Episode 41. Midnight Ghost Story
It was the night three days after Martha visited the Duke of Valois that Count Strauss arrived. It was night. It was a late hour. Most of the servants in the mansion were asleep. The lights at the main gate of the Valois estate were off. The streets were quiet, too. There was no sound of carriages. There were no sounds of people.
Amidst that silence, the sound of hooves could be heard. One Two. Three. Martha looked at the time while listening to the sound from the window of the study. It was past midnight. They have come. Maxim quietly opened the main gate. He did not turn on the lights. The moonlight alone was enough.
People on horseback entered. There were three of them. They had their hoods pulled down low. Their faces were not visible. However, she could tell by the posture of the person standing at the very front. It was Count Strauss. He had come with the head butler and the captain of the guard. Without a carriage. On horseback. With documents hidden in their bosoms.
Watching this, Martha thought, 'He knows where eyes and ears might be. That is why he came without a carriage.' He is a more thorough and cautious person than I expected. At this level, he is fully trustworthy.
People gathered in the drawing room. The lights were kept to a minimum. Thick curtains were drawn on the windows to prevent light from leaking out. Claude, Martha, Leon, the Duke of Ashford, and Count Strauss. There had been an agreement beforehand. To gather late at night when everyone was asleep. To remain silent during the day, as eyes and ears could be seen everywhere.
They had gathered in accordance with that agreement. Count Strauss took off his hood and sat down. He then took a document from his bosom and placed it on the table.
"I will officially join forces. Together with the Houses of Valois and Ashford."
The drawing room was silent. It was a brief statement. Yet, it was not a light word. Everyone present knew the weight this statement carried from the perspective of the Strauss family. It was a declaration that they would personally step forward against the Golden Lion Merchant Guild while holding the Empress's personal unit captive for three months. And in the dead of night. On horseback. Pulling his hood down.
Claude said.
"You made a good decision."
Count Strauss nodded and said.
"I have been carrying this burden alone for a long time. To be honest, I was waiting for someone to come. I knew it immediately when the letter arrived from the Duke of Valois. I knew the time had come."
Martha looked at Count Strauss. His gaze had lightened. It was the look of someone who had finally set down what he had been carrying alone for three months. Watching it, Martha thought, 'That is the look.' It must have been this look ever since he sent the reply saying, 'You are welcome anytime.'
Martha said.
"You have waited a long time."
Count Strauss replied.
"It was a good wait."
He opened the documents. They were the evidence held by the Strauss family. Ledgers regarding the embezzlement of estate income, records on where the manager came from, and the route through which money flowed to the Golden Lion Merchant Guild. Leon examined them meticulously. He turned the pages and read. There was a part he stopped to read again.
"Is this all?"
Count Strauss asked.
"No. There is more."
Leon looked at Count Strauss. Count Strauss looked at the Captain of the Guard. The Captain of the Guard took out another document.
"This is a statement obtained from the person currently in custody. At first, he said nothing, but as time passed, stories began to emerge little by little."
The Duke of Ashford took the document and read it. His expression hardened as he read. It hardened very slowly. His expression changed with each page he turned. His reading speed slowed. After finishing, he looked down at the document for a moment.
"Is this true?"
Count Strauss asked.
"I interrogated him personally."
The Duke of Ashford handed the document to Leon. Leon read it. His gaze changed as he read. He handed it to Claude. Claude read it. The grip Claude held on the document changed. Martha took it last and read it.
The statement contained various details. That inspectors belonging to the Empress's direct unit were stationed in each noble family. Each of the five families, including the Duke of Valois, the Count of Strauss, and the Viscount of Werner, has a designated inspector, and these inspectors regularly report to the commander directly under the Empress.
Furthermore, spies have likely been planted within each family. And finally, these inspectors are waiting for the right timing to extract the evidentiary documents from the five families. The man caught at the Count of Strauss' family was also caught after breaking into the office while waiting for that very moment.
As Martha read this, she thought. There could be an inspector in our Duke of Valois family, too. And a spy, too. Someone could be submitting a report right now. Look at these guys. They're smarter than I thought.
Martha said as she put down the documents.
"Well done, Count. This is the key point."
Claude said with a stern face.
"It implies that there could be one planted in our family as well."
Duke Ashford said.
"It is highly probable. Since it was said that they are stationed in all five families."
Leon said.
"We must control the internal situation first."
Martha said.
