Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Infiltration (1)
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I knew the castle's patrol routes and schedules inside out. Since the security focused mainly around me, Joel's quarters were left relatively unguarded.
Swoosh.
I hid in the corner at the end of the corridor,
Clank, clank.
then moved only after the guards passed by.
"What am I even doing in my own castle?"
It felt like I was some assassin sneaking into the fortress. Experiencing it firsthand made me realize something.
"This is harder than I thought."
I had to give the assassins some credit. Breaking through this tight security net wasn't easy. So how would Helena make contact with me?
Lost in those thoughts, I soon found myself in front of Joel's door.
Tap, tap.
I slipped past the guards' eyes and darted into the room.
Click.
The moment I quietly shut the door and turned around,
Hiss.
a bitter herbal scent mixed with the acrid smell of something burned hit me. Faint moonlight filtered through the window onto a desk cluttered with herbs, mortars and pestles, and thick books.
Step.
I scanned every inch as I slowly entered the room, moving with utmost caution and deliberation.
I already knew what I was looking for: burned scraps of notes, traces of attempts to destroy evidence, and the like.
Step.
The room was empty, but I deliberately muffled my footsteps. Just in case someone approached outside—I needed to hear them coming.
Reaching the desk, I
"......"
flashed a sly grin.
Herb powder was scattered across the papers and books. One might think it normal for a physician's desk, but...
"He did this on purpose."
If it were an accident, it would have spilled in one direction, like something knocked over. There should also be signs of cleaning it up.
But the powder before me was clearly sprinkled in deliberate, patterned spots. It was a trap to detect if someone had rummaged through or touched the desk.
"Not bad, Joel."
An ordinary chief physician wouldn't go to such lengths. This was the behavior of someone with something to hide.
Shifting my gaze from the desk, I examined the bookshelves. The desk might be a decoy, with evidence hidden elsewhere.
Deeper in the room stood a partition taller than a person, and behind it was Joel's private space: a bed for sleeping, a large rocking chair for one, and so on.
As I inspected every corner of Joel's room,
Tap.
footsteps approached the door.
"-!"
I quickly retreated behind the door.
"Has Joel come back already?"
No way. That was the confidence of someone who knew the original story.
Which meant someone other than Joel was trying to enter this room.
Swoosh.
I let my arms hang loosely, ready to move at any moment.
I'd knock them out the second they came in. The aftermath didn't matter—they'd assume it was some assassin who infiltrated the castle.
Creeeak.
The figure entering was much smaller than Joel. And it was a woman.
Whoosh.
The instant I confirmed who it was, I pulled her into my arms. Instead of knocking her out, I clamped a hand over her mouth.
"--!"
She fluttered like a startled bird, but
"Shh."
went still upon hearing my voice.
I could feel her heart pounding wildly against me. A pleasant fragrance wafted from the hair brushing my nose.
"Calmed down?"
She nodded vigorously. Though her heart was still racing like mad for someone claiming to be calm.
Releasing her,
"Your Excellency?"
the midnight intruder—Rose—whirled to face me. Her eyes were wide as saucers.
"I had a hunch."
Part of me had suspected she might come here. The regressed Rose had started her investigation with Joel right away.
That's why I'd come ahead of time. To prevent any mistakes she might make.
And sure enough, the moment Joel left the castle, she'd snuck in. That was no ordinary boldness.
"Wh-why are you here, Your Excellency?"
To Rose, who stared at me with perfectly round eyes,
"It's my castle. Can't I enter?"
I replied brazenly.
Making excuses here would be amateur hour. I'd tossed any conscience out the window long ago.
"Uh......"
Rose looked speechless at my shameless response.
Of course, it's Your Excellency's castle, so he can go anywhere...? But this is Chief Physician Joel's room? Is it really okay to just barge in like this?
Her eyes spun in confusion.
"R-right. Your Excellency can go wherever you please... right?"
"Exactly."
I nodded as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, and Rose looked bewildered but reluctantly accepted it.
"And why are you here, Madam?"
"I, um."
Rose swallowed hard.
Gulp.
She rolled her eyes once, then
"I left something here... so I came to find it."
laid out an obvious lie. It was the excuse she'd prepared in case she got caught.
"Is that so?"
And I began my act of falling for the blatant fib.
