1.
Anita’s eyes widened. What a sudden, yet inevitably intriguing shift in topic.
“No.”
“My, my. You two must not talk much. He mentioned Her Majesty the Queen to me.”
“Her Majesty?”
“Yes. He said she promised to give you her backing. Is this your first time hearing of it?”
She nodded, listening intently.
“I’ve been a bit busy these past few days verifying the authenticity of that bait. As it turns out, it seems to be true.”
“How did you verify it?”
Lady Milena’s eyes flashed with a sharp light.
“That’s a trade secret, so I’ll skip that. Once I confirmed it was true, another question naturally arose. Why, exactly? Why would Her Majesty the Queen, who gnashes her teeth at the mere mention of Veronica Edenbahir, choose to back our Duchess?”
At the mention of the Grand Duchess, Anita’s eyes narrowed into thin slits.
Lady Milena leaned in, whispering.
“Is this perhaps also news to you?”
“I have heard that the Hixen social circle is bifurcated between Her Majesty the Queen and the Grand Duchess.”
“Do you know why that is?”
Having a father who did business with the nobility, it would be harder not to know.
“It is because he holds the next right of succession to the throne, right after Prince Maxim.”
The royal family of the Kingdom of Montebio, much like the Edenbahir family, was parsimonious with its heirs.
Both the current Prince and the King were only children, and one had to go back to the previous generation to find a Prince and Princess—the latter being the Grand Duchess.
Therefore, from the moment the previous Duke Edenbahir passed away, Lancelot was left with the strongest claim to the throne after Prince Maxim.
This was exactly why the relationship between the Queen and the Grand Duchess was so icy.
Because Lancelot, carrying a drop of Edenbahir blood, could threaten Prince Maxim.
*‘A twin brother of Nuaza who conceals a sword in his embrace.’*
This brother must be the Grand Duchess, or perhaps Lancelot.
“So that’s why you brought this painting to me.”
“Ho ho. There is only one prince in the royal family, Prince Maxim. And as you know…”
Prince Maxim limped on one leg.
He had been born a cripple.
Since he was the first royal in the Kingdom of Montebio to be born with such a disability, many citizens viewed Prince Maxim as an ominous existence. Such public sentiment must have made the Queen even more anxious.
“Do you see now, Duchess?”
Yes, she saw.
Anita felt she could clearly understand what the painting before her signified.
The Grand Duchess and the Queen, standing in opposition over the throne.
Lancelot, the eldest grandson of the Grand Duchess and the head of the Edenbahir family.
The Queen, who had promised to provide backing to Lancelot, a man who was practically her political rival.
If there was one thread that could connect this entire situation together…
“Did Lancelot… forfeit his right of succession in exchange for Her Majesty the Queen’s help?”
Lady Milena, trembling, pulled Anita into a tight embrace.
Startled, Anita stiffened.
“Oh, my goodness. You are so sharp! That’s right! No matter how I think about it, that’s the only answer. Someone as unpredictable as the Duke could certainly do such a thing, right?”
“La—Lady Milena. I understand, so could you please let go of my arms…”
“As expected, a man who knows how to pick them! Oh, our poor Grand Duchess. She must have been eyeing the throne, only for our Duke to beat her to the punch…”
After struggling for a while, Anita suddenly stopped moving.
Her eyes were fixed as if bewitched by the swords held by the twins in the painting.
The thin, long, golden swords held in the hands of the traitor.
*‘A golden sword.’*
[As it is an object upon which the honor of the Edenbahir hangs, I assumed the Grand Duchess would keep the golden sword safely… Is something wrong?]
[That is not it, but… do you truly think the Duchess considers the golden sword to be precious?]
*‘Now I understand the intent behind that question.’*
The golden sword is an object that proves the Edenbahir family’s loyalty to the royal family.
Would that object truly be precious to the Grand Duchess?
“Lady Milena. You said you would gift me this painting, didn’t you?”
