Chapter 70
Mars had been uneasy ever since hearing from the Kaihel Assassination Squad that the Imperial Knights were going to find Minerva.
Those fools had confidently told him to prepare the final payment, but then contact was lost.
With no bodies found, even the whereabouts of the ring he had given them became uncertain.
“Useless idiots! What kind of empire’s best assassination squad are they!”
Bang! Bang!
Just as Mars, unable to contain his anger, was not only pounding the desk with his fist but about to sweep everything off it,
“Shh, Mars.”
A low voice stopped Mars.
As if the commotion right next to her couldn’t be heard, Gabriel gently stroked the head of a black-haired boy in her arms and said,
“You’ll wake Cassius.”
Red eyes stared straight at Mars.
Mars clicked his tongue at the gentle, chiding tone as if dealing with a child.
Wake up? Yeah right.
He’s sleeping just fine.
The sound of his steady breathing could be heard from here.
‘To be able to sleep in this situation. Does he have any sense at all?’
It was a harsh assessment for his own son, but to Mars, it was natural.
He was so anxious, yet Gabriel seemed relaxed.
Mars’s irritation immediately shifted its target to Gabriel.
“At this rate, the trial will be reopened! The ring might have gone to Minerva, it’s not the time to be so relaxed! You said we wouldn’t need to prepare for the trial soon!”
“I told you to use people who could be cut off easily, why didn’t you listen to me?”
“They were said to be the most reliable!”
“That’s because you’re trying to fill your stomach in one bite.”
Gabriel sounded like she was admonishing a wastrel who had lost pocket money gambling.
Mars narrowed his eyes. Why was Gabriel so carefree?
When he’s finished, Gabriel would be finished too.
Mars had always been plagued by feelings of inferiority.
While he struggles and worries like this, Minerva and Gabriel sit atop his head, laughing at him.
Mars let out a hollow laugh, then raised one corner of his mouth in a sneer.
“Ha, right. You’re always the only smart one. Since you’re so great, take care of everything yourself! Find the ring and take responsibility for it!”
Mars shouted angrily, his neck veins bulging, then flung the door open and slammed it shut as he left.
Of course, even that noise didn’t wake Cassius.
Stroking the head of Cassius, who was sleeping as if drugged, Gabriel chuckled.
‘I was worried about what to do if things went wrong, but as expected of Minerva. And there must have been help from the variable.’
Gabriel was in a very good mood, feeling joy after a long time.
‘Three times.’
It was exactly three times as of today.
It was all according to plan, though it was a secret from Mars.
She had worried if Minerva would overcome this crisis well, but it seemed the variable had worked well.
‘And it was easier because I had planted anxiety in the Emperor beforehand.’
Knowing Minerva alone couldn’t handle Kaihel, she used Mars’s carelessness to prod the Emperor.
She even moved the Imperial Knights to show the Emperor Mars dealing with Kaihel. Theodora didn’t miss what she had glimpsed and ran straight to report to the Emperor.
‘Lady Theodora is admirable.’
Should she send her a gift later?
‘Since she saved Minerva, a generous reward would be good. No, she’d probably throw it away without even opening it, so is it a needless worry?’
Gabriel chuckled, picturing Theodora’s disgusted expression.
However, her laughter gradually stopped due to the only remaining worry.
Mars’s ring.
‘I didn’t expect her to find that…’
Regardless of how Minerva had found it, one thing was certain.
She had handed Minerva evidence that Mars was the culprit.
At times like this, it was hard to believe Mars and Minerva were twins from the same womb.
Isn’t one side overwhelmingly lacking?
Gabriel looked out the distant window.
‘Yes, I should retrieve the ring.’
Minerva probably won’t use it as evidence at the trial since it’s slightly insufficient, but it’s better to eliminate future troubles.
She wanted to go herself, partly to see the face of her old ally, but it had only been three times yet.
She surely wouldn’t remember.
‘I’ll have to use Archibald again.’
I told him to steal it properly while Minerva was on the move, but instead he got his luggage stolen.
Perhaps it’s better not to have high expectations this time either.
Gabriel exhaled deeply and brushed the bangs of the child in her arms.
“Cassius, Cassius. I hope you’ll be of help to me.”
