* * *
The night before Sylvian fled the Count’s estate to escape Karl—Martius finally made a breakthrough.
Martius, Yuri, and Yuri’s senior, Milled, finally apprehended the maid who had joined the Cleaners Guild.
“Y-Young master?!”
“I never imagined my maid would be sneaking around such a covert guild.”
“Even if I said it was a misunderstanding, I doubt you’d believe me.”
She frowned as she looked at the young man who had drawn his sword.
‘I was going to quit anyway.’
She had felt uneasy ever since Yuri Holt—someone close to the Duchess—showed up.
“I haven’t committed any crimes, so I wonder what charges you’ll use to arrest me.”
Clang!
As she finished speaking, other guild members drew their weapons, and chaos erupted.
“Don’t let a single one escape!”
At Pitnam’s shout, a cleaner disguised as a maid bit her lip hard.
She couldn’t allow herself to be caught and spill any information.
It was fine if her identity as a back-alley cleaner was exposed—but those who knew the Marquis’s secrets had to die.
The woman’s eyes sharpened.
Shik!
“Khak!”
The dagger she threw pierced her ally’s heart with terrifying precision.
He looked at her in disbelief—but died with his eyes open, as if accepting his fate.
Martius’s sword moved faster.
Anyone who could kill a comrade mid-battle had to be formidable.
Even the Count’s knights might struggle.
Even Yuri would have trouble against assassins this skilled—
“Tch!”
His brief glance toward Yuri was enough—her blade grazed Martius’s right arm.
“Damn it! Retreat!”
Several enemies broke through the knights and escaped out the window.
“You were the one tailing me.”
“I was.”
“There’s no way you could’ve found any proof I was suspicious.”
She couldn’t understand how he had identified her when even the Duke’s knights hadn’t.
“So it was you who helped the Duchess escape.”
A thrill lit up her face.
‘Ah, Master—I’ve found them!’
She pressed Martius hard, relishing the moment.
This rookie who’d only been knighted two years ago was no match for her.
Thud!
“Urgh!”
“Thanks to you, it’s clear now. The child Lady Graham has with her… is the Duchess.”
Her words stunned Martius for a moment.
She didn’t miss her chance—her blade aimed straight for his heart.
Clang!
Thud!
“Guh!”
“Did you say Sylvian?”
A large body suddenly blocked him and sent the maid flying.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
“Argh! Ugh!”
Zeroth parried her slashing sword with ease and then punched her in the stomach with the same hand that held his blade.
She collapsed, unable to rise again.
Watching him overpower such a skilled opponent with raw strength, Martius blinked in disbelief.
It was Zeroth Graham.
‘I’m… dead.’
He’d tried to move in secret with help from both Count houses… ‘Brother, please save me.’
Martius shut his mouth tightly as grim eyes turned toward him—and glared resentfully at Milled Pitnam.
Milled only shrugged shamelessly in response.
“The area is secure.”
Before they knew it, the Duke’s knights had joined forces with the Count’s to take complete control.
“Throw them all in prison. And you—come with me.”
The Duke’s cold command froze the room.
Martius clenched and opened his eyes.
Before following the Duke, he met Yuri’s gaze.
“Your Grace—”
“Young master Holt. You’d best stay silent right now.”
Zeroth’s icy voice made Yuri shrink back, silencing his attempt to defend Martius.
“Hoo…”
Once inside the room next to the stairs, the Duke exhaled deeply.
Martius, who had seen firsthand how much his brother’s disappearance had tormented him, couldn’t bring himself to make excuses.
“I’m sorry.”
“When did you find Sylvian?”
Martius couldn’t answer, overwhelmed by the pain in the Duke’s eyes.
“If you recognize that maid… you must’ve found Sylvian the day I raided the estate.”
“Yes.”
After confirming that the mansion belonged to Count Cavern, Zeroth met with the Count immediately.
The Count strongly denied any involvement, claiming he had no idea someone had been using the mansion without permission.
He explained that it had been managed by Timothy, who had since passed away.
After his son’s death, he left the property in the care of a steward and had never returned.
Upon investigation, Zeroth found the Count’s story to be true.
The Count pleaded for leniency, saying that had he known the Duchess was involved, he would’ve certainly reported it to the Duke.
Zeroth pressured him to come clean.
The Count insisted he had sent people multiple times to inspect the mansion, but nothing seemed out of place.
Then, noticing the unease flickering in the Count’s eyes, Zeroth asked:
“Did you perhaps agree to a magical confidentiality contract?”
The Count nodded.
Shame spread across his lowered face.
The moment Zeroth mentioned Karl Rooster’s name, the Count’s eyes began to tremble uncontrollably.
From that point on, Zeroth began secretly tracking Martius and Yuri.
“He said… he said he can’t go back. That it’s not possible anymore.”
Martius barely got the words out as he stood before the Duke.
His brother hadn’t been injured, but when asked why he wouldn’t return to the Ducal estate, he only shook his head and said it wasn’t possible.
He agreed they needed to catch the perpetrator, but Martius couldn’t bring himself to ask why he wouldn’t go back.
“Not possible anymore, huh…”
Blood rose in Zeroth’s throat.
He reached for his sword, itching to snap Karl’s neck.
“Is Sylvian the kid who was clinging to Graham’s daughter?”
“Yes. I thought it would be best to put him somewhere safe.”
“Clever thinking.”
The Duke praised Martius.
It had been his brother’s idea, but Martius said nothing.
“That maid—was she working for the Marquis?”
“My brother said she took care of him while he stayed at that mansion.”
“Leave it to me from now on. You’ve done well.”
At the Duke’s words, Martius finally let out a breath of relief.
The torture had lasted all night.
None of the assassins caught were left with their limbs intact after the Ducal knights got to them.
Especially the woman in charge of Sylvian—she resisted until the end, but eventually spilled everything she knew.
“The Marquis Rooster… heh… he should be on his way to capture the Duchess by now.”
With those final words, her head was severed.
“Please, have a seat.”
“Thank you.”
At the sound of Karl’s voice, Sylvian quickly boarded the carriage.
The merchant was waiting and gestured for him to sit further inside.
Unaware that Martius had exposed everything to the Duke, Karl was already planning to flee far away again.
Hyah!
As the carriage set off, Sylvian let out a shallow breath.
“It’s an honor to meet someone so well-known. What brings you out today?”
“The young lady gave me an errand—I need to visit the general store.”
The merchant spoke kindly to Sylvian.
Though the hood over his head felt a little suspicious, Karl reassured himself that this person had been arranged by Elizabeth.
‘But why… why does that voice sound so familiar?’
He had also received word from his younger brother the night before that they would soon uncover the maid’s identity.
This trip shouldn’t have taken so long.
He began wringing his hands in nervousness.
All the windows were covered in curtains, so he couldn’t see outside.
“I have a question—may I ask?”
As the carriage rolled along in silence, the merchant’s voice took on a faintly amused tone.
The moment Sylvian heard the man’s voice clearly, his body stiffened.
No…
“How did you know to run away?”
“……?!”
Rattle!
“You’re the first one to ever escape us, you know.”
The merchant’s voice grew more relaxed, almost playful.
When Sylvian tried to open the door, he was forced down.
The hood fell back.
‘Ti… Timothy Cavern is alive?!’
* * *
