At one time, they had the immense power to change the lord with just the committee’s decision.
His monologue continued in the quiet living room where you could hear people swallowing.
“Since it was rejected before, it must have been brought up again, and if so, it must have been rejected today...”
Matters decided in the domain were immediately relayed to the imperial court. The Empress had not said anything so far, but if the issue was brought up in the imperial court, it was clear that the Swenden family’s annexation of Landhill would be put on hold.
“Nothing will... happen, right?”
Carson was briefly pulled out of his thoughts when he heard her anxious voice. Ines was chewing her lower lip. Carson squinted at her.
“It hurts.”
“Yes?”
Then he gently pressed her chin and pulled out her lower lip.
“I don’t know now, but it’ll hurt more tomorrow.”
“Ah...”
When he smiled leisurely, who had been engrossed in his thoughts, Ines’s heart also felt much more at ease.
When Ines bit her lower lip, he smiled even more deeply. Ines looked away from him, feeling strange for some reason.
“I don’t know why Count Graham is doing this.”
Carson already knew Graham’s intentions, but since he hadn’t finished investigating the mine yet, he held back his words.
After organizing his thoughts in his head, Carson leaned back, leaning heavily against Ines.
“It was a good thing you came to see me today.”
He seemed to know that Ines had needed a lot of courage to visit the lord’s mansion.
“You should definitely do that in the future.”
Ines nodded slightly.
“We’ll soon find out where the meeting is being held. It won’t be too late to move after that.”
“But if there’s a problem on the way.”
“No, that won’t be the case.”
From Graham’s perspective, the committee meeting today had to be held.
What if Viscount Swenden had an accident on the way back after the meeting?
The principle was that all committee votes were kept secret. The dead do not speak. So there was no way to know whether he voted against or in favor.
If Count Graham were to make a move, it would definitely be after the meeting was over.
“Do you trust me?”
Ines nodded vigorously without the slightest hesitation. Carson snickered at her actions.
“Then relax and wait. I know it’s urgent, but there’s nothing else we can do right now.”
“Yes.”
“And when the time comes, I have to move faster than anyone else. I think I’m saving up some energy now to do that.”
After that, Carson closed his eyes and fell into thought again. It was his habit to review things from the beginning to see if he had missed anything. Viscount Swenden could never be in trouble. He couldn’t bear to see Ines sad.
Ines sat quietly and looked at his face. Just that alone slowly calmed her mind.
And soon after, news came from Noah. He had found out the meeting place.
“Let’s go.”
He jumped up, and Ines followed him hurriedly.
“I want to go too, too.”
Carson looked at Ines for a moment. Of course, it was right not to take her. But when he thought of her shivering alone in there, he couldn’t turn away from her.
“Do you know how to ride?”
“Of course.”
“Then let’s go. Just follow the last knight’s back. I’ll be in front so I won’t be able to look back at you.”
“Don’t worry about me.”
He nodded and shouted.
“Noah, get ready quickly!”
“Yes, I understand.”
As they stepped out in front of the mansion, five knights, all riding black horses, stood there. She could tell at a glance that they were Carson’s elite.
He really ran as fast as he could. Ines, who was momentarily taken aback by the sight, also started running after him.
As she set off, several knights surrounded her in addition to the knights on black horses. They soon overtook Ines, and just as Carson had said, she ran while only looking at the last knight’s back. Before she knew it, the sun that had risen high in the sky had already slanted.
How long had they run?
The knights running ahead began to make eye contact and send signals. Ines finally sensed that something had happened.
They stopped running ahead and began surrounding Ines again.
Soon, she could see a huge commotion on the hill in the distance. She could clearly see what was happening because of the high ground.
Ines, who got a little closer, held her breath. It was definitely the Swenden family’s carriage that was being attacked.
“Father!”
She was out of breath because she was running fast, but she couldn’t stop.
There were twenty of them? No, it seemed like there were at least thirty. Soon, Carson and his party reached the carriage.
The road just below the hill was a little lower than the road she was running on, so she couldn’t see anything. Ines’ heart burned, not knowing what was going on.
When she arrived, all the fighting was over.
“Father!”
