Bahr. I know I ran into him a long time ago, during my days as an agent, but I’m sure he wasn’t a target. I think we should tell Mike.”

“Agreed. Shall we stop by Chester’s place on the way home?”

“I think that would be a good idea,” I said.

After we savored the royal cuisine and chatted with various nobles who approached us, we finally left the castle.

Jeff directed our driver to the house where Miles used to live. It had grown late, but that wouldn’t be a problem. Chester, the current resident, served as a liaison between me and the Third Order.

Our carriage headed straight to the eastern quarter. Once we arrived at Chester’s house, I recounted tonight’s events.

“So the man’s name is Gunther Bahr? Sounds like a possible alias. And if you say you encountered him when you were active, then we need to investigate. Can you describe his features to me, along with any notable characteristics?” Chester asked, grabbing a pen.

I told him everything I remembered, including how Gunther had met Lord Cedric, then supplied a visual description. “He seems to be in his late thirties, is around one hundred eighty centimeters tall, and weighs about maybe seventy kilograms. He’s slender, with dark-brown hair and dark-brown eyes. No moles on his face, neck, or hands. I did notice a thin scar on the back of his right hand, about two centimeters long. He claimed his father taught him swordsmanship, and he had the kind of calluses on his palms one would get from using a sword. Apparently, he liked fishing for trout as a child and would often catch large fish. Of course, I can’t confirm the veracity of his childhood stories,” I said.

“Yes, we’ll need to look into that.”

“He spoke Ashburian fluently, with no Randallish accent. Unremarkable gait. There were also calluses on his right index and middle fingers, presumably from using a pen. He mentioned bringing a single male attendant on his travels, though I didn’t see him,” I said.

“All right. I’ll have our operatives in Randall investigate immediately. Thank you for the information,” Chester said.

“You’re welcome.”

I lifted my teacup to take a sip, only to pause. There was one more thing I ought to mention. “This may be presumptuous of me, but I believe it’s also worth investigating the men who accosted Gunther in Cadiz. I feel like the odds of a brawl occurring at the exact time and place Lord Cedric happened to be are very low, especially since the duke’s interest in martial arts is well-known.”

“You mean you think it was a setup.”

“It’s possible. And if it was, we need to find out why Gunther approached Lord Cedric and what his intentions are.”

“Yes, I’ll look into it. You’ve been a great help, Victoria.”

Once I finished my tea, Jeffrey and I left Chester’s house.

Chester bid good-bye to Victoria and Jeffrey at the door, then returned to his room and sighed, raking his hand through his short red hair a few times to smooth it back.

“I’d expect nothing less from Victoria. If only she’d agree to become an instructor for us… But there’s no way Lord Asher would allow that. Not to mention, she probably has no intention of going back to this line of work.”

Although it was now close to midnight, Chester quickly mounted his horse and headed to Mike’s residence.

Victoria’s background was classified, and there were only three people with whom she shared information: Chester, Mike, and Edward. None of the other members of the Third Order were aware of Anna Victoria Asher’s true identity. Even the prime minister and the royal family were in the dark about her.

Mike resided in a section of the capital’s commoner district that was close to the eastern quarter, where the nobility lived. He was a bachelor and lived on the third floor of a four-story stone building.

Chester rapped lightly on Mike’s door and saw the peephole slide open. He couldn’t see Mike through it, so he figured the man was using another peephole to check who was here while keeping the top one open. Chester patiently waited for Mike to answer.

He heard the lock click, and then the door opened slightly.

“I’m sorry to bother you so late, Mike.”

“It’s all right. You wouldn’t come unless it’s something important.”

Chester nodded and explained Victoria’s message in detail.

“Understood. Send someone to Randall to investigate but leave out Victoria’s involvement,” Mike said.

“Got it.”

The next morning, Mike was summoned to Edward’s office as soon as he arrived at the castle. Edward slid a sheet of paper across the desk to him.

“I want you to verify this information.”

The document contained details about Gunther, which had been sent by a messenger. However, the information Victoria had gathered was more detailed and precise.

“I’ve dispatched a messenger to Randall last night to investigate the matter,” Mike said.

“I see. I take it you heard this from Victoria, then?”

“Yes. She stopped by Chester’s place on the way back from the ball last night and told him.”

“I see. We’re very lucky that she’s on our side.”

“I agree.”

“Was her information more detailed than this document, Mike?” Edward asked.

“Yes, it was.”

Mike relayed Victoria’s account of the situation.

“She gleaned that much from just a few dances with him?” Edward jotted notes down from Victoria’s account onto the piece of paper, a satisfied look on his face.

Then Edward motioned for Mike to leave. Once his subordinate was gone, he stood by the window and gazed outside.

“Now, should I inform Lord Cedric of this? No, that won’t do. He’s a terrible liar. Gunther would catch on in no time. I’ll have to wait for the results of our investigation before I tell him.”

He would just have to sit tight for the report from Randall. There were still things to investigate in the meantime.

Gunther had requested to stay at Hotel Fruud in the southern quarter. Edward decided to send a young operative to pretend to be a hotel employee.

“Call Riley here.”

Riley arrived promptly, standing before Edward with a nervous look on his face.

“Your task is to go undercover at Hotel Fruud. I want you to handle the room of a man named Gunther Bahr. I’ll arrange things so that you’re assigned to him. Monitor his every move.”

“Yes, sir.”

Riley quickly left the office.

Edward had other pressing matters to attend to besides the Gunther situation. He exited the room and headed for the prime minister’s office.

Prime Minister Stanley was writing at his desk. A servant announced Edward’s visit, and Stanley looked up and removed his glasses.

“It’s unusual to see you in my office. What brings you here?” he asked.

“There’s something that’s been on my mind.”

“Oh?”

“According to our reports coming out of Subartu, some of the nation’s nobles have been acting suspiciously. Specifically, several nobles with sway over the military have increased their levels of activity. We’ve spotted their troops conducting repeated drills about twenty kilometers from the western forest,” Edward said.

Stanley stared at the paperweight on his desk for a moment before looking up at Edward.

“They must be after the gold mine, then.”

“Most likely, yes. But there’s another concern. Poison has shown up twice lately in Crown Princess Delphine’s food.”

“Yes, so I heard. The taster collapsed, didn’t they? And the culprit is still at large? Forgive me—uncovering suspicious activities in the castle is supposed to be my responsibility.”

“It’s all right. We’re currently pursuing suspects, so please bear with us a little longer.”

Stanley nodded, his gaze drifting to Prince Conrad’s wedding portrait hanging on the wall. The prime minister seemed drained.

“Our kingdom has managed to evade war so far thanks to our proficiency at combining trade with diplomacy and our willingness to take in crown princesses from neighboring kingdoms. In Prince Conrad’s case, it was the kingdom of Eagal’s turn.”

“And next, it will be the kingdom of Subartu’s. It’s possible they’re trying to expedite when they’ll get to send a crown princess of their own.”

Stanley fell silent, lost in thought.

“If anything happened to Princess Delphine, however, Eagal wouldn’t stay quiet. They would insist the next crown princess also come from their kingdom, especially since we’ve discovered the gold. That aside, she and Prince Conrad are such a devoted couple. I’m determined to protect Princess Delphine, no matter what. As I grow older, the deaths of those younger than me grow even heavier. And the thought of our sweet crown princess being murdered is unbearable. I have but a short time left—I don’t want it to be filled with sorrow.” Stanley closed his eyes and rubbed them, his expression weary. “Edward, do you think the attempted poisoning was Subartu’s doing?”

“Normally, not even Subartu would stoop to something like that. However, with the gold mine involved, it’s hard to say. And then there’s the matter of the sacred forest.”

“Is there any specific evidence that points to Subartu being behind it?”

The prime minister kept his gaze fixed on Edward, who stared back without hesitation. “No.”

“But it’s unlikely anyone would dare make a direct move against Princess Delphine within the royal palace. To safeguard against another poisoning attempt, we’ve assigned people to watch over every step of the process of preparing her meals,” said the prime minister.

“The Saint Floren Festival is approaching soon.”

“Ah, yes. The festival.”

The Saint Floren Festival was only two months away. For over one hundred fifty years, the crown princess had been responsible for officiating its opening in the town square.

“I doubt anyone could assassinate Princess Delphine in front of thousands of citizens, but that’s precisely the kind of thing assassin squads are made for. We must be prepared,” said Edward.

“Hold on. Everything is still hypothetical at this stage. Let’s focus on the Saint Floren Festival first. Edward, I want you to personally oversee Princess Delphine’s security detail during the festival, separate from her knights.”

“Understood. Please prioritize your own recovery, though, Lord Stanley.”

“I will. But perhaps it’s time for me to step down from my position,” Stanley said, then lowered his voice. “But if there’s a possibility of assassination, we’ll need to use a decoy. Wasn’t there someone among the staff who resembles Princess Delphine?”

“Yes. I can assign Luna to that task.”

“How fortunate it is we have someone who looks like her.”

“I agree.”

Edward bowed and left the prime minister’s office.

Interlude: A Female Spy’s Hesitations

The woman Edward had referred to had been working under the alias of Mia Harvell for nearly three years in the household of Earl Osmond Bridge.

Mia was wrapping up her tasks for the day, organizing a mountain of documents and tidying up her desk.

“How did the bookkeeping go, Mia?” Earl Bridge asked.

“Everything’s perfectly balanced. No discrepancies at all.”

“I’d expect nothing less from you. Since you started helping, the work has progressed so much more smoothly.”

“Thank you. My father’s training back home has proven quite useful.”

“Your father was a civil servant at the palace, wasn’t he? Hiring you as a tutor for my daughters only to discover your bookkeeping skills felt like striking gold!”

Mia offered an elegant smile and bowed.

“I’ll be heading to the royal capital next week. You shall accompany me,” Earl Bridge said.

“Very well.”

It’s taken nearly three years, but the end is finally in sight. All I need is some solid evidence, and this mission will be over.

Although her boss, Edward Asher, had tasked Mia with infiltrating the Bridge household, uncovering the earl’s illicit activities had been difficult. Her fruitless days had been filled with frustration, but just recently, she’d begun to piece together his shady dealings.

Earl Bridge frequently traveled to the kingdom of Randall. Although his personal visits had decreased as of late, he’d taken to sending his servants in his place. Even though Randall was closer to the earl’s domain than the capital city of Ashbury, Edward Asher had deemed these trips suspicious.

“It must be something too sensitive to communicate through letters,” he’d said.

When questioned, the earl claimed those trips were for trade negotiations. However, the primary products his territory dealt with were wheat and vegetables. Mia knew from his books that neither were being exported.

Her investigations suggested the earl was actually selling the locations of Ashbury’s communication-network bases.

Each base was manned by only two couriers. If a base was attacked by a larger force, it would be wiped out entirely.

And if all the bases in Earl Bridge’s domain were destroyed, the flow of intelligence arriving from Randall would come to a halt.

Although Edward Asher frequently changed the locations of his bases for security reasons, the earl and his servants always visited Randall shortly after the change. It seemed highly likely the earl was informing someone in Randall of the new locations.

This time, one of his Randallish partners is coming to Ashbury. It’ll be a rare opportunity to see their face. I need to memorize their features and ensure my allies capture them.

However, the day before their departure for the capital, a new maid joined the earl’s household. She carried some tea into the room where Mia and Osmond were working.

“I’ve brought you some tea.”

“Thank you. You may leave it there,” Mia said without looking up.

The earl, however, raised his head from his documents to glance at the maid.

“You must be new here. What’s your name?”

“I’m Ines.”

Mia quickly turned to the stranger, her breath catching in her throat. The new maid, who had been staring at the floor, glanced up and widened her eyes when she saw Mia. Then she loudly exclaimed, “Luna! Luna, is that you? What are you doing here? I heard you got married! Are you working here now?!”

The maid was none other than Ines, a childhood friend of Mia’s from her hometown.

They had often played together, and Ines had been like a sister to her during their youth. She approached Mia with a delighted smile. Mia’s mind raced as she plastered on a smile and replied, “It has been a long time, Ines. But we mustn’t chat in front of the earl.”

“Oh! My apologies, my lord.”

“It’s fine, Ines. So you hail from the same hometown as Mia? Mia, why did she call you Luna? Your identification papers listed you as Mia Harvell.”

“My lord, the truth is I’m divorced. I had to change my name to escape an abusive husband. I deeply apologize for deceiving you, but I had to do so to protect myself.” Mia quickly rose to her feet and gave a deep bow to the earl.

Was that excuse too hasty to be believed?

She put a hesitant expression on her face and feigned embarrassment as she bowed repeatedly. The earl studied her with interest but said nothing. Mia’s heart pounded, and a cold sweat trickled down her back.

If he calls for the guards, I’ll be killed. Should I take him out first? After all, he’s committing a serious crime. He’ll face execution eventually.

But Ines was right there. If she killed the earl in front of her, she would have to silence her friend as well.

What should I do? What’s the best move?

Ines had been like a sister to her, and Mia just couldn’t bring herself to harm her. But to her relief, the earl seemed to accept Mia’s story and gave a casual nod.

“I see. I wasn’t aware of your circumstances, Mia. Ines, I expect you to do your best. Mia, we’ll leave for the capital at sunrise tomorrow.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The earl is shrewd… Should I be happy or suspicious he seems to have believed me?

Her instincts had been honed through experience, and they screamed in her mind, He knows you’re lying!

She’d been drilled repeatedly at the academy on how to handle situations like this. The protocol was clear: Flee on your own.

There’s nothing else to be done. It’s a shame that I was so close to getting the proof I needed, but I need to make my exit immediately.

However, as she moved to pull open her bedroom curtains, Mia stopped abruptly. She’d intended on slipping out through the second-floor window, but there were guards stationed all throughout the garden, armed and patrolling with lanterns. The vast grounds of the estate were illuminated to the very last corner.

Is this to stop me from escaping?

Mia placed her ear against the door leading to the hallway; she could sense someone standing just outside. Even if she managed to take down the person at the door, there was no way she could fight off all the guards and make it out alive.

I have no choice but to escape during the journey to the capital.

Mia made up her mind and boarded the carriage the next morning. Unfortunately, however, the carriage was surrounded by mounted guards who were escorting the earl.

To make matters worse, Ines was also accompanying them to the capital; this was highly unusual for a new employee.

The earl chattered away cheerfully inside the carriage. “Where was it you were from again, Ines?”

“Near the western edge of the kingdom, close to the Subartu forest. My ancestors were part of a pioneer settlement there.”

“I see.”

Mia’s heart pounded. She’d claimed to have been born and raised in the capital, but this conversation had just exposed her as a liar, not only regarding her name but also where she grew up. She maintained a calm facade as turmoil mounted inside her.

After a weeklong journey, they finally reached the capital and checked into a fancy hotel. But the earl expressed his intention to head out again without even taking a moment to relax. Just as they were about to leave, Mia noticed Ines was nowhere to be seen.

“My lord, Ines isn’t here.”

“Oh, she went on ahead of us. We’ll be heading to the same place shortly.”

“All right.”

Ines left ahead of her master? That’s strange. Something’s definitely going on.

Alarm bells rang in her head, but now wasn’t the time to run. She couldn’t bring herself to abandon Ines.

They boarded another carriage and arrived at a warehouse district. The earl opened the door to one of the buildings and stepped inside. Mia cautiously followed, but as soon as she entered the building, a bag came down over her head, and something struck her on the back of her skull.

Chapter Two: A Request from the Third Order

I invited Lady Yolana to join me and Nonna for a visit to the sheep farm.

With the well completed, we no longer had to worry about a source of water for the animals and our farmhands in the living quarters.

Five women from the abbey—all of whom had volunteered to come—were tending to the sheep. One of the women’s parents had been shepherds, which was reassuring.

We had already purchased fifty sheep, which were now grazing freely in the meadows. We would shear them for wool late next spring.

Lady Yolana wore a wide-brimmed hat and gazed at the farm with interest.

“Victoria, this is such a lovely place,” she said.

“Isn’t it, though, Lady Yolana? It’s one of my favorite spots.”

“Lady Yolana, the water from this well is so cold and delicious!” Nonna exclaimed.

“Oh, I’ll have to taste it, then, Nonna,” Lady Yolana replied.

“Okay! You can try some when we have tea in the house. Mom, I’m going to play with the sheep for a bit!” Nonna had been behaving with perfect manners up until this point, but she could no longer hold back. “Yahoooo!” She let out an excited squeal and charged into the flock of sheep.

The sheep moved in a group to keep their distance from her. Since she acted like this every time we visited, they were used to it now and neither panicked nor grew angry. Still, they clearly found her a nuisance, which was amusing to see.

“It’s so fulfilling to see you build such a happy life for yourself, my dear. Your happiness brings me joy, Victoria.”

“Lady Yolana…”

“The day you left that note and disappeared, I went over to your cottage and cried. You’d been living as if you were always ready to run away at any moment,” she said.

“I’m so sorry I caused you so much worry.”

“It wasn’t quite worry, Victoria. I don’t have a daughter, but I selfishly thought of you as my own. And it was frustrating I could do nothing to help you. But now I can rest easy. You have a baron for a husband, you’ve joined the nobility, and you have this farm and your workshop. You can spend your days in peace,” she said.

“That’s right,” I said.

“However, it does seem Nonna’s lessons in etiquette are a bit behind…”

“Yes…”

I couldn’t say with certainty that my situation was secure yet, but there was no need to tell Lady Yolana that and make her anxious.

The sheep had moved a great distance from Nonna to avoid her, but she still hadn’t given up on playing with them. I watched with exasperation as the creatures finally grew angry and began head-butting her.

I probably ought to stop her; there were so many sheep, things could get dangerous.

“Lady Yolana, Nonna and I are going to our favorite bookstore next. Would you like to join us? They have some gorgeous antique parchment books there.”

“Oh, I love looking at beautiful books! I’d be delighted to go with you.”

“Wonderful. Nonna! Come back here!”

Nonna came racing back, the wind whipping past her. She now smelled of sheep from touching them so much. After I made her clean up with soap, the three of us set off for Sandor’s Used Books. Tea would have to wait until next time.

Sandor’s Used Books had returned to its original name after its temporary stint as Zachary’s Used Bookstore.

The owner welcomed us with a smile, and the three of us perused the shelves.

All of a sudden, two women sprinted past the shop window at an alarming speed, glancing nervously behind them. It was clear something was going on.

“Mom!”

“Let’s go. Lady Yolana, please wait inside.”

“But whatever are you planning to do?”

“I’ll explain later.”

And with that, Nonna and I rushed out of the bookshop. The two women ahead of us ran hand in hand, but one was stumbling as if she might collapse at any moment.

Nonna sprinted at incredible speed and caught up with them in no time, glancing back at me. I turned just as three men closed in on us from behind.

There was no one else in sight. It was possible someone could be watching through a window, but at this point, my hands were tied.

“Get out of the way!” one of the men yelled roughly, glaring at me as they ran. I put on a frightened expression and stood in their way, pretending to be bewildered.

Come on, then.

I shifted as if to let them pass, still feigning fear, but just as they ran by, I jabbed my elbows out sharply. Stumbling, I pretended to lose my balance while hitting all three of them with shoulder and elbow jabs.

“Argh!”

“Ouch!”

“Gah!”

If I had collided with them head-on, the impact would’ve sent me flying, as I was much lighter than them. But this way, I could deal damage while slowing them down at the same time.

“Keep chasing them, you two! Hey, lady! Just what do you think you’re doing?!” The man at the front of the pack barked orders to his companions, then turned to face me. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

“Of course not! I was just so scared that I didn’t know what to do! How dare you accuse me of such a thing!”

“Don’t lie. You must be with those women!”

“I am not!” I shouted, then ran toward a narrow alleyway. The path was cramped with small shops and dim even though it was daytime. Fewer eyes would be on us here. I headed into the tight space, drawing the man after me. A brick wall blocked the way at the end of the alley.

I kept my back to the wall as I faced the man, and he grinned like a wolf that had cornered its prey.

“So? Who are you?” the man asked.

“Who are you? Why were you chasing after those women, and what are you planning on doing with them?”

“That’s none of your business. Or maybe it is, if you’re with them.”

The man inched his way closer, and I backed up step-by-step. I refrained from taking out my dagger because…

…Nonna dropped from a nearby rooftop and kicked the man right in the head with a thwack! She made a graceful landing, immediately falling into a basic Shenese martial arts stance. The man crumpled to the ground before he even glimpsed Nonna’s brave figure.

“Lay one hand on my mother, and you’ll pay! Oh, wait. It looks like I knocked him out,” she said with a shrug.

“What about the women, Nonna?”

“I told them to wait inside the bookstore before I came back here.”

“Oh, I see. I’ll hand this guy over to the guards and return to the shop. You go stay with the women. What about the other two men?”

“I asked someone who was passing by to call the guards and left them there. They’re out cold, but I can go check.”

I cut off two pieces of the unconscious man’s shirt with my dagger, then used the fabric to tie his hands behind his back and secure his ankles tightly before following Nonna. The other two men were unconscious just ahead, and I tied them up in the same fashion.

“I thought I heard a commotion. You sure do things in style.” I turned at the familiar voice—it was Zaharo.

“Perfect timing. Can you keep an eye on these men so they don’t escape? There’s another in that alley. We need to watch him, too.”

“Sure thing. I’ll go get him and add him to the pile.”

“He might put up a fight, though.”

“Ha!” Zaharo chuckled softly and gestured with his chin for me to head into the alley. He seemed confident, even though carrying a grown man wasn’t easy. He gave me a questioning look as he gestured toward the alley as if to say, “Here?” and I nodded. The man was awake, struggling to free his bound hands and feet.

“Hey, now. Wait just a minute. Don’t try to wriggle your way free. You don’t want to get knocked out again, do you?” Zaharo’s voice was low and menacing, completely the opposite of his usual demeanor. I almost turned to look at his face in surprise, but I kept myself in check.

Zaharo quickly pulled a stylish black handkerchief from his chest pocket and blindfolded the man, before digging his knuckles into his back.

“I’ll help you stand. I’m gonna have to stab you if you try to run, though. Don’t make this harder on yourself and just walk.”

The man reluctantly obeyed. Zaharo escorted him to the other two and dumped him on the ground. He waited until the guards arrived, then finally asked, “What did these guys do?”

“They were chasing two women. I’ll go fetch them,” I said.

“No, I can do it!” Nonna said, volunteering. She brought the women over.

The entire group fell silent in shock.

The blond woman who had stumbled while she was running had been severely battered. It was clear she’d endured a horrific beating. Her nose was broken, her lips were split, her cheeks were swollen and bruised, and one of her eyes was nearly swollen shut.

Despite it all, the woman was composed.

Under normal circumstances, someone beaten this badly would have fainted or had a breakdown. Her broken nose and bruised cheeks had to be causing her excruciating pain, but she remained calm.

The guards immediately rushed to the woman’s side.

“How terrible! These men assaulted you, right? We can treat your wounds, so please come with us.”

“Thank you so much.”

“Were you the one who stopped these men?” the guards asked Zaharo, who quickly glanced at me. I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to answer, but Nonna beat me to the punch.

“It was me.”

“You did, young lady?”

“Yes. I’m trained in martial arts,” she said.

“Is your daughter telling the truth, ma’am?” the guard asked skeptically.

“Yes, it’s true,” I admitted reluctantly. As a result, the guard declared their intent to take Nonna along with the others to the station for questioning.

“I’ll come get you later, Nonna. I need to take Lady Yolana home first.”

“Okay,” she said.

The guards escorted Nonna, the perpetrators, and the victims away while a crowd of curious onlookers watched.

Lady Yolana emerged from the bookstore and asked me quietly, “Victoria, are you all right?”

“Oh, Lady Yolana! I’m so sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Don’t worry about that, dear. Where’s Nonna, and what happened? Why was that woman so badly injured?”

It was better to tell the truth than to risk getting caught up in a lie. And if I made up a story, Nonna would have to remember it, too. Would Nonna be able to keep my false story straight if someone asked her about it later? Honestly, I had no idea.

“I saw those women running past the window earlier…”

I gave Lady Yolana an honest account of what happened. What shocked her the most about my tale was how Nonna had taken down three men with her martial arts skills. And who could blame her? It was astonishing.

“Jeff and I were so busy in Shen that Nonna spent those five years immersing herself in learning martial arts.”

“But defeating three grown men alone? Are you sure she’ll be all right?” Lady Yolana asked.

I’m not sure I know the answer to that, Lady Yolana…

Browsing through old books was now the last thing on our minds, so I took Lady Yolana home before heading to the guards’ station.

Nonna was there waiting for me, sitting on a bench in the hallway just past the entrance.

“You must be exhausted, Nonna,” I said.

“Not at all. It’s been a while since I’ve been here, you know, but nothing’s changed.”

“Come to think of it, we came here the day we first met, didn’t we?” I said.

“That’s right.”

The day I first arrived in Ashbury and brought Nonna here felt like only the previous day and also a lifetime ago at the same time. I couldn’t believe six years had already gone by since then.

“Do you know what happened to the injured lady?”

“I don’t know. They took her to another room right away.”

“I’m sure she’s receiving treatment, what with those injuries,” I mused.

“I can’t believe someone would beat a woman so badly.” Anger flashed across Nonna’s face.

When we returned home and stepped out of the carriage, Nonna said, “Riding in a carriage for such a short distance seems like a waste, don’t you think?”

It struck me how much she’d grown. She even had a wry smile on her face.

Jeffrey greeted us the moment we opened the door.

“Welcome back. You two went to the farm today, didn’t you?”

“Yes, we took Lady Yolana with us. But…”

“What? Did something happen?” he asked.

I told Jeffrey everything that had happened outside the bookstore. I had nothing to hide, after all. A look of concern came to his face after he heard my story.

“So Nonna was very helpful again. But this is a dangerous time for Nonna. She must be feeling overconfident in her skills now that she’s subdued grown men in combat twice now. That’s a recipe for getting sloppy. We need to make extra sure she’s being careful,” he said.

“You’re right.”

Just then, Nonna walked into the room.

“Mom, can I go to Master Clark’s house? I told him I’d come over to borrow a book.”

“That’s fine, but be sure to take the carriage.”

“I can walk there, you know.”

But despite her protests, Nonna took the carriage.

Right as she left, another carriage arrived at our house. At first, I thought Jeffrey was expecting a guest, but his puzzled expression as he looked out the window told me otherwise.

To my surprise, the person who disembarked was Mike.

“Forgive me for coming over unannounced. But I have an urgent matter to discuss,” he said.

“Is it about Victoria?” Jeff asked.

“Yes. The truth is, the woman who Nonna rescued today is one of our employees. Thank you so much for your assistance with that matter.”

“Mike, there must be a reason why you’re telling us she works for you.”

“That’s right. Victoria, do you know about the Saint Floren Festival that’s coming up?” he asked.

“Yes, the whole town is bustling with excitement over it. What about it?”

“Well, the lady those men were chasing was supposed to serve as the body double for Princess Delphine at the Saint Floren Festival. There are still two months left before the event, so I was hopeful her injuries would heal by then, but now we’ve discovered she’s having vision problems in her injured eye. We’re unsure whether she’ll recover in time for—”

“Wait a minute,” Jeffrey suddenly interrupted.

“Jeff, Mike’s trying to explain the situation,” I said.

“No, Mike’s trying to drag you into this. He’s going to say Princess Delphine is in such danger that she needs a body double. It doesn’t make sense to involve an outsider like you.”

“Lord Asher, could you at least hear me out?” Mike asked.

“This isn’t right, Mike. Are you saying the kingdom sent us to Shen just for us to be dragged into danger again? My wife and I worked tirelessly during our stay there to prevent this exact sort of thing from happening!”

“Jeff, please calm down,” I urged.

“Don’t tell me you’re willing to go along with this, Anna?”

I couldn’t answer that.

He probably wouldn’t object if I said yes. And even if he didn’t really want to, I had a feeling he’d give me permission. But I couldn’t take this on without getting a full overview of what was going on.

I also wanted to know why Mike was choosing to rely on an outsider like me and why that woman had been so badly beaten.

“I’m not saying yes, but I want to hear the whole story before I decide. The woman we helped today seemed to have suffered a brutal attack. I want to know the mission your organization assigned to her, and what led to her grievous wounds. After I hear the whole story, I’ll make up my mind. Or is there something about her injuries that would make it impossible for me to refuse your request, Mike?”

“I can share the general situation, but I can’t give you specific names.”

“Then tell me, please. I want to know how a professional like her was hurt so badly.”

Jeffrey didn’t say anything. I could tell he was upset with Mike and really didn’t want me to get involved.

But I couldn’t just pretend like I didn’t care. With Jeffrey silent and seemingly resigned to listening, the conversation played out only between Mike and me.

“At present, our female operatives are all out on assignment. It’s not that we don’t have enough women in the organization, but things simply happened to end up this way. The woman you helped today is one of our best operatives. I had the opportunity to speak with her earlier, and she told me how she got hurt. She was on an undercover mission, posing as a servant, when a childhood friend of hers unexpectedly joined her workplace.”

“I see…”

“The childhood friend didn’t know our operative was using an alias, so she called the woman by her real name in front of their employer. To make matters worse, the friend asked, ‘I heard you got married! Are you working here now?!’ This led our operative’s employer—who was also her target—to suspect she was using a false identity.”

“The woman’s hometown is far away, isn’t it?”

“Yes. Both women are from western Ashbury. But our operative was working in a domain on the eastern edge, a great distance from her hometown. A coincidence of this magnitude should have never happened.”

A light veil of sweat covered Mike’s forehead, which was an unusual sight.

“Our operative’s employer grew suspicious of her and brought her to the capital. She was planning on slipping away once she got here, since we’d asked her to be the princess’s double, but her childhood friend went missing, and she couldn’t leave her behind. Her employer’s men captured her, so she prioritized protecting her friend, which is how she ended up getting beaten.”

“She let her emotions get the best of her, despite being on an undercover mission,” I remarked.

“Yes. This has never happened with her before.”

But I knew all too well what it was like to be swayed by your feelings.

When an operative on a special mission gives in to their emotions, they end up taking on burdens they shouldn’t have to bear. Carrying too much at once can drive them to the edge. Basically, if an operative gets in this situation, it suggests they aren’t suited for this line of work.

“What’s wrong, Anna?” Jeffrey asked.

“I’m thinking. Can I please have some more time?”

“Yes, take as much as you need,” he replied.

Mike was visibly tense as he watched the exchange between me and Jeffrey.

A woman who was easily swayed by her emotions had been severely injured. There was no one else to take her place, which was why the Third Order had turned to an outsider like me. But what was the right thing to do here?

Memories from the past flashed through my mind.

A younger operative dying on his first job because he didn’t have a good leader.

The boss I trusted, hiding my family’s death just so he could keep using me.

Rescuing Nonna on my first day of freedom.

Then I thought of all those who had accepted me: Lady Yolana, Mr. Bernard, Lord Edward, and Jeffrey.

“Mike, may I meet with this woman and speak to her? I’ll decide whether or not to accept after that.”

“Yes, you can meet her,” he said.

Jeffrey looked slightly afraid. I’d never seen that expression on his face before.

“Anna, do you really want be a body double for the princess?”

“You and Nonna are the most important people in the world to me, Jeff. Nothing will ever change that. But I want to talk to the operative. It’s not that I want to help Ashbury’s intelligence organization—I just want to help her. And if I refuse this request and something happens to Princess Delphine… If that happens, the operative who was too wounded to be her body double will carry immense guilt for the rest of her life. She’ll blame herself for it forever; I’m sure of it. But I think I can stop that from happening.”

“Anna…”

“I can’t overlook this when I know someone will suffer while I’m safe and happy. I want to meet this woman first, and then I’ll decide if I take on this task, even if it causes you and Nonna to worry.”

“I see. I understand,” said Jeffrey. Mike’s face lit up with expectation, but my husband glared at him and continued, “If you’re going to meet her, now’s the time. It would be pointless if she knew of your resolve beforehand, so you should go while she doesn’t have any of this information.”

“You’re right. I agree.”

“Very well, then. Let’s see her now,” Mike said.

And so, the three of us headed to the palace.

The woman was staying in a room in the north wing. Her face was wrapped tightly in bandages, and one of her arms was secured in a sling.

She looked surprised to see the three of us, as she hadn’t been notified we were coming. However, I couldn’t make out her exact expression through the heavy bandages on her face.

“I’m sorry for the sudden visit, Mia. But I’ve brought someone who wants to hear your story,” Mike said.

“I see. I apologize for all the trouble my mistake has caused you.”

Mia sat up in bed and politely bowed to Mike, who gestured for us to sit down while he remained standing.

The four of us faced each other, and the conversation began, although it was mostly Mia and me speaking.

“It’s nice to meet you. I asked Mike to bring me here because I wanted to hear what led to you being attacked before I decide whether or not to accept his request.”

“You want to hear why I was beaten?” she asked.

“Yes. You’re a professional. So I was wondering how you ended up getting hurt so badly.”

“It’s a bit of a long story, but I’ll try to explain.”

Mia had briefly glanced at both Jeffrey and me when we first entered the room, but now she was avoiding making eye contact entirely. She kept her gaze fixed on our chests, which I figured was her way of saying, “I’ll pretend I didn’t see you here.”

She began speaking in a calm voice. “I was assigned to investigate the activities of a certain individual. One day, my childhood friend from my hometown began working at the estate where I was stationed. The moment she saw me, my friend called me by my real name and innocently said she’d heard I got married, so she was surprised to see me there.”

According to Mia, her employer began surveilling her from that day on. She’d been undercover for three years and was on the verge of discovering an important secret of her employer’s. But then he told her he had important business to attend to in the capital and ordered her to come along. For some reason, however, he made Mia’s childhood friend go on the trip, too, even though she was a brand-new employee. That was highly abnormal.

Immediately, this led Mia to think her employer was intending to take her childhood friend hostage to use against her.

