Escorted by the Count, we leave the Archiam estate.
Kevin understood why he had guided Eleanora away. When I accepted the request, he didn’t look happy and said, “I’m sorry for my steward,” with a gloomy expression.
Inside the carriage, I thought of the cunning steward and said,
“I’m sorry, we should have expected him to do something like that. Even though you warned us before we split up…”
“I was on guard too… but didn’t notice when he left.”
It was a terrible mistake to let that mastermind take Eleanora away without any precautions.
It should have been evident that I was the target. Kevin came to visit in the morning, which should have put me on high alert, but I couldn’t think straight because I couldn’t make any equipment. I got too caught up in the equipment. The worst culprit this time is Kevin, the count’s steward, followed by the nation’s technological capabilities. And the least at fault is Eleanora.
Is everything okay? Did that cunning old man say anything bad?
“Eleanora, what did you hear about the Archiam family’s predicament?”
“There’s something important that is about to be taken by Marquis Prynan, and only Yumiela can resolve the situation. Dorothea said it wasn’t my concern, but I couldn’t help myself and asked Yumiela for help.”
“It’s fine. I heard about the Count’s situation and thought I could help.”
I cheer Eleanora up by saying something I don’t mean.
I see. Neither the Count nor his daughter seemed enthusiastic about the plan to exploit me.
Even if we can say for sure that the steward is deceitful, it is difficult to call him a villain. He will stop at nothing to achieve his master’s goals, so he could also be called loyal.
Inside the swaying carriage, Patrick asks,
“How does Yumiela plan to proceed? Tomorrow? The day after tomorrow?”
What he is talking about is when to start negotiations with the marquis.
For better or worse, the schedule for this visit to the capital coincided with the monthly court meeting. The meeting where the nobles gather before His Majesty the King to decide on matters concerning national administration is scheduled for the day after tomorrow.
Anyone noble in the kingdom can participate, but I’ve heard that local nobles rarely attend, so I’ve never been.
The night before the meeting, there will also be a party at the palace. Central nobles attend monthly parties and court meetings without fail, working hard to fight for power. I admire their dedication.
The proposal to abolish the position of Defense Lord is also expected to be submitted at the meeting.
With tomorrow’ party and the court meeting the day after, Count Archiam seemed to be in a hurry to meet with me due to those deadlines.
Having no desire to attend either event, I had already decided how to respond to Patrick’s question.
“I’m not going to either. Let’s settle this sooner.”
“That’s right. It’s better to do things secretly beforehand than under everyone’s watchful eyes.”
He nodded in agreement.
If we’re on the same page, then it’s settled.
“Good. Let’s go to the palace now.”
“Now!?”
Patrick is surprised. Was he thinking about tomorrow’s party?
It was still early in the afternoon. Marquis Prynan, the Minister of Finance, was probably at the palace. We would launch a surprise attack there.
“I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. It wouldn’t be that beneficial for Marquis Prynan to destroy the Count’s family, would it? Maybe we should just hint at it instead of asking him for a favor.”
“That’s true. I don’t know how much time and energy Marquis Prynan puts into this matter until I meet him. But… right now?”
Patrick doesn’t seem keen on making an unannounced visit. It’s a hassle to make an appointment in advance only to be told that he’s too busy with a meeting, or to have our plans anticipated and countermeasures prepared.
Despite his common sense, he would likely oppose it, but Eleanora, who is like a charging soldier, would probably agree. She makes a troubled expression and says,
“It’s rude to drop by while someone is working suddenly, isn’t it?”
“…What? Eleanora also came to our house without warning, didn’t she?”
“When you go to a friend’s house, it’s okay just to say, ‘Let’s play!’”
Who is it? Who told the Duke’s daughter something juvenile like that?
“That’s what Yumiela said.”
Hello, I’m Yumiela, the juvenile in question.
That outburst was my fault. Although I don’t remember saying it, it was something I would have said. Eleanora’s father told me I was a bad influence on his daughter, and he wasn’t entirely wrong.
“…I’m friends with Marquis Prynan, it’s okay.”
“Really? Is that so? Then I can relax!”
Everyone is friends. Despite not knowing what Marquis Prynan looks like, he is a cherished friend living on the same planet, so it is acceptable to visit him suddenly. Universal love is convenient.
My resolve is as firm as the meaningless theory I’ve developed. Patrick sighs, sensing this.
“Understood. First, let’s return to the estate and drop off Eleanora, then head to the palace.”
“Ah, maybe Eleanora should come too. She’ll understand my motives.”
“That makes sense… but are you sure it’s okay?”
Eleanora needs to be there for this negotiation.
Without her, the reason why I’m helping Count Archiam wouldn’t make sense from the marquis’s perspective. Rather than being suspicious because my motives are unclear, it would be better to convey my intention by saying, “It’s Eleanora’s whim. Please make an exception just this once.”
With that, the daughter of a rebel heads to the palace. Stay tuned.
◆ ◆ ◆
It’s been a while since I’ve been to the palace.
The power of Dolknes’s family easily breached the gates while we were still in the carriage.
When the three of us exited the carriage, we were about to enter the palace… but a guard stopped us.
“Excuse me. Where are you going?”
We were stopped here. It was difficult to ignore them completely.
Eleanora is currently hiding her face behind a veil. It was borrowed from the dress shop where my wedding dress was measured before entering the palace.
She was wearing a light green dress with a white veil. She didn’t look like a servant, and she seemed quite suspicious. They wouldn’t let us pass.
Without panicking, I lifted the veil to reveal Eleanora’s face.
“Please take a look. This is Eleanora.”
“Good day, I’m Eleanora.”
Seeing her adorable face, the guard froze.
Serving as a guard at the palace, he should have been familiar with the faces of the prominent noble families. He certainly knew the face of Eleanora, who until a few months ago had been a Duke’s daughter.
He remained frozen, so I said again.
“We can go through, right? Yumiela Dolknes and her companion are entering the palace.”
“…Please, go ahead.”
I won. Pressured him into it.
It’s an open secret that Eleanora is with me. It’s a secret, but it’s out in the open. No one will make an issue of it as long as she doesn’t call herself a Hillrose.
Don’t look like you’re about to cry.
With a sense of guilt, I pass by him.
Patrick quietly calls out to the guard behind me.
“Excuse us.”
After that, we continued through the palace without anyone recognizing us.
Since my presence was unusual, the person next to me, hiding her face, didn’t attract much attention. They wouldn’t have spoken to her even if someone recognized her as Eleanora.
The palace’s lower floors served as the kingdom’s administrative center, similar to the government district of Tokyo.
The office of the Minister of Finance was one floor above that, between the lower and upper floors reserved for the royal family.
No guard is standing in front of the door. There is no reason to have one, as no thief would dare approach this floor. It is unthinkable that a nobleman, especially one who seems insignificant, would suddenly turn into a thief.
Even if they did, they would only come to ask for something. It should be fine.
Out of courtesy, I knock, but realizing this is an impolite visit, I open the door without waiting for a response.