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Chapter 267
Of course, the figure who had slipped in wasn’t here with the intent to commit murder.
“Quite the bad taste, isn’t it? Of all places, you had to call me here.”
Amaia muttered with a sulky tone, brushing off the ashes clinging to her body.
It seemed that because Iona had knocked the door frame down onto the floorboards, the dust piled up there had poured all over her.
Originally, they could have met in a far gentler location. But thanks to the Empress placing eyes of surveillance everywhere, the circumstances for secret meetings had become harsh.
The excuse Iona had made—that she wanted to look around the place where she had grown up as a child—had been fabricated from the start to enable this clandestine contact.
This was a building Hozier had once set ablaze, erasing all traces cleanly.
There was no way they would suddenly uncover some clue of the past here.
Unless Iona was intent on reviving her vengeful heart by recalling her wretched childhood.
Fortunately, because Iona had once spent quite a long time in this abandoned house, she still remembered its structure thoroughly— even the hidden spaces invisible to untrained eyes.
That didn’t necessarily mean it was a suitable place for someone to hide in for long, though.
With an awkward expression, Iona offered an apology.
“My apologies. The seams looked a little too obvious, and I was worried someone might notice.”
“It’s fine—achoo! When you’re meeting in secret like this, achoo! Such things are bound to happen, achoo!”
Amaia waved her hand dismissively, but then buried her face into her shoulder as another sneeze escaped.
Silently, Iona pulled a handkerchief from her bosom and handed it over.
Taking it, Amaia blew her nose discreetly, displaying the practiced skill of a seasoned spy.
Watching quietly, Leroy crossed the room and went over to the window.
He must have felt the need to let some air in.
As he opened the window and glanced outside, the dust hanging in the air gradually settled.
Finally, once her sneezing subsided, Amaia pulled a thin bundle of documents from her coat.
“I’ve summarized only the important parts. The detailed materials were sent by the courier you mentioned.”
Accepting the papers, Iona looked at her dust-smudged face and offered sincere praise.
“You went through a lot, traveling all this way yourself.”
“The shorter the reporting process, the better. For security reasons— and for maintaining bonds as well.”
“Bonds? I didn’t think you were the type to care about things like that.”
Iona retorted as she flipped through the sheets.
This was the very material she had asked Viviana—now living under the title of Countess Ida—to investigate.
Since the Empress had schemed so much in that region, traces of her still lingered throughout the Ida estate.
Viviana’s task was to unearth and compile those remnants into reports, and perhaps her deep resentment toward the Empress had helped fuel her drive—because the quality of the report exceeded expectations.
True to her background as a member of the ruling house, she had made highly effective use of her title as Countess.
Impressed inwardly, Iona asked:
“How is Miss Viviana doing these days?”
“She has adapted perfectly. Though… she does seem a bit stifled. In that regard, she resembles the real Countess quite a bit.”
Amaia replied in a businesslike tone.
Naturally, the image that rose in Iona’s mind was of a fiery-blooded young woman from a foreign land.
“Don’t you ever wonder how the previous mistress is doing?”
“No news is good news.”
Amaia answered with a calm face.
As expected, she was not someone who would dwell on “bonds” when a life-risking operation lay ahead.
The reason she did not seek out Carmen again was because she feared the commotion such a reunion might stir.
Amaia was a person who valued reason over emotion, and ironically, that cold, detached attitude was precisely her way of protecting what she held dear.
Just as Iona suspected, there was intent hidden in her choice of words.
With her hands behind her back, Amaia stood firm, then suddenly asked:
“May I pose just one question as well? For the sake of maintaining mutual trust.”
“Go ahead.”
“Were you truly of royal blood?”
It had already been days since the Crown Prince had ostentatiously made public the suspicions surrounding Iona’s birth.
Apparently, during her entry into the capital, that news had reached Amaia’s ears as well.
Or perhaps the rumor had already spread swiftly to the eastern provinces of the Empire.
After all, Amaia was one who knew exactly who Iona intended to strike with all of these plans.
So it was only natural she would feel shaken upon learning that the higher-ups and their intended enemy might be bound by blood.
Iona shrugged her shoulders as she replied.
“Seems that way.”
“In that case, you’d be counted among the imperial family now… but there’s no change in your plans?”
“Why else would I have come to receive this?”
Closing the documents, Iona tapped her knuckles lightly against the papers as she answered.
Still, doubt lingered in Amaia’s expression as she lifted her gaze.
After a brief pause, Iona added a more persuasive explanation.
“Blood relatives fighting each other for power is hardly unusual. That bloodline isn’t much of a reason to suddenly question my goals.”
“I wouldn’t use such a thing as an excuse for rebellion anyway. I’m already bound as a hostage.”
“Then?”
“I only wondered if the rumor was true… or if it was a play meant to deceive people. It’s such an outrageous claim, after all.”
Indeed, the scandal had been absurd enough to throw every noble in the capital into utter chaos.
An embarrassed look crossed Iona’s face.
“Unfortunately, it’s true. Just when I thought I had gained the trust of the Duke’s household and of Miss Viviana, all of it may end up wasted.”
“That won’t be the case.”
Amaia spoke firmly.
Her voice was calm, devoid of highs or lows, but for that very reason, it carried no trace of wavering.
Iona turned her eyes toward her with surprise.
She hadn’t expected her counterpart to actually raise her reputation like that.
“To coordinate matters of trade opening, the Duke’s people often come to the Count’s estate. None of them know that I serve as the Countess’s spy. One would think they might whisper slander about their master behind her back, but no—loyalty runs so deep that only good words ever leave their mouths.”
“Isn’t that normal, though? People usually hold their tongue in public.”
“It’s said that even kings are mocked when they’re not present. Most bad rumors about nobles usually come from those serving beneath them.”
“That’s… quite a frightening thought.”
“Don’t worry. You and your husband both seem to be rather beloved masters.”
At that, Iona suddenly looked toward Leroy, who stood behind Amaia.
Leaning casually against the window frame, he smiled softly at her.
Amaia continued in her usual expressionless voice.
“Thanks to that, even I can’t help but feel perhaps I’ve chosen my side wisely.”
“……”
“I sincerely hope that judgment holds true until the very end.”
Only then did Iona realize just how favorable Amaia’s words had been.
Not only naïve country folk, but even a spy who had lived her whole life in the underworld acknowledged her as a good master.
Whether that was fortunate or ominous, she couldn’t tell.
Iona let out a faint chuckle and muttered:
“Perhaps I really was born with the qualities of a ruler?”
She had never realized it before, having spent her entire life obeying others. But maybe she truly did possess the qualities of a worthy lord.
Of course, she had no intention of taking on such a troublesome role once her long-cherished wish was fulfilled.
“If it’s to overthrow the imperial family and ascend the throne, then I will serve you with even greater devotion.”
“Forget it. I don’t have much talent for that. I take after my mother—too much of a romantic.”
As she spoke, Iona thought of the Arcduke, who had always maintained composure before others.
Even when his son had gone missing, he had not let grief blind him into forsaking the greater cause.
That was what a true leader of a nation was supposed to be.
But if it had been her?
She probably would have stormed into the palace, demanding her husband back, setting fire to the Crown Prince’s palace and the Empress’s quarters without a second thought.
A grim look came over Iona’s face as she muttered:
“In that case… the entire Empire would have gone up in flames.”
Hearing that eerie voice, both Amaia and Leroy exchanged glances, their expressions disbelieving.
They looked as though they couldn’t fathom what twisted line of thought could possibly have led her to such a conclusion.
---The End Of The Chapter---
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