This happened at the same time the Third Order asked Mia to be the crown princess’s double. Since her employer had grown suspicious of her, she tried to abandon her assignment. But just as she attempted to flee, her employer’s men revealed they had taken her childhood friend captive. They beat Mia in front of her friend in an attempt to get her to reveal her true mission and her true employer’s identity.

“Why did you let them beat you for so long? Were you trying to find something out?” I asked.

“I wanted to confirm whether my childhood friend had really shown up by chance or if she’d been assigned to investigate my true identity. If it turned out to be the former, I knew I couldn’t leave her behind and escape alone.”

“Makes sense.”

“But I could tell from how she looked while they beat me that her taking this job had been a complete coincidence. Once I was sure of that, I fought back and defeated the men, and we escaped together.”

“That was an incredibly dangerous thing to do as an operative,” I said.

“I know. I won’t make any excuses for my actions, especially now that I can no longer serve as the crown princess’s body double.”

What would I have done in her place?

I didn’t have any childhood friends whom I would risk my life to protect. But I might have done the same if a younger member of my old organization had been the one in danger.

The three of them looked at me, waiting for a response. I met Jeffrey’s gaze.

“Jeff, I want to take Mia’s place as the body double. I won’t mince words: I just want to do it.”

“I see.”

“I’m sorry, Jeffrey,” Mike apologized.

“Mike, I want to add a condition,” Jeff said.

“A condition? What do you mean?”

“I want to be her guard.”

“Jeff, you can’t. You’re no longer a member of the knights. If you come on as a guard, everyone will wonder why, and that will make it easier for my cover to be blown. Plus, you’re so well-known that it will be impossible to disguise yourself,” I said.

“But—!”

“I promise I’ll return once the job is done. Please, Jeff. Trust me. And please look after Nonna.”

Mike’s expression was impassive, but he clearly seemed to be relieved. On the other hand, I could feel a strong sense of unease and anguish coming from Jeffrey.

Mike quickly spoke up, perhaps wanting to move things along before I changed my mind.

“I’ll arrange a meeting with Princess Delphine right away,” he said.

He urged us to leave the room, but Mia called out to stop me.

“Madam, I apologize for getting you involved due to my poor judgment,” she said.

“Please don’t worry about that. I’m taking this job for my own reasons. If I refused and something happened to Princess Delphine, I would never get a good night’s sleep again,” I answered with a smile.

Mia gave me a deep bow.

We used the back staircase reserved for castle servants and followed a winding path to a luxurious room.

The place was spacious and lavishly furnished. It appeared to be part of the royal family’s private apartments. Mike stepped out of the room for a moment, and he returned with Princess Delphine and a maid.

The crown princess had gleaming golden hair and striking blue eyes. Her build was almost the same as mine, but as I curtsied, I wondered what I would do about the difference in eye color.

Her attendant quickly excused herself, leaving just me, Jeffrey, Mike, and the princess.

“Are you the woman who will be serving as my body double?” she asked.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Please, have a seat. Your eyes are brown, though. What will you do about that?” she asked.

“I apologize, Your Highness, but I think it would be best for you to start wearing a hat with netting for the time being. If people around you get used to seeing you in it, they won’t find it suspicious when I wear one at the festival,” I said.

“Hmm, I see. Yes, I suppose there’s no other choice,” she agreed.

I glanced over at Mike. “Could you please send everyone else away? There’s someone peeking out from behind that partition, isn’t there?”

He gave me an apologetic look before turning to Princess Delphine. “Princess, I’ve already asked for everyone to be removed from the room.”

“You may leave.” Princess Delphine spoke toward the partition, and I no longer felt the gaze on me. “I would’ve doubted your ability to serve as my decoy had you not noticed my attendant there. But now I’m relieved. Starting today, please stay close to me and observe my manner of speaking and walking. A decoy must be able to deceive even the residents of the palace, including the crown prince and the king themselves.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I’m sorry, Jeffrey. I know you just returned from Shen…,” Princess Delphine began apologetically.

“This was my wife’s decision,” he said.

“I see. I had no idea Lady Asher was so capable.”

A look of desperation came to Jeffrey’s face. “Princess Delphine, please…”

“I know, Lord Asher. I won’t say anything unnecessary, so please don’t worry. The only thing I’ll tell His Majesty and the prince is that we’ll be using a decoy, nothing more.”

Princess Delphine seemed to be a woman of great courage. She assured me she would keep my true identity a secret even from her own husband and her father-in-law. How far that secret would hold was dependent on me.

She addressed me with her flawless smile. “Starting today, Lady Asher will serve as my personal maid. You may use the spare room in my quarters,” she said.

“Very well,” I said.

“Now, please leave us, Mike and Lord Asher.”

The men bowed and exited the room. Jeffrey didn’t look at me, and I didn’t try to meet his gaze, either, though I did watch him depart from the corner of my eye. I was now a maid to the crown princess and her body double. I had to stifle my personal feelings.

Ding!

Princess Delphine rang a glass bell, and a maid entered the room. “Prepare a maid’s uniform for her,” she said.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The maid glanced at me briefly before excusing herself. She returned almost immediately with a maid’s uniform and shoes. She must have sized me up in an instant, because they fit like a glove.

The maid left, and now it was just me and the princess again.

“Poison has been slipped into my food twice now. Do you have experience with it?”

“I’ve undergone the necessary training, yes.”

“How about martial arts?”

“I specialize in hand-to-hand combat and daggers.”

“How about languages?”

“I can speak Haglian, Randallish, Eagalian, and Ashburian at a native proficiency. I can manage everyday conversation in Subartuan.”

“You even speak Eagalian, my native language?” the princess asked.

“Yes.”

Her expression softened slightly, and she smiled kindly. “Why has someone with your talents married Lord Asher, the crown prince’s favorite? Would you tell me sometime?”

“I will.”

“Well, I’ll be counting on your service until the Saint Floren Festival.”

“Leave it to me, Your Highness.”

I wish I could go back home just once before I start, so I can see Nonna’s face, I found myself thinking, but I quickly dismissed the thought.

I was returning to work as an operative after six long years. I couldn’t afford to indulge in such naive thoughts for the sake of Jeffrey, who’d allowed me to do this, and for my beloved Nonna. I could lose my life if I didn’t return to the mindset of an ace Haglian operative.

So for the next two months leading up to the Saint Floren Festival, I would focus solely on the successful completion of my mission.

No matter what, I would return to my family with my heart still beating.

I’d lived through many lies, and I’d become many different people. I’d fought, and I’d survived. Mia was walking the same path I’d once treaded.

I hadn’t been able to save the life of the young operative Hans when I accompanied him on my first mission. I still regretted that and probably would until the day I died.

I didn’t want Mia to experience the same pain. I wanted to shield her from the poison of regret.

And I wanted to complete my mission, even if it made me feel guilty toward my family.

I was doing this for Mia, for Hans, who’d died at just fifteen years old, and most of all, for myself.

“What shall I call you? Will you decide on a name?” Princess Delphine asked.

“Of course. Please call me Kate.”

“Very well, then. When we are alone together, Kate, you may simply call me Delphine. I must continue being the crown princess even if it means putting your and Mia’s lives at risk. My homeland, the kingdom of Eagal, needs a strong alliance with Ashbury. I must stay alive to maintain peace between the two nations.”

“I understand.”

“It was my kingdom’s turn to send a crown princess to Ashbury. To ensure I would become the future queen of this kingdom, they gave me a top-class education and raised me with the very best people and resources.”

As I listened to her, I wondered if that hadn’t ever felt stifling.

Princess Delphine smiled at me as if she knew what I was thinking.

“One must be able to withstand an immense amount of pressure to fulfill the role of queen. My mission is to live alongside the people of this kingdom and encourage peace between Eagal and Ashbury.”

“Yes.”

“The world of politics isn’t just run by men, you know. Although they may take center stage, there are places where I can be of use to this kingdom. However, I can’t protect myself like you can. That’s why I need you to lend me your strength.”

“And I am glad to do so.”

“Will you tell me why you agreed to be my body double?”

“I mean no disrespect by this, but the reason I accepted was for my own sake.”

“Oh? You mean you’re risking your life to serve as my decoy for personal reasons?” She stared at me with her clear blue eyes, looking very intrigued.

“I spoke with the woman who was supposed to be your body double. I spent most of my life doing similar work to hers, which gave me the skills required to complete this mission. If I turned down this request to put myself and my family first, but something wound up happening to you, then I would feel like half of me had died. Plus, the woman who was supposed to be your body double would also suffer for the rest of her life.”

“I see. I’d like to hear more, but it’s only the first day. You may tell me the details some other time. I must return to my duties.”

And with that, Delphine rose to her feet. I thought she was going to leave the room, but instead, she spoke to me in Eagalian.

<I have some resistance to poison. Since you have experience, you probably understand, but building tolerance is quite painful.>

<Yes. Looking back on it, I think I was able to endure it more easily during my youth because I had more stamina,> I said.

<I’m slowly starting to train my children to gain resistance to poison. But as I watch them go through it, I’ve come to understand how my parents must have felt.>

<I see.>

Delphine switched back to Ashburian. “Ha. You’re quite impressive. If someone had told me you were born in Eagal, I would believe it. But just one thing: Whoever taught you Eagalian must have instructed you in the northern dialect. Your vowels have a slight accent. The tone rises a bit. That’s a northern trait.”

“I had no idea. I apologize.”

“No, no. Your Eagalian is nearly perfect. My grandmother was from the north, so that’s the only reason I could tell. Anyone from Ashbury would never notice. You’re very skilled,” she said.

“Thank you.”

“Kate, if you’d like, you can send letters to your family occasionally. I can have Mike’s associate deliver them.”

As much as I wanted to take her up on that offer, I thought it safest not to.

I was putting my family through heartbreak by being gone for two months. Sending those letters could disrupt my work, which I wanted to avoid. Plus, it would take a lot more than two months apart to break the bond my family and I shared.

I told the princess this, and she smiled and said, “That’s a wise decision,” before leaving the room.

“Two months? Mom won’t be back for two whole months?!” Nonna exclaimed.

“That’s right. She has work to do.”

“What kind of work?”

“It’s an assignment from the kingdom, and that’s all I can say,” Jeff said.

“Does it have to do with the organization Mom used to be in?”

“My lips are sealed. She’ll be back in two months. Can you wait that long?”

Nonna sat silently for a moment, thinking as Jeffrey watched her. After a while, she looked up at him.

“I’ll miss Mom, but two months will go by quickly. When we went to Shen, five years seemed like it would be an eternity, but once we got there, it wasn’t so bad.”

“You’re right.”

Nonna toyed with the end of her braid as she stared at Jeffrey.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“You don’t like the idea of Mom working for two months, do you, Dad?”

“It’s not that. I want Anna to make her own decisions.”

“Then why do you look so upset? Even Ash and Berry could tell, and they got scared and ran away!”

That startled Jeffrey, and he hesitated to respond. “Nonna, I’m not upset. I’m just worried about your mother.”

“Mom wanted to do the job, right? So support her. She’ll be fine. Worrying about her won’t make her any safer.”

“That’s true…”

Nonna wavered for a moment, debating whether or not to express the question she had, but Jeffrey could tell she was holding back.

“Say what’s on your mind,” he said.

“Well… I’m not complaining in a roundabout way like nobles do, okay? I really want to know, so that’s why I’m asking.”

“What?”

“Mom was so happy when you told her that she could live freely. But…are you sure you didn’t mean she could only live as freely within the bounds of what you wanted her to do?”

“…”

Once again, Nonna’s question had rendered Jeffrey speechless.

“Because if that’s what you meant, I don’t think that’s how Mom took it. If you really only meant, ‘I’ll give you what normal women think of as freedom,’ then I think that will make her suffer.”

“…”

“I can wait if this is something Mom really wants to do. I’m fine. I’m almost thirteen, and Mom’s always worked so hard for us. And if this is what she wants to do, I want her to do it. She’ll come back, Dad.”

“I know. I’m sorry I made you think I was upset, Nonna. You’ve really grown up right under my nose.”

“Heh-heh.”

Nonna smiled and stood up. “I’m going to go read a book in my room,” she said, excusing herself from the living room.

Once Nonna was in her room, she locked the door and quickly changed into a shirt and pants that were easier for her to move in.

Her cats, Ash and Berry, came in through the cat door and observed her curiously. She tucked her long blond braid into a loose cap. At first glance, she could pass for a slender boy.

She opened the window and swiftly climbed over the window frame. There was a narrow beam beneath her about fifteen centimeters wide.

Nonna stood on the beam and moved along the wall. There was a large iron ring embedded inconspicuously in the corner of the building. It was for securing a ladder for exterior repairs and maintenance.

She grabbed the ring, hung down from it, and checked the position of the next ring.

“I can do it.”

She let go of the ring and quickly grabbed onto the next one as she descended along the wall.

“That should do it.”

She grinned and swung her body from side to side while she held on to the rings, then she used the momentum to leap down onto the first floor eaves and looked below her.

“Hmm, maybe it would’ve just been faster and easier to sneak out through a first-floor window? Oh well. I’ve always wanted to try that.”

She dropped to the ground and headed for the edge of the garden. She used the irregularities in the stone wall as footholds and lifted herself up, pulling with her fingers and toes. This was a skill she’d practiced since she was six years old.

In no time at all, she hopped over the fence and landed on the other side before running off. She was heading to the estate of Lady Yolana Haynes.

Yolana was shocked to see Nonna arriving alone.

“What’s the matter, Nonna? Why are you wearing that? And did you walk here?”

Nonna didn’t answer; she just addressed her with a desperate look on her face. “Lady Yolana, I have a request.”

“That’s unusual. You’re asking me for something?”

“Before I went to Shen, Susan told me the head of the Haynes family is someone very important. Is he still important?”

Yolana Haynes absolutely adored Nonna and thought of her like her own granddaughter. But even she wasn’t so naive as to be swayed by the girl’s charm. “You mean my son? What could you possibly want from him?”

“I want to work at the palace.”

“No.”

Nonna hung her head at Lady Yolana’s swift reply.

“I was afraid you’d say that.”

“Well, you’re still a child, Nonna! If anyone found out my son employed a child at the palace, he’d get into a lot of trouble! So the answer is no.”

“All right.”

Nonna was a determined girl who was always full of enthusiasm, so seeing her this dejected made Yolana feel a bit of amusement.

“I can’t count on my son in this situation, but the daughter of a lady I play poker with is the head maid. I can inquire about the castle through her.”

“Really?! Thank you so much!” Nonna said.

“However, I have a condition. You must be honest and tell me why you want to do such a thing.”

“Hmm…”

“That’s only fair, don’t you think?”

“Hmm…”

“Nonna, do you remember the saying that starts with the phrase If you try to gain something for free…? What comes next?”

“…The price you pay will only be higher in the end.”

“Very good. That’s the foundation of noble society. I would require something in return even for you, Nonna.”

“Hmm…”

“Is this regarding Victoria? Or Jeffrey? Or perhaps Clark?”

“…”

“I see. It’s about Victoria, isn’t it?”

“How did you know? Oops!”

Yolana chuckled with amusement. “You’ve got a long way to go if your expressions are that easy to read. So tell me what’s happened to Victoria. I’ll see what I can do to help. Don’t tell me someone from another country is pursuing her again?”

“I don’t think it’s that.”

“What makes you so sure?”

“Lady Yolana, can I ask you not to tell my father what I’m about to say?”

Yolana didn’t answer right away. She wanted to grant her dear Nonna’s request, but she also had her own responsibilities as an adult.

Perhaps I can keep this from Jeffrey Asher but not his brother. Forgive me for being a little underhanded, Nonna.

“Very well. I won’t tell your father. Why do you want to work at the castle?”

“The kingdom hired my mother to work for two months.”

“Hmm. The kingdom hired her, you say?”

“Yes, and I’m worried about her. I want to know what kind of work she’s taken on.”

“You might only end up burdening Victoria if you go to her,” Yolana said.

“Well, I guess it depends on what she’s doing. I just want to see for myself, and if it seems like she’s safe, I’ll come home right away,” Nonna said.

“And if it doesn’t seem safe?”

“Then I want to stay close to her and protect her.”

“But, dear, I’ve already told you that’s impossible.”

Nonna’s face fell at Yolana’s immediate response.

“The palace isn’t the kind of place where just anyone can come and go, dear. You need to show a permit every time you enter and leave. If you snuck in illegally, your parents could face severe consequences. And it might not even stop there; Lord Edward, Clark, and even Clark’s parents could be implicated. Would you risk causing trouble for all those people solely to check on your mother? You need to drop this idea at once. It’s far too reckless. Besides, there’s no guarantee Victoria is even working at the palace.”

Nonna thought about it for a moment before nodding.

“I suppose when you put it that way, I see your point.”

“Her work might not even be in the capital, let alone the castle. However, it might be possible to find out what she’s been asked to do.”

“Really?”

“I promise I’ll look into it for you. I can’t guarantee I’ll find out for sure, but I will try. So go on home now and wait for word from me.”

“I understand. Thank you, Lady Yolana.”

Nonna bowed deeply, and Yolana sent her home in the Haynes family carriage.

When she got back home, Bertha exclaimed, “When did you sneak out?” and promptly reported the incident to Jeffrey. When her father asked where she went, Nonna lied, said she’d gone into town alone to play, and was thoroughly scolded. Despite the lecture, Nonna didn’t regret her escapade one bit.

Meanwhile, Yolana immediately penned two letters: one to her poker companion of thirty years, and another to Edward Asher.

Edward Asher received the note after returning home. He wasn’t expecting a letter from Yolana Haynes, and he froze for a moment after reading it.

“That was a close one. That girl certainly has the skills of a spy… I’m grateful Lady Yolana warned me. Perhaps I underestimated the bond between Victoria and Nonna.”

Edward pondered the issue.

He was already dealing with the man calling himself Gunther Bahr, the attempted poisoning of the crown princess, monitoring the antiroyalist faction, and tracking the increasingly active Subartuan military after Ashbury’s discovery of the gold mine. With no shortage of work to be done, he couldn’t afford to have Nonna interfering now.

After he finished the letter, he called for his beloved wife, Blythe.

“Yes, darling? What is it?”

“Blythe, I need to ask a favor of you.”

“Oh my! How unusual. Whatever could it be?”

“I’m going to discuss this with Jeffrey, too, but I think we should take in Nonna for two months. Victoria is rather busy, and I don’t think Jeffrey can handle a girl of Nonna’s age alone.”

This was the very first time in their entire marriage Edward had made such a request from Blythe, so she knew it must be something very important and asked no questions.

She was well aware of how deeply Victoria loved Nonna. So if Victoria had entrusted Jeffrey with Nonna’s care for two months, it must be for something very significant indeed. Whatever it was, Edward would have explained it if he could. Since he didn’t share any details, that meant that he wasn’t in the position to disclose.

“Darling, rest easy and leave it to me. I’m looking forward to being with Nonna.”

“I’m sorry for the trouble. I really appreciate it.”

The next day, Jeffrey was summoned to his brother’s house and was surprised by what he heard.

“What do you mean, you’ll take in Nonna?”

“It appears she’s tried to go work at the palace. Is Victoria away? Nonna seems to think she’s staying there.”

“Nonna was trying to get a job at the palace?” This shocked Jeffrey. He hadn’t expected Nonna to consider such a thing, but he supposed it wasn’t entirely surprising considering the strength of her and her mother’s bond. He bit his lip, inwardly scolding himself for his lack of foresight. He wondered how best to explain the situation to his brother.

“I won’t interfere with you and your wife’s decision. Victoria will return once her task is done, won’t she? But if Nonna does something reckless in the meantime, you’ll be the one held responsible. Let Blythe take care of her, and then you can rest assured.”

“But I intended to look after Nonna myself,” Jeffrey said.

“I know. However, a girl her age can be difficult to handle. And who knows what she might do if left unsupervised? Please, Jeff. Let Blythe handle it.”

“Can I at least talk to Nonna about this first?”

“Of course.”

With that, Jeffrey rushed home.

Nonna was in her room reading Dell Dolgarr: Messenger from Hell, an adventure novel she’d gone through countless times before. Jeffrey knocked on her door.

“Nonna? I need to talk to you about something important.”

“What is it, Dad?”

Nonna was shocked by what Jeffrey told her. “Why are you sending me to Lord Edward’s house? Is it because I went out without telling anyone?”

“My brother is worried about you.”

“But what about Ash and Berry?”

“You can bring them along. My brother and my sister-in-law like cats, and so does my mother. Also, it would help if you could keep my mother company. Blythe handles all her care on her own. Even if it’s just for two months, having you there would make things easier on her.”

Nonna remembered what Victoria had once told her: “Jeffrey’s mother went through something very painful in her past. She couldn’t bear the sorrow, and her heart broke. So when you meet her, please be kind to her.”

I probably can’t do much for Mom, but I can help Aunt Blythe and Grandmother. Waiting around and feeling frustrated for two months doesn’t sound very fun anyway.

That morning, she had received a disappointing letter from Lady Yolana saying, I got a reply from my contact at the castle, but they have no information about Victoria.

“All right, but only if I can take Ash and Berry with me.”

“Good. Will you be all right going there tomorrow?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

And so, Nonna and her cats went to stay at Edward Asher’s estate for two months. This would lead to some unexpected consequences, but that’s a story for another time.

Edward let out a sigh of relief when he received Jeffrey’s approval. Up until now, he’d hidden Victoria’s background from everyone except Mike. There was a reason he’d asked Victoria to act as a body double.

“The attempted poisoning of the crown princess’s food was a catastrophic failure on our part. The enemy’s reach has extended dangerously close to the royal family. It’s clear the prime minister can no longer manage the situation.”

Edward had noticed the prime minister’s health had been declining for some time.

The prime minister handled domestic affairs, while Edward took care of foreign matters. But it was now evident the prime minister was no longer up to the task. Although Edward had refrained from intervening out of respect, he could no longer do so; waiting until something happened to the royal family was out of the question.

Edward thought of the crown princess, Delphine. She was around one hundred sixty-five centimeters tall and very slender. She had the sort of physique that was impossible to fake, and it was rare for an operative with rigorous training to be so slim.

Out of all his female operatives with a similar build, only three had the necessary skills for the job. Two of them were on long-term missions in other countries. Recalling them abruptly would not only waste their years of effort and the significant funds spent on them, but also raise suspicions in the countries where they were stationed. Plus, sending replacements after the Saint Floren Festival would be just as challenging, since trust was difficult to regain once lost.

Luna had been assigned to domestic missions to keep her close in case of emergency, but now she was unavailable.

And that wasn’t the only problem.

The kingdom of Ashbury had avoided war for almost twenty years. Although the operatives played a significant role in this, the budget for special missions had been steadily decreasing in recent years.

The prevailing opinion was these funds were better spent on building up the military, which was more visible and therefore a better deterrent to other nations than allocating money to covert operations.

Hence, the budget for special missions had been cut year after year. Recalling agents for a costly operation was out of the question.

Edward had chosen the kingdom’s financial interests over his own personal feelings for Jeffrey’s family and decided to use Victoria.

Forgive me, Jeff and Victoria. He delivered a silent apology.

Chapter Three: Victoria at the Castle, Nonna Sent Away

I was in the antechamber connected to Delphine’s room, waiting for the princess to summon me.

Last night, her head lady-in-waiting, Elly, had briefed me on her schedule.

“Here is Princess Delphine’s itinerary for tomorrow. You’ll accompany her throughout the day, Kate.”

“Understood.”

I memorized the schedule and handed it back to Elly.

“You know it by heart already?” she asked with surprise.

“Yes.”

Elly gave me a skeptical look before excusing herself from the room.

It was six in the morning, the time the crown princess woke up.

My room was adjacent to hers, with two doors: one leading to the princess’s room and the other to the hallway. You had to pass through an antechamber to reach the hallway, likely as a security measure against intruders.

I’d already eaten my breakfast and gotten changed, so I was ready to present myself to the princess at any moment.

I listened carefully for the sound of her glass bell as I looked around the room.

There were no hidden doors, no peepholes in the walls or ceiling. There were no ledges or beams outside the window of this third-story chamber—only smooth stone walls stretching down to the ground.

I quietly recited today’s schedule.

“The first item on the agenda is a meeting with the minister of internal affairs at ten. Lunch with Duchess Beatrice at noon. Tea with the marchioness at three. Dinner with the family at seven.”

The princess had two sons: ten-year-old Oscar and seven-year-old Lucas. I hadn’t met either of the young princes yet.

Just then, I heard the clear tinkling noise of the glass bell.

I stood up straighter and knocked on the door before entering.

“Good morning, Your Highness.”

“Good morning, Kate. Can you do hair?”

“Yes, I can.”

“Then I shall ask you for that. But please don’t pull too tight.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

I carefully brushed her glossy golden hair, smoothing it out neatly before gathering and twisting it into an elegant updo. I used as few pins as possible, making sure it was loose enough so as to not pull on her scalp.

While I worked, another maid who had entered the room with me began to apply a light layer of makeup on the princess’s face, while yet another massaged Delphine’s arms from the elbows down with fragrant oils.

Once the three of us finished with her preparations, Princess Delphine gracefully rose to her feet. We helped her change into her dress for the day, and I followed her to the dining room for breakfast.

Two strikingly handsome little boys were already sitting at the table. They immediately stood the moment they saw Princess Delphine.

“Good morning, Mother.”

“Good morning.”

“Good morning, Oscar and Lucas. Did you have pleasant dreams?”

“I don’t think I had any at all!”

“Me neither!”

All of a sudden, Prince Conrad entered the room with perfect timing just as the three of them had taken their seats. He was as stunningly good-looking as ever. With parents so gorgeous that they looked like they’d stepped straight out of a painting, it was little wonder Oscar and Lucas resembled porcelain dolls.

But of course, my Nonna was just as beautiful.

“Good morning, Delphine. You look gorgeous as usual today.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

From there, the family shared a peaceful conversation over breakfast.

I spent the entire time observing the princess—her tone of voice, the way she laughed, the gestures she made when speaking. She had a habit of tipping her head slightly to the right before answering a question. She laughed silently with only a smile on her face.

I burned every one of those gestures into my memory, determined not to forget a single detail.

After breakfast, Princess Delphine had her meeting with the minister of internal affairs.

The first item on the agenda was regarding the royal family’s charity initiatives, and the second was regarding a tea party with the goodwill ambassador from the neighboring kingdom of Randall.

As we headed into the meeting room, Delphine turned to me. “Kate, I don’t think I have many distinctive traits. Does that make it easier or harder for you to be my double?”

“You have plenty of notable traits, Your Highness. I’m learning them little by little.”

“Oh? What kind of traits do you mean?”

“It’s easier to show you than to explain.”

“I’d love to see it.”

I decided to mimic how she walked. First, I walked with my weight subtly shifted to the back, as though I was gracefully pulling along the hem of a long dress behind me. I kept my back and neck perfectly straight. Then I paused and mimicked how she addressed her attendants.

“How many guests will be attending today’s tea party? I see. In that case, prepare the usual tea. Oh, and Marchioness Hudson cannot eat nuts. Make sure to remember that.”

Delphine stared at me with a look of shock on her face.

“How was that, Your Highness?”

“You’ve memorized everything I said?”

“Just that one bit from this morning’s conversation.”

“Why, that’s incredible! I’m impressed. Do I really speak like that?”

“Yes, you do.”

“Hmm, perhaps I sound a bit too informal when addressing my attendants.”

“Not at all,” I said.

I meant it. The princess’s demeanor was refined and graceful, befitting of a woman born to be the queen.

Although I hadn’t spent much time with her yet, I was convinced Princess Delphine was the epitome of nobility, elegance, intelligence, and compassion.

There was a moment during her meeting with the minister of internal affairs where my heart skipped a beat, however.

The minister’s name was listed as Colin Haynes, so I’d assumed he was a relative of Lady Yolana’s, but the moment I saw him, it was clear he was her son; his resemblance to Lady Yolana was simply uncanny.

There was a chance I might run into him at Lady Yolana’s estate one day, so I lowered my gaze and tried to blend into the background.

During the discussion, Princess Delphine raised her voice once.

I had no idea she could speak like that, I thought, surprised.

“Colin, what’s the meaning of this? Why has the budget for the charity initiatives been halved compared with last year?”

“I’m very sorry. But the funds have been diverted to military expansion,” he said.

“There still isn’t enough money, even with the discovery of the gold mine?”

“The kingdom of Subartu has made moves to try to claim the gold. It will take time to mine and refine it before adding funds to the kingdom’s budget.”

“I see. Then use my personal budget for charity.”

“I’m afraid that’s beyond my authority, Your Highness.”

“I am granting you permission. It’s unacceptable there are people in this kingdom struggling to feed themselves. I want you to use my budget to ensure the poor can at least survive the winter.”

“Very well. I will consult with the prime minister.”

“If he refuses, bring the matter back to me,” she said.

“As you wish.”

She’s very determined, I thought.

I didn’t know many royals personally, but during my time as an operative, I had learned about the personalities and preferences of various dignitaries. Some viewed commoners as less than human, but Princess Delphine clearly wasn’t like that. She was completely prepared to become the queen of Ashbury, just as she’d been trained to.

Her expression remained stern even after the meeting ended.

“Kate, is the idea that royalty wields great power just an illusion? I can’t even freely provide bread to my starving people. And simply using my own personal funds requires the prime minister’s approval! It’s vexing,” she said.

“I understand your frustration.”

“Ever since I had my children, I haven’t been able to bear the thought of any child going hungry. But what can I do? Charity work is all I can think of, despite the fact I know it won’t solve the systemic issues causing these problems.”

I couldn’t help myself from speaking out of turn. “Princess Delphine, please forgive my impertinence. Though I am but a humble citizen, I must say this: I believe someone with a heart as pure as yours should be at the top of this kingdom. A nation run solely by shrewd opportunists is no place to safely raise children.”

She stepped closer to me and gently took my hand. She had a delicate floral fragrance.

“Thank you, Kate. I know you must have lived in a world far broader than mine. Although we’ll only be together for two short months, if you notice any faults in my knowledge or experience, please don’t hesitate to point them out. I want to know more about my people.”

“Of course.”

“I’m counting on you.”

Lunch was a quiet affair, with only Princess Delphine and Lady Beatrice dining together.

As I discretely listened in, it became clear to me why Lord Cedric was utterly smitten with Lady Beatrice. It was nice to see such a lovely marriage.

Lady Beatrice told Delphine about Lord Cedric’s recent activities.

“Princess Delphine, it seems Cedric’s friend, Lord Bahr, has decided to settle in the capital. With him here, Cedric says he will also be staying for some time.”

“Will you be planning to stay as well?”

“Yes, that’s the idea.”

“How delightful!”

Hmm, so Gunther Bahr really had captured Lord Cedric’s interest. And Lord Bahr would be staying in the capital, no less. If he visited the castle, I needed to be very cautious. Since I had danced with him at the ball, there was no doubt that he would remember my face.

“Kate, Lord Cedric has an immense appreciation for martial arts, you know.”

“Is that so?”

Oh, trust me. I am intimately aware of how far his fascination goes… After all, I was the one who broke two of his ribs a few years ago.

That afternoon, I was in Princess Delphine’s dressing room, listening to Elly explain the details of a dress.

“Kate, this is the dress you’ll be wearing for the Saint Floren Festival. Go ahead and try it on.”

“All right.”

I quickly changed into it and let Elly inspect me. She walked around me once, then nodded with satisfaction. “Yes, there’s no need for alterations. The fit is perfect—just as I expected from one of their people. You and Princess Delphine have almost identical figures.”

“Mike will bring the blond wig, so from a distance, no one should be able to tell us apart,” I said.

“Your voice is deeper, though. Will that be an issue? The crown princess always gives a speech to ring in the Saint Floren Festival.”

I imitated Princess Delphine’s voice to reassure Elly. “Don’t worry, Elly. That’s what a body double is for. Mimicking the voice and mannerisms is part of the job.”

“Goodness!” Elly looked like she’d just witnessed something terrifying.

“What do you think?”

“I’m shocked. If I closed my eyes, I would’ve thought Princess Delphine herself was speaking! You’re on a completely different level compared with the previous doubles.”

“I’m honored.”

“I have chills…”

“Thank you.”

I changed back into my maid’s uniform and noticed that Elly was walking slightly farther away from me than she had been earlier.

She’s genuinely frightened of me, I thought. I addressed her in my natural voice to ease the tension. “How long have you been serving Princess Delphine, Elly?”

“Since she was ten years old. Even at that age, she was already so mature—perhaps because she was groomed from birth to marry Prince Conrad.”

“Ten years old…”

“She was expected to excel at everything and behave like royalty even as a child. I doubt she ever had a moment’s rest. But enduring that sort of life is what made her into the person she is today.”

“I’m sure you were of great emotional support to her.”

“Maybe. You know, the first time I ever saw Princess Delphine lose her composure and cry was when I collapsed after drinking poisoned soup.”

“Wait—you personally test her food and not a taster?”

“Yes, I do, but just Her Highness’s meals. Thankfully, I survived because I’ve built up a resistance to poisons. Oh, and before I forget—someone else will be on duty from nine PM to two AM tonight, so make sure to get some rest.”

“Thank you.”

I’ve got plenty I need to investigate during that time.

When nine PM rolled around, I switched shifts with another maid and began moving through the castle. There was a surprising number of guards in the royal family’s personal quarters, probably due to the recent poisoning attempt.

First, I headed to the kitchen.

Since the cooks were still working, I didn’t go inside but instead confirmed the route the food took from the kitchen to the royal dining room.

Every door along the way where someone could potentially hide was in view of the guards. There wasn’t a single place where poison could be slipped in without their notice. I needed to ask Mike if the kitchen had always been this secure or if it had been reinforced recently in response to the poisoning incidents.

During my break, Mike bided his time for me at the appointed place. I met him in a furniture-storage room close to the royal quarters.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Victoria.”

“There are a few things I want you to investigate, Mike.”

