She thought maybe the reason he asked if she was going out was because he wanted Bridget's name to come up.
Millea brought the name up again as if to test it.
"As you may have heard from Chancellor Langston yesterday, what Bridget said about the Count of Kensington seems to be true."
"..."
"It's strange. How did she know? I heard that for the past three years since her marriage, she has been living in seclusion at Winston's mansion and has not met anyone."
Why does he bite his lips and frown?
The reaction is like listening to a story from someone you miss, but why do your eyes look so painful?
"Come to think of it, I haven't found out anything about Bridget yet. It seems like it would be harder to investigate Bridget, who seems so ordinary, than the Count of Kensington, who has been trying so hard to hide his whereabouts."
"..."
"Even if you try to find out how she lived before she got married through her employees, it seems like her family, Florence, was so poor that she didn't have many people to work for her."
"..."
"Even if you search for people who worked there, there are only people who worked there for a short period, for a few months, due to many issues such as non-payment of wages. There are even many people whose identities are unknown and whose personal information is different, so it is impossible to find them."
"..."
"I made an appointment to come and cleanse Eric, so I thought I'd talk to him in person while I'm at it."
Millea saw Julian fiddling with his sweaty shirt without taking it off.
Even though she had her back turned, she could feel that all of his attention was focused on listening to what she was saying.
Millea noticed something and added.
"... I also asked if Viscount Winston had done any more hacking and if there were any problems when she returned."
Only then did Julian take off his shirt and go into the bathroom.
'He doesn't trust her, but he's worried, he's curious about Bridget's well-being, but he doesn't want to ask. And most of all, why does it seem like he's angry at her?'
For the past three years, Julian has been cruel to those who upset him.
Because he used to kill them on the spot without any mercy.
Millea became more curious about Bridget, who was still alive despite making Julian angry.
***
After a while, Milea came out of the palace gate in a carriage.
But for some reason, the street in front of the palace was noisy.
She opened the curtains slightly and looked out the window. She saw guards scaring people.
It seemed like they were trying to disperse the crowd.
'Why are you all gathered here?'
After Julian became King, people often gathered in the square in front of the palace.
When the rebellion happened and the nobles were purged, there were protests against such actions.
The square was a scene of chaos day after day, with fights breaking out between security guards and protesters who were on the verge of turning into rioters.
But when Julian returned, having brought an end to the war that had been full of words and troubles overnight, the protests naturally disappeared.
It was not only because those who had actually seen his military power trembled in fear and spread rumors about him, but also because some people began to support Julian because of his achievement in resolving a war that previous Kings had been unable to resolve.
Thanks to that, it had been quiet for a while, but today the atmosphere was unusual.
'I don't think it's a protest."
As Millea rode through the crowd in her carriage, she spotted young boys waving leaflets and shouting.
"Extra edition! Extra edition!"
Millea, who had her coachman bring it to her, frowned when she read what was printed on it.
"This is..."
It was a gossip magazine of unknown origin.
It contained tearful stories of orphans and poor people who were helped by a kind nobleman.
They were angry, asking why such a tragedy had to happen to an angel who had been secretly doing good deeds.
It was written that the devil should not be allowed to brutally slaughter innocent people like this and that the devil should be killed in the name of God.
The angel they are talking about is this.
"The Count of Kensington...? That's ridiculous."
And the name of the demon who killed him was Julian.
***
Same time.
I put on the fur hat and took the scarf that Anna offered.
The carriage was waiting. Isaac was next to it.
"Where are you going?"
Isaac, who had noticed that I was going out, came to the room earlier and asked where I was going.
Although I didn't say anything, he seemed to have guessed that I was going to Count Spencer's house and had prepared for it, as he was neatly dressed and standing next to the carriage.
"I'll go too."
I sighed.
"I am the only one who has been invited by Countess Spencer."
"I just want to ride in the carriage with you."
"If you suddenly barge into a ladies' gathering, they'll be uncomfortable."
"I just want to get my face painted for a bit. Is that too difficult? I can just say that I'm dropping my wife off while I'm out and about."
I passed him with a look of pity and got into the carriage.
