Episode 52. Things That Are Cloaking In
It was morning. Martha was looking at documents in the study when Maxim knocked on the door.
"My Lady, a letter has arrived from Viscount Werner."
Martha took the envelope and tore it open. Viscount Werner's letter consisted of two pages. Martha began reading from the first page. It mentioned that strangers had been seen near the shop for several days, that someone had approached the estate manager to interrogate him about matters related to the Golden Lion Merchant Guild, that there were signs the warehouse lock had been forcibly opened, and that the documents inside had been rummaged through.
The letter continued through the second page, filled with worrying details. Viscount Werner's characteristic meticulous handwriting was now shaky in places. That shaky handwriting spoke volumes about just how tense he was.
As Martha set the letter down, she said.
"What do you think, Maxim? To summarize, it means suspicious people are lurking around, right?"
Maxim nodded. Martha thought, 'That wretched Empress sent someone to retrieve the Imperial Sword. Thinking the sword is still at Viscount Werner's estate.'
But the sword has already been sent to His Majesty the Emperor, so it looks like they'll just be wasting their time. They don't know that. That's why I stepped forward personally. The fact that they forcibly opened the warehouse means they've become very anxious. When you're anxious, you make mistakes.
Martha said to Maxim.
"Please contact Prince Leon. Tell him it's urgent."
Maxim nodded and left. Just then, another letter arrived. It was from Count Strauss. This time, it was a short, firm, one-page letter. It stated that someone seemed to have started tracking the witness who had disappeared from the estate's prison. It said that servants had been continuously reporting seeing strangers in the vicinity, along with a warning to be careful.
As Martha read it, she thought. The Viscount Werner family, the Count Strauss family. Both were families that possessed evidence. They joined us and suddenly started moving actively again. If you connect these points from the Empress's perspective, the next target will soon be our Duke of Valois. There isn't much time.
Martha closed the documents and rose from her seat. Prince Leon arrived quickly. In the drawing room, Martha handed two letters to Prince Leon. As Prince Leon read the letters, his expression changed. His brows furrowed as he read the first page. After reading the second page, he set the letters down and spoke in a low voice.
"Opening the warehouse means it wasn't just simple surveillance. They set out to find evidence themselves."
Martha said.
"They think the Imperial Sword is still with the Viscount Werner household. They don't know it has been sent to His Majesty the Emperor."
"That is correct. But if they keep searching, they will find out it isn't there, and then they will move on to the next stage."
"The next stage will probably be our Duke of Valois."
Prince Leon looked at Martha. His gaze was a mixture of various emotions, wary, thoughtful, and filled with worry.
"I must go there myself. I think I need to verify the situation at the Viscount Werner household with my own eyes."
"I'll go with you."
Prince Leon looked at Martha.
"It could be dangerous."
"I know. Even so, let's go together."
Prince Leon looked at Martha once more.
It was a look intended to dissuade her, but Martha's gaze remained unwavering. Eventually, Prince Leon nodded.
The estate of the Viscount Werner. As soon as they stepped out of the carriage, the atmosphere was different. It was the same estate as usual, yet the air felt heavy. The servants wore grim expressions. Viscount Werner greeted Martha and Prince Leon and said.
"A man was standing in that alley over there again this morning. I told a servant to go and ask what business he had, but he just said he was a passerby and left."
Prince Leon surveyed the grounds and asked.
"Is he not here now?"
"He isn't here right now, but I think he will appear again this afternoon. It has been three days."
Martha said.
"Show me the warehouse."
Viscount Werner led them to the warehouse. There were signs that the lock had been forcibly opened. Scratches on the metal were clearly visible. They looked inside. It was evident that various documents had been rummaged through. The papers were scattered in places where they had not originally been. It was clear that they had not searched carefully. It was the trace of a quick scan. He had become anxious because he wasn't looking for what he was searching for.
Martha thought as she surveyed the warehouse. The sword isn't there. It has already been sent to His Imperial Majesty. They must be dying of anxiety over there.