He raised an eyebrow at one of the tasks I gave him, but I made sure he understood it was important.

“How is Nonna doing?” I asked.

“She’s staying at the Asher family estate under Lady Blythe’s care.”

“Lady Blythe? Why?”

“I don’t know the details.”

“I see. Something must’ve happened, then. I just hope she doesn’t try to sneak into the palace.”

Mike’s gaze shifted ever so slightly—an unusual reaction for someone as stoic as him. Has Nonna already infiltrated the castle?

Well, if she was at the Asher estate, at least she hadn’t been caught.

“I’ll write her a letter, then. Could you deliver it? I want her to know I’m safe, since it might prevent her from doing anything reckless,” I said.

“Of course.”

Mike promptly handed me a paper and pen. I quickly scribbled off a short message at the table.

Dearest Nonna,

I‘m working in a safe place. Let‘s train together near that abandoned house when I come home. Until then, I want you to be a good girl and wait for me patiently.

Love, Mother

“Is that all?”

“Yes, this will be enough. Thank you. I should get back now.”

“Take care, then. Here, this is what you requested yesterday.”

“I appreciate it.”

After Mike left, I changed into the uniform he gave me, which was what the lower-ranking maids wore, and hurried to the staff dining hall. I’d learned from the guards this was their dinner hour.

The dining room was packed, filled with boisterous laughter, lively chatter, and the clatter of dishes. Since the maids normally had to stay silent at work, they seemed to let loose here and speak openly.

I kept my head slightly bowed as I collected a bowl of soup with bread, along with thinly sliced chicken drizzled in brown gravy.

“Salt and vinegar are on the table, so help yourself. You new here?” a maid asked.

“Yes. It’s nice to meet you.”

I sat near a particularly lively group of maids and began eavesdropping.

“Don’t you think there are too many guards around lately? No matter where I work, they’re always glaring at me! It’s positively unnerving!”

“I know. It makes your heart race even when you’re not doing anything wrong!”

“Hey, you over there! Can you pass the salt?”

I hunched my shoulders slightly, looking nervous as I handed it over.

“H-here you go.”

“Thanks. You’re new, huh?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Are you from the south or something? You’ve got an accent.”

“I’m from Cadiz.”

“Oh, okay. Well, hang in there.”

“Thank you.”

From that day on, I had dinner in the staff dining room every evening. I didn’t dine with the higher-ranking maids because there were too few of them to blend in with, and they didn’t speak as freely as the lower-ranking ones.

Plus, the junior maids had no direct contact with the crown princess, but rumors often spread to unexpected places. There could be useful information among the seemingly trivial chatter.

Still, I didn’t hear anything noteworthy even after I started visiting the staff dining hall daily. Over two weeks passed before I finally learned something intriguing.

“Hey, Marin. That’s a really fancy fragrance oil! Did you buy it?” a maid asked.

“No way. I just picked up the empty bottle and refilled it with plain horse oil. Seriously, can you believe someone threw away such an expensive thing? I can’t believe this place sometimes,” said another maid, Marin.

“Oh, it’s just horse oil? Still, that was a lucky find. Where’d you get it?”

“The garbage. I was gathering fallen leaves to toss out and found the bottle under the pile. The wind must’ve blown the leaves on top of it away.”

“Wow, that’s amazing. If you find another one, will you give it to me?”

“Sure, if I come across another one, it’s all yours.”

I made a note of the maid who had found the bottle and then returned to my room that night.

The next day, I set my plan into motion during my break before dinner.

I was refilling the oil in the lamps on the floor where the junior maids lived. I waited for the maid who’d found the bottle to leave her room. Since I had to stand on a stepladder to do my work, I blended into the background. Even though this task was typically performed during the daytime, no one ever paid attention to people refilling oil lamps.

When the maid finally left her room, I noted its location and waited for the other maids to leave as well. They staggered their mealtimes, so I had to act fast before another group returned.

I quickly unlocked her door, slipped inside, and began rummaging through the maid’s drawers.

It didn’t take me long to find the vial I was looking for. It was small and made of clear, high-quality glass. Cheap glass had bubbles in it and wasn’t as thin as this bottle. I took off the lid and sniffed it; there was indeed horse oil inside. After I checked the scent on the interior of the lid, too, I carefully returned the bottle to its place.

But just as I was about to leave, I heard footsteps and the sound of a key turning in the lock. They’re back way too soon!

“This evening was so busy, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah, it was crowded.”

I’d quickly slid under the bed before the door opened. This was bad. If they found me here, I’d be accused of theft, and it would cause a scene. I had no choice but to hold my breath and stay hidden.

The two maids sat down on their beds, chatting.

“I wanted to take my time and enjoy my dinner.”

“I know, but there were so many people standing and waiting, so we had to practically wolf down our food.”

Ultimately, I needed to bide my time under the bed for two whole hours until they finally fell asleep and began lightly snoring. Only then did I crawl out and leave the room.

I rushed back to my chambers; I needed to sleep, too.

Mike showed up at Edward Asher’s estate to deliver a letter. The moment he handed it to Nonna, she clasped it against her chest and hopped up and down with joy.

“Wow! It’s from Mom! Thank you, Mike!”

“Victoria was worried about you, Nonna,” he said.

“Huh? But why? I’ve been such a good girl!”

“Is that so?”

Edward had told Mike about Nonna asking Lady Yolana for help in infiltrating the castle. How is that being a good girl? Still, he resisted the urge to smirk in response and instead just nodded impassively.

“Are you free right now, Mike?”

“Not really, but what is it?”

“I wanted you to watch the game Grandmother and I play. It’s really fun.”

“All right, let’s see it.”

Although he was swamped with work, he followed Nonna to the sunroom. He felt it was part of his duty to keep tabs on her anyway.

Lady Courtney Asher sat on the sofa and greeted him with an elegant smile. “Oh, Nonna! Do you have a guest?”

“Yes! This is my friend.”

Mike was taken aback by Nonna referring to him as her friend and glanced at the girl as she smiled at her grandmother.

Well, why not? he thought, smiling politely as he introduced himself.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Mike, a friend of Nonna’s.”

“Courtney Asher. Thank you for taking care of Nonna.”

Edward had mentioned that Courtney’s mind sometimes wandered between the past and the present, but as of this moment, she seemed perfectly lucid.

“Grandmother, I brought Mike here to watch our game!” Nonna said.

“Of course, dear.”

“Let’s begin.”

Nonna took out a handmade ball—a down pillow tightly bound with thin string to hold a round shape—about twice the size of an adult’s head.

“Here we go! The first one is cat!”

Nonna tossed the ball underhanded in an arc to Courtney.

Mike inwardly panicked for a moment, but Courtney caught it effortlessly despite remaining seated. Courtney paused briefly and then threw the ball back at Nonna.

“All right, Nonna. Rabbit!”

“Hmm… Frog!”

“Let’s see… Grasshopper!”

“Cucumber!”

“Spinach!”

“What do you think, Mike? Can you figure out the rules?”

“You respond with something that shares a common trait?”

“Exactly! Mom used to play this with me when I was little. Back then, we used a smaller ball.” Nonna made a circle with her hands about the size of an apple.

Courtney threw the ball far from Nonna every time, and Nonna would dive for it, sometimes catching it before it hit the floor, other times kicking it up into the air before grabbing it. Occasionally, she would roll across the floor dramatically before leaping back onto her feet.

Hmm, so these are the kinds of games the former ace Haglian operative played with her child, Mike thought with interest.

As he observed, Courtney spoke to him in a gentle voice. “Before Nonna came to stay with us, I couldn’t move much, and I had a lot of trouble thinking straight. But playing with someone with as much energy as Nonna has been such a wonderful change of pace. Thanks to her, I sleep so much better at night now.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Well, Nonna, Lady Courtney. I have some work to attend to, so I must excuse myself,” said Mike.

A smile lingered on Mike’s face as he walked back to the palace.

“I really wish Victoria would serve as our instructor…,” he said. “I wonder if it’s even possible…”

Meanwhile, in a room at Hotel Fruud, Gunther Bahr was reading a letter from his homeland.

The letter was written in Randallish, but the writer was Gunther’s father, a duke from the kingdom of Eagal. It began with the typical seasonal greetings and inquiries about Gunther’s health, but the end of the letter contained troubling news.

The maple tree in the garden seems to be dying, and I’m quite worried about it. Meanwhile, the laurel trees have suddenly started to thrive. I fear the garden will soon be overrun by them.

Gunther’s expression darkened as he read those words.

“So there isn’t much time left.”

The kingdom of Eagal was north of Ashbury, and the crest of its royal family featured a maple leaf.

Meanwhile, the crest of a noble faction pushing for their relative to be on the throne bore a laurel tree.

The leading noble house supporting Eagal’s current royal family was the Aldran ducal house. Gunther Bahr, also known as Grayson Aldran, was the fifth son of Duke Aldran.

The king of Eagal was elderly and ailing, so the seeds of a succession conflict were beginning to sprout. The day the king would pass the throne to the crown prince was drawing near, and various factions were already maneuvering behind the scenes to take advantage of the transition of power.

Grayson thought back to the moment a year ago when his father had entrusted him with his mission.

After being summoned to his family estate, Grayson sat before his father.

“Grayson, I have a request for you. This is something only you can do, and it will determine the future of this kingdom.”

“Father, please don’t use such distant words like request. Just tell me what to do, and I shall do it, even at the cost of my life.”

“Then I will. I want you to disguise yourself as Gunther Bahr—a nobleman from Randall—and infiltrate the castle in Ashbury. You must protect Princess Delphine.”

“Protect Princess Delphine? Is there someone in the palace who is targeting her? Surely not…”

“There is. Fortunately, you are a rarity: a duke’s son who became a soldier and rarely appeared at social events. No one will recognize you in Ashbury. You can easily pass as the second son of a baron from Randall.”

His father’s eyes bore into him. They were beginning to grow slightly clouded; not even someone as hardworking as his father could stave off the effects of aging.

“Marquess Barbier is rallying antiroyalist nobles. The plan is to eliminate Princess Delphine first to ensure the Ashburian royal army won’t intervene if a civil war breaks out here in Eagal. Barbier’s agents are already inside Ashbury’s royal palace. I need you to act without alerting Ashbury. We will spare no expense. The day is fast approaching when Barbier’s faction will hatch a rebellion to destroy the peace between Eagal and Ashbury. I need you to protect Princess Delphine from them.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Our house is being surveilled, so I can’t spare any manpower to assist you. Do you think you can manage it alone? We’ve already prepared everything you need to assume a false identity.”

“Leave it to me.”

Grayson accepted the task and traveled to the kingdom of Randall. From there, he boarded a ship to a port in Ashbury and made his way to Lord Cedric’s domain, where he used the duke’s love of martial arts to gain his trust.

After accompanying the duke to the capital, “Gunther” soon became Lord Cedric’s close friend, gaining unrestricted access to the castle. Everything had gone better than he could’ve hoped so far.

“Now, what’s next? It would be far too risky to approach Princess Delphine directly. Perhaps I should start by getting in touch with her maids.”

But since he was a guest, he found it impossible to get close to Elly, Princess Delphine’s head lady-in-waiting. She was always occupied, either mingling with the other maids or staying by the princess’s side.

His other option was a recently hired maid. He’d painstakingly gathered information but still had yet to see her.

“What’s going on? This maid has to eat and sleep, doesn’t she? She can’t be working nonstop all the time.”

Since he was unable to access the royal family’s quarters, Gunther tried targeting the senior maids, but his attempts consistently fell short. He had no way of knowing the maid closest to Princess Delphine besides Elly was actually Victoria, so he spent his days waiting anxiously outside the royal quarters.

Although he tried to contact the mysterious maid, he had to spar with Lord Cedric to maintain his cover, leaving him quite busy.

Gunther was growing desperate. Poison had been detected in Princess Delphine’s meals twice now.

With the pressure getting to him, he took a risk and used bribery to obtain a servant’s uniform. Fortunately, the gold coins he offered for the outfit proved remarkably effective.

“I’m trying to get closer to a pretty maid,” was his excuse, and the servant just gave him a knowing smirk, not pressing any further.

Things are far too lenient here. I’m the duke’s friend, but they haven’t even verified my background.

Servants’ uniforms weren’t as strictly categorized as maid uniforms, which had different designs for each rank, so he used this to his advantage.

Gunther grabbed a hatbox and pretended to be delivering hats as he entered the royal quarters.

Almost immediately, he spotted a familiar woman up ahead. “Wait a minute, I’ve seen her before. Who is she…? Oh!”

Gunther never ignored his instincts, a lesson that had been drilled into him during his military days.

He began following the woman. She’s a baroness, isn’t she? Why would she be wearing a maid’s uniform and working in the palace? Even if a noblewoman had to work here for some reason, she’d dress in her own clothes.

The woman in the maid uniform walked briskly, descending the stairs and crossing the terrace, her movements growing increasingly suspicious.

Could she be the assassin? Gunther wondered as he slowly closed the distance between them.

He saw her enter an empty room. He decided to go after her and opened the door.

But the moment he stepped inside, he was knocked unconscious.

Once I left the junior maids’ quarters after checking the glass bottle, I realized I was being followed.

Though the carpet was muffling the sound of my pursuer’s footsteps, I could hear the steady rhythm of someone walking behind me. Judging by their long strides, it was most likely a man. What should I do?

For now, I decided to confirm his identity. I circled the royal quarters a few times to draw him out. Once I was positive I was being followed, I slipped into a small, empty room and waited.

The man entered the dark room, and I instantly attacked, delivering one blow to his stomach and another to the back of his head. When he didn’t lose consciousness right away, I wrapped my arm around his neck from behind and tightened my grip until he passed out. I opened the curtains to let in the moonlight and inspected his face.

“Well, well. If it isn’t Gunther Bahr. Wearing a servant’s uniform, no less. You would’ve had no excuse if you’d been caught, you know. How reckless,” I said to myself.

I needed to call Mike, who was waiting for me right about now anyway, but I couldn’t just leave Gunther out cold in the middle of the room.

I rolled the man onto his back and lay on my back across his stomach. Gripping his left leg below the knee, I then swung my body toward his right shoulder, rolling him over with a grunt.

“Oof!”

Even though he was significantly heavier than me, I managed to hoist Gunther up onto my back, wrapping him around my shoulders. I thought my knees or back might give out, but I was able to stand without issue. I carefully balanced his weight as I opened the door and carried him into a small storage room filled with party equipment—vases, chairs, and other rarely used items.

I dropped him onto the floor with a heavy thud, stuffed a handkerchief into his mouth to keep him quiet, and tied another one around his mouth. Then I bound his hands and feet tightly with thin ropes. Since starting to work at the castle, I had taken to carrying a dagger and some ropes on my person.

“Now I just need to let Elly know I’ll be late.”

I jogged over to the guards. “Please deliver a message to Elly for me. Tell her Kate is delayed because she needs to meet with Mike. It’s urgent.”

Then I ran again.

Hang in there, Gunther. I’ll bring someone who’s good at interrogation.

Mike was already waiting in our usual meeting room. He seemed to sense something was amiss the moment he saw me. “What is it?”

“I have Gunther Bahr tied up. I’ll let you handle it. Can you take him away?”

“Of course. Please lead me to him. Did Gunther do something?”

“Yes. He followed me and entered the chamber I was in. I knocked him unconscious and left him in a storage room.”

The two of us walked briskly down the hallway with calm expressions on our faces.

Once we entered the storage room, Mike glanced at Gunther in his restraints and muttered, “You carried him in here by yourself?” He wore a neutral expression as he examined Gunther’s face. “I know you’re awake, Gunther Bahr. Open your eyes.”

“Argh…”

“What were you doing, wandering around the royal quarters in a servant’s uniform?”

“Ugh…”

I drew the dagger I had strapped to my thigh and pointed it at him.

“Gunther Bahr—were you or someone you work for behind the poison intended for someone in the castle?”

“Mmph! Mmph!”

Gunther’s eyes widened as he shook his head. I wanted to press him further, but I needed to return to my duties. Besides, he was Mike’s responsibility now.

“Unfortunately, I must return to work.”

“Very well. Leave him to me,” Mike replied.

“Thank you. If you’ll excuse me, then.”

Good… Tonight has been quite productive.

Satisfied, I headed back to the princess’s chambers.

The following night, Mike delivered a shocking report during our regular debriefing.

“He’s the fifth son of a duke from the kingdom of Eagal? Gunther? But he looks more like a soldier than a nobleman.”

“He is a soldier. We found letters confirming this at his hotel. Gunther claims he infiltrated the castle to protect the princess.”

“So he wasn’t involved in the attempted poisoning?”

“No. Gunther’s father is the king’s younger brother, a leading supporter of the royal family. They would be in big trouble if Princess Delphine died.”

“I must apologize to him for knocking him unconscious.”

“He suspected you were the assassin and followed you, so it’s mutual. Even though he’s the son of a duke, he could’ve killed you, a noblewoman from another kingdom. You don’t need to feel guilty.” Mike’s calm response made me do a double take.

He was right. I could’ve been killed.

Gunther hadn’t been trained as an operative, and with a build like his, he could easily take my life if he didn’t exercise restraint.

Mike was right. We could just call it even.

“Even eliminating one suspect is a significant achievement, Mike,” I said.

“I agree. By the way, I have news about the matter you asked about: I received a response from our contact in Eagal.”

“Already? That was quick.”

“My boss designed a very efficient network of communication. Anyway, according to our operative there, a troubling story about Elly’s family is circulating. Elly comes from the family of a viscount who belongs to the royalist faction, but they seem to be deeply in debt for some reason. The cause of this debt is still being looked into, but it may have made them vulnerable to the antiroyalists.”

“So you’re saying Elly had to poison Princess Delphine to pay off her family’s debt? If that’s the theory, then why would Elly ingest the poison herself?”

“Precisely. Why did Elly collapse from poison twice if that was the plan?”

I recalled Elly’s demeanor when she had spoken of Princess Delphine. She seemed to genuinely care for the princess. I hadn’t detected any deceit in her tone of voice or her expression.

“Mike, the fact that she didn’t die either time is quite suspicious. Normally, after one failed poisoning attempt, you would expect the culprit to either use a stronger poison or try a different method altogether. Besides, poison that causes immediate symptoms would incapacitate the food taster, so either way, Princess Delphine wouldn’t end up ingesting it. Why use a poison that wouldn’t be successful the second time, either? And who planted it? We need to investigate everyone around the princess again.”

“You’re right. But, Victoria, your first priority here is to act as her body double. Here, take this. It’s the blond wig.”

I examined the wig Mike gave me; it was almost identical to Princess Delphine’s hair color. I tried it on without a net, and it fit me perfectly.

“All right, I’ll wear this while I act as her double. I think it’s time for the princess to start wearing netted hats, just in case.”

Now that our discussion was finished, I returned to my quarters.

The maid who was assigned to take over my shift was already waiting inside.

“Thanks for covering for me, Nina.”

“Are you sure you’re okay? Kate, have you been getting enough rest?”

“Yes, I’m fine. There’s no need to worry about me.”

“That’s a relief.”

Once I was alone, I checked to make sure nothing in my room had been tampered with. I’d sealed the drawer with a single strand of my hair. It would have snapped if anyone tried to open the drawer. However, it was untouched.

I lay down in bed, mentally sorting through the information Mike had given me, trying to consider who might have the motive to poison the princess.

Could Elly be orchestrating this plot herself? Then what’s her goal? How would it tie back to her family’s debt?

There wasn’t enough evidence to come to any conclusions.

Perhaps it was because I was on edge from being active again after so long, but I hadn’t felt tired at all since coming to the castle. I had a feeling the exhaustion wouldn’t hit me until I was safely back at home.

I was already thirty-three years old. That was around the age most operatives began thinking about retirement.

“Maybe it’s time to seriously consider settling down at the sheep farm…”

Nonna would probably get married in a few years.

Jeffrey and I could spend our days peacefully, tending the farm. I could spin wool, dye it in my favorite colors, and knit sweaters for Jeffrey and Nonna. And if Nonna had a family of her own, I could knit baby clothes, too. That sounded like fun.

That night, I ended up dreaming about my family.

In my vision, Jeffrey and I were a little older than we were now, and we sipped tea while we gazed out at the sheep farm. Nonna chatted with us while she held a baby.

I woke up at four in the morning, and even though it was still dark outside, I felt incredibly happy.

Princess Delphine had two children of her own. She had a wonderful relationship with Prince Conrad, and she was a kind, loving mother.

If acting as her body double meant protecting her happiness, then I was determined to see it through.

Jeffrey was visiting his older brother Edward at his estate.

“I’m surprised to see you looking so energetic, Mother,” he said.

“I’ve been feeling so much better thanks to Nonna. You’re so fortunate to have such a wonderful daughter.”

“I am. Nonna is my and Victoria’s treasure.”

“Heh-heh.” Nonna giggled softly.

She and Courtney sat side by side on the love seat.

Before Nonna came to stay at the family estate, Courtney would spend most of her days in bed. And even when she was up and awake, she would sit in a rocking chair, staring out absently into the garden.

Today, however, she was dressed and sitting up on the sofa, which was a significant improvement.

“Mom will be back in a month, right?” Nonna asked.

“That’s right. The days will pass by quickly.”

“Yeah, it’ll fly by. She’ll be home just in time for the Saint Floren Festival. I hope we can all go together.”

“That’ll be nice.”

But Victoria wouldn’t be home before then—the most critical part of her mission would take place that day. However, Jeffrey had made sure not to let this show on his face when he replied to Nonna.

“Make sure you do as Aunt Blythe says, Nonna.”

“I will. I’m being good. Aren’t I, Aunt Blythe?”

“Yes, Nonna is a very well-behaved young lady. Please don’t worry, Jeffrey.”

To an outsider, it would have looked like a peaceful, heartwarming family gathering. Jeffrey was very pleased at the positive effect Nonna was having on his mother.

But Nonna had a secret, and only Edward knew about it.

At night, Nonna would sneak out of her room and meet Chester, Victoria’s liaison to the Third Order.

That was because Chester trained with the girl every evening.

It was all happening under Edward’s watchful eye, although Nonna was unaware he knew.

That night at ten o’clock, when the house was silent, Nonna quietly opened her bedroom window. She pushed it wide and stood on the windowsill.

She wore fingerless leather gloves, black riding pants, and a navy sweater Victoria had knit for her. On her feet, she wore soft, short leather boots. Her long golden braid was tucked into her sweater.

“Good thing Mom loves navy blue,” she muttered to herself as she kicked off the windowsill, swinging her arms. She leaped effortlessly onto a branch of the elm tree outside her window, the leaves rustling softly as she landed.

She stayed still for a moment, blending into the tree as though she were part of it. The Asher family guards didn’t notice her.

“All right. Here we go.”

She slid down the trunk, ran across the garden, and easily climbed over the stone wall.

A horse was waiting for her on the other side of the wall, as usual. Sitting atop the animal was Chester, and together, they would ride to his house, which was behind Lady Yolana’s estate.

It all started the day before Nonna had gone to Edward Asher’s estate. Mike had visited Chester and made a surprising request.

“Keep an eye on a twelve-year-old girl?”

“She’s no ordinary twelve-year-old girl. She beat me in a sparring match. Don’t underestimate her. Watch her for a while, especially at night. We’ll have a problem on our hands if she sneaks out.”

“What do you mean, she beat you? How is that even possible?”

“She’s unbelievably skilled at martial arts. She once took down five men barehanded. I hate to admit it, but if she’s armed, that could make her even stronger than either of us.”

“Stronger than you…” Chester was about to dismiss it all as a joke but shut his mouth when he saw the serious expression on Mike’s face.

Chester was fifty-five years old and retired from his job as an operative. He had devoted his entire life to his work and had never married, and he was finding himself with too much time on his hands during his retirement. So when Mike had approached him about taking on the role of liaison, Chester eagerly agreed.

He understood the importance of his role, but Victoria rarely visited. He ended up spending most of his time on his woodworking hobby, carving birds and other animals out of wood.

He was getting quite bored of it. So when Mike said he had a new mission for him, Chester was excited—only for his face to fall after he heard the details.

He wasn’t sure if Mike noticed his disappointment or not.

“Anyway, I want you to keep an eye on her for now. She’s Victoria’s daughter, so her safety is the top priority.”

“That’s fine, but what should I do if I catch her sneaking out?”

“She’s probably overflowing with energy. Spar with her if you have to. She might end up disrupting our mission if she doesn’t let off some steam.”

“All right.”

How ridiculous, Chester thought as he went on duty the next night, standing outside Edward Asher’s estate. The girl stayed on the second floor, and he gazed up at her window. There was no balcony or railing up there.

So how could she even sneak out?

As Chester stood at the edge of the road, he saw the girl slip out of her room on the very first night. She perched her slender body on the edge of the windowsill before effortlessly leaping onto a nearby elm tree.

“Hey, that’s dangerous! What does she think she’s doing?!”

The girl slid down the elm tree and disappeared behind the wall.

Now he had to figure out where she was going. The servants’ entrance was around the corner and some distance away.

What should I do? Head to the entrance or stay here? Chester frantically asked himself.

But Nonna soon reappeared atop the wall. Chester hurried and hid around the corner, watching her closely.

She silently jumped down from the two-and-a-half-meter-high stone wall and began walking briskly. Her movements alone made it clear she was no ordinary girl. She wore dark clothing that blended seamlessly into the night.

The noble district was full of walls, offering no good opportunity to tail her discreetly.

“Well, I’ve got no other choice. She’s just a kid, so I’ll approach her openly.”

Chester decided not to conceal his footsteps as he walked toward the girl.

Nonna noticed him immediately and turned around. She dropped into a strange stance and glared at him intently.

“Don’t worry, I’m not suspicious.”

“That’s exactly what someone who’s suspicious would say,” she replied.

“No, I mean it. I’m an acquaintance of your mother. You’re Victoria’s daughter, aren’t you?” Chester thought that would reassure her, so he was startled when he began to feel open hostility from the girl.

“Aha! So you’re one of the guys who are after my mom, huh?”

“N-no, not at all! I swear!”

“Stop right there. Don’t come any closer, or I’ll attack.”

How can a girl so small exude so much antagonism? Still, I doubt a punch or a kick would hurt that much from someone her size. Plus, she doesn’t seem to have a dagger…

Chester slowly approached her.

The girl maintained her unfamiliar stance and began to sway slightly on the spot, her entire body oozing fierce hostility.

He was about three steps away when she suddenly vanished. She’d leaped into the air toward her left, but she was nowhere to be found in that direction.

Where in the world did she go? Chester cautiously scanned his surroundings.

The next moment, the girl landed on his back and wrapped a cord around his windpipe.

“Don’t move, or I’ll break your neck. Think I’m bluffing?”

Chester shook his head slightly. The thin cord dug into his skin, preventing him from speaking or breathing properly.

“If I jump down, the small bone in your throat will snap. You’ll suffocate and die an agonizing death. So don’t move.”

Chester nodded as an unpleasant wheezing sound escaped his lips. The air he desperately sought wouldn’t come in. Should I fight back? he wondered, but he had no idea what her next move might be. His instincts screamed that if she really jumped down with that cord on his throat, it would be all over.

He couldn’t breathe, and panic set in.

He’d never failed so miserably before.

With a sudden whack, Nonna kicked Chester’s back with both feet, making him stumble forward. Suddenly, he could breathe again.

He coughed violently and turned around, then saw the girl perched on the wall of the neighboring estate.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“I’m—cough—Chester. Mike asked me to watch—cough—you because you might try to sneak out of the house. Cough, cough, cough.”

“Oh, really? Sorry, I had no idea. I’ll come down now.”

The girl immediately descended in front of him, landing silently just like before. “Can you prove you’re not a bad guy and that you know Mike?”

“Prove it?”

“Villains always claim stuff like that to get their opponents to lower their guard in the novels I read. Do you know Dell Dolgarr: Messenger from Hell?”

“No, I can’t say I do.”

“Oh, you haven’t read it?!”

“My house is right behind Lady Yolana’s estate. Cough. If I take you there, would that be enough to earn your trust?”

“Oh, that house! Mr. Miles used to live there!”

“Yes, that’s the one.”

“All right, let’s go.”

“If it turns out I really stay there, will you believe me?”

“Sure, but if you try anything funny, I won’t hesitate to attack you.”

“Fine, fine. Should I walk ahead?” he asked.

“Yep.”

Chester struggled to suppress the laughter that was welling up inside him as he walked ahead of the girl.

This was by far the most entertaining thing that had happened to him since he’d retired. A delicate little girl had nearly killed him, and now she was escorting him to his own home under her watchful eye. It was humiliating, yes, but also absurdly funny.

Who is this kid? I can’t believe someone like her is hanging around Lord Edward! he thought as he walked.

Mike’s words echoed in his mind. “She’s no ordinary twelve-year-old girl. She beat me in a sparring match.” “I hate to admit it, but if she’s armed, that could make her even stronger than either of us.”

Forget weapons—she almost killed me with a piece of string, Mike.

Chester managed to hold it in until a small chuckle slipped out. He immediately felt a wave of hostility behind him.

“What? You want to fight?”

“No, I don’t! Take it easy on me!” Chester replied, holding back his laughter. The girl, however, continued to radiate animosity, forcing him to turn around. “Come on, now. I’m not going to do anything. Stop staring daggers at me from behind. It’s exhausting!”

“You’re definitely suspicious.”

“I am not! Ha-ha-ha… Bwa-ha-ha…” But no matter how much he tried, the laughter kept bubbling up. His stomach hurt began to hurt, and tears streamed down his face as he wiped them away with his fingers.

This sure is a great job, he thought, chuckling as he walked. The girl’s hostility hadn’t faded in the slightest.

Once they reached the house, and Nonna confirmed beyond a doubt Chester lived there, she finally relaxed.

From that night on, she started sneaking out almost every evening.

Chester would pick her up on horseback, spar with her for an hour, then return her to Lord Edward’s house. The martial arts she practiced were Shenese and unlike anything Chester had ever encountered. Her motions were fluid yet precise, every move aimed for a vital point. Her techniques were unpredictable, and her strikes were ruthless.

But because of that, Chester found himself looking forward to sparring with her every night. Despite Nonna’s initial hostility, she began to open up to and rely on him.

One day, Nonna approached Chester with an unexpected request.

“Chester, can you teach me how to pick locks?”

“You’ve never been taught that?”

“I think Mom might’ve showed me before, but I forgot.”

“I see. Well, let’s start with this padlock. We can practice on it first.”

Chester had assumed Victoria had already taught Nonna the basic skills that every operative learned. He thoroughly explained the techniques for lockpicking to Nonna.

Once she mastered the basics and could open ordinary locks with ease, Nonna said, “Why didn’t Mom ever teach me this? It’s so simple and useful.”

“Huh?” Chester stared at her, startled. Nonna looked away. “Nonna, I thought you said Victoria did teach you this before?”

“No… I said I thought she had, but I might’ve been wrong. Maybe she never taught me. But don’t worry, Chester! I promise I won’t use what I learned to steal anything.”

“That’s not the point! Haah, now I’ve really messed up. Dammit…”

“I’ll tell my mom I asked you if she finds out.”

“That’s not the issue here! As an adult, I, well… I suppose it’s too late now.”

“Exactly.”

“‘Exactly,’ my foot!”

I’ll have to apologize to Victoria someday. She probably had a reason for not teaching her this. And here I go, overstepping my boundaries and teaching her anyway.

Chester felt a headache coming on, but at the same time, he adored Nonna. He was looking forward to seeing how far her knowledge and skills would take her.

Recently, Chester had even been tempted to teach her his most guarded techniques—ones he’d never even shared with anyone else before.

Chapter Four: The Truth and the Saint Floren Festival

“Victoria, I’m learning quite a lot from interrogating Gunther or, rather, Grayson.”

“Is he still here? I thought he had been sent back to Eagal long ago.”

“That was my boss’s decision. The truth serum from Shen worked remarkably well on him.”

“You used the truth serum on him? Even though he’s the nephew of Eagal’s king?”

“Well, he lied about his identity to get close to our royal family. It’s only natural.”

I’m not sure about that one.

Returning him to Eagal and making them owe us a debt could’ve been a strategic move for negotiations. Instead, they treated him like a criminal and used a drug on him.

Apparently, whoever was in charge of the Third Order didn’t show any mercy, no matter who was involved.

During my time in Shen, I witnessed the use of truth serums on criminals, and it was frighteningly effective.

Under the influence of the drug, the subject would spill everything without even realizing they were revealing secrets. However, the serum was exorbitantly expensive, and its manufacturing process was a closely guarded secret.

“There isn’t much time left to deal with the threats against Princess Delphine.”

“Because the festival is approaching?” I asked.

“No, because there’s a power struggle for Eagal’s throne behind the scenes.”

“I see. Their king is quite elderly, isn’t he?” I said.

“Yes. As long as Princess Delphine remains the crown prince’s wife, our forces would join Eagal’s royal army in the case of a civil war after the king’s death.”

“Ah, so those who wish her harm belong to the antiroyalist faction, and they want her out of the picture.”

“Exactly. And with the king’s health rapidly declining, they’re likely running out of time. That’s probably why they resorted to the poison.”

If they were in such a hurry, then we needed to act quickly, too.

“Mike, although I don’t have any concrete evidence yet, I’ve pieced together the gist of how I believe the poison ended up in Princess Delphine’s meals.”

“Why, Victoria, you’ve hardly had time to leave your quarters. I’m impressed you’ve managed to uncover so much. Please tell me.”

“First, I have a question. Is the Third Order involved in the royal family’s security detail? Or unable to be involved?”

“No, the Third Order isn’t involved at all.” He answered without changing the impassive look on his face; not even his eyes moved. It was a blatant lie. And it only reinforced my impression of Mike as a highly trained individual.

It was clear the Third Order was barely involved in protecting the royal family. And that allowed Elly to have obtained the poison herself.

