The woman described the man who had entrusted her with the task. She testified that he was dressed in plain clothes without any family crest, but that his speech and posture gave him the impression of a knight.
Enoch let out a long breath and wiped his face once.
“Draw a portrait of that man. Send it to His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Yes, Marquis.”
The portrait created based on the woman's description was immediately delivered to the Crown Prince's palace.
Crown Prince Anthony Roxiba, who had just returned from a meeting, blinked in surprise at the news.
“What? A portrait of a suspicious guy?”
“Yes, Your Highness. The Marquis of Aratus has been investigating the fine clothing shops and stores in the capital, and has heard that a commoner woman has been receiving orders from a man to buy and deliver clothes for a noblewoman, as well as luxurious bedding.”
The chief chamberlain brought the portrait that had been brought up and presented it to the Crown Prince.
“This is the portrait.”
"Ha."
For a moment, he thought that Enoch was his cousin and his cousin's husband and that they were both extraordinary people.
How do you get things done so smoothly as soon as you get back?
One Marquis was better than ten of his entourage.
“Call Sarabryn. Tell him to check if there is any interest among those who packed the Idalai Blanco in Lagelori.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
After a while, Anthony's lips curved smoothly as he received the results.
"Bingo."
The report stated that the person in the portrait matched one of the visitors to Lagelori.
The results were also relayed to the Nobilis Second Mansion.
All that remained was to wait for him to reappear.
At that time, the Knights of Aratus, who had the portrait engraved in their heads, began to secretly wait at the four outer gates of the capital city.
Come just one more time.
The wait came true the next day.
“Identity tag.”
“I live in the nearby village of Iridum.”
The man in the portrait and one of his companions were holding out their identification badges toward the guards at the gate.
“What is the purpose of your visit to the capital?”
“I’m going to buy some necessities.”
"Pass."
The knights of Aratus were split into three exact parts.
One group went to the gate, and one group went to the mansion.
A group of people followed cautiously behind the man and his party, who looked like knights to everyone.
Day 3 of the kidnapping.
Agatha was faced with Henry's triumphant face.
“I have the negotiating table you want. I’m sure you won’t be able to accept it.”
He took Agatha out of the room where she was locked up and took her to a hall/dining room with no doors.
It was a place with a round table covered with a white tablecloth and silver cutlery.
But the attire was not suited to the old, dark cabin.
“How is it? Are you ready to negotiate now?”
“I’ll give you credit for your efforts.”
As Agatha sat down on the chair, Henry poured wine into a glass as if he was looking at her.
“It’s your favorite wine. I also have a good memory.”
Idalai Blanco.
It was a wine sold at LaGelori, a high-class restaurant that Agatha often visited.
You went to the capital and came back.
It took a whole day and a few hours to get this meal.
It was the moment when the speculation that it was not far from the capital became reality.
“You’re more sincere than I thought. I’ll admit that.”
“You will appreciate it more when you see the food I prepared.”
To her surprise, a hors d'oeuvre was served. It was an oyster dish.
Agatha thought as she tasted the familiar chef's skills.
There's still some warmth left.
The soup, fish, and steak that came out after were all edible.
She didn't know how it was packaged, but one thing was certain.
'It's much closer to the capital than I thought.'
Agatha didn't know it was half a day's walk, or maybe even much closer.
“Are you ready to negotiate now?”
Now that she had figured out what she wanted to find out, it was time to move on to step two.
Agatha took another sip of wine and absentmindedly spat out the money.
“500 thousand carls.”
Henry's eyes widened at the sudden price reduction. Agatha looked straight into his eyes and added.
“It is an amount that includes the condition of revealing the route of movement and the collaborator who helped you escape exile.”
It was an amount and terms that Henry would never accept.
“That’s not possible.”
As expected, Henry opened his eyes wide and raised his voice.
“That’s information that can never be taught. Don’t even think about including it in your conditions!”
Then he drank the wine he had poured into his glass in one gulp and then filled his glass again.
“Do you think I’m stupid? I know what you're going to do after you find out the escape route and my collaborator. How could I tell you that?”
“Is that so? Then I guess I should at least reduce the amount.”