Prince Leon spoke in a low voice while examining the documents.
"Once they find out the Imperial Sword is missing, they will try to track where it went next. Then they will pressure the Viscount Werner family even more or start digging into the people around them."
Martha said.
"His Majesty must act immediately before that happens."
Just as Martha was about to speak, footsteps were heard from outside the warehouse. It wasn't just one person. There were several. The footsteps approached cautiously, yet that caution was distinctly different. Even when trying to muffle the sound, the footsteps of a trained person had a unique rhythm. It was a sound Leon had heard for a long time on the battlefield and training grounds. This sound was similar to that.
Prince Leon looked at Martha. He signaled with his eyes. The back door. Martha nodded. The three of them quietly moved toward the back door of the warehouse. Prince Leon led the way. Martha followed behind. Viscount Werner was the last.
However, the back door opened, and people burst in. They were soldiers armed in black martial arts uniforms. They were dressed like commoners, but their movements were different. Their standing posture, the way they stepped, the placement of their hands everything belonged to trained men. There were three of them. Prince Leon instantly pushed Martha back and stepped forward.
"You stay back, Princess."
Martha said.
"Let's fight together."
Prince Leon looked at Martha. His gaze was different from usual. It was sharp and calm. Yet, there was worry within it. It was a look of pleading. It wasn't a look of coercion, but one of pleading.
"I don't want the Princess to get hurt."
What's with that greasy look? Martha froze as she met his gaze.
Prince Leon stepped forward. A soldier charged at him. Prince Leon blocked him and twisted the opponent's arm. It was a swift, clean movement. A second soldier cut in from the side. Prince Leon turned his body to block him. The sound of his foot hitting the ground was short. The moment the third soldier attempted to target Prince Leon's back, he had already anticipated it and changed his position.
Three men pressed from different directions, but Prince Leon blocked them one by one, creating space little by little. Although there were only three of them, Prince Leon was overwhelming. Watching the scene, Martha thought, 'He is so agile and nimble. His movement is like watching a ballet dancer. He really is the eldest son of the Ashford ducal family. He's good, really. If I stay right by that side, I won't get hurt.'
It didn't take long for Prince Leon to subdue all three of them. As the last soldier collapsed to the floor, the warehouse fell silent. Prince Leon caught his breath and turned to look at Martha.
"Are you alright?"
"And you, my dear?"
"I am fine."
Martha looked at Prince Leon. He wasn't hurt anywhere. His clothes were merely slightly disheveled.
Checking this, Martha thought to herself. In the eighty years I've lived, has anyone ever stepped forward for me? Whenever the nobles were in danger, they always pushed me to the very front. I was always the one to step forward. For the sake of others. I only knew how to step forward myself; I never even imagined someone stepping forward for me.
But now...Martha lowered her gaze. This person stepped forward for me. He protected me without a moment's hesitation. Viscount Werner spoke with difficulty, gripping the warehouse door with trembling hands.
"Is everyone alright?"
Martha looked at Viscount Werner. His face was pale.
"It's alright. You're alright too, Viscount, right? You didn't even fight, yet you're the palest."
Viscount Werner said, turning his head.
"I fought, too. In my heart."
They stepped out of the warehouse. Viscount Werner's servants had tied up the soldiers Prince Leon had subdued. Three men were tied side by side, leaning against the warehouse wall. Martha looked at them and asked.
"What should we do with these people?"
Prince Leon replied in a low voice.
"I will send them to the Ashford ducal family's military facility. We now have another witness. We'll find out once we interrogate them."
Viscount Werner spoke, scanning his surroundings with a worried look.
"Couldn't Her Majesty the Empress's side send more people?"
"That is entirely possible. That is why we must act quickly."
Martha said, looking at Prince Leon.
"I should ask His Majesty the Emperor to hurry. We don't have much time."
Prince Leon nodded. Then he looked at Viscount Werner.
"Viscount, do not leave the estate for the time being. Handle whatever is necessary through others. I think it would be better to entrust the management of the shops to your subordinates as well."