In fact, the security around the royal family was so lax that Elly had been able to obtain the poison without even leaving the castle. That meant someone inside the palace must have supplied her with it. However, the number of people who had access to her was extremely limited.

“Elly took the poison herself. She couldn’t bring herself to harm her beloved princess, but at the same time, a simple suicide wouldn’t protect her family from ruin. That was why she likely tried to frame things as a failed poisoning attempt on the princess, one that would result in her own death as the taster. Even if the poison had killed Elly, however, her passing wouldn’t have actually erased her family’s debts. She must have been desperate.”

“Hmm…”

“It seems someone swapped the poison that Elly was meant to consume with something weaker. She must be utterly confused right now, as she was willing to throw her life away. I’m sure she’s struggling to decide what to do. I need to act before she gets even more distressed and tries to end her life by other means.”

“Do you have any idea who might’ve switched the poison?”

“I think it might be Nina, the maid who takes the shift after me. She’s the only one who could enter Elly’s private quarters without suspicion.”

“But still…,” Mike trailed off.

“It makes sense given the royal family of Eagal temporarily sent Nina here to protect Princess Delphine until their nation’s succession conflict calms down. Officially, Nina is posing as a noble from this kingdom. Surely, you and the others are aware of Nina’s true identity, right, Mike?”

“…”

“I may be an outsider, but if you continue keeping so many secrets from me, I won’t be able to fully perform my duties as Princess Delphine’s body double. Protecting her just won’t be possible unless we share our information. The enemy is already making moves close by. Mike, Nina is from Eagal, isn’t she?”

Mike gave a small, resigned nod.

“Yes, she is.”

“And Elly doesn’t know that, does she? The way she interacts with Nina suggests she has no idea the woman is also from Eagal.”

Mike let out a deep sigh, as if giving up.

I had realized Nina was from Eagal for one simple reason.

When I first spoke with Princess Delphine in Eagalian, she’d pointed out my northern accent. And Nina had slipped into that same accent twice during casual conversation.

Accents tended to surface in unguarded moments. During my days as an operative, I had pulled off many international assignments because I was able to speak without slipping into my native Haglian accent.

“Nina was likely chosen for her fluency in Ashburian, but her northern Eagalian accent still lingers.”

“I see…,” said Mike.

“When I spoke with Elly, she told me she was the only one who had accompanied the princess here from Eagal, so naturally, I deduced Nina’s true background.”

Mike let out a small sigh for some reason.

What’s that supposed to mean?

I held back the urge to ask and continued, “Mike, I’m going to intervene before Elly tries to harm herself in another way. Is that all right with you?”

“Of course, Victoria. I’m sure you’ll handle it well, but please ensure neither Elly nor Nina lose their lives. If there’s a suspicious death near the royals, you’ll be investigated, too. Right now, you’re considered one of us. But if your true identity is revealed, people will begin to question why Lord Asher’s wife was involved in such matters.”

“I promise no one will get killed.”

“Then I’ll leave the matter to you. I can’t easily enter the royal living quarters myself, after all. By the way, there’s another important matter to attend to. You have a visitor today.”

Mike approached the door and cracked it open slightly, before a large figure stepped in.

“Jeff!”

“Long time no see, Anna. It’s been a month, hasn’t it?”

I ran over to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. I breathed in the familiar scent of my husband; he smelled just as good as ever. Mike quietly slipped out of the room to give us some privacy.

“What’s wrong? Don’t tell me something’s happened to Nonna.”

“Nonna’s fine. She’s staying at my brother’s estate. She’s been getting along well with my mother and is keeping her company. I came here today because I wanted to let you know I’ll be away for a while.”

“What? Where are you going?”

“The western forest.”

“The western forest? Don’t tell me there’s going to be a war with Subartu.”

“I’m going on a diplomatic mission to prevent that. The noble council has specifically requested me.”

“But you aren’t a royal guard or the captain of the Second Order anymore!” I instinctively glared at the door Mike had left through.

“It’s not Mike’s fault or the Third Order’s fault, either, so stop glaring. This has nothing to do with them. I was given a peerage for establishing a trading company in Shen and rewarded for discovering a gold mine, so I’ve drawn too much attention. It’s no wonder I’m sticking out. Besides, I’m the most knowledgeable among the nobles when it comes to the western forest. I’ll serve as a guide and mediator between the Subartuan military and the delegation.”

“Won’t the Ashburian military accompany the delegation?”

Jeff nodded. “Yes, our army will come along. The kingdom of Subartu’s forces have been gathering near the western forest for a while now. We can’t risk the delegation going unarmed and being taken hostage.”

“Is there a chance of war if negotiations break down?” I asked.

Jeff didn’t answer.

That meant the possibility was very real. The nobles who resented Jeff’s accomplishments probably saw this as an opportunity to send him into a dangerous situation.

There was no such thing as certainty in war. And no matter how skilled Jeff was with a sword, there was no guarantee he’d make it out alive.

I had assumed that even if something happened to me while serving as Princess Delphine’s body double, Jeff and Nonna would be able to survive and carry on. But now I was frozen with the fear of losing my husband and the thought of leaving Nonna alone.

Jeff gently placed his hands on my shoulders.

“I understand. You’re worried about me, and you’re terrified of Nonna losing both her parents, aren’t you?”

“Jeff, I never imagined you’d go to war. And leaving Nonna all alone again is…”

“Calm down. Just focus on fulfilling your duty as Princess Delphine’s double. I’ve thought about Nonna, too. In case something happens to both of us, I’ve asked my brother and his wife to take care of her. My brother said, ‘Should the worst happen, we’ll become Nonna’s guardians or even adopt her. So go on and carry out your duty without worrying.’”

“All right… That’s reassuring, isn’t it?”

I was the reason Jeff had started working in Shen and discovered the gold mine.

A wave of dark regret rose up within me.

It’s my fault.

I’m the one who set Jeff on this dangerous path.

I buried my face against my husband’s chest to hide the regret swelling inside me, pretending to seek comfort. But he gently pulled me away and took a good look at me.

“Anna, listen to me. No one knows you better than I do. Don’t blame yourself just because I’m being sent to somewhere dangerous. I’ll come back safe and sound—I promise. But don’t you go disappearing on me. I can’t bear to lose you again. I won’t allow it. You promised me you’d stay by my side for the rest of our lives, didn’t you?”

Jeffrey embraced me with a tender smile as I bit my lip and fell silent.

“I haven’t seen that expression on your face since we reunited in Cadiz. You’re usually so composed. Did you know you look utterly adorable when you start tearing up? It makes me want to lock you away in my arms forever.”

“Jeff…”

I cradled his face in my hands, committing every detail to memory. He leaned in and kissed me gently.

After a long, lingering kiss, Jeff said, “Well, I have to be off. Take care of yourself,” in a bright, cheerful tone, as if he was merely heading out for a stroll, then left the room.

I understood perfectly why Jeff had chosen to say farewell like that. He wanted me to remember him with a lighthearted look on his face in case this was to be our final good-bye.

As I stared at the door, a memory from when I was eight years old crossed my mind.

The day Lancome took me away from my home, my mother had run over to me. She had gently stroked my head and gazed at me without a word. I finally understood what she must have felt and what she must have wished for in that moment.

“Mother… It had to have been so hard for you to let me go.”

I closed my eyes, thinking of Jeffrey and my late mother. I swore I wouldn’t cry, but tears spilled out an instant later.

After I saw Jeffrey off, I returned to Princess Delphine’s chambers.

“Princess Delphine, I have a question I must ask you.”

“What is it?”

Normally, it wouldn’t be permitted for me to speak out of turn to the princess, but I had something I needed to bring up as her double.

I looked at her blue eyes in the mirror as I brushed her hair. “Princess Delphine, was it you who asked Nina to poison Elly?”

The princess showed no sign of surprise. She replied with a faint smile on her face. “Me? Why would I want to poison my loyal attendant? That’s a rather odd question, Kate.”

“A servant found an empty bottle of your favorite lotion hidden away in the trash out in the garden. The cap still carried the unmistakable scent of your lotion. The bottle had been washed to remove any lingering smell, but the cork still retained the fragrance. There’s no one else in the castle who uses the same scent as you, Your Highness. On top of that, Elly is the only other person here with the authority to dispose of an empty bottle of your lotion.”

The grin vanished from the princess’s beautiful face.

“Yes? What exactly are you trying to say?”

“I suspect that an empty bottle of your lotion was handed over to the enemy, filled with poison, and smuggled back into the royal quarters. The poison was removed, the bottle cleaned, and then discarded. Only Elly, who manages your cosmetics, could have done this. She was likely in a hurry to dispose of the bottle, which explains why she didn’t destroy it. Elly must’ve transferred the poison to a smaller container, hidden that in her sleeve, and added it to the food while serving it. I imagine it was quite the shock for her when she lived despite ingesting the poison herself.”

“If you’re saying Elly poisoned herself, then why are you blaming me?”

“The substance Elly consumed was weak. I believe this was because you instructed Nina to switch the poisons to a weaker one, so as to save Elly’s life.”

Princess Delphine gazed at me with a resolute expression on her face. “This is outrageous. It’s beyond the scope of your duties; your mission was to quietly play the role of being my double.”

“And it was the kingdom that assigned me this mission. It is my duty to report back to my employers everything I learn, even if it implicates Your Highness in an attempted poisoning. If I did so, they would conduct a thorough investigation, then report the matter to His Majesty and Prince Conrad. The noble council would certainly intervene regarding your actions.”

Princess Delphine’s face twisted ever so slightly.

If the truth came to light, not only would Elly face consequences, but even the crown princess herself could also be accused. Bringing poison into the castle and using it was a severe crime.

And if the truth was made public, Princess Delphine wouldn’t just lose her current position; she would also be separated from her children, who would be the future king and the future archduke. As a foreigner, her position was precarious.

A heavy silence filled the room.

I continued staring at her blue eyes through the mirror. It didn’t matter how disrespectful or bold I appeared. I couldn’t afford to lose my resolve here.

Suddenly, Princess Delphine sighed. The regal authority and commanding presence that was usually visible on her face vanished, replaced by the look of an anguished woman.

“A novice like me could never keep this a secret from a professional like you. I thought it might work, but…”

She picked up a vial of her favorite lotion from her dresser—it was a beautiful glass bottle, identical to the one discarded in the trash.

“All my lotions are scented with the fragrance of wildflowers that bloom in the northern regions of Eagal. My grandmother and mother cherished this fragrance, and it’s quite dear to me as well. A messenger from Eagal delivers them to me every two months, along with messages from my grandfather and father, who are concerned for my well-being.”

“I see.”

“The messenger told me about Elly’s family situation. That’s why I had Nina look into it.”

“And that’s when you found the deadly poison in Elly’s room?”

“Yes. Nina said it was a poison so potent, it would cause hours of agony before death if ingested. I wouldn’t have survived it, even with my tolerance for poisons. Nina is well-versed in this subject.”

Princess Delphine’s blue eyes welled up with tears, glistening like precious gems.

“The messenger from Eagal warned me that poison would soon be used against me and that Elly had been tasked with carrying it out. But I knew she couldn’t bring herself to kill me. I assumed if she was forced to attempt it, she would surely try to drink the poison herself. She’s that loyal.”

“So you had Nina switch out the poisons before Elly could drink it.”

“Exactly. That way, Elly wouldn’t have to die, and if my taster collapsed from poison two times, the Third Order would have no choice but to intervene. I wanted them to capture whoever was plotting my assassination.”

That brought me to my most crucial question.

“Why did you have to go to such lengths to involve the Third Order, Princess Delphine? Surely, you know who is truly responsible for the royal family’s safety—the same person who could obstruct the Third Order and who stands to gain the most from your death.”

“The kingdom of Eagal is unstable right now. I can’t afford for any influential Ashburians to find out information that could put my homeland at a disadvantage.”

I see. Princess Delphine must’ve feared if she pleaded for help and revealed someone from Eagal was trying to kill her, it would damage both her position and Eagal’s standing in Ashbury.

“Please share the information you have with me, Princess. If you do, then the Third Order can intervene. If anything happens to you, whoever gave Elly the poison will likely target Prince Oscar and Prince Lucas next. Assassins could easily make it look like your children died in a tragic accident.”

She shot up her head with a gasp, her face stricken with terror.

I knew firsthand the depth of a mother’s love, so I hadn’t wanted to resort to this tactic. But if things continued as they were, those two boys would almost certainly become the next targets, and it would be framed as an accident.

There were surely many in Eagal who would benefit from removing Princess Delphine and installing a new crown princess. And among them, there would also be those in Ashbury willing to aid such schemes in exchange for rewards.

“You’re right. It won’t end with me. Killing me alone won’t satisfy them, not as long as my sons are alive. Kate, I trust you. Please, save me and my children.”

“Of course, Princess. Please tell me—who is targeting your life?”

“I received word that this kingdom’s deputy minister of military affairs, Bryan Wilkes, is connected to the antiroyalist faction in Eagal. The message was relayed to my father by Eagal’s intelligence agency. But I can’t tell if that information is reliable, because I don’t know who to trust or even how to act anymore.”

Princess Delphine covered her face with both hands.

“Thank you for telling me. For now, I’ll inform the Third Order that the deputy minister of military affairs may be behind this plot and that the information came from Eagal’s intelligence agency. Princess, you don’t need to worry about Elly. I won’t let her take her own life.”

“Oh, Kate. Please save Elly. I beg of you.” The princess clasped my hand between both of hers and pressed it against her forehead.

I was currently sitting face-to-face with Elly in a small, secluded room where no one else was likely to visit.

She seemed to know why I’d summoned her here. She kept her eyes down, avoiding mine, her usual imposing aura gone. It almost looked like she had grown physically smaller.

“Elly, I’ve come bearing a message from the crown princess, Delphine. She says, ‘I forbid you to die. When I become queen, you will serve me again.’”

“I see… The princess said that… But, Kate, you must already know I’m unworthy of such an honor. I’ll only bring her more trouble if I stay by her side. You didn’t call me here just because you know my circumstances, did you?”

Elly believed I was an operative from the Third Order.

I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her, a mere pawn manipulated by those with far greater power than her.

“Elly, saving Princess Delphine’s life was the right choice. Killing her wouldn’t have gotten your family’s debts forgiven. Actually, her death and your family’s troubles would have been immediately linked. And if that happened, the kingdom would have ordered your entire family executed. Or even worse—the people who supplied you with the poison might’ve killed your family to silence them before the kingdom could even act.”

“No, that can’t be!”

“That’s the kind of world we live in.”

“How terrible! I wanted to save my family, but I might have actually been responsible for getting them killed.”

“That’s right. It was a close call, Elly. Do you know why you didn’t die even after taking deadly poison twice?”

“No. Since I was aware it was a deadly poison, I thought it must’ve been because I used it incorrectly.”

“The princess knew she was being targeted, and she also knew you had been chosen to deliver the poison. She had the deadly poison you were given swapped with a weaker one. She predicted you would choose to take your own life rather than poison her, so she took precautions.”

“Oh, Princess Delphine…” Elly’s voice broke with anguish, and she collapsed into tears.

Just then, there was a knock at the door, and Mike peeked in. “It’s time to take her.”

“Mike… Go easy on her, please.”

He didn’t reply, but for the first time, his usually stoic face softened with a faint smile. Elly hung her head as she left the room with him.

The next day, Mike informed me Elly had confessed everything without him needing to use the truth serum on her.

Princess Dephine said, “Kate, please go check on Elly and make sure she hasn’t been harmed. Otherwise, I’ll be too worried to sleep at night.”

So late that night, I visited Elly as instructed.

She was being confined to a windowless room in the west wing of the castle, guards stationed in front of her door.

“Elly, for now, there will be no execution. This is due to Princess Delphine’s ardent request.”

“I see,” she said weakly, her face weary.

“The princess is worried about whether you’re being mistreated.”

“Please tell Her Highness I have not been harmed. And tell her that I shall never forget her mercy for the rest of my life. I beg of you to give her that message.”

“You have my word.”

According to Mike, the record would state that Elly abruptly withdrew from her position as lady-in-waiting to the crown princess due to illness. She had been spared thanks to Princess Delphine’s strong appeal. Mike’s boss would arrange for Elly to be sent far from the capital to the countryside, to live in the home of a retired Third Order member.

“My boss believes Elly might be silenced if we don’t do this. She’s a crucial witness to both the Deputy Minister of the Military Bryan Wilkes’s treachery and the assassination plot. We can’t afford to let her die.”

“That’s true.”

“We plan to officially report to His Majesty and Prince Conrad that Elly retired due to illness. The full truth will only be revealed when the time is right.”

As I listened to Mike’s explanation, I couldn’t help but think, Doesn’t the Third Order hold the true power in this kingdom?

But when it came to the royal family’s safety, the military held the reins. The Third Order didn’t yet have that level of authority, but it was clear they still possessed considerable discretionary power.

Later that night, a carriage took Elly away from the castle under the cover of darkness, escorted by several guards on horseback.

As I watched the carriage fade into the distance from my window, I uttered a silent prayer. Please stay safe, Elly.

Meanwhile, Mike had been very busy ever since receiving the information from Princess Delphine about Bryan Wilkes’s ties to Eagal’s antiroyalist faction.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to come by for a while,” he said when he bid good-bye to me in the small room we used for debriefing.

Finally, the day of the Saint Floren Festival arrived.

People had started gathering in the plaza in front of the royal castle since early that morning.

The commoners had few sources of entertainment, so the festival was a rare treat. The plaza was lined with stalls, not just from the capital but from famous shops all across the kingdom of Ashbury. Some were selling regional delicacies, which was one of the reasons the festival drew so much attention.

Dozens of stalls stood in rows, smoke rising here and there as the people operating them cooked food.

Nonna had wanted to attend this festival. We’ll make sure to come together next year. I thought of her briefly as I caught my reflection in the window.

I’ll be able to see Nonna again if I can get through today safely.

Now that Jeffrey was gone, I longed to be by my daughter’s side as soon as possible.

I began applying my makeup as Nina watched me.

I carefully drew on my eyebrows and lined my eyes to ensure my features wouldn’t appear suspect in case someone managed to snatch my hat. I painted my lips slightly fuller to resemble Princess Delphine’s.

There, that should do it.

I donned the blond wig and netted hat. Then I changed into one of Princess Delphine’s dresses and put on jewelry. Once I was fully dressed as her double, I stood before her.

The princess spoke to me, her voice tinged with anxiety. “I’m counting on you today, Kate.”

“Leave it to me, Your Highness.”

Princess Delphine changed into a servant’s uniform and left the room, surrounded by men also disguised as servants. I didn’t know where they were headed, but it was likely one of the royal family’s hidden shelters for emergencies.

Mike stood before me, wearing a knight’s uniform.

Most of my entourage consisted of knights from the First Order, so I wondered how the Third Order had managed to get Mike assigned to protect me.

Now it was my turn.

I slowly made my way from the castle to the plaza, guarded by thirty members of the First Order of the knights.

Thunderous cheers erupted from the crowd as soon as I appeared.

I kept my head high and chest out as I walked with Princess Delphine’s measured gait. The knights at the front lined up in a single row, while the guards surrounding me formed a semicircle around my sides and back.

Only thirty knights stood between me and the crowd.

Someone shouted, “Princess Delphine!”

The call spread through the crowd, and soon, dozens, then hundreds, and finally nearly everyone in the plaza was waving their arms and shouting her name.

“Princess Delphine! Princess Delphine!”

The booming voices surged toward me like a tidal wave.

Though I lowered the coarse mesh veil to the middle of my nose, I kept my smile visible. I slowly waved, scanning the crowd while wearing a composed expression.

The knights held back the crowd flocking toward me. A small spark could ignite this chaos at any moment. I remained vigilant, observing the throng of onlookers closely.

And then I saw it.

Mike noticed it at the same time.

A vendor at a distant stall was crouching over, seemingly occupied with something. I kept my gaze fixed on him as he suddenly raised a bow.

“Get down!” Mike shouted, lunging to shield me.

“No!” I pushed him aside, lifting the hem of my dress to draw the concealed dagger strapped to my thigh. I’d lose my ability to act if he covered me.

The assailant disguised as a vendor loosed his arrow as I watched. I prepared to deflect it with my dagger, only to realize his shot wasn’t aimed at me. Its tip was on fire.

Several flaming arrows flew from various stalls around the plaza, but their targets were scattered and seemingly random, leaving me bewildered.

“What’s going on?!”

I stood on a platform near the northern part of the plaza, with thousands of people gathered around me. They saw the flaming arrows landing in the vicinity and began to scream, scattering like spiders fleeing a web.

The flaming shots ignited nearby stalls, the decorations made of cloth and paper that adorned the plaza, and several other objects. I searched for the man who had launched the arrows, but he’d already disappeared. He must be blending into the crowd.

Something was off about this whole thing.

This was the perfect moment for the enemy to fire a second or third volley, taking advantage of the confusion of the crowd to start a full-scale attack.

“Mike, is this a diversion?!”

“Most likely. At any rate, come with me!”

Mike pushed me from behind, guiding me off the platform and toward the castle. I glanced over my shoulder as we ran, checking for any pursuers.

Amid the chaos of the crowd fleeing the fire, I thought I caught a glimpse of a small girl with golden hair turning my way: Nonna.

Nonna?! It can’t be! I thought, but Mike shoved me forward again.

“Hurry!”

“But—!”

Another forceful push left me no choice but to keep running toward the castle. None of the knights came with us.

Of course. The knights must’ve realized I was a double the moment Mike was assigned to me.

We continued running, approaching the castle gates.

The large iron gates were almost fully closed, leaving only enough space for someone to slip through. A guard armed with a spear shouted, “Hurry!”

I turned for one last look.

The knights of the First and Second Orders were drawing their swords, searching for the men who had launched the fiery arrows. But with so many people around, finding them would be impossible.

The plaza in front of the castle had four entrances. Three were ablaze, forcing the evacuees to flood toward the southern exit. Nonna was nowhere to be seen among them.

Did I imagine her?

As I turned forward, a familiar voice pierced through the crowd’s screams.

“Mom!”

Both Mike and I spun around at the same time.

Nonna wasn’t running on the ground. She was leaping from the roofs of untouched stalls to the branches of the massive trees surrounding the plaza, heading straight for us.

What is she doing here? Why isn’t she at Lord Edward’s estate?

I bit my lip in frustration.

But it was too late to tell her to stay back; she was already on her way. I stopped in my tracks, waiting for her to catch up. Nonna gracefully jumped down from the nearest stall, her golden braid fluttering as she dashed toward me at incredible speed.

“Thank goodness! I’m so glad you’re safe, Mom!”

“We’ll talk later. Come on.”

I desperately wanted to ask why she was here, but that would have to wait.

Nonna, Mike, and I slipped through the gate and ran into the castle. The gates slammed shut behind us with a resounding clang!

The castle corridors were empty as we ran through them. The few people we did encounter were guards, swords drawn and radiating tension. Mike shielded me from view, carefully guiding us through the castle. Finally, he ushered us into an empty room, stepping outside to stand guard.

Voices shouted back and forth beyond the door.

“Did you find them?”

“Not here!”

“Hey! What about over there?”

Mike responded to the calls. “Not in this room, either!”

The guards seemed to be checking each room as they shouted, searching for someone.

Who were they looking for? Princess Delphine? If so, she should already be safely hidden away.

Frustration bubbled within me as I struggled to make sense of the situation. Mike continued leading Nonna and me toward the northern wing of the castle.

No, this isn’t right.

I grabbed Mike by the arm, stopping him. “Wait, where are you taking us? Nonna and I can handle ourselves. You don’t need to guard or hide us. You should be protecting Princess Delphine right now!”

I couldn’t help but raise my voice as I confronted him, but he pressed a finger to his lips. “Shh.” Then he gestured for us to follow. Despite my irritation, I obeyed as we continued to the northern tower.

He led us to a room on the third floor labeled DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT and motioned for us to enter.

I froze when we stepped inside the room.

There stood Princess Delphine, the very person who was supposed to be in the secret safe room meant for the royal family.

Ten men in plain clothes were surrounding her, their gazes sharp and alert. They all wore black knit caps pulled low over their faces. I recognized them immediately. They weren’t soldiers or royal guards but members of the Third Order. The air about them reminded me of Hagl’s Special Operations Force.

In addition to a maid uniform, Princess Delphine also wore a brown wig. Her blue eyes were uncovered, but with the bangs of her wig hanging low, their color wasn’t immediately noticeable.

Once Mike brought Nonna and me inside, he leaned close to my ear and whispered, “Keep acting as her double,” before turning to the men, whose expressions were clearly asking who the child was.

“This child is very capable. She’s stronger than me. Have her accompany Her Highness,” Mike said flatly before walking out of the room.

Although I thought his explanation was woefully insufficient, it reminded me of how things worked in this field. Covert operations were always like this. We’d been taught to figure things out in the moment and act accordingly.

Nonna had been silent until now, but she addressed me in a quiet voice. “Mom, can I join in now? It’s okay, right?”

“Well, you’re already here, whether it’s okay or not. Nonna, I can’t put you first right now, so you’ll have to protect yourself. Can you do that?”

“Yes. Leave it to me. Heh-heh…”

Nonna was trying very hard to keep a straight face, but her excitement was impossible to miss. She was practically bursting with happiness, thrilled at the prospect of fighting without having to hold back.

Inwardly, I let out an exasperated sigh.

Seriously, how did Nonna end up getting this far? I certainly wasn’t expecting this!

“Well then, from here on, I’ll resume playing the role of Princess Delphine,” I said, stepping forward. The men nodded silently.

I moved toward the center of their formation, while the princess shifted to the rear. One of the men guided her to a wall, where she climbed onto a chair, then a desk, and finally a bookshelf before someone pulled her up through the ceiling above.

“Nonna, go with her.”

“Can’t I stay with you, Mom?”

“No. Absolutely not.”

“All right. Got it.”

“Nonna, I want you to prioritize staying alive over defeating the enemy.”

“Got it.”

“No one else will protect you, so you must be prepared for that.”

“I know.”

“Guard Princess Delphine. Do you have a weapon?”

“Yes.”

“Nonna.”

“What?”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too, Mom.”

Nonna headed for the ceiling, grabbed the hand reaching for her, and disappeared. The chair and the desk were quickly returned to their original positions. I heard Princess Delphine’s calm voice coming from above. “Kate, I leave this in your hands.”

“Understood. That girl will help you, so please rest assured,” I said.

The ceiling panel was quietly replaced.

“What’s the current status?” I asked, glancing at the men around me.

The one whom I assumed was their leader replied, “A faction within the military has accused Her Highness of plotting to poison His Majesty the king. They moved to detain her without parliamentary approval. Their coordination suggests this operation was meticulously planned. The flaming arrows in the plaza were likely a diversion to scatter her guards.”

“I see.”

“It seems the military is split in two. Since both sides wear the same uniform, it’s impossible to tell them apart. We’ve been protecting Her Highness while assessing the situation.”

Someone had likely panicked after failing to kill Princess Delphine, especially after Elly, their chosen assassin, had also disappeared. Desperate to save themselves, they were now attempting a last-ditch effort to frame Princess Delphine.

In all probability, the man pulling the strings behind this operation was Bryan Wilkes, the deputy minister of military affairs.

“How this will all turn out depends on the number of people in the military who have defected. What of His Majesty and the crown prince?”

“Our operatives are guarding them in a separate location.”

Just then, I heard distant shouts and the sound of footsteps approaching. The men around me grew visibly alert. My role was now clear—I was to act as Princess Delphine.

I lowered my veil and crouched down slightly behind the man in front of me, using his back as cover.

The door burst open, and armed soldiers flooded into the room. Tension hung in the air, both side’s weapons at the ready.

“Princess Delphine, you’re here!” the leader of the soldiers said with visible relief. But the men around me bristled with hostility, their blades drawn.

“What do you want with Her Highness?” the leader of the operatives demanded.

“We’re here to protect her. Who are you? Judging by your appearance, I assume you’re with the special forces?”

“And if we are?”

“We’d like you to join us.”

“What proof do you have to offer that you’re not part of the rebellion?”

“This.”

The soldier standing in front produced a document from his pocket and held it up. It had a short message on it and an official royal seal.

One of the operatives scoffed. “Anybody who knows what they’re doing could have forged that.”

“Ugh, you people are insufferable! That’s why no one likes you. You don’t trust anyone outside your own group, do you? What a pain.”

“Who would trust someone from the military when they’ve just launched a rebellion?”

“What did you just say?!”

That was my cue.

I took a step forward. “That’s enough. Very well, then. We shall join forces with you. If we stay hidden here, someone will find us eventually anyway. The more allies we have, the better.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

My voice and demeanor, along with how I spoke to the special forces, seemed to have convinced the soldiers I was the princess.

At this stage, I was uncertain of the authenticity of the soldiers’ document and whether they were friend or foe. But at least for now, I’d managed to avoid having my veil torn off.

I could only hope this gave Princess Delphine sufficient time to escape.

I forced myself to push thoughts of Nonna from my mind. Thinking about her would only make it impossible for me to act calmly. Besides, worrying about her now would do me no good.

I moved ahead, surrounded by the Third Order, with soldiers guarding us at the front and rear. The leader of the operatives was directly in front of me.

A soldier walking behind him called out in a frustrated tone, “Where are we going?”

“The royal army is nearby, according to the message from our courier. We’re heading to a place where we can rendezvous with them,” responded the operative.

“Has the rear guard already returned from the western forest?”

“They have.”

“The special forces always hoard valuable information for themselves.”

“Do you think we’d hand over critical information to the army when they’ve demonstrated their capacity for rebellion?”

“What did you just say?”

“Enough! I told you to stop that!” My words came out harsher than I intended. Princess Delphine wouldn’t speak in such a tone.

Our group entered a small room that could barely fit thirty people. The leader of the operatives turned to face the soldiers.

“The prime minister instructed us to bring Princess Delphine here in the event we moved.”

“He told you about this place? So he’s finally started trusting that the special forces aren’t siding with the rebels,” said a soldier.

“Ha. Look who’s talking.”

Apparently, the army and the Third Order didn’t get along well under normal circumstances.

The leader of the operatives approached the edge of the far wall and ran his fingers along it, as if searching for something. He found whatever he was looking for and plunged his knife into the wall, then began cutting through the wallpaper. He sliced out a rectangular section and then kicked it hard with his foot. A door without a knob swung open inward, revealing a dark passage beyond.

“Princess Delphine, this corridor is the last resort.”

“I understand. I am prepared.”

Once everyone entered the narrow passageway, the door was shut behind us, and we were plunged into darkness.

Everyone moved quickly, keeping one hand on the wall to help guide us forward. I lifted the hem of my dress with my left hand while I used my right hand to feel the surface of the wall as I walked through the pitch-black hallway.

Judging by the location, this seemed to be the space between the castle’s outer wall and interior rooms, likely an escape route built during the castle’s construction. The air was thick with dust. We moved briskly through the passage until the leader of the operatives came to a halt.

“There’s a steep staircase going down ahead. Please be careful, Your Highness.”

“Very well,” I replied.

We descended, turning sharply again and again. The air grew damp as we traveled deeper, and I could feel we were nearing ground level.

The leader of the operatives stopped at a slightly wider landing and began doing something, but it was too dark for me to see what. There came a series of rustling noises, followed by the repeated sound of something being kicked. That went on for a while, and then the space suddenly was illuminated with a flash of light.

I was momentarily blinded by the abrupt brightness after having grown accustomed to the darkness.

Beyond the now illuminated exit was a greenhouse built snugly against the castle’s walls.

The bright greenhouse was built with expensive glass panels and housed an array of potted plants.

The men quickly took bricks from inside and outside the shed and piled them in front of the door we had just exited from. With that, it would be nearly impossible to open the doorway from the inside by brute force.

“So that passageway leads to the greenhouse,” I mused.

“Yes, it’s one of the escape routes,” the leader of the operatives replied.

The soldiers glanced around in surprise, murmuring, “So this is where the passageway comes out.”

Meanwhile, the operatives moved swiftly and efficiently without needing any instructions. Some scouted the greenhouse’s interior, while others went farther in to check the surroundings. A few remained nearby to guard me.

“It looks like we can move now,” one of them said.

“All right. We’re going to run. Can you manage that, Your Highness?”

“I can run,” I replied.

Although the Third Order knew I was a double, there was no guarantee the enemy hadn’t infiltrated the ranks of the soldiers who were with us. Consequently, I had to keep acting as the princess until the bitter end.

We ran at full speed. I couldn’t help but think we would be spotted with this many people. And sure enough, I heard voices ring out, “There they are!” and “Over there!”

The Third Order operatives drew their large daggers, and the soldiers unsheathed their swords. I hiked up my dress and pulled my dagger from the holster strapped to my thigh, startling one of the soldiers who saw me.

Stalling for time took precedence over maintaining my cover now that we had been discovered by a group of rebel soldiers.

There were about forty of us, and thirty rebel soldiers surrounding us. They were drenched in blood and looked frenzied. We could lose despite outnumbering them if we let our guard down.

Looks like I’ll have to go all out, I thought, steeling myself and dropping my stance.

The enemy charged, signaling the start of the battle, and the scene quickly devolved into chaos as both sides clashed violently.

The most troublesome part was that the soldiers on both sides were wearing identical uniforms, but it quickly became clear who the enemy was: the soldiers who were targeting me.

The battle raged on, bodies falling to the ground on both sides. The air grew thick with the metallic stench of blood. My dagger was now slick with fluids and flesh, quickly losing its edge. My dress was getting in the way.

I’d never experienced combat at this scale, even during my days as an operative. Every nerve was on edge as I fought with my knife.

We were just gaining the upper hand when a mixture of sounds reached our ears—shouts, the pounding of hooves, and the clatter of armor.

Reinforcements!

The kingdom’s army had returned, just in the nick of time!

Faced with the overwhelming numbers of the kingdom’s forces, the remaining twenty or so rebels dropped their swords and raised their hands in surrender.