Cedric cleverly stopped Isaac from trying to get in and closed the carriage door for him.
The carriage drove off without waiting for Isaac.
"Be careful, butler."
"Sorry."
Cedric apologized stiffly as Isaac glanced at him.
What are you going to do if you just glance at it? The carriage has already left.
Isaac called his servant and told him to follow Bridget.
"Check where she's going. Is she really going to Count Spencer's house or is he going somewhere else?"
He did so because it could have been a lie Bridget had made up to prevent a divorce.
Isaac also knew what kind of person Countess Spencer was.
It was hard to believe that she, one of the King's closest confidants, had invited Bridget.
'It would be a tremendous opportunity if Bridget were to make friends with Countess Spencer.'
The mere fact that she was in the company of Countess Spencer would make her eager to invite Bridget, and himself, into society.
Isaac's lips were on his ear as he imagined receiving an invitation from a nobleman.
'I could take this opportunity to enter politics!'
Even though he was a dying King, Julian was still holding the throne.
The nobles lived moderately for the future but did not neglect those in power right in front of them.
They say that opportunity comes amid chaos. If he takes a position now, it will be easy to seize opportunities in the next administration, but if he trembles and cower in the shade, good opportunities may never come.
'Anyway, once you set foot in politics, a whole new world will unfold before you.'
Isaac smiled broadly as he watched the departing carriage.
***
Penelope was watching Isaac from the window of the second-floor room.
"Ugh...! Bridget...!"
She ripped the curtains apart.
It was heartbreaking to see Isaac laughing so happily, not caring about being ignored by Bridget.
"You should show up only when the divorce proceedings are finalized...! Why are you blocking my path!"
Her malice brought forth magi.
Magi was creeping into the room, but Penelope couldn't notice it.
***
The Spencer Counts' mansion had not changed at all since my last visit.
It was so clean that you couldn't see a speck of dust anywhere, and there wasn't a single grain of sand on the floor.
The butler took my hat and coat and led me into the tea room.
The tea room at the Spencer Mansion was not as ornate as the Winston Mansion, but it had a different kind of beauty.
The green wallpaper created a calming atmosphere, and the reddish rosewood furniture was elegant and beautiful without being overly elaborate.
It was a place where my mind and body felt at ease as soon as I entered.
A blond man who had been loitering around the doorway, probably waiting for me, saw me come in and strode over to me.
"Welcome. Viscountess Winston, This is Eric Spencer."
Eric was a young man with a sad expression and a slightly shy smile.
Unlike Millea, who seemed strict at first glance, he gave off a warm and affectionate vibe.
"This is Bridget Winston."
"I finally get to meet my benefactor. I am so grateful. Thank you so much."
"Thank you for your kind words. I'm glad I could help."
I exchanged brief greetings with Millea while receiving Eric's gaze.
"Millea, how have you been?"
"It's cold outside, so it was hard to come, Bridget."
Eric watched with curiosity as the two called each other by their names in a friendly manner.
"I thought you were my benefactor, but you were also my mother's close friend."
"It is an honor for me because Millea is a good person."
"Enough talking, Bridget."
"I guess my mother is embarrassed, haha."
"Eric."
Millea blushed, but Eric didn't care.
"Did you know that my mother is cuter than she looks?"
"Sure."
"Bridget. I don't want to listen to such nonsense."
Eric was a bright person.
He acted politely and made light-hearted jokes to keep me from feeling awkward, but it seemed like he was trying to make a good impression. I felt sorry for this seemingly bright and cheerful person, but when I got to know him, he was possessed by magi.
Eric's body was now covered in clumps of magical energy, writhing and writhing here and there.
I'm sure he's still feeling miserable, but seeing him smile as if nothing happened, I thought he was the type of person who quietly endured his suffering alone in a place where no one was around.
'But it seems like Eric isn't the only problem here."
I expected Eric to be in that state by now, so it wasn't all that surprising.
The one who surprised me now was Milea.
'Why did so many magi suddenly cling to Millea?'
Magi, who was very angry and writhing aggressively as if it wanted to hurt someone, was growing bigger and bigger by the second as it clung to Millea.
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