"We must control it, but not make it too obvious. If they catch on, they could remove the spy or plant a new one. Right now, it is actually advantageous for them not to know that we are aware."
The reception room grew heavy. For a moment, no one spoke. In that heavy silence, Martha thought. I can trust Maxim, Bruno, and Helena, too. But what about the other servants? They lived here for 60 years before my regression, but I haven't been in this body for very long. There are people in this family I don't know; I must be careful.
Just then, Martha rose from her seat. Count Strauss looked at Martha. Martha said.
"Have you had your meal?"
The drawing room fell silent. Count Strauss looked at Martha. Claude looked elsewhere. The Duke of Ashford looked at the ceiling. Leon looked straight ahead. Count Strauss paused for a moment and then spoke.
" I haven't eaten yet."
Martha said.
"Then let's enjoy a late-night snack. It's not too late to discuss important matters after we've eaten. If we only talk about heavy things on an empty stomach, our minds won't work."
Count Strauss looked at Martha and let out a smirk.
"I didn't know the Princess of Valois was so down-to-earth."
Martha said.
"Meals are the most important thing."
Martha called Helena. A simple meal prepared in advance was set out in the drawing room. Lamb, soup, and bread were served. Helena quietly set the food down and left. Martha watched Helena's retreating figure for a moment before lowering her gaze. She needed to check who was in this house. She would catch them soon. But not yet.
The conversation continued as they ate. The first topic discussed was the witness's safety. Duke Ashford said.
"We must not keep him in the estate prison for long. This is especially true now that we know the inspectors over there are waiting for the right timing. We don't know when they might attempt to break in again."
Count Strauss said.
"I know. That is why I wanted to ask what we should do. It is too big a matter for me to decide alone."
Duke Ashford looked at Leon. Leon said.
"It is best to transfer him secretly to the military. It would actually be dangerous to keep him inside the Imperial Palace, so it would be better to move him to a military facility within the Ashford estate. When transferring him, we should move him disguised as a carriage from the Golden Lion Merchant Guild."
Count Strauss said.
"The inspectors over there will be watching, and wouldn't a single carriage be too conspicuous? The moment they sense that a transfer is taking place, they will move immediately "
Leon thought for a moment. Just then, Martha spoke.
"That alone isn't enough. We need to use a diversionary tactic."
Leon looked at Martha. Martha continued.
"A ten diversionary tactic? If there are any spare carriages left in the estate, we'll gather them all and have about ten of them depart simultaneously. Then the Empress's side will be in a frenzy trying to find that witness."
Count Strauss said.
"Then where will we leave the witness? Are we going to put him in one of the ten carriages?"
Martha asked.
"No. The carriages should go around for about an hour and then return."
Count Strauss stopped.
"Return?"
"Yes. With nothing in the carriages. They just go around and come back."
Count Strauss looked at Martha. There was no word. Martha continued.
"That is the point."
Count Strauss looked at Martha. Martha spoke.
"It has to look suspicious. We have to make them think something is going on. So we make them chase after the carriage every time it leaves. Coming up empty-handed every time."
The Duke of Ashford said.
"So that is how you make them run around for days?"
Martha nodded.
"I'm putting them through dog training. Until they collapse from exhaustion."
Claude looked at Martha.
"Dog training."
"Yes. For days, we make them chase after the carriage every time it comes out. Coming up empty-handed every time. Chasing after empty carriages with nothing in them."
Leon thought for a moment and spoke.
"Then, when do you move the real witness?"
Martha said.
"When they let their guard down. When they are tired and distracted. Like today, for example? Prince Leon, you will need to go out for a night walk sometime soon."
The drawing room fell silent for a moment. Count Strauss looked at Martha for a moment and spoke quietly.
"Princess of Valois."
Martha looked at Count Strauss.
"I wonder where you get such ideas."
Martha said.
"You'll understand as you live."
Count Strauss nodded as he heard this. The Duke of Ashford looked at Claude. He spoke in a low voice.
"She's still too good for me, a prospective daughter-in-law."
Claude said.
"...Shut your mouth."
Leon looked back and forth between his father and Duke Claude, then soon lowered his head. Leon looked at Martha. Martha, undeterred, continued to look at the documents while eating her soup.
Count Strauss watched the scene and let out a smirk.
"This place is interesting."
"The House of Valois is an interesting place."
Martha said.
"It might get even more interesting in the future."
