The Midnight Spy
“Touching Bayern internal affairs? Has Eberstein been harboring that intent all along?”
“You wound me by saying that. We're merely following Your Grace's orders.”
Mrs. Eberstein drew a perfect, clean line in front of the baffled woman without beating around the bush.
She even implied to take it up with Victor if there was any griping to do.
She hadn't said it outright, but it amounted to the same thing.
“What should we do...?”
“Child, I need your help. Get close to that maid stuck to the young one's side. Squeeze out some information—something we can use against her!”
“I'll do it, ma'am.”
Genevieve wasn't a “ma'am,” but she loved being called one.
A few maids she favored knew this well and used the title freely where no ears could hear. Naturally, Genevieve relished it.
“And... we'll need to hire someone discreetly. Didn't you say you're friendly with the village boys?”
“Yes, I have quite a few close brothers.”
Genevieve nodded at the maid's sly whisper.
“Good. I'll give you some money—dig into her background. Find out where she rolled in from before registering at the Eberstein estate, any proof she's not pure. Got it?”
“Of course, ma'am.”
“Bring back something useful, and I'll double the pay. Your cut on top.”
Greed flashed in the maid's eyes at Genevieve's promise.
Punishment always feels distant, while sweet money seems close at hand, doesn't it?
“And... slip this green dress into that woman's wardrobe soon.”
Genevieve pulled out a dress adorned with a pumpkin brooch and tossed it over.
It was Seranna's dress, stashed away out of covetous desire.
The maid, having received her advance, nodded vigorously.
And that very dawn, Emma slipped out of the estate at a brisk pace.
Oblivious to the eyes watching her.
“It was too dark to confirm more than the silhouette and hair color, but the build, height, and gait all point to Emma for sure.”
At the same hour, in the ducal office where lights burned until dawn.
Victor had finished his late work and was receiving his subordinate's report.
“I figured my aunt would pull something. That's why I had you tail her.”
“Yes. We have our own plant in the village, so no need for concern.”
Victor set down his fountain pen and gently closed his eyes.
I'd hoped to handle her generously enough to avoid the hassle.
While Ibel learned the ropes at the capital safehouse, he'd handled estate matters.
Calling in informants scattered nationwide, planting them across the territory and even within the family—that was one such task.
No need to rehash national politics they already knew.
In this life, what mattered to him was family.
“Report in detail on what Emma's up to and who she's contacting. If it's anything to do with Ibel, sabotage it.”
“Understood.”
Matthias the adjutant would have scrubbed the records spotless, but one could never be too sure.
He didn't want Ibel crossing paths with the Klarren family again. Better if her male-disguised degree stayed buried too.
Didn't have time before, but maybe faking her death would be cleaner.
Tap, tap.
Drumming the armrest absently, he pulled an all-nighter straight into morning.
Time slipped away as he mulled over and refined hundreds of contingency plans.
“Victor, are you in the office?”
Then came a voice from beyond the door, one that deepened his fatigue.
Genevieve, rushing over the moment the sun rose.
“......Come in.”
“You look exhausted. How about a cup of tea?”
“I'm fine. I'd appreciate it if you got to the point.”
Send her back to the annex? Or a villa at a resort?
A convent might make her throw a fit and refuse to go, even on her deathbed.
Lure her into committing a major offense?
Such thoughts half-drowned her words.
Half of it was nonsense he could ignore anyway.
Only after rattling off trivia did Genevieve slyly broach the main topic.
“So, I need a bit more funding. For a patronage group of this caliber, Bayern's contribution should be the largest to save face.”
Refuse this, and she'd nitpick Ibel's every move from here on out.
But handing over cash won't make her behave either.
It might even embolden her further.
Decision made, Victor refused flatly.
“That's not possible.”
“What, really?”
“We're already giving plenty. Considering the wedding budget, opening a patronage group now seems unwise.”
How many such groups had Genevieve started before?
Most fizzled out, as he recalled.
“What nonsense! As Bayern blood, we have a duty to support artists. Noblesse oblige and all that.”
“My answer stands. Expect even tighter budgets ahead.”
“How... how dare you!”
True, she'd wheedled extra funds a few times before, and he'd let it slide since it was her private affair.
Most went to her young lovers, as he knew.
But letting it continue was problematic.
They produced no results, just loafed on the money.
Resigned, Victor let a few names slip.
“Antrian, Joseph, Phillips.”
“......!”
“Shall I go on?”
“H-how do you know about...”
Genevieve paled, stumbled back, flung open the door, and fled.
She's got energy, at least.
Thanks to that, breakfast should be peaceful.
Forty-eight hours without sleep was routine for him, so he headed for the dining room.
Or so he thought—his feet turned toward the master bedroom instead.
To see the one still asleep there.
For some reason, Ibel's face promised to soothe his tangled thoughts.
Thanks to Victor waking her, Ibel rose luxuriously, finished a simple breakfast, and got moving.
Today's task, as pre-announced: touring the servants' quarters.
Of course, with Banya in tow.
“This is the place.”
Servants' quarters were usually shabby, but not at the Bayern Ducal Residence.
Not bad. All built with hinoki cypress.
The fragrant, spotless interior was impeccably clean.
They'd tidied for her visit, sure—but no one lives in constant chaos and maintains this level of hygiene.
“The men's quarters house 33, the women's 42. Close aides like Eloi stay near their masters, of course. The butler, head maid, and head chef have rooms in the main house. The gardener has his own cottage as caretaker.”
As expected of a great noble—efficiently run with logical flow.
Having the butler, head maid, and head chef's rooms in the main house was a great sign too.
It would inspire respect from the staff.
“So the head maid oversees this place?”