Please don’t grow up to be like those stupid humans.
Because you are my son.
Like a mother whispering love, Gabriel whispered her mockery of pathetic humans into Cassius’s ear like a lullaby.
* * *
At that time, in the east castle of the Eckhart Grand Duke’s mansion.
Ayla Eckhart’s east castle was truly a children’s paradise.
A garden optimized for hide-and-seek, a room filled only with dolls, a library full of fairy tales.
Today too, Ayla was lost in happy contemplation, expecting to meet Aslan and wondering where to take her first if she could.
First, let’s ask if she can go meet Aslan.
Just as she finished preparing and was about to get up,
A maid who had received something from outside approached Ayla and bowed.
“Young miss. His Grace the Grand Duke is waiting for you.”
“Father?”
Ayla blinked her rabbit-like eyes.
What could it be so early in the morning?
If he wanted to have a meal together, he would have sent someone.
It felt somewhat strange, but since it’s not unusual for a father to seek his daughter, Ayla left her bedroom with her usual bright face.
When she arrived at the reception room, Lloyd was pacing around, not even sitting down, clearly anxious about something.
He must have rushed here in such a hurry that his hair was disheveled by the wind.
It looked so serious that even Ayla became tense and called out to him.
“Father.”
“Ayla, we have a big problem.”
“Yes. What’s the matter?”
Could he have already been found out by the lady?
Gulp, Ayla swallowed dryly and waited for Lloyd’s words.
Finally, Lloyd’s mouth opened heavily.
“Her Highness the Princess has asked to have a meal together. The four of us.”
“…Is that all?”
Didn’t we all eat together before?
It was actually good news, so Ayla was inwardly pleased but puzzled.
Anticipating this, Lloyd shook his head with a serious face.
“Her Highness will surely bombard us with questions about Grand Duke Eckhart. By the way, we agreed to have lunch today. We have about three hours left.”
“Oh no!”
Ayla finally grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Minerva is sharp.
If they only give made-up answers that aren’t true, the tense Lloyd will soon be caught out.
Above all, she’ll casually ask Ayla about the Grand Duke too.
She might be able to give simple answers, but there’s a limit to dealing with uncoordinated stories.
We’ll surely be found out!
‘We absolutely can’t be discovered.’
Ayla’s eyes became solemn.
Lloyd nodded with equally determined eyes.
“Let’s coordinate our stories. First, Ayla, you only saw the Grand Duke with me on the first day.”
“Yes, I haven’t seen His Grace the Grand Duke since that day.”
Ayla and Lloyd nodded simultaneously, neither taking the lead.
Now it was time to list expected questions and prepare answers in advance.
* * *
At the promised lunchtime, Lloyd came to the annex with Ayla.
Lloyd greeted Minerva with his usual handsome face and gentle smile.
“My lady, did you sleep well last night?”
“Yes, thanks to you.”
Minerva responded with a warm smile.
However, she was also closely observing Lloyd’s attire.
She had felt he wore fine clothes even at the Mente mansion, but seeing him at the Grand Duke’s residence gave her a different impression.
‘He’s much better versed in etiquette than that Mars.’
Despite knowing he has a lot of work, he has no turtle neck, his shoulders aren’t rounded, and his back is straight.
He doesn’t stand with one leg forward either.
He’s had proper posture ingrained in him since childhood.
‘And his swordsmanship skills were considerable too.’
Aides proficient in both civil and military affairs are rare. Even Luisa, how much effort did Minerva put into training her. That’s why Luisa became Minerva’s closest confidant.
As Minerva’s eyes sharpened like a hawk’s, Ayla hurriedly greeted her.
“My lady, is life in the annex alright?”
Hearing Ayla’s voice, Minerva’s face softened gently as if she had never been observing anyone.
“I’m doing well, thanks to your consideration.”
While answering kindly, Minerva now observed Ayla.
She knew Ayla usually wore clothes better than most nobles would wear.
But in this vast mansion, with this little lady in such clothes and with such perfect posture, she even looked like a Grand Duchess.
From the appearance of the father and daughter, she could infer one thing.
‘Ide Mente. It seems he’s quite a favored subordinate of the Grand Duke.’
Usurpadora
I am very confused… The twin, is a woman or man? I get confuse every time…