“Ah! Of course. I thought of our Duchess the moment I saw it! I only came to inform you today. Actually, I stole it from the artist. I will keep it in my private gallery, so please feel free to take it once the Queen’s birthday celebration is over.”
“No. I want to take it now.”
“Now?”
“Yes, now. Instead, please tell the artist that I was the one who took it. And one more thing. This Duke Luther… is he someone close to the Grand Duchess?”
Duke Luther was the sender of the letter that had arrived urgently for Lancelot this morning.
Lady Milena’s eyes flashed again.
“The Duke Luther family is the maternal family of the Grand Duchess. So it would be hard for them not to be close, wouldn’t it? Is that the end of your questions? I’ll have it moved to your bedroom right away. Darling? I’m sorry, but I need you to use some muscle!”
No sooner had Lady Milena left the painting behind than a servant sought her out.
“My Lady. A letter has arrived from the Grand Duchess.”
For some reason, Anita felt she already knew what was written in the letter.
*‘As I thought.’*
Calling Lancelot a day earlier than planned through Duke Luther. And then, using the golden sword as an excuse to separate her from him.
*‘She’s plotting something.’*
Anita went straight to Lancelot’s office.
He was pacing near the bookshelf, selecting books to take to Hixen.
“Lancelot, a letter arrived from the Grand Duchess. I have to take the train tomorrow morning as originally scheduled, so you go ahead today.”
Lancelot’s expression hardened; he stopped picking his books and approached her.
“May I check it?”
Anita placed the Grand Duchess’s letter in his politely outstretched hand.
He scanned the letter quickly and parted his lips without hesitation.
“Jill.”
“Yes.”
“Find a way to secure empty seats on the afternoon train to Hixen. We will need at least six seats, including for Anita, the golden sword, and the escort team.”
“Yes, I understa—”
“There is no need for that, Lancelot. You moved an entire train just a few weeks ago. It will only further damage the family’s image. I will follow tomorrow.”
The hand that had just been about to return the letter to Anita stopped in mid-air.
Lancelot refused her resolve with a firm face.
“It is dangerous. Since the Grand Duchess says she is moving with me, Cousin Norman will likely come in her stead tomorrow morning. He is definitely planning to make things difficult for you.”
“I know. That is why I am staying behind. I am also uncomfortable meeting him too often.”
She planned to use this opportunity to her advantage and block his interference at the source.
“Trust me. Both I and the golden sword will arrive in Hixen safely.”
Lancelot, who had closed his eyes deeply as if in thought, opened them and gripped her shoulders.
“Keep this in mind, Anita Edenbahir. To me, you are far more precious than some golden sword. I am telling you to prioritize yourself, as even if you come empty-handed, it will be enough.”
How could she not be precious to him?
Only when Lancelot presented that golden sword to swear his loyalty as a subject would the cooperative relationship with the Queen be solidified. An object important to Lancelot was also important to Anita.
“You mean I shouldn’t push myself? I’ll keep it in mind. Thank you.”
As if in answer, his large hand gripped her shoulder lightly and let go.
Even though it was a brief touch, the skin where his hand had brushed felt as hot as if it had been scorched.
“…I will leave Jill behind. See you in Hixen.”
“Yes.”
After seeing Lancelot off, Anita summoned Jill to the bedroom.
“Jill. I’m sorry, but I have a few requests.”
“Yes, my Lady. How may I assist you? Please tell me everything you need. I will bring it to you immediately.”
Even though he had been tasked with looking after Anita, Jill’s voice was full of vitality.
“I need the management schedule for the mansion from this evening until tomorrow morning. And the blueprints for the mansion as well, please.”
“That is not a difficult task. Please wait just a moment.”
What kind of scheme was Norman planning using the golden sword?
Anita rested her body calmly against the chair and began to imagine and draw out each of Norman’s actions one by one in her mind.