The meal ended, and the conversation wrapped up. It was decided to begin the diversionary operation for the witness transport three days later. They planned to send out empty carriages for a few days to wait until the other side was exhausted, and then carry out the actual transport in the meantime. Leon was assigned to prepare the military facilities. It was decided that the transfer date would be determined based on the situation.
Count Strauss stood up and said.
"I didn't know knowing I wasn't alone would be so reassuring."
Claude replied.
"You shouldn't have been alone from the start. I apologize for being late, Count."
Count Strauss looked at Claude, then at Martha. His gaze was completely different from when he first arrived at the Duke of Valois.
"No, you arrived just in time."
Count Strauss left. Claude, Martha, Leon, and the Duke of Ashford remained in the drawing room. The door closed, and there was a moment of silence. The Duke of Ashford spoke first.
"The Strauss family is now ours."
Martha nodded.
"He probably wanted to do this from the start. After all, he is someone who endured alone for three months."
Claude said.
"What happened with the Viscount Werner family?"
Martha asked.
"They said they would think about it."
"How long are you going to wait?"
Martha asked.
"I don't think we need to wait."
Just then, Maxim knocked on the door.
"My Lady, a letter has arrived. From the Viscount Werner family."
The drawing room fell silent. Everyone looked at Martha. Martha said.
"Bring it here."
Maxim entered holding the letter. Martha took it and tore it open. It was short.
I will do it.
Viscount Werner
Martha slowly placed the letter down on the table. No one spoke. Claude looked at the letter. The Duke of Ashford looked at the letter. Leon looked at the letter. And then each of them looked at Martha. Martha took a sip of tea and thought. The seed has become fruit. It was faster than I thought. But come to think of it, it's only natural that it was fast.
"He must have known better than anyone how terrifying it is to hide alone."
Said the Duke of Ashford.
"You're quick."
Martha remarked.
"Because he knew how hard it is to hide alone. He grabbed onto the lifeline because it was there. It's only natural."
Claude said, looking at the letter.
"The Strauss and Werner families are now confirmed."
Martha nodded. Leon said.
"Now that the Alliance families are secured, we must move on to the next step."
Martha looked at Leon. Leon said.
"The contract with the Golden Lion Merchant Guild."
Martha nodded.
"That's right. We have to head there now."
Leon looked at Martha. His gaze was different for a moment. It was the look of someone about to say something, but he didn't. Watching this, Martha thought, 'He's at it again. This is the thirteenth time.'
Lucy and Siegfried took out their notebooks from the corner.
Everyone had left. The mansion fell silent. Martha sat alone in the study, reflecting on the day.
Count Strauss' official alliance confirmed. Statement secured. Witness transfer plan finalized. Diversion operation to begin in three days. Viscount Werner - Final confirmation.
Allied Families: Duke of Valois, Duke of Ashford, Count Strauss, Viscount Werner.
Evidence: Ledgers related to the embezzlement of income from each family's estates, the route connecting to the Golden Lion Merchant Guild, and witness statements from the Count Strauss family
And what to do next. Sign a contract with the Golden Lion Merchant Guild. Start construction of the hot springs. Collect additional evidence during construction. Seize the right timing to report to the Imperial Court. And embezzle the money from the Golden Lion Merchant Guild.
Martha gazed out the window for a long time. It was a July night. The lavender flowerbeds in the garden were shining silver in the moonlight. The flowerbeds looked damp, as if Bruno had watered them during the day. Martha sat in the study, watching this.
She picked up a pen. Then, she began writing a letter addressed to the Golden Lion Merchant Guild.
I have a counter-proposal. How about reducing the period to one year and accepting 80 percent of the income?
Serena Valois.
Briefly. Concisely. Martha muttered to herself as she placed it in the envelope. These people, will they be able to refuse this? Probably not.
Lucy took out a notebook beside her and jotted it down. Martha looked at Lucy.
"What are you writing?"
Lucy asked.
"The Princess's monologues."
Martha said.
"You're writing that down too?"
Lucy asked.
"That's all part of the history of the Valois ducal family."
Martha let out a smirk. She sealed the envelope. The lavender flowerbed outside the window swayed quietly in the moonlight. Watching it, Martha thought. The seed has become fruit. Now it is time to plant the next seed.
[Lucy's Secret Shock Journal Episode 41]
There were important events today. The number of allied families has increased to four. And I learned that there might be a spy within the ducal family. It is a frightening thing.
Today, the Princess said that this was the thirteenth time the Young Master Leon had intended to speak but decided against it. The Princess was counting. I was counting, too.
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