Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Overheard Schemes
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Ryan recalled the servant boy he had seen at the Etwar Marquis House.
Silver hair and wall-like eyes. Skin so white it didn't seem human, and an otherworldly aura.
It perfectly matched the feeling he had when he first saw Darsi.
"These days, even mages are being brought into homes, it seems."
Ryan sneered.
It wasn't as if he wanted to kill the boy just for existing. It was because the boy was a mage.
Ever since meeting Darsi, his hatred for mages had only grown stronger.
He had never had a good impression of them due to Emperor Kies's influence, but after encountering the mage Darsi, he had come to despise them entirely.
"The timing wasn't right."
If not for Darsi, he would have ended it right then and there, but things hadn't gone as he wished.
"It's because I lack real combat experience."
Ryan fully rationalized the clear gap in power he had sensed between himself and Darsi.
In any case, he had delivered the magic crystals and spoken with Marso, so he had achieved his original purpose for visiting the mansion.
She hadn't seemed particularly pleased, but since she was re-entering high society, avoiding encounters was impossible.
"Opportunities will still come."
The Etwar Marquis House would soon fall into danger, and he planned to graciously help Marso then.
"First, deliver the magic crystals to the Epekle Marquis House."
Today was the day to supply magic crystals to the Epekle Marquis House as per their contract.
He had originally planned to go himself, but after talking with Darsi, he changed his mind.
An obsession had taken hold: he needed to crush Darsi's arrogance and establish a perfect record of merit.
There was no time to waste on preparations, but someone still needed to go to the Epekle Marquis House, so he summoned Leticia for the first time in a while, under the pretext of checking on her.
"Your Highness."
"It's been a while."
Just then, Leticia finished loading the magic crystals and greeted him. The two sat facing each other inside the carriage.
"Have you been well? I heard you found new lodgings for the mages this time."
"I can't tell you the exact location. But yes, and I plan to raid it."
"Please be careful. ...By the way, I heard you visited Lady Marso today."
The topic of Marso naturally slipped into the conversation alongside the initial matter.
"Has word spread that quickly?"
"I am Your Highness's information network, after all."
Leticia trusted the Ryan she knew.
She believed that Ryan would no longer touch Marso. Rumors had even spread in high society acknowledging that she had changed.
"You're right."
But Ryan answered far too readily. His response left her speechless.
"...Why did you do that?"
"Because I can."
Leticia doubted whether the man before her was truly the savior who had rescued her life.
"By the way, Leticia, there's a mage at the Etwar mansion."
"A mage?"
"Yes, a child. I don't know how they brought him in, but it didn't seem legal. Use this information when spreading the rumors this time."
"...Isn't that enough already?"
To bring down Marquis Etwar and seize the mines, they would deliberately spread bad rumors about Marso as well.
And as the head of a merchant guild that dominated the back alleys, Leticia would give those rumors legs.
"What will we gain from spreading such rumors?"
"It will shake their current position. They were gathering forces for the Second Prince."
A prince who showed no hesitation in crushing anyone not on his side. There were times when his ruthlessness felt reassuring.
"But Lady Marso..."
Isn't her case different?
Leticia posed the question. The Ryan before her now was different from the one she knew.
"Has he changed, or is this his true nature?"
Leticia knew that the deal between Ryan and Marquis Epekle revolved around the magic crystals.
She also knew it had been struck by exploiting the marquis's weakness.
There are limits to what can be done as a person. She believed Ryan respected those limits.
But lately, Ryan seemed like a beast that had abandoned its humanity.
Why had he changed like this?
"No, perhaps it's I who has changed."
Having spent time with Marso, she might have been influenced by seeing how much effort the woman had put in over the past year to change.
Even after her identity as a spy was exposed, Ryan hadn't openly exploited it as a weakness; he had simply sent her away. That lingered in her mind.
She didn't deserve such treatment. Nor did the Etwar Marquis House.
They said no one could change their minds.
Now, that premise had been proven wrong.
At the very least, Leticia's perception of Marso had completely changed—both her thoughts and actions toward her.
People can change.
Marso Etwar truly had.
"I must stop my lord."