Ines practically ran from her horse to the family’s carriage. Carson, who had cleaned up everything around, didn’t stop Ines as she ran to her father.
When she opened the carriage door, her father was inside.
“Ines!”
When her father called her name, Ines relaxed, grabbed the carriage doorknob, and sat down on the spot.
Andrew reached out his hand to her.
“Ugh.”
But her father stopped in his tracks as if he was injured somewhere. Ines jumped up onto the carriage in surprise.
“Father, what’s wrong?”
“Don’t be so surprised.”
She looked around and saw a white handkerchief tied around her father’s arm. And the handkerchief was soaked with blood.
Seeing her worried eyes, Andrew managed to smile.
“It’s just a small cut on my arm. I’ve stopped the bleeding, so it’ll be fine. Don’t worry too much.”
“How did you get hurt?”
“I’m in the carriage, so I don’t know the exact details. It seems like our knights were also badly injured...”
However, there were always loopholes. If one of them had sided with Graham, the story would have been completely different.
“Noah.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Gather the knights right now. Send them to all the committee families and conference rooms in Lesonia.”
“If that happens, one of the knights will have to move, and it could easily escalate into a territorial war.”
“Change their clothes. Then who would know who they are?”
“Ah... I understand.”
As Noah went out to carry out the order, Ines continued to speak.
“It’s not exact, but I think today’s agenda is to absorb Landhill into Lesonia.”
Carson quickly understood Ines’ words. Since it was a mine that couldn’t be easily given up, he had thought that they would come up with some other plan.
“How did Young Lady know that? I heard that the meeting agenda is kept strictly secret.”
“I guess...I did. It’s something I can guess to some extent.”
Carson nodded. He didn’t think it was as easy to guess as she said. But now was not the time to dwell on it.
He thought for a moment.
“Count Swenden has been against unification for a while... and the motion was brought up again today.”
“Noah.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Gather the knights right now. Send them to all the committee families and conference rooms in Lesonia.”
“If that happens, one of the knights will have to move, and it could easily escalate into a territorial war.”
“Change their clothes. Then who would know who they are?”
“Ah... I understand.”
As Noah went out to carry out the order, Ines continued to speak.
“It’s not exact, but I think today’s agenda is to absorb Landhill into Lesonia.”
Carson quickly understood Ines’ words. Since it was a mine that couldn’t be easily given up, he had thought that they would come up with some other plan.
“How did Young Lady know that? I heard that the meeting agenda is kept strictly secret.”
“I guess...I did. It’s something I can guess to some extent.”
Carson nodded. He didn’t think it was as easy to guess as she said. But now was not the time to dwell on it.
He thought for a moment.
“Count Swenden has been against unification for a while... and the motion was brought up again today.”
His monologue continued in the quiet living room where you could hear people swallowing.
“Since it was rejected before, it must have been brought up again, and if so, it must have been rejected today...”
Matters decided in the domain were immediately relayed to the imperial court. The Empress had not said anything so far, but if the issue was brought up in the imperial court, it was clear that the Swenden family’s annexation of Landhill would be put on hold.
“Nothing will... happen, right?”
Carson was briefly pulled out of his thoughts when he heard her anxious voice. Ines was chewing her lower lip. Carson squinted at her.
“It hurts.”
“Yes?”
Then he gently pressed her chin and pulled out her lower lip.
“I don’t know now, but it’ll hurt more tomorrow.”
“Ah...”
When he smiled leisurely, who had been engrossed in his thoughts, Ines’s heart also felt much more at ease.
When Ines bit her lower lip, he smiled even more deeply. Ines looked away from him, feeling strange for some reason.
“I don’t know why Count Graham is doing this.”
Carson already knew Graham’s intentions, but since he hadn’t finished investigating the mine yet, he held back his words.
After organizing his thoughts in his head, Carson leaned back, leaning heavily against Ines.
“It was a good thing you came to see me today.”
He seemed to know that Ines had needed a lot of courage to visit the lord’s mansion.
“You should definitely do that in the future.”
Ines nodded slightly.
“We’ll soon find out where the meeting is being held. It won’t be too late to move after that.”
“But if there’s a problem on the way.”
“No, that won’t be the case.”
From Graham’s perspective, the committee meeting today had to be held.
