When his second wife had a child, Baron Briggs proposed to Layla.
He said that if she abandons Zark and marries a man of his choice, he will write a will that will leave the title to Layla.
What that meant was that if she married Zark, the Baron wouldn't give anything to Layla.
“Why should I break up with the person I love just because of the child she will have?”
The woman who betrayed her mother and drove her to death. She took her mother's place, and her child was trying to take what was Layla's.
“I can’t just take it, right?”
So this time, Layla decided to take it first. She would get rid of her father's other successor who would replace her, and her stepmother's baby who was the apple of his eye.
“There is a famous psychic named Ceres.”
There were professional ethics that psychics had to follow, such as not selling poisonous or cursed items.
Minor misfortunes, such as a potion that causes indigestion or a curse that causes someone to lose their chance, were acceptable, but anything more than that was not permitted.
In particular, anyone caught selling poisons or curses that could take someone's life or have similar effects was immediately put to death. However, where there is demand, there is always supply.
They operated in the shadows and had no fixed residence. In short, they moved around the entire empire, but only a few people knew when and where they were coming.
“At first I was thinking of buying medicine. But then they recommended this ring. It said that it could be used to disguise a miscarriage very naturally.”
However, it didn't look like something to give as a gift, and if Layla tried to hide it in the Baroness's room, there was a risk that the maid would find it.
Then, the candle that Judith was selling suddenly came to Layla's mind. Wouldn't it be natural to hide the ring in the candle and give it to the Baroness as a congratulatory gift for her pregnancy?
“I had Mr. Zark do it because I was afraid that Miss Harrington would get suspicious if I told you I was going to put this ring in a pregnancy gift. It might seem a little cheap to give as a gift, but if I say it’s a souvenir, it’ll sound plausible.”
Yes, it was. It was plausible. If it weren't for the crying, Judith would have been fooled.
“I don’t know how to tell you this, Young Lady. I think you’ve been scammed.”
Judith was desperately stalling for time because once the conversation was over, there was only one procedure left.
“What did you say?”
“That ring. Why did you want to find out what it was in the first place?”
Young Lady Briggs hesitated for a moment, perhaps because Judith's words were unexpected.
“Because it’s suspicious?”
“Could that be true? I couldn’t sleep because the spirit attached to the ring cried every night.”
Judith briefly explained the story of the crying sound. Layla would like to deal with the baby quietly, but the moment she uses this ring, it becomes difficult to deal with it quietly.
The ghost will wander around crying in search of a pregnant woman, and if the baby is miscarried after hearing the crying, everyone will be suspicious of the crying.
“I also called a medium, but will His Grace the Baron just stay still?”
It was obvious that he would try to find out what the crying sound was. It would be harder to find the Baron because he has a lot of things coming in every day, but it wouldn't be impossible if he wanted to find it.
When he finds the ring inside the candle, he will call Judith, who made the candle, and of course, Judith will say Zark's name without a second of hesitation.
“If it weren’t for me, Young Lady would have been in a lot of trouble, right?”
So let me go, said Judith, clasping her hands together with the most pitiful expression possible.
“Ha, I can’t afford the expensive price.”
Layla frowned. It seemed like she had bought the ring for a very expensive price.
“Thank you for the information, but now that you know my plans, Miss Harrington, ugh!”
“Layla!”
“Ugh!”
As Layla was calmly threatening to kill, the carriage suddenly veered to the side and tilted violently as if it was about to fall over.
Layla, who almost hit the wall of the carriage, was saved by Zark's embrace, but Judith hit her head and shoulder.
She wasn't seriously hurt, but for some reason, she felt sad.
“Are you okay, Layla?”
The one who held Layla in his arms and absorbed all the shock with his back was Zark himself, and he took care of Layla's safety first.
“I’m okay, how about you?”
“It won’t budge to this extent.”
Zark and Layla hugged each other tightly as if they felt relieved.
“...”
Hey, there's someone up ahead too. Even if you were going to kill me, can't you at least ask them if I'm okay?
While I was feeling bitter alone, Zark picked up the sword he had placed at his feet and opened the carriage door.
“What the hell is going on! What if Young Lady gets hurt...?”
Zark, who had been shouting at the coachman while turning his body, stopped. Between the wide open carriage door and Zark, in an unknown remote place, a figure with his face covered was standing in the middle.
“Sir Erne!”
You're a good knight, how did you get here?
How happy I am, how happy I could be. I was about to step out of the carriage when I was stopped by Zark.
But I wasn't scared. I wasn't nervous. Zark, who hadn't even been knighted, was no match for Erne.
But how did he come along? Running? A horse could be seen scurrying through the gap between Zark's arms blocking the carriage door. Where did the horse come from?
“Who are you?”
“That girl behind you, the one you've been glancing at....”
Erne hesitated about how to introduce himself. In fact, after sending Judith to the Baron's residence, he was so nervous that he couldn't do anything.
A feeling that something was going to happen. Whether on a mission or on the battlefield, on days when he felt this way, something happened without fail.
In fact, he didn't care what happened to Judith. When she was falsely accused of Cliff's murder, he only helped her because it happened while she was helping him.
Judith decided entirely on this matter alone. If that is the case, then let her alone take responsibility for the outcome.
But his steps just wouldn't move. He was just loitering around like some random person, not sure whether he should go or not when Judith came out of the Baron's mansion.
He was relieved that nothing had happened, but then a guy named Zark dragged Judith into a carriage. Erne didn't hesitate after that. No, he couldn't hesitate. His body jumped out first.
“Who are you?”
Erne frowned at the sound of Zark drawing his sword. Why does this kid only ask difficult questions?
“Does it matter?”
I don't think it would really matter.
“You can tell just by looking at me that I came to save her. Can’t a guy who uses a sword understand this situation?”
The tip of Zark's sword, shining brightly, was pointed at Erne, but he did not draw it. It was a clear expression of disregard, indicating that he could deal with him without drawing his sword.
“Zark, calm down.”
Before that, Layla regained her senses.
“Sir Erne, is that Sir Erne? I heard that the entire Count Rhineland family died from a curse.”
Even though his eyes were covered with a black cloth, Layla managed to recognize Erne.
“I guess the rumors were false. I see you’re still alive and well.”
“Do you know me?”
“Is there anyone who doesn’t know the scriptures?”
Judith nodded. Erne was a hero who won a war that was said to be unwinnable, even though he had a bad personality and later got involved in rebellion.
Even if they didn't know Erne's face, they all knew his name.
“I saw you once at an imperial banquet.”
“You only knew me to that extent?”
Layla replied in a tone of bewilderment.
“Who else but Lord Erne Rhineland could have bright blond hair, green eyes, tall stature, and a swordsman who is not afraid, and above all, is not called Erne but 'Sir' Erne?”
Aha. Judith and Erne both nodded in agreement at the clear explanation. Erne hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should cover his hair from now on.
Zark hesitated for a moment, then put his sword away and looked at Layla. When Layla nodded, he stepped aside from the carriage entrance and made way for Judith.
“You’re not my opponent.”
Judith stopped as she was getting out of the carriage.
Although Layla is worried that Zark will get hurt now, she lets her go without saying anything. Will she leave Judith alone now that she has found out her secret?
At that moment, Judith had an idea.
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