Henry became even more excited when Agatha responded nonchalantly to the rejection that left no room for negotiation.
The red liquid in the wine glass he was holding was rippling dangerously.
“You want to reduce it by 500,000 carls? Do you think I would accept that amount?”
“You said you couldn’t accept the conditions.”
“The offer of 500,000 carls was a wrong one. You should give 1,000,000 kar.”
“500,000 cards is a large sum of money that can be recovered anywhere.”
“Even so, that amount of money cannot replace six years of my youth.”
When he was Baron Henry Insidio.
He was an ordinary lower-class noble who had never even touched 50,000 karls, let alone 500,000 karls.
He was chosen by Agatha and entered upper-class society, where he lived a life that was beyond his means.
He even planned to harm her.
'You still think my property is yours.'
Although he didn't say anything directly, his rough attitude over the past six years hinted at what he had been thinking.
How unfair it must have been for him to be exiled to the North, leaving behind the property, land, and status that he had thought were all his own.
Even though she knew of Henry's shamelessness, Agatha lost her appetite again.
'I have to eat it anyway.'
She never knew when something might happen. If she wants to escape on her own, she has to force herself to eat.
It was her first proper meal in about three days. After chewing thoroughly until the last course, Agatha put down her plate and washed it down with wine.
“Henry. Don’t you think that’s too much to ask for just one meal?”
"What?"
“On the bare floor, without even a bedding, and without a place to wash.”
It was an extension of yesterday's call for proper improvement in treatment.
Henry could not stop himself from venting his boiling desires and just listened to Agatha's demands.
“You didn’t even prepare a change of clothes.”
“You want to be treated well.”
Her blazing eyes were so dark that they were almost dark green. Agatha put down her glass casually and looked straight up at Henry.
“You don’t think you can get anything out of me by threats or coercion, do you, Henry?”
Agatha was not a person who would fall for such a low-level method.
Because the time and way of living as a nobleman did not allow for that.
“I am Nobilis.”
“...”
“I don’t know who else but me can clear you of the great stigma of insulting the imperial family.”
Henry Insidio, who had been coveting the name Nobilis for nearly a year, ground his teeth.
If only it weren't for the false accusation from 6 years ago!
Then, it was clear that he would not only be oppressed by Agatha but would also have risen to a position that even the Emperor could not act on carelessly.
He was upset and annoyed that he couldn't do that and had to bend down even at this moment.
Henry had no choice but to take a step back.
“Nobilis only has one life.”
It was a threat mixed with a bit of pettiness. Agatha answered with a soft smile.
“You can only get what you want if .y only life is intact, Henry.”
That was the end of it.
Agatha returned to the empty room again.
She opened the curtains and looked out the window. Soon a couple of knights appeared in what appeared to be a makeshift stable.
Henry's men on horseback passed through a wide field and soon disappeared into the thick trees.
Thanks to this, Agatha was able to confirm the direction of the capital.
It would be absolutely impossible to match the level of goods used by Nobilis even in a capital city.
If the bedding and other necessities arrive by tonight, the distance to the capital can be estimated to be within three or four hours.
If they rush, there's a higher chance of leaving traces.
Now, she had no choice but to trust that the vassals remaining in the capital mansion would be able to find any traces Henry would leave behind.
Enoch let out a long breath and wiped his face once.
“Draw a portrait of that man. Send it to His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Yes, Marquis.”
The portrait created based on the woman's description was immediately delivered to the Crown Prince's palace.
Crown Prince Anthony Roxiba, who had just returned from a meeting, blinked in surprise at the news.
“What? A portrait of a suspicious guy?”
“Yes, Your Highness. The Marquis of Aratus has been investigating the fine clothing shops and stores in the capital, and has heard that a commoner woman has been receiving orders from a man to buy and deliver clothes for a noblewoman, as well as luxurious bedding.”
The chief chamberlain brought the portrait that had been brought up and presented it to the Crown Prince.
“This is the portrait.”
"Ha."
For a moment, he thought that Enoch was his cousin and his cousin's husband and that they were both extraordinary people.
How do you get things done so smoothly as soon as you get back?