What if Viscount Swenden had an accident on the way back after the meeting?
The principle was that all committee votes were kept secret. The dead do not speak. So there was no way to know whether he voted against or in favor.
If Count Graham were to make a move, it would definitely be after the meeting was over.
“Do you trust me?”
Ines nodded vigorously without the slightest hesitation. Carson snickered at her actions.
“Then relax and wait. I know it’s urgent, but there’s nothing else we can do right now.”
“Yes.”
“And when the time comes, I have to move faster than anyone else. I think I’m saving up some energy now to do that.”
After that, Carson closed his eyes and fell into thought again. It was his habit to review things from the beginning to see if he had missed anything. Viscount Swenden could never be in trouble. He couldn’t bear to see Ines sad.
Ines sat quietly and looked at his face. Just that alone slowly calmed her mind.
And soon after, news came from Noah. He had found out the meeting place.
“Let’s go.”
He jumped up, and Ines followed him hurriedly.
“I want to go too, too.”
Carson looked at Ines for a moment. Of course, it was right not to take her. But when he thought of her shivering alone in there, he couldn’t turn away from her.
“Do you know how to ride?”
“Of course.”
“Then let’s go. Just follow the last knight’s back. I’ll be in front so I won’t be able to look back at you.”
“Don’t worry about me.”
He nodded and shouted.
“Noah, get ready quickly!”
“Yes, I understand.”
As they stepped out in front of the mansion, five knights, all riding black horses, stood there. She could tell at a glance that they were Carson’s elite.
He really ran as fast as he could. Ines, who was momentarily taken aback by the sight, also started running after him.
As she set off, several knights surrounded her in addition to the knights on black horses. They soon overtook Ines, and just as Carson had said, she ran while only looking at the last knight’s back. Before she knew it, the sun that had risen high in the sky had already slanted.
How long had they run?
The knights running ahead began to make eye contact and send signals. Ines finally sensed that something had happened.
They stopped running ahead and began surrounding Ines again.
Soon, she could see a huge commotion on the hill in the distance. She could clearly see what was happening because of the high ground.
Ines, who got a little closer, held her breath. It was definitely the Swenden family’s carriage that was being attacked.
“Father!”
She was out of breath because she was running fast, but she couldn’t stop.
There were twenty of them? No, it seemed like there were at least thirty. Soon, Carson and his party reached the carriage.
The road just below the hill was a little lower than the road she was running on, so she couldn’t see anything. Ines’ heart burned, not knowing what was going on.
When she arrived, all the fighting was over.
“Father!”
Ines practically ran from her horse to the family’s carriage. Carson, who had cleaned up everything around, didn’t stop Ines as she ran to her father.
When she opened the carriage door, her father was inside.
“Ines!”
When her father called her name, Ines relaxed, grabbed the carriage doorknob, and sat down on the spot.
Andrew reached out his hand to her.
“Ugh.”
But her father stopped in his tracks as if he was injured somewhere. Ines jumped up onto the carriage in surprise.
“Father, what’s wrong?”
“Don’t be so surprised.”
She looked around and saw a white handkerchief tied around her father’s arm. And the handkerchief was soaked with blood.
Seeing her worried eyes, Andrew managed to smile.
“It’s just a small cut on my arm. I’ve stopped the bleeding, so it’ll be fine. Don’t worry too much.”
“How did you get hurt?”
“I’m in the carriage, so I don’t know the exact details. It seems like our knights were also badly injured...”
Ines looked as if she was about to cry.
“A guy came into the carriage. There was a fight.”
“Did you see his face?”
“No, I couldn’t see him because he was wearing a mask.”
Now that she thought about it, she could see the stab wounds here and there inside the carriage. Ines felt goosebumps and her blood dried as she watched.
“Fortunately, the lord appeared right away, so he ran away. I’m not sure if he was caught.”
Ines closed her eyes tightly. If Carson had been even a little bit later, her father would have definitely lost his life.
She carefully held her father’s arm with pitiful eyes and looked at the wound. Then, at that moment, Ines’ eyes narrowed at a strange feeling.
“Father, this... what is it?”
“What do you mean?”
“This handkerchief.”
“Isn’t that yours? I picked it up from the floor of the carriage and used it.”
