Chapter 63
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Alteria (5)
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Though they had received prior notice, the arrival of Earl Ilaine, commander of the Capital Defense Force, and his staff knights threw the Veniard mansion into a frenzy.
It was because of the incident last year that had nearly wiped out their family. The visit from a high-ranking figure in the imperial palace—someone who controlled fully thirty percent of the military authority in the capital city of Alteria—was understandably burdensome.
Unlike the nanny and servants who greeted Earl Ilaine's party trembling as if they might prostrate themselves, the mansion's mistress, Anne Rose, welcomed him with the utmost composure.
"Welcome, Your Excellency. And to you knights as well. We are honored by your visit to the Veniard mansion."
"Hm. Good to see you, Lady Veniard."
"Please, this way. Allow me to guide you to the study. Ah, and I've prepared a separate room for the knights—would you like them to wait there? It's the parlor next to the study..."
At Anne Rose's words, the staff knights who had accompanied Earl Ilaine flinched and glanced at their superior.
After stroking his chin briefly, Earl Ilaine nodded lightly.
"Hm. Well, that should be fine. Let's do that. My thanks for your hospitality."
The staff knights inwardly sighed with relief and joy at Earl Ilaine's response. They had braced themselves for hours of standing guard outside the door, as usual—so this was a real stroke of luck.
"Think nothing of it. Now, if you'll follow me."
Anne Rose turned with a bright smile.
The staff knights following behind her couldn't help but admire her beauty and the poise far beyond her years.
The rumors they had heard during last year's incident involving the Veniard family—that she was cunning yet vain and immature—faded from their minds, their expressions softening.
But unlike his subordinates, Earl Ilaine's face remained impassive.
The staff knights headed to the parlor under the butler's guidance, while Anne Rose and Earl Ilaine entered the study.
The two sat across from each other at a large rectangular stone table that could seat over a dozen.
"Tea, perhaps? Or wine?"
Anne Rose dismissed the maids and served Earl Ilaine herself.
"Tea will do. Alcohol is prohibited while on duty."
"Impressive. As expected of the Knight of the Iron Heart—your reputation is well-earned."
She smiled warmly and poured tea into a porcelain cup imported from a distant southern kingdom.
Earl Ilaine sat ramrod straight and downed the tea Anne Rose offered as if it were water.
Then, eyeing her slight widening of surprise, he spoke.
"To the point, Lady Veniard. Is what you wrote in your letter to me true?"
Anne Rose hesitated at Earl Ilaine's abrupt dive into the main topic.
But unlike before, she quickly regained her composure.
Over the past few days, she had dealt with people as direct as Earl Ilaine—if not more so. This was nothing.
"All of it is true. Why would I lie to the commander of the Capital Defense Force? Especially after what my family endured just three years ago."
Anne Rose brought up a story she would rather avoid.
"Hm."
Earl Ilaine's gaze deepened.
He had sensed it from the moment he first saw her, but the beautiful girl before him was undeniably different from the typical noble ladies who flitted from handsome knights at balls.
"I don't doubt you, Lady Veniard. But the matters you mentioned in your letter are grave, so I needed confirmation."
"No, it's fine. You came in person despite the potentially rude contents."
"Hm. Glad you see it that way. Then let me ask again. Lady Veniard, what is Duke Soria's intent?"
It was a question that would have flustered her former self.
But Anne Rose answered calmly, without missing a beat.
"I don't know."
"What? Didn't your letter say you knew Duke Soria's intentions?"
Earl Ilaine squinted one eye.
"I said I wanted to pursue them together—not that I knew."
"I don't care for wordplay, Lady Veniard."
Earl Ilaine's eyes sharpened slightly.
As his expression hardened, Anne Rose pressed on swiftly while maintaining her calm demeanor.
"It's no wordplay, Your Excellency. To be direct: I met the messenger bearing Duke Soria's letter and inferred His Grace's intentions from our conversation."
"Hm."
"And whatever Duke Soria's intentions may be, I judged that here in the capital, they would be closely tied to you, Your Excellency. That's why I took the liberty of writing to share them. As you said, given the gravity of the matter..."
Anne Rose echoed his own words exactly as she set down her teacup.
"Hm!"
Earl Ilaine's impassive gaze now pierced into Anne Rose.
She couldn't help but flinch inwardly under that deeply set, probing stare.
No matter how much she had changed, facing the Iron Heart Knight—a founding hero of the empire—in candid talk was no small feat.
"Understood. I grasp your thinking, Lady Veniard. And I agree with it. In that vein, one more thing I'd like to confirm."
"What is it?"
Surprised by the more positive response than expected, Anne Rose perked up unwittingly.
"Is the recipient of Duke Soria's letter perhaps myself? Rumors have been circulating to that effect..."
Anne Rose shook her head.
"You are not the recipient, Your Excellency."
"Oh? So you know who it is?"
"Yes. Duke Soria's letter was addressed not to you, Your Excellency, but to your daughter, Lady Milene. I confirmed it directly with the messenger."