One Marquis was better than ten of his entourage.
“Call Sarabryn. Tell him to check if there is any interest among those who packed the Idalai Blanco in Lagelori.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
After a while, Anthony's lips curved smoothly as he received the results.
"Bingo."
The report stated that the person in the portrait matched one of the visitors to Lagelori.
The results were also relayed to the Nobilis Second Mansion.
All that remained was to wait for him to reappear.
At that time, the Knights of Aratus, who had the portrait engraved in their heads, began to secretly wait at the four outer gates of the capital city.
Come just one more time.
The wait came true the next day.
“Identity tag.”
“I live in the nearby village of Iridum.”
The man in the portrait and one of his companions were holding out their identification badges toward the guards at the gate.
“What is the purpose of your visit to the capital?”
“I’m going to buy some necessities.”
"Pass."
The knights of Aratus were split into three exact parts.
One group went to the gate, and one group went to the mansion.
A group of people followed cautiously behind the man and his party, who looked like knights to everyone.
***
Day 3 of the kidnapping.
Agatha was faced with Henry's triumphant face.
“I have the negotiating table you want. I’m sure you won’t be able to accept it.”
He took Agatha out of the room where she was locked up and took her to a hall/dining room with no doors.
It was a place with a round table covered with a white tablecloth and silver cutlery.
But the attire was not suited to the old, dark cabin.
“How is it? Are you ready to negotiate now?”
“I’ll give you credit for your efforts.”
As Agatha sat down on the chair, Henry poured wine into a glass as if he was looking at her.
“It’s your favorite wine. I also have a good memory.”
Idalai Blanco.
It was a wine sold at LaGelori, a high-class restaurant that Agatha often visited.
You went to the capital and came back.
It took a whole day and a few hours to get this meal.
It was the moment when the speculation that it was not far from the capital became reality.
“You’re more sincere than I thought. I’ll admit that.”
“You will appreciate it more when you see the food I prepared.”
To her surprise, a hors d'oeuvre was served. It was an oyster dish.
Agatha thought as she tasted the familiar chef's skills.
There's still some warmth left.
The soup, fish, and steak that came out after were all edible.
She didn't know how it was packaged, but one thing was certain.
'It's much closer to the capital than I thought.'
Agatha didn't know it was half a day's walk, or maybe even much closer.
“Are you ready to negotiate now?”
Now that she had figured out what she wanted to find out, it was time to move on to step two.
Agatha took another sip of wine and absentmindedly spat out the money.
“500 thousand carls.”
Henry's eyes widened at the sudden price reduction. Agatha looked straight into his eyes and added.
“It is an amount that includes the condition of revealing the route of movement and the collaborator who helped you escape exile.”
It was an amount and terms that Henry would never accept.
“That’s not possible.”
As expected, Henry opened his eyes wide and raised his voice.
“That’s information that can never be taught. Don’t even think about including it in your conditions!”
Then he drank the wine he had poured into his glass in one gulp and then filled his glass again.
“Do you think I’m stupid? I know what you're going to do after you find out the escape route and my collaborator. How could I tell you that?”
“Is that so? Then I guess I should at least reduce the amount.”
Henry became even more excited when Agatha responded nonchalantly to the rejection that left no room for negotiation.
The red liquid in the wine glass he was holding was rippling dangerously.
“You want to reduce it by 500,000 carls? Do you think I would accept that amount?”
“You said you couldn’t accept the conditions.”
“The offer of 500,000 carls was a wrong one. You should give 1,000,000 kar.”
“500,000 cards is a large sum of money that can be recovered anywhere.”
“Even so, that amount of money cannot replace six years of my youth.”
When he was Baron Henry Insidio.
He was an ordinary lower-class noble who had never even touched 50,000 karls, let alone 500,000 karls.
He was chosen by Agatha and entered upper-class society, where he lived a life that was beyond his means.
He even planned to harm her.
'You still think my property is yours.'
Although he didn't say anything directly, his rough attitude over the past six years hinted at what he had been thinking.
How unfair it must have been for him to be exiled to the North, leaving behind the property, land, and status that he had thought were all his own.
