THIBV - Chapter 102

I ordered it not to signal when the Black Knight leaped out to stop Penelope.

That was also part of the experiment.

Overriding Julian's orders with my own.

Actually, I didn't know that the Black Knight would listen to that order, but it listened better than I expected.

It was proof that the Black Knight was not restricted from obeying the host's orders.

'It seems like the influence of Magi is much greater. A little more, there's still a lot I want to confirm.'

I wondered how far I could use the Black Knight without it harming Julian, and how much loyalty I could expect from it.

I thought that would require actual combat.

That was why I had deliberately told Cedric to spread the news of my visit noisily.

At the end of my gaze, a woman appeared entering the mansion's side door.

It was my first time seeing her, but I knew she was the baby's nanny because I saw her using the side door that only employees used.

'You're going to tell the Duke of Linchester that I'm here.'

It would take a long time to get to the Duke of Linchester, who lives outside the capital, so he probably has a contact person stationed around the mansion.

I joined Anna, who had arrived at Winston's mansion first, and gave instructions to Anna and Martin, the court doctor, who were waiting i ln the carriage.

"You two should not ride together in this carriage. Instead, catch a hired carriage and return to the palace by the fastest route."

"Where else would you like to stop by? I'll come with you..."

"Just to prepare for any possible danger, Anna."

"Is it dangerous?"

"I announced my coming here in advance, so the Duke of Linchester's spies will be keeping an eye on this carriage."

To an outsider, I would appear defenseless without even a single royal knight accompanying me.

A doctor and a maid wouldn't be of much help in a dangerous situation.

If the Duke of Linchester wanted to do something about it, now was the time.

Martin heard what I was saying and tried to dissuade me.

"Then it would be better to send the carriage away and have all three of us transfer to the hired carriage. It's times like these that we need to stick together."

Martin was someone I had recruited Into the palace.

These days, I have been secretly gathering power.

I was looking for people who had a grudge against the Duke of Linchester but who remained neutral and did not side with Chancellor Langston.

Most of those who joined Lord Langston were resentful men who had been oppressed and deprived of power under Josephine and the Duke of Linchester.

They rebelled and sought to seize power in the new world. Thanks to Julian, they succeeded, and they were all content to secure a place in the world.

But those who truly held a grudge against the Duke of Linchester did not stick to Chancellor Langston.

Because what they wanted wasn't power.

For example, Martin was a man who wanted to avenge his father who was unjustly killed after exposing the corruption of the Duke of Linchester.

A man who, like Chancellor Langston, is not satisfied with having driven the Duke of Linchester out of the palace and taken his place.

Such people held grievances inside, watched the situation unfold, and silently stayed in their seats.

I made suggestions to Martin and others like him.

"To Lord Langston, the Duke of Linchester is only a political enemy, not an enemy. But I want the Duke of Linchester's head. If you give me your hand, I will put his heart in it."

So Martin Joined hands with Bridget.

Could it be that she too had been wronged by the Duke of Linchester? That was unknown.

But Martin knew that she had no choice but to kill the Duke of Linchester.

Because...

'If it were the Duke of Linchester, he would kill this woman. If she wants to survive, she has to kill him first.'

To Julian, Chancellor Langston is a replaceable part.

Because Julian can maintain his throne by his own force even without the help of the chancellor.

So killing Chancellor Langston was a huge risk with little to gain.

But to Julian, Bridget is his heart.

The person he was deeply in love with, did not open up easily to others. As long as his love did not fade, Bridget was Julian's only weakness.

'The Duke of Linchester must have been waiting for His Majesty to die from the curse, but if not, he must find a weak point.'

So Martin wondered.

Why doesn't Julian keep Bridget locked up and hidden away, but Instead let her roam free like this?

Even Bridget did not bring along royal knights.

'What do you believe in?'

The doubt was quickly resolved.

This was because Bridget had taken out a part of the Black Knight and showed it to Martin.

The black knight poked his head out of Bridget's shadow.

"OMG."

Martin was startled when he saw the monster that suddenly appeared.

"Don't worry, Mr. Martin. The black knight is a black knight given to me by His Majesty the King."

"This, this is the black knight?"

Bridget had meant to reassure Martin, but when he realized what it was, Martin became even more frightened.

A tool for killing humans, an undead monster, a product of a curse that mortally wounds life.

Martin gasped in fear as he faced its pitch-black eye sockets. A cold sweat ran down his spine.

If you were to visualize 'death, it would definitely look like this.

However.

'A black dog?'

Martin thought he had misheard because he was so scared.

But the next moment, he distinctly heard Bridget commanding the black knight in a clear voice, 

"Get in, Blackie."

Martin looked at Bridget in astonishment.

Bridget smiled proudly as if she was bragging about having a good dog.

"He's pretty smart, huh? He looks pretty smart, even though he looks like that."

"..."

Martin couldn't help but laugh at the thought that such a hideous monster could be so clever.

"Are you okay?"

"He doesn't understand human conversation. He won't be offended."

What Martin asked was not about the Black Knight's feelings, but about the threat to humanity.

But he shut his mouth when he saw Bridger's clear, calm eyes.

"This black knight was ordered to protect me. Ironically, I am safe from the Duke's pursuit, but the two of you are not. So, please return separately from me."

Martin realized that Bridget was a generous person in many ways.

She does not fear the hideous black knight nor does she use others as a shield, knowing that the Duke may target her.

'It was the same before.'

Among those who were hostile to Bridget, Martin was sent out first as if to protect her.

Of course, he now knows that she has some faith, but no matter what, it's rare for someone to not feel scared amid people who are hostile to her.

'Is that the woman that Julian Blake fell in love with?'

This is no ordinary bet.

'Well, it's not ordinary just to like the Black Knight...'

Eventually, Martin and Anna got out of the carriage.

Bridget, left alone, warned her coachman to be careful.

The groom was a warrior lent by Millea.

The carriage deliberately avoided the crowds and headed down a quiet road.

***

At that moment, Millea was holding her head as she received shocking news from her confidant.

Felix, her confidant, was in charge of investigating Bridget.

"I have discovered something peculiar about Viscountess Winston. Three years ago she acquired a building from the Duke of Linchester."

Millea thought she had misheard.

"The Duke of Linchester?"

"Yes. It was the Duke's second son who managed the building, but it was actually the Duke's building. It's an expensive building on Diamond Lane."

Diamond Lane was home to the capital's famous Jewellery shops. It was known to house the finest jewels in the kingdom.

As It was the central shopping district in the capital, the building prices were ridiculously expensive.

Did you take over the entire building in that place?

"Why did the Duke give her the building as a gift?"

"I haven't figured it out yet."

"Surely it's not a love affair, right?"

Millea gasped as she uttered the word. Fortunately, Felix shook his head.

"That would not be the problem. At that time, Mrs. Winston had not yet made her debut in society or known among the aristocracy. She would not have had any contact with the Duke of Linchester."

Millea cleared her throat. She was ashamed of having suspected something like that of Bridget but also relieved that it wasn't true.

"But why?"

"It seems there was another backroom deal. It seems there was a secret deal between Viscountess Winston and the Duke of Linchester, undocumented and unwitnessed."

Felix said meaningfully.

"I am sure that Viscountess Winston has done something of great help to the Duke of Linchester."

He thought for a moment and then added his own guess.

"It might have been his relationship with the Queen Mother Josephine, who was still alive three years ago. Josephine often entrusted the Duke of Linchester with dirty work."

Millea's face hardened.

This was it. The secret that Bridget was holding.

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