It was an abrupt end to the fierce battle.

“Princess Delphine! I’m so relieved you’re safe!” the commander of the kingdom’s army exclaimed, dropping to one knee before me.

I straightened my posture, lifted my chin, and smiled. The soldiers were all bowing, so no one noticed my brown eyes.

I raised my voice to give them a command. “Take these men to the dungeon. Now, let us return to the palace.”

And so, I made my way back, surrounded by hundreds of soldiers. The front gates were wide-open, and the soldiers stood guard through the interior of the castle. The atmosphere was tense as we reached the grand hall.

His Majesty the king, the crown prince, the two royal princes, Lord Cedric, Lady Beatrice, and, for some reason, Gunther were all waiting for us. The queen, who was rumored to be in poor health, was absent. But where were Princess Delphine and Nonna?

“Delphine!” Crown Prince Conrad rushed over to me and embraced me.

Is this an act? Or does he truly not know? I wondered. But I couldn’t very well declare, “I’m a double!” in front of so many onlookers, so I just let him hug me.

“I was so worried! Thank goodness you’re all right!” But then he pulled back to look at my face, and his face froze.

I leaned in and whispered to him, “So you’ve finally noticed, Your Highness. But please…pretend you haven’t.”

“Where is Delphine?” he whispered back.

“Still hiding somewhere on the castle grounds. There may still be enemies lurking nearby.”

“Is she safe?”

“I think so. I’m about to search for her.”

Our whispered exchange would’ve looked like a tender embrace between a loving married couple to anyone watching.

The prince pulled away and led me toward the king and the others. When we were close enough to reach out and touch him, I murmured, “Your Majesty, I am the princess’s double, Kate.”

The king gave a slow, dignified nod befitting his status and raised his voice. “Delphine, you must be exhausted. Go to your chambers at once and rest. The rebellion has been quelled.”

I dipped into a graceful bow and left the hall, accompanied by the leader of the operatives and about ten soldiers.

Once inside the princess’s quarters, I instructed the soldiers to stand watch at the door. Now that I was alone with the leader of the operatives, I finally let my guard down.

“Where are Princess Delphine and my daughter?”

“We don’t know yet. They’re in one of three hiding places. We can’t openly go to retrieve them, as we have to retain our cover. Our comrades should be confirming their location as we speak. I’ll escort you to her once we know where the princess is.”

“I’m coming with you.”

“I’ll allow it. The rebellion won’t stop until we safely escort the king and the crown prince. Now, let’s hurry.”

I stepped into my room, changed into a maid’s uniform, draped fabric over my arm so I could conceal my dagger, and left with the leader of the operatives.

“Come to think of it, isn’t it the First Order’s duty to protect the royal family? What have they been doing up until now?”

“They’ve been protecting them, of course. Guarding the royal family by dispersing them is a basic security measure, so the king, the queen, the crown prince, Lord Cedric, Prince Oscar, and Prince Lucas are all under their care.”

I see… The direct royal lineage is carefully guarded, while the princess who married into the family from another kingdom is left fleeing.

The princess had been correct in her assessment that saying too much would endanger her homeland and her position.

Even still, I couldn’t stop worrying about Nonna.

She’ll be fine. She’s stronger than most men around here. I just need to focus on finding Princess Delphine and Nonna for now.

I kept repeating that to myself to maintain my composure.

Meanwhile, Princess Delphine had taken refuge in an attic. She crawled through the dark space on her hands and knees. Beside her was a girl who was supposedly Kate’s daughter. Three members of the Third Order were each guarding them in the front and back.

Her double, Kate, had assured Delphine the girl would be useful and not to worry. But Delphine found that hard to believe. The delicate, charming child followed silently and without a single complaint, even in this dire situation.

Delphine couldn’t understand Kate’s reasoning. If the rebels target Kate’s child because she’s with me, the girl could be killed as collateral. How could Kate think that was acceptable? As a fellow mother, the thought angered her.

They crawled forward for a while until the knight at the front pried open a section of the ceiling with his knife.

There was a considerable drop to the floor below, but the man jumped down without a sound. He immediately moved a table under the opening and said, “Please leap down here, Your Highness.”

“From this height?” Delphine was unaccustomed to such things, and she froze, overwhelmed by the distance to the table.

The girl spoke up. “I can go ahead and show you how it’s done.” She lowered her feet first, then hung by her hands from the edge of the ceiling and let go, landing soundlessly on the table. “Please try to get down the same way, Your Highness!”

“But…”

“Don’t worry. Even if you slip, this man will catch you. You won’t hit the ground or get hurt. Isn’t that right?” the girl asked the knight.

“Yes, it’s exactly as she says. Please hurry, Your Highness.”

The girl smiled serenely at Princess Delphine despite the urgency of the situation.

I can’t afford to be scared. If I perish, Oscar and Lucas could be killed in the chaos. I must stay strong.

Steeling herself for the sake of her children, Delphine lowered her legs while lying prone, clung to the ceiling, and then let go. She landed heavily on the table, nearly losing her balance, but the man caught her in his arms before she fell.

“Thank you.”

“Now, let’s move quickly.”

The knights led Princess Delphine through several rooms until they eventually came to a door. “This way leads outside,” the man said, opening it.

But there were five men with swords drawn inside the passageway, their eyes bloodshot as they silently charged.

The Third Order operatives met the attack with equal silence as they engaged in combat. It was five against six. Delphine froze up and began preparing herself for death.

The next moment, the girl beside her darted into the fray, dagger in hand.

“Watch out!” Delphine shouted, but it must not have reached her.

The girl sprinted toward one of the men and plunged her dagger into his right shoulder. He screamed, dropping his sword. Another soldier swung his blade at her, but she deftly dodged it and struck another opponent’s shoulder.

How can she move so quickly? Delphine watched in astonishment. The girl showed no fear or panic as she calmly targeted the area between the neck and shoulder of the soldiers’ dominant arms, rendering them incapable of wielding their swords one by one. And she did so while weaving through the enemy’s sword strikes, finishing them off with precision. Even though Delphine was watching it with her own eyes, she could hardly believe it.

The girl wasn’t even out of breath.

Some soldiers tried to resist despite their injuries, but the girl slid across the floor in response. She leaped up and then severed their Achilles tendons, causing them to collapse with agonized screams. Delphine’s eyes widened in shock.

The soldiers could no longer lift their dominant arms or even stand. And those who tried to fight with their other hand were easily subdued by the Third Order.

The knights swiftly bound the soldiers, gagged them, and left them on the floor. One of the knights said to the little girl, “You’re incredible.”

“Cutting the muscle makes it impossible to lift the arm, preventing them from fighting back. My master taught me that killing should be the last resort.”

“Your master?”

“Anyway, let’s hurry!” the girl urged, and the six knights resumed escorting Delphine to safety.

“This way.” They led Delphine to a corner of the room, where a knight pried up the floorboards with his knife, revealing a hole just big enough for a person to fit through.

“This is the way outside.”

“I didn’t know there was a passage here,” Delphine said.

“It’s an escape route built between the outer wall and this room.”

Delphine and Nonna descended into the hole, the knights flanking them. The sloped path led downward, lit only by a small candle held by the lead knight.

The terrain eventually leveled off, ending at a brick wall. The operatives kicked at the wall, breaking it to reveal a small room. Inside were piles of wooden crates, seemingly empty as they were easily moved aside.

“The wall here is made of mud bricks. It’s an escape route for the royal family.”

Beyond the collapsed brick wall was a chamber used by the palace servants.

The group began filing out of the small storage room. Some nearby servants saw this and froze in fear, huddling together in one spot. The leader of the knights spoke to them.

“Did any soldiers from the rebellion come in here?”

“N-no, no one has entered,” one of the servants stammered.

“I see. What happens here must remain a secret. Understood?”

“Y-yes!”

It seemed the servants had been hiding, watching the situation unfold in the castle as the rebellion broke out.

“We need you to cover up the spot where we came through. Just stack the bricks back in place.”

“Yes!”

The servants quickly began to move after being instructed to seal the hole.

Princess Delphine and company finished exiting the servants’ room and stepped outside.

“Oh!” The leader’s voice rang out happily.

Delphine could see the royal army streaming in through the castle gates.

“They’ve made it just in time, Princess Delphine. It’s the rear guard that was dispatched to the western forest. We’ve received word the others are also on their way back here.”

“I see. Well, thank you for guiding and protecting me this far. I appreciate it.”

“Of course, Your Highness. We’ve sworn an oath of loyalty to the royal family.”

And so, the princess was safely taken under the protection of the kingdom’s army. The men of the Third Order, along with Nonna, were relieved of their duties to protect her.

A few moments later, Nonna tugged at the hem of the lead operative’s coat. “I want to go to my mother. Where is she?”

“Your mother is on a mission. We can’t interfere with her work.”

“But you saw how helpful I can be, right? Just tell me where she is. I can go alone.”

“No.”

“But why? Princess Delphine is safe now. I want to find my mom.”

“Hmm, well then… Hey, Mills!” The leader of the operatives called out to Mills, the youngest operative among the six. “You’re responsible for escorting this kid to the final rendezvous point.”

Mills certainly hadn’t envisioned this kind of assignment. He’d been ready to face the rebel army, after all. But orders were orders, so he didn’t have a choice. He reluctantly set off toward the castle’s western spire with Nonna in tow, keeping a wary eye on his surroundings.

“Why did you come to the castle at a time like this?” he asked her.

“I came for the festival, but when I saw my mom was in danger, I decided to help her.”

“Oh, so you came for the festival,” he said.

“That’s right.”

The two of them made their way through the castle grounds. A few minutes after they began walking, three soldiers suddenly leaped out from around the corner of an outer corridor. Mills instinctively used his large dagger to block their swords, but it was three against one, and he began to panic.

The girl behind him suddenly sprang into action, moving so quickly that he could barely see her. She darted back and forth, engaging with the soldiers. By the time she returned to her position in the middle of the corridor, the three soldiers were completely incapacitated.

Once again, she’d neutralized her opponents without killing them. The amount of control she had was terrifying. Mills was only seventeen and the youngest of the group, but he could at least tell that much.

The girl turned to Mills and spoke. “Hey, can I take one of their swords as a souvenir?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Why not?” she pressed.

“Because everything a soldier carries is kingdom property.”

“Sure, but these guys were trying to assassinate the princess! One sword’s not going to hurt.”

“Please don’t. I’ll get in trouble!” he urged.

“Fine, then. Whatever.” She gave up with a shrug and began walking. “Well? What are you waiting for?”

Who is this kid? And how is she so strong? Mills couldn’t suppress his curiosity.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Nonna.”

“I’m Mills. What’s your last name?”

“I’m not sure if I should tell you, so I won’t.”

“Are you the decoy’s daughter?”

“Yes.”

“How are you so strong? Where did you learn to fight like that?”

“If I tell you that, you’d figure out who I am. So that’s a secret, too.”

“Sheesh, you’re really secretive.”

“I sure am. Too bad for you! By the way, your dagger technique is too weak on your left side. And by ‘weak,’ I mean you’re too slow.”

“That’s not true.”

“Oh, it is. If you keep fighting like that, someone is going to deliver a fatal blow from your left side someday,” she warned.

“…”

“So you should really be more careful.”

Truthfully, Mills was shaken. He knew he struggled with attacks from the left, so her sharp observation had left him speechless. And since he’d just witnessed her strength firsthand, he couldn’t argue.

“Hey, if I want to see you again, how should I get in touch with you?” Mills asked.

“Huh? Me? Well, there’s a countess named Lady Yolana who lives in the eastern quarter. If you leave a message there for me, it’ll reach me.”

“Wait, you know a noblewoman?”

“Yeah, I’m friends with Susan, one of the maids there.”

“I see. So I just need to contact Lady Yolana’s household?”

“Yep.”

“Got it. Will you spar with me next time I see you?”

“Sure, I’ll spar with you.”

They continued conversing as they walked, eventually reaching a room in the western wing.

Mills cautiously checked the area, but Nonna said, “It’s fine,” and suddenly opened the door.

“Hey!” he hissed, trying to stop her, but it was too late. She’d already run inside.

“Mom! Thank goodness you’re safe!”

“Nonna!”

As mother and daughter embraced, Mills thought, They don’t look alike at all.

The decoy was a woman named Kate, and she turned to Mills and bowed. “Thank you so much for protecting my daughter. I’m deeply grateful.”

“It was nothing, ma’am. Just doing my duty.”

“Actually, I was the one who protected Mills, Mom,” Nonna said.

“What?” Kate looked at Mills in surprise, and he could only give a sheepish smile and nodded.

“It’s true. Nonna really did save me,” he admitted.

“See?”

“See? Nonna, that’s not the point. What were you even doing here? Oh, never mind that for now. Let’s just go home, shall we?”

Kate turned around and asked for permission to leave. The head of the group of operatives she was with nodded, giving a wry smile. “The kingdom’s army has returned, so it’s fine. We’ll have you escorted to the castle gates. You should be hearing from our superior later.”

“Understood. Well, then, I’ll step down from my duties as a double now.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Mother and daughter walked toward the castle gates. Meanwhile, Mills said to his leader, “That kid’s skills are amazing. She took down three soldiers by herself.”

“That’s nothing—Kate the decoy took down eight. They’re quite the family, aren’t they?”

“Who in the world is she?” Mills asked.

“No clue. Mike’s in charge of all that.”

“Does this mean she was suggested by the chief?”

“That’s right.”

“Uh-oh. I told the girl I’d meet with her again sometime.”

“No way. Our boss is going to get mad if you go bothering her without permission.”

“Whoops.”

Edward Asher, the chief of the special operations team, was both impassive and sharp. He’d earned the respect and fear of his subordinates. Mills had no idea she was a favorite of the chief’s and panicked that he’d promised to meet her again.

But on the other hand, he couldn’t help but want to see Nonna and talk with her more.

I want to learn her techniques.

That was all Mills could think about.

That day, the rebellion was quelled, and peace returned to the castle.

The ringleaders and soldiers who joined the rebellion will go on trial and probably be executed later, Mills thought as he observed the soldiers patrolling the castle. Then he decided to head back to the third floor in the northern wing.

Chapter Five: Crossing the Line

The Third Order arranged for a carriage to escort Nonna and me home. We’d just gotten through the gates when Bertha rushed over to us.

“Welcome home, Lady Asher! Miss Nonna! Is your work finished now, my lady?”

“I’m back, Bertha. And yes, I’m all finished.”

“And you came back with Miss Nonna! I’m so relieved. The house was so quiet without you two and Lord Asher here. It was like the spark had vanished from it!”

As she spoke in a rush, Bertha looked at my outfit with a puzzled expression on her face. I had so many things on my mind that all I could wonder was why she was staring at me like that.

Nonna, however, was smiling at Bertha as if nothing had happened.

“I’m back, Bertha! I had fun at Uncle’s house, but I like my own house best. Oh!”

“What is it, Nonna?” I asked.

“I got separated from Elizabeth at the festival, and I totally forgot about it!”

“We should contact Elizabeth’s family at once, then.”

“Mom, can you please reach out to Aunt Blythe and Grandmother, too? I’m sure they’re worried.”

“Of course. I’ll write a letter right away.”

Bertha immediately smiled at me. “My lady, I can have Reed handle it. It’s been so long since you were home. Please just rest.”

“It’s all right, Bertha. I can manage a few letters.” I insisted, then wrote a letter thanking my sister-in-law and my mother-in-law for taking such good care of Nonna. I also wrote about how I had finished my assignment, met Nonna in the plaza, and returned home with her.

“Mom, Ash and Berry are still at Uncle’s house. Could you ask Reed to bring them back?”

“Sure. Bertha, will you have Reed take care of this?”

I gave the letter to Bertha, and she said Reed would have it delivered immediately.

I felt a sense of relief being back in my own home, too, just like Nonna. But there was no sign of Jeff here, which was strangely unsettling.

I wondered how he was doing. I desperately hoped the talks with the kingdom of Subartu were going well and they hadn’t escalated into a fight.

“What’s wrong, Mom?”

“I was just wondering how Dad is doing.”

“If you’re worried, why don’t you go check on him?”

Honestly, I’d thought about it several times. And I’d given up on it just as many.

I would cause countless problems if I was to suddenly show up at a diplomatic meeting and expose my face for Jeff’s sake.

“No, that’s not a good idea. I shouldn’t be doing that right now. That would make everything I did in Shen meaningless. Both Subartu and Ashbury have sent thousands of soldiers to the place where they’re negotiating, so what good would it do if I went there alone?”

“That’s true. If we went there, we’d just cause more trouble for Dad.”

“Exactly. You’ve started to come around to that way of thinking, haven’t you? I wanted you to grow up slowly, but you’re maturing so quickly, Nonna. It makes me happy to see, but it’s a little sad at the same time.”

“Why?”

“Because there’s not much time left before you become an adult. Once you get old enough, you’ll eventually leave my side. I want you to take your time growing up.”

“Even when I do that, I’ll still be your daughter, Mom.”

“I know. You will always be my daughter.”

I tightly wrapped my arms around Nonna. She was so delicate and smelled lovely. She made a satisfied sound, and then with a sly smile, she said, “Well, Mom? How long do you plan on staying in that maid’s outfit?”

“Oh, that’s right! I’ve been wearing it for so long, I completely forgot! No wonder Bertha was staring at me. What in the world was I doing?”

“Are you going to return it?”

“Yes. I can’t very well have Reed take it back, though. But the palace must still be in disarray, so I’ll wait until things calm down a bit.”

That night, our chef went all out and served us a feast.

For the first time in a while, I had the opportunity to eat slowly and savor my food. After dinner, I took a long bath, and then Nonna and I went to sleep together. I thought I would fall asleep quickly since I was so tired, but I just couldn’t drift off.

When I slipped out of bed to get a drink of water in the middle of the night, Nonna called out to me. “What’s wrong, Mom? Can’t you sleep?”

“I’m sorry, did I wake you? Yes, I might be too exhausted to nod off, if that makes sense.”

“Hey, Mom? Your job was to pretend to be Princess Delphine, wasn’t it?”

“Nonna, about that…” I tried to interrupt so I could ask her not tell anyone else, but she just grinned.

“My lips are sealed, I swear. Does Dad know what you were doing?”

“Yes, and he was against it. But in the end, he put my feelings first.”

“Hmm. I’d never seen you working before, but I was surprised at how dashing you looked. You were so sharp. Even more dashing than Dell Dolgarr!”

“I suppose I was sort of intense. I didn’t want you to see that side of me.”

“I was able to protect Princess Delphine. Everything I learned in Shen was so helpful.”

There was something else I’d been too scared to ask Nonna yet. I’d been wondering, deep in my heart, if Nonna had taken a life. The next moment, as if she could read my mind, she cheerfully told me, “I haven’t killed anyone. My master always said, ‘Killing should be your last resort. When you take someone’s life, you take away their chance to change.’ Huh? Mom? What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“I’ve worried over this for so long, I think all my strength left me at once… It’s my fault I took this job and you got dragged into trouble. And if you ended up taking someone’s life because of me, you would’ve suffered for the rest of your days.”

“Oh, that’s all?” Nonna pressed a hand to her chest and let out a big sigh.

“Why do you look so relieved?” I asked.

“If I had killed the enemy, I would’ve made you suffer for the rest of my days. Fortunately, I just didn’t have it in me to do that because of what my master told me. There was no way I could have taken a life. But now I’m really glad I didn’t. I’m so relieved!”

She gave me a happy smile.

In light of what happened, there was something I had to tell Nonna right this moment. It was now or never.

“Operatives in Hagl were divided between the Special Operations Force and the assassination squad. I was in the Special Operations Force. But obviously, the people who belonged to the assassination squad were tasked with killing. There were some very young operatives, not much older than you, whose job it was to take other people’s lives,” I said.

“Wow.”

“And I watched as little by little, the people on the assassination squad began to lose any emotions they had toward killing people. They crossed the line. They had to stop thinking of murder as something wrong, or their hearts would be destroyed. Those people…”

“What happened to them?”

“Even if those people quit being assassins and came back to the other side, it was too late; once they normalized killing, it was like they left a part of their soul left behind on the other side of that line.”

“Hmm.”

“Nonna, I don’t ever want you to cross that line.”

Once I said that, I suddenly felt very lonely. I missed Jeffrey so much.

I hadn’t been expecting to run into Nonna on my assignment. In the heat of the moment, I’d told my daughter to protect Princess Delphine, but what would Jeff have done? I wanted to know his opinion. I wanted to hear his voice more than anything.

Nonna watched me with concern, probably because I looked so down.

“Mom?”

“I’m fine. I just miss your dad.”

“I’m here for you. I’m sure Dad will come back home safe. But right now, I’m here for you, so please cheer up.”

“Yes, you’re right. Thank you. I’m so glad you’re my daughter.”

“I’m glad, too. I’m so happy to be your daughter, Mom.”

Jeff wouldn’t suddenly come back just because I was in low spirits. I had to pull myself together. Still, I never imagined the day would come so soon when Nonna would be the one comforting me.

As she gently patted my back in bed, fatigue began to take over, and I fell asleep before I knew it.

When I woke up, it was already past seven. It had been two months since I’d rested without being on edge. I wanted to dream of Jeff, but I’d slept so soundly, my night had been dreamless.

What should I do today? I wondered just as a letter from Lady Blythe arrived.

I have something I would like to discuss with you. Please come over whenever you‘re available.

“Nonna, we’re going to Lord Edward’s estate. We need to thank him for everything he’s done for you.”

“All right. I didn’t get the chance to say good-bye to Grandmother, so this is perfect timing.”

Neither Nonna nor I could ever stand being idle. We changed into our going-out dresses and visited the Asher family estate.

Lady Blythe greeted us there herself. “Welcome, Anna and Nonna.”

“Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for Nonna, Lady Blythe,” I said.

“Aunt Blythe, I’m very sorry for not coming back after going to the festival,” Nonna said.

“I’m just glad you’re safe, Nonna. When I heard something terrible happened in the plaza, I was beside myself with worry. If Anna hadn’t sent over that letter, I was about to dispatch a search party out for you.”

“I’m so sorry, Aunt Blythe. I got separated from Elizabeth during the commotion, and when I ran into Mom, I was just so happy to see her that we ended up going home together.”

“Well, as long as you’re safe, that’s all that matters. Anna, have you finished your work?”

“Yes, it’s all done,” I said.

“I see.”

For some reason, Lady Blythe didn’t quite seem like herself. What could be wrong? Nonna seemed to pick up on this, too, and out of consideration, she announced she was going to say hello to her grandmother. Once my daughter left the room, Lady Blythe had the maid leave as well, so it was just the two of us.

“What’s wrong, Lady Blythe?”

“To be honest, my husband hasn’t returned yet. He’s never been out for so long without contacting me before. I’ve heard something big happened at the castle, but I don’t know the details. I’m very anxious. I was up all last night worrying about Edward’s safety.”

Earl Edward Asher was the head of the Department of Institutional Maintenance. Apparently, he also oversaw the Repairs and Document Management departments. None of those were involved in the military’s rebellion, though.

But perhaps after what had happened, maybe even people from unrelated departments were being called in to help?

Come to think about it, I had, in fact, entered Lord Edward’s office during the chaos. It was on the third floor of the north wing. The Third Order had gathered there, and not a single civil official, including Lord Edward, had been present. I assumed they must’ve been evacuated somewhere, but then what happened to Lord Edward after that?

“Lady Blythe, there’s something I need to return to the palace for, so I’ll be going there soon. It may be a bit chaotic at the moment, but if Edward hasn’t returned in a few days, I’ll check in with his department.”

“Would you, please? That would be so helpful. I’m sure he’ll be back tonight, but if he’s not, I’d really like you to see what’s going on. Edward dislikes it when I go to the castle. Since getting married, I’ve hardly ever gone there, save for some events we were required to attend.”

“I see. He might need a change of clothes. I’ll deliver them on your behalf. Have you received any word from his department?”

Lady Blythe shook her head sadly.

“Normally, someone would have come to give us an update, but no one’s showed up this time around,” she said.

“That is worrisome.”

“Yes… It’s not a glamorous position, but Edward works in a safe department, you know? I’ve never had to worry like this before!”

I truly empathized with Lady Blythe’s anxiety, as my own husband was currently away from home.

“All right. Instead of waiting two or three days, I’ll go the palace tomorrow.”

“Please do. But if it seems like the castle is in too much chaos, please don’t worry about it and turn back home.”

“Understood.”

I decided I would visit Lord Asher’s department the next day to put Lady Blythe’s mind at ease.

I said my good-byes to my mother-in-law and my sister-in-law and left the Asher estate.

The following day, I went to the palace to return my maid’s uniform.

The castle seemed to be back to business as usual, so much so that it was hard to believe a crisis had transpired there the day before.

Since I’d just stayed here for two months, by paying close attention, I could tell there were more guards than when I had served as decoy. But there weren’t so many that it stood out.

The government must have implemented strict information control about the previous day’s rebellion, which explained why Lady Blythe had been told that something serious had transpired at the palace. Even though the story of the conflict would eventually trickle out, most of the nobles and military personnel were complying with the control measures.

The commoner entrance to the castle was tightly guarded, with thorough identity checks. But for a woman like me, the scrutiny was relatively lax. And since I had my maid outfit with me, I just told the guards, “I’m resigning and have come to return my uniform.” After a quick pat-down, I was allowed inside.

I removed the maid uniform from the bundle of clothes I was carrying and deliberately placed it on top as I walked. Just as I reached the third floor of the castle’s northern wing and was about to knock on the door of the Department of Institutional Maintenance, a voice called out from behind.

“What’s this? Do you need something from me?”

“Oh, Lord Edward! You’re just the person I was hoping to see. Lady Blythe is very worried. She asked me to bring you a change of clothes.”

“Ah, I’ve caused you some trouble, haven’t I? Things have been so hectic here that I couldn’t even send a messenger to Blythe.”

“I see. Well, I’ll give this to you, then. I’ll tell Lady Blythe you’re doing well.”

“Please do. And please let her know I’ll be home in a few days.”

“I’ll do that. If you’ll excuse me.”

I bowed and headed back toward the stairs.

Lord Asher looked very tired. There were dark circles under his eyes. But he wasn’t injured, so it wouldn’t be a lie to tell Lady Blythe he was fine.

I stopped at the landing between the third and second floors when I heard a familiar voice coming up the stairs.

Uh-oh, what should I do? That’s the lead operative of the Third Order! What is he doing here? Does the Third Order have a station in the northern wing?

For a moment, I panicked, but if there was a station up here, it wouldn’t hurt to find out where it was. The leader of the Third Order knew my identity anyway. If I discovered where their base was, then we’d be even.

I quickly ran up the stairs and slipped into the nearest room. A sign reading DEPARTMENT OF INSTITUTIONAL MAINTENANCE hung by the door.

As I entered the room, all the people sitting at their desks turned to look at me.

“I’m so sorry, I seem to have gotten lost…”

I was about to say more, but then I trailed off.

Every single person in the room was a muscular man. There wasn’t a single older gentleman in the Department of Institutional Maintenance.

What’s going on? Feeling a strong sense of unease, I quickly put a smile on my face.

A young man got up and approached me. “Can I help you with something?”

“I’m so sorry. I got lost.”

“What business do you have at the castle?”

“I’ve come to return a maid’s uniform, but…”

“Then I’ll take it from you and bring it to the linen room.”

The young man stepped closer to me to retrieve the uniform from my arms. Just then, however, the door behind me opened, and a voice called out, “I’m back!”

I quickly turned to look at face of the man who had come in, then turned around again. “Yes, please do so.”

I lowered my head and kept my gaze on the floor as I slipped past the young man out into the hallway. The door immediately shut behind me as soon as I stepped out. I glanced back at it before going down the stairs and stepping outside.

It was likely that the young man who’d just entered had only seen my face through the veil of my hat that day, but I recognized him. It was the boy who had gone up to the attic with Nonna.

The Department of Institutional Maintenance had been full of strapping young men.

Near the department, I had seen the leader of the Third Order climbing the stairs.

And a young man from the Third Order had said, “I’m back!” as he entered the office of the Department of Institutional Maintenance.

“Hmm…”

By all appearances, it seemed the Third Order’s base was actually here, disguised as the Department of Institutional Maintenance.

And what about Lord Edward? He didn’t have military training. Was he unrelated to the Third Order?

No, wait. Lord Edward is in charge of three departments here.

So if the Departments of Institutional Maintenance, Repairs, and Document Management were all under the umbrella of the Third Order, that would make Lord Edward their chief. And it wouldn’t be impossible for a civil servant to be the chief of a special operations unit.

“Hmm… I see.”

If Lord Edward was indeed the leader of the Third Order, everything would make sense.

That would explain why I, a defected foreign spy, had been able to wed Jeff, the prince’s favorite.

Our move to Shen had been arranged in no time, and Jeff was entrusted with the very important task of setting up a trading company for exporting medicine.

I was given a brand-new identity after I’d pretended to be killed by Hagl’s assassination squad.

All that would’ve been very easy to accomplish if Lord Edward was the chief of Ashbury’s special operatives.

“But it’s strange,” I muttered.

The military and the Third Order didn’t get along, and a portion of the military had even rebelled and tried to kill Princess Delphine.

If Lord Edward had always been protective of me, then why would he ask me to be Princess Delphine’s body double during such a tumultuous time? Why had the man who so adored his brother given me such a dangerous task?

“Could it be that the Third Order is so neglected, they have no choice but to use an ex-operative from a foreign country as the crown princess’s body double?”

There was too little evidence to dig any deeper as to why they had chosen to use me. I decided that was enough for today.

But as I walked, lost in thought, I detected a gaze directed at me from above. There was no need for me to acknowledge it, though. I had no reason to show my cards.

I left the building without looking up at the window to see the person watching me. Before I went home, I stopped by Lord Edward’s house to tell Blythe he was safe.

Once I got back, I found Nonna sitting in the living room, reading a book.

“Mom, was Uncle Edward okay?”

“Yes, he’s fine. I told Lady Blythe there’s nothing to worry about.”

“I see. I wonder if Master Clark is okay? I know he’s pretty lowly at the castle, so hopefully, he wasn’t caught up in the commotion.”

“Calling him ‘lowly’ isn’t very nice. But if you’re worried, shall we send a letter to his house and ask about him?”

“Yes!”

We wrote a letter, and Reed immediately delivered it to Master Clark’s house, then brought back a reply. I was very surprised when I read the contents of the letter.

“Why, Nonna. It says Master Clark is also participating in the delegation your father went with.”

“What? Why? He always said he was just a lowl—I mean, a low-ranking civil servant. What would the delegation want with him?”

“It says he volunteered since he’s fluent in Subartuan.”

Nonna fell silent and left the living room without a word. She must’ve been shocked, the poor thing. Now not only Jeff, but her good friend Master Clark was also heading to Subartu.

The consequences of my cracking Elmer Archibald’s code and our discovery of the gold mine were becoming apparent.

I stood by the window and looked toward the western sky as I prayed aloud.

“Jeff, please be safe. All I want is for you to come back alive. Please return with Master Clark.”

I missed him dearly.

Back at the palace’s Department of Institutional Maintenance, Mills was looking quite embarrassed.

“Do you think Victoria noticed, Chief Edward?” Mike asked.

“Probably. There’s no way she wouldn’t after seeing Mills’s face,” Edward replied.

“I’m so sorry!” Mills bowed immediately.

“Don’t worry about it. It was my oversight for not expecting her to come here. Mike, if Victoria asks you anything regarding this matter, just plead ignorance. If she’s insistent, contact me instead of making any judgments on the spot.”

“Yes, sir.”

After Mills and Mike walked off, Edward Asher lapsed into thought.

If Victoria was going to deduce his position, there was no stopping her. There was nothing he could do. But knowing her, he didn’t think she would make a big fuss about it.

“The problem is Jeff.”

If Jeff found out it’d been Edward’s decision to send them to Shen for five years and have Victoria act as the princess’s decoy, he would be furious. He would be convinced his own brother had betrayed him and used his wife.

Still, Edward didn’t think he’d made the wrong decision. He was confident he’d taken the best course of action.

If anyone could convince Jeff, it was Victoria. She’d surely make him understand their hands had been tied.

There was a possibility she might not even say anything to Jeff about this matter at all.

“Mills.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Sorry, but could you go to my house and send a message? Tell my family I’ll be back in two or three days.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Don’t give them any unnecessary details if they ask what happened at the palace.”

“Of course, sir.”

Edward watched Mills depart, then rose to his feet. He had a difficult conversation ahead of him. He sighed deeply, then made his way to the king’s study.

Before Edward even had the chance to knock, a guard opened the door and said, “His Majesty is waiting.”

When Edward entered the room, the king, Crown Prince Conrad, Lord Cedric, Prime Minister Stanley, and Martis, the minister of military affairs, were already present.

“Please excuse my lateness.”

“We know how busy you are. Please, sit down,” the king instructed.

Edward noticed heavy fatigue etched onto everyone’s faces. The prime minister looked especially pale. He had been in poor health for a long time and on the verge of retiring when this turmoil had started. It must’ve been hard on his body.

Minister Martis also looked weary. Normally, the prime minister would be in charge of meetings such as this, but the king was leading it himself today.

“Before you arrived, Martis offered to resign as minister of military affairs. Stanley has also decided to step down as prime minister. Therefore, the consensus here is we would like you to be the next prime minister, Edward.”

“I must decline.”

“Don’t refuse so bluntly, Edward. I’ve heard you repeatedly warned Martis about unrest within the military.”

Martis stood up and bowed deeply to me. “I failed to heed your repeated advice, Lord Asher, and that led to our current situation. I must take full responsibility as the head of the military. I did not sufficiently monitor the actions of the deputy minister.”

“That is true. I’ve repeatedly advised you to keep an eye on Bryan’s activities. This incident is undoubtedly your responsibility,” Edward agreed with an impassive expression on his face.