Even though she knew of Henry's shamelessness, Agatha lost her appetite again.
'I have to eat it anyway.'
She never knew when something might happen. If she wants to escape on her own, she has to force herself to eat.
It was her first proper meal in about three days. After chewing thoroughly until the last course, Agatha put down her plate and washed it down with wine.
“Henry. Don’t you think that’s too much to ask for just one meal?”
"What?"
“On the bare floor, without even a bedding, and without a place to wash.”
It was an extension of yesterday's call for proper improvement in treatment.
Henry could not stop himself from venting his boiling desires and just listened to Agatha's demands.
“You didn’t even prepare a change of clothes.”
“You want to be treated well.”
Her blazing eyes were so dark that they were almost dark green. Agatha put down her glass casually and looked straight up at Henry.
“You don’t think you can get anything out of me by threats or coercion, do you, Henry?”
Agatha was not a person who would fall for such a low-level method.
Because the time and way of living as a nobleman did not allow for that.
“I am Nobilis.”
“...”
“I don’t know who else but me can clear you of the great stigma of insulting the imperial family.”
Henry Insidio, who had been coveting the name Nobilis for nearly a year, ground his teeth.
If only it weren't for the false accusation from 6 years ago!
Then, it was clear that he would not only be oppressed by Agatha but would also have risen to a position that even the Emperor could not act on carelessly.
He was upset and annoyed that he couldn't do that and had to bend down even at this moment.
Henry had no choice but to take a step back.
“Nobilis only has one life.”
It was a threat mixed with a bit of pettiness. Agatha answered with a soft smile.
“You can only get what you want if .y only life is intact, Henry.”
That was the end of it.
Agatha returned to the empty room again.
She opened the curtains and looked out the window. Soon a couple of knights appeared in what appeared to be a makeshift stable.
Henry's men on horseback passed through a wide field and soon disappeared into the thick trees.
Thanks to this, Agatha was able to confirm the direction of the capital.
It would be absolutely impossible to match the level of goods used by Nobilis even in a capital city.
If the bedding and other necessities arrive by tonight, the distance to the capital can be estimated to be within three or four hours.
If they rush, there's a higher chance of leaving traces.
Now, she had no choice but to trust that the vassals remaining in the capital mansion would be able to find any traces Henry would leave behind.
***
Agatha sat on the bare floor by the window and waited for a long time. She had not eaten anything except the food Henry had brought from the restaurant, and the sun was setting.
The ground is shaking.
Finally, a couple of riders emerged from the dark forest. They were Henry's men who had set out in the afternoon.
'It's okay!'
Now all that was left to do was check the quality of the goods. As the men who had brought the horses into the temporary stable began to unload their luggage, the faint sound of them arguing could be heard.
Agatha took a deep breath and exhaled, then calmed her expression. She needed to be more careful not to let Henry, who was coming in soon, know her true feelings.
'Everything is going according to plan.'
It was so strangely smooth. So, in times like this, she had to move calmly.
Agatha drew the curtains and sat down on the floor again.
The sound of unloading luggage from horses, the sound of doors opening and bringing in purchases, doors closing, footsteps moving from the front door, etc.
Every movement outside the door was detected by her keen ears.
He's coming.
Finally, two slightly different sounds of footsteps and a different set of shoes came closer, and the door opened.
The ground is shaking.
Finally, a couple of riders emerged from the dark forest. They were Henry's men who had set out in the afternoon.
'It's okay!'
Now all that was left to do was check the quality of the goods. As the men who had brought the horses into the temporary stable began to unload their luggage, the faint sound of them arguing could be heard.
Agatha took a deep breath and exhaled, then calmed her expression. She needed to be more careful not to let Henry, who was coming in soon, know her true feelings.
'Everything is going according to plan.'
It was so strangely smooth. So, in times like this, she had to move calmly.
Agatha drew the curtains and sat down on the floor again.
The sound of unloading luggage from horses, the sound of doors opening and bringing in purchases, doors closing, footsteps moving from the front door, etc.
Every movement outside the door was detected by her keen ears.
He's coming.
Finally, two slightly different sounds of footsteps and a different set of shoes came closer, and the door opened.
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