Chapter 65

Early in the morning, when I went down to the first floor to go to the garden house for sword training, there was a guest in the hall.

It was a man in casual attire and a brown cloak. Although he wasn’t in uniform, his face was familiar, so I knew he belonged to the Red Knights.

While talking to the butler, he noticed me and looked at me. He nodded to me first from there, so I greeted him with a light bow.

‘Why is he here? Leonard should be in the imperial palace now.’

Well, if it were for the Red Knights’s matters, he would’ve come in uniform. So does he have a business with Father?

My head tilted in wonder.

The question was resolved relatively quickly that evening, at dinner.

***

“Someone from the Red Knights visited in the morning.”

Father brought up the topic when dessert was served.

As expected, he came to see Father. I thought as I twirled the wine glass towards me.

“He said he came back from the investigation.”

“Investigation?”

“The investigation on workers who used to work on Horio’s merchant ships.”

Oh, about that.

I understood why he’d come to the duke’s residence, not the imperial palace.

Words might fall into the ears of the White Knights, where Horio was, had he come to the imperial palace.

“He’s met about five people, and most of them quit their jobs long ago, so they didn’t have much income.”

“Well, that’s too bad.”

“Yes. However, it seems that he was introduced to a worker who is still on the merchant ship through the introduction of those workers.”

“Really? That’s great.”

I was genuinely happy to hear that.

I had a hunch that some plausible information was coming out.

Did Horio have any weaknesses at Valer’s hand?

Adultery? A corruption of the Knights’ personnel affairs? If it’s about business, maybe it’s embezzlement.

“It looks like they were up to smuggling.”

“Ohh…”

It’s slightly off the mark but not so surprising.

Thanks to that, my exclamation came out vaguely too, somewhere between surprised and calm.

Leonard’s reaction was no different from mine.

“Did they sneak in wheat or silk or something like that?”

Father shook his head at Leonard’s question.

“It would be better if that was the case.”

What? Perhaps the smuggled items were not so proper.

‘It’s not like it’s possible to smuggle slaves.’

I thought of the smugglers from 500 years ago. Well, it seems that slaves have almost disappeared in this era.

“Kegor.”

Father flicked his fingers and called the butler.

Then Kegor, standing at the dining room entrance, came to the table and spread something wrapped in a handkerchief in the middle.

What was contained in the open handkerchief was dried, dark green grass. It smelled bad even though it was already dry.

“What is this? Tea leaves?” Leonard asked with a frown. There must be countries that enjoy this strong scent or taste of tea on other continents.

But these are not tea leaves.

I know the identity of this thing.

“It’s Belladonna.”

Frowning at the disgusting smell, I muttered quietly.

My father affirmed my words with ‘hmm’.

“So you know, Helena.”

Of course I know.

I had enough knowledge to grasp the type of poison just by smelling the scent from my previous life.

“Belladonna? What’s that?”

Leonard asked, so I calmly explained it to him.

“Drinking the dried leaves makes your heart beat faster and causes relaxation. People use it for muscle pain.”

“So, is it for medicinal purposes?”

“No, it’s a poisonous plant.”

I made a definite statement.

The first time I heard this name was from the girls of the red light district when I was a vagrant.

It dilated the pupils due to its relaxation action, so women in the red light district used to drink it as a decoction.

Of course, it was life-threatening. There were a lot of women who died then.

“If you take it regularly or overdose, it’s toxic enough to cause hallucinations, convulsions, coma, and death.”

“Helena’s right. All poisons can also be used as medicine. But they are more often used as a poison.”

My father affirmed my words and explained.

There were enough drugs that were good for muscle pain that was not dangerous.

It meant there was no reason to smuggle Belladonna to use it as medicine.

“Are you saying they were smuggling poison?”

“Yes. There are many other things, like Alauene or Aconitine…”

Unfamiliar names came out of Father’s mouth. These were names you didn’t usually hear. All were names of poisonous plants that were highly toxic.

“It appears they’ve been smuggling quite a bit of toxic material until recently.”

“Until recently? Then what about now?”

“They stopped a few months ago. Regarding timing, it was not long before Leonard was framed.”

That’s a rough drawing.

Valer caught the smuggled thing, and Leonard was framed as a condition to cover the crime…

‘Smuggling isn’t a crime that’d make anyone be swayed by threats, but since the item is ‘poison’…’

If it were smuggling alone, it would have ended with a fine or suspension. It would be a loss, but there was no need to make an enemy out of Peresca Duchy.

But it was a different story if the item was such a harmful one. They could be sued for the crime of overthrowing the country.

“So, I’m going to visit Horio soon and investigate this matter.”

As I pondered, Father offered an opinion.

Since he knew their faults, he’d investigate the error and accuse them of their sin. It was a reasonable and sensible decision, considering my father’s character.

“Why don’t we just… leave this alone?” I cautiously offered a different opinion.

The two men in this house stared at me with widened eyes.

“There’s no point in going back and revealing the Horio family’s problems now.”

“It’s not about profit, is it? Smuggling is a serious crime.”

“And it’s a good threat.”

The two’s pupils shook subtly. They appeared as if they were saying, “I mean, how did this child come out of my family?”

“Helena. It is the spirit of our family that there should never be hesitation in doing what is right.”