Martis couldn’t argue. He just closed his eyes in anguish.

An awkward silence followed, then the king spoke again. “As for the other personnel changes in the military, we’ll address that later. Stanley has said you are the only one who can succeed him as prime minister. With Subartu on the brink of conflict and the internal instability in Eagal, I also believe you are the only one who can steer the ship.”

Edward thought for a few seconds but then shook his head. “If I become prime minister, then who will lead the special operations force?”

“Perhaps the current head of the unit could take over?”

“I would be comfortable leaving it to him, but I’ve never been in the public eye. Many will oppose the idea of me suddenly becoming prime minister. Friction is the last thing we need at this time. I must still decline the position.”

“I see… Then who would you suggest for the position, Edward?”

Edward pondered for a few more seconds and said, “I recommend the minister of internal affairs, Lord Haynes. He’s a man of good character and sharp intellect. He will work well with me. Not only that, but Lord Haynes is also in excellent health. The minister of finance has heart issues, and we need to keep the minister of foreign affairs in his position considering the current situation abroad.”

Everyone in the room thought the same thing at once:

He’s even researched the health of the other ministers!

After a brief silence, the king made his decision. “Very well, then. I will appoint the current minister of internal affairs as Stanley’s successor. You will continue to lead the special operations force as usual.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Now, as for the selection of the new minister of military and deputy minister, please provide your opinion if you have any concerns about the names I propose, Edward.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

And so, Colin Haynes, the son of Lady Yolana, was chosen as the next prime minister of Ashbury.

Edward guided the course of the meeting, making one decision after another that would shape the future of the kingdom.

His mind was filled with vast amounts of information, and he used his intelligence with integrity. He had a strong sense of patriotism, and he had built harmonious relationships with many nobles.

His opinions were of the utmost value to the kingdom.

The delegation sent by Ashbury still hadn’t returned. Considering how far the meeting place was from the capital, Jeff’s negotiations with the Subartuan officials had likely just begun. Still, every day I did not hear word of him from the palace was cause for me to feel down.

And I wasn’t the only one; Nonna was also looking rather gloomy.

Miss Elizabeth had come to visit today, and she seemed very concerned about how out of sorts Nonna was.

“What’s wrong, Nonna? Are you feeling unwell?”

“I don’t know. I just don’t seem to have any energy.”

“I asked Father, and he said Master Clark is with the delegation,” Elizabeth said.

“That’s right.”

“My father’s quick to catch on to that sort of information. I suppose he’s what you’d call an insider,” Elizabeth said.

Nonna had been slouching on the sofa, but then she suddenly bolted upright. I found myself paying attention from the corner of the living room. I’d been sitting there in the same spot doing embroidery all morning, and at some point, Nonna and Elizabeth had come into the room to chat.

“Come to think of it, Master Clark’s father is the minister of foreign affairs, isn’t he? Do you think he might tell me something if I went to talk to him?”

“What could he tell you?”

“Like whether or not Ashbury and Subartu are heading toward war.”

“Nonna…”

Normally, Elizabeth was quite a pushover when it came to Nonna, but now she was smiling sheepishly at her like an older sister.

“What’s wrong with it?”

“No foreign affairs minister worth his salt would just casually disclose classified information like that to his son’s friend. Master Clark is heading to the place where he can make his mark, right? Then you should just wait patiently and not get in the way. Don’t you think that’s the best thing for you to do, Nonna?”

“Elizabeth…”

“What?”

“That’s surprisingly wise of you.”

“Well, you don’t have to put it like that. Now, let’s eat some of the baked goods my cook sent over with me. Sweets always help lift your spirits!”

I quietly got up, left the room, and asked Bertha to bring some tea to Nonna and Elizabeth. “I’m just stepping out for a bit,” I said, and then I got in the carriage and left.

I was heading to the abbey to talk with someone.

The Mother Superior said hello to me with a smile, like always. I was especially grateful for her kind greeting at a time like this.

“Welcome, Lady Asher. The ointment production is going very smoothly.”

“I’m glad to hear it. I’m sorry for not being able to visit for so long.”

“It’s quite all right. Lord Asher contacted me and told me you would be very busy. Please don’t worry.”

There was a sort of quiet energy in the workshop.

Some women were stirring the ointment mixtures in a pot, while others were filling containers with the finished ointment. Some women were labeling containers, while others were packing the products into boxes.

Knowing the reward we received from the gold discovery had helped all these women, even in a small way, allowed me to stop ruminating over negative thoughts like If only I hadn’t solved that code, then Jeff would still be here right now.

“The sheep farm is also doing well. Lord Asher said we should hire someone to manage it, so I’ve fielded a strong man who has experience in that area,” Mother Superior Eliza said.

“Oh yes, I received a letter about that.”

“The caretaker is already at the farm, so please go see him at any time. He’s a kind man, and the women who work there rely on him.”

“I see.”

The operation of the sheep farm had been entrusted to some women from the abbey who’d volunteered for the job.

That’s right, I did get a letter saying they hired a caretaker.

I hadn’t visited the workshop or the farm in two months, as I had been living at the castle. Both were businesses I had started. There was no time to be feeling down.

It didn’t take long to get from the abbey to the sheep farm by carriage.

“There he is, Lady Asher.”

I saw a man with short white hair drawing water from the well. I squinted, feeling like I recognized him. The man noticed us and walked over.

“Mr. Miles, this is Lady Asher.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, my lady. I’m Miles.”

The man who approached me was that Miles. But why was he here?

He had lived behind Lady Yolana’s house before Chester. Miles was a retired soldier who’d worked with the Third Order to keep an eye on me.

Is he here to observe me again, but this time as my caretaker? I felt my chest tighten a bit.

I had a forced smile on my face, but Miles looked genuinely happy to see me.

“Lady Asher, since you’re here, would you like to take a walk around the farm? I can give you a detailed rundown of the sheep’s health.”

“Yes, please.”

“Mother Eliza, I’ll show the lady around, if you don’t mind,” said Miles.

“Of course. I’ll go ahead and return to the abbey,” said the Mother Superior.

Miles and I looked at each other after she left. His pale blue eyes narrowed with amusement. What’s going on? I wondered, and then he began to laugh.

“No, no. It’s not like that. It’s only a coincidence. I’m not watching over you again. That was my first and last time doing something like that.”

“Then why are you here?”

“Because I saw a job opening. The position called for a live-in sheep-farm caretaker over the age of forty-five. It sounded like it was made just for me. My father owned a sheep farm, and I’m his third son.”

“Goodness.” I couldn’t help but laugh.

The reason I had fled Ashbury with Nonna was because I’d discovered he’d been watching me. Shortly after that, I’d learned that Hagl’s assassination squad had come after me. So although at the time, I’d thought he was a threat to me, he’d actually saved me from danger.

“You saved my life, didn’t you, Miles?”

“You know, that situation left a bad taste in my mouth. I heard you were on the run after that. You must’ve fled because you suspected me, didn’t you?”

“That’s right. Did Mike tell you I ran away to a neighboring kingdom, or was it Lord Edward?”

“Who’s Lord Edward? The guy who hired me was Mike. The one with the glasses.”

“I see.”

Miles seemed to be telling the truth. Apparently, Lord Edward was keeping himself completely out of sight.

“Well, after I fled, I got married to the man who was the captain of the Second Order of the knights,” I said.

“The Second Order… Oh, the big silver-haired guy? He looked like he was going to die when he saw the note you left behind.”

“Are you serious?”

“Sure am. He’s the kind of guy who treats you like a treasure, right? You shouldn’t make a purehearted man like him cry.”

“Yes, you’re right. My husband is currently accompanying the delegation for negotiations with the kingdom of Subartu.”

The sheep seemed to adore Miles. They kept nuzzling their heads against his pants. Normally, the sheep ran away from Nonna, so she would be very jealous if she saw this.

“Subartu’s a tough kingdom. They don’t have any real exports, and they’re always in turmoil. Their government is unstable, and public order isn’t great, either. And now we’ve found a gold vein right on their border. The discovery must have made them want to stir things up with Ashbury, since they’re so impoverished.”

“I see.”

“So did you manage to fully escape from your organization?”

“I’m not sure, to be honest. I’ve been told I’m considered dead in my homeland, but who knows if they’ve really bought that explanation?”

“I see. You’ve led quite the difficult life.”

He gazed at me sympathetically with his pale blue eyes, which reminded me of the sky.

“Yes, my life has been full of ups and downs for someone who was born to the owners of a small general store,” I said.

“I bet.”

Miles and I walked side by side, looking up at the sky. I never thought the day would come when I’d see him again.

“I don’t know what I’d do if something were to happen to my husband. I know I shouldn’t be saying such things, yet I can’t help but think it after everything that’s happened.”

My heart must’ve grown quite fragile if I was voicing such complaints to Miles. I was definitely out of sorts.

“Don’t worry. Subartu isn’t that stupid. The balance of power between the two kingdoms is nothing like it was in the old days when they went to war. They know full well they’d lose if they picked a fight with us. We’re too prosperous now. They’re probably just dragging things out, wanting to get better terms for themselves,” he said.

“I hope you’re right.”

“I am. Don’t fret. There won’t be a war.” Miles patted the sheep’s heads affectionately. “I’m just grateful to still be breathing. I intend to savor my life down to the very last second.”

“The very last second…”

“That’s right. I’ll enjoy my life to the fullest, right until the end. By the way, where’s your little girl?”

“She’s at home. She has a friend over today.”

“Would you bring her here sometime?”

“Sure, I’d love to.”

After I promised Miles that Nonna would come visit, I left the sheep farm behind.

Bertha came running toward me when I got home, tears welling up in her eyes. “Lady Asher! A letter has arrived, and it says that the master will be coming home soon!”

Thank you, God.

I wasn’t a particularly religious person, but I offered up my heartfelt gratitude.

I hugged Bertha tightly and began to sob. Nonna ran over, clinging to me as she did the same. Even Miss Elizabeth dabbed at her eyes and said, “I can’t help but to cry with you!” and joined in.

My life had been full of ups and downs. But if you keep going, sometimes, you’ll have wonderful days like these, too.

Interlude: Bernard and Nonna’s Book Exchange

“Nonna, it’s been a while. How have you been?”

“It’s good to see you again, Mr. Bernard. Thank you for your letter. And I feel so much better. We’ve just received word Master Clark and Dad will be coming home soon.”

“I see. That’s a relief.”

“Yes, it is!”

Bernard adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat. “I called you here today because I found a book I thought you’d enjoy. It’s an old story from the kingdom of Eagal. A little girl befriends a dragon with the help of—”

“Wait, Mr. Bernard! That’s enough. I want to find out the story myself as I read it,” Nonna said.

“Very well, then. Take it with you.”

“Thanks. I’ll make sure not to damage the book. May I take my time returning it?”

“Hmm?” Bernard had intended it as a gift, so he wasn’t sure how to respond. “Oh, you don’t need to return it. It’s yours to keep.”

“But why? You’ve already given me so many expensive books.”

“Why, indeed…?”

For all his intellect and renown as a scholar, Bernard was still too awkward to come right out and say, “Because I love you like a granddaughter, Nonna.”

“Well, it’s perfect for you to practice Eagalian.”

“Oh, I see. Thank you! I’ll read it carefully.”

“That’s good, Nonna. You do that.”

Later, Victoria smiled gently when Nonna shared that story at home.

“That’s wonderful, Nonna. I think Mr. Bernard wanted to make you happy.”

“Me? Why?”

“Well, because he loves you.”

“Hmm. I love Mr. Bernard, too. He’s so kind.”

“You should make sure to tell him that. Feelings don’t reach others unless you put them into words.”

“Okay. Maybe I’ll write him a letter with my thoughts on the book.”

“Oh, that’s a great idea. I’m sure that will make him very happy.”

Victoria later recounted this conversation to Eva, who wept upon hearing it.

“Uncle really has changed since you two began visiting him. He used to insist he wasn’t lonely, but I think he just didn’t realize he was. You and Nonna have brought a warmth to his life that he needed so much. I’m so grateful to you both. I couldn’t have done it myself.”

“But you’ve always been so devoted to visiting Mr. Bernard,” Victoria said.

“I know, but…”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Lady Eva. Perhaps it’s just because Nonna is a child.”

“Thank you, Victoria.”

Nonna read the book Bernard had given her multiple times and then wrote her thoughts in a letter.

When she gave him the letter, which began with If I were theprotagonist of this story…, he said, “I’ll be sure to read it later,” and slipped it into his pocket.

But the moment Victoria and Nonna returned home, Bernard retrieved the letter and read it right away, oblivious to the gentle look that came to his face.

After going over it several times, he murmured to himself, “Children truly are wonderful. They are our future, full of endless possibilities.”

Of course, the only one who heard him was the portrait of his late wife, Helen.

From then on, Bernard would often look for books he thought Nonna would enjoy and give them to her.

Nonna would read them and write her thoughts in letters at a slow and leisurely pace. But correspondence between the twelve-year-old girl and the elderly historian had become one of his life’s most cherished pleasures.

One day, while Nonna was over at Bernard’s estate having lunch with him and Victoria, she said, “Mr. Bernard, do you know about the Dell Dolgarr series?”

“No, I don’t believe I do.”

“Oh, they’re such great books! I own the entire series and have read every volume so many times. Would you like to give it a try, Mr. Bernard?!”

“Is it really that good? Hmm, perhaps I will.”

“Wonderful! I’ll bring the first volume the next time I visit!”

“Well, I’ll be looking forward to it, then.”

Victoria thought, Mr. Bernard, reading Dell Dolgarr? but decided it would be rude to interrupt such an enjoyable conversation, so she stayed silent and listened.

And to her surprise, Bernard ended up reading the entire first volume, Dell Dolgarr, Messenger from Hell. What was even more surprising was that he said, “This book was very well written!” which made Nonna positively ecstatic.

“There are twenty-three volumes in the Dell Dolgarr series. If you ever want to read the next one, just let me know! I can bring it over right away.”

“All right, then. Would you bring the second volume the next time you come over?”

“Of course!”

Nonna knew the books by heart and eagerly discussed her impressions of Dell Dolgarr with Bernard.

Bernard had been focused on academic and historical texts for so many years now, but reading Dell Dolgarr made him remember how much he used to love adventure novels.

“I completely forgot how entertaining I found them.”

He considered going out and buying the entire Dell Dolgarr series but decided against it.

“I think I’ll enjoy having Nonna bring me them one volume at a time. Now, which book should I give Nonna next? Perhaps something from a different genre would be good for a change.”

Bernard had a pleasant time poring over a catalog the bookseller had brought over.

Chapter Six: Royal Appointments

About ten days after the courier’s message, the delegation returned to the capital.

Lady Eva brought the news home that evening. She’d received the message from her husband, the minister of foreign affairs.

“Mom, why is Dad taking so long?” Nonna asked.

“He should be back soon. He’ll be home any minute now.”

But an hour later, Nonna spoke up again, this time looking upset. “He’s late, Mom. Let’s just go to the palace and meet him.”

“If we go now, we could miss him. Let’s wait here at home.”

This exchange repeated several times. And by the time dinner was long overdue, Jeff finally came home.

He walked in looking utterly exhausted, and I ran over to him and threw my arms around him in a tight embrace. He hugged me back even tighter, enveloping me in his familiar scent. It felt like something cold and hard inside me had finally melted away.

“I’m home. I finally made it back.”

“Welcome home, Jeff. I’m so glad you’re safe. Really, I’m so relieved.”

“The negotiations ended more peacefully than I expected. But I was determined to survive and come back to you, no matter what happened.”

“I would’ve been devasted otherwise.”

Nonna threw her arms around us, hugging both Jeff and me at the same time.

“Welcome back, Dad!”

“I’m home, Nonna. Were you a good girl while I was gone?” Jeff asked.

“Yep! For the most part anyway.”

“Well, that’s good enough. I should thank my brother.”

“Hey, if we’re going to Uncle Edward’s estate, can we please stop by Master Clark’s house on the way back? He’s okay, right?”

“Don’t worry. He’s doing just fine. Clark worked incredibly hard and made a great contribution to this country.”

“Really? That’s great!” Nonna closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh of relief.

Normally, she acted like a pushy little sister around Master Clark, so seeing her behaving like an ordinary young girl who was genuinely happy for his safety surprised me a bit.

“Clark has become a fine civil servant. Volunteering as an interpreter is no small feat. In fact, we were able to avoid a war with the Subartuans largely thanks to his efforts. There were several tense moments, but Clark’s knowledge of Subartuan customs and expressions helped him convey their intentions accurately. He was critical in helping Ashbury and Subartu come to an agreement.”

“Wow. Master Clark is amazing!”

“He really is. Not only is he fluent in Subartuan, but he also has a deep understanding of their culture. He truly shined as a civil servant.”

“Whoa. That’s so dashing…” Nonna didn’t know I was watching her, but she had a dreamy expression on her face. It was so adorable.

“Jeff, we must thank Lord Edward. Shall we visit him tomorrow?”

“Yes, we should. I didn’t even see him at the castle. He took care of Nonna for us, after all. Why not go tonight instead of waiting?”

“All right, let’s do that.”

“I want to see Grandmother!”

“Since we’re family, we don’t need to send word ahead of time. Let’s head out right away,” Jeff suggested.

Lord Edward was home, and he looked genuinely relieved when he saw Jeff.

“Welcome back, Jeff. I’m so glad you’re safe.”

“I’m home, Edward. Thank you for looking after Nonna.”

“We should be the ones to thank you. Because of Nonna, Mother’s condition has improved significantly.”

“Really?”

“Yes, you won’t believe it when you see her.”

Lord Edward had looked weary when he greeted us at the door. It was no wonder, given the recent commotion. As the chief of the special operatives, he must’ve had an overwhelming amount of work to do.

Still, his demeanor toward me hadn’t changed a bit, which was impressive. I made sure not to let on I had discovered his true role. There was no need to act on that knowledge for now. Besides, I owed Lord Edward a great debt for protecting me, and I would never forget the support he had given me.

Just as I had that thought, a voice called out from behind us.

“Welcome home, Jeff.”

“Mother! Are you sure you should be up? Wait—you can walk now?!”

Lady Courtney leaned on a cane and slowly entered the room, accompanied by Lady Blythe.

She’s walking! I thought with astonishment.

“Grandmother! I’ve missed you so much! I’m sorry for not letting you know I was back home that day!”

“It’s all right, Nonna. Your beloved mother has come home safe and sound, after all. And, Jeff, you’ve done a great service for our kingdom. I’m so proud of you.”

“Mother, I’m stunned. When did you start walking again?” Jeff asked.

“It’s all thanks to Nonna. She kept me company and played games with me. That turned out to be great exercise. Sitting in my chair and exercising with Nonna every day helped me regain enough strength to stand. And once I could do that, I felt the urge to walk again, so I’ve worked very hard to achieve that.”

Jeff quickly helped Lady Courtney to the sofa and sat her down.

“Oh, Mother… You’ve done your best. And your speech sounds so much smoother now.”

“Yes… You know, I don’t feel as confused as I did before. It’s very strange. All the gears in my mind seem to have aligned perfectly again, almost as if I’ve been reborn!”

Jeff’s eyes glistened with tears as he hugged his mother. My heart felt warm as I watched them, too, and I noticed Lady Blythe dabbing at the corner of her eyes.

“Blythe, thank you so much for watching our daughter.”

“I didn’t do a thing. She was a very good girl. Plus, she helped Mother get exercise and kept her company. Nonna’s an incredibly kind little girl.”

“Yes, we’re very proud of our daughter. But the fact Mother’s maintained the strength she gained is a testament to how hard you and she must have worked, Blythe.”

“Oh, I really didn’t do a thing. But thank you so much for saying so.”

The servants prepared tea for us and laid out a selection of baked goods on the table. As we sipped the fragrant tea, we listened to Jeff’s account of what happened in Subartu.

When his tale reached a natural pause, Lady Blythe turned to me with a warm smile and spoke. “By the way, Anna, what sort of work kept you away for two whole months?”

“I was assisting Princess Delphine with her studies in Randallish. I’m proficient in Randallish, you see.”

“Oh my, you were tutoring Her Highness in languages? That’s quite impressive!”

“Yes, it was an honor.”

I’d anticipated this question would come up eventually, so I’d come up with an explanation in advance. I thought this was the safest way to be truthful without giving too much away, considering I didn’t know how much Lady Blythe knew of my background.

I felt Lord Edward’s gaze on me but made a conscious effort not to meet it.

I had no intention of revealing his position to Jeff. There was no need for me to disrupt the bond between brothers, which they had forged through supporting each other and enduring their father’s abuse. There was no reason to tell Jeff the truth. Of course, if there came a time when it absolutely had to be said, then I would do so.

Lady Blythe had a gentle demeanor and upbringing, and she seemed satisfied with my explanation without probing further. I was relieved when she didn’t ask why I had stayed at the castle instead of coming back home every night.

“So has the commotion at the palace been resolved?” Jeff asked.

“Ah, it’s best not to talk about that yet. There are still some complications,” Lord Edward replied.

“I see. Understood. You look a bit tired, so we’ll excuse ourselves.” It seemed like Jeff sensed there were things Lord Edward couldn’t even tell Lady Blythe.

After exchanging farewells, we left the estate.

“Please visit again, Anna,” Lady Blythe had said.

“And please bring Nonna again next time,” my mother-in-law said with a smile.

Next up was the Anderson household, and Nonna fidgeted restlessly in the carriage.

Since all the nobles lived in the eastern quarter, the Anderson estate wasn’t far. As soon as the carriage arrived, Nonna opened the door herself, leaped out, and dashed off at an incredible speed.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Nonna! Wait a minute!” I called.

“Leave her be. She’s been so worried about Clark this whole time,” Jeff said.

“I’m sure, but you’re always so lenient with her…,” I said.

The door opened in front of us, and Master Clark came out.

Nonna charged forward and ran into Master Clark, throwing her arms around him.

“Oh!” Jeff let out a startled shout.

To little surprise, Master Clark couldn’t withstand a full-force tackle from Nonna and was sent crashing into the door behind him.

Even from where we stood, I heard the loud thud. That would definitely leave a bump.

I’m sorry, Master Clark.

Despite the pain he was likely experiencing, Master Clark looked down at Nonna clinging to him with a mixture of joy and surprise on his face. The sight was so endearing that I felt a bittersweet ache in my heart.

He was hovering his arms around her awkwardly, unsure if it was all right for him to embrace her in return. He ended up resting them lightly on her back, being sure not to touch her inappropriately.

“Congratulations on your safe return, Master Clark,” I said.

“I’ve made it home without incident, Miss Victoria,” he responded.

“Clark, is your head okay?” Jeff asked.

“My head? Oh, right. I did bump it. I’m fine, Uncle Jeff. Nonna? Nonna… If you block the doorway like this, Miss Victoria and Uncle Jeff won’t be able to come inside.”

Master Clark gently took hold of Nonna’s shoulders and slowly pulled away from her. But when he did, he saw that she was crying, and his eyes went wide.

“Nonna, I’m all right. I’m not hurt, see? I’ve come back safe and sound.”

“Sniffle… I’m so glad…there won’t be a war… I’m so glad… Waaaaaah!”

Though she’d already been pulled away from him once, Nonna pressed her face against Master Clark’s chest again and started sobbing uncontrollably.

I thought perhaps we should wait a moment, but Jeff chuckled wryly as he spoke to her.

“Nonna, you’re bothering Clark. A proper young lady doesn’t sob against a man’s chest so hard that she gets snot on his clothes.”

“Oh, no!” Nonna stepped away from Master Clark with a start, although it was a bit too late. “I’m so sorry I got snot on you, Master Clark!”

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it. Please, come inside.”

I quickly handed her a handkerchief when I saw her about to wipe her tears and nose with her sleeve. She sheepishly wiped them away, pressing the handkerchief against her nose.

“Heh-heh…”

“I’ve told you many times to use a handkerchief and not your sleeve, Nonna. Honestly,” I said.

“I slipped up just this once!”

“Be a proper young lady.”

“All right. Leave it to me!”

Nonna took a deep breath, her eyes still red. Meanwhile, Lady Eva greeted us with a radiant smile.

“Welcome back, Jeffrey. It’s good to see you, too, Victoria. Please, come in. I have some big news. You’ll be shocked when you hear it.”

Lady Eva was so eager to share her “big news” that she was fidgeting restlessly the entire time the maid served tea, waiting for her to leave. If Lady Eva’s husband, Earl Michael Anderson, hadn’t given her a warning glance, she might’ve started talking while the maid was still there.

“Welcome back, Jeffrey. Thanks to you, the kingdom of Ashbury has narrowly avoided war,” Lord Michael said.

“You exaggerate, Michael. I was merely a guide.”

“No, both the delegation and Clark say the same thing. When tensions were high, you calmed everyone down by saying, ‘Do you want to go to war again? No matter how one-sided a conflict may seem, both parties will suffer. Only those ready to take to the battlefield alongside their sons should speak of war.’ Isn’t that what settled things?”

Jeff made a sour face. “Ah, I suppose I might’ve said something like that…”

“No one could argue against it.”

“Everyone was so adamant, saying, ‘Not a single speck of gold should go toward Subartu.’ I just wanted them to remember how many soldiers died in the last war. After all, I was the only one in the meeting who had actually participated in it,” Jeff said.

“Uncle Jeff’s words brought many people back to their senses,” Master Clark said.

Lord Michael nodded. “Ultimately, we resolved the matter by offering Subartu a substantial amount of gold, framing it as a gesture of respect for the forest folk who have long protected the sacred land. Some people complained, of course, but let’s not forget that if Jeffrey hadn’t discovered the gold mine, our kingdom wouldn’t have gained anything in the first place.”

“Getting too greedy only leads to trouble. Starting a war over gold in a volcano is ridiculous. It’s like that saying Everything on this side of the line is ours. Think of it as saving lives with money. Our kingdom has always avoided conflict that way, and that’s fine by me,” Jeff said.

At this point, Lady Eva simply couldn’t hold back any longer and interrupted the conversation. “Darling, will you just tell them already?” she urged.

“Don’t rush me, Eva,” Lord Michael said.

“But…”

“Tell us what, Michael?” Jeff asked.

Lord Michael hesitated, saying, “Well, it’s not finalized yet…,” and paused. “Jeff, there’s talk of you being appointed as deputy minister of military affairs.”

“What?!” Jeff exclaimed in a rather undignified tone of voice, and I also found myself shouting inwardly, Why?!

How could someone like him, a brand-new baron, suddenly be up for such an important position?

“Why? What makes me suited for deputy minister?”

“Oh, come on, you two! This is cause for celebration! It’s a huge promotion! If Jeff becomes the minister, it’ll only be a matter of time before he’s granted an earldom!” Lady Eva exclaimed.

“Eva, I didn’t even want to be a baron in the first place,” Jeff muttered, looking positively annoyed. He wanted to keep me hidden, so such a prominent position would be a headache.

Meanwhile, Lord Michael seemed delighted as he continued, “The minister of military affairs resigned to take responsibility, and the deputy minister will be executed for inciting rebellion. According to tradition, the third-ranking member, Earl Callahan, should become minister. But here’s where things get tricky.”

Lord Michael explained that Earl Callahan was fifty-five years old. The mandatory retirement age was sixty, so he didn’t have enough time left to completely overhaul the structure of the military, ensure no future rebellions, and keep a close eye on every aspect of the organization.

“So the idea was Callahan will only serve for a limited five-year term, during which Jeffrey will act as deputy minister to lead the long-term restructuring of the military.”

“Whose idea was this?” Jeff asked.

“His Majesty’s and the crown prince Conrad’s.”

“Prince Conrad, of course… Wait a minute. What will happen after Earl Callahan retires?”

“You’ll take over as the minister of military affairs, most likely.”

“See?! Isn’t this incredible news?!” Lady Eva was actually panting now.

Edward as the chief of the special operatives, and Jeffrey as minister of military affairs? The two Asher brothers would control both ends of the spectrum when it came to military. That would give them considerable influence over the kingdom.

“The prime minister is also stepping down, with Earl Haynes appointed as his successor. There are a lot of changes happening, which will make things easier on you, Jeff. The outgoing prime minister must’ve had a rough time, juggling his role as chief of the special forces, too. He’s in poor health.”

Mike had once told me neither the prime minister nor the royal family knew about my background. It appeared the prime minister’s role as chief of the special forces was just a title, while Lord Edward held the real power.

This was just getting more and more absurd.

One brother would covertly control the special forces, while the other brother would openly command the military. And then Lord Michael, the minister of foreign affairs, was married to their cousin.

That was a whole lot of power concentrated in one family.

“Earl Haynes, the prime minister’s successor—he’s Lady Yolana’s son. But unlike her, he’s very personable, isn’t he?”

“Yes, he is. He’s calm, well-connected, and, oh, isn’t he close to Edward as well?”

The more I learned about Lord Edward, the more he seemed like a spider weaving a web across every corner of the kingdom. But I supposed comparing my brother-in-law to an arachnid might be a bit rude.

As I pondered this, Nonna seemed to grow bored of the conversation and turned to Master Clark.

“Did you bring back any souvenirs?”

“I did. They’re in my room. Would you like to go see them?”

“Would I ever!”

And just like that, the two of them disappeared. Jeff grimaced and spoke. “I’m turning down the position.”

“Well, you can’t refuse. Prince Conrad himself insisted. He said the deputy minister must be Jeffrey. No one has the authority to oppose the crown prince, especially when he makes his mind up like that.”

“But this is ridiculous!” Jeff groaned, burying his head in his hands. Lady Eva and Lord Michael sighed in exasperation. I wanted to do the same as Jeff, but I just smiled at him instead.

My husband was silent in the carriage on the way back. At one point, he took my hand and spoke with a serious expression on his face. “Whatever happens, I won’t allow you to run away.”

“Jeff…”

“I know you. You’d vanish, saying it was for my sake. I’ve told you before that titles mean nothing to me. I wouldn’t hesitate to give up my status as a noble for you.”

“Calm down, Jeff. I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”

“Mom, I agree with Dad. I love this kingdom, and I want to keep living here. I want to protect you, but I don’t want to leave,” said Nonna.

“Huh?”

She was looking at us earnestly.

“Nonna, I’m not going anywhere. Is something wrong?”

“Master Clark formally proposed to me. He asked me to give him my answer when I turn sixteen.”

Jeff and I were both stunned into silence. They had only been upstairs for twenty minutes. Master Clark had proposed in that short time?

Nonna’s cheeks flushed faintly as she began to speak, sounding serious. “Master Clark said he wants to make Ashbury peaceful, safe, and prosperous. He said he wants to protect me and Mom so we never have to go on the run again. That’s why he’s so determined to rise up in rank and gain power. He told me volunteering for the delegation to Subartu was the first step in his plan.”

“…”

I felt warmth rising up in my chest. I knew that if I opened my mouth, I would burst into tears.

“He told me he made that decision when we went to Shen, Mom.”

“Really… Clark said that?” Jeff murmured.

“Oh, Master Clark…” Hot tears spilled down my face. I had no idea he felt that way about us.

When I had first come to this kingdom, I didn’t know a soul. I’d been determined to live quietly by myself. But along the way, I’d formed connections with so many people and really become a part of Ashbury.

When I’d given Master Clark his very first lesson in Randallish, he’d been a shy young boy who lacked confidence in himself. That delicate boy was now a young man, striving to protect both Nonna and me, determined to climb the ladder of success for our sake.

“I’m very grateful,” I said.

“Me too. And look at this,” Nonna said.

She pulled a thin silver chain out from the neckline of her dress. There was a round silver pendant hanging from it with a small red stone, likely a garnet, embedded in its center.

“Master Clark purchased this with his salary as a civil servant. He said he rushed to buy it the day he found out he’d be going to Subartu. He left it in his desk with a letter, asking for it to be given to me if the negotiations failed, if war broke out, or if he didn’t make it back.”

“I see…”

Nonna held the pendant in her palm and looked at me with a radiant smile. “I couldn’t bring myself to refuse someone who cares for me this much. Master Clark said, ‘I’m just a lowly—er, rookie civil servant. It’ll take me decades to achieve anything big.’ And besides, I’m only twelve years old!”

Suddenly, Jeff burst into laughter. Um, is this supposed to be funny? I was so caught up in this emotional moment that I looked at him in surprise.

He somehow managed to speak through his guffaws. “I’m sorry for laughing,” he said. “When Nonna said she wanted to call off the proposal they made as children, I figured Clark wouldn’t give up that easy. And sure enough, he didn’t. It’s that Fitcher blood from my mother’s side. Once they put their minds to something, they don’t back down.”

Jeff let out a sigh and continued, “Still, waiting four whole years for an answer is a long time. Isn’t he worried another young noble might swoop in and take her away?”

“Well…” I couldn’t help but laugh at that one.

Master Clark clearly had no intention of letting anyone else have Nonna. He seemed prepared to eliminate any boys who dared approach her.

“I don’t think he has anything to worry about in that regard,” I said.

“Why do you think that, Mom?”

“It’s a secret,” I said, turning to look out the window.

The view of the capital city, with all its wealth and splendor, stretched out before us. This was to be my new home. Whether Jeff became deputy minister of military affairs or not, I had no intention of leaving his side.

“Master Clark is ready for anything,” I said confidently. And so am I.

I looked at Nonna and said, “Oh, and by the way. The new caretaker of the sheep farm wants to meet you. You know, the sheep simply adore him. They keep rubbing up against him affectionately.”

“What?! They do? But they always run away from me! That’s not fair. Can we go see him tomorrow?”

“Sure, let’s go. You’ll be surprised.”

“Fine. I’m going to pet every single one of them tomorrow!”

“Ah-ha-ha-ha!” I burst into laughter at the thought of Nonna chasing after the sheep in frustration.

The next day, Nonna and I set off for the sheep farm.