Viscount Werner nodded as he heard these words. His expression was very heavy. Martha looked at Viscount Werner and said.
"It will only take a moment. It will be done quickly once His Imperial Majesty moves."
Viscount Werner looked at Martha.
"How long do you think it will take?"
"It will be fast."
Viscount Werner nodded slowly as he heard those words. The seed has become fruit, but a storm is coming. But if you have roots, you won't fall over. Let them shake it in all directions. See if I can even blink an eye. Inside the carriage. The two were silent. Martha looked out the window and thought.
During my sixty years as a lady-in-waiting, I thought it was only natural for me to step forward for others. Because that was my role. But I had never imagined someone stepping forward for me. No, I never had the opportunity to think about it. Because it was unheard of for a lady-in-waiting to have someone like that.
Martha glanced at Prince Leon. He was looking out the window. His expression was heavy. He seemed to be wrapping up the day's work. Yet, within that heavy look, the gaze directed at Martha still lingered. The same look that had pushed her back in the warehouse earlier. This man. He stepped forward for me. Because the Princess must not get hurt.
Martha lowered her gaze. Her chest felt strange. It was different from a pounding heart. It felt quieter, rising from a deeper place. It felt like something warm was slowly spreading. Martha felt like she knew what it was, yet she wanted to pretend she didn't. Oh dear, what is this feeling at my age? Such a strange sensation...
Prince Leon looked at Martha.
"You seem to be deep in thought, Princess."
"No."
Prince Leon said quietly, looking at her.
"It shows on your face."
Martha looked at Prince Leon. Prince Leon looked at her and said.
"If something like this happens again, just step back without hesitation. I am worried."
As she listened to those words, Martha thought. That he is worried. About me. This person is worried about me. Martha glanced out the window for a moment, then looked at Prince Leon.
"...I understand."
Prince Leon looked at Martha. His gaze held a sense of surprise. It seemed he had been taken aback that Martha had so readily agreed. Prince Leon was about to say something more, but simply looked straight ahead.
Martha looked out the window. It's my second time living here; shouldn't it be a little different this time? Shouldn't I accept it? Shouldn't I have at least one person on my side who steps up for me?
Martha thought to herself. Is it okay to treat Prince Leon like this? I'm still not sure. But... I don't dislike it.
They returned to the Valois ducal estate Prince Leon said to Martha.
"I must convey a message to His Majesty the Emperor asking him to hurry."
"I didn't know Her Majesty the Empress would move this fast."
Martha said, nodding.
"The Empress is connecting the dots. The House of Viscount Werner, the House of Count Strauss. Next up is the House of Duke Valois."
"His Majesty the Emperor must make a move before then."
Prince Leon said.
"I will contact Father immediately today."
He was about to leave when he stopped at the door. Turning around slowly, he said.
"You did well today."
Martha looked at Prince Leon.
"For stepping back."
Martha said.
"You asked me to do it, Young Master."
Prince Leon looked at Martha. There was something in his eyes. It was the look of someone holding back what was about to be said. He looked at her for a long time. Just as Martha was about to lower her gaze while receiving that look, Prince Leon spoke.
"Thank you."
And he left. The door closed. Martha stood there for a while, watching the closed door. Long rays of evening sunlight streamed into the Duke's residence hallway. The light settled on the floorboards, polished to a dust-free perfection.
Martha paused for a moment, gazing at the light. She slowly placed her hand on her chest. Her heart wasn't pounding. It was warm. What was this? Feeling it, Martha walked slowly toward the study.
Lucy was looking at her notebook, writing something down for quite a while. And closing the notebook, she said.
"Maybe I'll find out as I live."
[Lucy's Secret Shock Journal - Episode 52]
Today, the Princess's expression was different in the morning and evening. If she was the always spirited Princess in the morning, when she returned, she looked somewhat dazed and deep in thought.
It wasn't the look of a pounding heart. It was a quieter and warmer face. I wanted to ask what she was thinking, but I held back.
She will tell me someday.
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