“Ah...”
Ines froze in place at the unbelievable fact. It was definitely hers. However, it was already out of her hands.
The handkerchief she had thrown to Joseph when he came to see her on the night of Carson’s welcome party.
It was the very same thing with only four flower petals embroidered on it when it should have been five.
“Hair color, have you seen the color of hair?”
Her throat felt choked, and she couldn’t speak properly.
“Who are you talking about?”
“The intruder who came in the carriage.”
“It was brown. It’s a common color, so I don’t think it’s possible to tell the difference.”
No, father. That’s enough.
Ines barely managed to raise her lips to a smile. Then she slowly got out of the carriage and looked for Carson. He smiled like spring sunshine as he watched her approach.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“As you can see.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
Despite expressing his gratitude, he somehow looked a little apologetic.
“No. I should have been a little faster, but Viscount Swenden was hurt.”
Ines’s throat tightened and she couldn’t continue speaking for a moment. Why was he blaming himself in this situation?
What on earth was she to him?
Why did Ines’ merciful God always give to her?
“Did you catch him?”
“Who...? Oh, the one who got into the carriage?”
When Ines nodded, he smiled regretfully.
“I didn’t catch him. However, since some are alive, the mastermind will be revealed soon. Well, I think I know who it is even without you saying it.”
“Joseph.”
“What?”
“That man, well... the one who stabbed the carriage repeatedly with a knife in an attempt to kill my father was none other than Joseph.”
Joseph Benoit, the man who would soon be found in the mountains, was burned to death by her.
'Joseph, I never intended to kill you.'
But now it would not go as planned.
'No matter how torn my soul is, even if every day I breathe is nothing but pain... I would not go so far as to kill you for something you have not yet done.'
“A guy came into the carriage. There was a fight.”
“Did you see his face?”
“No, I couldn’t see him because he was wearing a mask.”
Now that she thought about it, she could see the stab wounds here and there inside the carriage. Ines felt goosebumps and her blood dried as she watched.
“Fortunately, the lord appeared right away, so he ran away. I’m not sure if he was caught.”
Ines closed her eyes tightly. If Carson had been even a little bit later, her father would have definitely lost his life.
She carefully held her father’s arm with pitiful eyes and looked at the wound. Then, at that moment, Ines’ eyes narrowed at a strange feeling.
“Father, this... what is it?”
“What do you mean?”
“This handkerchief.”
“Isn’t that yours? I picked it up from the floor of the carriage and used it.”
“Ah...”
Ines froze in place at the unbelievable fact. It was definitely hers. However, it was already out of her hands.
The handkerchief she had thrown to Joseph when he came to see her on the night of Carson’s welcome party.
It was the very same thing with only four flower petals embroidered on it when it should have been five.
“Hair color, have you seen the color of hair?”
Her throat felt choked, and she couldn’t speak properly.
“Who are you talking about?”
“The intruder who came in the carriage.”
“It was brown. It’s a common color, so I don’t think it’s possible to tell the difference.”
No, father. That’s enough.
Ines barely managed to raise her lips to a smile. Then she slowly got out of the carriage and looked for Carson. He smiled like spring sunshine as he watched her approach.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“As you can see.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
Despite expressing his gratitude, he somehow looked a little apologetic.
“No. I should have been a little faster, but Viscount Swenden was hurt.”
Ines’s throat tightened and she couldn’t continue speaking for a moment. Why was he blaming himself in this situation?
What on earth was she to him?
Why did Ines’ merciful God always give to her?
“Did you catch him?”
“Who...? Oh, the one who got into the carriage?”
When Ines nodded, he smiled regretfully.
“I didn’t catch him. However, since some are alive, the mastermind will be revealed soon. Well, I think I know who it is even without you saying it.”
“Joseph.”
“What?”
“That man, well... the one who stabbed the carriage repeatedly with a knife in an attempt to kill my father was none other than Joseph.”
Joseph Benoit, the man who would soon be found in the mountains, was burned to death by her.
'Joseph, I never intended to kill you.'
But now it would not go as planned.
'No matter how torn my soul is, even if every day I breathe is nothing but pain... I would not go so far as to kill you for something you have not yet done.'
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