“Mr. Miles!” she cried as soon as she recognized him. She ran toward him at full speed. Not only did Miles catch her easily, but he also used the momentum to lift her high into the air, spun her around, and then gently set her back down. It looked like he’d done that before.

I made a mental note to curb this new habit of Nonna’s before someone got hurt.

“You’ve gotten so big, Nonna,” Miles said.

“I’m still growing! Mr. Miles, you moved out of that house, didn’t you? Now someone named Chester lives there.”

“Is that right? So you’ve met him?”

“Yes, he’s taught me all sorts of things.”

That’s news to me. Chester’s been teaching Nonna? What in the world could he have shown her?

Their arrangement had to have started when I’d been at the castle and Nonna had been staying at Lord Edward’s estate. Then it hit me: Chester must have been tasked with keeping Nonna occupied. Lord Edward had probably arranged it to let her blow off steam. That sounded like something he would do.

The mental image I had of Lord Edward knowing everything and having everyone in the palm of his hand grew.

The moment Nonna arrived, the sheep began to shy away in unison. It was hard to believe they were the same creatures that happily flocked over to Miles. They were very wary of Nonna.

“Hey, sheep! Let me pet you! All right, if you won’t come to me, then I’ll go to you!” Nonna yelled as she started chasing them, much to their dismay. She should really change her tactics at this point.

I couldn’t help but laugh as I watched her. Miles stood beside me, looking like he had something to say.

“What is it?” I asked.

“How much have you trained her? Her core strength is incredible for someone her age.”

“She studied Shenese martial arts because she wanted to learn.”

“Really? I’d love to see what that’s like.”

“She’s very strong. If Mike doesn’t give it his all, Nonna can beat him. Of course, in real combat, his experience would make the difference. But when he’s holding back during a sparring match, Nonna has the upper hand.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“I’m afraid I am.”

Miles and I watched Nonna launch her attack on the sheep for a while. Then he murmured thoughtfully, “I get it now.”

“What do you mean?”

“I visited the unemployment office five times before the position for the sheep-farm caretaker was posted. I’m starting to think it was arranged by the Third Order.”

“But that can’t be. We decided to post that job offer ourselves.”

“It is possible. The Third Order seems to regard you very highly. They might’ve kept the job posting hidden to prevent troublesome individuals from applying. And when they noticed me frequenting the unemployment office, they could’ve decided it was the right time to make the notice public. Even when they ordered me to move into the house behind Lady Yolana’s, I was told to protect you and Nonna at all costs in case anything happened. Maybe my employment here is part of their plan. Ashbury’s special forces are formidable.”

Once I heard that, I was suddenly convinced Lord Edward could be behind it.

“It’s true. They’d be terrifying enemies.”

“You don’t have to worry about that as long you have their favor.”

“That’s true.”

Lord Edward was protecting Nonna and me for the sake of this kingdom and Jeff. That was all. But if he ever decided our presence was harmful to Ashbury or his brother, then surely…

I couldn’t help but let out a dry chuckle. It was like Nonna and I were walking on the edge of a sharp blade. One misstep could be fatal.

“I’ll just have to do my best not to get on their bad side, then,” I said.

“You should do that. People who are too smart tend to be ruthless, you know.”

“You’re right.”

I thought Lord Edward loved his brother almost too much. He was deeply compassionate and sharply intelligent. My brother-in-law was formidable indeed.

“Do you have any plans to get more involved with the Third Order again, Miles?”

“There was talk of it once, but I declined. After I found out you had fled the kingdom because of me, I regretted getting involved. I’m glad we met again. But if you’d died in Randall, I would’ve lived the rest of my life lamenting the fact I took that job on a whim. I never want to feel that way again. I’m getting older now, and I don’t want to spend my life living with regret. So managing this sheep farm suits me just fine.”

“I’m counting on you to protect the women working here.”

“You can leave it to me.”

In the distance, I saw Nonna hugging a sheep, which struggled violently in protest. The surrounding flock grew angry and began to threaten her. There were so many that it was dangerous.

“Nonna, come back here!”

“Okay!”

Nonna sprinted back at full speed, brimming with her usual amount of excess energy.

“Why are they so scared of me anyway? I’m nice to them!”

“Because you’re too persistent,” Miles said.

“Hmph.”

“Hey, Nonna? What did Chester teach you?”

Nonna froze, her eyes darting around nervously.

“I promise I won’t get mad, so tell me.”

“Um… How to throw knives and, uh…how to pick locks,” she mumbled.

Miles burst out laughing.

“I deliberately avoided teaching you how to pick locks,” I said.

“Yeah, but lockpicking is so useful! I won’t use it for bad things. I’m sure it’ll come in handy someday!”

“Listen, Nonna. People who use their abilities for ill eventually lose their lives because they’ve misused those talents,” I warned.

“Okay.”

“I trained you because I want you to live a safe and happy life. Do not disappoint me.”

“I won’t, Mom.”

“Nonna, how about sparring with me sometime?” Miles asked.

“Really? Can I, Mom?”

“Sure.”

Nonna eagerly agreed to learn hand-to-hand combat from Miles, and with that settled, we left the farm.

Nonna was in high spirits as we departed. Thanks to her martial arts training in Shen, plus training with Chester and now Miles, she would likely surpass me someday soon. She was only twelve, after all. And she had plenty of potential.

But I couldn’t shake the sense of unease I had.

I didn’t want Nonna to get involved with the Third Order. I doubted Lord Edward would do such a thing, but then again, I couldn’t say the chances were zero. The way the scales tipped would depend on the circumstances at the time.

Back home, I fell into thought as I sipped my tea.

Just as Lord Edward would stop at nothing to protect Jeff and this kingdom, I resolved anew to do whatever it took to protect Nonna.

Bertha came in to inform me that dinner was ready.

“Will Jeff be late tonight?” I asked.

“The master said he wouldn’t be needing any dinner,” she said.

“I see. I’ll be going out briefly tonight after the meal, then.”

“Very well, my lady.”

Once we were done eating, I told Nonna I was going to visit “Mr. Sweet Tooth,” as she called him, and I would be back soon. She was using a cat toy to play with Ash and Berry.

“Okay. You don’t need to bring me back anything.”

“I couldn’t even if I wanted to. It’s a pub, remember?”

“Oh, right. Say hello to Mr. Sweet Tooth for me.”

“I will,” I promised.

I changed into a plain dress and lace-up boots to ensure I could be ready for anything. If something happened to me, Nonna might end up in the Third Order.

The Black Thrush wasn’t very far on foot. Zaharo greeted me with a lazy grin when he saw me.

“Hey there. You’re looking well.”

“Thanks, I’m doing great.”

Zaharo brought me my favorite drink and sat across from me at the bar. There were two other patrons there currently, but they were sitting far enough away that they wouldn’t overhear our conversation.

“You look physically well, at least,” he said pointedly.

“My husband might be assigned to an important position,” I responded.

“Well, that’s good for him but inconvenient for you, isn’t it?” he said.

“Yes, it is.”

Zaharo rose to his feet and fetched a glass for himself, then sat back down across from me.

“Talented people get moved up whether they want to or not,” he mused.

“My husband is the crown prince’s favorite. So there’s nothing we can do about it.”

“That’s not what I mean. I’m talking about you. Are you all right? You might end up being a pawn for some very powerful people.”

I gave him a faint smile and took a sip from my glass.

“Maybe. But that’s fine. I’m prepared to be someone’s pawn if it means I can protect Nonna.”

“Come on, now.”

“I mean it, Zaharo. Before coming back home to Ashbury, I devoted my life to my family, and I still do.”

“But it’s your life.”

“It is, but I live for my family. That’s what makes me happy.”

“I see. Well…” Zaharo stared into his glass, pausing briefly before continuing, “Maybe this is just how your story is meant to unfold. But if there’s anything I can do to help, you let me know, won’t you?”

“Thank you… But why?”

“Just feel like doing you a favor—no strings attached. I consider us birds of a feather. You were placed in circumstances you didn’t choose, but you survived. Just like me.”

That made me happy. “Thank you. I’ll turn to you if the time comes, then.”

“Yes, leave it to me. But for now, I’m still going to protect you from Hector.”

“He’s still looking for me?”

“Yep.” Zaharo had a grim expression on his face. “It’s been five years since the prison break. No—six years now. Hector still hasn’t given up tracking down the red-haired woman behind it.”

“But why? He’s being way too stubborn about this.”

“There’s a rival gang challenging Hector’s. And he really wants that red-haired woman to come work for him. Maybe he’s got someone he wants to break out of prison? Who knows?”

“Is he genuinely that short on pawns?”

“You shouldn’t kid yourself. You’re no ordinary pawn. You’re an exceptionally useful one. And a terrifying one, because you have a will of your own.”

“Oh, stop it.” I laughed bitterly.

I had three more glasses of liquor while Zaharo filled me in on the latest town gossip, and then I headed home.

Jeff wasn’t back from the palace yet.

Just as I changed into my nightclothes and was about to get in bed, Nonna came to my door, pillow in hand.

“Mom, can I stay with you? I can’t fall asleep.”

“Sure. Let’s go to your room.”

We climbed into Nonna’s bed together and chatted about mundane things until she finally drifted off.

I carefully slipped out and decided to get some exercise.

Zaharo’s right. I do have a will of my own. So I refuse to be used and discarded like a tool.

I exercised until I broke a sweat, freshened up with a bath, then got into bed. Jeff still wasn’t home. Somehow, I got the feeling he was digging in his heels and trying to refuse the position of deputy minister of military affairs. But I was almost—no, definitely—certain his efforts would be futile.

Well, it’s time to sleep. Tomorrow will be another busy day.

Jeff came home after midnight.

“Welcome back, darling.”

“Thanks, Anna. You’re still awake.”

“Yes. I’m sure you had a tough day. What happened?”

“I’m very sorry. But I’ve been appointed as deputy minister of military affairs.” Jeff embraced me and apologized with a look of profound regret on his face. If I wasn’t his wife, this would be news worth celebrating. That thought made me feel very guilty.

“It’s fine. We’ll manage somehow. Lady Blythe told me the other day she’s barely been to the castle since she married Lord Edward. I can just avoid it, too.”

“Well…”

“Yes?”

“The thing is, you’ve received an appointment, too. You’re to be Princess Delphine’s conversation partner and language tutor.”

“What…?”

“I’m so sorry, Anna.”

“No, it’s not your fault. So they’ve given me a position as well… What did Lord Edward have to say about it?”

“My brother? I didn’t see him there. The meeting was only for senior officials. I insisted your health was too frail for this, but for some reason, Prince Conrad just refused to listen. He kept saying, ‘It’s fine. I promise we won’t push her too hard.’”

I fell silent, lapsing into thought, and Jeff leaned in closer, looking very worried.

“Anna? Did something happen with Princess Delphine?”

“I’m not sure why she chose me for this role, but during the incident, I did see Prince Conrad while I was acting as her body double. The princess knows I’m your wife, so she must’ve told him.”

“And he found out you’re not actually frail.”

“It’s all right, Jeff. I’ve handled much tougher jobs under worse conditions. I’ll give it a try. If it really becomes too much to bear, we can just renounce our titles and go live on the sheep farm to spin yarn for a living.”

“Anna…”

He hugged me tightly, so tight that my bones creaked. I patted his back to signal for him to ease up and that my ribs were in danger.

“It’s an honor Prince Conrad thinks so highly of you. Let’s face this together, Jeff. So please, don’t look so sad. That handsome face of yours will be ruined.”

“Oh, Anna, you really…”

“Ahem!”

We were interrupted by someone clearing their throat loudly. We both turned to see Nonna standing in the door. She had a cool expression on her face, deliberately avoiding making eye contact with us.

“Pardon me for interrupting, Mother and Father.”

“Well, Miss Prim and Proper. What brings you here at this hour?” I teased.

“May I train with Miles tomorrow?”

“Yes, but take the carriage. No running there.”

“All right. Also, um. There’s someone else who wants to train with me. Is that okay, too?”

For some reason, I had a bad feeling about that.

I felt Jeff twitch. He let go of me and slowly turned to face Nonna. “Is it one of our guards?”

“No.”

“Nonna, is it someone from the Third Order?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Who is it? Someone I know?” I asked.

“A man named Mills. He was one of people guarding the crown princess.”

“No. Absolutely not. Don’t get involved with the Third Order under any circumstances. If you want to train, your mother or I will spar with you. And who is this Miles?” Jeff asked.

“The caretaker of the sheep farm. He used to live behind Lady Yolana’s house,” Nonna said.

“Is that true, Anna?”

“Yes. He applied for the job when we posted the notice looking for a caretaker. His family used to run a sheep farm, too. He’s a former soldier,” I explained.

“All right. If you approve of him, then I’m sure it’ll be all right. But Mills is off-limits. Do you understand, Nonna?”

“Yes, I understand.”

Miles had also been associated with the Third Order, but I thought revealing this to Jeff now would just complicate the matter, so I kept quiet.

Nonna nodded silently, then returned to her room.

Looking back on the situation, I should have paid more attention to the expression on her face, especially considering she was at a difficult age.

Parenting was a series of new experiences every day. Nonna was constantly changing, but I had grown complacent and let down my guard, comforted by how obedient she usually was.

The next day around nine in the morning, Nonna announced she was off to train with Miles and took the carriage.

But around noon, Reed returned in a panic. “There’s trouble! Miss Nonna departed the farm long ago. She told Mr. Miles she had another appointment and left at eleven! I’ve searched the streets on my way back, but she’s nowhere to be found!”

“It’s all right, Reed. It’s not your fault. I’ll look for her myself. Prepare my horse, would you? And don’t bother telling Jeff. You can inform him when he gets home once we learn what’s happened.”

“Please let me join the hunt, too, Your Ladyship.”

“No, it’s fine. I can go alone. Stay here, Reed. If Nonna returns, I want you to keep her here and make sure she doesn’t leave the house again.”

“Y-yes, my lady.”

I quickly changed into my riding gear and mounted my horse. My first stop was Chester’s house. Contacting the Third Order would be faster, but I wanted to avoid another run-in with Lord Edward if I could.

Chester looked surprised when he saw me arrive on horseback. “Do you have a message for Mike, Lady Asher?”

“Nonna has gone missing. Last night, she said she wanted to train with a boy named Mills from the Third Order, and my husband forbade it. But she might have gone to him anyway. Could you inquire for me?”

Chester quickly mounted his own horse and dashed off, then returned soon after. “Mills is off duty today. He left saying he’d be back by evening, but no one knows where he went.”

“I see. Chester, I don’t want my daughter getting caught up in the Third Order. Please make that clear to Mills, and Mike, too.”

“Y-yes, of course. But if she’s with Mills, I doubt anything bad will happen to her.”

“Nonna could handle five or ten men herself without a problem. That’s not what I’m worried about. I want to avoid the Third Order taking an interest in her at all costs.”

Chester wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“Y-yes, I understand. I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need to apologize. We don’t know for sure Nonna is with Mills. Besides, this was all her own doing. I’ll search the capital while I head back.”

I left Chester’s house, reiterating it wasn’t his fault but my daughter’s.

I scanned the streets as I rode through the city. There was probably a 99-percent chance Nonna was all right. But in my experience, life had a funny way of throwing that unlucky 1 percent at you sometimes.

During my days as an operative, I’d always taken precautions to avoid the worst outcome, no matter how unlikely, which I believe had contributed to my high success rate.

When I was Nonna’s age, I was too absorbed in my lessons at the academy to think like an ordinary girl. I may have overlooked something obvious.

I reflected on my carelessness. Nonna was at the age when it was typical for children to rebel against their parents.

The capital was vast. Searching without leads was futile, but I figured it was better to do that than stay at home and be irritated at the situation. Treating it as an exercise for both me and my horse, I combed the city until evening but came up empty.

“Maybe she’s back by now.” I convinced myself Nonna must have gotten hungry and returned home.

But the faces of Bertha and Reed when they greeted me at the gates told me otherwise.

“Nonna isn’t back yet?” I asked.

“No, my lady. Shall we contact the city guard?”

“Not yet. Did Chester send any word?”

“No, we haven’t heard a thing.”

“All right. Reed, I need you to deliver a message for me and take it to Chester’s place, which is behind Lady Yolana’s. I’m going to write a letter now.”

Nonna hasn‘t come home yet. If you have any information, please send a message to my house.

Reed left with the letter, and I decided to stay dressed and wait.

“My lady, may I speak with you?”

“Of course, Bertha. What is it?”

“Once, when Miss Nonna was in the garden, a letter arrived. She accepted it and said it was addressed to her. I didn’t check who it was from. I’m terribly sorry. Do you think it could be related to this incident?”

“You don’t know who sent it?”

“No, my lady.”

Jeff came back from the palace around eight o’clock that night. “Why haven’t you contacted the Second Order yet? They specialize in city security. At the very least, you should have contacted the guard.”

I stopped him. Nonna might have caused some kind of trouble. If we got the guards or the Second Order involved, her skills could be exposed to too many people.

You want to avoid that at all costs, my intuition told me.

I explained my reasoning, and Jeff relented, though his worry and anger left him expressionless. I’d never seen him so cold and icy.

Nonna finally returned past ten o’clock accompanied by Mills, who apologized profusely to both Jeff and me.

My daughter was not injured, but the shirt and pants she’d worn to go training with Miles were slashed in several places, exposing her skin.

“Mills used blades on you?” Jeff asked.

“No, he didn’t. But I’m fine.”

Mills opened his mouth to speak, but I raised a hand to silence him.

“Explain what happened at once, Nonna.”

“I’m sorry for being late. Actually, we ran into some bad guys, so we dealt with them and helped someone who was in trouble.”

“That’s quite a simple explanation.”

“I can go into detail, but it’ll be a long story. Is that okay?”

“I want to hear it, no matter how long it takes. I won’t be able to sleep until I hear everything.”

And so, Jeff and I decided to listen to Nonna’s story, asking Mills to stay so he could fill in any gaps. I sent Reed to Chester’s house to let him know Nonna had returned safely along with Mills.

Bertha brought warm milk and bread in for the two of them.

Jeff and I both crossed our arms as Nonna and Mills sat before us. She nibbled on bread and sipped milk as she began recounting the events of the day from the very beginning.

I listened to her story without interrupting, but there were several times when I thought, Hmm, that’s odd. Could it be Nonna and Mills misunderstood something entirely?

When I glanced at Jeff, wondering if he thought the same thing, I saw him furrowing his brow as he looked back at me.

Chapter Seven: Nonna’s Story

A few days before Nonna visited the farm with me, a servant from Lady Yolana’s household had come to deliver a letter to her. She was playing in the garden with Ash and Berry when she received it.

“Miss Nonna Asher? I have a letter addressed to you from the Haynes household.”

“Thank you. Please tell Lady Yolana thank you as well.”

“Of course.”

She knew who it was without even looking at the sender’s name. Although there was only an M scrawled on the back of the envelope, the sole person who would send her letters through Lady Yolana was Mills.

The message skipped any formalities and got straight to the point.

I have the day off on this date. I‘ll be free until the evening unless there‘s an emergency. If that works for you, I‘ll be waiting by the pond in the plaza at noon. If you don‘t show up within an hour, I‘ll go somewhere else.

“He’ll go somewhere else if I don’t come… Hmm…”

Nonna had been looking forward to training with Mills, but when she’d asked permission to do so the night before, Jeffrey forbade it.

But now she had no way of letting Mills know she couldn’t come. She wasn’t sure if she could have Chester deliver a message for her. And asking her parents for help would likely end with Mills getting in trouble. Why had they disallowed her from doing something as simple as training with someone?

She couldn’t understand why they’d given her permission to train with Miles but not with Mills.

I bet it’s because Mills belongs to the Third Order. Well, it’s not like he asked me to join them, she thought.

Nonna had sensed from Jeffrey’s tone it would be better not to argue, so she’d reluctantly agreed, even though she wasn’t truly convinced.

“I’m the one who gets to pick who my friends are.”

For the first time in her life, Nonna decided to disobey Jeffrey.

After an extensive hand-to-hand combat training session with Miles, she left the farm before Reed arrived with the carriage.

She was dressed in a plain white shirt and black pants like a commoner would wear, and she tucked her golden braid into a loose cap as she hurried to the plaza. Mills wore a black shirt and dark-gray trousers, with his light-brown hair slicked back. This was an entirely different look from the day he’d been fending off the rebellion at the castle, wearing a knit black hat. Now he was indistinguishable from any ordinary young man.

“What should we do? Start training right away or get something to eat first?” he asked.

“Let’s eat! I want to try a place I’ve never been to before.”

“All right. I’ll take you to one of my favorite spots, then.”

Mills had assumed Nonna was a commoner, and he thought the same about Victoria, too.

He couldn’t have ever imagined a baroness might temporarily assist the Third Order and act as a body double for the crown princess.

Mills hadn’t told Mike or Lord Edward about today’s meeting. He figured they’d scold him if they found out.

It’s just training, he reasoned to himself, though he mostly only wanted to see Nonna. He unconsciously avoided acknowledging that feeling, though.

The southern quarter was where the commoners lived, and it was packed with a variety of shops. Although Nonna had lived there until she was six, she had rarely gone outside. And after Victoria took her in, Nonna had grown up in Shen and then in the nobles’ district in the eastern quarter.

Her visits to the southern quarter were limited to shopping trips on the main street with her mother. She’d never wandered around freely like this here before.

Mills led her through the alleyways of the area’s marketplace. Nonna was overflowing with excitement as they ventured deeper into the back streets.

Wow, this kebab shop looks really good!

Ooh, what smells so sweet over here?

I want to try whatever’s cooking in that pot!

The southern quarter was tightly packed with cheap restaurants that catered to laborers, and Mills took her to one of his favorite spots.

“A senior operative recommended this joint to me. It’s cheap, and they serve huge portions here. The food’s great.”

“Really?”

This was certainly the kind of place a noblewoman would never frequent, but Nonna felt her heart racing.

“Do you enjoy these sorts of places?” Mills asked.

“I love them! They’re much better than fancy ones.”

“Good, I’m glad.”

This was Mills’s first time going out to eat with a girl, so he felt genuinely relieved she liked it.

They shared a bowl of stew, some grilled meat wrapped in thin bread, and glasses of fruit juice. For dessert, they had grilled apples sprinkled with sugar.

Neither of them ate too much, mindful of the training ahead.

“All right. Let’s walk off the meal and then head to the training spot,” he said.

“Okay.”

“Mind if we take a shortcut? We’ll have to climb over a wall, though.”

“That’s fine.” Nonna suppressed a grin, trying so hard that she just ended up looking expressionless instead. She hadn’t had this much fun since leaving Shen. It was just as thrilling as her trip to the Subartu forest.

They climbed over walls at dead-end alleys, crossed through people’s backyards, and scaled more walls. But then Nonna suddenly froze.

“Mills, did you hear that?”

“Yeah, sounded like a woman screaming. Probably some deadbeat hitting his wife.”

“Aren’t we going to help?”

“What good would it do to butt in now? He’ll just do it again once we leave.”

“But…”

Another sharp, high-pitched scream echoed through the air, clearer this time.

“Stop it! Stop! Fred’s going to die!” Nonna heard the voice of a woman followed by the sound of several men laughing.

She shot a reproachful look at Mills. He sighed and said, “Fine…,” then climbed up to the second floor of the house where the scream had come from.

Nonna followed him, hopping up onto the eaves and making her way up from there.

The two of them scaled the roof of the three-story building and moved to the spot above the room where the voices were coming from. They strained their ears to hear the woman’s screams and the men’s voices.

Mills decided to ask for Nonna’s opinion. “What do you want to do?”

“Go in through the window and help her.”

“What about the Fred guy?”

“You can help him, Mills.”

“Me? All right. Do you have a weapon?”

“No, but I’ll be fine.”

“There’s no way.”

“I only tell the truth,” she said with a grin. Nonna didn’t wait for him to respond before she dropped from the roof onto the eaves above the third-floor window in one smooth motion. From there, she descended to the second-floor window, where the voices were coming from.

“Hey!” Mills called out softly to stop her, but she didn’t listen. Maybe it’s better if we go at the same time, he thought and immediately followed after her.

Nonna put her handkerchief between her teeth and pulled to tear it in half, then wrapped the scraps around her knuckles.

“If you break a window, but the frame doesn’t open, you can cover your hands like this to keep them from getting cut while you reach through the broken glass to unhook the latch.”

Chester had taught her this.

“Let’s just kick in the window and get inside. Are you ready, Mills? Three, two, one, now!”

She’d asked if he was ready but didn’t wait for his answer. She swung herself from the eaves and smashed through the window with her feet, diving into the room. Two seconds later, Mills shattered the adjacent window and followed her feetfirst.

“Who the hell are you?!”

Four men lunged at them, but Nonna and Mills took them down easily with their bare hands.

Nonna grabbed the woman’s hand, and Mills pulled the man to his feet as they made their escape. The woman was slow, and Fred was sluggish as well.

Two more men, likely accomplices of the ones they’d already taken down, appeared out of nowhere and started to chase them. Nonna and Mills turned to face them, and the men brandished knives.

Mills drew a dagger of his own, but Fred clung to him, shouting, “Don’t do it! Killing someone is a serious crime! I just need to get away!”

Nonna followed Victoria’s teachings to avoid killing unless her life was in danger, so she only knocked her opponents unconscious. But the men with the knives meant business. Mills was hindered by Fred, who clung to him, and yelled, “Let go! Get off me!”

“Look out!” the rescued woman shouted.

Nonna silently leaped in front of the man who’d brandished a knife at Mills and drove her foot into his stomach.

“Argh!” He crumpled to the floor with a groan. The other man swung his dagger, but Nonna jabbed her elbow into his chest, taking him down.

“C’mon! Let’s run!” Mills urged, and the four of them started fleeing again. But partway through, the woman stopped and spoke to Fred.

“I changed my mind! I’m going back home. Let’s just call off the elopement. Fred, come with me to my house. Maybe if we plead with my father, he’ll let us get married. We don’t have to get married in secret. My father can take care of your debts, too.”

“There’s no way. I owe way too much money for your father to ever approve of me.”

“Can’t we at least try? I’ll beg him!”

After that exchange, Nonna and Mills decided to lead the couple to the main road, just in case.

The woman didn’t live in the capital but at a farm some distance beyond the city gates.

“I want to thank you for helping us. Won’t you come with us?” the woman asked.

“No, we’re fine. We’ve got other things to do.”

“Please. Those men might chase after us again. And Fred was beaten for so long. If he collapses on the way home, there’s no way I can manage to carry him on my own. I also need you to explain to my father what Fred went through. If he hears that Fred’s life is in danger because of his debts, maybe he’ll help us. Please, I’m begging you!”

Nonna and Mills exchanged glances, unable to refuse her pleas. “What do you think?”

“Well, we don’t have much choice. Let’s go.”

Meanwhile, the woman flagged down a carriage. The four of them climbed aboard, and the woman said, “Take us to Fitte Village, please.”

Nonna had never heard of that place before. “Fitte Village?”

“Yes, my father is the mayor there. He oversees the nearby farmers as the lord’s representative.”

“That sounds impressive,” Nonna said, and the woman puffed out her chest proudly.

“We’re a big agriculture family.”

Nonna had noticed from the start that the woman’s clothes were too fine for a typical farmer’s daughter.

I wonder if they’re as wealthy as the Enlokam family from Shen? Nonna thought.

Mills spoke up with concern. “Nonna, it’ll take three hours just to get to Fitte Village. You’ll be really late.”

“Yeah, but if I leave now and something happens, I’d feel terrible. What if those men come after these two? I’ll head straight back after we drop them off.”

“But still…”

“I’ll probably get in trouble when I get home anyway, so it’s okay. I want to help these people.”

“Is your mom strict? She seems like she would be.”

“Hmm, well, she’s usually really nice, but I have a feeling she’ll be mad this time.”

The woman listened to them and then spoke up. “Sorry for not introducing myself before, but my name is Rosalie. You two are really strong.”

“Thanks.”

The four of them continued riding in the carriage, but the story didn’t end there.

About two hours into the journey, Fred began groaning and clutching his stomach. He doubled over, in too much pain to even speak.

“Maybe I have internal injuries…,” he groaned, and then Rosalie panicked.

“What should we do? There’s no doctor in Fitte Village!”

They had no other choice but to turn around the carriage and head back to the capital.

Jeffrey and I listened quietly to Nonna’s long story.

I’d already sent word to Chester that she had returned with Mills.

She continued to speak.

“We searched for a hospital in the capital, but since it was late at this point, the places we visited either turned us away at the door or asked us to pay way too much. Rosalie said she didn’t have that kind of money. It took forever to find a hospital willing to help us, so that’s why it got so late.”

“What happened to Fred?”

“Well, Rosalie was crying and kept saying, ‘What if Fred dies?’ so I stayed with them until the end. Mills told me I could go home, but I was the one who’d suggested going to Fitte Village. It felt wrong to leave them there like that.”

Mills looked sheepish and hung his head.

I began to speak in a harsh tone of voice. “Nonna, if someone has been punched or kicked in their internal organs, they wouldn’t be able to suddenly run and escape. They’d be doubled over, struggling to breathe.”

“Huh?” Nonna didn’t seem to understand what I was saying, so I told her what I thought.

“I believe Fred was faking it, Nonna.”

“But why would he do that?”

“He’s in debt, and Rosalie seems like she has some money. The men who punched Fred were his friends.”

Nonna looked absolutely shocked. Meanwhile, Jeff had a grim expression on his face.

“No way! That’s impossible!” she said.

“What do you think, Mills?” I asked.

“After Fred saw the doctor, he walked out very briskly, which I thought was odd. But I didn’t want to get involved any further, so I didn’t tell Nonna. I’m sorry!”

Jeffrey finally broke his silence. “Fred could walk, Nonna?”

“Yes. He said the doctor told him to rest, but he was moving around.”

“I see.”

Nonna turned to me with a serious expression on her face. “Mom, if Fred was working with those people, what would happen to Rosalie?”

“Fred’s associates might’ve taken her. Maybe he never intended to elope with her and was after her family’s money from the start, which is probably why he lured her there. But don’t worry, they wouldn’t kill her. They wouldn’t get the money if they did.”

I turned to Mills. “Now that you’ve come to this house, you know my identity.”

Mills lowered his gaze even further, while Nonna also looked down, realizing the magnitude of her mistake.

I sent Nonna to her room and left Jeff to speak with Mills.

“The Second Order will handle the matter of those men and Rosalie. I’ve already told Chester about this. Only he, Mike, and your boss know my wife’s true identity. I need you to swear you will never tell another soul.”

“Of course. Please accept my sincerest apologies for inviting Nonna to train without your permission, Lord Asher.”

Mills bowed deeply.

“No, I told Nonna not to go. It’s our fault she disobeyed. You were unaware of the situation, so it’s not your fault. However, I can’t have the relationship between you and Nonna lead to anyone finding out my wife acted as the princess’s double.”

“You’re absolutely right. I’ll refrain from such behavior in the future.”

“Thank you. I’ll explain everything to Nonna. Now, tell me the location of the building you entered.”

Mills provided a rough address and drew a map, before he bowed repeatedly again and left.

“Anna, I’ll contact the Second Order. The sooner I do it, the better.”

“Do you know the place from Mills’s map? It looks like you’d have to climb over three walls.”

“I know the capital well. This map is enough. We won’t use the same route as Nonna, though.”

“Be careful.”

Jeff rode off on horseback, and I quietly peeked into Nonna’s room. She wasn’t asleep. When I went inside, she sat up. I took a seat on the edge of her bed, and she immediately apologized.

“Mom, I’m sorry. I told Mills he could leave before we got here, but he insisted on explaining why we were so late. I’m sorry for exposing your identity.”

“What’s done is done. Worrying won’t change anything. You just need to be careful from now on.”

At bedtime, Nonna took out her braid. Her golden, silky hair felt cool to the touch.

“Jeff told you not to go because he was worried about my secret being exposed. But I was against you going for a different reason.”

“What is it?”

“I trained you so you could protect yourself, but you’ve become far stronger than I ever expected. You can speak Ashburian, Randallish, and Shenese fluently, and you’ve even gotten quite good at Haglian.”

Nonna listened silently, clearly unsure of where I was going with this.

“You would be an invaluable asset to organizations like Hagl’s Special Operations Force and Ashbury’s Third Order. I’m terrified they might try to recruit you. I should have just told you this. I’m sorry for not being clear.”

“Do you hate those kinds of organizations, Mom?”

“I started working for Hagl’s Special Operations Force at eight years old, and I didn’t have a choice in the matter. I had to do it for my family’s sake. But you’re different.”

I continued speaking, praying my words would reach Nonna’s heart.

“I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if you grew desensitized to death. I can already imagine myself regretting ever training you.”

“Mom…” Nonna looked frantic. “I only wanted to become strong so I could protect you. And I kept training because I liked it. If you hadn’t helped me, I probably would’ve ended up like Auri. I’ve thought about that so many times. I would’ve grown up hating everyone around me, deceiving people, and lying to make money.”

“Nonna.”

“I was wrong to disobey. I’m sorry, Mom. I should’ve told you how I felt. I only wanted to choose my own friends. When Dad said no, I just…I just got so angry! Why did he have to say it like that? It frustrated me so much.”

At the time, I’d thought Jeff’s tone was unusually harsh, but I understood his anxiety and had stayed quiet.

“None of us communicated very well, did we? I’ll make sure to say what needs to be said from now on. And you should do the same. Thanks for telling me how you feel. And don’t worry about Rosalie and Fred. Dad’s taking care of it.”

“He is? At this hour?”

“That’s part of the Second Order’s job. We can count on him.”

The next morning, we received word from the Second Order—Fred and his gang had been apprehended, and Rosalie had been freed from captivity. Just as I suspected, Fred had been working with the men all along.

After breakfast, I sent Nonna to the farm. She was still very down.

“Train with Miles as much as you like but make sure to take a guard with you.”

“I will, but I’m also going to ask him how to get the sheep to like me.” Nonna managed a smile and left in the carriage.