“I’m not saying we shouldn’t reveal it, but let’s wait for the right time. What’s good about revealing all our good cards?”

“Father, Helena has a point.”

“Leonard, even you…”

“I mean, there are still uncertainties in this matter.” Leonard persuaded, “We first need to know where the contraband they’ve already imported has been sold. If Horio were punished for smuggling, those who’d bought the items would hide their tails.”

Even Father, adamant about my words, groaned for a moment at Leonard’s persuasion.

“… All right. Let’s discuss this matter with His Highness first,” Father took a step back and answered. It was an expression of reconsideration, but it was no different than accepting our opinion.

Leonard smiled slightly at me at our father’s answer.

The expression on his face as if he were saying, ‘Everything’s fine, right?’ brought a smile to my face.

As expected of my older brother.

***

I figured out Horio’s weakness.

Now I should try to solve Krusech’s problem.

“But His Highness told you to stay still until he finds their base, didn’t he?”

Agoth, who was making a fire in the fireplace, looked back and asked me who was waiting in front of it.

“But I’m itching to stay still.”

“Hehe.”

“What? What is it? Why are you laughing?”

“How should I say this… It’s just so not you, you know.”

Ummm, that’s right.

Somehow, my face was burning up.

It wasn’t something I, who didn’t want to be bothered by anything in the world, was meant to say. But, oh well.

But now, I’m different from what I used to be. I will be reborn as someone who’d put in effort and interest and actively participates in my surroundings… despite the struggle.

It’s not just Helena; it’s new Helena.

“Shall we travel around the border area and subdue monsters?”

“That’s a good idea. His Highness may start a chase to catch you.”

“Agoth… are you rebelling? I didn’t expect you’d take Caesar’s side.”

“How could I?! My only eternal idol is you!” Agoth swung the bellows she was holding into the air, excited by my words.

That weighs a lot, doesn’t it?

“Nevertheless, I agree with His Highness on this matter. I don’t like it when you keep getting involved in dangerous things.”

Mmmm. Would it have been better not to tell you about what happened in the Cathedral? I briefly regretted my honest past.

“Ha. At least I’d be less frustrated if I could figure out what Noe was doing.”

“Who’s that?”

“Noe. I mean, the leader of that religious group…”

After talking that far, I realized.

Come to think of it. I haven’t told Hamilton or Caesar of the name ‘Noe’.

“Excuse me, my lady.”

Then the door opened, and Kegor, the butler, appeared. I thought he came here to check the fireplace, but seeing Agoth with the bellows, he stopped in surprise.

“Oh, Kegor. I have something to ask.”

“Please speak.”

“Do you know where the Mage Guild is?”

Noe could use magic.

Then there might be someone in the guild who knew him well.

Kegor frowned, fiddling with his mustache.

“I don’t know. I’ve heard that it’s somewhere in the South.”

“What? Isn’t it in the capital?”

Wasn’t it in the capital 500 years ago?!

“To my understanding, as the number of mages plummeted and the guild’s authority fell, they were pushed to the provinces.”

“Ah… I’m worried about whether the guild still exists.”

“Perhaps it is. Scholars also belong to the guild.”

“Then, could you tell me the exact location?”

“I’ll let you know as soon as possible.”

Kegor bowed to me. And with a cough, he warned Agoth, who had still not made the fire, and left the room.

Thanks to this, Agoth was sweating profusely on this cold day and was able to cast the bellows. I feel bad for her.

‘It’s in the south. If I leave the capital, Caesar will notice right away.’

The chase that Agoth had been talking about might not be a joke. Mm…

“… Agoth.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“You must go to the guild.”

“What?”

Agoth opened her eyes wide and looked at me. Perhaps she hadn’t heard my conversation with the butler because of the bellows.

I smiled and commanded my loyal maid.

“Go to the guild for me and learn about the character ‘Noe’.”

***

Little by little, clues gathered, and directions began to appear.

Not everything was resolved quickly, but I thought things were going in a better direction, little by little.

Everything would eventually work out if we kept going slowly and steadily like this. The problem with the empress and about Krusech.

About Caesar and I.

However, turbulent events always reveal their presence in such a peaceful and prosperous time.

***

Bang! Bang! Bang!

At the end of winter, when it snowed. Late at night, someone knocked on the mansion door.

Even in the middle of the night, footsteps running around the hallway were loud.

“Wh-what’s going on?”

I instinctively sensed the uneasy air. I left the bedroom in a negligee and headed to the hall on the first floor.

An envoy of the imperial palace was seen standing in the center of the hall.

“Helena.”

“Brother.”

Leonard appeared in his knight’s uniform. I had a foreboding feeling that no matter what was going on, it must be there.

“What’s wrong? What’s going on?”

“That’s…”

Leonard’s expression was not good.

“Hurry up, Young Duke. The duke must have already reached the imperial palace.”

The emperor’s envoy urged Leonard. Leonard said to the envoy with a firm expression.

“I will be there soon. Get in the carriage first.”

The envoy left the mansion with a distasteful expression.

Leonard looked at the envoy’s back and sighed briefly, then grabbed my shoulders.

And he described this devastating situation in a very short, concise, one-line sentence.

“His Majesty has passed away.”

Oh.

How disappointing.

I bit my lower lip tightly.