Chapter 37
Just as she was about to ask, they reached the top of the stairs.
Exarch smiled gently and led Baeksan to a door.
“This is where you’ll stay.”
When he opened the door, an overall white and beautiful room was revealed.
“Wow, the room is so, so pretty!”
Baeksan entered, feigning exaggerated excitement out of courtesy.
Exarch stood at the threshold with an elegant smile, not entering.
“I’m glad you like it. Well then, I’ll…”
“Leaving already? Come in for a bit.”
“…”
Exarch’s black eyes widened.
“Hmm.”
Exarch covered his mouth and cleared his throat, seeming flustered.
“Should I stay longer?”
“Huh? Of course you should. I have mountains of questions.”
“…Questions?”
“About the guys who attacked me. No matter how I think about it, they didn’t seem like they were trying to kill me.”
“Ah.”
[Ridim Exarch Perato Schröder]
Subtly disappointed.
…What’s that about?
Baeksan continued, ignoring it.
“Are there any nobles who have bad relations with the Emperor in the state council?”
It was a natural question for Baeksan.
‘Because the Emperor is definitely the bad guy. It’s not strange that I’m seen as a villain for saving him.’
Besides, thinking about it, the masked men had tried to kidnap her, not kill her.
‘There must be room for dialogue. I need to find out who’s behind this.’
At Baeksan’s question, Exarch returned to his original expression. A face like a kind but firm young noble.
“Marquis Kito clashes with him the most. But he wouldn’t have sent people after you.”
“Why? You trust him?”
“You’ll see.”
“Hmm.”
They must be close.
“Anyone else?”
“Well…”
Exarch approached a bureau set in one corner of the room. He took out letterhead and a quill pen, quickly drawing something.
“This is the current power structure of Orquenina.”
Baeksan examined it.
The Emperor was at the center.
Below him, the House of Grand Duke Zahig and two ducal houses, four marquis houses held the most power.
The Imperial faction: Duke Cardinale, Duke Schultz, Marquis Zucarini.
The Noble faction: Marquis Kito.
Marquis Respighi and Marquis Lille were neutral.
‘Normally you’d think the Noble faction cursed the Emperor, but… huh?’
Then Baeksan suddenly noticed something strange.
When she had waited for the Emperor with Bathilda at Dmitri’s Hall, she had observed the nobles out of boredom.
‘This is different from the information the system showed me then!’
Just as she felt puzzled, Exarch spoke.
“That’s how it was, but recently I’ve received information that the situation is changing somewhat.”
As he said this, Exarch pointed to one name with his pen tip.
“For some reason, this person seems to be turning to the Imperial faction.”
“…”
Baeksan’s eyes widened.
If that was true.
‘No, it must be wrong!’
Appearances tell nothing. The corners of her lips curved up.
‘So it’s you? The one who sent night visitors after me.’
* * *
‘I’m thinking of setting a trap.’
‘A trap?’
‘First, I want to confirm if we can communicate with the opponent. Can you help?’
Late at night, Baeksan had tea time in a glass conservatory with a domed ceiling.
The refreshments before her were on par with a hotel afternoon tea from her previous life.
‘Who knew being waited on would feel this good.’
Having grown accustomed to the grand duke’s lavish treatment in just a few days, Baeksan brought the steaming teacup to her nose.
The full moon hung in the sky.
The same full moon floated in her teacup.
‘Good aroma. Good visuals.’
Perhaps because her shawl was enchanted against cold, she wasn’t even chilly.
‘Now I just hope they’ll respond according to plan.’
That’s when it happened.
Rustle.
A faint sound of footsteps on grass.
Baeksan slowly lowered her teacup and raised her head.
How had they entered the conservatory without the sound of a door opening?
People in black clothes were stealthily approaching from all directions.
Baeksan felt utterly deflated.
‘Wow. They’d even infiltrate the grand duke’s residence.’
They must be quite determined to make an enemy of even Exarch.
At that moment, like descending from the moon itself, a figure dropped from the sky.
“As expected.”
Exarch said as he landed gracefully from the sky, drawing his sword.
“Sorry, but this is my guest.”
“Huh?”
No sooner had he finished speaking than Exarch moved.
Slash. Slash. Slash.
It didn’t take long. Just 2-3 seconds per person.
Neither those cutting nor those being cut made any sound.
Baeksan watched the scene blankly before belatedly putting down her teacup.
“Done?”
“Yes.”
Exarch answered with a slightly subdued expression. Under the bright moonlight, he looked somehow different from usual, uncertain.
Baeksan found herself asking.
“Who sent them?”
“Probably His Majesty.”
Exarch answered calmly.
The fact that he answered showed he definitely wasn’t his usual self.
Yet his gentle smile remained.
“I’ll clean this up quickly. Would you like to have some tea while waiting?”
“Should I call the butler?”
Exarch showed reluctance.
“Ah, that’s… if we call Ernst, he’ll make a fuss about it happening again.”
“Then there’s no choice.”
“Huh?”
“Let’s bury them.”
“…”
Exarch’s eyes widened. Then a boyish laugh burst out.
“Haha! Yes, let’s bury them.”
Exarch said this and brought a shovel from somewhere. He looked oddly happy.
“Stay back so you don’t get dirt on you.”
“Won’t the gardener notice?”
“Not if we dig deep enough.”
Baeksan watched him while drinking tea. He rolled up his sleeves and dug with practiced skill.
“You’ve definitely done this before.”
“Haha.”
He’s not denying it.
“Seems like you’ve been attacked more than once or twice.”
“I’m not the type to keep count of unpleasant things, so I’m not sure.”
Does that mean there were too many to count?
Baeksan took another sip of the now-cold tea.
‘Better not dig deeper into that.’
It’s not like she didn’t understand what it meant to have a difficult life.
Baeksan decided to focus on more practical matters.
“By the way, it’s been about a week since I came here, right?”
“Yes.”
“No attacks. Seems our client either doesn’t want to make an enemy of you too, or is still uncertain. Or perhaps wavering.”
Exarch stuck the shovel in the ground and dusted off his hands.
“Then what would you like to do?”
“Storm the front gate, of course.”
After saying this, Baeksan checked his reaction.
“But is that really okay? Won’t this cause trouble for you too?”
“It’s fine. When an innocent person is in danger, of course I should help.”
Wow. How can he say such things?
But coming from Exarch, it really suited him.
“Since you put it that way, I’ll accept your help. But you shouldn’t be this kind to just anyone.”
Exarch’s expression became subtle.
“…I’m not. Usually.”
Then he made a face as if lost in strange thoughts.
“Right. I definitely am not…”
…Not sure what that’s about, but worried he might decide not to help if left alone, she quickly continued.
“So, Exa.”
Baeksan put down her teacup and smiled brightly.
“How’s your acting?”
* * *
The woman received an invitation.
The sender was Grand Duke Zahig Ridim Exarch Perato Schröder.
He was blessed by the Goddess, a man beloved by all of Orquenina.
Naturally so. He was proper and righteous. Responsible and possessed unwavering mental strength.
The woman had actually hoped he would become Emperor, but there was Bathilda.
Though not as good as Exarch, Bathilda too was Emperor material. With higher succession rights at that.
It was regrettable for the woman but fortunate for Bathilda, and Exarch must have been relieved. His father had fallen because of those very succession rights.
The woman entered the quiet grand duke’s residence. The mansion was always emptied for their meetings. A glimpse of Exarch’s cautiousness.
When she stood before the banquet hall, the doors opened as if on cue.
“You’ve arrived.”
The upright young man stood there with a gentle smile.