As she descended with boxes full of magic crystals in both hands, servants swiftly took them inside.
Leticia stared at the Epekle Marquis House before her. But in her heart, she was thinking of the Etwar Marquis House.
"Let me try."
She decided to go to Marso. She would share the information she knew to prevent her downfall.
It was the path for Ryan's sake.
Honestly, she wasn't sure if Marso would believe her...
Leticia chose to trust the Marso she had observed all this time.
Pulling her cloak over her head, Leticia deliberately dawdled as she entered the mansion.
The path leading to the back door avoided people's eyes, and no servants were in sight, but Leticia knew that after Kaisen escorted Resuan, he would glance at her window before leaving.
She knew that Knight Commander Kaisen supported Darsi, the Second Prince.
If the information reached Darsi through Kaisen, and Marso learned of it, she would be more likely to believe Leticia later.
Thus, Leticia deliberately revealed herself.
However, the one who spotted the two talking with Ryan that day wasn't just Knight Commander Kaisen.
Resuan had seen them too.
It was past midnight, and the mansion was silent.
Resuan should have been asleep by then, but she was there out of recent worry for Marquis Epekle.
"Grandfather has been looking more tired lately."
Seeing the marquis dozing off at every breakfast made her concerned for his health.
She was on her way up with rosemary-infused tea for him, having noticed his study light still on late into the evening.
She had only intended to pass some along to Kaisen as well, who had been helping with her exercise lately...
"Who is that?"
She hid behind the corridor wall. The cloaked figure seemed familiar with the mansion's layout.
"An assassin?"
"Lady Resuan, what are you doing here?"
Just then, Kaisen, who had spotted her, approached.
Resuan pressed a finger to her lips and shushed him. Kaisen unwittingly closed his mouth.
The two began tailing Leticia.
Noticing the presence following her, Leticia left the study door slightly ajar when she entered.
By the time the two, who had followed from afar, overheard the conversation between Marquis Epekle and Leticia, it had already progressed quite a bit.
"...Marquis Etwar's reputation will hit rock bottom."
"Yes. Since the Etwar Marquis House is the only one still maintaining similar output from their mines, it will be perfect evidence."
"...What is this about?"
Resuan froze in place.
"Now the Etwar Marquis House is finished."
"Satisfactory."
"Tell Prince Ryan not to forget our contract."
"As if he would."
Resuan stifled her pounding heart and let out ragged breaths.
She could hardly believe the words of her grandfather, who had prided himself on a lifetime of integrity.
"...Lady Resuan."
"Quiet, Kaisen. I need to wait."
Her unusually firm tone made Kaisen shrink back.
Resuan took a deep breath.
She didn't know the details, but it was clear her grandfather was plotting to bring down the Etwar Marquis House.
Prince Ryan seemed involved as well.
Resuan let out a hollow laugh.
"I thought you all acknowledged that Lady Marso had changed."
She felt betrayed by Marquis Epekle and Ryan. Hadn't Ryan even spoken with her just recently?
She had trusted them.
But that trust had shattered.
"Resuan, we won't leave your side."
The words rang hollow as memories of her parents, who had left the world after saying them, haunted her like a nightmare.
Resuan leaned blankly against the wall, listening to the ongoing conversation.
"You are supplying the magic crystals properly, right?"
Hearing Marquis Epekle emphasize the magic crystal mines, she laughed in futility. She waited silently for the intruder to her home—and her grandfather's accomplice—to leave the room.
Biting her lip hard, Resuan clenched her fist to still her trembling hand.
She had spent her life avoiding such conflicts. Conversations like this made her uncomfortable and afraid.
"Kaisen, you go back first. I need to talk to Grandfather."
But she realized she couldn't keep living that way.
"It might not be necessary."
"...Some things have to be confronted."
Ignoring the conflict had pushed her relationship with Marso to the extreme. She didn't want to repeat that.
Moreover, the opponent was her only remaining family. Because she cherished and loved him, she had to intervene.
Entering the study, Resuan found the marquis still reviewing documents.
"You still have business...? No, Resuan."
Having assumed it was Leticia, the marquis looked up in shock.