"You could've waited for Joel. Must be something important."
"......Yes. Very important."
It wasn't wrong. What could be more crucial than proof that Joel was colluding with the enemy?
As she answered, Rose eyed me anxiously, bracing for questions about what the item was. Instead of pressing, I said,
"Then hurry up."
"Pardon?"
"The master has given permission. Finish your business quickly."
"Pardon?"
Rose blinked, doubting her ears.
He's buying this? I thought he'd interrogate me and kick me out, but he's actually allowing it? How is this possible?
She looked utterly baffled.
"What an easy woman to read."
Suppressing a laugh that threatened to burst out, I said gravely,
"Then let's each do what we came for. I have something to fetch myself anyway."
I didn't mention it was the same thing she was after.
Instead, I fully turned my back to her, so she could search in peace.
Rattle.
I opened a drawer and pretended to rummage around. Glancing sideways at Rose,
"......"
I saw her watching me tensely. After observing me for a long while,
Fhew.
she finally moved once she confirmed I wasn't paying her any mind.
Rattle.
Starting with the cabinets, Rose methodically checked places where something might be hidden. She seemed convinced that whatever it was would be concealed out of sight, given its importance.
Rather than searching for something she'd supposedly left behind, she was fumbling around blindly. But I let her be without pointing it out.
"She really does resemble one."
Like a squirrel digging up acorns other animals had stashed away.
"Maybe I should give her a hand."
I deliberately stepped over to Joel's desk. Then, loud enough for her to hear, I muttered,
"Joel must be awfully busy."
Confirming Rose whip her head around, I continued,
"Can't understand why his desk is such a mess."
It was a bit of awkward stage dialogue, but thankfully, she focused on the content rather than the delivery and approached me. I'd succeeded in directing her attention to the desk.
"The desk?"
"Take a look at this. Powder spilled everywhere, and he hasn't even cleaned it up."
Spouting such lame lines was torture. But to give her time to think, I moved slowly.
"Can't let it slide."
Pretending to be serious, I slowly raised my hand. Very slowly.
"Guess I should sweep off the desk."
Rose's expression changed instantly.
"No!"
She hurriedly blocked my path. The clever woman had immediately figured out why the powder was there.
"Please wait, Your Excellency."
"Why?"
"This powder... it looks like Sir Joel sprinkled it on purpose. To check if anyone entered the room."
"On purpose?"
I tilted my head, and Rose hesitated briefly.
She assumed I fully trusted my chief physician Joel. So she must be wondering if voicing suspicion against him was too rash.
"-When Your Excellency left to inspect the mines."
After a moment's pause, Rose carefully chose her words.
"Sir Joel asked me quietly, just loud enough for me to hear. If I needed any barrenwort."
"What's that?"
"It's barrenwort. It normally contracts the uterus to aid childbirth, but taken wrongly, it causes miscarriage."
"......"
Joel had said that to Rose? So, after the night I'd spent with her?
"Trying to prevent an heir."
If I had a son, it would upend the entire line of succession. My son would leapfrog straight to second in line after me.
The one who wouldn't welcome that was obvious.
"Henrik Schmichael."
My uncle, who would inherit the Schmichael duchy if I died.
He'd either instructed Joel in advance or Joel had taken the initiative himself.
"How meticulous."
I was equal parts impressed and furious at Joel's actions.
Anticipating potential issues based on his master's goals and nipping them in the bud. Wasn't that what a loyal retainer should do?
If he were my man, I'd admire such initiative. But as an enemy? Infuriating.
"......"
The killing intent I'd barely suppressed surged back up, roiling within me. Knowing of his betrayal yet having to turn a blind eye—this situation was torture.
What quelled the spreading wildfire of murderous urge was
"Your Excellency."
Rose's voice, striving to remain calm.
"I thought long and hard about whether I should tell you this."
She was searching my stoic expression for any hint of emotion.
"I decided it was right to tell you everything that happened. The judgment is yours."
What if her words sowed discord by casting doubt on a loyal vassal? What if she was seen as a wicked wife stirring bedtime quarrels at the pillowside?
"Did I say something unnecessary?"
Her face was etched with caution, every worry and consideration laid bare.
But her eyes were earnest. Please suspect Joel. Don't trust him completely. Believe me, please. That's what they pleaded.