Thinking the real conversation was about to begin, Anne Rose replied.
But it was her miscalculation.
"Hm!"
Earl Ilaine's eyes narrowed.
Her words now—especially naming Lady Milene as the recipient—allowed him to confirm several key points.
And that was precisely why he had come to see her.
'As expected, she knows quite a bit. And she's naive.'
She was certainly different from the average noble girl.
But only to that extent.
Still, her efforts to save her declining house were admirable. In some ways, better than many young men.
'Then I need to find someone who knows more. Like the messenger Henrik sent.'
Sorting his thoughts in an instant, Earl Ilaine met Anne Rose's eyes again.
Beautiful eyes, calm and composed unlike those of flighty noble maidens, yet shining with ambition for something.
Earl Ilaine knew what that ambition was.
The dream of rebuilding her fallen house with her own hands.
That must be why she wrote to him.
'Unfortunately, she's barking up the wrong tree.'
Still, thanks to her, he had confirmed important facts—it wasn't a wasted trip.
The least he could do was offer some recompense.
"It seems Duke Soria's messenger has already entered the capital."
"Pardon? Ah, no, that's..."
She had anticipated the question, but not so soon, and Anne Rose trailed off unwittingly.
That alone was confirmation enough for Earl Ilaine.
"No matter. As you know, my position brings all sorts of rumors my way."
"..."
"Besides, most nobles in the palace and beyond have heard about Duke Soria's letter and its bearer. Of course, the incident in Elberah with you and the messenger's group has spread far and wide."
"I... see."
Learning the news had spread far faster than expected, Anne Rose's face stiffened.
Information's value lies in how few know it.
In this case, she held little value to Earl Ilaine.
'I can't let it end like this. First...'
"But Duke Soria's intentions..."
Anne Rose gathered her thoughts and opened her mouth quickly.
But her attempt failed.
"One thing to note."
Raising a large hand to silence her, Earl Ilaine fixed her with a steely gaze and continued.
"I am not Duke Soria's man."
"Pardon...?"
Anne Rose blinked, momentarily uncomprehending.
Lowering his hand, Earl Ilaine repeated himself.
"Both you, Lady Veniard, and the capital's other nobles seem to think I am in Duke Soria's camp—but I'm afraid that's a grave misconception."
"...!"
"It's true Duke Soria and I shared a deep bond in the past. It's also true that I respect him. But that is the fellowship and respect between knights—nothing more."
"Ah..."
To her gaping mouth, Earl Ilaine added casually.
"Lady Veniard, do you know what Duke Soria said to the knights on the day he left for Northernrocks Fortress?"
"That..."
Catching her off guard completely, Anne Rose stared blankly, unable to respond.
"'Remember always that I am His Majesty's knight, wherever and whenever.' 'Protecting the throne is the empire's true safeguard—and forget it not, even if the matter involves Duke Soria himself.'"
"...!"
"I trust you understand what that means, and why I'm telling you this now. Well then."
Earl Ilaine rose slowly and turned to leave.
But Anne Rose remained wide-eyed, staring at his empty seat.
She—and most nobles—had believed Earl Ilaine would be Prince Henrik's strongest ally if he sought the throne.
Yet Prince Henrik himself had ordered him to serve the emperor loyally, not himself.
And the Knight of the Iron Heart would keep his dear friend's and respected knight's words, come what may.
'From the start... it was wrong from the very beginning.'
A stern warning to stay out of the unfolding crisis—Anne Rose bit her lip hard without thinking.
Just then, as Earl Ilaine was about to exit the study, he paused and glanced back.
"One more thing..."
"Yes...?"
"As guardian of the throne and commander of the capital defense, I have a duty to investigate and address any matters or persons that threaten my mission. This includes imperial family members, save His Majesty himself. Duke Soria is no exception."
With that, Earl Ilaine left the study.
Moments later, the sound of him and the knights departing down the second-floor corridor echoed.
Yet Anne Rose, left alone, remained dazed for a long while.
"Miss?"
With the knights departing as abruptly as they had arrived—without even finishing a cup of tea—the flustered nanny entered the study and called out cautiously.
"Ah! This is bad!"
Snapping out of her lip-biting trance, she sprang to her feet in shock, still facing the wall.
"M-Miss?"
"This is..."
But ignoring the nanny, Anne Rose rushed to the window.
Earl Ilaine and the Capital Defense Force knights were crossing the garden on horseback, heading for the main gate.
"He'll definitely go after them..."
Her failure to align with Earl Ilaine wasn't the issue.
Now that he knew Blake, Prince Henrik's messenger, was in the capital, Earl Ilaine would track him down by any means.
And from his parting words, he likely wanted that letter.
Trouble was brewing—big trouble. If mishandled, Blake and his entire group could face dire consequences.
And it would all be because she had written to Earl Ilaine.
"I can't just sit here. I have to warn them!"
Anne Rose's movements grew frantic.