As for me, I had to go to the castle. I’d received an invitation at nine in the morning to a tea party for later that day. An invitation to an event within several hours—so it couldn’t possibly be an ordinary tea party.

I arrived at Princess Delphine’s quarters before noon.

“Thank you for the invitation, Your Highness.”

“I apologize for the short notice, Lady Asher.”

“Not at all.”

There was an unexpected guest in Princess Delphine’s room, where I had worked for two months. It was none other than Gunther Bahr. He gave me an awkward look.

“Lady Asher, I hear you’ve been chosen as my conversation partner and language tutor,” said Princess Delphine.

“That’s correct.”

She’d said “chosen” as if it wasn’t her decision.

“I wanted to apologize to you today. I didn’t tell my husband about you. However, this man went out of his way to inform Prince Conrad.”

“I’m very sorry!” Gunther bowed sharply.

Princess Delphine watched him with a frosty expression on her face and then continued speaking. “Lady Asher—or may I call you Anna?”

“Of course, Princess Delphine.”

“Gunther’s real name is Grayson Aldran. My homeland sent him here out of concern for me. But because of him, I ended up breaking my promise to you.”

“I am profoundly sorry, Princess Delphine and Lady Asher. I will accept any punishment,” said Gunther.

The princess sighed elegantly.

“Anna, Grayson saw you entering the grand hall as my double after the rebellion was quelled. He realized then who you were.”

“I noticed because your movements were far too precise to belong to Her Highness. That made me curious. As I observed, I suddenly realized you were the lady I danced with. I never considered for a moment that the prince was unaware of the double’s true identity.”

“He did more than simply deduce your identity, Anna. He also said to Prince Conrad, ‘So noble ladies can serve as body doubles in this kingdom?’ which was completely unnecessary,” the princess said.

So it was Gunther who told Prince Conrad about me.

Perhaps Prince Conrad thought he would have more leverage to keep Jeffrey close to him if his wife and I grew closer.

By appointing Jeff as deputy minister of military affairs and assigning me as Princess Delphine’s conversation partner, the prince seemed determined to keep my husband by his side. He clearly adored Jeffrey. Too much.

“His Highness trusts Lord Asher explicitly. I tried to convince him not to, saying it wasn’t necessary to appoint you as well, but he wouldn’t listen. He said, ‘Jeffrey isn’t moved by money or titles.’”

“I’m grateful the prince holds my husband in such high esteem.”

Prince Conrad seemed to have a firm grasp of Jeffrey’s nature.

“When my husband was young, he often played with Bryan Wilkes, who was executed recently. He trusted him. But Bryan tried to have me assassinated. That must’ve been a tremendous emotional blow to Conrad. Although he remains outwardly calm and conceals his feelings even from me, I’m sure he is distraught on the inside. That’s why he wants someone as loyal as Lord Asher nearby.”

The princess looked directly at me. “I feel very conflicted about your appointment as my conversation partner. Yet at the same time, I’m glad. I was raised to be queen of this kingdom from birth, so I know little of the outside world. I possess the knowledge required of a queen, but I lack much as a person. Anna, I want to grow. Not only as a queen, but also as a citizen of Ashbury and a mother to my two sons. Would you lend me your wealth of knowledge and experience to help me develop?”

“Princess Delphine…” Honestly, I was very surprised.

Although our positions were very different, her wish to address her shortcomings reminded me of my goal when I’d first come to Ashbury.

Despite her role as the future queen, Princess Delphine still aspired to grow as a person. Her sincerity and earnest nature moved me.

“I would be honored to serve as your conversation partner and language tutor,” I said.

“Thank you, Anna.” Princess Delphine was so graceful, she reminded me of a flower fairy. A moment later, however, her serene expression gave way entirely, and she glared sharply at Gunther.

“Grayson, your father, Duke Aldran, doted on me as a child. Out of respect for him, I shall overlook you speaking out of turn. But I want you to know that I am truly incensed at you.”

“My utmost apologies!”

“I will stay with the people of this kingdom for as long as I live. I am now a citizen of Ashbury. Please convey that to your father to ease his worries.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Anna, I shall send for you with more notice next time. I look forward to our next meeting.”

I left the castle feeling very moved by Princess Delphine’s character.

When I first met Gunther, I thought I’d seen him somewhere before. Perhaps I’d noticed him at a ball he attended as a son of the duke. Or maybe he’d accompanied foreign dignitaries as a guard when he was a soldier.

I wasn’t sure if it had been in the kingdom of Hagl or Randall, so I presumed that I’d just seen him somewhere once, and we’d never exchanged words.

The news of my appointment as Princess Delphine’s conversation partner and language tutor quickly spread among the nobility. The pile of invitations that had begun to subside at my home began arriving again, and not just for me and Jeffrey, but for Nonna as well.

I felt overwhelmed for a moment, but I wouldn’t give up now.

Just as Princess Delphine had resolved to live as an Ashburian citizen, I was ready to embrace my life here, too.

After a while, Jeffrey and I began to gradually accept invitations from the nobles.

If we suddenly started attending them all at once, people might think the story about my frail constitution and being bedridden was a lie.

So we took it very slow.

As a result, we replied to every invitation with the explanation Anna has recovered since returning home.

I didn’t care whether they believed it or not. There was no point in worrying about it.

However, the notion that Lord Asher was the crown prince’s favorite and his wife was the crown princess’s favorite seemed highly appealing to nobility. Despite attending tea parties or soirees weekly, Jeffrey and I couldn’t even make a dent in the invitations.

The same went for Nonna.

“Nonna, are you really planning on going to every tea party you’re invited to?”

“Yes. Master Clark says it’s better to have more noble acquaintances.”

“As long as you’re okay with it, I suppose it’s fine. Just don’t cause any trouble, all right?”

“I’m not causing trouble. Everyone’s basically groveling before me.”

“Groveling?!”

“Don’t worry. I won’t let it go to my head. I’m not going to act all high-and-mighty. I will make sure to behave quietly, politely, and with a gentle elegance.”

Well, I figured as much. Nonna could act like a proper young lady when she wanted to.

I hadn’t given her many opportunities to make friends before we came back to Ashbury. So I had no complaints if she wanted to broaden her world and do it alongside someone like Master Clark.

Today, Miss Elizabeth was visiting us, and she spoke up suddenly. “Lady Asher, did you know there’s a new social circle forming around Nonna?”

“A social circle? What do you mean, Miss Elizabeth?”

Elizabeth gracefully placed her teacup back on the table. She’d grown taller lately, and her figure had taken on a more mature appearance. She was a year older than Nonna and would be fourteen soon.

“At a recent tea party, a young lord from a certain earl’s family was proudly showing off his skills at the game of darts, which has become quite popular lately.”

“Ack…” Nonna looked away from me awkwardly.

“And he was quite skilled, as expected of someone boasting about it. However, while everyone else applauded him, Nonna was the sole person to refrain from clapping. On top of that, she watched him with a rather unimpressed expression. This must have struck a nerve with the young man. He turned to her and said, ‘Why don’t you give it a try, then?’”

“Um, Elizabeth, let’s not talk about this anymore.”

“Hmm? Why not? This is when the story gets interesting!” Elizabeth said innocently.

“I’d love to hear the rest, Elizabeth,” I said.

I knew exactly where the rest of the story was headed.

Nonna had behaved immaturely, which was no surprise since she was a child, and completely crushed the young man at darts.

When that happened, the young nobles, both men and women, took turns challenging her. I didn’t even have to hear about the results to know how that had turned out.

After all, my daughter had been hitting targets with rocks since she was little and practicing knife throwing for fun since the age of ten. Her level of experience was leagues above children her age who’d just picked up the game. It was only natural she’d won.

“Oh, I just got lucky, that’s all. Heh-heh,” she said.

“Right. I’m sure it was only a stroke of luck.” I smiled.

Despite my constant reminders for her to avoid ever casually revealing her cards, here we were.

“Well, I never thought something like that would cause such a stir. But now they’ve formed a darts club around me! I can’t exactly back out now, tee-hee.”

“That’s fine as long as it’s only darts,” I said pointedly.

“So you’re okay with it?”

“Yes. It’s just darts, after all.” I gave Nonna another meaningful look, silently asking, You haven’t shown them knife throwing, have you?

Nonna quickly shook her head, so it seemed my message had gotten across.

Just then, Master Clark, who had been quietly listening to the story, stepped in to back her up.

“Miss Victoria, Nonna may speak like this in front of you, but I promise she uses the proper manners of a refined lady in public. She’s been doing very well.”

“Thank you, Master Clark. I feel reassured knowing she’s with you.”

“Mother drilled manners into me relentlessly, but Nonna picks things up so easily. She always impresses me.”

Master Clark continued to act as Nonna’s escort, which I greatly appreciated. She looked genuinely happy when she was with him, like a girl her age should. Lately, I found myself thinking, They’ll definitely get engaged at this rate.

And although their betrothal wasn’t official yet, Lady Eva had already said, “Nonna is always welcome in our family. My husband is positively thrilled at the idea.”

I went to Princess Delphine once every ten days.

Our meetings were for lessons in Randallish. She already had a decent grasp of basic conversation, so now we were practicing common idioms and proverbs used in Randall.

“This is so much fun! I’ve never enjoyed language lessons before. I’d love to try out those elegant bargaining techniques you taught me at an actual shop someday!”

“Oh, please don’t, Your Highness. I’ll definitely get scolded if you do. Let’s keep this as our little secret,” I urged.

“Don’t you worry. My husband is a very generous man. He wouldn’t scold you for something like that.”

Speaking of the crown prince, he had been eerily distant when it came to me.

I suspected by now he had pieced together I was the culprit behind the commotion at the soiree when I first arrived in Ashbury. Since he knew I’d acted as a double, he must have an inkling about my background now. But he didn’t say a word about it. Not even a hint.

Jeffrey said, “Maybe he doesn’t want to risk upsetting me, so he’s keeping quiet about your identity.”

Still, the idea of a crown prince going out of his way to avoid offending a baron was very odd, to say the least.

As for Lord Edward, I’d left that matter alone. Since he hadn’t approached me, I saw no reason to stir up trouble.

I knew he deeply loved Jeffrey, so as long as I wasn’t a threat to him, I doubted he’d act against me. I wanted to be optimistic about that. Worrying about catastrophes that might never come to pass was just a waste of time.

Back at the northern wing of the castle, Edward Asher was deep in conversation with Dr. Wu, who oversaw medical care for the Third Order.

“Is it true you’re returning to Shen, Dr. Wu?”

“Yes, my parents are getting older, and I want to go back to set their minds at ease. My wife and my son have agreed to move back to Shen with me.”

“I see. That’s a shame. You’ve already arranged for a replacement, haven’t you?”

“Yes, I reached out to my cousin a while ago, and he agreed to work here for ten years. He’s quite capable, so I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.”

“That’s a relief.”

Dr. Wu hesitated, looking slightly troubled. “However, my cousin plans to bring along a young man named Yilkas, and I’m not sure where to house him. Could you recommend a room he could rent out, Chief?”

“Who is this Yilkas?”

“He’s the son of a prominent family in the medicine trade. I believe he was quite friendly with Nonna.”

“With Nonna?”

“Yes. Yilkas mentioned wanting to travel the world, but his parents opposed the idea. They only permitted him to move to Ashbury because they hold the Asher family in such high regard.”

“Ah, the son of the Enlokam family my younger brother stayed with.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“We shall take Yilkas in at my house.”

“Are you sure? That would be a great relief. Thank you.”

“Yes, ever since Nonna moved out, our home has felt quite empty, and my wife and my mother have been lonely. This will be perfect.”

“Wonderful. Yilkas is also trained in Shenese martial arts, so you could use him as a bodyguard as well. Just please, don’t assign him to the Third Order.”

“Not to worry. I wouldn’t do that.”

“I’m off to a tea party, Mom!”

“All right, be careful.”

“What about you, Mom? Where are you going today?”

“I’m planning on shearing the sheep with Miles. When we have enough wool, we’ll spin it and try dyeing it with the women who work there. One of them says she knows how to make a beautiful dye using tree bark and flower petals.”

“Every day is so fun, isn’t it, Mom? Shen and Randall were great, but I still love Ashbury the most.”

“Me too.”

Right now, I was most looking forward to dyeing yarn the color of Jeffrey’s eyes and knitting him a sweater with it.

“All right, don’t forget to smile and have a fun day today.”

“I will! I’m leaving now.”

The carriage with Master Clark arrived, and Nonna ran toward it quite fast for a polite young lady.

“Anna, I’m heading out as well.”

“Take care, darling. I’ll be waiting for you.”

“I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Jeff kissed my cheek and left. Now that he was deputy minister of military affairs, he was always busy.

“Well, I’ll head to the sheep farm now. Take care of things at home, Bertha.”

“Good-bye, my lady.”

When I left Hagl, I’d intended on living the rest of my life freely, unbound by anyone.

But then I met Nonna, Jeff, Lady Yolana, Mr. Bernard, Lady Eva, Master Clark, and Zaharo, and now I had put down roots in this kingdom.

Eventually, I even became involved with the royal family. I never would’ve imagined my life would turn out this way.

Although my life was a bit unusual, I was content with the days I spent with my family.

From now on, I would use any means necessary and play any cards I had in order to protect my family.

Epilogue: Crown Princess Delphine’s Thoughts

Shortly before the rebellion broke out, I received a letter from my homeland of Eagal. It was a secret message from my father, who was worried about me.

Since he didn’t know who might read it, the letter didn’t have my name or his written on it.

I’d read it so many times that I’d memorized it word for word.

Are you well? Have you caught a cold? I am worried. I will send someone knowledgeable about medicine, so please rely on them. Your mother and I only wish for your health and happiness.

I hated to dispose of my father’s letters, but I always burned them in my fireplace.

This was my room, but it wasn’t truly mine. I never knew who might enter while I wasn’t there. The maids cleaned thoroughly, so I couldn’t hide the message anywhere, either.

As I looked out the window, I saw the beautiful, well-maintained garden and the many guards below.

The kingdom’s military had protected me, but at the same time, they’d tried to kill me.

From the moment of my birth, it was decided that I would be the future queen of Ashbury.

I never complained about my lot. I thought this was just the way my life was supposed to be, so I never hesitated. I walked the path that was laid out for me. I lived my life without any doubts.

Fortunately, Prince Conrad was warm and compassionate and treated me with care.

Although our marriage was political, it hadn’t turned into a mere formality after I had the children, which was often the case. He was faithful and never betrayed me for other women.

“I’m happy. There’s nothing missing from my life. I should be grateful for the blessed existence I have.”

That was how I felt, but then a woman came into my world who shocked me.

She could perfectly imitate my way of walking after observing my movements only once or twice. And she could imitate my voice with uncanny accuracy after hearing a brief conversation. Even when she needed to confront me, the crown princess, she kept her eyes firmly on mine despite the fact I was glaring at her. Later on, I heard she had taken down the attacking soldiers one by one with only a dagger.

The woman had never flinched when she told me, “The kingdom has employed me, so I will report the truth to them. If you die, it would be easy for someone to kill your children, too.”

She had done everything in her power to protect me.

“I had no idea there was a woman as strong as her in this world. And her eyes are so clear and pure.”

I’d never met a woman like her before.

“I want to talk to her more about all sorts of things.”

I’d thought that many times, but it seemed she had complicated circumstances. I’d resigned myself to the thought that my wish would never come true.

After the military rebellion had settled down and peace returned to the castle, the prince asked me something unexpected one night.

“What did you think about the woman who served as your double?”

“I think she was quite…dazzling. She’s strong, intelligent, and someone I can trust.”

“I see. You must’ve really liked her, then. Do you want to see her again?”

I couldn’t help but look at the prince directly when he said that.

“Would I be able to speak with her again? I assumed that would be impossible, so I gave up on the idea!” I answered too quickly and eagerly, and the prince chuckled.

“I asked Edward for details about her. Apparently, she’s still living in hiding from her homeland’s special forces organization. Jeff would be upset if she started spending time with you again. But I’ll ask him to allow it in a way that won’t attract attention. I’m very fond of Jeff. When I become king, there will be very few people who can speak their mind to me without concern. So for the sake of this kingdom, I can’t afford to lose him. But I know I’m causing trouble for him. Do you feel the same way?”

“I wish there was someone close to me who would tell me when something right is right and when something wrong is wrong and who would look me straight in the eyes while they say it, just like she did.”

“All right. I’ll see what I can do. It might take some time, though.”

“Thank you, Your Highness! I’m so glad! I’ll wait as long as it takes.”

“You seem even happier than when I brought you back black pearls from the southern seas.”

“I was very happy then, too.”

The prince smiled and said, “Now, don’t worry about it,” before leaving the room.

Some time later, the woman was appointed as my language tutor and conversation partner.

I’m sure it was a bothersome duty for her, and I was truly sorry for that.

However, when she met with me, she would tell me about the commoners of Ashbury and also share stories about the common folk of Randall. Her tales were far more enjoyable and educational than any book I could read.

Once, I dismissed the servants and asked the woman about her past.

“How did you come to your previous position?”

“I had to join the Special Operations Force to keep my family from starving. They were very poor.”

“How old were you?”

“I was eight years old. I worked very hard, believing that if I did my best, my family would be saved.”

I felt a lump in my throat when I heard she’d been part of the realm since she was even younger than my oldest son, Oscar. Despite living in such a harsh environment, her eyes still looked very clear.

Although I didn’t know much about the world, I knew that was a very impressive feat.

That night when I was alone with the prince, I couldn’t help but say something.

“I now understand how you feel about not being able to let go of Lord Asher.”

“Is this about her?”

“Yes. I suppose you would call her one-of-a-kind.”

“I hear she’s cut all ties with her home kingdom. I called on Edward and asked him about it in detail. If he says as much, it must be true. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have allowed her to marry his brother. She took in a child from this kingdom and raised her as lovingly as her own. She must be very fond of Ashbury.”

“Oh, so she adopted her daughter? I did think they looked nothing alike. That sounds like something she would do.”

Suddenly, I remembered the story Lady Asher had told me about how to haggle elegantly in town, and I struggled to hold back my laughter.

“What’s so funny, Delphine? It’s unusual to see you laughing like that.”

“It’s just something Lady Asher said. It was so amusing, I couldn’t help but laugh.”

“What did she say?”

“It’s a secret.”

“That’s disappointing. By the way, are her language lessons really that enjoyable? Perhaps I shall take a class from her myself.”

“If you were to attend, she would get too nervous. You should give up on that idea,” I said.

I wanted to cherish Anna Victoria Asher.

And if she had complicated circumstances, I wanted to protect her from any harm that came her way.

As the crown princess and the next queen, I had to become strong enough to protect her. I found myself thinking that more and more often lately.

Bonus Story: Michael Anderson’s Theory

“Darling, did you know Clark is escorting Nonna to all the tea parties she’s attending?” Eva asked.

“He must be so happy she’s back. I was very worried about him—he seemed so down when Nonna was gone. But he’s been looking much brighter lately. And ever since Edward encouraged him, he’s been putting a lot of effort into studying languages. That’s a good thing,” Michael replied.

“Jeff’s become a baron, and Victoria’s a baroness now. And Nonna’s such a good girl. Now that she’s the daughter of a baron, her status isn’t a problem at all, is it? I think it would be lovely if Clark and Nonna got engaged. Then we wouldn’t have to worry about having someone with troubling noble connections marrying into our family,” Eva said.

Eva’s husband, Michael, just smiled without responding.

After Victoria’s sudden disappearance, a man from the Third Order came to the Anderson estate and explained Victoria had fled Ashbury after she attracted the unwanted attention of a dignitary of another kingdom. The kingdom had sent her to Shen for five years to let the situation cool down.

As the minister of foreign affairs, Michael was naturally curious about Victoria, and since she was the mother of his only son’s potential wife, he looked into her background.

“My position has given me some connections. Maybe it’s time I put them to use.”

Michael utilized his status to confirm Victoria was a commoner from the kingdom of Randall who had entered Ashbury through all the proper channels.

“Hmm, so the person who took a liking to Victoria must be a dignitary from Randall. But who, exactly?”

He had one of his contacts in Randall investigate discreetly, but they found no answer.

He asked them if they could think of a man who’d become so obsessed with her that he would chase her off. His contact looked into more than ten dignitaries, but none of them had associations with a woman matching Victoria’s appearance.

Ultimately, Michael couldn’t find out what Victoria had been doing in Randall, nor which dignitary had become obsessed with her.

His investigation revealed that Victoria Sellars, who had been missing for many years, suddenly appeared in official records under departures from Randall.

“How odd. Victoria had been missing for so long, yet she became the object of a dignitary’s obsession only recently. What happened, and who was involved? I’ve always wondered how a commoner like her came to be skilled in so many languages.”

Suddenly, Michael remembered a certain man he’d heard about.

“Could it be?”

He instinctively slapped his knee.

There was a well-known story among the foreign affairs ministers of various kingdoms about an archduke from Randall who was a notorious womanizer. Supposedly, he was the much younger brother of the king of Randall. He was said to charm not only young noblewomen but would also go out incognito to woo servants and girls from town.

Of course, no one would say such things in public, but rumors had been spreading among the guards and the women he’d been involved with.

“Perhaps Victoria caught the eye of that archduke? She’s very modest and serious, so surely, she would dislike his womanizing ways and flee to escape him?”

Once he came up with that idea, it seemed like the only plausible explanation.

“Now that I think about it, it makes sense why she fled all the way to Shen. An archduke wouldn’t have difficulty summoning her from Ashbury, but Shen is a different story. Ha-ha. No one else noticed, but I’m the minister of foreign affairs. You can’t fool me!”

Michael was very satisfied with his theory.

“That reminds me, Eva once said that Victoria mentioned working in a noble household. That would explain her refined manners, which you don’t see in many commoners.”

Victoria had actually based her story about being raised in Randall on the circumstances of a real woman, but Michael had no way of knowing that.

“She must’ve caught the archduke’s eye while working for some noble. Or perhaps she was employed at his estate. If she was under a high-ranking noble for a long time and was well-liked, it would make sense if she became skilled in languages.”

Among the servants of high-ranking nobles, some were trained in languages so they could become tutors and governesses, assisting in the education of the noble’s children.

“Victoria taught Clark languages so well he overcame his dislike of studying them. She also taught Nonna. Considering her knowledge of language and culture was deep enough that she could serve as Mr. Bernard’s assistant… Hmm, I see. She must’ve been a servant or governess at the archduke’s household and had to run away from him. Yes, that’s it.”

Michael never once considered that Victoria had actually been an elite operative from Hagl, let alone the ace of their entire organization.

“What a pity for her to be relentlessly pursued by that archduke. I must protect her as much as I can.”

Michael kept his grand misunderstanding to himself, not telling Eva or Clark, and it was something he kept hidden even to this day.

Bonus Story: Miles’s Wish

Miles was a retired soldier, and when he found himself with too much time on his hands, the Third Order approached him with a job offer.

“We need you to watch over a woman and a child. We want you to help them if they are ever attacked.”

Miles accepted the request and began observing a woman named Victoria. It didn’t take long before he had a sneaking suspicion about her.

Is she an operative, too?

The fact she ran early in the morning to keep in shape and always seemed to be on alert made sense when he thought about her in those terms. But he wasn’t sure why the Third Order was so desperate to protect her.

One day, when he hinted he knew her true identity, she asked him to spar with her.

Oh? Maybe she’s opened up to me? he thought, but soon after, she disappeared with Nonna, leaving no trace behind.

No one knew where she had gone. He was told that no search would be conducted.

Perhaps it was a mistake for me to try and get closer to her. That must have spooked her and caused her to run.

He went to ask the elderly woman who lived by him, and he found a large silver-haired man there staring at a note she’d left behind, his face full of despair.

Is this her boyfriend? I’ve been so foolish.

He couldn’t forget the look on the man’s face. Miles had been tormented by regret ever since.

Five and a half years had passed since then.

“I need to find somewhere I can work peacefully. Idle days are poison to my mind and body.”

He went to the unemployment agency to search for a job and, after a few trips there, came across a posting that caught his attention.

Seeking a caretaker for a sheep farm. Must be forty-five or older. Experience preferred. Live-in position.

“This job looks like it was made for me!”

He quickly applied and was hired. As he listened to the abbey’s Mother Superior, who explained that the person who owned the farm was Lord Asher, his heart began to race.

“Lord and Lady Asher have recently returned to Ashbury after spending five years in Shen. Lord Asher is a large man with silver hair and blue eyes. He used to be the captain of the Second Order of knights. Oh? His wife? Her name is Anna Asher. She’s tall and elegant with brown hair and brown eyes. She’s very intelligent. Yes, they have a daughter as well. I believe she’s twelve or so. She has blond hair and bluish-gray eyes. She has a lot of energy.”

The relief and joy that flooded Miles made him feel like celebrating.

Anna Asher is definitely Victoria Sellars. She’s alive! Both Victoria and Nonna are alive!

Not only were they alive, but it also seemed she’d married the man he’d crossed paths with.

“I’m happy for her. She’s finally found a place to settle down. I’ll raise a glass to her in celebration tonight.”

That night as he drank alone, he felt the heavy regret that had been lingering in his heart slowly disappear.

Miles’s wife had passed away from an illness over ten years ago, and he was estranged from their son. He didn’t even know where his son was or what he was doing. During his days as a soldier, Miles had found his purpose in protecting the kingdom and its people, but ever since he retired, he felt completely useless. He felt truly empty, like it didn’t matter to the world whether he was here or not.

“I’ll protect her this time. And I’ll help her.”

He suspected Victoria was an ex-operative from another kingdom. For reasons he didn’t understand, the Third Order felt like she was someone who was worth protecting.

“I won’t make the same mistake again. I won’t try to uncover her true identity. If the Third Order wants to protect her, then she’s not a threat to this kingdom.”

Upon reuniting with Victoria at the sheep farm, Miles noticed she was at a much healthier weight. She looked genuinely happy, and her face was bright.

Nonna had matured into a beautiful young girl, like a flower about to bloom. Miles couldn’t help but marvel at how much she’d grown from the six-year-old-girl with adorable missing front teeth. He felt emotional, and it made him realize just how much older he’d become.

“If I had a granddaughter, I’d probably feel just like this.”

He absolutely adored Nonna. Every time she came to visit, his heart would lighten, and his alcohol would taste better.

One day, she came to him with an unexpected request.

“Mr. Miles, my mom says that I can train with you as much as I want. Will you spar with me?”

“Yes, of course,” he replied.

Victoria trusts me. She used to be wary of me and ran away from me, but now she trusts me enough to let me train Nonna, even though I once did something unforgivable.

Despite his feelings of guilt, he couldn’t help but feel happy. And he was astonished when he sparred with Nonna. She was only twelve, but she’d far surpassed skills of most men.

“This is exciting! I can’t afford to grow old at this point.”

Miles made sure to spar with Nonna whenever she visited.

“Nonna, I’ll teach you everything I learned during my years in the army. First, I’ll show you how to spot your enemy’s weaknesses.”

“I can’t wait to learn!”

He began guiding her on how to quickly identify what kind of attacks an opponent favored and how to spot their weaknesses. He mentored her on how to observe eye movements, shifts in balance, and the direction of an enemy’s toes. He also showed her the common habits that people often displayed in battle.

“You can’t think too much, or it’ll be too late. You need to be able to sense it without thinking. Now, try it again against me.”

“Okay. Here I come, Mr. Miles!”

“I’m ready for you any time!”

Nonna was a fast learner, quickly adapting and incorporating her own style into what he taught her.

Now Miles felt like he had a purpose every day, and he couldn’t wait for the next morning to come.

Bonus Story: The Asher Family’s Long Ride

Some time had passed since Jeffrey became the deputy minister of military affairs, and Victoria was starting to feel a bit tired of attending nonstop tea parties and soirees.

“Nonna, I was thinking of going out to ride the horses since it’s been a while. How about you?”

“I’ll do it! Master Clark is as busy as ever, and Elizabeth caught a cold, so I can’t see her. I’ve been so bored.”

“Okay. Let’s head to the horse ranch next week and do it, then.”

“Great! I’m looking forward to it.”

That evening, Nonna greeted Jeffrey with a smile when he returned home.

“You’re busy, aren’t you, Dad?”

“I am, but if you have something you need, I’ll listen.”

“I’m going for a long ride with Mom, and it’s been ages since we went together. I was wondering if you’d like to come, too. You’re very good at riding, right? But I realized you’ve never seen my skills! I want you to see me in action.”

“Your horseback riding skills, hmm?”

He started to say something but suddenly stopped. “Wait—are you talking about some kind of trick and not just regular equestrian skills?”

“That’s right! You know me very well, Dad.”

“Can Mom do those tricks, too?”

“Well, yes. She’s the one who taught me.”

Jeffrey blinked a few times and thought, I definitely want to see this…

They’d traveled by horse when they went to the western forest, so he’d seen how accustomed Victoria was to riding. But he’d never seen what she could do as a spy while on horseback.

“I’d like to go. When is it?”

“Next week. Is that too sudden?”

“I can make it happen.”

Jeffrey cleared a mountain of work from his schedule so he could set aside a full day for the long trip. Now he was doing his best not to let his mouth hang open in surprise.

The three of them rode out of the capital, past the farmlands, and arrived at a vast horse ranch. Apparently, Nonna and Victoria had been there several times before, because they were familiar with the owner. The owner said, “Come on in. Pick any pasture you like,” and let them use the ranch freely.

When Victoria heard Jeffrey would be with them, too, she’d said, “Of course you should come along,” but now she felt a little nervous. Even in this moment, she wasn’t acting like herself, constantly shifting her gaze while speaking.

“Jeff, I’m just practicing to keep up my skills, so don’t be too surprised, okay?”

“I understand. Don’t worry about me. Just practice like you normally do.”

“Hmm, all right… I won’t hold back, then.”

And with that, Victoria urged her horse to go. She gradually increased the speed until the creature was at a full-out run. Nonna chased after her and was crouching in the saddle, but once she got closer to Victoria, she stood up until she was fully upright in the stirrups.

The moment Nonna’s horse fell into stride beside Victoria’s, Nonna suddenly jumped onto Victoria’s horse.

Jeffrey immediately tensed up, rubbing his chest anxiously as his heart raced.

“How long has Nonna been doing this?!”

It was clear this wasn’t her first time, since both Nonna’s and Victoria’s horses continued to run like they were used to it. Before long, Victoria crouched down and then stood up in her stirrups.

“No, stop! You could break your neck and die!”

Jeffrey had been unsure of whether he should call out or if it might be even more dangerous to distract the horses, so he’d remained silent. But he could no longer hold back when Victoria jumped onto Nonna’s horse.

“Oof!”

Nonna quickly grabbed the reins of Victoria’s horse and took control of it. Then Victoria grabbed the reins of Nonna’s horse.

The two beasts began to run toward him in a large arc. Along the way, Nonna and Victoria jumped onto each other’s horses again. Jeffrey was staring blankly at them when the ranch owner, a sturdy man in his late fifties with a white beard, approached, riding his own horse.

“It’s always surprising, isn’t it? Oh, wait—don’t tell me this is the first time you’ve witnessed it?”

“Yes, it is. I’m still in shock.”

“When I saw them do it for the first time, I couldn’t help but shout, ‘No, stop!’ I heard your wife is from the duchy?”

“Yes… She’s been training with horses ever since she was little.”

“It makes sense. A woman doesn’t acquire that much skill overnight. Well, I don’t know many people who could do that in the first place.”

Anna must be able to do it because of her natural talent andcountless hours of practice. But when did Nonna start? Oh, was it before we reunited in Cadiz? She was only six years old back then, though…

He chuckled to himself.

That’s right. That’s just how my wife spent her childhood. She must’ve taught Nonna all the things she knew, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Jeffrey’s chest tightened.

His gentle and strong wife had grown up without experiencing a normal childhood. She’d always been involved in dangerous, life-threatening work and eventually became the ace operative of Hagl. It felt like a miracle she hadn’t lost the kindness in her heart.

“Dad! Did you see that?!” Nonna’s face lit up as she approached him on her horse.

Victoria, on the other hand, looked a bit embarrassed.

“Yes, I saw it. You two are amazing. I could never do something like that.”

“Hee-hee-hee.”

The ranch owner said, “Well, take your time,” before riding off.

“Jeff, next time, you should join us, too. This pasture is the perfect place to let the horses run at full speed. It’s much gentler on their bodies than cobblestone streets.”

“I can’t do that kind of trick riding.”

“You don’t have to. You can always fight with your sword if need be.”

“I don’t run into situations like that too often, though.”

Victoria giggled softly and said, “Come on. Hurry up.”

Jeffrey’s horse seemed eager to run and began to stamp its hooves restlessly. “All right, all right. I’ll let you run now.” He spoke kindly to his beloved horse before urging it ahead.

The three of them spent the entire day riding.

They returned home at sunset, where two of their guards and Reed were waiting for them.

“Welcome back. Did you have a good time today?”

“It was great. The horses are probably exhausted.”

“All right.”

Noticing the guards looked like they wanted to say something, Jeffrey asked, “What is it?”

“May we ask what kind of riding Lady Anna and Miss Nonna were doing today?”

“Er, please don’t.”

“Oh, yes. Of course.” The guards sensed something and smiled awkwardly before stepping back.

Later at the dinner table, Victoria and Nonna chatted with each other.

“That was so fun, wasn’t it, Mom?”

“Yes, it was. It felt good to exercise and clear my mind after so long.”

They were both in high spirits.

As Jeffrey listened to their conversation, he thought, How many more talents does Anna have that I don’t know about?

“Jeff, are you exasperated with me?”

“No, I just fell in love with you all over again today.”

“Oh my!”

Victoria blushed, and Jeffrey looked over the moon. Meanwhile, Nonna watched the two of them and muttered with a smile, “Here we go again,” before shoving a piece of meat into her mouth.